Their Secret Obsession (A Reverse Harem) by Pippa Moon

Chase's POV

Back in the extravagant bedroom, we closed the door behind us. I leaned back against the cool, ornate wood, feeling the chill seep through my shirt and into my skin as I watched Liam. The cold served as a stark contrast to the heat of the emotions swirling inside me. Liam leaned against the wall opposite me, running a hand through his dishevelled hair.

I could sense the frustration emanating from him, a palpable energy that filled the room. His eyes were distant, clouded with thoughts I could only guess at. I knew it was only going to get worse because I clearly needed to fill my brother in before he did something that would not only make things worse but seal our fate.

"Did that just happen?" Liam asked, disbelief colouring his voice.

"I think so." I nodded, sinking back into the door, hoping it would swallow me up.

"She knew we were there the whole time," he mused. "And she didn't seem angry." There was a hint of admiration in his tone. Despite everything, Liam seemed impressed with the Moon Goddess. His eyes held a glimmer of respect, perhaps even awe, at her serene demeanour and the power she exuded. It was as if, for a moment, he believed she might be an ally rather than an obstacle.

"No, but she wanted us to hear," I acknowledged aloud. "Or at least, she wanted us to hear some of it."

"Choosing between her mates and the babies," Liam murmured, his expression darkening. "That's... unimaginable." A shadow passed over his face, and I could see the guilt and shame settling in. His jaw tightened, and his fists clenched at his sides. The reality of Lottie's situation was sinking in, and with it, a simmering anger. Angry at himself for not knowing, for not protecting her sooner; anger at the forces that put her in this position. The weight of responsibility bore down on him, and I felt a mirrored heaviness in my own heart. "There's got to be a way to prevent it," I proclaimed firmly. "We can't let Lottie face that kind of decision." He met my gaze, determination hardening his features.

"You're going to do something stupid, aren't you?" he asked, his eyes filled with apprehension. There was a mix of fear and resignation in his voice, as if he already knew the answer but hoped I might prove him wrong.

"Like you aren't?" I questioned, my lips curling into a smirk. I hesitated, recalling Selene's cryptic advice. "She told me to 'think it through.' Maybe there's something we're missing. Some piece of the puzzle we haven't considered."

"Astaroth's deal... We only knew parts of it. He turned up the night we were bringing Lottie back with us, asking for help. Claiming she was at risk. That the twins needed to be kept away to keep her safe." Liam sighed, shaking his head as he slid down the wall. His shoulders slumped, and the fight seemed to drain out of him momentarily. His eyes were distant, lost in memories or perhaps the weight of possibilities. The usually sharp intensity was replaced with a weariness I hadn't seen before. Lines of worry etched deeper into his face, making him look older than his years.

"Maybe we need to find out exactly what Lottie agreed to," Liam pondered.

"There is something I should tell you..." I admitted, closing my eyes as I followed Liam's lead and slid down the door.

"I know more than I have let on..." I started to say, but Liam's lips twisted into a smirk that I knew would be short-lived.

"No shit." Liam scoffed, his smile soft. There was no judgement in it, just simple facts.

"I knew Lottie had to hide from the Moon Goddess; I knew she made a deal with a demon-with Astaroth, to keep her safe from the games the Moon Goddess had planned for her. There was a heavy price for it, though." I nodded as I recalled the facts.

Slowly, I told Liam about the deal

Astaroth had insisted on, where he

would help keep the four of them together and hide things from the Moon Goddess if they promised that when their daughter was born, she would be promised to him on. turning 18. Each word felt like a confession, heavy and damning. I watched Liam's face as spoke, seeing the shift from confusion to horror to betrayal. The silence between us grew thick, almost suffocating, as the gravity of my revelations settled in.

Liam was quiet for a moment before he stood, pacing back and forth silently. His eyes flashed with a storm of emotions-rage, disbelief, hurt. The air crackled with tension, and I could feel my own anxiety mounting.

My heart pounded in my chest as I watched him wrestle with the information. I feared his reaction, knowing I'd betrayed his trust. His fists clenched and unclenched at his sides, knuckles turning white. The muscles in his jaw worked furiously as he ground his teeth, and a vein throbbing visibly at his temple.

I could see the cogs turning in his head and feel the fury rising in him. Chewing my lip, I got up too and took a step closer, resting my hand on his shoulder to try and be of comfort to him, or explain further at last. But Liam spun, his fist colliding with my jaw and knocking me to the floor.

Pain exploded across my face, a sharp, burning sensation that radiated through my skull. I tasted blood in my mouth as I landed hard on my back, the wind knocked out of me. The room spun for a moment, and stars danced in my vision. I looked up at him, eyes wide, a mix of shock and understanding.

"You have done some dumb shit in your time, but this takes the fucking biscuit!" he roared, slamming his fist into the nearby wall. The drywall cracked under the force, a jagged line splintering outward. His chest heaved with each ragged breath, eyes wild and filled with a fierce intensity. I knew that hitting the wall was his way of restraining himself, of preventing another blow from landing on me. The raw emotion on his face was both terrifying and heartbreaking.

"I thought I was helping," I tried to explain, my voice barely above a whisper. But Liam shook his head, not wanting to hear what I had to say.

"No niece of mine, no family of mine, will be forced into anything they don't want."

"It might not be that simple," a gentle

voice announced into the room. Turning, I met the white eyes of the Moon Goddess. My stomach

a

tightened, a.mix of excitement and dread flooding my senses. Her sudden appearance was both relief and a new source of anxiety. Part of me hoped she might offer a solution, while another feared she was here to pass judgement. My heart raced, and I could feel a cold sweat break out across my forehead. The air seemed thinner, each breath a conscious effort.

"Why?" I finally asked, finding my voice.