CHAPTER 232: PRESSURES

ADAM

As I walked behind my brothers and friends into our territory, my mind was miles away.

I couldn’t stop thinking about Dora. The memory of her cheeks flushed from our last meeting was vivid in my mind.

I remembered how I had wanted to kiss her lips, not just her cheeks. The thought made me ache with longing. I missed her so much. I couldn’t believe how quickly she had come to mean so much to me.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I barely noticed Claire’s voice cutting through my reverie.

"Adam," she said, sounding curious and a little annoyed. "When did you and Dora get so close? She’s tickling your fancy too...?"

I tried to ignore her, hoping she would just go away. I wasn’t in the mood for this conversation. But Claire wasn’t one to let things go easily. She reached out and grabbed my arm, her grip firm.

I turned to glare at her, irritation burning in my eyes. "Don’t touch me," I said sharply. "Just don’t."

Claire’s eyes widened in surprise, and she quickly let go of my arm. I could feel the weight of everyone’s gaze on me as I turned away.

It was clear that my reaction had drawn attention, and I felt the heat of embarrassment on my face. I knew I would be subjected to a longer inquiry by my brothers as soon as we entered our house.

My father, who had been walking a few steps ahead, turned around with a curious expression. "Adam, is there already something going on between you and Dora?"

I hesitated for a moment, feeling the pressure of the situation. I thought about denying it, but the truth was, my feelings for Dora were growing stronger every day. I sighed and decided to be honest. "Yes," I said finally. "There’s something between us."

A gasp followed my answer, but I wasn’t done. I had to think about my relationship with my brothers, and there was the fact that Dora hadn’t agreed to date me. Yet.

"We are friends. I respect her a lot."

I couldn’t help but hear the sigh of relief that escaped Daniel’s lips. Oh well...

I didn’t care to look. I wasn’t sure of the stillness in my eyes, not when it comes to Dora.

Claire’s eyes narrowed, however, as if she’d been waiting for this answer. "So, it’s true then," she said, looking both triumphant and smug.

Before I could respond, Micheal, Claire’s brother, spoke up. "What about her victory? Did you see how well she did?"

Claire’s question was a sharp reminder of why she had interrupted me in the first place. I could see that my reaction had stirred up curiosity and maybe even a little gossip among my friends. It felt like everyone was now focused on me and my relationship with Dora. My father included.

Trying to regain my composure, I said, "Yes, she did really well. I’m proud of her."

Claire’s voice cut through the conversation again. "I didn’t realize you were so invested in her success. It seems like you’ve been spending a lot of time with her."

I could tell she was trying to pry more information out of me, and it frustrated me. "Yes, I’ve been spending time with her," I said tersely. "But it’s really none of your business."

The conversation shifted then as my brothers started talking about other topics, but I could feel the weight of Claire’s questions lingering in the air. I also knew that I wasn’t in the clear yet, at least not from my brothers. They were only saving my hide.

When I looked ahead, my eyes collided with my father’s. After his earlier question, and my answer, I had thought he had moved on. But seeing as he was still immobile, I could safely say that he had been watching me.

From the smirk that coated his lips, I knew that he had gotten whatever it was he wanted. It didn’t sit well with me, especially since Dora turned me down.

But what could I do? I wanted her for myself. And for that, I would play along with my father, for now.

***

As I settled into the sitting room with my brothers, I could feel the tension in the air.

The conversation quickly turned to Dora, as I had expected. Daniel, always the most outspoken among us, was visibly upset. His face was flushed with anger as he spoke.

"I can’t believe you, Adam," Daniel said, his voice tight with frustration. "You made a move on Dora, even though we explicitly agreed to make moves on her privately"

I sighed, trying to stay calm. "Daniel, we had a deal. The agreement was that Dora would choose who she wanted. Nowhere was it stated to make our moves in private or public."

Daniel’s eyes narrowed. "It’s not just about the choice. It’s about respecting the arrangement we made. Now father wants her for you! How’s that fair to the deal we made?! If you’d stuck to the plan, this wouldn’t be a problem."

I shook my head. "The plan was for Dora to have a say in her future. That’s how it was agreed. If she chooses me, then I’m her mate. I won’t let father force her hand. This way, we all have a chance to have her"

Noah spoke up then. "I suppose that’s fair. The arrangement was supposed to respect her choice. But it’s still frustrating. We had a clear path laid out, and now things are more complicated."

A slight pause, before he continued.

"But let’s not argue about this further. It’s done now. We have to deal with the consequences."

The room fell into a tense silence as we all considered what had happened. I could see that none of my brothers were entirely happy with the outcome, but they were willing to accept the situation.

Just then, our father walked in, his presence commanding immediate attention. He looked at me with a stern expression, and I knew this wasn’t going to be a pleasant conversation.

"Adam," he said, his voice firm. "I need you to ensure that Dora becomes your mate. It’s crucial for the stability of our kingdom. No matter what it takes, you must bring her to my side."

I met his gaze and nodded, understanding the gravity of his request. "Yes, Father. I’ll do what is necessary."

My father’s expression softened slightly, but his tone remained serious. "It’s important for the future of the kingdom. We need Dora’s powers and her influence. Do not let personal feelings or obstacles stand in your way."

I nodded again, feeling the weight of his words. "Understood. I’ll make sure it happens."

With that, my father turned and left the room, leaving my brothers and me in a heavy silence. The pressure of the situation was clear, and I had thrown my brothers and I into an impossible situation.

Daniel was right. But I wasn’t going to admit that.

"There’s still a chance. If Dora chooses either of you, I will back out."

My brothers exchanged glances, obviously processing the conversation.

Daniel finally spoke, though his tone was more resigned than angry. "Promise on our mother’s life..."

"I promise." I said, without hesitation, aware of the double pressure that had mounted on me.

Let the games begin.