Fated To Not Just One But Three novel Chapter 596

Chapter 596: Lashes

Lennox’s POV

I stared at Levi, trying to read what was going on behind his eyes.

Why a spar? And why add a prize to it?

Nothing about this felt casual. Levi never did anything without reason—and the look on his face told me this wasn’t about training or entertainment.

My first instinct was to refuse.

Every part of me wanted to say no, to step back, to avoid this entirely. Sparring with an Alpha—with Levi—was dangerous on too many levels. If I fought the way I truly could, I’d expose myself. If I refused, it would look like fear... or worse, disrespect.

And you don’t disrespect an Alpha.

So I inclined my head. "As you wish."

His lips curved slightly, but there was no humor in it. "Good."

We moved toward the weapon rack. Warriors were already starting to gather, sensing something worth watching. I reached for a short blade, deliberately choosing something basic. Levi picked twin batons—his favorite.

He looked angry.

Not explosive anger. Controlled. Cold. The kind that sat deep in the bones.

This wasn’t a friendly spar.

We took our positions in the circle, warriors forming a loose ring around us. I rolled my shoulders once, grounding myself, forcing Kaine to the surface.

Not Lennox. Never Lennox.

"Begin," Levi said.

He came at me hard.

Fast, powerful, precise.

I blocked the first strike easily—too easily—and had to consciously slow myself down, letting the impact shove me back a step. Levi pressed forward, his movements sharp, aggressive, and full of anger.

It was almost... surreal.

Fighting Levi like this—pretending I didn’t know his habits, his timing, his tells. I knew exactly when he would faint. Exactly when he would overcommit. Exactly how to end this in less than a minute.

If I were Lennox, this would already be over.

But I wasn’t allowed to be him.

So I fought like Kaine.

I let my footing slip just enough. Let my guard lag a heartbeat too slow. Let him land blows I should have avoided.

The warriors started cheering, calling Levi’s name, feeding his dominance, his pride. If I wanted to crush his ego, all I had to do was win.

But I didn’t.

I never did.

This wasn’t the first time I’d let Levi win. And deep down, I knew he knew that.

He shifted into his signature move—the one he always used when he thought he had the upper hand. I saw it coming from a mile away.

I could have dodged.

I didn’t.

His baton swept my legs out from under me, and before I could roll, he was on me—knee to my chest, weapon pressed to my throat.

The yard erupted in cheers.

Levi had won.

But he didn’t look satisfied.

He leaned down, close enough that only I could hear him. His grip tightened just slightly—not enough to hurt, but enough to warn.

"Interesting," he murmured.

My heart skipped.

"I didn’t feel anything," he went on quietly. "No bond reaction. No shock."

Then his voice dropped, low and sharp.

"So tell me, Guard... why do you have the scent of my mate on you?"

Shit.

I kept my face blank, my breathing steady, even as every instinct screamed. Levi’s eyes burned into mine, searching, calculating.

"I may not have felt anything," he continued, teeth clenched, "but don’t think I won’t notice that."

Before I could respond, he stood abruptly and stepped back.

"Our deal stands," he said loudly. "I won."

The warriors roared in approval.

Levi turned to another guard. "A hundred strokes. Now."

The words hit like a hammer.

The crowd went silent for half a second—then erupted again, shocked, excited, thrilled.

I stayed on the ground for a moment longer, forcing myself to breathe.

This was his plan all along.

And as I was hauled to my feet, one truth rang louder than anything else—

Levi knew.

He might not understand how. He might not have proof.

But he knew something about me didn’t add up.

Two guards each grabbed my arms as they dragged me to the pillar where I would be tied and flogged. I realized Levi had a plan all along. He didn’t just want to have a friendly match with me. He knew from the beginning that I had Olivia’s smell on me, and he used this fight as a means to punish me so no one would know the actual reasons.

As I was being tied to the tree, anger flared inside me, but I held myself back. I wasn’t Lennox. I was Kaine, and I couldn’t come out of character now.

The first lash came down hard.

So hard my breath tore out of my lungs before I could stop it.

Pain exploded across my back, white and blinding, like fire ripping through skin. I clenched my jaw, my hands curling into fists as the rope bit into my wrists. Without my wolf—without his strength, his healing—I was just flesh and bone.

Just a man.

The second lash followed almost immediately.

Then the third.

Each strike landed with a sharp crack that echoed through the yard, the sound cutting deeper than the pain itself. My back burned, skin splitting, heat spreading fast and merciless.

"Keep going," Levi ordered coldly.

Then something terrifyingly calm settled over her features.

She turned slowly toward Levi.

"What," she asked quietly, "is going on here?"

Levi frowned, clearly annoyed at the interruption. "We had a bet," he said flatly. "He lost."

I felt her aura spike.

"A bet?" she repeated.

"Yes," Levi said. "He agreed to the terms."

She looked back at me, at the blood soaking through my clothes, at the way my shoulders trembled despite my effort to stay still.

Then she snapped back to Levi.

"And you thought strokes was appropriate?"

Levi ignored her and turned to the guards. "Continue."

Her voice echoed. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

"Don’t you dare."

Every guard froze.

Silence slammed down over the yard, thick and suffocating.

Olivia stepped between Levi and me, her back to my ruined body, her chin lifted, her hands clenched at her sides.

"I said stop," she repeated, her voice deadly. "If any of you touch him again, you will answer to me."

The guards immediately dropped the lash and stepped back, heads lowered.

Levi’s eyes narrowed. "Olivia—"

"You don’t get to do this," she cut in sharply. "Not without my consent. Not to someone under my authority."

"He’s just a guard," Levi snapped.

Her head turned slowly.

The look she gave him made my blood run cold.

"He is my guard," she said, each word precise. "And you will explain to me—right now—why he was being flogged like an animal."

Levi hesitated.

Just for a second.

And that was all it took.

Because Olivia already knew this wasn’t about a bet.

She turned slightly, her gaze flicking back to me. Our eyes met.

Something unspoken passed between us—rage, fear, guilt, something deeper. Something I just couldn’t explian.

Her jaw tightened.

"Untie him," she said again, softer now—but no less commanding.

"No one dares," Levi growled.