h4Chapter 121: Back To Starting Point/h4

    The other three of her mates stared at her, waiting for her answer, their eyes sharp with tension. She knew that if she chose even one of them, the others would pounce, and that was thest thing she wanted. Her heart pounded as she searched for a way out. Then she spoke, her voice trembling but firm. "I am ashamed of all of you right now. If you want to know the truth... you are all my mates. I don’t hate any of you. I care for each of you the same."

    "That’s impossible," Taros said quickly. His eyes, deep and desperate, clung to her, searching for hope. She knew exactly what he wanted her to say, and once, she might have said it. Weeks ago she would have chosen him above the rest without hesitation. But things had changed.

    The bond between them had tangled deeper with every trial, every wound, every touch. The truth was she hade to love all of them. Not one above the other. She wanted to know them all, to understand them, to hold them close. She wanted to give herself to each of them equally, but that would only matter if they stopped tearing each other apart.

    "It is possible, Taros," Ang whispered, holding his gaze before turning to the rest. Her lips curved into a soft smile as she gathered strength. "There is no need to fight over who I love the most, because I love you the same. I will do my best to treat you equally, and I will find a way to heal you from your curses. We have so much ahead of us. Instead of fighting, why can’t you stand together?"

    "I don’t like sharing. I have never shared before," Kaito muttered, his arms crossed tightly against his chest, his jaw set with pride.

    "I don’t want to share my girl either," Renn added with a careless shrug.

    "Me too," Hiro said, his voice low but firm.

    Taros nodded silently, his silence showing his agreement more than any words could.

    Ang’s chest burned with frustration. "If you keep acting like this, you will drive me insane," she cried, slipping out of Taros’ grasp. She stepped into the center of them all, forcing them to look at her, her voice trembling with pain. "Today is my birthday. Is this what you nned for me? Is this your surprise?"

    "No," Renn muttered first, his cheeks flushed with shame. He hated himself for letting things go this far.

    "Sorry, it was Kaito’s fault," Hiro quickly added.

    "Oh, now you throw it on me, when you’re the ones who marked her first," Kaito shot back with a sharp re.

    "Kaito..." Ang said softly, her warning eyes begging him to stop. He only shrugged and leaned back against the door, stubborn and unbothered.

    She turned to the rest, her voice breaking. "If you fight like this again, I won’t speak to any of you. I mean it. No more fists. No more blood."

    "It was Taros," Hiro said defensively, rubbing his cheek where the punch hadnded.

    "You asked for it," Taros cut him off coldly, showing no regret.

    "You should have used your powers," Kaito chuckled darkly, but Ang silenced him with a re that could kill.

    "You are really helping out, Kaito," she said, her voice thick with sarcasm. Then her shoulders dropped, and she turned away, her heart heavy as stone. It was breaking her apart to see them like this, to watch the people she loved most destroy each other. She wished they could feel the pain it caused her.

    "If you don’t want to behave," she whispered, her voice trembling with tears she refused to shed, "then I don’t want to see any of you."

    Kaito was overjoyed, and he could not hide it. He quickly made way for her to step into the room, his hand already on the door knob, ready to shut it against his brothers, but they stopped her before he could.

    "Promise we won’t fight again," Taros said, his voice carrying sincerity. He was desperate because the thought of her turning her back on him scared him more than anything.

    "We won’t... I mean, we will try," Hiro added reluctantly. He said it only because he had no choice. He did not want Kaito to take the victory from them.

    Ang turned to Renn and waited. He did not want to say anything, his pride keeping him silent. Atst he sighed and rolled his eyes. "Fine. I won’t promise, but I will try my best."

    "Kaito?" she asked softly, turning to where he stood.

    "Let’s see how things go. I can’t promise anything," Kaito said firmly. "But if they don’t get on my nerves, I will behave. There will be no fighting, okay?"

    "I will take that as your answer," Ang said, forcing a smile and turning back to the others. She wanted to lighten the mood and ease the tension. "So... can I have my presents now?"

    Renn stepped forward first and handed her roses. She loved roses, and he seemed to know that. She lifted them to her nose and breathed in the scent, and immediately her heart rememberedst night and what had happened between them. She hated how her mind reyed it so vividly. The memory burned her cheeks and yet deep down she wished for it again. He knew exactly how to touch her heart.

    "Thank you, Renn. I love this," she said, smiling at him as he stepped aside. Then Taros walked forward and handed her a Vuitton bag, one she had always dreamed of owning. She did not unwrap it immediately, deciding to wait until after school, but her eyes shone with gratitude. "Thank you so much, Taros. You made one of my wishese true."

    Hiro came next with a box of sneakers. Ang’s eyes widened as she stared at them, unable to look away. She never expected such gifts from them. They had gone out of their way to please her, and they seeded. Each present touched her heart because it showed their effort and love.

    "Thank you so much. I really love this," she said warmly.

    "I guess Kaito gave you the diamond ne," Taros said calmly. He did not sound jealous, but neither was he pleased. Ang’s eyes widened as her lips parted, shocked by what she heard. A diamond ne? She had no words.

    "It is precious because it’s his family ne," Taros continued.

    "He is trying so hard to outshine us," Renn muttered bitterly, his eyes green with envy. His heart twisted as he watched her reaction, wondering if she liked Kaito’s gift more than theirs. He could not imagine what was running through her mind at that moment.

    "I don’t think that’s what’s happening," Hiro said, shaking his head. "If we had mothers with nes, of course we would have brought them to her too."

    "Don’t twist it that way," Kaito cut in, his voice low, guilt tugging at him because he could see how his brothers misunderstood. He would never use their loss against them, never remind them of what they didn’t have.

    "That was only a joke," Renn said quickly, brushing it off. "Don’t mind Hiro."

    Ang looked at them, her chest tightening. "I love each one of your gifts," she told them softly. "It’s not about what is expensive but about the thought behind it. Today is the first time in my life I have ever received a birthday gift. I know each of you went out of your way just for me, and I am grateful."

    "Wee, Angel," they said together, their voices filled with warmth.

    Ang gave a small smile and picked up the gifts. "I’ll go and take my bath. I’m alreadyte for school," she said as she ced the presents carefully on her bed. But when she nced back, she saw the boys still standing there. Her brows furrowed. "Why are you still here?"

    "Exactly what I asked them," Kaito said aloud, clearly trying to stir trouble again. Ang sighed, pressing her lips together. She moved closer to the door, waiting for their answers.

    "I’ll walk you to ss," Renn offered immediately. "I don’t know about the others, but I will."

    "No, I’ll take her," Taros said firmly, stepping forward.

    "None of you will. I will," Hiro snapped, his frown deepening before he turned to Ang with a smile as though it would soften his im.

    Ang shut her eyes and rubbed her forehead, a wave of frustration washing over her. "Unbelievable. After everything I just said, here we are again, back at the same fight." Her heart ached with regret. In that moment, she wished she had never told them she was their mate.