Scarred Wolf Queen Chapter 38

**Briony's POV**

My teasing words hung in the air. The triplets exchanged glances and moved toward me with that uncanny synchronization they always had. Maxwell stood in front, Christopher to my left, Benjamin to my right. They were close enough that I could smell their distinct scents, yet still maintained that final inch of space between us.

"When we truly kiss you..." Maxwell's voice dropped an octave.

"It won't be in a hallway with the lights on..." Christopher continued, his voice raspy.

"And it definitely won't be this rushed," Benjamin finished, his tone warmer than I'd ever heard it.

They leaned in slightly, their noses barely grazing my cheeks and ears. The ghost of their breath against my skin sent my heart racing faster than if they'd actually touched me.

They stepped back almost simultaneously, restoring the appropriate distance between us. I stood there, feeling strangely dizzy.

"Breathe, Bri," Maxwell reminded me with a hint of a smile.

I sucked in air, only then realizing I'd been holding my breath. My heart hammered in my chest. This feeling was foreign - being treated so carefully, like something precious.

"You'll need to let go if you want us to leave," Christopher said, amusement lacing his voice.

I looked down to find I was clutching their clothes - one hand on Maxwell's arm, the other on Benjamin's sleeve, with Christopher's shirt hem caught in my fingers. I quickly released them, my cheeks burning.

Maxwell and Christopher shared a look before heading toward Maxwell's room, acting as if the moment had been perfectly ordinary.

"If you can't sleep, you know where we are," Christopher called over his shoulder.

Benjamin lingered, his green eyes intense. "I have meditation to do," he said quietly, his fingers brushing my wrist, "but my door's always open for you." Then he too disappeared down the hall.

I took a deep breath to steady myself before entering my room. Layla sat on the bed with a knowing smile.

"What was that?" she asked bluntly. "I've never seen all three of them focus on one girl before."

"No idea," I admitted, grabbing pajamas from the closet. "Weird, right? They've always just treated me like Noah's little sister."

"Yeah, that wasn't brotherly at all," Layla laughed. "I've never seen Maxwell look at anyone that way. And Benjamin actually touching someone? That's a first."

I ducked into the bathroom to change without responding. When I emerged, Layla was already in bed, patting the space beside her.

"So what are you going to do about it?" she asked.

"Nothing to do," I replied, climbing under the covers. "The Sentinel selection is tomorrow. That's what matters now."

"Running from problems isn't like you," she teased, but let it drop. "But you're right - we should rest up."

We talked about the possible Sentinel challenges until Layla's voice grew distant and sleep claimed me.

I woke in the middle of the night to find the bed empty beside me - Layla had obviously gone to find Ethan. Through the window, Silver Pines cast dark silhouettes in the moonlight, almost calling me to run. I sighed, knowing I couldn't risk training before the selection.

Pacing the room, I tried to burn off excess energy. My muscles felt wound tight, blood pumping faster as if my body was preparing for tomorrow's challenge.

My thoughts kept circling back to the triplets and how they'd broken our long-maintained friendly distance tonight. I couldn't stop remembering the feeling of their breath on my skin.

Benjamin had surprised me most - usually the coldest of the three, tonight he'd shown unexpected gentleness. And that invitation from Maxwell and Christopher... "If you can't sleep, you know where to find us."

After debating with myself, I made my decision. I eased the door open and crept to Maxwell's room. At his door, I paused - knock or just go in? I had zero experience with this kind of situation.

Taking a deep breath, I turned the knob. The door opened silently into the moonlit room. The two figures on the bed immediately caught my attention, both sleeping yet somehow still radiating strength.

Christopher lay on his stomach, one arm stretched overhead, the other hanging off the bed. His face looked relaxed, so different from his usual energetic self. Maxwell slept on his back, one arm draped over his eyes, the other resting on his stomach. Even asleep, he looked ready to jump into action.

Between them was a small space that seemed waiting for me. I carefully climbed onto the foot of the bed and settled on my side in the gap. The moment I did, they both reacted, though their eyes stayed closed.

Christopher turned and slipped an arm around my waist. At the same time, Maxwell rolled to his side, his hand finding my hip. Their movements were so coordinated I wondered if they were really asleep.

Warmth surrounded me as their scents - Christopher's pine and Maxwell's cinnamon - blended into a comforting mix that made me instantly relax. My eyelids grew heavy, and I drifted off.

"Where is she?! If she's gone off again without telling anyone, I swear I'm gonna lose it!"

The door banging open woke me, but I couldn't move - two pairs of arms held me firmly in place. Through sleep-blurred eyes, I tried to make sense of the voices.

"Noah, you sure you checked everywhere?" Maxwell's voice came from above me, his breath stirring my hair.

"Of course I'm sure!" Noah sounded frantic. "Her room's empty, she's not in the kitchen, not in Isabella's garden, not training. It's already eight! If she's still in the pack house, where the hell is she?"

Hearing the time made me wince - I never slept this late, especially on important days. The arms around me tightened at my movement.

"If you'd calm down and use your nose, you'd find her," Christopher chuckled, his chest vibrating against my back.

Noah took a deep breath, then stopped abruptly. "Wait... seriously?"

Maxwell and Christopher burst out laughing but kept their hold on me.

"Okay, you've had your fun," I sighed, trying to sit up. "I need to get ready, so let me go."

I crawled out from between them, keeping my head down the whole time. Passing Layla, I caught her expression - somewhere between shock and delight. Benjamin's stare felt heavy on my back, and Ethan was grinning like he'd won the lottery.

Twenty minutes later, I'd washed and changed into fitted black training gear and my new combat boots. I pulled my hair into a tight ponytail to keep it out of my face during the tests. Everyone was already waiting in the hallway, ready for breakfast.

Strangely, no one mentioned what had just happened as we headed downstairs. In the kitchen, a familiar voice greeted us.

"You all move like a perfect wolf pack, don't you?" Alpha King Nathan said, amusement in his tone.

"Good morning, Alpha Nathan," I replied politely. "Good morning, Luna Selena, Prince Derek."

We each grabbed food and settled at the large table. As I started eating, Prince Derek broke the silence:

"Are you really participating in the selection test today?"