19. The Choice Is Made

The Choice Is Made

I step out of the bathroom, fully dressed now, and immediately freeze in my tracks. Derek is lounging back casually in my desk chair, legs stretched out, his phone resting on his thigh, while Sebastian, in his usual nonchalant style, is perched on the end of my bed. The oddest part? They're having a normal , casual conversation.

About classes.

Of all things.

I blink, feeling my brain misfire. Are they seriously getting along? Just a few hours ago, these two were practically at each other's throats, and now... what? They're chummy ? Bonding over Monday's class schedule like we're in some alternate universe where everything isn't a complete mess?

I just stand there, staring at them, my mind struggling to process what's unfolding in front of me. This... this can't be real. I must've hit my head getting out of the shower. Yeah, that must be it. No way are these two— my two potential mates—suddenly acting like everything's totally cool between them.

Eventually, Derek notices me standing there, completely frozen, and raises an eyebrow, looking all too amused. "You okay?" he asks casually, as if this is just another day in the life of Zaria.

"Yeah... I think my brain's just short-circuiting," I manage to say, still staring at them like they've both grown an extra head. "You two randomly seem to get along sometimes and not at other times. It's... confusing."

The two of them glance at each other, then shrug in unison like it's the most obvious thing in the world. Derek is the first to respond. "We just enjoy the banter. It's not like there's anything to fight over."

"Ouch," I mock, clutching a hand to my chest in faux offense. "So I'm not worth fighting over?"

Sebastian chuckles, leaning back on his hands. "It's not quite like that," he says smoothly. "It's more like we both know we want you, and we're actually enjoying the fact that you seem to want both of us."

I freeze again, my eyes widening as Sebastian continues, "And without sounding too forward, we're really looking forward to sorting things out with Kyla."

"Why?" I ask, a little cautious now.

"Because," Derek chimes in, leaning forward in the chair, "once Kyla's out of the picture, we won't have to wait any longer to find out your choice."

I feel my stomach drop slightly. "Choice?"

Sebastian nods. "Whether you'll choose one of us, neither of us, or…" He grins, his eyes gleaming with mischief, "both of us."

I bite my lip, my mind spinning as I look down at the floor. What the hell is happening? On Friday morning, I woke up as a single witch with a vendetta, and now, by Sunday, I've somehow found myself with two potential mates—two stubborn potential mates. And they both want me, like… actually want me.

I feel Derek's gaze on me, and when I glance up, he's sitting up straighter, watching me intently. "I know that look," he says softly. "You've already made a decision, haven't you?"

Sebastian's intrigued expression shifts into something sharper, more focused. He stands up and moves closer, eyes locked on mine. "Have you?" His voice is lower now, almost dangerous in its intensity.

I swallow hard, my mind racing. "It's all just… really sudden. I mean, I woke up single, and now I've got two guys who want to be my... well, mates." I let out a breath. "And, yeah, it's flattering, especially because I like you both. For different reasons. But none of those reasons outweigh each other. I don't want to say what I want right now because I'm worried it might hurt one or both of you."

Derek's eyes soften slightly, but he doesn't miss a beat. "Does that mean you're choosing neither of us?"

Before I can answer, Sebastian nudges Derek with a smirk. "No, mate. Her decision is both of us. She's just not sure how we'd react." I blink, caught off guard.

Derek is the first to speak, his voice steady. "I'm completely fine with that," he says firmly. "It means I don't become a rejected mate, and I can be with you, Z. That's all I care about."

Sebastian crosses his arms, nodding in agreement. "Same here. As long as I get to have you, I couldn't care less if Derek's also part of the picture."

I stare at them, speechless. I never expected them to be this... accepting. "But... what about jealousy?"

Sebastian scoffs lightly, waving off the concern. "I told you last night, it's not like that with mates. We're not wired for jealousy when it comes to the bond. We might not like each other, but we won't resent you for being with both of us."

Derek gives me a reassuring smile. "As long as you're happy, Z, that's what matters."

I'm stunned. The weight of the situation starts to lift, but not entirely. "I just… I don't want this to be complicated."

Sebastian chuckles darkly. "Oh, sweetheart, it's already complicated. But that's part of the fun, isn't it?"

I can't help but smile a little at that. Complicated or not, maybe this could work. I close my eyes and rub my temples, feeling the weight of the entire situation press down on me like a boulder. Everything's been spiraling for the past few days, and it's like I'm just trying to keep up. The silence in the room only amplifies my racing thoughts, and before I know it, I let out a long, exhausted sigh.

