Pressed Between Predators
SCARLETT
Kane and Rhys stepped closer.
They moved like predators who had been waiting their turn, slowly circling until I was completely surrounded, Saint still pressed against my front, Kane on my left, Rhys on my right. The tree at my back left me nowhere to run.
My heart was pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears.
Rhys’s golden eyes darkened as he looked at my swollen lips and flushed cheeks. A slow, beautiful, dangerous smile curved his mouth.
“You look so well kissed, darling,” he murmured, voice smooth as velvet. “But you need more.”
Before I could even draw a breath to respond, Rhys’s hand shot out and grabbed my jaw with firm, elegant control. His fingers tilted my face up to his, and then his mouth was on mine.
The kiss was nothing like Saint’s shy sweetness.
Rhys kissed like he owned me.
His lips claimed mine completely, deep and commanding, tongue sliding into my mouth like he had every right to be there. He tasted like power and dark promises. One of his hands stayed on my jaw while the other slipped around my waist, pulling me flush against him.
I moaned into his mouth, knees going weak.
Kane chuckled from my left, his big hand sliding over my hip, squeezing possessively. “Fuck, look at her.”
Saint made a soft, needy sound, pressing closer from the front, his huge body caging me in even more. I felt his hardness against my stomach as he watched Rhys kiss me, breathing ragged.
Rhys finally pulled back just enough to let me gasp for air, his thumb brushing over my bottom lip, eyes glowing with satisfaction.
“Better,” he whispered. “But still not enough.”
Kane didn’t wait.
He turned my face toward him with a rough hand and kissed me hard, all tongue and teeth and dirty hunger. He kissed like he wanted to fuck me right here against the tree. His hand slid under the hem of my sundress, gripping my bare thigh, fingers digging in as he groaned into my mouth.
“Such a greedy little thing,” he growled against my lips. “Kissing Saint so sweetly, then letting Rhys take what he wants… and now me.”
I was dizzy. Overwhelmed. Slick was dripping down my thighs now, my body aching so badly I could barely think.
When Kane finally let me breathe, Saint was right there, pressing soft, almost apologetic kisses along my neck, like he was soothing me after his Alphas had been rough.
Rhys watched everything with that calm smile, his fingers still stroking my jaw.
“Look at you,” he said softly. “All flushed and wet for us… right out here where anyone could see.”
My face burned. I was trembling between them, dress bunched up, lips swollen, thighs slick.
Lily’s voice called out again, louder this time. “I swear to God, if you three don’t stop devouring her, I’m dragging her away myself!”
Kane laughed darkly against my neck. “Five more minutes, Lily.”
Saint nuzzled my cheek, whispering shyly, “More… please?”
Reality crashed into me like cold water.
My body was burning, thighs slick, lips swollen and tingling, but my brain finally screamed at me that we were still outside. In the middle of the school retreat. Where anyone could walk by and see me pressed between three massive Alphas like their personal plaything.
“No… no, we should not,” I gasped, shaking my head frantically. I tried to find a way out, but everywhere I looked there were only huge, rippling muscles and hungry eyes boxing me in. “I… I have to go.”
I bit down on my still-tingling lower lip, trying to steady myself.
Kane’s hand shot out instantly. His thumb pulled my lip from between my teeth, and before I could protest, he leaned in and kissed me, it was wet but chaste. When he pulled back, his voice was a low, gruff growl against my mouth.
“No.”
I shivered hard at the command in his tone, my core clenching shamefully.
“P-please,” I stammered, voice shaky. “This is not proper…”
Rhys chuckled softly, still stroking my jaw with his thumb. “Proper has never interested us, darling.”
Saint looked torn, his big body still pressed close, but he was the first to step back. His ice-blue eyes were soft and understanding, even as I could feel the reluctance rolling off him.
“Go,” he said quietly, voice gentle. “If you need to.”
I didn’t wait to be told twice.
I ducked under Kane’s arm and bolted, grabbing Lily’s hand on the way. She yelped as I dragged her with me.
“Hey, Scarlett, slow down!” she scolded, half-laughing, half-worried as we scurried away from the three Alphas. “What the hell was that? You looked like you were about to let them mount you against the tree!”
I didn’t answer. My heart was pounding so violently I was scared the entire camp could hear it and my face was on fire.
I could still feel their eyes on my back, three burning, possessive stares following me as we rushed toward the main campsite.
Saint had let me go.
But something told me the next time they got me alone…
They wouldn’t be so gentle about asking.
*******
The rest of the day passed in a strange, almost peaceful blur.
After the chaotic makeout session against the tree, the Triumvirate actually *behaved*. They kept their distance during the rest of the activities, only watching me from afar with those intense, burning stares. No more cornering, no more filthy whispers or kisses that made my knees weak.
It should have been a relief.
Instead, it felt… weird.
At lunch, I sat with Lily, Milo, and Kaiden. We laughed and talked about how insane the mud pit had been. Milo kept giving me worried glances, like he could sense something was off. Kaiden, of course, had that knowing little smirk the entire time but said nothing.
Meanwhile, the Triumvirate stayed in their own tent with Kaiden occasionally going back and forth. I caught glimpses of them, Kane laughing loudly, Rhys sitting elegantly with that calm mask on, Saint quietly listening. They looked completely normal. Like nothing had happened.
I was glad.
…Mostly.
That night, I slept in the tent with Lily and Saint. Kane and Rhys went back to their own tent with Kaiden. Saint was the perfect gentleman, he curled around me protectively but didn’t push for anything more. I fell asleep to the sound of his steady heartbeat, feeling strangely safe.
The third and final day of the Blackthorn Ridge retreat rolled over quickly.
We had three more activities: a team relay through the forest with obstacle traps, a scent-tracking challenge, and a final group defense exercise.
The Triumvirate behaved perfectly. They participated, they won every single activity they were in, but they didn’t crowd me.
They didn’t tease or try to pull me aside.
They were… respectful.
It should have made me happy.
But by the time we started packing up our tents around 6 PM, a strange, heavy feeling settled in my chest.
I folded my clothes slowly, watching Saint carefully roll up the sleeping bags while students chatted about how excited they were to get back to the academy. The sun was beginning to set, painting the forest in soft oranges and pinks.
I realized with a quiet shock that I had actually enjoyed this short, chaotic stay.
I had seen new sides of them.
Saint’s shy sweetness, Kane’s wild protectiveness mixed with surprising gentleness. Rhys’s calm dominance that somehow made me feel safe instead of trapped. Even the way they brushed their teeth because I asked them to… it was ridiculous, but it stuck with me.
And now we had to leave.
Back to Silvercrest. Back to rules and eyes watching us. Back to whatever those four walls had installed for us.
Saint noticed me staring. He paused, tilting his head. “You okay?”
I forced a small smile. “Yeah. Just… thinking. This trip was weird.”
He stepped closer, gently taking the folded shirt from my hands and putting it in my bag for me. His voice was soft. “Did you… like any part of it?”
I looked up at him, this massive, terrifying Alpha who had begged so cutely to kiss me and felt my chest tighten.
“Yeah,” I whispered. “I did.”
From a distance, I saw Kane and Rhys watching us while they packed their own things. Kane gave me that signature smirk. Rhys simply inclined his head, golden eyes soft for once.
Lily zipped up her bag and sighed. “Time to go back to reality.”
I nodded, but as I lifted my bag onto my shoulder, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted.
The Blackthorn Ridge retreat was ending…
But whatever was happening between me and the Triumvirate?
It was only just beginning.