《Mated to the Triplet Alphas》


 Chapter 1: Like What You See, Little Servant?

    <h4>Chapter 1: Chapter 1: Like What You See, Little Servant?</h4>


    *Hazel*


    I suppressed a groan as my muscles tingled with protest. The sun was just beginning to rise and I had already been up for over two hours. My fingers were raw from scrubbing the floor and cleaning the bathrooms. I didn¡¯t have time to dwell on how tired I was though. I needed to make sure I was downstairs and standing at attention in the kitchen in ten minutes.


    I didn¡¯t have much time ording to my watch and I quickly wiped some sweat off of my brow before rushing down the steps of the expansive pack mansion.


    ¡°Cutting it a little close there, aren¡¯t you?¡± asked the cook, a kind elderly woman named ra.


    I grimaced but offered her a smile in greeting. ¡°I had a lot to finish this morning,¡± I said but quickly took my post just to the left of the Luna¡¯s chair.


    I barely had enough time to catch my breath when the Alpha¡¯s family strode through the double doors leading into the dining room. The cook and the other servants straightened but lowered their eyes to our Alpha and Luna.


    Alpha Henry and Luna Evelyn were the definition of authority. They were well-respected by every pack member but also feared. Alpha Henry¡¯s icy blue eyes were cold enough to freeze over an entire room and Luna Evelyn¡¯s matching cool exterior made even the toughest shifter squirm with nerves.


    The three young men who strode in after them were clearly a product of the two pack leaders. All of us servants straightened even further as the three sons of the Alpha and Luna marched in.


    My heart stuttered at theirrge forms. They had toe in single file or they would havepletely filled the doorway.


    Lucas Sullivan was the eldest of the triplets. Even though it was only by a few minutes, he exuded the confident air of the oldest brother.


    Lucas met my gaze and I quickly looked down again to avert my eyes. Not quick enough though. I felt the sternest brother stop in front of me.


    ¡°Like what you see, little servant?¡± he drawled, his voice low and deep.


    I clenched my jaw, hating the way he once again brought attention to how much lower I was than them in the hierarchy.


    I heard his two younger brothers chuckle at the joke, further adding to my shame.


    Lucas stepped away from me without a care and sat down next to his father, effectivelybeling himself as the right hand.


    A little bit of tension left my shoulders as the next brother came up to me. Liam wasn¡¯t nearly as cruel to me as his other brothers.


    That didn¡¯t mean the more yful of the triplets wasn¡¯t intimidating though. Like his brothers, Liam was broad-shouldered and rugged. His deep, dark eyes looked like they could prate through any soul, leaving nothing hidden.


    I snuck a nce up at Liam as he walked by me, immediately regretting it when I realized he was watching me just as his brother had been. He looked like he was going to continue to his seat, but when we met gazes, he smirked and walked right up to me. I tried to duck my head but not before the middle brother flicked my nose, bringing tears of pain and shock to my eyes.


    ¡°Keep your eyes down next time,¡± he scolded before he too sat down at the dining table.


    I couldn¡¯t even rx, even though two of the three brothers were now seated and leaving me alone. An equallyrge figure appeared in front of my eyes. I kept my head down this time, refusing to meet the gaze of the owner of the toned male chest in front of me.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, keep your eyes down,¡± Levi, the youngest brother said with satisfaction.


    My cheekbones burned but I didn¡¯t need to see Levi¡¯s dark eyes to know that they were glinting with pleasure at my difort. Although Levi was the youngest of the three, he was still terrifying and fed off of my fear and on my pain, just like his other brothers did.


    Levi scoffed when I didn¡¯t respond and went to take his seat next to Liam.


    ¡°Well, what are you waiting for, girl?¡± Luna Evelyn demanded. ¡°Begin serving us our breakfast at once!¡±


    ¡°Yes, Luna,¡± I squeaked before doing as ordered, putting eggs and bacon on each of their tes.


    ¡°Be quick about it, girl,¡± Alpha growled, watching me with narrowed eyes. He scoffed.


    Luna Evelyn sniffed. ¡°And to think we took you in and gave you a practical way to pay your parents¡¯ debt. Such ungratefulness!¡±


    ¡°My apologies, Luna,¡± I said, keeping my head bowed.


    After my parents died in an ident, I was taken in by the Alpha and his family. I was informed that my parents owed a great amount of money to the Alpha and Luna. They announced that I would be their maid in service in order to pay them back.


    I was only ten years old when I started cleaning and waiting on the whole family. They were all cruel toward me, ordering me to work from sun up til sundown,ing up with tiring chores for me toplete before I finally copsed in bed each night,pletely exhausted.


    ¡°You have managed to remember that tomorrow is our sons¡¯ birthdays,¡± Alpha Henry said in a hard voice as I scrambled to get their coffees poured quickly but without spilling a drop.


    If I made a minor mistake like that, the punishment would be severe.


    ¡°Yes, Alpha,¡± I said respectfully.


    ¡°I expect the decorations to be immacte,¡± Luna Evelyn cut in, glowering at me like if it wasn¡¯t, her sons would be cursed or something. ¡°Everything must go perfectly. You¡¯ll know what to expect if it doesn¡¯t.¡±


    I swallowed thickly but bowed to her, ducking my head. ¡°Yes, Luna Evelyn. I understand perfectly.¡±


    Although I felt rotten by how they were treating me. I refused to cry.


    I was going to be strong and continue to live the way my parents would have wanted me to.


    ***


    ¡°Is this the best you could do?¡±


    I turned to look at Jessie. She was the daughter of one of the higher ups of the pack and was studying interior design. She was sent to ensure that I didn¡¯t mess up the decorations, despite the fact that Luna Evelyn put me in charge of them.


    I tried to keep the annoyance out of my tone as I turned to face her. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Jessie gestured around arrogantly. ¡°These are so typical, not special enough for the triplets¡¯ birthday.¡±


    I looked around the grand ballroom. I had chosen golds and bronzes to symbolize the status of the guys. There were balloons and bouquets of flowers strewn everywhere. The gold and bronze against the stark white table linens looked sophisticated to me, perfect for an eighteenth birthday celebration.


    ¡°These are some of the guys¡¯ favorite colors,¡± I told Jessie as patiently as I could. ¡°I¡¯ve grown up with them so I¡¯m fairly certain they¡¯ll be epting of the decorations.¡±


    Jessie¡¯s jaw dropped before her eyes narrowed. ¡°How dare you imply that you know them better than anyone?¡±


    Before I could protest that that wasn¡¯t what I was saying at all, the door opened and the topic of our conversation strode in, their girlfriends hanging onto their thick arms.


    I tried to school my expression. Mnie, Kira, and Annie were stuck-up and arrogant, so I felt they were the perfect match for the triplets. I wondered how long these girls would be around since the triplets go through women like they do clothing. It was rare for them to keep girlfriends for more than three months.


    I heard Liam whistle low as he got a look at the ballroom. ¡°Nice,¡± he said appreciatively.


    ¡°We¡¯re here to check on your progress, little maid,¡± Lucas said as he approached, Mnie holding onto him tightly.


    ¡°You¡¯re just in time!¡± Jessie shrieked, stepping forward. She pointed an using finger at me. ¡°Hazel here imed she would be the best mate to the three of you!¡±


    I reeled in shock. ¡°No-¡± I started to say.


    ¡°How dare you!¡± Mnie cried out, stalking forward. ¡°You could nevernd our men!¡±


    ¡°Little bitch!¡± Kira snarled.


    ¡°You¡¯re in for it now!¡± Annie added. ¡°You¡¯re nothing but a lowly maid!¡±


    ¡°Ladies,¡± I heard Liam warn, a clear warning in his voice.


    I didn¡¯t even have time to blink before a pping sound rang out throughout the ballroom, a stinging pain apanying it. My hand flew to my throbbing cheek and I stared at Mnie in shock.

 Chapter 2: The Shift

    <h4>Chapter 2: Chapter 2: The Shift</h4>


    Hazel¡¯s POV


    My cheeks stung like hell.


    I stared at Annie in shock, not believing that she would actuallyy her hands on me.


    A wave of anger surged through me. I stepped forward, ready to deliver my own p.


    But Liam got to her before me. He snatched her hand mid-air and yanked it down.


    She let out a sharp cry. ¡°L-Liam, what are you doing?¡±


    Fury marred his face. His eyes went so dark, they were practically ck.


    ¡°Who gave you permission to touch her?¡± He growled.


    I stopped in my tracks, shocked to hear his words. My eyes widened.


    Was he¡ªwas he really defending me? No, it couldn¡¯t be!


    ¡°I asked you a question!¡± He snapped, squeezing her hand tighter.


    She blinked in shock. ¡°You heard her! You heard what she said. How can a lowly maid like her call herself your mate.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s true,¡± Mnie added, eyeing me angrily. ¡°That dirty little thing can never be your mate. She needed to be taught a lesson.¡±


    Levi, her boyfriend, moved towards her so quickly that she stumbled back.


    I couldn¡¯t understand what was going on. What were the triplets doing?


    I waited for them to turn around andugh at me saying, ¡®Oh, so you really thought we¡¯d defend you? Silly girl!¡¯


    Instead, they kept glowering at the girls.


    Only Lucas hadn¡¯t said a word so far. His face was hard but he was always like that so it was hard to know what he was thinking.


    Kira looped her hand through his, pouting.


    ¡°Baby, Annie didn¡¯t do anything wrong. Tell your brothers to stop,¡± she said in a whiny, cutesy voice.


    It made me almost throw up in my mouth in disgust.


    It was even worse when she started batting her eyes at him like a bat.


    I waited to hear what he would say. As the eldest, he could easily shut this down and take their side.


    I wouldn¡¯t be able to say or do anything about it.


    Surprisingly, he yanked his hand out of Kira¡¯s grasp.


    She stumbled back with a gasp.


    ¡°I¡¯ll tell you this only once, Hazel is our maid. She belongs to us. We¡¯re the only ones who can touch her. Understood?¡± he snapped.


    The three girls paled at his words.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re choosing that stinky maid over us, your girlfriends!¡± Mnie cried.


    Annie nodded, starting to cry. I rolled my eyes at the dramatics. ¡°We¡¯re the ones who love you. We should be your mate. She will never measure up,¡± she added.


    Their words sparked my fury again. ¡°I don¡¯t care about having your boyfriends as my mate!¡± I cried. ¡°You can have them for all I care.¡±


    ¡°Are you trying to pretend that you don¡¯t want them now because you¡¯ve been caught?¡± Kira snapped.


    ¡°It¡¯s your fault for believing Jessie¡¯s stupid lie. I don¡¯t want them. I¡¯ve never wanted them. I don¡¯t even want or need a mate at all!¡±


    At those words, the triplets turned to me sharply.


    Lucas¡¯ eyes narrowed. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± He asked.


    I shrugged. ¡°I mean exactly what I said. I have zero interest in finding a mate. As a matter of fact, I hope I don¡¯t have one!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s crazy,¡± Liam snapped. ¡°Everybody cares about finding their mate.¡±


    ¡°Not me,¡± I countered instantly. ¡°The only thing I want is to leave the Emberfang Pack as soon as possible!¡±


    ¡°Leave!?¡± Lucas eximed. ¡°You can¡¯t leave! You¡¯re our maid. You have a debt to pay!¡±


    I smirked slightly. ¡°For your information, my debt will be officially paid off tomorrow, the day I turn eighteen years old.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re turning eighteen tomorrow? I never knew we shared the same birthday,¡± Lucas eximed.


    ¡°Exactly! You never knew or bothered to know. Which is exactly why I do not want you guys to be my mates whether you believe it or not.¡±


    I turned to the girls who were watching our exchange with wide eyes.


    ¡°So you see? You have nothing to worry about,dies. You can keep them as your mate. I don¡¯t care.¡±


    From the corner of my eyes, I saw Lucas open his mouth to say something.


    I didn¡¯t wait to hear whatever it was. I¡¯d had enough.


    Without a word, I ran out the door, praying that they wouldn¡¯t try to follow me.


    My work here was done anyway. The decorations were set. The caterers were ready. The DJ was ready.


    I didn¡¯t have any intention of attending the party.


    What would a girl like me do at a party filled with stuck-up rich kids who would only look down on me?


    Thankfully, the triplets didn¡¯t try to follow me. The girls most likely held onto them to keep them from running after me.


    Good!


    I went straight home and locked myself in my room.


    As I crashed into bed, I couldn¡¯t help but remember how the triplets immediately jumped to my defense.


    It still felt so strange. I couldn¡¯t imagine what they were thinking.


    I sighed, turning over. I shouldn¡¯t read too much into it.


    They just saw me as one of their properties. Like a gold watch. Or one of those Bentleys they rode around town.


    They hated people touching their things. That was probably why they reacted like that.


    I¡¯m sure they were probably thinking, ¡°Nobody can hit her except us.¡±


    I rolled my eyes. At least, I would soon get to leave this ce once and for all.


    I would never have to deal with their drama anymore.


    ******


    I didn¡¯t know when I fell asleep. The next thing I knew was that I woke up to incredible, blinding pain.


    I let out a scream, arching my back in the bed.


    Panic clouded my mind. Through the haze of pain and fear, only one thought pushed through: ¡¯What the hell is happening to me?¡¯


    There was a loud cracking sound. My leg bent the wrong way. I screamed. Before I could get over that pain, my hand snapped too.


    That was when I realized it¡ªI was experiencing my first shift.


    That knowledge of that did nothing to reduce the pain. All I could do was shut my eyes tight and try to control my breathing while I waited for it to end.


    Finally, the pain ceased. I found myself on the floor, shivering. How I got to the floor from the bed, I had no idea.


    I gently picked myself up only to realize that I was on all fours. My fingers were gone, reced by sharp ws. My skin was gone, reced with shiny gray fur.


    I was a full wolf.


    Finally!


    A scent tickled my nose. I instinctively turned towards it, realizing it wasing from outside the room. I found myself rushing out the door towards it.


    It was the most intoxicating scent I¡¯d ever smelt. My brain went nk. The only thought in my head was that I needed to get to that scent!


    I followed it, tripping and tumbling over my legs in my rush. Still, I didn¡¯t stop until I got to the source of the scent.


    The ce where the scent was strongest in the house.


    A huge in ck door sat in front of me. An insignia of three golden crowns intertwined was painted in the middle.


    I gasped.


    The triplet¡¯s private wing!


    So that meant...this scent was...


    A strange feeling filled my chest. I¡¯d never felt anything like it ever before. Light and heavy. Complete and empty. All at the same time.


    At that moment, I suddenly realized what this meant¡ªthe Sullivan brothers were my fated mates.

 Chapter 3: A Shocking Discovering

    <h4>Chapter 3: Chapter 3: A Shocking Discovering</h4>


    The door mmed open and the triplets waltzed in.


    ¡°I think we need to let the other guys get some of the girls once in a while,¡± Lucas said,ughing as they made their way into the house.


    They¡¯d been at the club all night, having fun with their friends and it¡¯d almost turned into an argument¡ªagain.


    ¡°It¡¯s not our fault that the girls only want us no matter where we go,¡± Levi said, smirking.


    The dark house seemed to shimmer with their golden presence as soon as they arrived.


    ¡°Keep your voices down,¡± Liam shushed his brothers, tossing a can of soda at Levi¡¯s head with blinding speed.


    Levi caught the tossed can without blinking, smirking at his brother. ¡°You¡¯re getting slow, brother,¡± he jested.


    Liam rolled his eyes. They headed to their wing.


    Lucas reached the ck door with the emblem of the three golden crowns first. He grabbed the handle then froze.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Liam asked, looking over his brother¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°Someone has been in here,¡± Lucas growled.


    They immediately went into attack mode. One thing about them, they hated it when anyone touched their stuff. Their rooms were out of bounds, even to most of the house staff.


    ¡°Do you think they¡¯re still inside?¡± Levi asked, growling.


    ¡°Let¡¯s find out!¡± Lucas mmed the door open and walked into the hall. His brothers rushed in after him.


    But the hall was empty. The only presence left in the rooms was a faint, distinct but familiar scent.


    The triplets froze at the same time. Their eyes jerked to each other.


    ¡°That scent...¡± Levi gasped.


    ¡°It¡¯s definitely...¡± Liam added, wide-eyed.


    Lucas finally hit the nail on the head. ¡°Hazel!¡±


    There was no mistaking her scent. She¡¯d lived with them for years now. They knew her scent like the back of their hands.


    But today, something was different. Very, very different. Today, her scent was like an intoxicating wine. It hit them like a blow to the gut. It nearly sent them into a frenzy.


    ¡°She is our mate,¡± Lucas spat, disbelief in his voice.


    Their wolves wed at them, struggling to take control. They had to clench their fists tightly to keep their wolf from jumping out and rushing to im Hazel wherever she was.


    They found the room one by one, but all of them went silent. Each of the triplets lost in their own thoughts.


    Since they were identical triplets, they always anticipated the possibility of sharing a mate. But they never knew it would be Hazel.


    ¡°This changes everything,¡± Levi muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. ¡°Do you think she knows?¡±


    Lucas rolled his eyes at his youngest brother. ¡°Of course, she does. Why else would she havee into our wing?¡±


    ¡°How do you think she is going to take the news?¡± Liam asked quietly. ¡°Considering...¡±


    He didn¡¯t have to finish the sentence. They all knew what he was going to say: ¡®Considering how we treated her in the past.¡¯


    They¡¯d spent years making her life miserable. It was all just in jest but seeing how she reacted at the venue earlier, she didn¡¯t seem to have found their jokes funny at all.


    Fate had yed the meanest trick on them by making her their mate.


    ¡°What are we going to do now? She is our mate. We can¡¯t live without her,¡± Liam eximed.


    ¡°What if she rejects us?¡± Levi added wide-eyed.


    ¡°We will make her ept us,¡± Lucas said firmly. ¡°She is ours. She¡¯s our mate now. We can never let her go.¡±


    Liam¡¯s face hardened too. ¡°You¡¯re right. She belonged to us in the past even before this mate business. And now, she belongs to us in an even better way.¡±


    ¡°And we never give away what belongs to us to others!¡± Levi added.


    They shared a smirk, an unspoken agreement passing between them: Hazel would be theirs, no matter what.


    ******


    ~ Hazel¡¯s POV ~


    By the next day, I was still walking around in a daze.


    ¡®It can¡¯t be true! There¡¯s no way the triplets are my mates! Surely, the moon goddess cannot be that cruel.¡¯


    Those three had been my tormentors for years! All I¡¯d been waiting for was my opportunity to escape them forever.


    But now fate was trying to bind me to them for eternity!? A lump grew in my throat, my heart pounding loudly.


    I went through my chores like a zombie, a million thoughts racing through my mind. My number one thought was:


    ¡®I must avoid the triplets at all costs!¡¯


    I couldn¡¯t afford to run into them today. I wasn¡¯t ready to face them. Once they found out I was their mate, they would be furious.


    How could a lowly maid like me be their mate? They would definitely reject me. The thought sent a jolt of devastation through my heart.


    I sighed heavily, gripping the mop bucket tighter as I made my way to the next spot I needed to clean in the packhouse.


    As I turned the hallway, I almost bumped right into someone. With a little scream, I jerked backward, scared that I¡¯d gotten dirty water on them.


    As a maid, almost every person in the park was above me. A mistake like that could get me a serious scolding or even a beating.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry!¡± I gasped quickly, looking down to make sure I didn¡¯t spill any water. ¡°It was all my fault. I wasn¡¯t looking where I was¡ª¡±


    My eyes jerked up, only to sh with thest person I wanted to see right now. Jessie.


    ¡°You¡¯re right! It¡¯s all your fault, you stupid bitch. Why weren¡¯t you looking where you were going!?¡± She screeched.


    I sighed wearily. ¡°I already apologized to you,¡± I pointed out.


    ¡°Would an apology fix my shoes that you sshed dirty water on? Do you even know how much these shoes cost, you filthy maid? It costs more than your life is worth!¡±


    ¡°The water didn¡¯t get on you at all!¡± I cried. ¡°I checked to make sure.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not the one who is going to tell me whether it got on my shoes or not! Get on your knees and clean my shoes with your tongue!¡± She demanded.


    My jaw dropped. ¡°You can¡¯t be serious!¡±


    ¡°Try me,¡± she spat. ¡°Get on your knees, bitch!¡±


    ¡°I will do no such thing!¡± I cried. ¡°The water didn¡¯t get on you at all. And I might be a maid, but I also deserve basic human decency!¡±


    ¡°Are you talking back at me, you nobody? It seems you¡¯ve forgotten your ce in this pack! I¡¯ll remind you,¡± she eximed.


    I never got to know what she nned to do because we suddenly heard the sound of footsteps running towards us.


    The scent hit me before they even arrived¡ªmate. Our noise must have woken one of the triplets up! Panic rose in my chest. I dropped the bucket on the floor and fled like a frightened animal.


    ¡°Where the hell are you going? I¡¯m not done with you,¡± Jessie shouted after me, confused at my sudden departure.


    Before she could follow me, she saw Levi rushing down the stairs. Her demeanor immediately changed. The cold, furious look on her face vanished, reced by a sweet smile.


    ¡°Oh, hi there, Levi!¡± She said softly, putting her hand on his chest. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to see you here.¡±


    Levi barely spared her a nce. He shoved her hand off his body. A shocked look crossed her face but she recovered quickly.


    She smirked, moving closer to him again. ¡°I was just teaching that silly Hazel a lesson before you came. If you¡¯de a few seconds earlier, you could have watched,¡± she saidughing.


    She gave him an expectant look, expecting him tough with her as usual. But she was silenced by a cold, furious look.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you ever¡ª¡± he growled, taking a threatening step forward.


    Jessie stumbled back. Fear shed across her face.


    ¡°¡ªever, in your life, run your filthy mouth about Hazel ever again!¡±


    A squeak burst out from her lips. She whirled around and hightailed it out of there.


    Levi reached into his pocket, pulled out his phone and dialed a number. As soon as the person picked, he didn¡¯t bother with pleasantries.


    ¡°We need to talk,¡± he dered.

 Chapter 4: Crash!

    <h4>Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Crash!</h4>


    I was among the first set of people to arrive at the triplet¡¯s birthday party venue.


    The caterers, DJ and other party staff were already running around setting up for the party.


    I sighed heavily watching the organized chaos but I couldn¡¯t help but feel proud of myself for putting all this together.


    What in the world made me think that I could avoid attending the party anyway? I mentally pped myself for having such a stupid thought.


    Of course, I had to be here to do more maid duties and make sure that everything went well.


    The housekeeper found me first thing this morning to pile on a list of more tasks for me to handle at the party.


    ¡°Order of the Luna,¡± she said.


    I was just d that the Luna didn¡¯te looking for me herself. I was trying to avoid every single one of them.


    But avoiding the triplets was turning out to be an impossible task. There was no way I could avoid running into them at the party.


    My only hope was that they¡¯d be too busy to pay any attention to me.


    Their friends would be here. As well as their girlfriends. Hopefully, that would keep them too busy to talk to me.


    I still couldn¡¯t believe that I was the triplet¡¯s mate. Why did fate hate me so much? Hadn¡¯t I suffered enough in my life already?


    My eyes strayed to the other end of the hall where I noticed a figure staring at me. I peered closer.


    ¡®Luna Evelyn!¡¯ I gasped. And she was standing right next to Alpha Henry. He was here too? My heart began to beat faster.


    Did they already find out that I was the triplet¡¯s mate? Was that why they were here so early?


    They would punish me for daring to stain their perfect bloodline. The punishment would probably be brutal.


    Luna Evelyn lifted her hand and cocked her finger. The order was clear: ¡®Come.¡¯


    A lump grew in my throat. ¡®They are going to skin me alive,¡¯ I thought.


    I swallowed the lump and rushed to her, bowing respectfully. ¡°H-hello, Luna. Good day, Alpha. I didn¡¯t know you¡¯d arrived.¡±


    I held my breath, waiting for the onught.


    ¡°Are the preparations almost done?¡± She asked sharply, ignoring my greeting as usual.


    ¡°The what?¡± I gasped before I could catch myself.


    ¡°Are you going deaf, girl?¡± She asked.


    ¡°Y-Yes, ma¡¯am. I mean, no, Luna,¡± I caught myself quickly. ¡°Everything is going well.¡± A wave of relief crashed through me. She didn¡¯t know yet!


    She turned away from me without acknowledging my answer and began to talk to her husband.


    They started walking around the hall slowly, surveying the decorations. I held my breath, waiting for their verdict.


    ¡°This is absolutely gorgeous,¡± Luna Evelyn finally said.


    Alpha Henry nodded. ¡°The white and gold theme was the best choice. It suits the triplets perfectly.¡±


    ¡°It screams royalty which is exactly what my darling boys are,¡± Luna Evelyn gushed.


    I blushed deeply, happy to see the work of my hands being praised so much. My lips curled into a small smile.


    ¡°I knew it was the best decision to have Jessie handle the decorations,¡± Luna Evelyn suddenly added. ¡°She did such a wonderful job.¡±


    The smile died on my lips. Jessie?


    ¡°We must remember to reward her well for this,¡± Alpha Henry answered. ¡°Perhaps a gold chain? Or a designer purse?¡±


    My heart sank. I wanted to scream that the decorations were all my hard work. Jessie had nothing to do with it!


    But I dared not say a word. I swallowed my protest despite the budding pain in my chest.


    Thest thing I needed right now was to draw extra attention to myself. Not until I found a way out of this problem first!


    Suddenly Luna Evelyn turned to me. ¡°You¡¯re still here?¡± She demanded. ¡°Don¡¯t you have something to do?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Luna,¡± I apologized quickly and rushed away. From the corner of my eyes, I saw them walking out together. I breathed a sigh of relief.


    I hurried over to the DJ. ¡°Hello, did you get the list of the triplet¡¯s preferred songs that I sent?¡±


    He nodded. ¡°Yes, I did. But it wasn¡¯t stated if there is an order in which you want them yed.¡±


    I drew closer to him to go over the list together and work out a good pattern.


    ¡°Girls, she is here! Told you we¡¯d find her here,¡± a voice suddenly interrupted.


    I turned around and saw Mnie, Annie, and Kira staring at me with cold fury on their faces.


    A wave of dread curled down my spine. ¡®What do they want now?¡¯ I wondered.


    ¡°You stupid bitch, what did you do!?¡± Mnie growled at me.


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± I demanded. ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything. I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t lie to us, you filthy maid. Tell us the truth!¡± Kira snapped, stalking at me.


    I instinctively took a step back. ¡°What truth? I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about, for real.¡±


    ¡°I told you she¡¯d just keep lying!¡± Annie said. She grabbed my hand, squeezing it tightly.


    I cried out in pain. ¡°What are you doing!? Let go of me!¡±


    ¡°The triplets broke up with us,¡± She snapped. ¡°We know you had something to do with it! What did you say to them?¡±


    My eyes widened. ¡°They did what!? Why did they break up with you guys?¡±


    The triplets usually changed women like they changed clothes but they usually spent at least three months with them first!


    Their rtionships with Mnie, Annie and Kira were barely a month and a half old.


    Why would the triplets break up with their girlfriends? Could it be...Could it be because of me? Surely not!


    Were they really taking this mate business that seriously? To the extent of breaking up with their girlfriends because of me? I couldn¡¯t believe it.


    ¡°The moment they took your side yesterday instead of ours, I just knew there was something nasty about you,¡± Kira snapped.


    ¡°Exactly! So don¡¯t act clueless, you scheming bitch! We know everything!¡± Mnie screamed at me.


    My heart jumped into my throat. What did she mean by that? Did they reveal to the girls that I was their mate? Panic seized me.


    ¡°We know that the triplets found their mate!¡± Kira spat, confirming my fear.


    I couldn¡¯t breathe.


    She grabbed my shoulder, shaking me like a rag doll until it felt like my brain had gotten loose in my skull.


    ¡°Tell us who she is! Tell us, you bitch!¡± She cried.


    Wait! I blinked slowly. They had no idea who the triplet¡¯s mate was yet. My secret was still safe!


    I needed to get out of here as soon as possible.


    ¡°Listen,dies! I don¡¯t know anything about the triplets breaking up with you! I haven¡¯t even talked to them since thest time you saw me,¡± I cried.


    Why wouldn¡¯t they believe me? I was just as shocked at this information as they were.


    ¡°We don¡¯t believe you!¡± Kira shouted. She raised her hand and struck me across the face.


    Her open palmnded on my cheek with a loud crack. The force of the p sent me reeling backward.


    I crashed into something hard and cold before I could catch myself. There was a loud crash as it shattered on the floor behind me.


    I whirled around and found myself staring at the broken pieces of a $500,000 ss sculpture decoration ordered specially by Luna Evelyn for the triplet¡¯s birthday.


    My heart stopped beating.

 Chapter 5: Intoxicate

    <h4>Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Intoxicate</h4>


    ¡°What the hell is going on here!?¡± A loud voice suddenly boomed.


    The four of us turned at the same time to see the triplets stalking towards us.


    I gasped. A strange, warm feeling suddenly surged inside me, pulling me towards them. It took all my inner strength not to rush at them and throw myself into their arms.


    This was the first time I was seeing them face to face since the shift happened. I drank them in with my eyes.


    They¡¯d always been good-looking but I never paid much attention.


    All my life, I¡¯d watched girls throw themselves at the triplets because of their looks. I never wanted to be like them so I turned a blind eye to their looks. But right now, I was even worse than those girls. I couldn¡¯t tear my eyes off of them.


    Every emotion was heightened. My eyes were sharper, taking note of every curve and crevice of their faces. My fingers itched to trace those lines, to feel the slight differences between their identical faces.


    ¡°Someone exin to me right this second why there is a red mark on Hazel¡¯s face!¡± Lucas growled.


    I jerked, suddenly realizing that they¡¯d reached us. I¡¯d been so lost in my head that I didn¡¯t even realize it until he spoke. Even the pain in my cheek had faded to nothing in their presence.


    I touched my face now, wondering how red it was.


    ¡°Answer my question. Which of you dared toy your hands on Hazel!?¡± Lucas snapped.


    While his brother dealt with the girls, Levi grabbed my face gently in his arms. He ran his thumb over my stinging skin with the gentlest touch I¡¯ve ever felt.


    ¡°Does it hurt? Are you okay?¡± He asked anxiously.


    I felt like I was in an alternate universe. My mouth opened but no sound came out.


    The girls also had a shocked look on their faces as they watched us. I¡¯m sure my face mirrored theirs.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I warn you all yesterday that she was not to be touched?¡± Lucas growled, dragging their attention back to him. ¡°Who was it?¡±


    They were silent, trembling in fear. Terror shined in their eyes as they seemed to realize that they¡¯d crossed a line.


    ¡°Since you don¡¯t want to admit which one of you hit her, you¡¯ll all be punished for it equally,¡± Lucas snapped.


    Their eyes widened. Mnie stumbled forward. ¡°Lucas, please don¡¯t do this! We are your girlfriends.¡±


    ¡°Ex-girlfriends,¡± Liam countered coldly. ¡°We broke up with youdies, remember?¡±


    ¡°No! You can¡¯t do that!¡± Annie eximed, trying to grab his hand. ¡°Please, I love you.¡±


    Disgust boiled in my stomach. Something deep inside me rebelled at another woman touching my mate.


    The intensity of my feelings shocked even me.


    Thankfully, he snatched his hand back before I could embarrass myself by wing her eyes out.


    ¡°Don¡¯t even think of touching me or I might rip your head off,¡± he snapped, his voice dripping with the same disgust I felt.


    It made me feel better to know that I wasn¡¯t the only one feeling this way.


    They backed away in fear, seeing that the triplets really meant it.


    ¡°Y-You can¡¯t treat us like t-this over a s-ve,¡± Mnie cried, her voice trembling.


    The triplet¡¯s eyes turned as dark as night. This time, Levi stepped in.


    He grabbed her by the front of her dress and yanked her towards him. ¡°And what makes you think you¡¯re good enough for us? The future alphas?¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you just daughters of mere gammas in this pack? Maybe you think you¡¯re even better than us now,¡± Liam scoffed.


    ¡°Just because we chose to date girls like you, I guess you started thinking too highly of yourselves. What makes you better than Hazel? She is ten times the woman that you are!¡± Levi growled.


    ¡°I will not tolerate anyone who speaks badly of Hazel from this moment on,¡± Lucas dered with finality.


    He continued. ¡°The next word you utter about her will be your end. I¡¯ll not only punish you, I¡¯ll make sure your parents lose their meager status in the pack. Will you like that?¡±


    She shook her head wildly, her eyes brimming with tears.


    ¡°I give you 30 seconds to get out of here,¡± he snapped.


    They didn¡¯t wait for even one second to pass before they fled from the hall in defeat.


    As for me, my mouth continued to hang open in shock. I was still shocked that they would take my side like that.


    For a second, I thought about running away like the girls but Lucas turned to me.


    ¡°Hazel,¡± he said, his voice softer than I¡¯ve ever heard it. ¡°I know you¡¯ve been avoiding us.¡±


    ¡®Well, duh!¡¯ I thought to myself but didn¡¯t say it out.


    ¡°You have every right to do that. We didn¡¯t treat you as well as we should have in the past. We were wrong. As the eldest, let me be the first to apologize on our behalf,¡± he concluded.


    ¡°I apologize too, Hazel,¡± Liam said with a repentant look. ¡°We have no excuse. We can only hope that you forgive us.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Hazel. I really am,¡± Levi added.


    I couldn¡¯t believe what I was hearing. I pinched myself to make sure I wasn¡¯t dreaming.


    I wasn¡¯t. It hurt like a bitch. I let out a small cry, rubbing the spot.


    Levi gasped and grabbed my hand, gently kissing the red spot.


    Of the three of them, he seemed unable to keep his hands off me but I couldn¡¯t bring myself to hate it. My skin tingled from his touch.


    ¡°Why would you do that to yourself? You¡¯re not allowed to get hurt from this moment on,¡± Levi cried.


    ¡°Seconded,¡± Liam piped in.


    ¡°Thirded,¡± Lucas added.


    ¡°This is crazy,¡± I whispered, looking between them. It was wild having them staring at me with such deep attraction and care.


    ¡°What is crazy?¡± Liam asked.


    ¡°You guys are being so nice to me all of a sudden. You don¡¯t even seem shocked about the situation. You¡¯ve just epted all of it¡ªme being your mate...having to s-share me.¡±


    I blushed deeply, feeling embarrassed to even say the word.


    ¡°It¡¯s not strange at all,¡± Liam assured me, smiling warmly. ¡°We¡¯ve always assumed that our mate might be the same person. Most twins and triplets usually share their mate.¡±


    ¡°We were prepared for it,¡± Levi agreed. ¡°So will you forgive us?¡±


    I hesitated. I couldn¡¯t just forget the years of torture and harassment I suffered from the triplets and their parents.


    No matter how attracted I was to them, I couldn¡¯t just wipe it from my mind.


    I wanted to scream at them and tell them to leave me alone. I wanted to march out of the hall.


    But the mate bond suddenly yanked at me, reminding me that these guys were my fate. My destiny.


    An overwhelming urge came over me to reach for them.


    Their eyes went dark. I knew they were feeling it too. Our bond was demanding to bepleted.


    My eyes met Lucas¡¯. I could see the struggle in his eyes as he battled for control.


    But he was the oldest and strongest so he won. I saw his mask of control slip back into ce and breathed a sigh of relief.


    Just as I was about to rx, a hand suddenly grabbed me and dragged me forward.


    Levi!


    ¡°Your scent is intoxicating. I feel like I¡¯m going crazy. I can¡¯t resist it,¡± he muttered, sounding dazed.


    My eyes widened as he turned my head, exposing my neck. His teeth came crashing down.

 Chapter 6: Snap Out Of It!

    <h4>Chapter 6: Chapter 6: Snap Out Of It!</h4>


    Levi grabbed me and pulled me in, his canines extended to pierce my skin. As his fangs came crashing down on my neck, I felt a surge of panic. Was he really going to mark me? Right here? Right now? In public?


    My heart raced with fear, my eyes widening with rm. The mere thought of him marking me scared me out of my mind. My wolf, on the other hand, surged in excitement.


    Just as his canines lightly grazed my teeth, he was suddenly yanked away from me roughly. I stumbled forward but was caught in Liam¡¯s arms. Dazed, I raised my head to see what had happened.


    I saw Lucas holding a struggling Levi back. He was still straining to get to me, his eyes dark with desire. But Lucas was stronger than him and held him easily. I almost rushed toward him too but Liam¡¯s hold on me was secure and strong.


    "Levi! Snap out of it!" Lucas growled at his brother. "SNAP OUT OF IT!"


    Suddenly, Levi stopped straining. He blinked and the dark look faded from his eyes. "Oh my god!" He muttered, finallying back to his senses. "What did I do?"


    "You almost marked our mate," Lucas answered, letting go of him after making sure he wouldn¡¯t lunge at me again.


    "Shit! Hazel, I¡¯m so sorry. I don¡¯t know what came over me. It was just¡ªit was too much to take," he whispered. "I lost control."


    He sounded so devastated and sad. A surge of pain rose in my chest at seeing him that way.


    "I should have handled it better. Please, Hazel, forgive me." He walked towards me, his hands stretched out to show that he didn¡¯t mean any harm.


    But I instinctively backed away. I saw the sh of pain in his eyes and instantly felt bad. But I was more worried about being marked by any of them right now. Not when I still hadn¡¯t decided what I wanted to do next.


    Thankfully, Levi stopped approaching. He raised his hands in surrender. "I¡¯m sorry," he muttered again.


    "It¡¯s okay," I muttered back.


    I suddenly realized that I was still in Liam¡¯s arms. I gently disengaged myself from his arms and stepped away but I still stood close to him.


    Of the three of them, he was the one I felt mostfortable with. Even when they were all still being mean to me, he¡¯d treated me the best. That was probably why I felt sofortable in his arms.


    Lucas sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Things are getting more and moreplicated now. We need to figure things out before we lose control of the situation."


    We all nodded in agreement. At the rate things were going, we needed to know the way forward. And that decision was on my shoulders. The triplets had made their stance clear. They were not going to reject me. They intended to honor the mate bond. But what did I want?


    I still didn¡¯t understand how this three mates thing was supposed to work. Which of them would get my first kiss? Which of them would make love to me first? Or would it be all at once? How would that even work?


    "A penny for your thoughts?" Liam said, gently taking my hand, "We want to know what you¡¯re thinking. About all of this." His touch filled me with warmth. I didn¡¯t pull away.


    What were my thoughts? My thoughts were a mess. I didn¡¯t have an answer for him. I had two options now: honor the mate bond and stay with the triplets OR reject them and follow my initial n to leave.


    But if I followed the second option, how would I survive? Yes, the debt was officially cleared as of today but I didn¡¯t have a dime to my name. Alpha Henry and Luna Evelyn never let me attend school so I didn¡¯t have a degree. I also had no skills to earn a living. How would I fend for myself?


    Once I rejected the triplets, I would certainly be exiled from the pack. I wouldn¡¯t even have a roof over my head. How would I survive?


    Apart from that issue, there was also the bond constantly pulling me towards them, making me crave them like a drug. I wanted to put my foot down and distance myself from them but my heart kept yearning for them. My body kept yearning for them.


    Liam was merely holding my hand yet my stomach was filled with butterflies. So how could I possibly force myself to leave? Could I defeat the bond? Was it even possible?


    "We really think you should stay, Hazel," Lucas said when I didn¡¯t immediately answer Liam¡¯s question. "Even right now, you¡¯re hardly living a good life."


    "Lucas is right," Liam said. "Even your room is practically a cupboard. If you go out into the world, things will be worse."


    Levi nodded. "I mean, look at your clothes. They¡¯re old and outdated. You should be dressing better. You should be dressed in designer items. Stay with us. We can make that happen."


    Their words sent a spark of fury into my belly. "Now hold on just a minute." I yanked my hand out of Liam¡¯s grasp. "Who is to me for me living in a cupboard-sized room in the first ce? Who is to me for me not having good clothes to wear?" I spat.


    The answer was clear: their family! They knew it too. They looked away, unable to meet my eyes.


    "I¡¯ve been looked down on, made fun of and mocked by almost all the members of the park because of how your family chose to treat me," I ranted.


    "We understa¡ª" Levi started to say.


    "I¡¯m not finished!" I cut him off. "Being a maid in your house doesn¡¯t mean that I shouldn¡¯t be treated like a human! I should have been treated better!"


    Levi immediately began to stammer. "I-I didn¡¯t m-mean..." Guilt shed in his eyes. The same guilt was mirrored on the other¡¯s faces.


    "We totally understand how you feel, Hazel," Lucas said, once again speaking for his brothers as the eldest.


    He continued, "We feel really bad for how things have gone over the years. We should have done better. We¡¯ll keep apologizing even though we know it won¡¯t wipe away the past."


    "Take your time to make whatever decision that is best for you," Liam added. "We promise to wait patiently for your decision."


    "We won¡¯t rush you," Levi promised, holding my other hand.


    Despite my anger, a warm feeling budded in my chest. I offered him a small, tentative smile.


    "Oh my god! What is going on here? Who broke my sculpture?" A voice suddenly screeched, yanking me out of the moment.


    I whirled around in fear, instantly recognizing that voice. "L-Luna Evel-lyn!" I gasped.


    She was staring in horror at the pieces of the ss sculpture that broke earlier during my fight with Mnie, Annie, and Kira. I broke into a cold sweat and began to tremble. Jessie was beside her, squinting at me suspiciously.


    Luna Evelyn looked up at me. "Y-You! Was it you?"


    "I¡¯m sure it must have been her!" Jessie said. "She looks guilty already! She destroys everything in her path!"


    "How dare you!" Luna Evelyn eximed. "I specially ordered that sculpture for my boys¡¯ birthday and you destroyed it. Do you know how much it costs?"


    "I-It wasn¡¯t my f-fault, Luna. I was just standing here trying to do my job when M¡ª"


    "I don¡¯t care for your excuses, girl!" She snapped. "You must rece the sculpture!"


    I gasped. "But it costs half a million dors? I don¡¯t have that kind of money. Please, Luna! I just managed to clear my parent¡¯s debt after years of very."


    She smiled coldly. "That means there is already a perfect solution. You will continue to work as our maid until you pay off my $500,000!" She dered.


    My heart sank.

 Chapter 7: Defenders

    <h4>Chapter 7: Chapter 7: Defenders</h4>


    "No! That would take years to pay back!" I eximed, trembling in fear and shock.


    Jessie shrugged, smirking at me. "Maybe you should have thought of that before being clumsy."


    "Please, Luna. Don¡¯t do this," I cried.


    "Enough!" She snapped. "I don¡¯t want to hear another word. It is settled. You¡¯ll work to pay off the cost of the sculpture."


    I knew I didn¡¯t dare to argue further. I bowed stiffly. "Yes, Luna," I said. The truth was that a part of me was actually secretly relieved. This new development meant that I didn¡¯t have to decide between leaving or staying immediately.


    It felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. But that didn¡¯t stop the feeling of dread as I realized that I was once again bound to this family in debt. I worked so hard to free myself from the clutches of debt yet here I was, back in the same sinkhole.


    Just then, the door opened with a bang and the guests for the birthday party began to file in.


    "Maid, go and serve the guests immediately," Luna Evelyn ordered.


    "Yes, Luna," I muttered under my breath, immediately walking away to attend to the guests as she said. Suddenly, a hand grabbed me. I was forced to stop. I turned around confused, only to see Lucas holding my hand. My eyes widened.


    ¡¯What are you doing?¡¯ I screamed at him with my eyes. I tried to yank my hand out of his grasp but his grip was too strong.


    "Why are you holding her?" Luna Evelyn demanded, frowning. Jessie stared at the two of us, wide-eyed.


    "I-It¡¯s nothing, Luna," I stammered quickly. "I¡¯m leaving."


    "No," he said firmly. "You are not." He turned to his mom, standing between us. "She is not."


    Luna Evelyn¡¯s eyes narrowed. "What are you saying, honey?"


    "Hazel is not a maid here today. She is a guest. Our guest," he said. His brothers stepped forward, forming a line between me and their mom. "Plus, we have party staff employed to handle this party. Let them do their job and let Hazel have some time off too," he concluded.


    Luna Evelyn was shocked. Her mouth opened then closed again but no words came out. Even though I was still scared at Luna Evelyn¡¯s possible reaction, tears actually sprung into my eyes.


    This was all I wanted all along. Someone to stand up for me and treat me like a human too. And the triplets just did that for me. I waited to see how Luna Evelyn would react to the situation but before she could say a word, Alpha Henry¡¯s voice boomed from the stage.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for honoring us with your presence today as we celebrate theing-of-age party of our sons!"


    Everyone in the room turned towards him, including Luna Evelyn. I finally breathed a sigh of relief. I was safe, at least for now.


    "I will now be inviting my sons on stage as I have a very important announcement to make," Alpha Henry boomed.


    Heads turned towards us. I stealthily yanked my hand out of Lucas¡¯ grasp, not wanting anyone to see us but he recaptured my hand with shocking speed. "You¡¯reing with us," he said firmly.


    Luna Evelyn squinted angrily at our joined hands. I ducked, hiding my face. They started walking towards the stage together but I hung back, looking for an opportunity to break away and make a run for it.


    But Levi saw my ns and stepped beside me. He ced his hand on my back and gently moved me forward. With Lucas holding my hand and Levi¡¯s palm on my back, there was no escaping. We walked to the front of the room together.


    Alpha Henry raised his brow when he saw me with the triplets but he didn¡¯t say anything about it. He turned back to the guests. "Today, I hereby officially announce that my sons will be taking over their duties as the new Alphas of the Emberfang Pack!"


    Cheers broke out in the room. It was so loud, I was actually scared the roof mighte down. "All hail the new Alphas!" Someone shouted.


    "All hail!" The guests chorused, bowing in sync.


    The triplets raised their hands and waved at the guests, resulting in even louder cheers. I couldn¡¯t help but feel proud of them in that moment. I smiled.


    "Actually, I also have an announcement to make," Levi shouted. Lucas and Liam gave him surprised looks. Obviously, they hadn¡¯t discussed this before. "Today is a wonderful day. It¡¯s our birthday," he paused, looking around. "But, we are not the only ones who today is special for."


    Levi¡¯s hand on my back began to move up and down in a slow, mesmerizing motion. When it went down, he made sure to just gently graze my ass before moving up again. Heat exploded deep in my belly filling me with desire like I¡¯ve never felt before.


    My legs turned to jelly under me. I had to press my legs together to keep from melting to the floor. I blushed deeply. I couldn¡¯t believe he was doing this to me in front of all the guests and his parents!


    Could they all see the effect his touch was having on me? I could just hear them calling me a slut. I felt like one.


    "As I was saying, today is also a special day for Hazel because it is also her birthday!" He announced in a way that made it clear that he expected¡ªno, demanded a response.


    The guests cheered but they looked confused. They immediately began to whisper among themselves. I could understand their confusion. They¡¯d all seen the triplets treat me badly in the past. This change was sudden, even for me.


    The triplets noticed the whispers too. Liam walked over to me and held his hand out. I hesitantlyid my free hand in his, wondering what the hell he was nning to do now. He smiled then lowered his head, cing a small, dutiful kiss on my fingers. Gasps filled the room. He winked and stepped back.


    Meanwhile, Lucas continued to hold my other hand. With their actions, they signaled to the guests that the days of mistreating me were over. I didn¡¯t know if I should be d about that or worried, but then I caught Luna Evelyn¡¯s eyes.


    Worried. Definitely worried.


    Alpha Henry cleared his throat. "Enjoy the rest of the party," he dered and the music resumed.


    While the guests began to dance and talk among themselves, Luna Evelyn beckoned to us to get off the stage and follow her. Her husband and sonsplied and followed her, dragging me along even though all I wanted was to escape.


    She led us to a private room and shut the door. "Okay boys, you need to tell me what is going on. Why this sudden touchiness with the maid?"


    My mouth went dry.


    "First off, her name is Hazel, not maid. Secondly, she is our mate," Lucas announced.


    Alpha Henry and Luna Evelyn¡¯s jaws dropped simultaneously. Their eyes were as big as saucers.


    "What did you say?" Luna Evelyn gasped.


    "Lucas is telling the truth, mother. Hazel is our mate," Levi said. As if to prove his point, he began to slowly massage my arm. I shivered in delight.


    "Absolutely not! No way! A mere maid cannot be your mate! I refuse to ept it," Luna Evelyn cried.


    "It¡¯s not yours to ept, Mother," Liam countered. "We¡¯ve decided to ept Hazel as our mate and there¡¯s nothing you can do about it."


    "No way! Henry!" She turned to her Husband, grabbing his arm. "Say something! You can¡¯t allow this."


    But Alpha Henry simply shrugged. "The boys are now adults, Evelyn. They can make their own choices."


    "How can you say that?" She cried. "How are you even sure she is their mate? Maybe they¡¯ve just spent too much time living in the same house. Maybe¡ª"


    "Mother, stop!" Lucas said firmly. "There is no mistake. Hazel is our mate and we are happy about it."


    "But¡ª!"


    "Enough!" Alpha Henry suddenlymanded. Everyone froze and went silent at his order. "We don¡¯t need to prolong this discussion," he said, his tone leaving no room for arguments. "We have guests waiting for us, so everyone, let¡¯s head back to the main hall for the cake-cutting. Immediately."


    We followed him obediently. As we stood in front of the cake, smiling for the camera, Levi¡¯s arm slipped down and cupped my butt. I gasped. I felt my panties get soaked. He was teasing me¡ªI knew it. It almost felt like he was pushing me towards the edge for a reason...preparing my body for something.


    A thought suddenly urred to me. I turned to face him, wide-eyed. ¡¯Oh my gosh, were they nning to sneak over to my room tonight?¡¯

 Chapter 8: Past and Passion

    <h4>Chapter 8: Chapter 8: Past and Passion</h4>


    (Trigger Warning: This Chapter contains explicit content and is intended for mature readers.)


    "...Once again, thank you all foring to celebrate with us tonight," Lucas announced in a clear and strong voice. A round of apuse followed his heartfelt speech as the party came to an end.


    "Time to go home," he dered once the guests were gone. I automatically let out a yawn. I was so exhausted. They ushered me to their cars.


    I stood staring at the identical ck Bentleys I¡¯d never dreamed of touching, talking less of entering before in my life. I backed away. "I¡¯ll find my way home," I said.


    Liam¡¯s grip on my hand tightened. "No way! We can¡¯t let you go home alone thiste!" He eximed.


    I had tough. "You never cared before. I always find my way home by myself at all hours," I pointed out.


    They looked bashful. "That was then. This is now. You can¡¯t go anywhere alone from now on," Liam said.


    I sighed. I knew there was no changing their minds. "Fine!" I muttered. They bundled me into Liam¡¯s car and we drove home.


    Once we arrived, I jumped out of the car with a hurried goodbye and fled to my room. It was my first moment away from them in hours and it felt like I was just taking my first breath. Being around them was just so...much.


    I walked towards my room. The first thing that caught my attention was the fact that my door was open. I frowned. I never forgot to shut my door. I clearly remembered shutting it before I left for the party venue.


    I slowed my steps, carefully moving towards the door to check. I got to the door and peered inside. The sight that weed me sent a scream out of my lips.


    My entire room was in shambles. My clothes had been cut up. My bed was broken. The foam had been pulled out of the mattress. My small hand-held mirror was in pieces on the floor. My few, meager possessions werepletely destroyed.


    "No!" I cried, dropping to my knees. My entire body shook with nerve-wracking sobs.


    Footsteps thundered towards me. My cry must have alerted the triplets that something was wrong. They burst into my room.


    "What the hell happened here!?" Lucas growled, looking around the room.


    Liam fell to his knees beside me, pulling me into his arms. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"


    I shook my head mutely. I couldn¡¯t bring myself to talk. I was sobbing too hard.


    Levi turned to his brother, fuming. "Who do you think could have done this? I¡¯ll give them hell for this!"


    "I don¡¯t know," Lucas answered. "But we can¡¯t find out tonight. It¡¯s alreadyte." He looked pointedly at me.


    Levi nodded, agreeing. He walked over to me, pulling me up. "You can¡¯t sleep in here tonight. You can sleep in my room instead. I¡¯ll make space for you."


    My eyes widened. Sleep in Levi¡¯s room!? Thankfully, I didn¡¯t have to say a word. Liam and Lucas jumped in immediately.


    "Absolutely not," Liam eximed. "She is not sleeping in your room. Not after what you pulled earlier."


    Lucas nodded. "You can¡¯t be trusted around our mate, Levi. You need to learn to control yourself first or you¡¯ll end up marking her before she is ready."


    "I can control myself," he insisted.


    "Huh-uhn," Liam muttered. "We totally trust you." His voice was practically dripping with sarcasm.


    "Hazel, why don¡¯t you sleep in my room or Liam¡¯s room instead?" Lucas asked.


    "Hey! Why does she get to stay with you guys instead?" Leviined, frowning.


    Liam rolled his eyes. "Probably because she can trust us more. Don¡¯t you agree?"


    Levi looked like he wanted to argue but he took a deep breath and nodded. "She should stay with one of you," he agreed.


    I breathed a sigh of relief. Staying in any of their rooms was not the best idea but as long as it wasn¡¯t Levi, I still stood a chance.


    "I¡¯ll sleep in Lucas¡¯ room," I dered. Of the three of them, he was the most mature. If anyone could handle the temptation, it would be him.


    Lucas took my hand and gently led me to his room in their private wing. I was surprised when Liam and Levi walked in too.


    "I¡¯ll just sleep on the couch," Levi grumbled, not looking too happy with the arrangement.


    Lucas climbed into bed, pulling me down beside him. I gasped when I felt a warm body touch my back. I turned and saw Liam climbing in on the other side. I was sandwiched between the two of them.


    My body immediately went warm. I shivered. Liam immediately crowded in from behind, wrapping his arms around me. "Are you cold?" He whispered in my ear.


    A whimper escaped my lips. "N-No. I¡¯m fine," I whispered.


    Something hard poked into me from behind. I blinked in confusion. Did he have something in his pocket? I impatiently reached back to remove it myself. My hand grabbed something hard and long in his pants.


    I froze. With a small squeak, I yanked my hand away, blushing deeply. "Oh my gosh, I¡¯m so sorry," I cried,pletely mortified.


    He chuckled deeply. Lucas joined in. "It¡¯s fine. Just go to sleep."


    My eyes widened. Go to sleep!? How? His dick was still pressing into me from behind and now thanks to my mishap, there was one digging into me from the front too. Sweet earth!


    A fire started between my legs. It was so hot. I didn¡¯t know how to quench this. I¡¯d never experienced anything like it before. I rubbed my legs together to try to ease the fire. Pleasure rushed through me.


    I froze, surprised. I tried it again. Another wave of pleasure. I couldn¡¯t stop myself. I began to rub my legs together in a steady motion. In the process, I was running against Liam and Lucas unknowingly.


    They both moaned at the same time. A moan automatically burst from my lips in response. Liam began to kiss my neck, sending tingles down my spine. His hand found its way to my boobs from behind.


    He pushed my shirt up and began to y with my nipples. I arched my back and let out a small gasp. Before I could recover from that, Lucas¡¯ hand trailed up myp, disappearing between my legs. I cried out as he found the little nub between my legs and started circling it slowly.


    I began to shake uncontrobly. A pool gathered in my lower belly. With a sharp cry, the dam burst and it came gushing out. I sank into the bed, shivering in the echoes of my release.


    "Did you enjoy that, sweet Hazel?" Lucas whispered against my ear.


    My eyes were already fluttering shut. I managed to nod my head before I was drawn into the sweet embrace of sleep. Not long after, Lucas and Liam drifted off too.


    *********


    My eyes fluttered open. I had no idea how long I¡¯d slept for but a quick peek through the window showed that the sun wasn¡¯t even up yet. My internal clock must have woken me, ringing the rm to get to work early.


    I was still sandwiched between Liam and Lucas so I tried to climb out gently without waking them. But I¡¯d barely moved an inch when they both came awake.


    "Where are you going?" Lucas whispered, trapping me under his arm.


    "I have to go prepare breakfast for Alpha Henry and Luna Evelyn," I answered.


    "It¡¯s barely even dawn yet," Liam eximed. "Just sleep in today."


    I shook my head. "I can¡¯t. That¡¯s my schedule. If I don¡¯t get up now, breakfast won¡¯t be ready in time."


    "Then there¡¯ll be no breakfast," Levi snapped from the couch.


    I didn¡¯t know he¡¯d woken up too. I sighed. "Guys, I really need to go. It¡¯s my job. I have to do it."


    "That¡¯s nonsense. You¡¯re with us now. You don¡¯t have to do anything except stay here with us," Levi said.


    His words triggered me."That¡¯s easy for you to say! For some of us, we actually need to work. If we don¡¯t do our jobs, we¡¯ll be in serious trouble!"


    "Trouble? Nobody would darey a finger on you now that you¡¯re our mate," Lucas growled.


    "That is not the point!" I cried. "I need to work to pay off my debt. Or do you want me to remain a ve here forever, just wasting away? I already wasted eighteen years of my life. I haven¡¯t aplished anything in my life. I see the other girls in the pack going to college, starting businesses and doing well. I¡¯m the only one who hasn¡¯t aplished anything. I¡¯m the useless one!"


    "I¡¯m sick of hearing about this debt! How much is the stupid debt anyway?" Levi snapped. "I bet it¡¯s not even up to what we spend on a night out at the club."


    My head exploded.

 Chapter 9: I Am Nothing

    <h4>Chapter 9: Chapter 9: I Am Nothing</h4>


    "How dare you! How dare you make light of my debt," I shouted. I suddenly found myself on my feet, bncing on the bed. I red at Levi.


    He jumped up too. "What are you so mad about? All I¡¯m saying is that¡ª"


    "Do you know how many years of my life have already been wasted due to debt? It may be nothing to you but debt has been everything to me! When I wake up before the crack of dawn, when I wash the floors, when I sleep in a tiny room, when I¡¯m flogged for the smallest mistake, I remember that debt because it has been my entire life."


    Lucas and Liam turned their faces away from me, looking embarrassed.


    "Not all of us are as privileged as you in life. You¡¯ve never had to worry about money all your life! You can never understand my struggles!" I snapped.


    Levi opened his mouth to answer me again but Lucas cut him off quickly. "Levi..." he said in a low, warning tone. "I think you need to stop talking now."


    Liam grabbed my hand, trying to pull me back down. "Hazel, please, calm down."


    I yanked my hand out of his grasp. "Don¡¯t tell me to calm down!" I snapped, still fuming.


    "Okay, I¡¯m sorry. I won¡¯t say that but I don¡¯t want you to misunderstand what Levi is saying. He is just trying to say that we can help you pay off your debt. That¡¯s all," he said soothingly.


    I scoffed. "I have worked in your house as a maid for a decade. It never once urred to you and your family that the money I owed was insignificant. It never urred to you that it wouldn¡¯t cost you anything to wipe it clean and let a young girl have a chance at life. But now you want to pay it off? It¡¯s toote now."


    "Is it so bad that we want to help you now? Or is it your pride getting in the way," Levi spoke up again.


    I went silent, staring at him in shock. "Did you...did you just say pride? Look around you, Levi. What do I have to be proud of exactly? I have nothing. I am nothing. You and your family made sure of that."


    Liam winced at my words. "Hazel, you¡¯re not nothing."


    Iughed scathingly. "Yes, I am. You knew the truth before too and that is why you treated me like trash. You¡¯re just blinded by the mate bond now."


    "That¡¯s not true!" Lucas eximed, reaching for me again. "We were just assholes, that¡¯s all. You¡¯re not nothing."


    "Don¡¯t sweet talk me!" I cried, backing away from him. I felt like wing my eyes out in pain. I couldn¡¯t breathe. I needed to get away from them for a second. "I need some space. Don¡¯t follow me!" I dered and bolted out of the room before they could stop me.


    Tears streamed down my face, blinding me as I ran but I just kept going. I ran until my chest hurt and my legs felt like lead. I ran until I tripped over something hard and crashed into the floor.


    Through tear-filled eyes, I looked back to see what tripped me up. It was a tree root. I looked around and realized that I¡¯d run into the woods behind the Emberfang Packhouse unconsciously. It was the one ce where I got to be alone and think.


    Making my way to my favorite tree, I sat under it and rested my back on the trunk. A lot of thoughts ran through my mind. What was this situation I¡¯d gotten myself into with the triplets?


    No matter how much they denied it, the truth was that we had zero things inmon. If they were the sun in the sky, I was a grain of sand on the ground. As if that wasn¡¯t enough, the wedge between us was even wider due to their past treatment of me.


    It made no sense to get attached to my own bullies. It would make me as dense as those girls who got Stockholm syndrome in the novels I hid to read in my room. I always rolled my eyes at them but now I was in the same boat.


    A twig snapped in the distance. I jumped to my feet, rmed. The woods were usually deserted so who or what could being? There was another sound of snapping twigs. I backed into the tree. A small whimper escaped my lips.


    Suddenly, a huge shape broke out of the thick twigs. Two simr shapes followed. I gasped, watching with wide eyes as three identical wolves walked toward me with kingly grace. The moment I saw them, I knew that it was Lucas, Liam and Levi.


    Their wolves had shiny ck fur and piercing gold eyes. Their limbs were thick and strong, riddled with muscles. They began to circle around me, nudging me with their nose. I ran my fingers through their fur.


    "Wow. You guys are beautiful," I muttered before I could stop myself. I immediately blushed. "I¡¯ve never seen you shift before," I said quickly.


    But they didn¡¯t seem to mind the praise. In fact, they seemed to like it. They stepped back and began to shift back into human form. I watched with my mouth open, impressed by the fluidity with which they shifted.


    Soon they were all standing in front of me in human form. Lucas stepped forward first. "Hazel, we are so sorry about what happened earlier."


    "We talked about it after you left and we totally understand where you areing from. You have every right to feel the way that you do. The way we treated you was horrible and you deserve to heal from that at your own pace," Liam added.


    Levi stepped forward too. My lips immediately turned downward. He was the one who started this whole mess in the first ce. He sheepishly looked down.


    "I¡¯m sorry, Hazel. I didn¡¯t mean to be condescending. I promise to be conscious of my words and how they affect you henceforth."


    Lucas ced a finger under my chin, lifting my head and looking deeply into my eyes. "We want you to know that you¡¯re not nothing. You¡¯re a beautiful, amazing human and you still have all the time in the world to be anything you want. We pledge to stand by your side and help you to aplish all of it."


    His words struck a chord in my heart. Tears gathered in my eyes. I could see that they were really trying so hard to right their wrongs. I couldn¡¯t bring myself to stay mad at them. "Thank you for apologizing. I forgive you," I said finally.


    Their faces instantly brightened. They pulled me into a giant bear hug. When they finally let me go, I sat under the tree and patted the floor beside me. At first, I thought they would refuse to sit on the floor but the three of them sat immediately.


    We sat in silence for a few seconds, enjoying the calm. "Can I ask you a question?" I asked suddenly, breaking the silence. "I feel like I need to understand this if I¡¯m going to heal and move on."


    Liam gently held my hand. "You can ask us anything, Hazel," he said gently. Lucas and Liam smiled encouragingly.


    I was silent for a few seconds, thinking about how to phrase my question. I took a deep breath.


    "This is my question. Seeing how nice and sweet you are now, it¡¯s hard to reconcile these people in front of me with the triplets who treated me so badly in the past. So I need to know, why exactly did you treat me so poorly back then?" I demanded.

 Chapter 10: Confessions and Connections

    <h4>Chapter 10: Chapter 10: Confessions and Connections</h4>


    A deep silence followed my question. The guys shifted ufortably, looking away. I could almost taste their difort in the air. "You don¡¯t have to answer if you don¡¯t want to," I said quickly, shrugging nonchntly.


    "No!" Lucas countered immediately. "You said the answer is important for you to move on. We want you to understand us better. We¡¯ll definitely answer you. I just needed a second to get my thoughts together. Please?"


    I nodded nervously. "Take your time," I muttered. Silence reigned again.


    Finally, Lucas sighed. "The truth is, I¡¯m not proud of how we acted in the past, Hazel, but we didn¡¯t know any better. We were raised to be future alphas. We were taught that the world was under our feet and that to prove our authority, we had to show our dominance every time."


    "It¡¯s true," Liam added. "We thought we were doing what we were meant to do. ¡¯Let them know who is boss or they¡¯ll begin to disobey you. Make sure the servants know their ce¡¯ That¡¯s what we were taught."


    "And we didn¡¯t have any role models to show us how to act better anyway," Lucas added. "We learned everything we know from our parents. And you know how they are..."


    I nodded without saying a word. Nobody knew how their parents were more than I did. Alpha Henry was not too bad if you stayed out of his way and did your job. But even with that, he was cold and unfeeling. He never tried to forge any kind of rtionship with people beneath him.


    Luna Evelyn was even worse. She was a disciplinarian to the core. She ruled over the household with an iron fist. Every mistake was severely punished to make sure it never urred again. I shivered involuntarily.


    With those two as role models, it was no wonder that the triplets acted the way they did. They were simply mirroring their parent¡¯s attitudes.


    "I understand," I whispered, meeting their eyes so they could see that I meant it.


    They looked relieved. Levi smiled sheepishly. "I know this isn¡¯t a good excuse but apart from all that, we also just didn¡¯t really know how to interact with you."


    "Really?" I muttered disbelievingly.


    He nodded. "You know we have a lot of women around us."


    Jealousy stabbed through me like an arrow. Oh, I knew that. Really, really well. I nodded mutely, pushing those emotions down.


    "We¡¯re always surrounded by women who want us. We¡¯re not used to being the ones intrigued by a woman. So we didn¡¯t know how to deal with that," he said.


    My brow shot up. Was he trying to say that they were intrigued by me? Me? Impossible.


    He continued before I could counter him. "It¡¯s even worse when the woman we¡¯re intrigued with is one that we¡¯ve been trained to look down on. Of all the women in the world, why the woman who is not even on our level?" He blushed. "No offense."


    I shook my head. I wasn¡¯t offended. It was only the truth. I wasn¡¯t on their level and never would be.


    "Actually," Liam muttered shyly, cutting in, "The truth is, I¡¯ve always found you attractive."


    My jaw dropped. "You¡¯ve always what!?" I looked down at myself. in clothes. Hair haphazardly tied up in a messy bun. No makeup. No jewelry. What in the world was attractive about that?


    "It¡¯s true. I didn¡¯t know how to tell you...or what to do about it so I just kept it to myself," he confided.


    My eyes narrowed. Could he be telling the truth? After all,pared to the other two, he was always nicer and more humane. Maybe he did like me? Laughter burst through my lips. Yeah, right! I couldn¡¯t believe that I actually almost fell for that. I rolled my eyes.


    "No way. Don¡¯t sweet talk me. I know you¡¯re only saying that to me because you now know that I am your fated mate," I pointed out with a smirk.


    He shook his head. "No, I really mean it!" He insisted. "Hazel, I was kind of smitten with you long before we discovered that you¡¯re our mate."


    "Huh-uhn." I snorted withughter, rolling my eyes again. "Sure thing. I believe you."


    "I¡¯m telling the truth. Honest!" He cried, wide-eyed.


    Levi pushed his shoulder lightly. "We hear you loud and clear. Now stop yelling."


    He shoved Levi right back. The next thing, they were smacking each other around like energetic little boys. Lucas and Iughed as we watched them. It was such a happy scene.


    Something inside me shifted. My heart softened. A soft smile touched my lips. My eyes met Lucas¡¯. The same look was mirrored on his face. He offered me a smile. I returned it. Just like that, I knew that something had changed between us.


    I offered him my hand. He froze, looking stunned. I shifted nervously and started to withdraw my hand. He recovered fast. He gently grasped my hand, a look of pure joy on his face.


    I looked up and was surprised to see that Levi and Liam had stopped fighting. They were staring at us with bright eyes. I blushed, realizing that they saw the exchange.


    They crowded around me, leaning on any part of me that they could reach. Levi managed to get his head into myp. He stuck his tongue out to his brothers. Liam retaliated by knocking him on the head.


    "Ouch!" Levi cried, rubbing his head.


    Iughed, pushing his hand away gently. I reced it with mine, stroking his hair. His eyes fluttered shut.


    My heart felt light. It was so nice seeing this yful, rxed side of the guys. In all the years that I lived with them, I never saw this side of them. I may not have liked who they were in the past but these young men in front of me now...I liked them much better.


    "You know what I just realized?" Liam asked suddenly, pulling me from my thoughts.


    "What?" I asked.


    "We don¡¯t know that much about you as a person. Your hopes. Your dreams. Your goals," he said.


    Iughed, shaking my head. "That¡¯s a lot to get into right now. I don¡¯t know if I¡¯ve really thought about it myself. My one and only goal was to leave this pack for good."


    "You¡¯ve not had time to experience life," Lucas said thoughtfully. "Why don¡¯t we start with helping you experience all the beautiful little things in life?"


    My excitement surged. "What do you have in mind?" They shared nces, winking at each other. I eyed them suspiciously. "What are you guys nning now?"


    Lucas jumped up. He dropped to one knee in front of me. My eyes widened. He grabbed my hand. "What are you doing?" I asked, rmed.


    He smirked. "Hazel, will you...go out on a date with us?"

 Chapter 11: A Date to Remember

    <h4>Chapter 11: Chapter 11: A Date to Remember</h4>


    "No! No! I¡¯m going back home," I muttered, spinning around. I began to walk away.


    Lucas grabbed my arm, firmly detaining me. "No, you¡¯re not. You agreed to this date, remember?"


    I rolled my eyes. "I wasn¡¯t thinking straight at that moment. You guys manipted me. I¡¯ve changed my mind now."


    They ignored my protests, pulling me into the store. Lucas lifted his hand and three attendants came running immediately. I tried to slither away again but I bumped right into Levi and Liam. They smirked at me.


    Lucas pulled me forward and lightly pushed me towards the attendants. "We¡¯ll pick her up in an hour. Make her dazzle." With those words, they walked out, leaving me alone with three smiling girls.


    They dragged me into a chair where they pampered, pulled, plucked and steamed me to perfection. No matter how much I protested, they refused to listen. They didn¡¯t even let me look in the mirror.


    Then they pulled me out of the chair and pushed me into a dressing room where I modeled at least 20 different outfits for them until they were satisfied.


    Finally, they pushed me in front of a full-length mirror. My jaw dropped. "T-That is...me?" I whispered, looking at the unfamiliar beauty staring back at me.


    They nodded, giggling. "It¡¯s you. You¡¯re so beautiful. The alphas have such good eyes!"


    Before I could recover from my shock, the Alphas in question walked in. This time, my jaw practically hit the floor. Apparently, while I was getting ¡¯princessified¡¯, they were also dressing up. They looked stunning¡ªlike models walking straight out of a magazine covering in matching white tuxedos.


    They were just as stunned to see me. "H-Hazel?" Levi whispered, starstruck.


    I blushed, looking down shyly. "How do I look?" I whispered.


    There wasplete silence. I looked up with a frown. "You don¡¯t like it? I knew this was a bad idea and¡ª"


    "Hazel!" Lucas cut in, holding up his hand. "Give us a moment to catch our breaths first. You¡¯ve taken our breath away." He walked forward and kissed my hand. "You are stunning."


    I blushed deeply. They didn¡¯t waste any more time. They led me to the parking lot.


    "Where are your cars?" I asked, looking around in confusion. The Bentleys were nowhere in sight.


    "Are you kidding? This is your first date ever. We¡¯re not taking you in those ratty old cars," Levi said with a grin.


    I rolled my eyes. They were the only ones I knew who would call Bentleys ¡¯ratty¡¯ and ¡¯old¡¯. People would die for a chance to ride such cars.


    "For tonight, we decided to go all out," Liam said, grinning. He pointed at a car parked not too far from us.


    I gasped. "You hired a LIMO!?" I eximed.


    A confused look crossed his face. "Hired? Why would we do that?" He asked.


    I took a deep breath. "Don¡¯t tell me you actually bought the limo just for tonight."


    He nodded happily. "Yes, we did. You¡¯re worth every penny!"


    How could I even argue with that? I let them lead me into the car. Lucas popped a bottle of champagne and poured us each a ss. I immediately took a big sip and burst into a coughing fit.


    "Slowly. You have to take it slowly," Liam muttered, rubbing my back.


    I turned red. I¡¯d never had champagne before. I felt so embarrassed. It was just another reminder of how much I didn¡¯t knowpared to them.


    I didn¡¯t make that mistake again. I sipped the champagne slowly after that. Before long, I was feeling very light and my legs were tingling.


    "So what exactly are we doing?" I asked. "You guys refused to give me any hints."


    Lucas peered out the window. "We¡¯re almost at the first stop. This is something you¡¯ll really like, I promise."


    He said it with such deep feeling that I got the impression that this first location was his idea. I gave him an encouraging smile. "I¡¯m sure I will."


    The limo soon stopped. Lucas helped me out of the limo. I looked up and saw a big, in building painted white. I frowned. This didn¡¯t seem like a ce where people went on dates. I kept the thought in my mind and followed him into the building.


    The sight inside the building had my jaw dropping. The entire top of the room was missing. In its ce was a ss dome that opened up to the sky. A giant telescope sat in the center.


    "Wow," I muttered in awe.


    He smiled. "This is my favorite ce on earth. I wanted to bring you here for our first date." He led me to the telescope and taught me how to use it.


    I was in awe. "The stars are so beautiful," I said, tears springing to my eyes.


    "There¡¯s one more thing I wanted to show you," he said. He expertly adjusted the telescope and gestured for me to look in. I did and saw that he¡¯d zoomed in on a particr star.


    I looked up frowning. "What do you want me to¡ª" I stopped, seeing that he held a folded sheet of paper in his hands. He handed it to me. I opened it up. "THE HAZEL STAR," I read out loud. "What does that mean?"


    "I had that star named after you. Forever and ever, it will be in your name. Every time you look up, you¡¯ll remember that you are the star in my sky."


    My heart exploded. Tears rolled down my cheeks. "That is so beautiful, Lucas," I cried, rushing into his arms. We hugged tightly.


    Our next destination was an amusement park. I looked around, frowning. "Where is everybody?"


    Levi grinned. "It¡¯s just us for tonight," he said, winking.


    I rolled my eyes. "Don¡¯t tell me you also bought out an entire amusement for our date?"


    He nodded. "Sure did." He grabbed my hand and pulled me into the park. The next few hours were filled with games andughter. We didn¡¯t have to wait in line for any of the rides. We had so much fun! By the time we left the park, I was exhausted.


    "Thank you, Levi. That was so much fun," I said, hugging him.


    "What¡¯s next?" I asked. "Liam?"


    Heughed. "So you figured it out?"


    "Of course. One date for each brother. Serious date for Lucas. Fun date for Levi. And...romantic for Liam?" I grinned.


    He nodded,ughing. "I think you may be too smart for your own good. And you¡¯re right. Our next andst stop is a romantic dinner nned by yours truly."


    I pumped my fist. "Yes! I was getting kind of hungry," I confided yfully.


    We ended up at a nice, five-star Michelin restaurant. We were ushered to a seat close to the window with a beautiful view of the city. "It¡¯s beautiful," I gushed, squeezing Liam¡¯s hand.


    We enjoyed a delicious meal after which a cake was rolled out with an entourage. I blushed furiously as they popped party poppers and shouted, "Happy First Date!" The whole restaurant turned to look at us. I wanted to crawl into the ground.


    I was so relieved when the staff left. I bit into my slice of the cake, making a soft ¡¯hmm¡¯ sound. I looked up and froze, seeing three sets of eyes locked on my lips.


    "Guys! You¡¯re staring," I eximed, blushing. I looked around self-consciously. Suddenly, my eyesnded on three familiar figures on the other side of the ss. My eyes widened.


    "What is it?" Liam asked, picking up on the change in my mood immediately. He followed my gaze. "Guys," he said in a low voice, pointing.


    Lucas and Levi also turned to look. Annie, Mnie and Kira raised their hands in unison, waving their fingers at us through the ss. Mnie curled her fingers, mouthing, ¡¯Come here.¡¯ She twirled her phone, giving them a warning look.


    "Excuse us, Hazel. We¡¯ll be right back. We just need to deal with something," Lucas said, surging to his feet. His brothers followed his lead.


    Before I could say a word, they were making their way out of the restaurant to meet the girls.


    They soon appeared on the other side of the ss. I tried to ignore them and focus on my desert but I couldn¡¯t stop my eyes from wandering back to them.


    "Wow, they look so good together. Do you think they¡¯re couples?" A woman at a nearby table whispered to her friend.


    Jealousy knifed through me. I couldn¡¯t help but agree silently. Mnie, Kira and Annie were stunning girls. Next to the triplets, they looked like they actually belonged there. Unlike me who was just wrapped in a costume that wasn¡¯t mine.


    Did the triplets feel the same way too? Did they see the girls and wish that it was them instead of me? My hands started trembling so badly that I had to drop my fork and hide them under the table.


    Levi leaned closer to Mnie, saying something. I couldn¡¯t make out the words. They were too far away. Curiosity gnawed at me. I needed to hear what they were saying.


    I unconsciously shifted closer to the window, straining my ear to pick their voices. Just as the conversation started getting clearer, a shadow fell over me.


    I looked up to see someone staring right at me,pletely blocking my view of my mates.

 Chapter 12: Little Tease

    <h4>Chapter 12: Chapter 12: Little Tease </h4>


    ¡°Can I help you?¡± I muttered, looking up at the stranger blocking my view¡ªa tall, gangly guy who looked to be about my age.


    He grinned at me, stained brown teeth shing before my eyes. ¡°Yes, you can. Let¡¯s start with you telling me your name, sweet pea?¡± He said.


    ¡°Hazel,¡± I answered impatiently. I tried to peek around him again but I couldn¡¯t see a thing. I gave him an impatient look. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, do I know you?¡±


    He smirked. ¡°No, but I¡¯d certainly like to know you better.¡± His eyes roved up and down my body suggestively.


    Bile rose in my stomach. ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t want to get to know you,¡± I said quickly, turning away from him. I picked up my fork again, making a show of focusing on my food.


    Suddenly, a hand mped on mine. I dropped my fork with a loud yelp. ¡°What do you think you are doing? Let go of me!¡± I eximed, trying to yank my hand out of his grasp.


    ¡°Now. Now. Is that a good way to treat a new friend?¡± He drawled, holding my hand securely.


    I dragged my hand out of his grasp. He leaned closer to me¡ªso close our noses were practically touching. I squealed and jerked back, my chair scraping against the floor.


    ¡°What the hell?¡± I cried, my heart hammering in my chest. I looked around the restaurant for help but most people were focused on their own tes. I tried to signal to the triplets but he was still blocking my view of them.


    ¡°S-Sir, please leave!¡± I eximed. I tried to make my voice as threatening as possible but it came out as a squeak.


    He smirked. ¡°Leave? When I haven¡¯t even introduced myself? That would be very rude of me,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m Timothy.¡± He waited as if expecting me to say something.


    My brain went nk. Oh god, what did he want from me? ¡°N-Nice to meet you,¡± I squeaked finally, sending up a silent prayer for him to just leave me alone.


    He traced his finger down the side of my face. I shuddered, pressing myself against the back of my chair. ¡°You¡¯re a very pretty girl,¡± he whispered, his breath hot against my skin. It sent a shudder down my spine.


    ¡°Please, stop!¡± I cried, trying to get up. If I could just get away from him, I would run into thedies¡¯ room until he left or the triplets returned. Whichever came first.


    I jumped to my feet. He stepped forward quickly, trapping me between his body and the table. He crowded into me, barely leaving an inch between us.


    His eyes ran down my body slowly. He licked his lips, making ugly smacking sounds. My stomach rolled in disgust.


    ¡°Wow, now that I can see your whole body, you¡¯re even sexier than I thought. We can get out of here, and head back to my hotel room. What do you think?¡±


    ¡°Sir! I¡¯m not a¡ªa prostitute!¡± I cried with indignation, my voice rising a little. I tried to shove him away from me but he wouldn¡¯t budge. I was really starting to get scared now. ¡°Please let me go!¡± I pleaded.


    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t be a tease! I know you want this. I saw you making eyes at me from across the restaurant. I had toe over and see the little shawty checking me out. Don¡¯t try to be coy now,¡± he said, grabbing my waist.


    ¡°I did not make eyes at you! I¡¯ve never even seen you before. Please let me go!¡± I cried.


    ¡°You heard thedy. Let. Her. Go,¡± a dark voice thundered behind us.


    We whirled around. Lucas, Levi and Liam stood before us, identical looks of fury on their handsome faces. It was Lucas who spoke.


    ¡°Y-You¡¯re the Emberfang Alphas!¡± The man gasped. ¡°W-What are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to give you one second to get your hands off her or you¡¯ll lose that arm,¡± Lucas spat darkly.


    This guy yelped, yanking his hands off my waist. ¡°A-Alphas, this is not what it looks like. She was the one who started flirting with me first. She¡ª¡±


    I gasped. No. No. I shook my head emphatically. They couldn¡¯t believe him! They just couldn¡¯t!


    Levi stormed forward. He grabbed him by the shirt, hauling him off his feet. ¡°Think twice before youplete that lie,¡± he warned.


    ¡°Our mate would never flirt with anyone, talk less of you,¡± Liam spat, looking over with a look of pure disdain.


    His mouth mmed shut. My heart soared. They believed me! I didn¡¯t even have to defend myself to them. They just knew that I would have never done that. A feeling of peace washed over me. I sighed in relief.


    ¡°M-Mate!?¡± He gasped. His eyes darted to me. ¡°Oh my god! I had no idea. Please. Please, spare me,¡± he cried. He was shaking so badly that I was scared his bones would rattle right out of his body. ¡°If only I knew she was your mate, I would¡ª¡±


    ¡°Would have what!?¡± Lucas snapped.


    He gulped. He didn¡¯t dare finish that sentence. His eyes jumped to me, giving me a pleading look.


    ¡°Don¡¯t even look at her!¡± Levi snarled. ¡°If it were left to me, I¡¯d kill you right now. But your life is not worth that much.¡± He pushed the guy away from him. ¡°Leave now. Before I change my mind.¡±


    He scampered out of there faster than you could say ¡®run¡¯. I turned to the guys, feeling a rush of relief and gratitude.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I whispered.


    Now that the threat was gone, my eyes wandered back to the window. Mnie, Kira and Annie were gone, disappeared without a trace. The same feeling of uneasiness from earlier filled my stomach. I tried to hide it.


    Liam saw the look sh across my face. He took my hand. ¡°You don¡¯t have to thank us, Hazel. It¡¯s our fault for leaving you in the first ce. If we didn¡¯t leave you, he wouldn¡¯t have dared to approach you.¡±


    ¡°Please don¡¯t be worried about Mnie and the girls. They have been insisting on talking to us. We were avoiding it but when they showed up here...¡± Levi trailed off.


    Lucas picked up the sentence. ¡°We didn¡¯t want them to make a scene and ruin your day. That¡¯s the only reason we went to talk to them. Don¡¯t ever think that we have anything left with them.¡±


    Levi nodded, grinning. ¡°You¡¯re the only girl we want. Now and forever.¡±


    My cheeks turned red. I didn¡¯t know what to say to that. Thankfully, they weren¡¯t waiting for a response.


    They let me back to the table. Liam pulled back the chair for me. I sat gratefully.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe those girls interrupted our dessert,¡± Levi muttered angrily, immediately digging into his cake. We murmured in agreement, following suit.


    ¡°Speaking of cake,¡± Liam said suddenly. I paused mid-bite to listen to him. ¡°I just realized that Hazel didn¡¯t get to celebrate her birthday.¡±


    I blushed. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. It¡¯s not like I celebrated any of the previous ones,¡± I muttered.


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not good enough. You should get to celebrate your special day just like everyone else,¡± Lucas countered.


    ¡°I have an idea,¡± Levi announced with a grin.


    I groaned. What now? All their ns usually involved throwing tons of money around.


    A smirk sprung to his lips. ¡°Why don¡¯t we go on a short getaway?¡±

 Chapter 13: Sexy Red

    <h4>Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Sexy Red</h4>


    The resort was breathtaking¡ªsurrounded by white sand and turquoise water. My jaw hung open as I looked around. It felt like I¡¯d just stepped into a different world. A beautiful, untouched piece of earth tucked into a hidden corner.


    ¡°Do you like it?¡± Liam whispered against my ear, his lips pressed to my skin. I was currently cocooned in his arms, my back pressed against him. It felt like home. Safe. Secure. Warm.


    I almost couldn¡¯t believe how incredibly sweet the triplets had been in the past few days. This entire trip was nned by them to celebrate my birthday because they couldn¡¯t bear the thought that I didn¡¯t get to celebrate my special day.


    ¡°Like it?¡± I gushed. ¡°I love it! I¡¯ve never ever seen anything as beautiful as this.¡±


    Before my parent¡¯s death, I was too young to appreciate beauty like this. After their death, I was stuck ving away at the park house. I never had time for vacations.


    ¡°I¡¯m d you love it so much,¡± he whispered, a smile touching his lips as he nibbled on my ear. The action sent a thrill down my spine.


    A thought suddenly urred to me. I spun around. ¡°Liam! I just realized that I didn¡¯t pack any swimwear for this trip!¡± I cried. ¡°Oh no! I kept asking you guys to tell me where we were going but you kept saying it was a surprise. Now I won¡¯t be able to enjoy the beach!¡±


    Levi chuckled, pulling me into his arms. This close, I could see every crevice of his face¡ªincluding the way the corners of his eyes crinkled when heughed. It was so beautiful.


    ¡°You¡¯re so adorable,¡± he eximed,ughing. ¡°Did you really think that we¡¯d bring you here without making adequate provisions for you?¡± He asked.


    ¡°We bought every single thing you can possibly need on this trip, including several nice swimwear,¡± Lucas informed me. ¡°We practically cleared out the store. Don¡¯t worry about having something to wear. You have more than enough.¡±


    ¡°You actually thought of everything. Thanks, guys,¡± I said, smiling at them.


    A shrill noise pierced the air. Lucas fished his phone out of his pocket. He nced at the screen.


    ¡°Excuse me. Official pack business,¡± he muttered.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± I assured him. ¡°You should go attend to that.¡± That was his life as the oldest Alpha¡ªduties, tasks and responsibilities. I had to get used to it now because it would always be that way.


    He nodded gratefully and walked a little distance away to answer the call.


    ¡°I¡¯m gonna go check on our reservation,¡± Levi piped up too and walked away, leaving me alone with Liam.


    ¡°So what do we do now?¡± I asked, turning to face him.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go check out the room,¡± he suggested. ¡°We should make sure our things are properly unpacked before Lucas and Levie back.¡±


    I smiled and nodded. That was a good idea. He held my hand and led me to the private suite we¡¯d be staying in for the trip. He pushed open the door and we walked in.


    The room was exquisite. It was massive and had everything you could ever imagine. A huge full-wall television, a bar and even a jacuzzi. A huge crystal chandelier hung over the bed.


    Wait...


    Bed.


    Singr.


    My eyes widened. There was only one bed. My face turned red. ¡°Are we...Are we all going to share one bed on this trip?¡± I stuttered.


    Liam smiled. ¡°Yes, you don¡¯t want to?¡±


    I shook my head quickly, then blushed even more. ¡°I want to,¡± I whispered. ¡°I was just a bit surprised, that¡¯s all.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t tear my eyes away from the bed¡ªa reminder of how our rtionship was evolving. For me, sleeping in the same bed was a sign of getting morefortable with the triplets.


    Memories of thest time I spent time in bed with Lucas and Liam flooded my brain. My body heated up, recalling the steamy sessions before we fell asleep.


    After that night, I¡¯d been assigned a new tiny room by Luna Evelyn, that would¡¯ve been smaller if the triplets hadn¡¯t protested against it. We hadn¡¯t gotten to spend the night together since. Surely, sleeping in the same bed again...things were going to happen.


    A part of me surged in excitement at the thought. I¡¯d heard so many things about the rtionship between other people who had multiple mates.


    After discovering that the triplets were my mates, I¡¯d gone all out to find out more about how it was supposed to work. A part of me was excited to put all that knowledge into practice.


    Liam¡¯s phone beeped, pulling me out of my dirty thoughts. I flushed, hoping that he hadn¡¯t noticed me zoning out. He didn¡¯t show any signs of catching me but knowing Liam, even if he¡¯d noticed, he would pretend not to so as not to embarrass me.


    He showed me the screen. ¡°Levi wants us to meet him at the beach. Are you up for that?¡± He asked. ¡°I can tell him to change the ns if you¡¯re tired,¡± he offered.


    I shook my head. ¡°I¡¯m not tired,¡± I assured him. ¡°I¡¯m actually excited to head down to the beach.¡±


    ¡°You should change into one of the swimwear we got then,¡± he suggested casually. ¡°I¡¯m sure the resort staff have arranged it in the wardrobe.¡±


    I nodded. ¡°Thanks,¡± I muttered, smiling self-consciously. I fidgeted in ce, unable to meet his gaze. Was he going to stay here while I changed?


    ¡°I¡¯ll leave you to get changed,¡± he said, smiling at me knowingly.


    I blushed, nodding gratefully. ¡°Thank you,¡± I squeaked. He left the room. I walked over to the wardrobe and pulled it open to find it full of all kinds of clothes. My jaw dropped. They really did clean out the store!


    ¡°Swimwear...Swimwear,¡± I whispered, trailing my finger across the length of the wardrobe until I came to the swimwear section.


    My finger froze. The swimwear that the triplets got me were all on hangers. There were tons of them. The only problem was¡ªthey were all in tiny bits and pieces.


    ¡°Where is the rest of it?¡± I eximed, staring at the rows upon rows of bikinis. I picked one up between my forefingers¡ªa red two-piece that could barely cover my fingers, talk less of my boobs and butt.


    I stared at it with wide eyes. "They really expect me to wear one of these? I¡¯ll practically be naked in them!" I eximed.


    Then again...knowing the triplets, that was probably the point. A blush stole up my cheeks at the thought. I¡¯d never worn anything so sexy in front of any man before. What would they think!?

 Chapter 14: His Golden Touch

    <h4>Chapter 14: Chapter 14: His Golden Touch</h4>


    (Trigger Warning: This Chapter contains explicit content and is intended for mature readers.)


    I stripped off my clothes until I was standing stark naked before the full-length mirror. I slowly pulled on the two strings that were supposed to serve as my swimwear for today and examined my reflection in the mirror. My curves were on full disy. My cleavage jumped out at me. My butt cheeks jiggled with every little movement.


    A deep flush rushed up my cheek like wildfire. I suddenly felt hotter even though the temperature in the room hadn¡¯t changed at all. The bikini left little to the imagination. When I stepped out, the guys would see me¡ªall of me.


    Once they saw me this way, things would definitely progress faster. We were already moving so fast. At this rate, I might end up losing my virginity on this trip. As that realization settled in, I blushed harder.


    A thrill of excitement ran through me. But at the same time, I couldn¡¯t help but feel nervous. In theory, it was all nice and simple. But in practice, I had no idea how I would make the three-mates thing work.


    I could only lose my virginity to one person, but who? How would I decide? And in picking one person, how would the others feel? Would that choice cause a rift between us? I had no way of telling.


    And what about me? Could I love them all equally? Was I supposed to? There was no prototype. There was no one to ask. It was such a rare situation.


    ¡°Hazel, are you ready?¡± Liam asked through the door, pulling me from my thoughts.


    I blinked, looking around. How long had I been standing there staring at myself like that? I sighed. ¡°I¡¯m ready. I¡¯ming.¡±


    Taking onest look at myself, I took a deep breath and walked out. Liam was standing right outside the door. Once I stepped out of the door and his eyesnded on me, his jaw dropped.


    He seemed to freeze and space out, staring at me with wide eyes. I waited for him to say something but he seemed unable to tear his eyes away from my body.


    A rush of heat flooded my body. I shifted from foot to foot, fighting the urge to cover myself with my hands. ¡°L-Liam?¡± I whispered shyly.


    ¡°Hum...Haz¡ªI mean, hum...¡± he muttered, unable to get a word out.


    Shame filled me. My hands jerked up to shield my body. Tears sprung to my eyes. ¡°You don¡¯t like it,¡± I cried.


    My tears yanked him out of his stupor. His eyes widened. He rushed to me. ¡°What!? Why do you think that?¡± He demanded, grabbing my shoulder.


    I shrugged his hands off, sniffing. ¡°You don¡¯t even know what to say. I look like a slut.¡±


    He let out a long breath. His eyes fluttered shut in frustration. ¡°Hazel...please tell me you¡¯re kidding right now!¡±


    I shook my head, avoiding his eyes. I couldn¡¯t bear to look at him right now.


    ¡°The reason I can¡¯t say anything is because I nearly swallowed my tongue seeing you. You look exquisite. You look like you just stepped out of a magazine. Never in my life have I seen someone as stunning as you,¡± he said.


    ¡°Don¡¯t lie,¡± I whispered. ¡°You know so many beautiful women. I¡¯m not one of them.¡±


    He grabbed my shoulder again. ¡°Hazel, listen to me. None of the women I know holds a candle. You are mind-blowing,¡± he said reassuringly.


    I couldn¡¯t bring myself to believe him. I still kept my body hidden from sight. Noticing that, he gently took my hands and started to pry them away from my body. I reacted instinctively, trying to jerk my hands back.


    ¡°Trust me,¡± he whispered, looking deep into my eyes.


    I felt something in me stir. I couldn¡¯t say no to him. So even though the self-consciousness was almost overwhelming, I let him gently peel my hands off my body. Once the shield was gone, he looked down at my body. He kept his expression fully open, letting me see every bit of emotion in his eyes.


    ¡°Wow,¡± he whispered, his eyes as bright as a thousand stars. I flushed again but this time, it wasn¡¯t because I felt self-conscious. It was because I could see in his eyes how he felt about me¡ªperfect. My heart soared.


    He was still holding my hand. Now he gently guided it to his member. ¡°Can you see what you¡¯re doing to me?¡± He whispered, looking deep into my eyes.


    I blushed. It was as hard as a rock under my hand. As my hand made contact through his shorts, it jumped, making me jump in shock too.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know it could do that,¡± I whispered, wide-eyed. I touched it again. It jumped again.


    ¡°Fuck,¡± he eximed lightly.


    My eyes jerked up to his face. I was surprised to hear him sweat. He rarely ever swore¡ªespecially in front of me.


    ¡°You¡¯re so innocent,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s driving me crazy.¡± He almost looked like he was in pain. His face was scrunched up. His eyes crinkled at theet.


    I touched his face gently, feeling worried. ¡°Are you okay?¡± I whispered.


    ¡°It is taking every bit of self-control I have in my body not to take you right here and now, Hazel,¡± he whispered, his voice full of aching and need.


    I gasped lightly, finally realizing what the look on his face was. I looked down at his thick, long rod, realizing that I was the cause of that.


    Me. Hazel.


    It was all my fault so I should be the one to solve it, right?


    I swallowed my fears and met his eyes. ¡°What if I don¡¯t want you to hold back?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Shit!¡± He swore before he yanked me flush against him.


    His lips crashed on mine. I gasped at the sudden movement. He took advantage of that to push his tongue into my mouth.


    I had zero experience with kissing but natural instinct kicked in and soon, I was engaged in a massive duel of tongues with him.


    His hands found their way to my boobs. My flimsy bikini offered little to no barrier to his probing fingers. He found my nipples with no problem and gave them a firm tug. A shock sted through my body. I gasped, arching my back into his touch.


    He began to roll my nipples between his fingers sending shot after shot of electricity through me. My head soared into the clouds.


    ¡°More,¡± I gasped.


    He responded immediately, taking his hand off my breasts. A cry of protest escaped my lips. But I didn¡¯t have to wait long. Something wet reced his finger. I let out another gasp as his tongue imed my nipples as if they were made for them. I cradled his head against my chest, weing his warm touch.


    His hand began to trail down my stomach. My body drummed with anticipation. His hand slipped into the flimsy material of my bikini bottoms and found my nub. I exploded in ecstasy as he started a steady rhythm against my clit.


    Secondster, my legs began to shake. The tremors raced through the rest of my body until I was a quivering mess. I rode that high till I copsed against him, exhausted and exhrated.


    ¡°I wish you were my only mate, Liam,¡± I muttered against his chest, my eyes clouding over. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I can be this vulnerable with the others. I feel so at ease with you.¡±


    I felt Liam stiffen against me. Slowly, he pulled away, supporting me by my shoulders. His expression was conflicted and he seemed to be struggling internally.


    Finally, he sighed. ¡°I¡¯m ttered that you are sofortable with me, Hazel, but I want you to know that Lucas and Levi love you just as much as I do. All they want is an opportunity to take care of you. Why not open your heart to them too?¡±


    His words struck a chord in my heart. I knew the guys all loved me too.


    Slowly, I nodded. A smile bloomed across Liam¡¯s face. He leaned closer towards me again, but before our lips could touch, the loud sound of knocking pierced the air.


    We jerked apart. I spun towards the direction of the sound, wide-eyed.


    Through the door, a familiar voice called. ¡°Liam? Hazel? Are you in there?¡±


    My eyes widened. Levi!

 Chapter 15: Your Turn

    <h4>Chapter 15: Chapter 15: Your Turn</h4>


    (Trigger Warning: This Chapter contains explicit content and is intended for mature readers.)


    ¡°Oh my gosh! It¡¯s Levi!¡± I cried as soon as I heard the voice at the door.


    I rushed to the wardrobe, frantically pulling out another pair of bottoms. ¡°What are we going to do!?¡± I eximed.


    ¡°Hazel,¡± Liam said firmly, grabbing my shoulders. He lowered his head until we were at eye level. ¡°Calm down. Take a deep breath. It¡¯s just Levi. You don¡¯t need to be scared.¡±


    I shook my head, breathing heavily. What would Levi think about catching us in this position? Would he be annoyed that we did stuff without him and Lucas? Levi was so vtile. There was no way of telling how he might react.


    Another loud knock pierced the air, making me jump. ¡°Are you guys okay in there?¡± Levi called.


    Liam sighed. ¡°Listen, Hazel. Everything is going to be fine. I¡¯m going to open the door for Levi now and you¡¯ll see for yourself, okay?¡±


    My heart seized. I wanted to grab his hand and beg him not to open the door but I knew that we couldn¡¯t stay in here forever. I nodded, my heart pounding steadily. He walked over to the door and pulled it open.


    Levi walked into the room. ¡°What took you so long to answer the door?¡± He asked, his brow shooting up.


    ¡°Nothing much,¡± Liam said. ¡°We were just about to head out.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± He asked suspiciously. An odd look came over his face. He paused and sniffed the air. A thoughtful expression came over his face. He sniffed again.


    My heart plummeted. That was it. He knew what we¡¯d been up to. He could smell it in the air. I held my breath, waiting for the inevitable blowback.


    His lips smirk curled into a smirk. ¡°Well, well, looks like someone has been having fun in here. Why wasn¡¯t I invited to the party? You know that I love a good party and I¡¯m usually the life of it,¡± he said, his tone jesting and dripping with just a hint of jealousy.


    I blinked in surprise. That was it? That was all he was going to say? He almost seemed to find the whole situation entertaining. He took in my red face and his smirk deepened.


    He walked over, leaning down until his face was mere inches from mine. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, when you and I get together, you¡¯ll learn why I¡¯m called the life of the party. I¡¯ll show you things Liam could never even dream of. Anticipate.¡± He winked cheekily and turned away. ¡°Come on guys. We don¡¯t want to keep Lucas waiting.¡±


    As he walked away, I was left feeling stunned. I¡¯d been worried for nothing. Once again, I was forced to adjust the image of Levi I¡¯d crafted in my mind.


    What Liam said earlier popped back into my head¡ªthat all the brothers loved me and just wanted a chance to take care of me too. A blush stole up my cheeks. It was amazing to be the recipient of this much love.


    Liam took my hand and we followed Levi downstairs. Lucas was waiting for us at the bottom of the stairs when we arrived. His face brightened as soon as he saw me. He took my hand and kissed it.


    ¡°You look absolutely stunning,¡± he whispered against my skin.


    I blushed and muttered my thanks.


    ¡°Our dinner reservation is still a few hours away. I hope you¡¯re not too hungry yet, Hazel?¡± He asked.


    I shook my head. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Don¡¯t worry about me,¡± I assured him.


    ¡°In that case, why don¡¯t we give you a tour of the resort while we kill some time? You¡¯ve never been here before so there¡¯s so much to see,¡± he offered with a gentle smile.


    ¡°That would be lovely,¡± I eximed. I couldn¡¯t wait to see more of the resort. We set off around the resort, walking slowly. The guys took turns holding my hand.


    Finally, we settled on the beach. I looked around, noting how empty the beach was.


    ¡°Where is everybody?¡± I asked, leaning against Levi who¡¯d taken up position behind me, seating me between his legs.


    ¡°The resort is a private property, Hazel,¡± Lucas exined. ¡°It is not open to the general public. Only people staying at the resort have ess to it.¡±


    ¡°And I¡¯m guessing it costs a shit ton of money to stay at the resort so only the rich and elite get to enjoy this scenery,¡± I said with a teasing smile.


    He nodded, chucking. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡±


    Only a handful of people apart from us dotted the massive beach. There was arge distance between where we were seated and where the other resort lodgers were, giving us a bit of privacy.


    A thought suddenly urred to me. I jumped to my feet. ¡°Race you to the water. Last one in is a turtle!¡± I screamed and began to run.


    I had a good head start on them and I was confident to win. Barely two stepster, footsteps began pounding right behind me.


    Levi blew past me first like a tornado and jumped into the water, sending sshes everywhere. Before I could cry out, Lucas sped past too with ease. Liam caught up to me easily, choosing to run by my side.


    ¡°You guys are cheating. You have longer legs,¡± Iined yfully, pouting.


    ¡°Or maybe you¡¯re just a slow poke,¡± he said,ughing.


    He swept me off the ground, into his arms. I screamed as he ran towards the water and leaped in. Wended with a loud ssh.


    I resurfaced with water in my eyes, mouth and ears. The guysughed heartily.


    ¡°Guess you¡¯re the turtle now,¡± Levi joked. When he saw my pout, heughed even harder. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You may be a turtle, but you¡¯re a brave turtle. I mean you had the guts to challenge three alphas to a race.¡±


    I sshed water into his face to shut him up. He sputtered, staring at me with wide eyes.


    ¡°Oh no, you didn¡¯t!¡± He cried, immediately sshing me with water too. Before long we were engaged in a serious duel with Liam and Lucas egging on us.


    I sshed water in his eyes and snuck around him. I jumped on his back. ¡°Got ya!¡± I cried,ughing as I rode him like a horse.


    He easily threw me off his back. I tried to swim away but he caught me, trapping me against the edge of the water.


    ¡°And where do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± He whispered.


    I immediately felt hotter, noticing the shift in his eyes. ¡°Nowhere,¡± I squealed.


    ¡°I thought as much,¡± he whispered and captured my lips.


    His kisses were wild and bold, nothing like the sweet and loving kisses from Liam earlier. Yet surprisingly, I enjoyed it just as much. It was exhrating, like riding a wild horse for the first time. My eyes fluttered shut.


    He began to trail his kisses down my neck to my stomach. I felt another set of lipstch onto mine. My eyes sprung open. Lucas. His lips were firm and demanding. Hemanded the kiss with the same intensity that hemanded the pack. It felt intense. I loved every bit of it.


    With each new thought, I was shocked at myself. The former Hazel would have balked and run away from this. But now, I found myself yearning for more. I wanted to explore each of them fully, seeing their differences and enjoying them, rather than fearing them.


    Their kisses were probably an indication of how they were in bed. Different yet amazing. At least, I knew I could never get bored with the three of them. It would be like a buffet every day.


    Liam found his way to my other side and began to knead my nipples. He always went for them first. He must be a boobs man, I thought. There was so much more to learn about them.


    Levi¡¯s kisses reached my stomach. There was a fluttering in my belly. He impatiently yanked down my bikini bottoms andtched onto my nub. His tongue did wonders against my pussy, sending me into waves upon waves of orgasms. I couldn¡¯t even cry out because of Lucas¡¯s mouth on mine. Every inch of my body was being stimted at the same time.


    Soon, my legs were shaking again. I copsed,pletely spent. If not for their hands holding me up, I may have sunk. As I came crashing down from my final orgasm, Levi leaned into me.


    ¡°Did you enjoy that?¡± He asked.


    I knew he was referring to the things he did with his tongue. How could I not enjoy them? My pussy was still pulsing in excitement. I barely got myself to nod.


    ¡°Good. Now it¡¯s your turn,¡± he dered.

 Chapter 16: A Student and Her Teachers

    <h4>Chapter 16: Chapter 16: A Student and Her Teachers</h4>


    (Trigger Warning: This Chapter contains explicit content and is intended for mature readers.)


    My heart skipped a beat. ¡°M-My turn to do what?¡± I whispered even though I knew exactly what he meant. My heart pounded in my chest.


    Levi leaned even closer. ¡°You know what I mean, Hazel.¡±


    He was right. Thinking about it now, every time something happened between us, I was the only one who got to finish. I always left them wanting. And they¡¯d neverined about it. It was only right for me to give something in return.


    ¡°But¡ªBut I don¡¯t know how to do...that,¡± I said, fidgeting. ¡°I¡¯ve never done it before.¡± I had zero experience in anything sexual. Could I even satisfy them?


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Hazel. We can teach you,¡± Liam said sweetly, taking my hand.


    ¡°But¡ªBut what if you don¡¯t like it,¡± I whispered. My face turned red. I couldn¡¯t meet any of their gaze so I looked down at the water instead. ¡°What if I end up disappointing you?¡±


    ¡°There is absolutely nothing you can do to ever disappoint us, Hazel,¡± Lucas assured me. ¡°We¡¯ll teach you and we know you¡¯ll do great.¡±


    ¡°Of course, if you¡¯re not ready, we can wait for you,¡± Liam said quickly, giving his brothers a firm, warning look.


    ¡°No!¡± I eximed quickly. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Liam. I-I want to try,¡± I said bashfully.


    Their eyes brightened. ¡°Really? Are you sure?¡± Liam asked, trying to keep his voice even but the excitement seeped through.


    ¡°Yes,¡± I said, giggling at their childish enthusiasm. They led me out of the water. I looked around, worried that we might be caught but then remembered we were practically alone on the beach.


    I stood awkwardly, staring at them. There were three of them. Obviously I couldn¡¯t do all three at the same time. So who was it going to be?


    I didn¡¯t have to wait long for the answer to that question. Lucas positioned himself in front of me. Whether it was because he was the oldest or just by providence, I had no idea.


    ¡°Okay, Hazel. Are you ready for your lesson?¡± He asked.


    For some reason, his voice sounded thicker than usual. Looking into his eyes, I knew why. It was thick with desire. I nodded mutely, anticipation building in my stomach, slowly overtaking the difort and panic.


    ¡°Get down on your knees,¡± he said authoritatively. I found myself dropping to my knees instantly. His dominance stirred something in me that I didn¡¯t even know was there. My face turned red. ¡°Take off my swim trunks,¡± he directed.


    I obeyed and pulled his trunks down. His dick sprung out, almost hitting me in the face. It was long, hard and ready. My jaw dropped as I took in the beauty of his veined dick. The tip was already glistering with a thick, white substance.


    My hands reached out on their own ord. I just wanted to know how it felt. Lucas didn¡¯t rush me. He just continued to watch quietly. I reached out and touched him lightly. It jumped, startling me. I yanked my hand back.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be scared,¡± he whispered.


    I reached out again. This time I grasped it firmly in my hand. It felt so different from what I expected. It was warm and pulsing, a living being on its own. I instinctively gave it a few good pumps. Lucas groaned, his eyes fluttering shut.


    My eyes were drawn to the strange white substance at the tip. It looked like milk. I wondered how it tasted. Without thinking, I pushed out my tongue and touched it to his dick lightly. It was warm and slightly salty. I liked it. I licked again.


    ¡°Fuck,¡± Lucas grunted. ¡°If you keep teasing me like that, I won¡¯tst very long,¡± he warned.


    My eyes widened. Teasing him? I didn¡¯t know I was doing that. I had to fix that. This time when my tongue dipped out, I let it wrap around his dick firmly and began to swirl it in a circr motion.


    ¡°Oh yes, that¡¯s it,¡± Lucas muttered. He began to thrust his hips forward and backward.


    I began to move with him, keeping up with his pace. He grunted softly. The sound traveled all the way to the fold between myps. A needy ache started there.


    I was suddenly aware of Liam and Levi beside us. They¡¯d pulled out their dicks from their trunks and were slowly pumping their shaft, watching me. It made me even more turned on. I couldn¡¯t take it anymore. I slipped my fingers between my legs and began to pump them into my snatch.


    A feeling of bliss traveled through me. I moaned against Lucas¡¯ dick in my mouth. He moaned in return and I realized he liked the vibration of my moan. I didn¡¯t hold back anymore. I let out moan after moan, getting louder and louder as I neared my release.


    Soon the air was filled with ourbined moans, along with grunts from Levi and Liam. Lucas¡¯ dick swelled in my mouth. He was nearing his release. ¡°Let¡¯s cum together,¡± he said. It was amand, like every other word that came out of his mouth. My body jumped to obey themand.


    As he exploded in my mouth, my body soared over the edge simultaneously.


    ¡°Swallow all of it,¡± he ordered. I obeyed, swallowing as much of his cum as I could. From the corner of my eyes, I saw Liam and Levi cum too, spraying their cum into the sand.


    My brain instantly revolted. That was supposed to be meant for me, not wasted. I turned to Liam first and popped his dick into my mouth, draining whether little was left. Then I moved over to Levi and did the same.


    I sat back on my knee, satisfied. I had cum from the three of them in my mouth, mixed together just like it was supposed to be.


    ¡°Wow,¡± Levi muttered, his voice filled with awe. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you were worried about not doing this right. You¡¯re a natural!¡±


    I blushed, feeling proud of the praise.


    *****


    An hourter, we sat down for a sunset dinner by the beachside. Levi¡¯s hand casually rested on myp. He traced intricate figures on myp, sending thrills down my spine. I¡¯d cum so much today, I didn¡¯t know if I could ever cum again. But the guys didn¡¯t seem the least bit sated. Instead of worrying me, it excited the little creature between my legs.


    ¡°Hazel,¡± Levi said suddenly.


    ¡°Yeah?¡± I asked, looking up at him. I was surprised to see a serious look on his face. I dropped my fork. ¡°Is everything okay?¡± I asked worriedly.


    ¡°Everything is okay,¡± he assured me quickly. ¡°I just wanted to tell you something.¡±


    ¡°Okay, what is it?¡± I asked.


    ¡°I spoke to our parents before we left on this trip,¡± he started.


    My heart began to race. Anything involving Alpha Henry and Luna Evelyn always had my heart beating faster.


    ¡°I told them that you have shown so much diligence and hard work working for us over the years that you actually deserve a reward. And that reward was for your debt to be cleared,¡± he said.


    I gasped. Was he saying what I thought he was saying? I looked at Liam and Lucas but they seemed just as surprised as I did.


    ¡°Yes, Hazel. It¡¯s exactly what you¡¯re thinking. Your debt to our family has been cleared. Consider it a small gesture to show my repentance for the horrible things I said in Lucas¡¯ room that day,¡± he said.


    Tears sprang to my eyes. ¡°Oh my gosh, Levi. You didn¡¯t have to! I already forgave you for that. You didn¡¯t have to go out of your way,¡± I cried.


    ¡°I wanted to. You deserve it. You have been wonderful. There¡¯s only one favor I want to ask...that you don¡¯t leave Emberfang pack immediately. Please stay with us, even if it¡¯s just for a few months. Give us a chance to prove ourselves to you,¡± he said.


    My heart ached to see him pleading so earnestly. I threw my hands around his neck. ¡°Oh, Levi! Of course, I¡¯ll stay. You¡¯ve been more than good to me. It¡¯s the least I can do!¡±


    He grinned, hugging me tightly. We spent the rest of dinner time in high spirits. By the time we stumbled back to the room, I was exhausted.


    ¡°I¡¯m gonna take a shower,¡± I announced, heading straight for the bathroom. ¡°I need to wash all this sand off.¡±


    ¡°Wait!¡± Levi¡¯s voice stopped me.


    ¡°What?¡± I asked wide-eyed.


    He grinned. ¡°There¡¯s way too much sand on you. You can¡¯t get it off all by yourself. How would you even reach your back? You need a bit of extra help.¡±


    ¡°What are you getting at?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t we all just take a shower together?¡± He asked, smirking.

 Chapter 17: Shower Games

    <h4>Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Shower Games</h4>


    (Trigger Warning: This Chapter contains explicit content and is intended for mature readers.)


    My heart skipped a beat. Shower? Together? All four of us? That would mean getting naked together. I¡¯d never been fully naked before any of them. At least, I would have on a bra or panties at every point.


    The implication of that rang in my head. From the start, I had a feeling that we might get to third base on this trip. I just didn¡¯t expect it to happen on the very first night.


    ¡°You¡¯re thinking too hard,¡± Lucas murmured, tipping. ¡°Don¡¯t think. Just feel.¡±


    I blushed, nodding. ¡°Fine. We can shower together.¡±


    No sooner had the words left my mouth than the boys started kicking off their swim bottoms. Their enthusiasm had me giggling.


    They were stark naked in front of me. I couldn¡¯t help but feel jealous at howfortable they were in their bodies. They didn¡¯t seem the slightest bit embarrassed to be naked before me. Although, I probably wouldn¡¯t be embarrassed if I had a body like that too.


    Lucas took my hand and led me into the bathroom. Levi and Liam followed close behind. I paused just inside the door to strip. He grabbed my hand, stopping me.


    ¡°No, princess. You don¡¯t get to do anything today except stand there and look pretty,¡± he said.


    I blushed and nodded mutely. He began to undress me slowly. My body heated up everywhere our skins made contact. He got my meager clothes off without much drama and stepped into the shower together. Levi turned on the water.


    As the water cascaded over us, Ithered up some soap and began to wash my body. The brothers did the same.


    I was acutely aware of their dicks, hard and rock and pointing straight out. I knew it was because of me. I tried to ignore it but my eyes kept getting drawn to it again and again. I blushed and pinned my eyes to the floor but I could already feel a wetness between my legs.


    Things remained PG-13 until I tried to wash my back. My hand arched back awkwardly but I still couldn¡¯t reach certain spots. I let out a breath of frustration.


    ¡°I¡¯ll wash your back,¡± Levi offered.


    I smiled gratefully and turned my back to him. He immediately slid closer to me and began to wash my back, scrubbing in an up-down motion. It felt so good that my eyes fluttered shut and I let out a deep hum.


    Suddenly I felt something poke me in the back. He shifted closer.


    ¡°Enjoying that?¡± He whispered in my ear, his voice so low that it was almost drowned out by the falling water.


    I nodded, blushing. ¡°You¡¯re poking me,¡± I whispered, giggling.


    ¡°It¡¯s not my fault. I keep telling him to go down but he won¡¯t listen. Maybe you can try,¡± he said. He grabbed my shoulder and turned me around.


    I looked down at his thick, veiny dick. I swallowed.


    ¡°Maybe if you touch him, he¡¯ll go down,¡± he whispered, smirking.


    I giggled. ¡°Touch him?¡±


    He sighed dramatically. ¡°It¡¯s worth a try.¡±


    I knew exactly what he was doing and I went along with the game. It was interesting. I stretched my head out and touched it lightly. ¡°Go down, Little Levi,¡± I said in my best scolding voice.


    It hardened and lengthened even more. I didn¡¯t even realize it could do that.


    ¡°That...is the hottest damn thing I¡¯ve ever witnessed,¡± he dered, his eyes shining. ¡°Do it again.¡±


    Feeling bolder, I grabbed it with one hand and wiggled my finger warningly in front of it. ¡°I won¡¯t say it twice,¡± I said firmly like a schoolteacher, ¡°Be a good boy and get down! Now!¡±


    ¡°Fuck!¡± He muttered and dragged me closer, iming my lips. Another body pressed into me from behind. Lucas. Another long pole poked me from behind. I was sandwiched between the two of them. Just like earlier, Liam watched from the side, silently stroking his dick.


    I turned my head slightly, presenting my neck to Lucas. He caught on quickly and began kissing my neck while Levi imed my mouth. Levi¡¯s hand traveled down and disappeared between my legs.


    Simultaneously, a hand entered me from behind. A sharp cry escaped my lips. It was the first time ever that I would have something in my back hole. It was so tight. At first, it felt painful but the pain soon faded away. In its ce, ecstasy soared.


    They began to pump their fingers in and out. My eyes rolled back in my head. My eyes clouded over. I was jostled back and forth between them as they fingered me mercilessly until I cum on Levi¡¯s fingers.


    When I finally recovered from my orgasm, I saw that they¡¯d both reached down and were stroking their cocks. It triggered something inside me. I reached out and grabbed their hands, stopping them.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Levi asked, his voice tight. He must have been so close.


    ¡°You guys always get me off but I don¡¯t do the same for you. I want to get you off too...fully this time,¡± I said.


    Their eyes widened. ¡°Hazel, are you sure? You know what this means right?¡±


    My heart thudded in my chest. I was still a virgin. A novice. I¡¯d never had anything up there before their fingers. Even with just their fingers, it felt so tight. How was I supposed to fit all that thickness inside me?


    The thought made my stomach turn nervously. Would it be painful? Would I be able to do it? Maybe it would be best for me to just back out and take some time to prepare my mind better.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay if you¡¯re not ready,¡± Liam assured me quickly. ¡°We¡¯re fine with continuing like this. At least for now.¡± As he spoke, he gave his cock a few good pumps. Precum glistened on the head of his cock.


    I made up my mind quickly. Pushing aside the fear, I met his gaze squarely. ¡°I know what it means. I am ready. I want us to have sex.¡±


    There was resounding silence. Liam recovered first. ¡°You understand that only one of us can take your virginity, right?¡±


    I nodded. ¡°I understand.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll have to choose who you want to do it,¡± he said.


    This was the part I was worried about. If I picked one of them, how would the others feel about it? Would they be mad? Disappointed? Sad?


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about us, Hazel,¡± Lucas said reassuringly. ¡°Getting to be with you intimately is already everything we could ever dream of. It doesn¡¯t matter who goes first. All that matters is yourfort.¡±


    A rush of gratefulness brought tears to my eyes. What did I ever do to deserve such caring and loving men as my mates?


    ¡°So who do you choose?¡± Levi asked.


    I was silent for a few seconds thinking. It was like standing in front of a buffet and being told to only pick one food. Or having to pick only one vor of your favorite snack. It was not an easy decision.


    Finally, I came to a decision. I raised my hand and pointed. ¡°You. I want you,¡± I dered.

 Chapter 18: Marked By Her Triplets

    <h4>Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Marked By Her Triplets</h4>


    (Trigger Warning: This Chapter contains explicit content and is intended for mature readers.)


    My finger pointed directly at Liam. ¡°I pick Liam,¡± I dered.


    None of them seemed surprised by my choice. Lucas nodded casually.


    ¡°Thought as much,¡± Levi said with an easy grin.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, guys,¡± I said to them. ¡°I can trust Liam to be more gentle. Seeing as it¡¯s my first time, I think he will¡ª¡±


    ¡°Hazel!¡± Lucas cut me off, holding his hand up. ¡°You don¡¯t need to exin. We already told you. We don¡¯t mind whoever goes first as long as you¡¯re happy.¡±


    I nodded, a smile springing to my lips. ¡°Thank you,¡± I muttered.


    ¡°If we¡¯re going to do this, we have to do it well,¡± Liam said. Lucas and Levi nodded in agreement.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± I asked, looking behind them. It looked like I was the only one left out of the loop.


    ¡°Your first time isn¡¯t going to happen in the shower with you on your feet. We will go back to the bedroom where you can befortable, okay?¡±


    I nodded gratefully. ¡°That sounds good.¡±


    He took my hand and led me to the bed. He signaled to me to climb in first. Once I did, he climbed on top of me. He stretched out on top of me.


    Anticipation drummed in my veins as hetched his lips on mine. We kissed deeply. As always, he was gentle as a dove, cradling my head in his hands.


    He finally disengaged our lips. ¡°I have to make sure you¡¯re ready,¡± he whispered.


    I watched confused as he slid down my body. He made his way to my pussy. He parted my legs and delved in with his tongue. Before long, I was squirting all over his face.


    Next, he went in with his finger. First, one finger. Then he kept adding more one at a time until I was taking four of his fingers at the same time. I felt so stretched but so full.


    He pulled his finger out. It squelched embarrassingly. He slid back up with a smile. ¡°I think you¡¯re ready now, sweet pea,¡± he whispered.


    I nodded. He ced the head of his cock against my opening. He held my gaze. He pushed in a few inches. I gasped. He waited a few seconds for me to adjust. He slid in a few more inches.


    I could see the strain on his face¡ªthe desire to shove himself in but he held himself tightly. That was exactly the reason I picked him. I knew he would do everything possible to make it easy for me.


    ¡°I¡¯m ready for a little more,¡± I said gruffly.


    He nodded and pushed in a little further. In the process, his teeth grazed my neck. He jerked back.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Hazel! I didn¡¯t mean to do that,¡± he eximed.


    I didn¡¯t even have to think about it. I knew what I wanted. It was toote to turn back anyway. I dragged him closer, tilting my head and pretending my neck to him.


    ¡°Mark me,¡± I said, almost pleading. ¡°Do it!¡±


    His eyes widened. ¡°Are you sure?¡± He asked.


    ¡°Surer than I¡¯ve ever been about anything,¡± I assured him. ¡°I¡¯m yours, Liam. Mark me.¡±


    His fangs sunk into my neck. At the same time, he buried himself in my pussy to the hilt. The barrier of my hymen broke. I let out a sharp breath as pain and pleasure rocked my body.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± He asked breathlessly. Marking me had done a number on him too.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. Just...Just give me a few seconds,¡± I whispered, breathing through my mouth. The throbbing pain soon subsided to a dull ache. ¡°Fuck me,¡± I demanded.


    He began to thrust in and out. Nothing could have prepared me for the feeling of a real dick inside me¡ªnot even four fingers.


    I rode the clouds to heaven, soaring higher and higher in the air. I didn¡¯t know when I started shouting. ¡°Oh yes! Oh my gosh! Please, Liam. More! More!¡±


    He obliged, moving faster and faster until he burst inside me, filling me with his seed. His orgasm triggered mine. My legs tightened around his waist, dragging him further inside me as I convulsed.


    He climbed off me, sitting on the bed next to me. ¡°Are you okay? Was I gentle enough?¡± He asked.


    ¡°You were gentler than I thought was even possible. You did great,¡± I assured him. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    He smiled happily and got off the bed. Pushing myself up on my elbows, I gave Lucas and Levi a smile.


    ¡°Who wants to fuck me next?¡± I asked cheekily.


    They nced at each other. An unspoken message passed between them. Lucas climbed onto the bed.


    ¡°Enough Mr Nice Guy,¡± he growled. ¡°Come here.¡± He grabbed my leg and dragged me towards him. I gasped as I slid across the bed.


    His hands circled my neck, firm but not painful. He captured my lips in a hot, demanding kiss. He pushed my legs apart and began to grind against me. His dick dragged against my clit, sending sharp thrills through my pussy but he didn¡¯t enter.


    Before long, I was dripping. I needed him inside me so badly, I couldn¡¯t breathe. I reached down to guide his cock into my pussy. He grabbed my hand, yanking it back. He pinned it above my head.


    ¡°Who gave you permission to touch?¡± He demanded.


    Hismanding tone had knots forming in my stomach. I got even more turned on. I couldn¡¯t take the pressure between my legs. I needed some release. I began to rub my legs together. Anything to calm the fire burning in there.


    He yanked my legs apart. ¡°Naughty girl. You don¡¯t listen to instructions well, do you? Looks like you need to be taught a lesson.¡± He turned to Levi. ¡°Hold her hands,¡± hemanded.


    Levi moved into position quickly. He pinned my hands down above my head, leaving me open and vulnerable.


    Lucas held my legs apart with his knees. He pped his palm on my clit. I cried out as a mixture of pain and pleasure pierced through me. He repeated the p then picked up a steady rhythm. Soon, I was cumming again.


    ¡°Turn over,¡± hemanded.


    I jumped to obey.


    ¡°Get on your knees,¡± he directed.


    I got on my knees, my back to him and my legs spread open. He thrust into me from behind. I moaned deeply. ¡°Yes, Lucas. Just like that.¡±


    He picked up the pace, pounding into me mercilessly. This was nothing like sex with Liam. I was soon cumming again. As I rode the waves of my climax, he whispered, ¡°Can I mark you?¡±


    I nodded. His teeth sunk into my neck, marking me too.


    Once he let me go, I copsed on the bed. I¡¯d cum more times than I thought possible today. I waspletely spent. I couldn¡¯t even lift my head anymore.


    ¡°Ready for some fun?" a cheeky voice whispered in my ear. Levi!


    ¡°I don¡¯t think I can¡ª¡±


    Before I couldplete the sentence, my legs were dragged up and thrown over his shoulder. I gasped as he sank into me, my position allowed him to hit my G-spot. I nearly passed out from pleasure.


    As he pounded into me, all I could do was lie there and moan loudly. ¡°Can I¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± I cut him off. ¡°Mark me,¡± I answered.


    His canines sank into my neck, and a moan slipped from my lips.

 Chapter 19: The Aftermath

    <h4>Chapter 19: Chapter 19: The Aftermath</h4>


    I was so sore when I woke up the next morning. My entire body ached, especially the three new marks on my neck. When the memories of yesterday came rushing back, I blushed.


    There was so much sex. So many different positions. I experienced things I didn¡¯t even know were possiblest night. The space between my legs still throbbed slightly.


    I couldn¡¯t believe that I¡¯d finally lost my virginityst night. The sex had been truly glorious, better than I ever envisioned it could be.


    Even better, I¡¯d been marked by the triplets. That meant that I was theirs and they were mine now¡ªforever. Leaving them or the Emberfang pack was now impossible. The departure or death of a mate could mean intense pain or even death for the other mate. My life was now tied with the triplets.


    Another thought suddenly urred to me. Last night, during our love-making sessions...we didn¡¯t use protection. I gasped quietly. Did that mean that I could get pregnant? From my very first sexual experience?


    Who would be the father? How would I even know? I took turns with each tripletst night. I couldn¡¯t help but wonder what life would be like if I had children with the triplets. Would the kids even know which one is their daddy? Would they care?


    My body was sticky with sweat, thanks tost night¡¯s antics. I needed a shower. I stretched my sore body. My hand made contact with another warm body. I slowly withdrew my hand, careful not to wake whoever it was. I turned my head and saw that it was Levi.


    Careful not to wake him, I tried to climb out of bed slowly. I¡¯d barely moved an inch when his hands wrapped around my arm. I was dragged back into the bed and into his arms.


    ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going without your morning kisses?¡± he asked and began to pepper me with kisses all over¡ªmy cheeks, my nose, my forehead, my neck.


    I fell into a giggling fit, feeling tickled by his lips on my skin. I couldn¡¯t be outdone by him so I grabbed his face between my hands and began to attack him with kisses too.


    Before long, it turned into a mini wrestlingpetition and I found myself pinned under his body, his weight slightly pressing into me at just the right spot.


    We both froze, realizing the delicacy of our position. My cheeks turned red. He leaned forward and captured my lips. His kiss was slow and measured. I wrapped my hands around his neck.


    Soon, our kiss began to build in intensity until we were both moaning into each other¡¯s mouths. Our tussling and moans soon woke Liam and Lucas.


    A hand firmly cupped my butt, squeezing. Another mouthtched onto my neck, kissing it expertly. Soon, I was moaning sporadically. A finger grazed myp and began to trail up my legs.


    Realizing what was about to happen, I leaped out of the bed,nding on the balls of my feet several feet away from the bed.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Liam cried.


    I shook my head and offered them a smile. ¡°Nothing is wrong. It¡¯s just that...I¡¯m still too sore and tired fromst night¡¯s session,¡± I exined.


    ¡°Oh, of course! Why didn¡¯t we think of that? You just lost your virginity. Of course, you must be exhausted,¡± Liam muttered.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you go into the shower and wash up then? When you get out, we can go down to the restaurant¡¯s buffet breakfast and replenish your strength,¡± Lucas suggested.


    I gave him a grateful smile. ¡°Thanks. That sounds wonderful.¡±


    ¡°Off you go then,¡± he said, smiling back.


    I entered the bathroom and immediately stepped under the shower. I was still naked fromst night¡¯s love-making sessions so I didn¡¯t have to bother with taking off clothes.


    I turned on the water and instantly felt my body rxed. A sigh left my lips. Thanks to the sound of the falling water, I didn¡¯t hear the door open nor did I hear footsteps approaching until it was toote.


    Hands grabbed me from behind. I whirled around with a sharp cry and was surprised to see Levi grinning at me.


    ¡°Levi! What are you doing here?¡± I asked.


    ¡°I wanted to be close to you,¡± he answered with a cheeky smile.


    Iughed, rolling my eyes. ¡°I¡¯m like ten steps away from you in here. I¡¯m not going anywhere, you know.¡±


    ¡°I know but I still want to be next to you every minute, every second,¡± he said.


    A happy smile touched my lips. ¡°That¡¯s really sweet, Levi, but I don¡¯t think the shower can take all four of us right now. So you should probably wait outside. I¡¯ll be done in a second.¡±


    ¡°Oh, the others are noting,¡± he dered, blinking innocently.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± I asked.


    ¡°They don¡¯t know that I¡¯m here. I snuck in,¡± he dered. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. They didn¡¯t notice when I snuck in.¡±


    I found myselfughing at the youngest triplet¡¯s antics. At least I knew as long as Levi was there, I could never be bored.


    He crowded into me suddenly. I instinctively backed away until my back hit the wall. He mmed both of his hands against the wall on either side of me, trapping me in front of him. He leaned down and kissed my neck.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t we continue from where we left off?¡± He suggested.


    I wordlessly tilted my head up. He captured my lips, gently kissing me. I kissed him back, enjoying the slow burn of the kiss. He withdrew his lips from mine and turned me around.


    Hethered up some soap and began to wash my back all the way down to my legs. I blushed.


    ¡°Oh, Levi, you don¡¯t have to do that,¡± I cried. ¡°I can wash it myself.¡± My cheeks colored slightly. I fidgeted from foot to foot.


    He ignored my protests. He waspletely focused on the task at hand. Seeing his seriousness, I decided to just rx and enjoy the feel of his hands on my skin.


    ¡°You said you were feeling sore earlier. How about I give you a massage to soothe your aching muscles?¡± He asked.


    I nodded enthusiastically. ¡°Oh, that would be wonderful,¡± I gushed.


    He didn¡¯t waste any time. He began to gently knead my muscles. It felt like heaven. The knots began to untangle and loosen under his expert hands.


    I moaned loudly. ¡°That feels so good,¡± I whispered.


    He grinned. ¡°Good to know that my skills are appreciated.¡±


    I let myself sink into the massage. Soon, my body felt loose and light, the soreness vanishing like a wraith. Apparently, the massage didn¡¯t only loosen my body, it also loosened my tongue. I heard myself sigh lightly.


    ¡°Being on this ind has been so wonderful. This is the happiest I¡¯ve ever been in as long as I can remember,¡± I dered.


    ¡°Really? I¡¯m d you like it that much,¡± Levi said, smiling.


    ¡°It makes it even harder to think about going back to the packhouse...¡± I muttered.


    His brow shot up. He straightened, looking interested. ¡°Why is that?¡±


    I sighed. ¡°The packhouse is not a happy ce for me, Levi. I have so many horrible memories there... It¡¯s suffocating sometimes.¡±


    His hands froze.

 Chapter 20: Her Personal Masseuse

    <h4>Chapter 20: Chapter 20: Her Personal Masseuse </h4>


    (Trigger Warning: This Chapter contains explicit content and is intended for mature readers.)


    ¡°W-What I mean is that I really love the beach,¡± I exined quickly, my eyes wide. ¡°You know how the beach is so open and so free.¡±


    Levi sighed. ¡°Hazel, you don¡¯t have to beat around the bush. I am actually interested in what you have to say. Speak your truth.¡±


    I sighed. ¡°I know it¡¯s not like that for you. The packhouse is your childhood home and your kingdom as an alpha. But for me, it¡¯s not like that. The packhouse has so many bad memories for me.¡±


    I paused to gauge his reaction to my words so far. If he didn¡¯t seem happy with it, I¡¯d just stop talking. But he just nodded, indicating for me to continue.


    ¡°Unlike back home, I feel so free here on the beach. I can do whatever I want. Be whoever I want. I don¡¯t have to worry about waking up at 5 am to start preparing things. I don¡¯t have to spend hours on my knees cleaning.


    He winced, probably picturing that.


    I sighed. ¡°For me, the packhouse is not a happy ce. It¡¯s full of awful memories I¡¯d rather just forget.¡±


    Levi was silent for a few minutes, a thoughtful expression on his face. I could tell he¡¯d really listened to everything I said. That made me bolder to talk some more.


    ¡°I sometimes wonder how my life turned out like this,¡± I said. ¡°What could my parents have done to incur such a massive debt? What did they use the money for? It¡¯s not like they left me anything. No belongings. No money. Nothing.¡±


    He shook his head. He had no idea. I sighed, knowing there was no way he could.


    ¡°I wish I¡¯d spent more time with them as a child so at least I¡¯d have some strong memories of them. I don¡¯t remember them much. It makes it harder to feel happy about paying off their rent which I knew nothing about,¡± I ranted.


    Seeing how upset I was getting, Levi resumed his massage.


    ¡°I wonder if they even loved me. If they did, they couldn¡¯t have done this to me, right? Who leaves a little infant with so much debt that she has to ve away for a decade to pay back?¡± I cried.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have the answers to your questions, Hazel, but I don¡¯t see how anyone could ever know you and not love you. You¡¯re so amazing. I¡¯m sure they loved you with all their hearts,¡± he said reassuringly.


    His words struck a nerve. Tears sprang to my eyes. Thanks to his words and his hands. I began to feel lighter again. The mouthing anger faded away.


    I smiled at him. ¡°You should have looked into bing a masseuse. Maybe if you weren¡¯t an alpha, you could have gotten a job at the spa. All thedies wille to that spa just to have your hands on them.¡±


    He smirked. ¡°Really? Then what would I do? Would I...let my hand trail down like this?¡±


    His hand traveled down my legs, slowly tickling. I gasped as his fingers slid into my hole. I had to grab his arm to keep myself up. I was still so sensitive down there fromst night¡¯s pounding. Every touch was amplified by a hundred percent.


    Hetched onto my breasts, his warm breath tickling my nipples. All the sucking from yesterday had made my nipples swollen and sensitive.


    Every flicker of his tongue sent waves and waves of pleasure through me¡ªso much that I felt like I was going crazy. I cried out.


    He pumped in and out faster while I moaned. I finally came on his finger, my legs trembling under me. A tear slipped down my face.


    ¡°Hazel, are you okay? Did I hurt you?¡± He asked worriedly.


    I shook my head. ¡°N-No. It feels so amazing. I can¡¯t stop the tears,¡± I whispered.


    He grinned and pinned me against the wall. ¡°In that case...Can you take it?¡± He whispered.


    I knew what he meant. The ¡®it¡¯ was currently pressing into my stomach like a pole. I still felt so sore down there but my arousal was too much to bear. I wanted it. All of it. I nodded my head.


    With a smile, he positioned himself to enter me. A sharp knock pierced the air. We spun towards the bathroom door.


    ¡°What is going on in there? Both of you,e out now,¡± Lucas¡¯ voice called authoritatively through the door.


    ¡°Shit!¡± Levi and I whispered at the same time,ughing.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been caught,¡± I told him.


    He shrugged without a care. ¡°It was worth every second,¡± he said with a careless smirk.


    ¡°You have ten seconds to get out here or I¡¯ming in,¡± Lucas called again. ¡°If I do, it¡¯ll be worse for the two of you.¡±


    Levi rolled his eyes. ¡°We better go,¡± he murmured. He grabbed a towel and wrapped it around me before leading me out by the hand.


    We came out of the bathroom to see Lucas and Liam standing before us, arms crossed and feet tapping against the floor.


    ¡°I see you both decided to leave us out of the fun,¡± Liam observed. He didn¡¯t look pleased with that.


    I blushed. ¡°It wasn¡¯t like that. It was really innocent at first. He was just giving me a massage while we talked,¡± I said.


    Their faces darkened slightly. They looked so pained that I almostughed out loud.


    Levi leaned over. ¡°You¡¯re making it worse,¡± he whispered in a singsong voice. I sped my lips shut.


    ¡°Since the two of you decided to trick us and leave us out of the fun, this is my decree,¡± Lucas dered in his best alpha voice.


    It sent a shiver down my spine. Gosh, I was bing a wanton slut. All I could think about as he spoke was jumping his bones. I couldn¡¯t tear my eyes away from his lips.


    He continued. ¡°You will both serve a punishment for your crimes!¡± He dered.


    My eyes widened. Punishment? What punishment could it possibly be?

 Chapter 21 -s 21: Vibrations

    <h4>Chapter 21: Chapters 21: Vibrations</h4>


    (Trigger Warning: This Chapter contains explicit content and is intended for mature readers.)


    ¡°I¡¯m starving,¡± Lucas eximed. ¡°We should head down for breakfast.¡±


    My eyes widened. ¡°Wait! You haven¡¯t even told me what the punishment is,¡± I cried.


    ¡°Why so impatient?¡± He asked, smirking. ¡°Your punishment wille in due time.¡±


    If I was nervous before, it doubled tenfold now. But tinged within that nervousness was anticipation. I had a feeling that whatever punishment they served on me, I wouldn¡¯t hate it so much.


    ¡°Get dressed. Both of you,¡± he ordered. ¡°Hazel, I¡¯ve picked out your clothes.¡±


    He pointed at the bed where a few pieces of clothes were neatlyid out. I walked over, looking puzzled and shifted through the clothes. At the bottom of the pile, a bra and a pair of panties caught my eye.


    My brow jumped up. ¡°You even picked my underwear?¡± I asked. They looked a little different.


    He shrugged. ¡°What can I say? I¡¯m a very intentional man,¡± he said.


    A sound behind me drew my attention. It sounded like snickering. I turned around to see Liam standing there but his face was carefully nk. I must have imagined it.


    ¡°Well then, thanks for picking out my clothes,¡± I said with a smile.


    ¡°Oh, you don¡¯t have to thank me,¡± he said and chuckled darkly. Liam joined in and this time, I knew I hadn¡¯t imagined it. Something was up.


    I turned to Levi with wide eyes. He shrugged, looking just as confused as I was.


    I couldn¡¯t figure it out so I had no choice but to put on the clothes Lucas picked out. It was an all-white two-piece with a halter top and the tiniest skirt in the history of the world.


    If I bent even a couple of inches, my ass would be on disy for the whole world.


    ¡°You guys really expect me to wear this?¡± I asked with astonishment.


    Lucas nodded. ¡°Yes, we do. Now no arguments, love. Put them on.¡±


    I hesitated but then decided to just obey. I was already in some trouble thanks to Levi and I messing around without them. I¡¯d better not add to that.


    The outfit was paired with a white wide-brimmed hat and dark sses. It screamed old money but like, slutty.


    We headed down to have breakfast by the beach. As we walked down the stairs, Liam and Lucas didn¡¯t crowd around me as usual. It felt so odd. Thankfully, Levi held my hand.


    I couldn¡¯t help but side-eye Lucas and Liam. It felt like something was wrong. Could they be really mad at me for what happened earlier? Or could this silent treatment be the punishment? If that was the case, then I hated this punishment already.


    My skirt kept riding up with every step I took, I self-consciously pulled it down. But two secondster, it was right back up again.


    I couldn¡¯t imagine walking to the breakfast area looking like this. People would stare at me. I¡¯d never been one to dress like this. I usually just wore whatever baggy, old clothes Luna Evelyn gave me and called it a day. This outfit would definitely draw too much attention.


    A hand snuck under my skirt and I felt a soft pinch on my ass. I yelped and jumped.


    ¡°Someone doesn¡¯t seem veryfortable in her clothes,¡± Liam said teasingly, keeping his hand right inside my skirt.


    I blushed furiously and pushed his hand away. ¡°Someone might see,¡± I whispered indignantly.


    ¡°We better do something no one can see then,¡± he said, winking at Lucas.


    I rolled my eyes. What were they being so secretive about?


    We came to the staircase and began to make our way down. I was about to step down the third step down when I felt a sudden jolt. I stopped in my tracks, bewildered. What was that? It felt so sharp. So strong. And it came from...my pussy?


    Was I slowly going insane? First, I imagined Levi¡¯sugh and now I was feeling phantom pleasure.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you okay?¡± Levi asked worriedly, noting how I stopped sharply.


    I nodded quickly. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± I assured him.


    Liam and Lucas were staring at me in what appeared to be amusement and I had no idea why. So I ignored them and decided to keep walking.


    Two stepster, I felt another sharp jolt. This one was even stronger. This time, I knew I didn¡¯t imagine it.


    I instinctively pped my hand over my pussy whispering, ¡°What the hell?¡±


    That¡¯s when I felt it. An unmistakable vibrationing from my pants. My eyes widened.


    ¡°Y-You! It¡¯s you guys! The panties¡ª¡± I cried.


    Lucas smirked. ¡°I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about,¡± he said smugly.


    But I could tell he was lying. Liam was even easier to read. He could barely keep the excitement off his face.


    ¡°You gave me vibrating panties!¡± I whispered, looking around to make sure there was no one eavesdropping. ¡°That¡¯s why you picked out my clothes! You sly wolves.¡±


    Lucas smirked and raised his hand. A shiny ck object sat in his palm. ¡°Yes, we did. That¡¯s your punishment. You get to squirm and fidget all through breakfast. And we...¡± he pointed to himself and Liam, ¡°...get to control the switch.¡±


    ¡°Wow, that¡¯s a great idea!¡± Leviughed. ¡°Why didn¡¯t I think of that all along? Do I get a turn with the remote too?¡±


    Liam raised a brow. ¡°No, you don¡¯t, Brother. You are just as guilty as Hazel¡ªmaybe even more guilty. You¡¯re getting punished too. Your punishment is that you get to watch us y with Hazel but you don¡¯t get to y.¡±


    ¡°What!? That¡¯s not fair,¡± Levi whined.


    ¡°That¡¯s what you get for being a little cheat,¡± Lucas said, smirking.


    While they bantered, the vibrations in my panties increased. I moaned, mping my legs together.


    ¡°You can¡¯t do this to me. People will know,¡± I cried.


    They ignored my cries. Lucas and Liam linked hands with me and began to pull me forward until we reached the breakfast area. Thankfully, all that talking had made us a littlete. By the time we arrived, the breakfast area was almost empty.


    At least the whole resort wouldn¡¯t see my shame. By the time I sunk into my chair, my panties were soaking wet. I pressed my legs together tightly under the table and held my breath.


    The waitress rushed over. ¡°What can I get for you today?¡± She asked cheerfully.


    ¡°Hazel, the waitress wants to know what she can get for you,¡± Lucas said, smirking.


    I red at him with wide eyes. His response¡ªan increase in the speed of the vibrator. I let out a moan.


    ¡°Are you okay, miss?¡± The waitress asked, looking concerned.


    I blushed. I cleared my throat and sat up, trying to look like nothing was going on. ¡°I-I¡¯m okay,¡± I managed to push out.


    I stabbed my finger blindly at the menu. ¡°Get me that,¡± I said without even reading the words.


    She peeked at the page and nodded. Then she took the triplets¡¯ orders and walked away. I nearly copsed in relief. I¡¯d been so scared she¡¯d notice what was happening.


    I was actually a little shocked she didn¡¯t smell my juices in the air. The tiny skirt wasn¡¯t helping. It provided no cover for my pussy, so the chair was actually wet under me. The scent of my juices wafted up to my nose.


    The triplets could smell it too. I could see the tell-tale sign in their pants. The sight had my mouth watering. I was hungry. Starving. And it wasn¡¯t for the food the waitress was bringing.


    I couldn¡¯t take it anymore. I needed some relief. The vibrator brought me to the point of climax but always stopped just before I reached it. It was driving me crazy.


    I jumped to my feet, half-crazed. I didn¡¯t care anymore who saw me or noticed anything.


    ¡°I need you guys. Right now,¡± I snapped in a voice that didn¡¯t sound anything like mine.


    ¡°Say please,¡± Lucas said, leveling his gaze on me.


    All my pride was gone, alongside all my shame. I would get on my knees and beg if I needed to right now.


    ¡°Please! Please fuck me right now,¡± I cried.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± he dered, surging to his feet.

 Chapter 22: Her Punishment

    <h4>Chapter 22: Chapter 22: Her Punishment </h4>


    (Trigger Warning: This Chapter contains explicit content and is intended for mature readers.)


    Liam and Levi surged to their feet less than a second after Lucas stood. They were obviously as impatient to get away as I was.


    Lucas took my hand and led me briskly out of the breakfast area. I walked fast too, eager to satisfy the monster between my legs.


    My pussy squelched with each step. My cheeks colored as I wondered if everyone else could hear it too.


    As we walked away from the table, the waitress returned, bncing four tes on a tray. She called after us but we ignored her and rushed out of the breakfast area.


    If I¡¯d stayed one more second in there, I¡¯d have started humping the triplets like a dog in heat.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think I can wait till we get back to the room,¡± I whispered to Lucas. Already I could feel liquid trickling down my leg. I discreetly rubbed my thighs together, breathing heavily.


    ¡°Me neither,¡± he said tightly. I could hear the impatience in his voice.


    Suddenly, he changed directions and dragged me with him. Before I knew what was happening, he was pulling me into a dark corner underneath the staircase leading up the rooms.


    He pushed me against the wall, instantly iming my lips as he pressed into me. A warm body pressed into me from behind me. I didn¡¯t have to turn around to know it was Liam.


    Levi would have to stand on the side and watch us this time. That was his punishment for ¡®seducing¡¯ me this morning.


    As the kiss deepened, Lucas¡¯ hand found its way to my chest, ying with my nipples between his fingers.


    Liam¡¯s hand cupped my butt from behind. My tiny skirt gave him free ess.


    ¡°Someone may see us here!¡± I murmured against Lucas¡¯ mouth. The staircase was frequently traveled by the guests.


    ¡°Then let them see,¡± he said simply and continued kissing me, soundingpletely unbothered.


    That statement alone sent a thrill down my spine. The danger of someone catching us in the act made me even more excited than before.


    The triplets were sofortable in their sexuality that they didn¡¯t care if people saw them or not. Interacting with them so often these past few days must be making me more like them already.


    Or maybe I¡¯d always been a freak and was only now realizing it. Who knew?


    My hand jumped to Lucas¡¯ chest, blindly tracing his muscled chest as if to memorize every inch and crevice. My hand trailed down to his dick.


    He grabbed my hand and yanked it back. ¡°You don¡¯t get to touch. This is a punishment, remember?¡±


    I made a disgruntled sound deep in my throat, reaching for him again.


    ¡°Hold her,¡± he ordered.


    Liam grabbed my hand and pinned it behind me. No matter how much I struggled, he didn¡¯t let go.


    While Liam held me captive, Lucas unleashed his special brand of torture on me with his tongue.


    He licked my nipple, sending thrills down my spine. Suddenly, his teeth snapped down on my sensitive buds. I let out a small shout of pain. Before I could fully register the pain, he resumed expertly licking my nipples.


    Thebination of pain and pleasure had my body shaking. I knew I should normally hate this punishment but how could I hate this? His tongue on my body was pure magic.


    His finger reached down and pierced into my pussy. I gasped. My legs automatically parted to give him more ess.


    He dragged his finger out, making sure to let it scrape against the insides of my hole. He mmed his finger back in.


    I cried out again, my legs trembling. Suddenly, I felt a finger dig into my second hole in the back. Liam! My eyes rolled back in my head.


    ¡°You¡¯re enjoying this, aren¡¯t you?¡± Lucas asked with a smirk in his voice.


    My cheeks darkened. I couldn¡¯t meet his eyes, talk less of answering his question. I had both my holes stuffed at the same time. The fact that I was actually enjoying this told me how much of a slut I really was deep down¡ªa real freak. I just hadn¡¯t had anyone to bring it out¡ªuntil the triplets.


    ¡°Admit it, my little slut,¡± Lucas whispered in my ear. ¡°You like having your butt plugged, don¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°I-I like i-it,¡± I whispered, burying my face in my hands.


    Lucas gently pried them off my face. ¡°Don¡¯t be embarrassed. We love the fact that you can take everything we throw at you.¡±


    He signaled to Liam and they began to pump in and out in sync. I cried out with each thrust.


    I wanted to grab their dicks and jerk them off too so it wouldn¡¯t be one sided but I was stuffed so full, I couldn¡¯t get my brain to work.


    They didn¡¯t seem to care. They continued to pound me from both sides until my eyes rolled back into my head. I climaxed and copsed, breathing heavily.


    ¡°Now, we can go to the room,¡± Liam said.


    There was no argument. We hurried up the stairs to the room and practically jumped into bed where they took turns pounding the brains out of me.


    By the time it was over, we all copsed on the bed, breathing heavily. My muscles felt like jelly¡ªin a good way. A thousand massages couldn¡¯t get me feeling this sated.


    Afterward, I curled up in Lucas¡¯ arms. Iid my head against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his beating heart.


    ¡°Hazel, I have something to tell you,¡± he said suddenly.


    I lifted my head off his chest, giving him a puzzled look. ¡°What is it?¡± I asked. It was always something or the other with these guys. What could possibly be the problem now?


    He grabbed my hand and yanked me back against his chest. ¡°I didn¡¯t tell you to get up,¡± he said, wrapping his arms around me and muzzling my neck.


    It tickled me, making me giggle helplessly as I half-heartedly struggled to get out of his arms.


    ¡°Really though, what is it this time?¡± I asked once he stopped tickling me.


    ¡°We prepared something for you. It¡¯s a birthday present,¡± he said.


    My brow shot up. Birthday present? ¡°I thought this whole trip was the birthday present,¡± I said.


    Levi dragged my feet into hisp, slowly massaging it. ¡°Yes, it is. But that¡¯s not the only present we¡¯re going to give you. We have something amazing nned for you. I think you¡¯re going to love it!¡±


    My heart pounded in anticipation. ¡°Don¡¯t keep me in suspense. Tell me what it is!¡± I eximed.

 Chapter 23: Secret Surprises

    <h4>Chapter 23: Chapter 23: Secret Surprises</h4>


    ¡°Where are we going? What is the surprise? You know I don¡¯t like surprises,¡± I whined, following the triplets down the beach.


    Since they announced that they had another birthday gift for me, I¡¯d been trying to get it out of them but they¡¯d kept mute so far.


    ¡°Come on, just tell me,¡± I whined. ¡°Please? Pretty please? Pretty please with a cherry on top?¡±


    Liam chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re so adorable. And no, we¡¯re still not telling you. Be patient. You¡¯ll find out soon enough.¡±


    I huffed in annoyance but the moment he pulled me into his arms and pressed a kiss to my forehead, all the annoyance melted away.


    ¡°That¡¯s cheating,¡± I muttered even as I melted into his arms.


    He shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s a good kind of cheating.¡±


    I let him continue to drag me along by the hand.


    After breakfast this morning, they¡¯d told me to pack some essentials¡ªtoiletries, underwear, and a change of clothes. That meant we probably wouldn¡¯t return today. Ugh, I was so curious!


    ¡°See,¡± Liam said suddenly, pointing ahead.


    I looked in the direction he was pointing and saw that we were headed down to the dock where a bunch of boats and yachts were parked.


    My eyes widened. ¡°Wow, I¡¯ve never seen a yacht up close before!¡± I gushed, gaping at the beautiful, pearly white boats. I turned to the guys. ¡°Are we riding one?¡±


    Lucas nodded. ¡°Yes, we are,¡± he answered.


    My eyes widened. I jumped up and down, pping my hands. ¡°Oh my gosh, a boat ride. That¡¯s such a cool birthday gift! Thanks, guys!¡±


    Leviughed so hard, he doubled over.


    I frowned at him. ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± I asked, miffed.


    ¡°You¡ªfor thinking that this is the birthday gift,¡± he said, his eyes twinkling merrily.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with a boat ride? It¡¯s a great gift,¡± I argued.


    He threw his hand up in surrender. ¡°Nothing is wrong with it. All I¡¯m saying is that the birthday gift is much grander than an ordinary boat ride.¡± He winked at me.


    My heartbeat doubled in anticipation. We walked to one of the yachts and climbed onboard. I couldn¡¯t stop smiling. I was so excited, I was practically bouncing on my feet.


    A man in a sailor¡¯s cap walked out of the boat.


    He bowed to the triplets. ¡°Wee, Alphas,¡± he greeted.


    They answered him heartily. They seemed very familiar with him. That must mean that they used this boat often.


    He turned to me and bowed. I blushed. This was the first time anyone was bowing to me. ¡°I am Captain Ashton,¡± he said, offering me his hand.


    I took his hand, blushing deeply. ¡°I¡¯m Hazel,¡± I said quietly and quickly withdrew my hand.


    ¡°Are you ready for your ride to¡ª¡± the sailor started to say with a big smile.


    ¡°No!¡± Levi shouted.


    The sailor froze, his eyes wide. ¡°Is there a problem?¡± He asked.


    ¡°Our destination is a secret, Ashton,¡± he eximed.


    ¡°Oh, shit,¡± Ashton muttered. ¡°My apologies. I had no idea. Enjoy the ride,¡± he said and disappeared back into the boat quickly.


    I watched him go with longing. If only he¡¯d spoken a little faster, I would know exactly where we were going. Toote!


    I looked around the boat and smiled. I walked around the deck slowly. ¡°This is so beautiful. It¡¯s so well built!¡±


    Lucas smiled. ¡°The boat belongs to our family,¡± he said.


    My eyes widened. ¡°Really? No wonder you were so familiar with the captain. I was wondering why you seemed so close.¡±


    He nodded, smiling. ¡°Yes, he has been working for us for years. Didn¡¯t you notice the name on the stern?¡±


    ¡°The name?¡± I tried to remember if I saw anything but I didn¡¯t.


    He led me to the edge of the boat and pointed. There, written in shiny gold letters, were the words ¡®Emberfang¡¯.


    ¡°Oh, I didn¡¯t see that,¡± I muttered. How did I miss it?


    He pointed around at the other boats parked at the dock. ¡°The other boats here belong to alphas of other packs.¡±


    I nodded, wide-eyed. The boat rumbled to life under us and we started moving. I held on to the railings, eagerly looking out over the water. It was so beautiful. The scent of salt filled my nose.


    I wished I could take a picture of the sight before me and frame it for life. But I knew that now that I was with the triplets, sights like this wouldn¡¯t be too far apart.


    ¡°Want to take a tour?¡± Lucas asked.


    I nodded eagerly. ¡°Yes, please!¡±


    My enthusiasm made him smile. We set off hand in hand, Liam and Levi trailing after us.


    The yacht was so massive. Its sheer size almost overwhelmed me. It was so sleek and opulent. I didn¡¯t dare guess how much it must have cost to purchase it. I was scared to touch anything, worried it would break in my hand.


    Liam leanedzily against the railing and pointed at a door leading down into the boat. ¡°There is a room below deck in case you get tired. We can rest there for a while.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t get tired,¡± I said stoutly,ughing. Nothing could make me waste this trip away by sleeping below deck.


    Levi chuckled, stepping closer, his voice a whisper against her ear. ¡°A bedroom isn¡¯t only for sleeping though. Haven¡¯t we shown you that enough times?¡±


    I blushed, understanding his meaning. Thankfully, Lucas stepped in and pointed toward a raised tform. ¡°That is the sun deck. It has a jacuzzi where you can rx,¡± he said.


    I gasped, wide-eyed. ¡°A jacuzzi?¡±


    He nodded. ¡°You seem so happy to hear that.¡±


    ¡°I am!¡± I eximed. ¡°I¡¯ll check it outter.¡±


    I returned to the railings and resumed staring out over the water. I squealed, watching little dolphins in and out of the water.


    I don¡¯t know how long I stood there until Lucas walked up to me.


    ¡°I know you¡¯re enjoying the view, Hazel,¡± he said, ¡°But it¡¯s quite a long trip. We should sit down and rx a bit.¡±


    I frowned but nodded. He was right. There was no point tiring myself out when I didn¡¯t even know what the birthday ns were yet. I might need my strengthter.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to go below deck,¡± I grumbled. Suddenly another thought urred to me. I gasped, turning to him.


    ¡°Can I go to the sun-deck jacuzzi instead?¡± I asked wide-eyed.


    Lucas grinned. ¡°Sure you can! Come on, I¡¯ll take you,¡± he said.


    ¡°We¡¯reing too,¡± Liam said, following us quickly. Levi wasn¡¯t too far behind.


    I raised a brow at them, smirking. ¡°Why do you have toe with me? Don¡¯t you have anything else to do?¡±


    ¡°When you¡¯re around, you¡¯re the only thing we want to do,¡± Levi said jokingly, winking at me.


    I blushed,ughing. They all followed me to the jacuzzi. I didn¡¯t bring any swim trunks but thankfully, I brought the extra underwear so I had no issue stripping down to my underwear and getting into the jacuzzi.


    Trousers and shirtsnded on the floor behind me as the triplets jumped in too. It was a tight fit with all four of us in at the same time.


    The water bubbled around us, sending steam wafting around me like a nket. I leaned against the smooth edge of the jacuzzi, soaking it in.


    Liam¡¯s strong hands slid over my shoulders and began to massage them. I let myself melt into his touch.


    Levi began to trace small circles inside my thigh. If we weren¡¯t already sitting in water, I¡¯d have been wet down there.


    My hand swam through the water to Lucas¡¯ dick. It was already hard and throbbing for me. I let out a small breath, licking my lips.

 Chapter 24: Taking Two At Once

    <h4>Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Taking Two At Once</h4>


    (Trigger Warning: This Chapter contains explicit content and is intended for mature readers.)


    He got the message and got to his feet in the jacuzzi. He stood in front of me, putting his cock at face level.


    I knelt in the water and hungrily popped it into my mouth, savoring the taste of his precum. I let out another appreciative hum and began to slowly bob my head.


    It was incredible to see how much I¡¯d grown in recent time. I was now so much morefortable initiating intimacy between us. In the past, I¡¯d been so shy and let them do all the leading. But now, I was the one reaching for them.


    As if to prove my point, I wiggled my ass at Levi. He got the message quickly. His fingers thankfully left my thighs and buried themselves inside my folds¡ªjust like I wanted. He began to finger me slowly, matching my pace on Lucas¡¯ dick.


    As I began to increase my pace, he did too until Lucas and I came at the same time.


    I released his dick from my mouth with a loud pop, sitting back in the water. That¡¯s when I noticed Liam and Lucaszily stroking their dicks while watching me.


    ¡°I can¡¯t keep doing this,¡± I muttered.


    ¡°Doing what?¡± Liam asked, raising his brow.


    ¡°I can¡¯t keep making two of you wait while I...¡± my cheeks colored, ¡°...get busy with one of you.¡±


    Levi snickered. ¡°Get busy? You mean fucking, right? Just say it. While you¡¯re fucking one of us.¡±


    ¡°Levi!¡± I cried, smacking him. A pretty blush stole up my cheek. He was always so crass and yful.


    He smirked and shrugged.


    I sighed. ¡°I want to be able to take two of you at once¡ªmaybe even all three,¡± I dered.


    They stared at me silently for a beat.


    ¡°Hazel, are you sure?¡± Liam asked quietly. ¡°We don¡¯t want you to feel pressured into doing anything. If you can¡¯t, we fully understand.¡±


    I shook my head firmly. ¡°I¡¯m not pressured. I want to learn.¡±


    Lucas grinned. ¡°In that case, we¡¯re happy to teach you!¡±


    An identical smile split Liam and Levi¡¯s faces.


    ¡°Are you ready?¡± Lucas asked.


    I nodded enthusiastically. ¡°I¡¯m ready!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll start with two at once, okay?¡± He said.


    I nodded.


    He moved to the side and Liam and Levi took their ces in front of me and behind me.


    Liam lifted me out of the water and ced me on hisp. He helped me sit slowly on his dick. It entered me slowly, stretching and filling me an inch at a time until he waspletely buried in my pussy to the hilt.


    Once I was fully sat, he thrust upwards a little and I moaned as he brushed against my G-spot.


    ¡°Good girl,¡± he whispered in my ear. ¡°Make sure you moan a lot for Daddy. It turns me on.¡±


    ¡°Oh, Liam,¡± I whispered, feeling turned on by his words. My nipples were pointing straight out like tiny satellites.


    Levi stepped in front of me, his dick waving in front of my face. He stepped closer until it was right in front of my lips. I leaned forward, resting my hands on Liam¡¯s legs, and took him in my mouth.


    My hand on Liam¡¯s legs allowed me to raise myself up and down. Liam grabbed my waist too, lending his strength to lift me.


    ¡°Are you ready?¡± Liam asked.


    I nodded. I couldn¡¯t talk. My mouth was full of dick. I began to slide up and down on Liam¡¯s shaft, lifting myself with my arms. He met me with small upward thrusts. Each thrust hit my G-spot, making me purr like a car engine.


    Meanwhile, Levi held my head, thrusting his hips forward and backward. I swirled my tongue around his dick which sent him into a frenzy.


    ¡°Fuck! More!¡± He gasped and began to fuck my face faster.


    I obliged him, drawing patterns on his dick with my tongue. It made me even more turned on, making me bob faster on Liam¡¯s cock.


    I was nearing my climax. I could tell that Liam and Levi were too. They swelled in my mouth and pussy.


    ¡°Together?¡± Levi grunted.


    Liam and I nodded. Two thrustster, they exploded in my cavities, filling me with their seed. Their orgasm triggered mine, making my eyes roll back in my head.


    I let out little sharp cries as the waves rocked my body until I couldn¡¯t even sit up by myself anymore. I copsed into the water,pletely exhausted.


    Strong arms wrapped around me. My head rolled back, falling on a hard chest as I was carried into one of the rooms on the lower deck.


    I was ced in a soft bed. That was thest thing I knew before I passed out. My sleep was dreamless and I had no idea how long I¡¯d slept for.


    The next thing I knew was someone shaking me awake.


    ¡°Hazel? Hazel, wake up,¡± a voice called next to my ear.


    I huffed unhappily, trying to move away from their hand. But it was persistent.


    ¡°It¡¯s time to wake up, baby,¡± the voice prompted. This time, I woke up enough to recognize the voice.


    I opened one eye and peered at him. ¡°Lucas? What¡¯s up?¡± I asked drowsily.


    ¡°We¡¯re almost at our destination. Come and see. Levi and Liam are waiting for us,¡± he said.


    I slowly rose with him helping me. I shook my head, trying to clear the sleep out of my eyes. He took my hand and led me to the front of the yacht where Liam and Levi were waiting just like he said.


    They smiled when they saw me and both pressed a kiss to my cheek on either side.


    ¡°Hey, sleeping beauty,¡± Liam whispered, making me blush.


    ¡°What did you want me to see?¡± I asked, taking my ce by their side, my hand on the railings.


    ¡°That,¡± Lucas said, pointing into the distance.


    I followed his finger and squinted. Far away in the distance, a small body ofnd sat in the middle of the water.


    I gasped. ¡°An Ind? What is it for?¡±


    He grinned. ¡°That is your birthday surprise,¡± he dered without hesitation. ¡°Wee to Hazel Ind.¡±


    My jaw dropped.

 Chapter 25: Love Confessions

    <h4>Chapter 25: Chapter 25: Love Confessions</h4>


    ¡°Hazel Ind? What do you mean?¡± I gasped.


    ¡°We mean that this entire ind has been purchased in your name and will serve as a holiday home for us,¡± Liam informed me, smiling.


    My mouth opened and closed but I couldn¡¯t get a word out. I couldn¡¯t believe my ears. They¡¯d already done so many incredible things for me since we got together¡ªbuying new cars to take me on a date, naming a star after me, and even this holiday trip. But thispletely took the date.


    An entire ind sat before me, named after me and purchased in my name. I didn¡¯t even know how to react to the news.


    ¡°Do you like it?¡± Levi asked, smiling self-consciously.


    I gaped at him. ¡°Like it? Are you kidding?¡±


    He shifted nervously from foot to foot and exchanged a loaded nce with his brothers.


    Liam cleared his throat. ¡°Levi told us about how ufortable you¡¯ve been feeling at the pack house. I hope you don¡¯t mind that he told us.¡±


    I shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t mind,¡± I assured him, giving Levi a reassuring smile:


    They both looked relieved. ¡°Once he told us about it, we knew we had to do something about it,¡± Liam continued.


    ¡°So you decided to buy an ind?¡± I asked slowly. ¡°Guys, this is too much! I can¡¯t possibly ept all of this.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not too much. Nothing we can do for you is ever too much. You deserve so much more,¡± Lucas said, holding my hand.


    I shook my head. ¡°It¡¯s just too much. You should use that money for something more important.¡±


    ¡°Hazel, it is done. The ind is yours. There¡¯s no going back,¡± Lucas said.


    ¡°I just don¡¯t know what to say,¡± I muttered.


    ¡°You could say thank you,¡± he prompted with an easy smile.


    ¡°I¡ªI don¡¯t¡ªwhat even gave you this idea in the first ce?¡± I asked incredulously.


    Levi cleared his throat, smiling sheepishly. ¡°We figured it could serve as a nice getaway spot for you. Think of it as a holiday home. We can¡¯t stay away from the pack house permanently because of our alpha duties, but whenever you feel overwhelmed, you can escape here. What do you think?¡±


    Tears pooled in my eyes. With a loud cry, Iunched myself at them, pulling them into a tight hug.


    ¡°Oh my gosh, you guys really think of everything! It¡¯s such a wonderful idea. I don¡¯t even know what to say.¡±


    They broke into big grins. ¡°I¡¯m so d you like it,¡± Levi said. ¡°The yacht will be avable for you to use anytime you want. Of course, we would like toe with you.¡±


    ¡°But don¡¯t feel pressured to have us here,¡± Liam said quickly. ¡°The house deed is under your name and the ind ispletely paid for. It fully belongs to you.¡±


    I looked out towards the ind again. We were getting closer now. I couldn¡¯t believe that all of that belonged to me.


    Just a few days ago, I was drowning in debt. I¡¯d spent over half of my life in debilitating debt. It was all I knew at this point. Then in one day, all that debt was wiped away. Before I could recover from that shock, I was the owner of an entire ind on the coast. How did one react to that?


    Liam moved closer to me and pulled me into his arms. ¡°Hazel, I know that this may not take back all the horrible things we did to you in the past, but we hope we can at least start to make up for it. We¡¯ll keep doing our best for the rest of our lives to make up for it,¡± he promised.


    I turned to him, my eyes shining with tears. ¡°You guys have already done so much to pay those debts.¡±


    ¡°It will never be enough,¡± he whispered back but there was relief in his eyes.


    I turned to Levi. ¡°I¡¯m so touched that you really listened to what I said thest time about being ufortable in the pack house. I love the fact that you¡¯re willing to listen to me, not just hear me. Thank you.¡±


    He hugged me and kissed me on the lips. ¡°You¡¯re wee. I promise to always listen to anything you have to say.¡±


    Finally, I faced all three of them. ¡°I know it will be hard but I promise to do my best to get past my painful memories from the past and rece them with new memories of our beautiful time together,¡± I promised.


    A grin appeared on Lucas¡¯ face. He nodded enthusiastically. ¡°We look forward to helping you create those new memories!¡±


    The others nodded enthusiastically in agreement.


    Looking at their eager expressions, something deep inside me shifted. Honestly, it had been there for a while but I didn¡¯t acknowledge it. I was scared to admit it. I wondered if I was moving too fast. If I was just mistaking it for gratitude.


    But it was toote to deny it now. It was shimmering below the surface, biding its time to burst out. And that time was now.


    ¡°I love you,¡± I eximed before I could stop myself.


    My eyes widened. Theirs did too as they stared at me in shock.


    ¡°W-What did you just say?¡± Liam whispered, looking like he couldn¡¯t believe his ears.


    I felt frantic. I began to ramble. ¡°It¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t feel the same. It¡¯s just my feelings. You don¡¯t need to feel pressured to¡ª¡±


    ¡°Hazel!¡± He eximed, cutting me off. ¡°Just give me one second to catch my breath and tell you what I¡¯ve been wanting to tell you for the past few weeks¡ªI love you, Hazel.¡±


    My jaw dropped. Before I could recover, Liam began speaking.


    ¡°I love your heart, your soul, and your spirit. I love everything about you,¡± he added.


    ¡°I love you so much that I don¡¯t think I can live without you anymore,¡± Levi concluded.


    Their words made my heart explode in happiness. Tears rolled down my cheeks unchecked.


    ¡°Since my parents died, nobody has loved me. I¡¯ve been all alone. Thank you for loving me,¡± I whispered.


    ¡°You¡¯ll never be alone ever again. You¡¯re loved,¡± Lucas assured me.


    For the first time in so long, I felt fully and whollyplete.


    By this time, the boat was pulling into the ind. The captain dropped the anchor and signaled us that we could get off the boat now.


    ¡°Ready to explore your ind, mdy?¡± Levi asked excitedly, offering his hand and bowing. ¡°I can¡¯t wait to show you around the house! You¡¯ll love it.¡±


    I nodded excitedly and epted his hand. ¡°I¡¯m ready!¡± I eximed.


    He led me around the ind and the mansion that was now my new holiday home, excitedly showing me all the awesome features the house had to offer.


    Finally, we came to a stop in the kitchen¡ªa state-of-the-art kitchen with awesome technical features.


    ¡°Wow, this looks amazing!¡± I gushed. ¡°I can¡¯t wait to test out this kitchen. Why don¡¯t I make some lunch for us right now?¡±


    ¡°Lunch? That¡¯s a good idea. I¡¯m ravenous,¡± Lucas said, crowding against me.


    I was forced to step back until my back hit the ind. ¡°What are you doing?¡± I whispered.


    ¡°You talked about serving us lunch, right? Well, we¡¯re ready to get it now,¡± he said, smirking.


    ¡°How am I going to make lunch if you have me pinned against the ind,¡± I pointed out.


    ¡°Oh, we don¡¯t want that kind of lunch.¡± His hand trailed down my body, sending a spark through me. ¡°This lunch is better.¡±


    I blushed, finally understanding his meaning. He grabbed my waist. ¡°Get up on the ind,¡± he ordered.


    I let him lift me and sat on the ind. He helped me raise my legs onto the ind and spread them, my pussy on disy with easy ess.


    He licked his lips. ¡°Already wet, I see. Yummy,¡± he whispered and plunged his tongue into my hole. Stars exploded in my eyes.

 Chapter 26: Best Date In The History of Dates

    <h4>Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Best Date In The History of Dates</h4>


    I stumbled back to the bedroom. I could hardly walk thanks to the triplets eating me out one by one on the kitchen ind. My legs felt like jelly under me.


    I made my way straight to the bathroom to wash up. As I stood under the shower, memories of their tongues in my pussy had me feeling hot again.


    I dipped my finger in my pussy, fingering myself until I had an orgasm again, whispering their names. Being with them had awakened a sexual side I never even knew I had and that was so exciting.


    Ipleted my shower very quickly and emerged from the bathroom. It wasn¡¯t until I was standing outside the bathroom door,pletely naked that I realized that I didn¡¯t even have anything to wear.


    A glint suddenly caught my eye from the bed. I wandered over and saw different boxes carefully arranged on the bed. Curious, I began to open them one after the other.


    I opened the biggest box and found a beautiful, purple silk dress. The next box contained a pair of silver Jimmy Choos heels that had me gasping at their beauty. Next, I opened a smaller box and found a set of Tiffany earrings and a ne that probably cost half a million dors.


    By the time I¡¯d opened all the boxes, my eyes were as wide as saucers. ¡®Surely, these can¡¯t be for me,¡¯ I told myself. I began to carefully close all the boxes and move away when something else caught my eye.


    I reached under the jewelry box and pulled out a piece of paper. I opened it and found a note written for me:


    Dear Hazel,


    Please put these on ande out to dinner.


    Ps: this is a date.


    Signed,


    Lucas, Liam, and Levi.


    A smile bloomed on my lips. At moments like these, the triplets really shocked me with their intention. I quickly pulled on the dress, shoes, and jewelry.


    Looking in the mirror, I couldn¡¯t believe the woman staring back was me. I looked so morous, like a movie star who¡¯d just stepped out of a magazine cover. This was my life now.


    Without wasting them, I set off around the house to find them for our dinner date as the letter said. Thanks to Levi¡¯s earlier tour, I was able to find my way quite easily.


    I checked the living room, the bedrooms, the kitchen, the loft, the pool area, and even the basement but they were nowhere to be found. I was about to give up and wait for one of them to find me when I began to hear muffled voices down the hall.


    I followed the voices and came to the dining area and finally found the triplets there. They stood as soon as I walked in.


    My jaw dropped. I instantly began to salivate. They¡¯d cleaned up for this date too. They were dressed in matching ck tuxedos and even looked like they¡¯d manage to shave and get fresh haircuts.


    ¡°You look amazing,¡± I eximed.


    ¡°Not as amazing as you,¡± they answered, looking as stunned as I felt.


    They walked forward one after the other to kiss my hand. I blushed. Levi was thest one up so he just held my hand and led me into the dining area.


    Now that I had the chance to finally study my surroundings, I felt stunned. The dining area I¡¯d seen earlier on the tour lookedpletely different now.


    The table and dining chairs had been moved out and the room was now set like a restaurant. A walkway had been created with flowers and candles and at the end of it, there was a round table with four chairs around it.


    In one corner of the room, people were sitting with violins in their hands. They began to y some soft, ethereal music. The atmosphere was so grand and romantic.


    They led me to my seat. Lucas pulled back my chair for me and I sat. They sat around the table too.


    ¡°Guys, this is so beautiful,¡± I gushed.


    ¡°We¡¯re d you like it,¡± Liam answered for them.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t have to do all this. Really,¡± I said, looking around in wonder.


    ¡°You always say that. You should get used to us doing things like this for you all the time. This is the best way we know to show that we love you,¡± he said.


    I blushed. ¡°I¡¯m afraid you¡¯re spoiling me a little too much.¡±


    Levi grinned. ¡°Nothing gives us more joy than spoiling you silly, Hazel.¡±


    Just then the door opened. Five people in chef¡¯s uniforms filed out carrying covered dishes. They set them down in front of us and bowed.


    ¡°This is Micheal Young,¡± Lucas said, pointing at the man at the front of the line. ¡°He is an award-winning chef at a five-star restaurant. We have the honor of having him cook for us today.¡±


    ¡°Wow,¡± I muttered. ¡°Thank you, sir.¡±


    He smiled and bowed. ¡°I hope you enjoy the meal,¡± he said.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure I will,¡± I said. Even with the dishes covered, I could already smell the aroma of the food wafting up to my nose.


    The chef and his team filed out again, leaving us with the musicians. Lucas opened up the dishes. My mouth started salivating. Everything looked so delicious. Liam helped to put food on my te, refusing to let me do anything by myself. As we ate, the conversation was light and beautiful.


    ¡°This is the best date in the history of dates,¡± I gushed. ¡°Everything is so romantic. It feels like a dream.¡±


    ¡°We wanted to make tonight as special as possible because something incredible is about to happen,¡± Lucas said.


    I raised a brow. My mouth was full of food, happily chewed. ¡°Really? Are there more surprises tonight? Geez, is there anything that can beat this lonely dinner?¡±


    He grinned. ¡°Oh, I think there is. Hazel, earlier, we told you how we feel about you.¡±


    I nodded, shoving some more food in my mouth and grinning. ¡°It was beautiful,¡± I said.


    ¡°We know how we feel about you. We know what we want. We know we don¡¯t want to spend another second without you in our lives,¡± he said.


    I nodded. ¡°Yup, you told me all that earlier.¡±


    I waited for him to say the next words. Instead, he shoved his chair backward and stood. Liam and Levi did the same.


    I frowned. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Are you going somewhere?¡± I asked. ¡°You should at least finish your food before you leave. It¡¯s really delicious.¡±


    Instead of answering me, the three of them dropped to one knee in front of me.


    A bell went off in my head. My eyes widened. I stopped chewing. ¡°W-What are you doing?¡± I choked out.


    Liam reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. He opened it, revealing a beautiful ring with a fat diamond on top.


    ¡°Hazel, there are probably a million ways to say this. But we¡¯ll stick to the ssics,¡± Levi said.


    ¡°Will you marry us?¡± They chanted in unison.

 Chapter 27: Will You Marry Us?

    <h4>Chapter 27: Chapter 27: Will You Marry Us?</h4>


    (Trigger Warning: This Chapter contains explicit content and is intended for mature readers.)


    I blinked, not sure if I¡¯d heard their words properly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, what did you say?¡± I gasped.


    ¡°We said, will you marry us?¡± They repeated.


    It didn¡¯t sound any less unreal than thest time. I couldn¡¯t get a word out. I just stared at them in shock.


    ¡°Hazel, are you okay?¡± Liam asked, eyeing my face worriedly.


    I realized that I¡¯d actually stopped breathing and my face was turning blue. A few more seconds and I would have passed out. Taking a deep breath, I shook my head. ¡°This can¡¯t be real. I¡¯m having a dream,¡± I muttered.


    ¡°It is very real,¡± Lucas said.


    I shook my head. ¡°Nope. I¡¯m just having a stupid dream.¡± I sighed. ¡°I should have known this was too good to be true. First, an ind in my name, and now a proposal?¡± I chuckled. ¡°What a wild dream you¡¯re having, Hazel.¡±


    Their brows furrowed in concern. I was starting to sound like a crazy woman. I didn¡¯t care. They were the ones who were crazy. This dream was the one that was crazy.


    ¡°All you have to do is pinch yourself, Hazel,¡± I muttered to myself. ¡°Once you pinch yourself, you¡¯ll wake up!¡±


    Lucas dived towards me, determined to stop me from hurting myself but it was toote. I grabbed my skin between my fingers and gave it a firm tug.


    Pain shot through my skin. I gasped audibly. Lucas reached me a few secondster. He grabbed my hand, cradling it.


    ¡°What the hell, Hazel? Why did you do that?¡± He eximed, blowing on the now reddening spot. ¡°Who gave you permission to hurt yourself like this?¡± He demanded.


    But I wasn¡¯t listening to him. I was staring at the three of them in shock. I¡¯d pinched myself and felt the pain, yet they were still here on their knees in front of me. The music was still ying in the background. The food was still on the table. Everything was just as before.


    It was not a dream. It was all real. The triplets were proposing¡ªto me.


    ¡°It¡¯s real,¡± I whispered incredulously.


    ¡°Of course, it is real,¡± Lucas eximed. ¡°Is it so hard to believe that we¡¯re proposing?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± I cried. ¡°Why would you do that? It¡¯s too soon.¡±


    ¡°Listen, Hazel,¡± Liam answered. ¡°It¡¯s not too soon. We told you earlier that we already know what we want. You. We want you and don¡¯t want to spend a second without you in our lives anymore. It only makes sense to seal the deal, doesn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°You already have me. I¡¯m your mate. You¡¯ve all marked me. Why do you need to marry me?¡± I asked.


    Marriage was a next-levelmitment. It would secure me as not only the Emberfang alpha¡¯s mate but also the undisputed Luna of the pack.


    Would the pack even agree to that? Someone who was a mere maid in the pack would suddenly be Queen over them? The thought made me shiver in fear.


    ¡°Yes, you¡¯re our mate,¡± Levi answered. ¡°But we want to take it a step further. We want to show you how much you mean to us. It¡¯s not just about the mate bond, Hazel. Sure, it was what opened our eyes to you in the first ce. But it¡¯s much more than that. We truly love you as a person. You deserve to be properly married. We want that for you.¡±


    ¡°But¡ª¡±


    ¡°But nothing,¡± Lucas stopped me gently. ¡°I know you probably have a thousand reasons to be nervous about this. But I want you to know that only one reason truly matters: that we love you and you love us back.¡±


    Levi nodded. ¡°Nothing else matters, Hazel. No one else matters. Not even our parents. Not even the pack. We choose you over everything because you mean the world to us.¡±


    Tears pooled in my eyes. ¡°You guys keep making me so emotional these days!¡± I cried. ¡°I can¡¯t remember thest time I cried this much even when I was living as a maid.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re just d they are happy tears. We hope we can make you keep crying happy tears for the rest of your life,¡± Lucas said, smiling.


    ¡°It¡¯s the least we can do to make up for all the tears of sadness we probably caused you over the years. It¡¯s the least we can do to fill the rest of your life with happiness,¡± Liam added.


    Sniffling, I hugged Lucas who was closest to me. I met the others¡¯ eyes. ¡°Thank you,¡± I whispered.


    ¡°We don¡¯t have your answer yet, Hazel,¡± Lucas reminded me gently, nudging me back. He held out the ring again.


    The glint of the diamond shed in my eyes. ¡°It¡¯s so beautiful,¡± I gushed. ¡°How much did this cost?¡±


    ¡°Hazel!¡± Levi eximed,ughing. ¡°Stop worrying about the price of everything. Just know that it isn¡¯t worth as much as you.¡±


    I blushed. Money had been everything to me thanks to my parent¡¯s debt. It was hard not to think of things in terms of money especially when the triplets seemed to just throw it around without bothering.


    A diamond that size would cost at least half a million dors. The thought of putting it on made my skin prickle.


    ¡°Hazel? We¡¯re still on our knees,¡± Lucas prompted gently again.


    ¡°Oh!¡± I gasped. I¡¯d gotten lost in thought and didn¡¯t even realize they were still kneeling. ¡°I¡¯m sorry! Yes! Yes, I¡¯ll marry you,¡± I eximed.


    Their faces split into grins. Relief shined in their eyes. Lucas pulled the ring out of the box and slipped it onto my finger.


    He jumped to his feet and pulled me up. He hugged me tightly. ¡°Thank you! Thank you so much, Hazel! We promise to pamper you forever!¡±


    The others gathered around and hugged me too. A tear slipped down my cheeks. I pressed my lips against Lucas¡¯ who was in front of me.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I whispered against his lips. He answered by deepening the kiss.


    Liam and Levi began to kiss my necks on both sides. I moaned into Lucas¡¯ mouth as his tongue darted into my mouth.


    In my peripheral vision, I saw the musicians quickly exit the room, leaving us alone.


    I stepped back and told the boys to sit down. They looked confused but obeyed. Once they¡¯d taken their seats in a row in front of me, I began to put on a show for them.


    ¡°This is my way of saying thank you,¡± I muttered and even though my cheeks were ming red, I began to slowly strip off my clothes, dancing seductively.


    There was a tent in their pants already, making me salivate. They pulled out their dicks and began to slowly pump it, watching me with hungry eyes.


    I stripped off all my clothes and stood before them naked. I let my hand trail down my body slowly, ying with my chest nubs until they were as hard as rocks. I tugged at it firmly, moaning.


    They collectively took in a sharp breath. Precum glistened at the heads of their cocks.


    All I wanted to do was take it in my mouth but the show wasn¡¯t over yet so I forced myself to stay back. I let my hand continue to trail down my body until I reached between my legs. I pumped my finger in a few times and moaned.


    I pulled out my finger and slowly licked, holding their gaze in turn. They began to stroke faster. I turned around suddenly, backing them. I heard grunts of protests. I bent over, spreading my legs until my pussy was on disy.


    I began to finger fuck myself myself, scraping my fingers along my pussy walls. I was soon a moaning mess, dripping all over the floor. Soon, my legs were shaking badly. I began to copse.


    Before my knees could hit the floor, a pair of hands grabbed me from behind. A long, hard pole pierced into my pussy from behind. I let out a loud cry.


    Before I could close my mouth, another dick pushed into my mouth. They began to fuck me between them, jolting me back and forth like a toy doll.


    Someone crawled under me and began to suck my breasts. The stimtions pushed me over the edge. I came with a loud cry. Their seeds pumped into my holes simultaneously. I swallowed as much as I could.


    Completely exhausted, I could barely lift my head. They carried me to the bedroom and climbed in beside me. As soon as my head touched the pillow, the world faded away.

 Chapter 28: More and More Secrets

    <h4>Chapter 28: Chapter 28: More and More Secrets</h4>


    I woke up to the sun¡¯s gentle rays barely breaking through the clouds to caress my face. Once again, I was awake before dawn.


    Old habits really did die hard.


    I turned my head to my left and right and saw the triplets still sleeping around me. They looked so peaceful and cute sleeping. They looked even more identical asleep than awake.


    Without the yful glint in Levi¡¯s eyes, the caring look in Liam¡¯s eyes, and Lucas¡¯ authoritative look, it was harder to tell the difference. But now I knew them so intimately that I could tell the difference between them even with my eyes closed.


    I reached out my hand to trace Levi¡¯s face but thought better of it. I pulled my hand back. They were sleeping so peacefully, I didn¡¯t want to wake them up yet.


    But what would I do until they woke up? I would be so bored. I sighed. My mind turned back to the events of yesterday. They¡¯d really blown my mind and exceeded my expectations.


    They kept doing so much for me. I felt bad that I couldn¡¯t even do anything for them in return. I knew they loved my little show yesterday but I wanted to do something more.


    But what could I do?


    I didn¡¯t have any money to buy them anything. I had no special skills either. The only thing I knew how to do was cook and clean.


    A bulb went off in my brain. Cook! I could cook for them! That was one thing I could actually do well.


    I offered to cook lunch yesterday but that had turned into a sexathon quickly. The thought made me chuckle quietly. Now I knew they were probably trying to distract me because a Michelin chef was already making dinner. Well, at least this morning I could make breakfast.


    Feeling happier now that I knew what to do, I gently crawled out of bed, careful not to wake them. It was a difficult task because of how alert they were but I managed it.


    I made my way to the kitchen Levi showed me yesterday¡ªmy kitchen, in my house. It was so hard to believe.


    ¡°Okay, so what do we have here?¡± I muttered, walking into the pantry. I hadn¡¯t actually considered if we had ingredients to cook with. It wasn¡¯t like I could cook from nothing.


    Thankfully though, the pantry was stocked with every single item I could think of. Once again, I was impressed at their thoughtfulness.


    I pulled out some ingredients and began to chop them up to make a meal. Just as I was about to turn on the cooker, the kitchen door opened.


    Liam walked in, shirtless. ¡°Hey you, what are you doing?¡± He asked.


    I padded over to him, hugging him. He hugged me back, kissing me lightly on the lips.


    ¡°Did you sleep okay?¡± He asked.


    I nodded. ¡°I did. You? I didn¡¯t expect you to wake up so early. Or did I wake you up?¡± I asked. I¡¯d tried to be so careful not to wake them up.


    He shook his head. ¡°No, you didn¡¯t,¡± he reassured me. ¡°I actually wake up the earliest of the three of us. Lucas and Levi are still asleep.¡±


    ¡°Oh, okay then," I muttered. I remembered that the cooker was on and hurried back to it.


    He walked up behind me and wrapped his arms around me from behind. ¡°You¡¯re making breakfast?¡± He asked.


    I nodded.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to do that, you know,¡± he whispered. ¡°We have staff on the ind to do all that. All you need to do is rx. You¡¯re on vacation, babe.¡±


    My stomach tightened at the sound of him calling me babe. I couldn¡¯t help the smile that sprung to my lips.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Liam. I want to do it myself. I want to cook for my men,¡± I said.


    He grinned. ¡°In that case, go on,¡± he said. ¡°I can¡¯t wait to eat your cooking. Bet it will be more delicious than that Michelin chef¡¯s cooking.¡±


    Iughed, blushing. ¡°Don¡¯t raise your hopes too high,¡± I warned.


    He huffed stubbornly. ¡°He should actuallye learn from you. We will charge him a million dors,¡± he bragged, making meugh until my stomach hurt.


    He suddenly turned serious. ¡°By the way, Hazel, I¡¯m sorry for not keeping Lucas and Levi in checkst time,¡± he said quietly.


    I met his gaze, trying to remember what he was even talking about. So much has happened in such little time that I could barely remember the details.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright, Liam,¡± I said. ¡°All is forgiven. I¡¯ve forgiven you and them for everything that happened in the past. It¡¯s a new day in our lives. Let¡¯s just look to the future, okay?¡±


    He smiled happily, relieved at my words. ¡°I¡¯m d you¡¯re ready to move on now,¡± he said.


    I nodded. ¡°I am. I just wish I could have some answers to some of the questions I¡¯ve always had, you know.¡±


    ¡°What kind of questions?¡± He asked, jumping up and sitting on the ind.


    I took that as a sign that he intended to stay while I made breakfast. I shrugged. I¡¯d appreciate thepany. ¡°I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s even necessary to ask this anymore. You probably have no idea anyway,¡± I muttered.


    ¡°Have an idea of what?¡± He asked, looking thoughtful.


    His open expression made me feel morefortable to broach the subject that had given me so many sleepless nights over the years.


    ¡°I just always wondered why your mom¡ªLuna Evelyn, I mean¡ªhas always seemed to hate me. Do you have any idea?¡± I asked nervously. ¡°I know I¡¯m just a maid and she can treat me any way she pleases but it just always seemed so targeted. Like she had something against me that I had no idea about. Do you¡ªdo you know anything?¡± I asked, finally meeting his gaze.


    The look in his eyes made me freeze¡ªa mixture of shock and guilt. I came to a realization.


    ¡°Y-You... You know something!¡± I gasped.


    He looked like he was about to deny it. Instead, he sighed and nodded calmly. ¡°Yes, I do,¡± he answered. ¡°I know why my mother hates you.¡±

 Chapter 29: Secrets Unfold

    <h4>Chapter 29: Chapter 29: Secrets Unfold</h4>


    ¡°Y-You do?¡± I spat incredulously. ¡°How long have you known?¡±


    He couldn¡¯t meet my eyes. He sighed. ¡°I found out a few months ago before our birthday. I found out totally by ident. I¡¯m sorry for not telling you earlier, Hazel.¡±


    I could only stare at him in shock. ¡°I can¡¯t believe this,¡± I muttered. ¡°You knew! You, of all people, knew how much it affected me. How much it bothered me!¡±


    He looked pained. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Hazel.¡±


    I took a deep breath. ¡°Let me ask you this. If I didn¡¯t ask, would you have ever thought of telling me?¡± I asked.


    He went silent. He looked away, avoiding my eyes. And that¡¯s when I knew. He would never have told me. His betrayal rang in my head like an rm.


    ¡°Hazel, can I just¡ª¡± he started to say.


    I cut him off. ¡°Who else knows?¡± I demanded.


    ¡°Hazel...¡± he muttered, wincing.


    ¡°I asked you a question. Answer me. Who else knows?¡± I repeated sharply.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s my ce to¡ª¡±


    I gave him a sharp look. He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. ¡°Lucas knows,¡± he finally sighed.


    My heart shattered. So they¡¯d both known all along and didn¡¯t tell me. They¡¯d watched me flounder around and struggle and yet kept the answers that could give me peace to themselves.


    Liam reached for me. I backed away, raising my hand warningly. He took the hint. His hand froze in the air and then dropped back to his side.


    A look of pain entered his eyes but I didn¡¯t care. He was the one who¡¯d betrayed my trust. I was the one who had the right to feel hurt.


    ¡°What do you want to know?¡± He asked quietly.


    ¡°Everything,¡± I said tly.


    He nodded. ¡°Once again, let me just preface this by saying that I¡¯m so sorry I didn¡¯t tell you this sooner. I guess I just didn¡¯t know how to bring it up.¡±


    My eyes narrowed to slits. My lips turned down in a frown. I wasn¡¯t buying it. All I heard were excuses.


    He sighed. ¡°Okay, this is what I found out. Before my mother found her mate, she was dating someone else,¡± he started.


    I frowned deeply. ¡°Why are you telling me all that? I¡¯m not interested in your mother¡¯s love life!¡±


    ¡°Patience, Hazel,¡± he said. ¡°You¡¯ll soon see why it¡¯s important to start there. They were very much in love with each other. I¡¯m sure they even nned to get married¡ªuntil he found his mate.¡±


    I rolled my eyes,pletely uninterested. It happened all the time between wolves. The mate bond superseded all other romantic rtionships. It wasn¡¯t a big deal.


    ¡°To my mother, it was a big deal,¡± he rified as if reading my mind. ¡°She was heartbroken when they broke things off. She was devastated by what she considered to be his ¡®betrayal¡¯. Even when she found her mate and married him, she neverpletely got over him. She was still bitter.¡±


    Even though I started to find myself intrigued by this story, I knew I needed actual answers. I folded my hands and raised a brow. ¡°So what does all that have to do with me?¡±


    He paused and stared at the ground as if silently considering his next words. Finally, he looked up and met my eyes. ¡°Hazel...that man my mother dated before meeting my father was David Bailey.¡±


    The name rang in my head. I gasped. ¡°D-David Bailey?¡±


    He nodded. ¡°Yes, Hazel. Your father. Your father was my mother¡¯s first love.¡±


    I stumbled backward. He caught my arm to keep me from copsing. I pushed his hand away from me, choosing to hold the ind instead. He looked hurt. I didn¡¯t care.


    ¡°My f-father,¡± I muttered. Try as I might, I couldn¡¯t remember much about him at all. To find out now that he was with someone like Luna Evelyn...I didn¡¯t know what to think or how to react.


    ¡°Are you okay, Hazel? Do you need a ss of water?¡± He asked.


    I shook my head. ¡°No, I¡¯m fine,¡± I said. ¡°So is that how this debt that he owes her came about? Was it during their rtionship?¡± I asked.


    He suddenly looked ufortable.


    ¡°What is it?¡± I asked, my stomach sinking already. Whatever wasing next, I was not going to like it.


    ¡°Actually, Hazel...there was never any debt to begin with,¡± he muttered so low, I barely picked up the words.


    I gasped. ¡°I-I don¡¯t¡ªW-What do you¡ªThat is impossible,¡± I sputtered.


    He shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Hazel, but the debt was just a cover.¡±


    You know how they say your life can sh before your eyes in a second? At that moment, it did. All the years that I¡¯d spent groveling and ving away to pay my parents¡¯ debt came racing through my mind.


    Was he telling me now that I never actually needed to do any of that in the first ce? That all my suffering was for nothing?


    The only thing that made me hold on through those years was the thought that I was somehow protecting my parent¡¯s legacy. At least if I could do this for them...then I could protect their memory.


    That was all a lie?


    It felt like my world had shattered right before my eyes. Could anything ever be the same anymore?


    ¡°Hazel, you look pale. I think you need to sit down,¡± Liam said worriedly.


    I shook my head firmly even though I had to hold onto the ind just to keep myself upright. ¡°I want to hear everything,¡± I whispered.


    He looked concerned but must have seen the resolute look in my eyes because he finally nodded.


    ¡°One day, you just showed up on our doorstep as a toddler. In your hand, you were clutching an envelope addressed to my mother from your father. The letter asked her to take care of you because there were some powerful and dangerous enemies after him and your mother,¡± he said.


    It was all starting to sound like an action movie. I didn¡¯t know if I could believe it. But his eyes said that he was telling the truth.


    ¡°They wanted to keep you safe, Hazel. And the only way he knew how was to send you into our pack, under my mother¡¯s wing where nobody could hurt you,¡± he said.


    I scoffed. ¡°Nothing but her,¡± I countered.


    He winced. ¡°He probably knew that she would be mean to you but he also knew that she would keep you safe because of the love that was once between them.¡±


    ¡°He threw me into the lion¡¯s den,¡± I whispered, seeing my father in a new light from that moment. The grand pictures of him I¡¯d built up in my mind came crashing down now.


    ¡°He didn¡¯t have a choice, Hazel,¡± Liam said quickly. ¡°Your father and mother were into some illegal activities with gang ties. Apparently, things went south and they incurred some powerful enemies. They would have killed you. They knew they needed to hide you in thest ce anyone would ever think to check¡ªin the house of his ex-girlfriend.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t argue with that. It sounded like a good n even if it annoyed me to the high heavens.


    ¡°My mother may have been bitter towards your dad but she still had a soft spot for him in her heart. He knew she would protect you from his enemies no matter what. My parents often argue over your ce in the pack. I can¡¯t imagine it¡¯s easy for my father to see his mate¡¯s ex¡¯s child in his house. But my mother always insisted that you stay with us despite my father¡¯s reluctance.¡±


    I shook my head. I couldn¡¯t take that information just yet. It was one thing to learn that the debt was fake. It was another thing to have Liam trying to humanize Luna Evelyn to me.


    My head was spinning. It was too much to take in at once. I opened my mouth to speak but words failed me. I suddenly felt so weak, like I¡¯d just run a marathon. My knees started to give out which made me stumble back a few steps.


    ¡°No, wait, Hazel! Don¡¯t leave yet. Let¡¯s talk about this,¡± Liam cried.


    I heaved heavily, shaking my head.


    ¡°Don¡¯t touch me,¡± I hissed, trying to calm down my breathing.


    Seeing me move further away, Liam¡¯s hand thrust out towards me.


    At that moment, he forgot his strength. His hand mmed into my chest, pushing me backward rather than drawing me closer.


    I fell in slow motion. My head mmed into the edge of the ind. Pain exploded in my head, causing me to wince and cry out.


    ¡°Shit. Hazel¡ª¡±


    Before Liam could touch me again, someone stood in between us, his arms cradling me tightly and protectively before I could fully crash to the floor.


    ¡°Don¡¯t touch her!¡±

 Chapter 30: Betrayals and Boundaries

    <h4>Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Betrayals and Boundaries </h4>


    ¡°What the hell is going on here!?¡± Levi growled, cradling me in his arms.


    I felt the breath I¡¯d been holding whoosh out of my body as I sagged in relief. I¡¯de so close to really hurting myself. As if mocking me, pain exploded in my head at that moment, reminding me that I had already hurt my head.


    Levi gently lifted me and helped me stand on my feet. I staggered a few steps before I could catch myself but I managed to keep standing.


    ¡°Hazel, I¡¯m so sorry! Oh my god! Are you okay?¡± Liam cried. He took a step towards me, thought better of it, and stepped back again.


    ¡°I asked you a question!¡± Levi spat in Liam¡¯s direction. ¡°What the hell were you doing standing there while Hazel hit her head?¡± He demanded. ¡°What if it had been worse?¡±


    Liam¡¯s mouth opened but he didn¡¯t say anything. Eventually, he just shut his mouth again and shook his head in self-despair.


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand how you could have let something like this happen! You¡¯re supposed to be keeping her safe and you failed,¡± he told his brother angrily.


    Liam didn¡¯t bother defending himself. He could only stare at the two of us with guilt. I didn¡¯t bother defending him either. He didn¡¯t deserve it right now.


    But Levi¡¯s loud voice pierced into my skull painfully. I winced, cradling my head. My movements instantly caught his attention.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Hazel? Are you hurt anywhere?¡± He asked worriedly.


    ¡°My head hurts a little,¡± I managed to answer even though each word felt like a bomb st in my brain.


    ¡°Shit!¡± He muttered. ¡°If only I¡¯de in a second earlier!¡± He turned to Liam again. ¡°What the hell were you doing standing there while it happened?¡± He didn¡¯t wait for a response. ¡°What part of your head did you hit?¡± Levi asked me.


    I touched the back of my head. He gently shifted my hair to the side, exposing the spot.


    ¡°Fuck!¡± He choked out.


    I couldn¡¯t see what he was seeing but from his voice, I could tell that it was bad. ¡°What is it?¡± I cried.


    ¡°There is a bump the size of a coin there and a bruise. It¡¯s bleeding,¡± he said, sounding like he was in pain himself.


    Liam paled. ¡°Hazel, I¡¯m so sorry! I didn¡¯t mean to push you!¡± He cried.


    ¡°You did what!?¡± Levi screamed, stepping threateningly towards his brother. ¡°Did I just hear you say you pushed her!¡±


    I saw that he was ready to throw punches. I couldn¡¯t have that, especially not with the way I was feeling right now. I grabbed Levi¡¯s arm and pulled him back.


    ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± I said shortly, shaking my head.


    He stopped but continued ring at his brother.


    I sighed, touching the new bump on my head. No wonder my head felt like it¡¯d been run through a mmer.


    ¡°It¡¯s not that bad,¡± I assured him. ¡°I¡¯m sure it looks worse than it actually feels.¡±


    He shook his head. ¡°Nonsense. I need to get you to bed. You need to lie down. You could have a concussion for all I know!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have a concussion. I¡¯m fine. I just need a bit of rest,¡± I assured him.


    He took one look at my face scrunched up in pain and as red as a tomato and took my hand. I tried to protest but he just wrapped his arms around me and made me lean against him. He began to help me walk towards the door.


    Just before we reached the door, it swung open. Lucas walked in barefoot, looking sleepy. On another day, I would have been salivating at how sexy he looked but looking at him now, I could only think about the fact he knew. He knew and he never told me.


    He took in the scene before him and immediately straightened. His eyes sharpened. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? What happened here?¡± He demanded.


    Liam gave him a pained look. ¡°Lucas...Hazel knows,¡± he muttered.


    Lucas¡¯ brows jumped up. ¡°Knows what?¡± He asked.


    ¡°About her father and our mother. Everything,¡± he answered.


    Lucas¡¯ face shifted. Something that looked like panic shed across his eyes but it was gone the next instant. In its ce, his cold authoritativeness returned.


    ¡°She was moving away from me. I didn¡¯t want her to go. I wasn¡¯t thinking. I just wanted to stop her. I shoved her and she hit her head on the ind,¡± Liam rambled. ¡°Oh, Hazel. Please forgive me.¡±


    I met his gaze and let him see all the emotions in my eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry but I don¡¯t know if I can,¡± I muttered. ¡°I thought I knew you before but now, I am not so sure.¡±


    Before this, Liam had always been the gentle one. Yet, today he had been so careless with me just to get what he wanted in a moment of desperation.


    ¡°It¡¯s not like that, Hazel. Please try to understand,¡± he pleaded desperately.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough for now,¡± Lucas said authoritatively. ¡°We can¡¯t settle anything right now and Hazel needs to get off her feet. Why don¡¯t you stay in a separate room for now, Hazel?¡±


    ¡°What? No! Why would she stay in a separate room,¡± Liam protested, giving me a pleading look.


    I ignored him and nodded. ¡°I think that is a good idea. I¡¯ll stay in the guest room,¡± I dered.


    I needed some space away from all of them to think. I learned so much recently. I needed time to decode all that information.


    For example, with the little Liam told me earlier, my parents might not even be dead. I grew up thinking I was an orphan but my parents might be out there somewhere, hiding from their enemies.


    Only one person could give me the answer to the questions in my mind¡ªLuna Evelyn. She would definitely know something. But could I even ask her? Would she be willing to answer my questions? What would I do if it turned out they were alive?


    I needed time to think about all that and I couldn¡¯t do that around the triplets.


    ¡°Are you agreeing to separate rooms because of the talk we had earlier?¡± Liam asked.


    A wave of anger swept through me. ¡°Is it not enough reason to want some space?¡± I spat. ¡°Or what did you think? That I¡¯d cuddle up to you after learning about your lies and betrayal?¡±


    He winced. He couldn¡¯t say anything to that. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he whispered again.


    I scoffed. ¡°That¡¯s all I keep hearing. Sadly, those words don¡¯t change what you did.¡± With those words, I turned on my heels and stormed towards the door.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the guest room,¡± Lucas offered, reaching for my hand.


    I snatched my hand back. ¡°How did I forget? You knew as well! You knew and you kept it from me. You¡¯re both the same,¡± I spat angrily. I turned to Levi. ¡°What about you? Did you know as well?¡± I demanded.


    His brows furrowed. ¡°Know what?¡± He asked.


    He looked so confused that I was inclined to believe he didn¡¯t know either. But having learned of Liam and Lucas¡¯ betrayal, I was not easily convinced.


    ¡°About my father being your mother¡¯s ex-boyfriend and about being dumped on your parent¡¯s doorstep years ago by my parents to protect me from their enemies,¡± I reeled off.


    His eyes widened. ¡°Is that a movie plot? I have no idea what you¡¯re saying,¡± he said, looking honestly bewildered.


    I believed him but that didn¡¯t make me any less ufortable. I felt so overwhelmed.


    ¡°I need to be alone,¡± I dered, pushing past the three of them and hurrying out the door before they could stop me.


    I wandered to one of the guest bedrooms and dropped tiredly into the bed. The tears came rushing out as if someone had opened a dam in my heart. I cried until there were no tears left to cry.


    Minutes ticked past. Just as I began to drift off to sleep, a knock sounded at the door. I froze. One of the triplets had followed me. Who was it? Liam? Lucas? Levi? I didn¡¯t want to talk to anyone!


    ¡°Who is there?¡± I shouted.


    ¡°It¡¯s me,¡± a voice sounded from outside the door.

 Chapter 31: More Than One of The Triplets

    <h4>Chapter 31: Chapter 31: More Than One of The Triplets</h4>


    The knock came again.


    Not loud. Just... gentle. Like he didn¡¯t want to startle me.


    ¡°Hazel,¡± Levi¡¯s voice was quiet. ¡°I swear, I didn¡¯t know.¡±


    I sat curled up on the edge of the bed, my arm wrapped around my knees, and my other hand was flung across my forehead. My wound no longer stung badly and was already healing. But there was this dull throb of confusion and hurt in my head.


    ¡°I would¡¯ve told you if I knew,¡± Levi said again, voice muffled by the door. ¡°I¡¯m not like that, Hazel. I mean¡ªyeah, we¡¯re triplets, I get that. But I¡¯m not just one-third of a whole. I¡¯m me. I just... I need you to see that.¡±


    I swallowed hard, staring at the door like it might suddenly disappear and solve everything.


    ¡°Please,¡± he added, and that one word cracked something open in me. Not because of what he said, but how he said it. No attitude. No cockiness.


    I stood slowly, feet brushing the cool tile floor, and crossed the room with hesitant steps. My fingers hovered over the handle for a second.


    Then I opened the door.


    Levi was standing there, barefoot, his dark brown hair a little messy like he¡¯d been running his hands through it nonstop. His shirt was wrinkled. His green eyes¡ªthose ridiculous eyes with the gold flecks¡ªmet mine, and they were filled with something I hadn¡¯t seen in a long time.


    Worry. And maybe even fear. He was holding a little white first aid box in his hands like it was some kind of peace offering.


    ¡°I know you¡¯re healing,¡± he said quickly, eyes darting to my arm. ¡°But... I still wanted to make sure you¡¯re okay. Just... let me do something. Please.¡±


    I didn¡¯t say anything. I just stepped aside. Levi walked in slowly like he thought I might change my mind and m the door on him any second. He sat on the edge of the bed and looked up at me, waiting.


    I sat next to him, close but not too close. He opened the kit and pulled out a few things¡ªwipes, ointment, clean gauze.


    ¡°Already closing up,¡± he said softly. ¡°Still... better safe than sorry.¡±


    I winced a little as the cold antiseptic touched my skin, but I didn¡¯t pull away. I watched his face instead. He stared at the wound like this mattered more to him than anything else in the world.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t deserve any of this,¡± he murmured, mostly to himself. ¡°Not the way we treated you before. Not being lied to. And definitely not getting hurt because we couldn¡¯t get our crap together.¡±


    I blinked at the tears stinging my eyes. ¡°It¡¯s not just about today, Levi. It¡¯s everything. All of it just... hit me at once.¡±


    Levi looked up at me, brows furrowed. ¡°Don¡¯t apologize. You had every right to be upset. Hell, if it were me in your shoes, I¡¯d have trashed the whole damn house.¡±


    That made me smile a little, just barely.


    ¡°I just...¡± I took a breath. ¡°I don¡¯t know who I¡¯m mad at. Liam? Lucas? Myself? My parents?¡±


    ¡°You can be mad at all of us,¡± he said, gently cing a bandage over the wound even though we both knew it would be gone by morning. ¡°It¡¯s not wrong to feel what you feel. But don¡¯t carry it alone, Hazel.¡±


    I looked at him. This boy¡ªno, this man¡ªwho used to tease me, who onceughed while I cried... had changed.


    ¡°I¡¯ll talk to them,¡± I said softly. ¡°We¡¯ll figure this out. Together.¡±


    Levi exhaled like he¡¯d been holding his breath for hours. ¡°Good. Because we¡¯re in it with you. No more secrets.¡±


    I took his hand, and he squeezed it back. The knot in my chest loosened a little.


    I leaned forward, resting my forehead against his shoulder. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    He wrapped his arm around me, pulling me in closer. No teasing. No flirtyments. Just warmth. Steady, calming warmth.


    ¡°You wanna go back downstairs?¡± he asked after a few moments, his voice low.


    ¡°Only if youe with me,¡± I said softly.


    And then, without overthinking it, I leaned in and kissed him.


    It wasn¡¯t rushed or wild. Just a gentle, lingering kiss. One that said ¡®I¡¯m sorry¡¯ and ¡®thank you¡¯ and ¡®I¡¯m still here¡¯ all at once.


    Levi froze for half a second like he couldn¡¯t quite believe it. Then he kissed me back, his lips warm and tender against mine. His hand slid up to cup my cheek, and for that brief moment, everything else faded away.


    When we finally pulled apart, his smile was soft, almost boyish.


    When we stepped out of the room and made our way downstairs, my heart pounded. Liam and Lucas were already waiting in the living room, standing stiff like they¡¯d been bracing themselves for a storm. When they saw us, their faces reflected relief, maybe regret.


    I sat first. Levi settled beside me but gave me space. It was my conversation to start.


    ¡°So,¡± I said, eyes flicking between Liam and Lucas. ¡°We need to talk.¡±


    They nodded.


    ¡°I¡¯m hurt,¡± I began, steadying my voice. ¡°Not just because you didn¡¯t tell me right away about my parents, but because I thought... after everything... after we mated... I thought there wouldn¡¯t be any more secrets.¡±


    Lucas¡¯s face was taut. ¡°Hazel... it¡¯s not that we wanted to keep it from you.¡±


    ¡°There was never a good time,¡± Liam added quickly, his voice strained. ¡°We didn¡¯t want to drop it on you in the middle of everything.¡±


    ¡°I get that,¡± I said. ¡°But it still feels like I was left out of something important.¡±


    There was a beat of silence.


    Then Lucas spoke again, slower this time. ¡°You said earlier that you were starting to wonder about your parents. Hazel... I know it¡¯s tempting to hold onto them, to remember them as something better. But they weren¡¯t good people.¡±


    I stiffened. ¡°You don¡¯t know that.¡±


    ¡°We know enough,¡± he said. ¡°The debt wasn¡¯t real. They didn¡¯t leave you because they had no choice. They left you because they were running from something dangerous¡ªsomething they brought on themselves. As bad as it sounds, our mother never offered to take you in before you arrived.¡±


    ¡°Because she still loved my dad,¡± I whispered bitterly.


    Levi leaned forward, cing a hand over mine. ¡°Hazel, we¡¯re not saying you can¡¯t love them. We¡¯re just saying... don¡¯t hurt yourself holding on to a perfect image of people who were anything but.¡±


    My throat tightened. ¡°They were still my parents. I spent years thinking I had no one. No answers. Nothing. And now? It¡¯s like someone pulled back the curtain and said, ¡®Surprise! You were never really an orphan. You were just... dumped.¡¯¡±


    The words hung heavy in the air.


    Levi reached out, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. ¡°Then let us help you find the truth. If there¡¯s more to their story, we¡¯ll find it. Together.¡±


    That promise did something to me. It soothed a part of my heart I didn¡¯t know was still raw.


    ¡°I¡¯d like that,¡± I said, voice quiet. ¡°I need to know.¡±


    Levi gave me a small smile, then turned to his brothers. ¡°Still pissed none of you told me, by the way.¡±


    Lucas rolled his eyes. ¡°Noted.¡±


    Liam chuckled softly. ¡°You were too busy trying to sneak into Hazel¡¯s showers.¡±


    Levi grinned. ¡°Guilty.¡±


    The mood eased, just a little. The air was lighter like we¡¯d all taken a collective breath.


    But deep down, that ache in my chest still throbbed for answers


    ¡°I think I¡¯m gonna lie down,¡± I said, rising slowly.


    ¡°You want us to¡ª¡± Liam started.


    ¡°No. I think... I need a moment. Just to breathe. Just me.¡±


    They all nodded in understanding, though I saw the flicker of reluctance in Levi¡¯s eyes. He always hated letting me out of sight.


    I went upstairs alone.


    I slipped under the covers, trying to focus on the rhythm of my breath. But my mind wouldn¡¯t stop racing.


    Who were David and Angeline Bailey, really? Were they alive? Did they ever regret leaving me behind?


    I rolled onto my side, curling into myself. The silence wrappedfortably around me.


    Downstairs, I could just barely make out the soft murmur of the triplets talking. I didn¡¯t catch every word, but I heard enough.


    ¡°...next step?¡± That was Liam.


    ¡°We can¡¯t let her keep wondering,¡± Lucas replied.


    And then Levi, his voice sharper: ¡°Then let¡¯s find out. All of it.¡±


    There was a pause, and I drifted off to sleep before I heard a phone being dialed.


    ¡°Hi, Mom,¡± Lucas said. His tone was casual. Then it shifted and grew serious. ¡°What do you know about Hazel¡¯s parents?¡±

 Chapter 32: Back to Reality

    <h4>Chapter 32: Chapter 32: Back to Reality</h4>


    I stood at the edge of the yacht, watching the ind shrink in the distance. It had been a wonderful holiday, but now, we were heading back to the packnds.


    Back to whispers. Expectations. Complications.


    I sighed and wrapped my arms around myself, the wind tugging at my hair. I didn¡¯t even hear Lucas until he was beside me.


    Softly, he said, ¡°We¡¯ve already started looking.¡±


    I turned to him, confused for a second.


    ¡°Into your parents,¡± he added, his eyes fixed on the waves. ¡°Levi pulled some strings, and I reached out to a few old contacts. If there¡¯s anything left out there¡ªrecords, stories, people who knew them¡ªwe¡¯ll find it.¡±


    My heart squeezed. ¡°Lucas...¡± I reached for his hand, gripping it gently. ¡°You don¡¯t have to do that.¡± His jaw clenched a little, but he didn¡¯t speak.


    ¡°I mean it,¡± I said again, more firmly. ¡°You guys have already done so much. This isn¡¯t your burden to carry.¡±


    He finally looked at me, his green eyes serious and unwavering. ¡°It is our burden, Hazel. Because you matter. What hurts you, hurts us too. You don¡¯t have to walk through this alone.¡±


    I looked away for a moment, staring at the sea, trying to blink away the sting building in my eyes. His words touched something deep inside of me. I had long epted being forgotten, even by my own blood.


    ¡°It means a lot,¡± I said quietly. ¡°Just knowing you care enough to try... that¡¯s enough. I¡¯m not in a rush. I¡¯ve made peace with not knowing for so long, it doesn¡¯t scare me anymore.¡±


    Lucas leaned closer, brushing a piece of hair behind my ear. ¡°Still. You deserve answers.¡±


    His hand squeezed mine reassuringly. I leaned my head against his shoulder and closed my eyes for a few seconds, listening to the sea and the steady beat of his heart under his shirt.


    ¡°I¡¯m scared of what we¡¯ll find,¡± I whispered. ¡°But I think I¡¯d rather know than keep wondering.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll find the truth,¡± he said. ¡°And whatever it is... we¡¯ll face it.¡±


    By the time we pulled up to the packhouse, the sun was already low in the sky, casting everything in a warm, golden glow. It should¡¯ve felt likeing home, but instead, it felt like walking back into a storm I wasn¡¯t ready to face.


    The festive music could be heard before we even stepped inside. Streamers were everywhere, balloons floating in the breeze, and the smell of roasted meats and desserts filled the air. Laughter and chatter echoed from the courtyard, where arge crowd had already gathered.


    There was even a banner strung across the main hall: Wee Home, Alphas, Lucas, Liam, and Levi.


    Lucas noticed me stiffen and gave my hand a gentle squeeze. ¡°Rx,¡± he said under his breath. ¡°We¡¯ve got this.¡±


    Just then, Alpha Henry and Luna Evelyn made their way through the crowd. Alpha Henry wore his usual calm, detached expression, but Evelyn... looked thrilled.


    ¡°You¡¯re back,¡± she said, eyes scanning over her sons, lingering just a little too long. ¡°Perfect timing. Everyone¡¯s been looking forward to weing you home.¡±


    Then she turned to the crowd and raised her voice. ¡°Let¡¯s give a huge round of apuse to the person who put all of this together¡ªJessie!¡±


    The apuse was immediate. Jessie stepped forward, ying shy, though I caught the satisfied gleam in her eyes. Her dress clung in all the right ces, her hair styled to perfection. Every move she made screamed ¡°look at me¡¯¡¯.


    My stomach twisted, but I forced a polite smile. I wasn¡¯t going to give Evelyn or Jessie the satisfaction of seeing me bothered.


    Evelyn smiled down at her like she was very precious. ¡°Such a lovely girl. Always so helpful. Always around.¡± She looked at a nearby pack member holding a camera. ¡°Why don¡¯t we take a photo? Something to mark the moment.¡±


    Then, just a little too loudly, she added, ¡°Jessie, dear, go take a photo with the boys.¡±


    Jessie giggled, already stepping toward them. ¡°Only if they don¡¯t mind...¡±


    Lucas, Liam, and Levi all turned their heads toward me in unison. They didn¡¯t say anything but their eyes widened with rm.


    I swallowed the ufortable lump in my throat and gave a small nod. Only then did they walk up to the photo area and stand beside her.


    Jessie positioned herself right in the middle, glowing like she¡¯d just won a prize. The first photo snapped. I turned away as the camera shed.


    But then I heard a little giggle. I looked back.


    Just as the third photo was being taken, Jessie slipped her arms through both Levi¡¯s and Liam¡¯s, looping them tightly.


    My chest tightened, breath catching in my throat.


    She leaned in closer, tilting her head like she was made to fit between them. Her hand brushed Levi¡¯s chest, not by ident.


    She knew what she was doing. Judging by the sh of difort on Liam¡¯s face and the stiffness in Levi¡¯s posture, they knew too.


    Still, they didn¡¯t pull away fast enough before the camera clicked.


    Jessie smiled like the image had already been framed and mounted on her future bedroom wall.


    And I stood there, burning inside.


    Jealousy red in me. The mate bond screamed inside my bones. I knew what she was trying to do. And I wasn¡¯t about to stand by and let it happen.


    I felt the heat crawl up my throat, my jaw tightened as I watched Jessie clutch Levi like her life depended on it. My wolf stirred beneath my skin as annoyance red through me.


    Mine.


    That word echoed over and over again in my head, loud and clear. The camera shed again.


    Levi shifted, trying to free his arm without making a scene. Liam was quicker. He eased himself out of her hold with an awkwardugh, stepping back just enough to break the contact.


    But Jessie only tightened her hold on Levi. Her fingers curled possessively around his bicep as sheughed softly, her voice dripping with sweetness.


    ¡°Oh, this one¡¯s definitely going to be my favorite,¡± she said to the photographer as if the triplets were her personal photo props.


    She tilted her head toward Levi, brushing just a little too close to his chest. I felt like wing out her eyes.


    Luna Evelyn stood nearby, watching with a pleased expression. It suddenly clicked¡ªher n was just to wedge Jessie into the triplets¡¯ circle.


    To rece me!


    Levi looked over at me. The moment our eyes met, the tension in his shoulders dropped a little. He looked trapped¡ªnot by Jessie, but by his mother¡¯s firm gaze.


    That was all I needed. I moved towards them and the crowd parted for me.


    Levi¡¯s eyes tracked me the whole way, his lips parting slightly. ¡°Hazel¡ª¡±


    I didn¡¯t let him finish. Instead, I closed the space between us. Reaching out, I grabbed the cor of his shirt and forced his lips down to meet mine in a kiss.


    Levi reacted immediately, deepening our connection. His tongue pried my mouth open and pressed closer against me. I smiled against his lips as gasps rang through the crowd.


    I made sure everyone watching¡ªJessie, Evelyn, the whole damn pack¡ªunderstood that Levi belonged to me.

 Chapter 33: Mine And Everyone Knows It

    <h4>Chapter 33: Chapter 33: Mine And Everyone Knows It</h4>


    Levi wrapped one arm around my waist and drew me close. He kissed me back like a man starved, like he¡¯d been waiting forever for this exact moment and wasn¡¯t about to waste a second of it. Then he lifted his head slightly, like he¡¯d only just remembered Jessie was still glued to his side.


    ¡°Get off,¡± he growled, voice low and sharp.


    Jessie blinked, startled. ¡°Levi, I¡ª¡±


    But before she could finish, he pulled away from her entirely, not bothering to be gentle this time. His arm jerked free, and the motion knocked her slightly off bnce. She stumbled back a step, her mouth falling open as a few nearby pack members quickly looked away, pretending not to notice the embarrassment in her eyes.


    Levi didn¡¯t even nce at her and returned to the kiss. One hand fisted the fabric at my waist, anchoring me to him, while the other slid up my spine, sending shivers through me. His body pressed against mine and I melted into him.


    Everything else disappeared. The noise, the crowd, the awkward photo setup. It all faded like someone turned the world down to a hush.


    I wasn¡¯t thinking and didn¡¯t have to think. All I knew was that this wild, stubborn, yful man was mine.


    And I needed everyone to see it. The kiss deepened, mouths moving in sync, breaths short and ragged between moans. I could feel the tension in his body release as he let go.


    Somewhere behind us, I heard a gasp. Then a few surprisedughs. And then cheers.


    Apuse broke out like a wave rolling over the crowd. Whistles, hoots, and teasing shouts echoed through the courtyard.


    It was only then, through the haze of heat and emotion, that Levi pulled back just enough to breathe. But he didn¡¯t let go.


    He cupped my face with both hands and gently brushed his thumb over my cheek. ¡°You okay?¡± he asked, his voice soft as his eyes searched mine.


    I nodded, breathless. ¡°Yeah. I just... I had to.¡±


    A crooked smile pulled at his lips. ¡°Good. I¡¯m d you did.¡±


    He kissed my forehead slowly and tucked me against his chest. From behind him, the crowd kept cheering, but then I felt the weight of a hostile pair of eyes.


    I looked past Levi¡¯s shoulder and saw Luna Evelyn. Her smile was gone now, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, and her jaw clenched so hard I swore I could hear it grind from across the yard. Right beside her stood Jessie.


    Her arms hung stiff at her sides, her face a mix of red and pale, like she couldn¡¯t decide if she wanted to cry or scream. The way she red at me made it clear. If she¡¯d been allowed to shift, she would¡¯ve torn into me then and there.


    Too bad for her. Because Levi was still holding me and neither of us had ns of letting go.


    Slowly the cheers finally started to die down. I could hear their whispers andughter. I was no longer just the orphan girl with a debt, working for the Alpha and Luna.


    Right now, I was the one in Levi Sullivan¡¯s arms, and everyone had just seen it. I tilted my head up to nce at him, and in doing so, my hand brushed across his chest¡ªinnocent enough, except for the way my fingers just happened to stretch... and unt the ring on my finger.


    The diamond caught the sunlight perfectly. It sparkled like it had been waiting for this exact moment.


    ¡°Oh my goddess¡ªwait, is that a ring?¡± someone asked from the crowd, voice loud and curious.


    I blinked and looked down, pretending just to notice now. ¡°Oh... this?¡± I asked, holding up my hand a little more obviously than necessary. ¡°Yeah. I guess it does look like one, huh?¡±


    Lucas chuckled from behind me, clearly amused. ¡°She¡¯s ying it cool like she didn¡¯t cry when we gave it to her.¡±


    ¡°I did not cry,¡± I said quickly, though my ears burned. ¡°It was the sea air. You know how it messes with your eyes.¡±


    ¡°Oh really?¡± Liam grinned. ¡°Then what was that speech about ¡®I should have known this was too good to be true.¡¯?¡±


    ¡°I was being poetic,¡± I muttered, crossing my arms but not before showing the ring off again because let¡¯s be honest, it deserved the attention.


    ¡°You proposed?¡± someone gasped.


    ¡°All three of you?¡±


    Levi gave a dramatic sigh. ¡°We took her on a surprise trip, gave her the perfect ind sunset, the romantic dinner, and then... boom¡ªring.¡±


    ¡°Technically,¡± Lucas cut in, ¡°there were three of us.¡±


    ¡°But she only wears one ring,¡± Liam added with a wink. ¡°Because we¡¯re not that possessive.¡±


    That got a fewughs.


    From the corner of my eye, I spotted movement. I nced over just in time to see Jessie walking away through the crowd, her shoulders stiff, her pace fast. She didn¡¯t even nce back. I smiled.


    ¡°Hazel,¡± Levi said suddenly, nudging me. ¡°What do you think about Jessie as a bridesmaid?¡±


    I whipped my head toward him so fast that his smirk froze in ce. Lucas snorted under his breath. Liamughed outright.


    ¡°Really?¡± I deadpanned, raising a brow at Levi. ¡°You want her holding flowers while I walk down the aisle? You do remember she tried to flirt with you ten minutes ago, right?¡±


    Levi held up his hands. ¡°Okay, okay. It was a joke. A bad one. No Jessie at the wedding party. Got it.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I said, still shooting him a warning look. He leaned in and whispered, ¡°You¡¯re kinda scary when you¡¯re jealous.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not jealous,¡± I replied quickly, even though we both knew I was lying. But I had every right to be. ¡°She¡¯s got a thing for you guys,¡± I said casually, nodding toward where Jessie had vanished.


    Liam blinked. ¡°Jessie?¡±


    I raised an eyebrow. ¡°Don¡¯t act surprised. She was practically glued to Levi during the photo.¡±


    Levi grimaced. ¡°Yeah, that was... ufortable.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve only ever seen her as a family friend,¡± Lucas said, frowning slightly. ¡°Mom¡¯s always liked her. She pushed us to include her growing up. I didn¡¯t think¡ª¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t think she was hoping for more,¡± I finished for him.


    All three of them looked a little ufortable now the pieces were finally clicking into ce.


    ¡°Wow,¡± Liam said, rubbing the back of his neck. ¡°We really didn¡¯t notice.¡±


    ¡°Well, I did,¡± I muttered. ¡°And I¡¯m not about to pretend I didn¡¯t enjoy shutting her down with that kiss.¡±


    They allughed at that, and Levi leaned down to kiss the side of my head. ¡°You handled it perfectly.¡±


    But just as I was about to make another smugment, a voice cut through the crowd like a de.


    ¡°Hazel.¡±


    I turned and found Luna Evelyn standing a few feet away, her arms crossed neatly in front of her, her expression, furious.


    ¡°Can I speak with you?¡± she asked. ¡°Privately.¡±

 Chapter 34: Answered Questions

    <h4>Chapter 34: Chapter 34: Answered Questions </h4>


    As soon as Luna Evelyn asked to speak with me in private, the whole atmosphere changed. I wasn¡¯t the only one who felt it.


    Lucas stepped forward first, his face tense. ¡°Why does it need to be private?¡±


    Liam jumped in too. ¡°Yeah. If this is about Hazel, then we should be part of the conversation.¡±


    But Luna Evelyn gave them a look that made it clear she wasn¡¯t going to back down. It was the same look she used when ordering people around like chess pieces.


    ¡°This is between Hazel and me,¡± she said, her voice steady but sharp.


    Levi narrowed his eyes at her. ¡°Why now? What¡¯s so urgent?¡±


    ¡°I have my reasons,¡± she replied, her tone smooth but cold. ¡°You¡¯ve all had your say. Now I want to hear from her.¡±


    The tension was so thick, I could practically feel it pressing down on me.


    I reached for Levi¡¯s hand and gave it a small squeeze. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I can handle this.¡±


    He looked at me for a moment, clearly not loving the idea, but in the end, he gave me a short nod.


    ¡°We¡¯ll be close,¡± Lucas said quietly.


    Liam muttered something under his breath that sounded a lot like, ¡°I don¡¯t like this.¡±


    Honestly... neither did I.


    I followed her anyway, even though my stomach was twisting with every step I took.


    She led me around the side of the packhouse, straight toward the back garden. I hadn¡¯t been here in a while. It was quiet, no music and few pack members. We then stopped.


    She stood in front of me, arms crossed like she was getting ready to scold me. Her face looked even sharper than ever.


    ¡°I assume my sons have already told you what they know,¡± she said. Her voice was clipped.


    ¡°About my parents?¡± I asked. ¡°Yeah. They did.¡±


    She gave a little nod but didn¡¯t say anything else. I didn¡¯t wait.


    ¡°Why did you keep me?¡± I asked before she could change the subject. ¡°Alpha Henry didn¡¯t want me. That much was obvious.¡±


    ¡°He didn¡¯t,¡± she said. ¡°But I did.¡±


    Okay. So she admitted it.


    ¡°But why?¡± I asked again, louder this time. ¡°Why go out of your way to keep me around just to treat me like trash every single day? What was the point of all that?¡±


    She didn¡¯t answer right away. Just stared off at the garden like she was thinking about something far away.


    ¡°You let me grow up thinking I was nothing,¡± I said, voice shaking. ¡°You knew more than you ever let on. And you still chose to treat me like garbage.¡±


    Evelyn¡¯s jaw tightened, but she didn¡¯t deny it. She just stood there, arms folded, chin raised like I was the one being dramatic.


    ¡°You lived under my roof,¡± she said coldly. ¡°You were fed. Clothed. Protected. You should be grateful. You could¡¯ve ended up on the streets.¡±


    ¡°I am grateful,¡± I snapped. ¡°Grateful I didn¡¯t starve. But don¡¯t pretend that what you gave me was love. You kept me close just to remind me how unwanted I was. I don¡¯t understand why you even bothered.¡±


    Her eyes shed. ¡°Because I owed it to your father. And I thought you could grow into something better than the woman who gave birth to you.¡±


    Ouch.


    ¡°But that¡¯s not raising someone,¡± I shot back. ¡°You didn¡¯t treat me like a child. You treated me like your personal maid. You mocked me, picked at me, and made sure I knew I didn¡¯t belong. That¡¯s control.¡±


    For a split second, her mask cracked.


    ¡°You ungrateful little girl,¡± she hissed, stepping closer. ¡°You¡¯re just like her. Just like Angeline.¡±


    I froze. ¡°What?¡±


    She didn¡¯t hold back now. ¡°Your mother was reckless. Maniptive. And your father? He was a fool. He should¡¯ve rejected her the second he met her.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t believe what I was hearing. ¡°You¡¯re saying he should¡¯ve rejected his mate?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± she snapped. ¡°He should¡¯ve! Then maybe he¡¯d still be alive, and you wouldn¡¯t be standing here, acting like I owe you something.¡±


    Each word felt like a de. But then... she said something else.


    ¡°I warned him,¡± she muttered, almost to herself. ¡°Told him to stay away from those people. But no. He and Angeline¡ªalways chasing danger. Running with the wrong crowd... hanging around that awful ce... I don¡¯t even know what¡¯s the appeal of The Dark Hour¡ª¡±


    She blinked like she hadn¡¯t meant to say it. But it was toote.


    I blinked. ¡°What did you say?¡±


    Evelyn stilled. She realized toote that she¡¯d said more than she meant to.


    I took a step forward. ¡°What¡¯s The Dark Hour?¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter,¡± she said quickly, her tone stiff. ¡°It¡¯s nothing but a dead end now.¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not.¡± My voice sharpened. ¡°You brought it up. You said my parents were around dangerous people. They went there often. What is it? A club? A business? A pack?¡±


    ¡°I said too much,¡± Evelyn muttered.


    ¡°You think?¡± I snapped. I was shaking.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡±


    I turned around.


    Lucas was walking toward us, calm and steady. He stepped right in between me and Evelyn, standing tall.


    ¡°Mother,¡± he said, nodding slightly. There was steel in his voice. ¡°This conversation is over.¡±


    ¡°Lucas,¡± Evelyn¡¯s eyes narrowed, ¡°You¡¯re taking her side now?¡±


    Lucas didn¡¯t even blink. ¡°Hazel is my mate. This isn¡¯t about sides. But I¡¯m not going to stand here while you talk to her like that.¡±


    She looked like she was ready to argue again, but something in his tone must¡¯ve stopped her. Her mouth shut, her face tightened, and she turned on her heel without another word. Just like that, she was gone.


    The second she walked away, I could actually breathe again. But the ache in my chest? That stayed.


    Lucas turned to me. ¡°You okay?¡±


    I nodded. Then shook my head. ¡°Yeah... no. Not really.¡±


    He looked around, and I followed his gaze. I hadn¡¯t even noticed the stares until now. Pack members were pretending to be busy, but their eyes kept flicking over to us like they couldn¡¯t look away.


    Lucas leaned in close. ¡°Come with me.¡±


    I didn¡¯t ask where. I didn¡¯t need to. My feet were already moving before I could think about it.


    He led me through the hall, then up the stairs, down a quieter wing of the house. The crowd and noise faded behind us with each step.


    We stopped in front of his room. Lucas opened the door and looked back at me. ¡°Come in.¡±


    And I did. His room was warm and quiet, and it smelled just like him.


    I stood near the door, still trying to catch up with everything that just happened. My mind was spinning, but Lucas looked so calm like he already knew I needed a second to breathe.


    I turned to him, confused. ¡°Why¡¯d you bring me here?¡±


    He ran a hand through his hair and let out a quiet sigh. ¡°People were watching. I figured maybe you would like a moment somewhere private.¡±


    And just like that, the tight feeling in my chest eased a little.


    He wasn¡¯t doing this for himself. He wasn¡¯t trying to corner me or distract me. He was just trying to give me space. To protect me, without making a big deal out of it. That hit me harder than anything Evelyn had said.


    He always knew exactly what I needed, even when I didn¡¯t.


    I stared at him for a second, feeling my heart thump louder and louder.


    I didn¡¯t even think. I just walked over to him and kissed him.

 Chapter 35: Reciprocate

    <h4>Chapter 35: Chapter 35: Reciprocate</h4>


    (Trigger Warning: This Chapter contains explicit content and is intended for mature readers.)


    I felt Lucas¡¯s mouth on mine, but I felt the heat in my core. It happened almost instantly.


    Whenever we were together, they would always find a way to make me feel special.


    After this conversation with Evelyn, I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d feel good ever again. But the moment Lucas¡¯s lips met mine, I forgot about everything.


    His fingers on my nipples made me gasp, and my back arched.


    ¡°Don¡¯t stop!¡±


    He captured my nipple through my dress. He bit me until it hurt, and then he soothed it with his tongue. I was so engrossed in how wet it made me that Ipletely forgot about Liam and Levi. Just the thought of them was enough to abruptly jerk us to a stop.


    ¡°Stop,¡± I told him. While his mouth was off of me, his hands weren¡¯t. ¡°I forgot about Liam¡ª¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re busy with guests, Hazel. It¡¯s why I¡¯m the only one here.¡± He rubbed my nipples as he told me where they were. ¡°Why? Don¡¯t you want me?¡±


    I gulped. He continued to caress me, a knowing glint in his eyes. Lucas definitely knew what I wanted.


    ¡°I just¡ª¡±


    ¡°Just what?¡± he cupped my breasts so it hurt with pleasure. ¡°What was the end of that sentence?¡±


    I couldn¡¯t think, let alone speak. My back knocked against the edge of the table. I didn¡¯t realize he was backing me into it.


    ¡°What do you want, Hazel?¡±


    I kissed Lucas, wanting him close to me. I moved to kiss his cheeks and his nose, and I let my lips trace his neck.


    Absolutely divine.


    I felt the urge so strongly that I couldn¡¯t stop myself. Before I could think it through, I opened my mouth, ready to bite down and mark him... when I remembered that I hadn¡¯t marked any of them.


    ¡°I... I haven¡¯t marked you.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    Lucas paused us. I breathed heavily, bringing me back to the present.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t marked any of you. You¡¯ve marked me, but I haven¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Lucas fixed my hair and ced a stray hair behind my ear. ¡°Since we¡¯ve marked you, if you mark us, it¡¯d just be a courtesy.¡±


    I nodded. ¡°So... it doesn¡¯t matter?¡±


    ¡°The bond is alreadyplete, Hazel. You¡¯re already marked.¡±


    I nodded once more as I brought him into me. ¡°But it¡¯s okay if I mark you?¡±


    Lucas tilted his head. He had an amused smile on his face. ¡°Why, Hazel, would you like to?¡±


    I brought my lips to his but withheld my kiss. ¡°Yes,¡± I moaned into his mouth. ¡°So much.¡±


    That was when the heat brought him to push me up onto the table and drop everything on it to the floor. He pulled my legs apart, his cock pressed against my core with only a thinyer of our clothing in the way. I wanted to mark him.


    It was all I could think about.


    ¡°How much do you want to mark me?¡±


    I arched when he grinds into me, the sensation so right, so perfect. I ground back.


    ¡°Answer me, Hazel.¡±


    ¡°A lot,¡± I told him. ¡°I can¡¯t stop thinking about it.¡±


    And so he kissed me until we couldn¡¯t breathe. He bit my lower lip before bringing me into him. I couldn¡¯t wait for him to be in me. I couldn¡¯t wait for all of it.


    He kissed my jaw, making me shiver. ¡°How did that feel?¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± I told him, putting my hands around his waist.


    He kissed my neck then. ¡°And this?¡±


    I brought my fangs to his neck and bit in without thinking. I drew blood, but everything felt right. It made me want to have sex with him right here and now, on this table, clothes on.


    Everything sizzled. Pulsed. The Earth tilted. Something in us shifted as I ground my hips against his.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t that feel like heaven?¡±


    I hummed in agreement¡ªI was on cloud nine.


    ¡°Look at me,¡± he demanded. I did as I was told.


    For seconds, we did nothing but look at each other. I breathed heavily, in pants. I couldn¡¯t look, and when I looked away, he made me gaze into his eyes.


    ¡°We¡¯re going to fuck while you look at me. Look at the mark you gave me.¡±


    I arched from the thought. I felt wetter. As if he could hear my thoughts, Lucas brought his fingers under my dress. Here, he traced the wetness of my panties.


    ¡°How wet.¡±


    ¡°Fuck me, please,¡± I begged.


    Lucas doesn¡¯t answer. But he did look at me like he was going to. Over here, on the table, I undid his zipper without asking. I reached into his underwear and pulled out his cock.


    ¡°Now, please.¡± I couldn¡¯t believe how much I wanted him.


    He pulled my panties to the side and pushed in.


    ¡°Fuck!¡± I screamed. I couldn¡¯t stop screaming his name. He didn¡¯t give me time to adjust. He didn¡¯t give me any heads-up. He fucked me like he owned me. And he did.


    Here, right now, Lucas was mine, and I was his.


    Liam¡¯s voice came to me. ¡°You think of us individually. We¡¯re all yours, Hazel.¡±


    I looked forward to marking the triplets when I got the chance. Until then, Iy down on the table, my legs on Lucas¡¯s shoulders, his cock in me, fast and hard.


    Oh, fuck, this was so good.


    We didn¡¯t stop. It took a while to realize we had shaken the table until it creaked. Lucas didn¡¯t stop then, either.


    I tried to cover my face with my arm. But Lucas moved it away. He looked into my eyes and I could see my figure in his pupils.


    ¡°Tell me what you want.¡±


    ¡°You.¡±


    ¡°Say my name.¡±


    ¡°Lucas.¡±


    ¡°Fuck.¡±


    ¡°Lucas, Lucas, Lucas.¡±


    ¡°Fuck, fuck, fuck.¡±


    I felt an explosion before I could cum myself, our orgasms filled us both. I couldn¡¯t breathe or think or even look.


    Lucas moved away, probably to clean up. When he returned, he had a tissue and some water for me to drink. I sat up, putting my dress back in ce. I would blush if I had the energy.


    What was that?


    I drank the water and looked at Lucas. He smiled at me.


    Whatever it was, I couldn¡¯t wait to feel it with the triplets.

 Chapter 36: Winter Wonderland

    <h4>Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Winter Wondend</h4>


    The snow had fallen thicker than usual this year, nketing the rooftops in white and wrapping the Emberfang territory in a cold hush.


    It was Lunar Solstice Eve. Everything felt warm and cosy inside. It was perfect.


    For the first time, I wasn¡¯t in the kitchen peeling potatoes or scrubbing silverware till my fingers cracked. For a change, I was up here, with Liam and Levi. My mates refused to let me lift a finger.


    ¡°You¡¯re not a maid anymore,¡± Liam had whispered, stealing a kiss from my lips as I tried to polish the hallway vases.


    So, I stopped working. I stopped being a maid. I was now their mate and I wanted to do something special for them.


    I sat cross-legged on the floor of my bedroom, a faded shoebox of savings scattered in front of me. Coins. A few crumpled bills. Tips from past part-time work. I bit my lip, counting them again. Not much, but maybe enough.


    They had given me a birthday I¡¯d never forget¡ªmy first real dress, a warm coat, and a night under the stars with all three of them wrapped around me. I wanted to give them something too. Even if it was small. Even if it wasn¡¯t enough.


    I barely noticed the knock until the door opened.


    ¡°You¡¯re nning something,¡± Liam said, poking his head in. He grinned when he saw the mess of coins.


    Levi strolled in behind him, holding a red wool scarf in his hands.


    ¡°Is this about gifts?¡± he teased. ¡°Sweetheart, you do know you don¡¯t have to buy us anything.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re already the perfect gift,¡± Liam added, settling beside me and brushing my hair from my face. ¡°Seriously. What could top that?¡±


    I rolled my eyes, heart stuttering a little at the way his voice softened. ¡°Still. I want to do something. For everything you three did on my birthday.¡±


    Levi leaned down, brushing his lips against my forehead. ¡°Then stay exactly like this forever. That¡¯s all we want.¡±


    A knock on the wall outside made all three of us jump. A junior servant called out, ¡°Dinner is ready. Luna Evelyn is waiting.¡±


    Liam helped me up, and I quickly smoothed my skirt, pulse speeding. I¡¯d eaten with the triplets before. But not like this. Not with her watching.


    The grand dining hall was aglow withnterns, and the long table was set with crystal and fine silver. But only Luna Evelyn was present. Alpha Henry and Lucas were nowhere to be seen.


    I frowned, heart tugging a little.


    ¡°Training again,¡± Liam murmured beside me. ¡°Lucas¡¯s turn to learn how to run the pack.¡±


    I nodded, trying to brush away the odd ache. I hadn¡¯t seen Lucas much in the past few days. It felt strange not having his steady, brooding presence shadowing me. I smiled at the thought of him, wondering when I¡¯d see him again.


    Then the doors opened.


    Alpha Henry entered first, his usual cold smile in ce. He kissed Luna Evelyn on the cheek and ignored the rest of us. Lucas followed. He was bigger somehow... like the weeks of training had hardened something in him.


    He didn¡¯t hesitate. He walked straight toward me, cupped my cheek, and gave me a soft, warm kiss.


    ¡°Missed you,¡± he said quietly. And then he took his seat beside his father, where he belonged.


    And for the first time, I realized... so did I.


    The moment I sat down beside Liam, Evelyn cleared her throat. Loudly. I hoped she wouldn¡¯t make a scene today, of all days.


    ¡°Hazel, now that everyone¡¯s here, serve the stew,¡± Evelyn said, gesturing to the tray with a perfectly manicured hand, like the words left a bad taste in her mouth.


    I blinked. My body almost obeyed out of habit. I could already feel myself rising, ready to take the tray just as I always had in this house.


    But Liam¡¯s hand slid under the table and gently pressed against my knee, holding me in ce.


    ¡°She¡¯s not the help anymore, Mother,¡± he said, t and sharp.


    Levi leaned back in his seat, swirling his drink. His voice was more casual, but there was a thread of steel beneath the humor. ¡°That¡¯s why we have actual staff, remember? You hired them.¡±


    Evelyn¡¯s lips thinned, her nostrils ring for the briefest second. ¡°It¡¯s just a bowl. She knows theyout. I thought she wouldn¡¯t mind helping.¡±


    Helping.


    The word grated.


    ¡°She¡¯s our mate,¡± Lucas said suddenly, his voice a quiet de that cut across the table. ¡°She¡¯s family. Not a server.¡±


    The room went still.


    For a moment, Evelyn didn¡¯t blink. Her eyes flicked from one son to the next, reading their unwavering expressions. Her face didn¡¯t crumble, but it cracked¡ªjust slightly. The pride she wore like perfume began to sour.


    I could see it in the way she sped her hands together to still their tremble, in the way her jaw worked to keep from snapping. Evelyn Sullivan was not used to being contradicted¡ªespecially not in her own home, at her own table, by her own sons.


    And certainly not for me.


    For a heartbeat, I thought she might lunge across the table. Or throw the tray herself. Or demand I leave.


    Instead, she took a slow breath and tilted her chin up with the poised elegance of a queen nursing a bruise. ¡°Of course,¡± she said softly, eyes flicking to the uniformed servers in the wings. ¡°I forget how very... modern we¡¯ve be.¡±


    She gestured, and the staff stepped forward to begin serving.


    I exhaled.


    But Evelyn wasn¡¯t done. She nced toward her husband, her voice sweetened like overripe fruit. ¡°Henry, wouldn¡¯t you say it¡¯s important for everyone in the household to contribute, especially during the holidays?¡±


    Alpha Henry barely looked up from his soup. ¡°I¡¯d say it¡¯s important not to cause a scene over a bowl of stew.¡±


    Evelyn¡¯s smile tightened. Again.


    She said nothing else, but her silence was louder than anything she¡¯d spoken so far.


    And for the first time, I realized how much it cost her to stay silent. To y the good mother. To keep smiling while everything she¡¯d built¡ªthe rules, the order, the roles¡ªslipped further out of her control.


    She now smiled tightly and gestured to the staff waiting in the wings.


    Eventually, the staff walked in. I smiled at them as they began to serve the meal. Rich aromas filled the air¡ªroastedmb, spiced pumpkin soup, garlic bread, and honey-zed root vegetables. It was extravagant.


    And this time, I wasn¡¯t watching from the sidelines. I felt honored as I was part of it.


    The conversation flowed awkwardly at first. Evelyn mostly spoke to Henry, and the triplets kept sneaking me food they imed I had to try. Levi brushed crumbs off my chin. Liam poured my drink before I could reach for it. Lucas kept his hand on my thigh beneath the table, grounding me.


    It was the best first Lunar Solstice I could have hoped for. Everything was pleasant and as polite as it could be.


    That was about to change quite quickly.


    Halfway through dinner, Evelyn paused mid-bite. Her eyes narrowed, as if zooming in on one spot.


    ¡°Lucas,¡± she began.


    All of us looked in her direction. What could it be now?


    ¡°What¡¯s that on your neck, Lucas?¡±


    A little bit of an awkward silence filled the air. Someone¡¯s cutlery fell on their te with a ng.


    Lucas, who¡¯d just taken a sip of wine, blinked at her. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°That,¡± she said, pointing with her fork. ¡°Right there.¡±


    Lucas reached up, and his fingers brushed the mark I¡¯d left just a few nights ago. A mating mark. Bold and recent.


    Oh dear.

 Chapter 37: Happy Holidays

    <h4>Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Happy Holidays</h4>


    Lucas didn¡¯t even try to hide it.


    He angled his neck slightly, resting his chin on his fist like he was just so casually deep in thought. But I caught the faint tilt, the smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. He wanted them to see.


    And see they did.


    Oh, Lucas.


    Somehow, I was proud to see my mate show off my mark. On the other hand, I knew Evelyn¡¯s temper... and I was not looking forward to this part.


    Suddenly, Liam leaned forward. ¡°Wait... is that¡ª¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t,¡± Levi gasped, eyes widening in delight. ¡°You actually let her mark you first?¡±


    Lucas didn¡¯t even look at them. His eyes were trained on me, a silent dare hidden behind the golden flecks in his gaze.


    I blushed furiously, lowering my eyes to my te. My pulse throbbed in my ears. That mark hadn¡¯t been nned. It had happened in the heat of the moment when he was pressing kisses to my corbone and whispering how much he loved me.


    It had felt right.


    ¡°You lucky bastard,¡± Levi muttered, nudging his brother¡¯s arm. ¡°She marked you first.¡±


    ¡°Not fair,¡± Liam added with mock sulking, crossing his arms. ¡°We want one too.¡±


    I opened my mouth to respond, but Luna Evelyn beat me to it.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± she said sharply, her fork ttering onto her te. ¡°This is not how it¡¯s done. Female wolves don¡¯t mark their mates! It¡¯s not our custom, not to mention how it¡¯s looked down upon. What if someone sees it?¡±


    Lucas finally turned toward her. Calm, but his voice was firm. ¡°Let them see. And maybe the customs are outdated.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s our mate, Mother,¡± Liam said,ing to Lucas¡¯s rescue. His usual warmth was sharpened by an unusual edge in his tone. ¡°That bond is sacred, no matter who does the marking.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d be honored to wear her mark,¡± Levi chimed in, winking at me. ¡°The left side of my neck is free real estate.¡±


    I nearly choked on my drink.


    ¡°It¡¯s not about customs,¡± Evelyn snapped. ¡°It¡¯s about dignity. Control. Have you three fallen so low?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Lucas said quietly. ¡°It¡¯s about love. And I love her. End of story.¡±


    Dinner didn¡¯tst much longer after that. Evelyn only sat for a second or two more before she excused herself with a mutter, ¡°I¡¯ve lost my appetite.¡±


    Alpha Henry followed shortly after.


    The moment the double doors shut behind them, Levi stood up with a grin.


    ¡°Well, that went well.¡±


    Lucas chuckled and reached for my hand. He then proceeded to kiss my knuckles.


    ¡°Okay, now that the Queen has departed, it¡¯s time for your real gift,¡± Levi added.


    I was surprised. ¡°My what?¡± I blinked, looking between them.


    Liam grabbed my coat from the back of the chair. ¡°Come on. You¡¯ll want to see this.¡±


    Outside, the snow had settled into soft mounds. The pack house was lit up in warm yellow light, casting long shadows onto the white canvas. I wrapped the coat tighter around me as we stepped down the stone stairs.


    Parked by the garage was something I hadn¡¯t expected. I was so caught up with everything, I hadn¡¯t thought they¡¯d gifted me something.


    No one had ever really gifted me something. And what was in front of me was a vision.


    A sleek, midnight blue SUV. Wrapped in a giant silver bow.


    ¡°Oh, my gosh,¡± I cupped my mouth. ¡°You didn¡¯t¡ª¡±


    ¡°We did,¡± Levi said, bouncing on his heels. He nudged my shoulder as he said, ¡°She¡¯s beautiful, isn¡¯t she?¡±


    My jaw dropped. ¡°Wait a second. I still can¡¯t believe it. You bought me a car?¡±


    Liam gave a bashful shrug. ¡°It¡¯s so that you can go wherever you want. You¡¯re not trapped anymore, Hazel. You¡¯re not a maid anymore.¡±


    I felt my eyes sting with joy.


    ¡°And we¡¯ll teach you to drive too,¡± he continued. ¡°Though... maybe don¡¯t go solo just yet. You¡¯ll take one of us with you, yeah?¡±


    Lucas came up behind me, brushing my hair off my shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re free now, Hazel,¡± he said, kissing my shoulder. ¡°But we still want to be part of your world.¡±


    Tears stung my eyes, but I blinked them away and threw my arms around them all at once. Theyughed, arms wrapping around me in a warm, protective cocoon.


    I felt protected... like I was finally home.


    ¡°Come on,¡± Levi said, tugging me toward the passenger seat. ¡°We haven¡¯t shown you all the gadgets and gizmos yet.¡±


    We drove for a while, music low, windows slightly cracked to let in the crisp air. Lucas drove like a dream: steady, confident, one hand resting on my thigh. Liam and Levi sat behind me, humming along to the various rock and pop songs that came up on the radio. We sang along, roared along, andughed.


    Out of nowhere, Levi passed me hot chocte from the thermos they¡¯d packed like boys on a winter road trip.


    My mates knew my every need. They were everything to me.


    This moment was more than perfect. I¡¯d found my mates and I¡¯d found joy.


    Eventually, we reached a hill that overlooked the forest. Sensual music filled the air as the drive got slower and the mood set in. The music seemed to be telling us something, and I felt myself shiver with anticipation.


    The stars stretched endlessly above, clear and bright.


    Inside the car, the heater hummed, and the windshield framed the sky like a moving painting.


    They kissed me, one at a time, soft at first. Sweet. Then deeper, more lingering. Lucas¡¯s fingers brushed under my shirt and yed with my nipples quicker than I thought. Under my bra, his hands were cold to touch, making my nipples hard. I couldn¡¯t stop myself from moaning his name.


    Then, Liam¡¯s lips moved down my neck and over my chest. Levi kissed my shoulder, his breath warm and shaky.


    The world outside slowed.


    ¡°To the backseat?¡± Levi asked.


    ¡°Wait till you see this.¡±


    The backseat expanded until it was indeed enough for the four of us to explore this together right here, right now. I felt like I was in a limousine.


    I sat still, watching as the backseat unfolded into more. I couldn¡¯t wait. I felt myself lean forward, hesitant but eager, looking forward to what was next.


    Levi leaned against the door, eyes soft but hungry. He seemed to read my mind. ¡°We could start with kisses. Just kisses. Unless you ask for more.¡±


    I licked my lips and looked at the three of them. I wanted to undress them right here, right now. ¡°What if I want more?¡±

 Chapter 38: Asked and Marked

    <h4>Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Asked and Marked </h4>


    (Trigger Warning: This Chapter contains explicit content and is intended for mature readers.)


    Lucas chuckled low. ¡°Then we won¡¯t stop giving.¡±


    I nced between them, suddenly very aware of how close we all were. The way Liam¡¯s thumb was rubbingzy circles on my palm. The way Levi¡¯s gaze dropped to my lips with a knowing smile. The way Lucas looked at me was like I was the only thing he¡¯d ever wanted.


    I looked at Lucas¡¯s lips and wanted more.


    ¡°Get in the back,¡± Lucas said, voice rough. ¡°We need less distance between us.¡±


    There was something in the way he said it that made my stomach flutter.


    I moved from the front seat to the back, my breath caught in my throat as the boys followed. The doors shut with a soft click, and the space seemed to hum around us, close, warm, wild.


    Lucas crawled toward me, eyes dark. He and Levi were at my sides, undoing the buttons of my sweater and dress with practiced ease, while Liam lifted my legs into hisp, nting a kiss on each knee.


    I was quickly surrounded.


    ¡°How much do you want this?¡± Lucas asked, his voice low and dangerous.


    Instead of answering, I cupped his cheek, slowly, reverently, and met his gaze. ¡°Very,¡± I whispered, breath trembling.


    ¡°Good.¡± He kissed me like he wanted to consume me.


    Liam didn¡¯t wait. His lips traveled from my ankle to my thighs, each touch deliberate. And then his mouth was on me. Heat exploded in my core. I gasped, one hand gripping Lucas¡¯s wrist, the other seeking Levi¡¯s.


    ¡°Fuck,¡± I whispered, arching as Liam¡¯s tongue moved in slow, maddening circles. Levi squeezed my fingers. Lucas leaned in.


    ¡°You look like you¡¯re about to burst,¡± he murmured against my neck, nipping gently. ¡°Does he please you?¡±


    I couldn¡¯t speak. I just nodded, dazed and desperate.


    ¡°Does he make you want to explode?¡±


    ¡°Oh, Goddess... yes¡ª¡±


    Levi added a single finger to my clit before stroking it just right. Between Liam¡¯s mouth and Levi¡¯s fingers, I quicklye undone, trembling and moaning under their touch.


    I didn¡¯t think this could feel so good. Each time we¡¯re together, I think, ¡®This is as good as it gets.¡¯


    And then it goes and gets infinitely better.


    ¡°Look at me, Hazel,¡± Lucas demanded.


    I looked. Lust zed his eyes, as if he were about to lose control at any moment. I wanted to moan louder, but I wondered if there was anyone nearby who could hear us. A few secondster, I was past caring.


    Liam¡¯s tongue dug deeper into me as he continued to eat me out, and I arched against him.


    ¡°Fuck,¡± I uttered. ¡°I can¡¯t...¡± I closed my eyes instinctively as a second orgasm began to build.


    ¡°You will look at me,¡± Lucas demanded, pulling my face to him, his lips on mine. ¡°Touch me, now,¡±


    I brought my hand to his cock. He was rock hard, as if he had wanted me for years. ¡°I¡¯m going to¡ª¡±


    ¡°Hold it.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t¡ª¡±


    ¡°Come on, Hazel,¡± Levi pleaded. ¡°Hold on for a few more seconds. Don¡¯t cum yet.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re so close. Let it build. Let us watch you fall apart.¡±


    I wanted to explode.


    Lucas looked into my eyes, his voicemanding, ¡°You will cum when we allow it. Levi,¡± Lucas added. ¡°Let me.¡±


    Levi came to hold my face in his hands dearly. He kissed me with grace as Liam¡¯s tongue entered me deeper. I moaned into Levi¡¯s mouth as Lucas¡¯s palm connected with my clit, sending a ripple of pleasure so sharp it made me cry out. Liam¡¯s tongue curled deep, dragging wet heat through me. Levi held my face like I was precious, his kiss slow, aching.


    Three mouths. Six hands. One heart that threatened to burst.


    ¡°Good?¡± Lucas asked.


    I moaned into Levi¡¯s kiss, fingers tangled in Lucas¡¯s hair. I shattered beneath them.


    I bit Levi¡¯s lips as I came, trembling. My orgasm hit like lightning, sharp and endless, tearing through me like a storm I¡¯d begged for.


    As my orgasm came to an end, I felt myself nod off slowly. The boys didn¡¯t wake me, nor did they interrupt each other. Together, right there, we fell asleep holding each other¡¯s hands. I drifted off to sleep to the sound of their steady heartbeats.


    +++


    I wasn¡¯t sure how long I¡¯d been out before I slowly cracked my eyes open. Then, I felt his gentle nudge.


    ¡°Hazel,¡± Levi whispered, his voice low and raspy with sleep. ¡°You awake?¡±


    I blinked slowly, meeting his gaze in the dim light of the car. His hair was a tousled mess, and his eyes were soft.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± I murmured. ¡°Now I am.¡±


    He grinned and pressed a finger to his lips. ¡°Come outside with me?¡±


    The others were still out cold. Lucas¡¯s arm was slung over my hip, and Liam¡¯s head tilted back with a faint snore. Carefully, I slid out from between them, stifling a giggle as Levi led me out into the cold.


    The air nipped at my cheeks, but it wasn¡¯t unbearable. The snow crunched underfoot, and above us, the stars stretched endlessly, clear and bright. Levi handed me his jacket without a word and tugged me in close.


    For a while, we just stood there. The silence wasn¡¯t awkward. It was peaceful.


    Then Levi turned to me. ¡°Can I ask you something?¡±


    I looked up. ¡°Of course.¡±


    He hesitated for half a beat before saying, ¡°Will you mark me?¡±


    My breath caught.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to,¡± he said quickly, but his voice shook slightly. ¡°I just... I want something that¡¯s just ours. Like you and Lucas have.¡±


    I stepped closer, brushing his hair from his forehead. ¡°Levi, are you sure?¡±


    He smiled¡ªwide and real. ¡°I¡¯ve never been more sure.¡±


    We walked hand in hand until we were out of sight. Behind thergest tree in the vicinity, Levi brought himself to kneel. He kissed my thighs through my pants until he reached my navel. He turned to the right, biting my waist, moving upward. He brought my hands up with him.


    I smiled at him, his beautiful features, his boyish manner. He had my hands pinned.


    ¡°Kiss me,¡± I demanded.


    He gave in immediately. We kissed slowly at first, before Levi bit my lower lip and deepened the kiss. I yanked at my hands, both of which he refused to let go of.


    ¡°Levi...¡± I felt trapped. ¡°I¡¯m going to need my hands.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    I wiggled, trying to gesture to my clothes.


    In response, Levi undid both our pants with one hand.


    ¡°There,¡± he said, grinning with satisfaction. ¡°And now...¡±


    That¡¯s when he entered me, smooth and easy. I gasped when he slipped in. He took his time, his thrusts slow andzy.


    I looked into his eyes and felt every stroke slowly grow bolder and harder. Just as I had begun to moan, Levi let go of my arms. He swallowed before he tilted his head, baring the elegant curve of his neck to me.


    I didn¡¯t hesitate. Desire surged through me as I leaned in, my breath hot against his skin. I kissed the spot first, slow and lingering, teasing him with the drag of my tongue before my wolf came forward and my teeth broke through.


    The moment my canines pierced him, the world exploded into color. Marking him sent waves of pleasure rocking through our bodies.


    Levi trembled in my arms as his thrusts turned harder and stronger. Heat built between us until I felt his hand fist in my shirt, anchoring himself to me like I was the only thing keeping him grounded.


    When I pulled back, his eyes were zed over and his lips were parted. He looked at me like he couldn¡¯t decide whether to worship or devour me.


    ¡°You¡¯re incredible,¡± he rasped, voice wrecked.


    I licked the mark I¡¯d left and pressed a possessive kiss to it. ¡°You¡¯re mine now.¡±


    His hand slid into my hair, tilting my head back until our eyes locked.


    ¡°Always was,¡± he said, before crushing his mouth to mine and emitting a final growl.


    The sound brought me to my knees, my orgasm sharp and in bursts. We were pressed flush against each other, heat radiating between us like fire under skin.


    ¡°I love you, Hazel,¡± he breathed into my ear. My inner wolf purred with satisfaction¡ªtwo marked, one more to go.

 Chapter 39: Something of My Own

    <h4>Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Something of My Own</h4>


    ¡°You want to do what?¡± Levi had gaped, halfway through a bite of toast. Liam and Lucas paused in their movements as well to stare at me in surprise.


    It was a strange thing to wake up and have nothing to do.


    For years, I woke up before the sun rose to finish all sorts of chores. I was also thest one to head to bed. But after mating with the Sullivan triplets, I found myself with more free time on my hands than I had ever hoped for.


    It was nice for the first few days¡ªblissful, even. I finally got the rest I needed. But that novelty quickly wore off.


    The triplets had their duties to tend to. Lucas was being prepped by Alpha Henry to take over. Liam was helping reorganize border patrol schedules. Levi was being taught negotiation and diplomacy skills.


    As such, I found myself alone most of the time. The handful of dor bills and coins were all I could think about. I didn¡¯t even have the money to buy my mates a Lunar Solstice present after all they had given me!


    That was when I made the decision to find myself a job to preupy my time.


    ¡°Work,¡± I said evenly, setting down my mug. ¡°At the diner near the southern road.¡±


    Lucas, seated at the head of the breakfast table, lowered his newspaper with a slow blink. ¡°Hazel... you don¡¯t need to do that.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± I poured myself tea like I wasn¡¯t dropping a grenade on their perfectly nned pamper-Hazel-forever agenda. ¡°But I want to.¡±


    ¡°You have everything you need here,¡± Liam added gently from across the table. ¡°We can give you more, if you want. What do you need? Money? Another car?¡±


    Levi leaned forward. ¡°Wait, is this because we bought you that SUV? Did that freak you out? Because we can totally return it. Get you something smaller. A bike, maybe. Or a horse. You like horses?¡±


    I put down my teacup with a soft sigh. ¡°It¡¯s not about things. It¡¯s about me. I¡¯ve never made a choice for myself. Not really. I want to do something I choose. Something that¡¯s mine.¡±


    That shut them up¡ªfor about three seconds.


    Lucas was the first to recover. ¡°How much are they even paying you? Because if it¡¯s anything less than¡ª¡±


    ¡°Lucas,¡± I said tly.


    ¡°I just think it¡¯s worth discussing.¡±


    ¡°Can we discuss the fact that waitressing uniforms are notoriously unttering?¡± Levi cut in. ¡°They¡¯ll probably make you wear some stiff apron and a hideous name tag. You¡¯re too hot for that.¡±


    ¡°And the location,¡± Lucas added, already pulling up something on his phone. ¡°It¡¯s not exactly central. Are there even security cameras in the lot? What¡¯s their emergency response time? Who runs the ce?¡±


    ¡°I heard Greta does,¡± Liam mumbled. ¡°She used to be a warrior, you know. Kind of scary, actually.¡±


    ¡°She is,¡± I admitted with a small smile. I could still remember the firm but kindly look she gave me when I was hired. ¡°But she¡¯s fair.¡±


    ¡°Hazel,e on,¡± Levi said, voice softer now. ¡°Why deal with rude customers and greasy floors when you could literally be in myp feeding me strawberries all day?¡±


    Iughed. ¡°Because even that gets old, Levi.¡±


    He clutched his chest like I¡¯d stabbed him. ¡°Ouch.¡±


    Lucas sighed. ¡°You really won¡¯t change your mind?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± I said. ¡°I love you guys, but I need something of my own. Just for me.¡±


    They were quiet again. Processing. Their silence wasn¡¯t angry¡ªit was the kind that came when people were slowly, reluctantly, learning to let go.


    Finally, Liam reached over and squeezed my hand. ¡°Okay. But we¡¯re still picking you up.¡±


    +++


    When we pulled into the lot, the diner was already busy. The neon sign flickered overhead, and I could see Greta inside, hollering something about coffee filters.


    Levi turned to me, his expression suddenly serious. ¡°You sure about this?¡±


    ¡°I need to do something on my own, Levi,¡± I said quietly. ¡°You guys are amazing, but I can¡¯t just... orbit around you. I need to know who I am when you¡¯re not looking.¡±


    His jaw ticked. But after a moment, he nodded. ¡°Alright. But you text me the second anything feels off. And we¡¯ll be back to pick you up when we are done with training. No arguments.¡±


    ¡°No arguments,¡± I agreed.


    He leaned over, kissed my forehead, then pulled back and gave me onest look. ¡°Go get them, waitress girl. I¡¯ll pick you up after.¡±


    The bell above the diner door jingled loudly as I stepped in, nerves fluttering in my stomach. The inside of Greta¡¯s was warm and bustling, filled with the scent of bacon, maple syrup, and coffee. The morning rush had just ended, but the ce still had a steady stream of customers.


    Greta, my manager¡ªa stocky woman with silver-streaked ck hair and arms that looked like they could wrestle a bear¡ªgave me a once-over and nodded.


    ¡°Apron¡¯s on the hook. Name tag¡¯s in the drawer. You¡¯re shadowing me until I say otherwise. Clear?¡±


    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡±


    ¡°None of that ma¡¯am stuff. It¡¯s just Greta. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    The next hour was a blur of instructions. Greta showed me how to punch in orders, where the clean mugs went, and how to handle picky customers without losing my mind.


    ¡°They¡¯re not always polite,¡± she warned, handing me a tray with two coffee cups. ¡°But you smile anyway. You¡¯re not smiling for them¡ªyou¡¯re smiling for the tip.¡±


    Eventually, she let me handle a few tables. Simple orders. Refill the coffee. Drop off some pancakes. I fumbled with the tray a bit but found my rhythm. I was even beginning to enjoy it.


    Until the bell over the door jingled again. I could smell the wave of overdosed perfume even over thebined smell of grease and syrup.


    I looked up from my notepad, and my heart dropped. That was a face I had almost forgotten about between the ind escape and Lunar Solstice.


    Liam¡¯s ex.


    Annie.

 Chapter 40: Sweet and Sour

    <h4>Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Sweet and Sour</h4>


    Wearing a short fur-lined jacket, Annie¡¯s lips were painted blood-red. She waltzed in like she owned the ce. On her arm was a guy I vaguely recalled¡ªJoshua, I think his name was. Tall, muscr, smirking. Trailing behind them were four other guys, all loud and cocky, theirughter echoing through the diner like bad weather.


    They slid into a booth in my section.


    Greta was in the back with deliveries.


    I took a breath. I could do this. Just stay professional. Be polite.


    I approached their table, notepad and pen in hand.


    ¡°Good morning,¡± I began. ¡°What can I get¡ª¡±


    Annie cut me off. ¡°Well, well, well. If it isn¡¯t the Emberfang Cindere.¡±


    I didn¡¯t rise to the bait. ¡°Can I get you started with some drinks?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll have sparkling water,¡± she said with a smirk. ¡°Make sure the lemon¡¯s exactly three centimeters thick. I¡¯ve got sensitive taste buds.¡±


    ¡°Coffee. ck. Two drops of cream,¡± Joshua addedzily, not looking up from his phone.


    The rest chimed in with equally ridiculous orders¡ªan omelet with the yolks of two eggs but whites of four, toast that had to be ¡®golden but not crunchy,¡¯ and pancakes cut into the shape of wolves.


    One of the guys, Callum, didn¡¯t say anything. He just frowned.


    ¡°Guys,e on,¡± he muttered.


    ¡°Oh, rx, Cal,¡± Annie said sweetly. ¡°Hazel loves ying servant.¡±


    I turned away, jaw tight, and punched in the orders.


    The next hour was torture. Every time I brought something to their table, they found something wrong with it.


    ¡°The syrup¡¯s too warm.¡±


    ¡°The water¡¯s too cold.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure you washed your hands, Hazel?¡±


    My hands curled tighter around the tray with every passing insult. The sting of humiliation buzzed under my skin. I smiled through clenched teeth. Every trip to their booth felt like a walk through fire.


    It wasn¡¯t just the orders; they keptughing at private jokes, staring at me too long, letting their eyes drag over my body like I was an object.


    I was a spectacle again, not a person. I hated that feeling. I¡¯d worn it for years, and it still fit too well.


    Then came thements.


    ¡°I hear she¡¯s mated to all three Sullivan brothers,¡± one of the guys snickered. ¡°Damn. That¡¯s a full-course meal.¡±


    ¡°Bet she howls real pretty, too.¡±


    I froze, tray in hand, breath stuck in my throat.


    Callum pushed back his chair, ring. ¡°Knock it off.¡±


    Joshua waved him off. ¡°Rx, man. We¡¯re just messing around.¡±


    Callum turned to me. ¡°Sorry, Hazel. Seriously. I didn¡¯t know they were gonna be like this.¡±


    I nodded stiffly. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t. But I didn¡¯t want to make it a big deal.


    I came back with their orders of omelette and toast. As I leaned to ce it down, Joshua smirked.


    ¡°Oops.¡±


    He identally knocked the tray sideways with his elbow.


    Hot food spilled down my arm. The sizzle came before the sting.


    I gasped, dropping the tray. My skin red red and angry, pain blooming up to my shoulder.


    The shock hit first, then the pain. It was sharp, radiating, like a hundred fire ants biting into my skin.


    My eyes welled up without warning¡ªnot from the burn, but from the sudden, crushing wave of shame.


    I had tried so hard to build something for myself, to find dignity again... and here I was, humiliated and hurting in front of a crowd. My fists clenched. I didn¡¯t want to cry, but I was close.


    ¡°Are you kidding me?¡± Callum shouted, jumping to his feet. ¡°She¡¯s burned, you idiot!¡±


    Joshua shrugged. ¡°It was an ident.¡±


    Annie snorted. ¡°She¡¯s used to spills. Probably cleans faster when it hurts.¡±


    That was it.


    Callum shoved Joshua hard. The chair toppled backward. Customers gasped. tes ttered. People stood up to get out of the way.


    ¡°You think this is funny?¡± Callum snapped. ¡°She¡¯s the Sullivan brothers¡¯ mate! If they find out¡ª¡±


    ¡°They won¡¯t,¡± Joshua interrupted, standing now, his fists clenched. ¡°Unless you tell them.¡±


    ¡°Try me,¡± Callum said. ¡°I¡¯d love to see you get your teeth rearranged.¡±


    Annie got between them, smirking. ¡°Wow. You¡¯ve got a real heroplex, Cal. Cute.¡±


    Greta burst out from the back then, eyes shing with fury. ¡°What the hell is going on here?¡±


    ¡°They started it,¡± Annie said sweetly, flipping her hair. ¡°Hazel dropped the food, and then they started fighting.¡±


    I was cradling my arm, trying not to wince. Greta took one look at it and growled, ¡°Break room. Ice. Now.¡±


    Callum came over to help me. As we walked, I heard Annie call out, ¡°Don¡¯t forget to mop the floor, Hazel!¡±


    Callum froze mid-step.


    He turned, jaw tight, fury radiating off him like a furnace. ¡°You think this is funny?¡± he growled, marching back toward their booth.


    ¡°Callum, don¡¯t¡ª¡± I started, but it was toote.


    Joshua was already standing, cracking his knuckles like he wanted a round two. ¡°What, you gonna cry to the triplets now?¡± he taunted. ¡°Or are you just pissed ¡®cause you wish she was your mate?¡±


    Annieughed behind him. ¡°Aw, poor Cal. Always ying the white knight for girls who wouldn¡¯t look at him twice.¡±


    That did it.


    Callum lunged.


    His fist cracked against Joshua¡¯s jaw, loud enough to turn every head in the diner. Joshua stumbled back into the table with a grunt, knocking over a ss of water that shattered on the floor. One of the other guys tried to jump in, but Callum swung around, blocking him with an elbow and pushing him aside.


    ¡°You want some too?¡± Callum shouted. ¡°Back off!¡±


    Greta stormed forward again, yelling something, but it was drowned in the chaos. Customers scrambled away from the booth. Chairs screeched across the tile. Someone shouted to call the cops.


    Joshua spat blood and came back swinging. He caught Callum in the ribs, but Callum barely flinched. He tackled Joshua to the floor, fists flying. The other guys shouted, trying to pull him off, but Callum was done being quiet.


    ¡°You think this is funny?¡± Punch.


    ¡°She¡¯s not your toy.¡± Punch.


    ¡°She¡¯s a Luna, you idiot.¡± Punch.


    I stood frozen, ice pack forgotten in my hand, my heart hammering in my ears. Greta tried to wedge herself between them, but they were too far gone.


    Suddenly, the air shifted. Heavy. Electric. The bell above the door didn¡¯t even jingle this time¡ªit just mmed open, hitting the wall with a bang that silenced the entire room.


    Liam stood there. His eyes zeroed in on me, then on the fight, and something in him snapped.


    He didn¡¯t say a word.


    He didn¡¯t need to.


    The growl that tore from his throat was deep, ancient, and enough to make everyone freeze like prey caught in a predator¡¯s shadow. Even Callum backed away instinctively, chest heaving, blood on his knuckles.


    Joshua rolled over with a groan, coughing, and tried to sit up.


    Liam crossed the diner in three strides.


    His hands went to my arm first. While his touch was gentle, his face was furious. ¡°Who did this?¡±


    My lips parted, but I didn¡¯t get a chance to answer. Liam¡¯s voice was low, cold, and final.


    ¡°Which one of you wants to exin why my mate is burned and crying?¡±

 Chapter 41: The Alpha鈥檚 Fury

    <h4>Chapter 41: Chapter 41: The Alpha¡¯s Fury</h4>


    The diner suddenly went dead quiet.


    Joshua groaned on the floor, blood trailing from his split lip. Callum stepped back, hands up, face pale. The only sound was the heavy thud of Liam¡¯s boots as he stepped between them, towering over everyone like a storm about to break.


    Joshua struggled to sit up, his face twisted in anger. He growled, wanting to hop back up to his feet and attack, but Liam shot him a look.


    "Enough," he said, voice low but packed with more force than a shout. He looked at Callum, then at Joshua, eyes gleaming with restraint. ¡°Stand down. Now.¡±


    Joshua scrambled to his feet with a snarl, blood on his teeth. ¡°He started it!¡±


    Callum bristled. ¡°He burned her, Liam. He dumped a tray of food on Hazel¡¯s arm.¡±


    Liam¡¯s attention snapped to me then. His grip on my hand slightly tightened as he looked at the injury in rm. The burn on my arm had already begun to fade, but it was still a little flushed and sore.


    His eyes scanned the wound before they flicked up to mine. ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    I nodded. ¡°I will be.¡±


    His jaw ticked. This time, he addressed the room.


    ¡°Is Callum telling the truth?¡± His eyes darkened. ¡°You burned her?¡±


    Joshua took a step forward. ¡°It was an ident¡ªshe slipped. The tray¡ª¡±


    ¡°Liar!¡± Callum snapped.


    ¡°She bumped into me!¡± Joshua insisted.


    ¡°I saw it,¡± Callum said. ¡°He knocked it off on purpose.¡±


    Liam turned slowly to Joshua, expression unreadable.


    That¡¯s when Annie stepped in.


    ¡°Oh,e on, Liam,¡± she purred, brushing her hair behind her shoulder as she smiled sweetly. ¡°Surely, you know how clumsy Hazel is. I¡¯m sure it wasn¡¯t¡ª¡±


    Liam¡¯s eyes cut to her like a de. ¡°Don¡¯t.¡±


    She blinked. ¡°Don¡¯t what?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t insult my intelligence,¡± Liam growled. ¡°Keep your mouth shut before I punish you along with your new pet. I¡¯ve not even settled the score with you yet. I know you¡¯re the one who destroyed Hazel¡¯s bedroom.¡±


    Her smugness slipped. She took a step back. ¡°W-what?¡±


    ¡°It was you,¡± he said, his voice like frost. ¡°You and your little posse. Hazel didn¡¯t say anything, but the residual scent from the room...¡± he let go of my wrist for a second to tower over Annie, ¡°...told me everything.¡±


    Annie had never looked so shocked.


    ¡°Besides,¡± Liam reached for my wrist, which I dly gave. ¡°Callum confirmed it days ago.¡±


    Annie looked at him as she pursed her lips. Callum nodded reluctantly. ¡°I told him the truth. I was there that night. I didn¡¯t help, but I didn¡¯t stop it either. I was a coward.¡±


    Liam¡¯s chest rose and fell with restrained fury. ¡°You broke her things. You trashed her space. And now this?¡±


    Joshua rolled his eyes. ¡°Dude, it¡¯s not that serious¡ª¡±


    That was all it took.


    Liam¡¯s fist flew so fast I barely saw it. A resounding crack echoed. Joshua dropped like a stone, knocked out cold, his body slumping against a chair.


    Annie gasped and stumbled back, her eyes wide in disbelief.


    Callum exhaled sharply, stunned. ¡°Damn.¡± He looked between Liam and Joshua. ¡°Didn¡¯t know you had that in you. You¡¯re usually the nicest among your brothers.¡±


    Liam didn¡¯t take his eyes off Annie as he spoke. ¡°As long as people know not to cross the line.¡±


    Annie opened her mouth, but Liam stepped forward, towering over her now.


    He said, ¡°You go near her again, any of you, and you¡¯ll wish it was just a punch you got.¡±


    One of Annie¡¯s friends muttered something and helped Joshua up, slinging his arm over his shoulder. They backed away fast, heads low.


    ¡°Come on,¡± Annie hissed, her voice trembling now. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Liam watched until they were out the door. Then he turned to Callum.


    ¡°Thanks for stepping in.¡±


    I smiled weakly. ¡°Yes,¡± I half-whispered, half-spoke. Suddenly, it felt like I had no energy left in me. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Callum moved, rubbing the back of his neck, looking away. ¡°I... yeah... Didn¡¯t feel right what they were doing. She didn¡¯t deserve it. None of it.¡± His eyes flicked to me. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Hazel. For not speaking up sooner.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± I said quietly.


    Liam nodded. ¡°You¡¯re good to go, Callum. I¡¯ve got it from here.¡±


    Callum nodded before he quickly left the diner. Some of the other diners got up and left as well, their heads bowed either in submission or regret. They didn¡¯t dare to meet our eyes directly, in fear that Liam would target them next.


    Greta appeared beside us with a bag of ice and a tight expression. ¡°Take her home. She¡¯s done for the day. I¡¯ll handle the mess.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll pay for everything,¡± Liam said.


    She snorted. ¡°Good. Those tes were expensive.¡± Then she gave me a surprisingly kind look. ¡°Get some rest, kid.¡±


    +++


    The drive home was quiet, the tension thick in the space between us.


    Liam parked outside the house and helped me out, his hand never leaving mine. Inside, he settled me on the couch and pulled out a first-aid kit.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± I said. ¡°It¡¯s really not that bad!¡±


    As if to prove my point, I lifted my arm and moved it around. Werewolves healed fast, and I had never been more thankful for that than now. My skin was barely even red now.


    ¡°Still,¡± Liam said, frowning. ¡°It¡¯s better safe than sorry.¡± He pulled out a salve from the first-aid kit before I could argue further. As he uncapped it, he said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯te sooner.¡±


    ¡°I would say you came at the right time,¡± I said with augh. ¡°I¡¯m sure you taught them a lesson they wouldn¡¯t forget anytime soon.¡±


    ¡°Well, they should be thankful Levi and Lucas didn¡¯te with,¡± Liam said with a dramatic exhale. A smile lifted the corner of his lips.


    Iughed humorlessly. If the sweet and gentle Liam was already riled up enough to throw a punch, who knew what Levi and Lucas would do? I shuddered just imagining it. Greta would have a lot more than just spilled food to clean off the diner floor if that were the case.


    ¡°Right!¡± I eximed. ¡°Speaking of which, where are Lucas and Levi?¡±

 Chapter 42: The Last Mark

    <h4>Chapter 42: Chapter 42: The Last Mark</h4>


    (Trigger Warning: This Chapter contains explicit content and is intended for mature readers.)


    ¡°They are caught up in work,¡± Liam exined. ¡°Dad¡¯s got them doing some extra paperwork, and I was the only one who could head off early.¡±


    I nodded in understanding. Lucas surely had the bulk of the work, while Levi still needed to learn the ropes. It was understandable that they couldn¡¯t leave early. Liam, on the other hand, had always been a fast learner.


    Liam worked in silence. Once he was done applying the salve, I swallowed and said, ¡°Liam, I¡¯m sorry for ring up at you about my parents.¡±


    Liam didn¡¯t respond at first. Instead, he pursed his lips before he stood up and led me to his room. He closed the door behind him with a quiet click. Silence surrounded us. I was perched on the edge of his bed. Liam, on the other hand, leaned against the door. He watched me as though I was going to vanish right before his eyes.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said softly.


    My eyes widened.


    ¡°For what?¡± I asked, even though I knew.


    He exhaled. ¡°For everything. For letting things get that far. For not showing up sooner. For not telling you everything about your parents when I should¡¯ve.¡± He pushed off the door and crossed the room slowly. ¡°For hurting you, Hazel, even when I didn¡¯t mean to.¡±


    I let his words settle, each one chipping away at something brittle inside me.


    ¡°I was angry,¡± I admitted. ¡°At you. At Lucas. Even at myself.¡±


    ¡°You had every right to be.¡± He kneeled in front of me, his hands resting gently on my knees. ¡°But I need you to know that I never stopped caring. Not even for a second.¡±


    My throat tightened. ¡°You investigated my old room,¡± I said. ¡°You didn¡¯t even tell me. I honestly even forgot about it.¡±


    His lips twitched. ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t forget. We needed to investigate. What if they came back?¡±


    His eyes darkened. ¡°Annie and her friends left more evidence than they thought. And when I saw you today, standing there with food burning your skin and that look on your face... I think something inside me snapped.¡±


    I reached out and touched his cheek, brushing my thumb against his jaw.


    Thest sliver of resentment cracked and fell away. The wall between us crumbled.


    We were okay again. No, more than okay.


    Something quickly overcame me. I leaned forward and kissed him.


    Liam groaned when I climbed into hisp, his hands sliding up my thighs as he pulled me closer, grinding up into me like he couldn¡¯t help himself. I arched into him, breath catching, lips parting under the pressure of his.


    He tugged my hair and bit my bottom lip, sliding my shirt off with a low growl in his throat. His calloused hands brushed against my skin, causing me to purr in delight.


    ¡°Goddess, Hazel,¡± he murmured, voice rough, needy. ¡°If only you know what you do to me.¡±


    My skin burned everywhere he touched. It was as though he left a trail of sparks. My hands tangled in his hair, gently tugging. His mouth crashed back into mine, hot and demanding.


    ¡°Liam,¡± I whispered, breathless against his lips, ¡°Can I mark you?¡±


    His body stilled beneath me. He looked at me, eyes wide, then softened with awe.


    ¡°You want to?¡± he asked in surprise.


    ¡°I do,¡± I said, tossing thest of my clothing. ¡°You¡¯re the only one I haven¡¯t. It feels unfinished.¡±


    He cradled my face, thumb brushing my cheek. ¡°I¡¯ve wanted you to choose me... even before I knew. Before I deserved you.¡±


    ¡°Then let me mark you,¡± I said. ¡°I want to show the world who you belong to.¡±


    A low growl left Liam¡¯s lips as he cupped the back of my head and closed the distance between us.


    We didn¡¯t even make it to the bed. He kissed me like he needed it to survive. Clothes disappeared between frantic hands and desperate mouths. His palms slid across my body like he already knew every inch but still needed to relearn it all over again.


    He entered me slowly, groaning into my mouth as I gasped, arching, taking every inch. I rocked against him, and he thrust deeper. We quickly found a rhythm. My nails dug into his back, my lips against his throat.


    His fingers found my clit, moving inzy, knowing circles, and when he brought them to his mouth for a taste, I moaned into his kiss. A sinful sound left his throat.


    My canines grazed his skin where the bond pulled strongest.


    He flipped me over without warning, dragging me back onto him with a broken sound. ¡°Now,¡± he rasped, voice shredded with need. ¡°Please.¡±


    I bit down. Liam groaned, low and guttural, hips stuttering as the mark sealed between us. The rush hit us both, sharp and euphoric, heat rolling through my veins.


    ¡°Fuck... Hazel...¡± he gasped. ¡°You¡¯re so tight.¡±


    I cried out when he bucked his hips. He leaned over and kissed me, sealing my lips with his. His fingers returned to my clit, rubbing me as I groaned with impatience.


    ¡°I love you, Hazel,¡± he said, his voice breathy. I could tell he was close.


    ¡°I love you too, Liam,¡± I replied.


    He continued to press kisses into the sides of my neck, licking the mark he gave me before sheathing himself into me.


    I could not take much more. Just a few pumpster, I came undone, trembling as he pushed himself as far into me as he could, filling me with his seed.


    By the end, we copsed in a tangle of limbs and breathless kisses. He curled around me, his hand strokingzy circles on my back, his chest rising and falling against mine.


    ¡°I¡¯m yours now,¡± he said, voice hoarse. ¡°Fully. Finally.¡±


    ¡°You always were,¡± I whispered, brushing a kiss to his corbone.


    His thumb tracedzy circles on my back.


    We were whole now, and my wolf felt it too now that I had marked all my mates. Entangled in his arms, I drifted off to sleep.

 Chapter 43: Fractures and Fumes

    <h4>Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Fractures and Fumes</h4>


    Slightly before dinner, the front door creaked open and closed again. I heard the familiar voices of Lucas and Levi in the hallway¡ªmuffled at first, then louder as they approached.


    Levi¡¯s brows furrowed the moment he saw me curled up on the couch with a nket draped around my legs. ¡°You¡¯re home early. Weren¡¯t you supposed to be working the dinner rush?¡±


    It seemed like Lucas noticed almost instantly. ¡°Did something happen?¡±


    Liam stood from where he¡¯d been sitting beside me and folded his arms. ¡°Yeah. Something happened.¡±


    The mood shifted in a heartbeat. Both brothers stiffened, instantly alert.


    ¡°It was Annie and her new boy toy, Joshua,¡± Liam said evenly, but his jaw was tight. ¡°They showed up at Hazel¡¯s diner. Started harassing her. Joshua knocked a tray of hot food onto her arm.¡±


    Lucas¡¯ eyes shed. ¡°He what?¡±


    Levi¡¯s voice dropped an octave. ¡°Where is he?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s already been dealt with,¡± I said quickly.


    Levi narrowed his eyes. ¡°You mean¡ª¡±


    ¡°Liam punched him. Knocked him out cold,¡± I finished, giving Liam a sideways nce. ¡°His friends had to help drag his unconscious body out.¡±


    Levi blinked, then smirked. ¡°Damn. You beat me to it.¡±


    ¡°Trust me,¡± Liam said, cracking his knuckles. ¡°It wasn¡¯t nearly enough.¡±


    +++


    By the time dinner rolled around, I felt steadier, though my skin still tingled with phantom heat from the burn. The boys nked me as we made our way into the grand dining hall.


    Evelyn was already seated at the head of the table, regal as ever in a tailored zer and sharp eyes that flicked toward me like I was something she meant to swat.


    I was surprised to see Jessie beside her, her lips coated in a glossy pink sheen, smiling sweetly at the triplets the moment they entered. When she saw me, her smile faded, though she quickly recovered.


    ¡°Evening, boys,¡± she said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. ¡°Hazel. I didn¡¯t realize you¡¯d be joining us.¡±


    I smiled, though it felt like dragging barbed wire across my lips.


    ¡°Funny,¡± I said, keeping my tone light. ¡°I live here.¡±


    Jessie blinked. She wasn¡¯t expecting that.


    ¡°Right. Of course.¡±


    I took my seat, spine straight, jaw tight. Evelyn¡¯s eyes raked across her sons, stopping at their necks. Her lips thinned, her displeasure tangible in the stiffening of her posture.


    ¡°What¡¯s that on your necks?¡±


    Lucas was the first to speak. ¡°A mark, Mother.¡±


    ¡°From Hazel,¡± Levi added, cing a hand on my thigh under the table. I felt warmth rush through me.


    Evelyn¡¯s nostrils red. ¡°All three of you?¡± she asked, her voice dripping with disbelief. ¡°Really?¡±


    Jessie gave a lightugh. ¡°I thought Hazel said she was nning to leave Emberfang after her debt was paid off. Guess that changed?¡±


    Liam¡¯s voice was sharp. ¡°She never said it like that.¡±


    ¡°She did mention leaving,¡± Evelyn said coolly, dabbing at the corners of her mouth with her napkin like she hadn¡¯t just sliced me open with a single sentence. ¡°Now that her debt is magically cleared, she could walk away any time. And you three would be left marked. Do you know the pain wolves would feel when the person who marks them leaves?¡±


    My throat tightened. Meals with the family were always bad news. I felt my hands curl into fists beneath the table, fingernails digging into my palms.


    She said it like I wasn¡¯t even in the room.


    Lucas sat straighter, voice hardening. ¡°She¡¯s not going anywhere.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be so sure,¡± Evelyn replied. ¡°Girls like Hazel... once they get what they want, they tend to run.¡±


    I stared down at the polished wood of the table, then lifted my chin. My pulse thrummed in my ears. That was it. That was thest straw.


    ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere,¡± I said, my voice sickly sweet despite the fury simmering beneath my skin. ¡°I have no intention of running. I might have said some things in the past, but things have changed now.¡±


    Jessie stiffened beside Evelyn, her expression faltering for just a breath. I didn¡¯t care.


    ¡°I¡¯ve built a life here,¡± I continued. ¡°And I intend to stay with my mates for as long as we shall live.¡±


    The tension in the room was electric. Evelyn¡¯s eyes sharpened into cold ss. Then came the blow.


    ¡°This is a family conversation. Hazel, I¡¯d like you to step outside while I speak to my sons.¡±


    The words sliced through me.


    ¡°And Jessie?¡± Liam asked, frowning.


    ¡°She stays, of course,¡± Evelyn answered. ¡°She¡¯ll need to hear this.¡±


    I tried to keep my face neutral, but my chest burned. I felt like I¡¯d been pped¡ªnot by her words, but by what they meant. Jessie was family. I wasn¡¯t.


    ¡°Jessie is not family,¡± Levi snapped, ring at his mother. ¡°Hazel is our mate. Our fated mate. She is family.¡±


    Evelyn¡¯s gaze turned icy. ