Scarred Wolf Queen Chapter 20

**Briony's POV**

The determination in Noah's eyes was something I'd never seen before. It made it impossible to doubt he meant every word. Sitting here in the warm spring water, surrounded by actual friends and laughter, I let myself believe that maybe things really could be different. Maybe I'd finally found where I belonged.

"Don't overthink it," Noah said, gently patting my head. "Just enjoy this."

I nodded and settled back into the perfect temperature. The hot spring hit just right - when I sat down, the water came up to my chest. My dress floated around me, but honestly, I didn't care. The heat chased away the night chill, and everything felt right.

The triplets had all moved closer without me really noticing. Maxwell sat on my right, his broad shoulder almost touching mine. Christopher was on my left, making casual conversation. Benjamin sat across from me, not saying much but catching my eye every now and then.

Noah had climbed out and was perched on the stone edge with some leftover grilled meat and a glass of wine, looking totally relaxed.

"Check those two out," Christopher said quietly, nodding toward something behind me.

I turned and couldn't help grinning. Ethan and Layla were sitting close together a little ways off, with Ethan whispering something in her ear that made her giggle.

"They're moving fast," Maxwell observed. "Yesterday they were just messing with each other, and now they're..."

"It's called love at first sight," I said. "Layla told me she thought Ethan was special the second she saw him."

"Same with Ethan," Benjamin added - which was rare for him. "He was asking about Layla all last night."

Watching them together made my chest warm up. Layla deserved to be treated like this. And Ethan, for all his joking around, got serious when it mattered.

"Better watch out, Ethan," Noah called from the edge. "Layla's stepdad's a scientist. Piss him off and he might invent some weird shit to use on you."

"Noah!" I scolded, but everyone cracked up.

Time slipped by in warmth and easy conversation. We talked about everything - training disasters, embarrassing childhood stories, future plans. The guys made harmless jokes, and for once I found myself naturally joining in instead of staying quiet.

But exhaustion was creeping in. Today had been a marathon - morning training, birthday surprises, dinner, and everything else. The hot spring's heat made my eyelids heavy.

"Getting sleepy?" Maxwell noticed me yawning.

"A little..." I rubbed my eyes, trying to stay alert.

"Long day," Christopher said. "Want to head back?"

I shook my head, not wanting to break this perfect moment. But another yawn betrayed me, bringing tears to my eyes.

"Alright, birthday girl needs to go home," Noah set down his glass and stood. "Come on."

"I can walk myself," I protested as he approached.

But he was already leaning down, scooping me up before I could react. "You're half asleep. What if you trip?"

"Noah! Put me down!" I struggled, my wet clothes clinging uncomfortably.

"Wait," Maxwell stood too. "Why doesn't Bri just stay here tonight? We've got guest rooms."

"Yeah," Christopher agreed. "Save us the drive."

"And it's the weekend," Benjamin added. "No school tomorrow."

"Really, I don't need to - Noah, put me down!" My struggle wasn't about not wanting to stay. It was because my soaked shirt was sticking to my back, and if Noah shifted his grip, he might feel the wounds underneath. Those bruises were extra tender after soaking in hot water.

"Stop squirming," Noah adjusted his hold to get a better grip.

His palm pressed against my back.

I couldn't stop the sharp intake of breath that escaped.

Noah went rigid. His hand explored lightly through the wet fabric, feeling the raised, uneven tissue beneath.

"What the hell..." his voice shook.

I knew I was caught. My shirt had ridden up during the struggle, exposing most of my back.

"Shit! What is that?!" Noah's voice cracked with shock and rage.

He carefully set me on the stone edge, then moved behind me. I heard his breath catch, followed by deathly silence.

"Bri, what are those marks?" His voice trembled, blue eyes starting to flicker with dangerous silver.

The others were climbing out now, water splashing as they saw it - the crisscrossing whip marks, pink scars from silver powder burns, bruises around my ribs that hadn't fully faded.

"It's nothing. Just scrapes from training." I yanked my shirt down, voice pitched too high.

"Bullshit." Benjamin's tone went deadly quiet. "Those are silver powder burns."

"Really, it's not a big deal. Just some accidents - "

"Bri," Ethan's voice was rarely this serious. "Nobody in group training could hurt you like this except us or the senior warriors. And these aren't normal injuries."

"Who did this?" Noah was practically growling. "Tell me and I'll fucking destroy them."

Seeing their angry faces, something inside me finally exploded.

"No!" I shouted. "You don't get to care about this now!"

They all froze.

"These scars, this pain - it's been my life for years. And all of you, every single one, never even noticed I existed until today!"

I pointed at Noah. "You're my brother. You should've been the first to see. But when's the last time you actually looked at me?"

"I..." Noah had nothing.

"You were all too busy with your own shit. Future leader training, dating, whatever - just never had time to notice my pain. Now suddenly, because I'm part of your little group, you want to play hero? Too fucking late!"

"Bri, we didn't know..." Maxwell tried.

"Exactly! You didn't know because you never really looked." My voice cracked. "Delta Griffin saw it. Luna Isabella saw it. But they respected my choice. Layla figured it out on day one, and she respected my decision too."

"Wait, Layla knew?" Ethan turned to her.

"Yes, I knew," Layla said firmly. "But I respected Bri's choice."

"This isn't just about me!" Tears were streaming now. "You preach 'survival of the fittest' all the damn time, turning blind eyes to weak kids getting torn apart. Now, just because the victim is me, you want to step up? Too late!"

"I don't need your pity or your protection. I've always handled my own shit, and I'll keep doing it."

I turned and ran, ignoring their shouts behind me. Tears blurred everything, but I didn't stop.

Tonight was supposed to be perfect, but reality had shattered it like always. I couldn't bear to see their faces.

I ran through Luna Isabella's garden, along the moonstone path toward home. Cold wind cut through my wet clothes, making me shiver. But this chill was nothing compared to the ice in my chest.

I should've known this happiness wouldn't last. Beautiful things always get broken by the truth.