"Alright," I mutter, my voice softer than I intend. Then, louder, more desperate, "Alright! You win. Both of you. I... I don't know how this whole mate thing is supposed to work, or how I'm supposed to handle any of this... but I care about both of you. Okay?" My hands drop from my temples, and I open my eyes, looking between the two of them. "I care about both of you."

Their faces stay still, watching me, waiting for the flood they clearly see coming. So, of course, I don't disappoint. The words spill out faster than I can stop them.

"I've been trying to wrap my head around it, but it's insane! You're both... different . Like, literally different species that don't even like each other most of the time! That's a thing, right?" I gesture wildly between them. "And yet, somehow, you're both here. And you're getting along and talking like this isn't completely nuts! And then there's me, thinking every time you walk into the room together there's gonna be some sort of high noon showdown , and I can't deal with the tension of waiting for one of you to make a move that's gonna push the other one too far."

Derek and Sebastian exchange a glance, but I barrel on, completely ignoring it.

"And at the same time," I continue, voice rising, "it's kind of... invigorating? Like, this whole ridiculous idea that I could have both of you? I don't know what that means for me—maybe I'm losing it—but the way you two keep showing up and I keep expecting one of you to throw a punch or something, it's driving me insane ! And the flirting? The touching? The kissing ?"

I feel my cheeks heat up as I remember how they've each had their moments with me— very heated moments —and I groan, feeling the weight of it all tumble out.

"I can't take another night or morning of you two just... just playing with me! Toying with me while I'm over here trying not to lose my damn mind because, yes— yes —I want both of you!" The words come out in a rush, like a dam bursting, and once they're out, there's no going back. "There, I said it! I want both of you. I don't know how the hell we're supposed to make that work, but... but I can't stand the idea of picking one of you and hurting the other. And frankly, I don't think I should have to choose because why the hell can't I just have both of you?"

I stop, breathless, my heart racing as I wait for them to react. It's like a weight has been lifted off my chest, but at the same time, I feel like I've just thrown myself into the deep end of the ocean without knowing how to swim. What the hell have I just admitted?

Sebastian's lips curl into a slow, dangerous smile, his eyes glinting with that usual cocky gleam. "Well, that's the most honest thing I've heard all week."

Derek, on the other hand, looks at me with this strange combination of relief and warmth. "Zaria..." His voice is low, almost tender. "You're not crazy. You're just... you."

"Yeah," I mutter, "and apparently ‘me' is someone who's okay with two guys vying for her attention at the same time. I mean... what the hell, right?"

Sebastian chuckles, stepping closer. "Who says we're vying? I think we've already established that we're not fighting over you."

"Exactly," Derek adds, crossing his arms as he leans back against the desk. "We're not interested in making you choose. We're interested in you being happy."

I look between them, my heart still racing, but there's a strange sense of calm settling over me now. "So... you're really okay with this? With me wanting... both of you?"

Sebastian's smirk only deepens. "More than okay, sweetheart. You're more than enough to handle the two of us. The real question is... are you okay with it?"

Derek tilts his head, his eyes locking onto mine with that steady gaze that always manages to calm me down. "You don't have to figure everything out right now, Z. We'll take it one step at a time, but... yeah, we're fine with sharing."

I let out a shaky laugh, finally feeling like I can breathe again. "You two are seriously the most ridiculous people I've ever met."

Sebastian raises an eyebrow, amusement dancing in his eyes. "And yet, here you are, wanting both of us."

I roll my eyes, but a smile tugs at my lips despite everything. "Yeah, well, you're both annoying as hell. But I guess you're my annoying idiots."

Derek grins. "We'll take that."

"I'm fine with you taking your time, Zaria," Sebastian says, his voice softer than usual, "but when you're ready, you need to tell us. You need to be sure."

I blink, confusion crossing my face. "Tell you... what exactly?"

Sebastian straightens up, glancing briefly at Derek before he looks back at me. "When you're ready to make it official. For vampires, it's the first time blood is drawn from a fated mate. That's when you get marked with our symbol, and from that moment on... you're mine."

Derek clears his throat, nodding as he adds, "It's the same for wolves. One bite, and you're marked as ours. But, given the... unique situation here, it has to happen at the same time."

My eyes widen as their words sink in. "At the same time? What does that even mean?"

Derek and Sebastian exchange a look, and it's Sebastian who speaks again. "It's usually pretty painful, even with just one mate. With two? We're not sure how it's going to feel."

I take a moment to process that, my mind spinning. Two marks. Two bites. And at the same time? I'm not sure how to react to that, but there's a part of me that's curious. That craves whatever this bond could bring, even though the thought of pain lingers in my mind.

As I sit on the bed, I try to wrap my head around what I've just agreed to. Marked —by both of them. This is more than just a decision; it's something permanent. But as Derek's hand settles on my leg and Sebastian's arm wraps around my shoulders, the weight of the moment settles into a strange sense of calm. It feels right, even if it's terrifying.

"Okay," I say, my voice steady despite the nervous flutter in my chest. "Do it." Both of them blink in surprise, like they weren't expecting me to make this decision so suddenly. Hell, even I wasn't expecting to decide so fast, but... maybe it's not as sudden as it seems. I've been thinking about this, about them, for days now, and even longer without realizing it.

"Are you sure?" Derek asks, his brow furrowing as he searches my face for any sign of hesitation.

I nod, resolute. "Yes. I'm ready. Do whatever you need to do."

For a moment, they exchange a glance, one of those wordless conversations that only people who truly understand each other can have. Then, in unison, they move. Sebastian gently pulls me further onto the bed, my back pressed into his chest as his hands slide up to my shoulders. He tugs the collar of my loose shirt down, exposing the skin of my neck. My heart races as Derek leans forward, his hands firmly gripping my thighs, his warm breath ghosting over my skin.

And then, it happens.

Both of them bite down on opposite sides of my neck at the same time. The sensation is immediate, sharp, and searing. Derek's jagged wolf teeth sink in, rough and raw, while Sebastian's elongated fangs pierce with a precise, almost surgical pain. It's overwhelming—two different kinds of agony melding together in a way I didn't expect.

I gasp, the sound escaping my throat involuntarily, but it's cut short as the pain intensifies. It's not just a surface-level sting—it's deep, like they're reaching into me, tearing through something unseen but vital. Every nerve in my body lights up, a mixture of white-hot fire and cold shivers. My vision blurs as I try to hold back tears, gritting my teeth to keep from screaming.

But I can't stop it. The pain is too much.

The sensation is indescribable—like being ripped apart and put back together at the same time. Derek's bite feels primal, grounding, while Sebastian's is more like a slow burn, one that sinks deep into my bones. My muscles tense, my breath hitching in my chest as I feel their fangs mark me, claiming me.

And yet, despite the pain, there's an undercurrent of something else—something electric. It pulses beneath the agony, a strange sense of completion, like pieces of a puzzle finally falling into place. I feel them—both of them—on a level I never thought possible. Like they're not just marking my body, but intertwining with my very soul.

But the intensity of it all is too much. My heart pounds in my ears, my vision darkening at the edges, and as I try to hold on, my strength falters.

The last thing I hear is the sound of my own ragged breath, and then... darkness.

When I wake, it's like I've been hit by a freight train. My body feels like it weighs a ton, and my neck aches in a dull but persistent way. I blink a few times, trying to gather my thoughts and get my bearings, but everything feels... off. As I focus, I quickly realize I'm sandwiched between Derek and Sebastian on my tiny dorm bed.

Not just sandwiched—squeezed. Like they somehow both decided they needed to be as close as possible to me. Derek's arm is draped protectively across my waist, his body pressing into my side, while Sebastian has one of my legs tangled with his, his hand resting possessively on my hip.

I'm completely stuck.

And yet, it's not uncomfortable. It's oddly warm, like being cocooned in safety, though I'm not used to feeling so... held.

I shift a little, trying to move, but Derek's arm tightens around me. "You need to stay down," he says softly, his voice rumbling in my ear. "You've been through a lot. Rest."

Sebastian chuckles from my other side, his breath warm against my neck. "Yeah, if you need something, we'll get it for you. But you're not moving."

I tilt my head back and roll my eyes, even though they can't see it. "Then at least tell me what time it is," I say. "One minute, it was morning, and now... it's dark outside."

Derek shifts slightly, glancing at the window. "It's around 6 p.m. You've been out for a while."

"If you're hungry," Sebastian adds, "we can grab you something to eat." I sigh, tangled in their limbs, but a strange comfort washes over me. I lift a hand to touch my neck, running my fingers over the spots where they bit me. To my surprise, I can't feel any wounds. No broken skin, no scarring. Just smooth flesh.

"Mate bites disappear," Derek says, his voice soft but reassuring, as if reading my thoughts.

"Can't say the same for any bites that may be coming later, though," Sebastian adds, his voice dripping with playful mischief.

I shoot him a tired but sarcastic glare, my mind still trying to wrap around everything that's happened. My whole world shifted today. I'm marked by two guys who are somehow okay with it, and here I am, tangled up with them, feeling... safe.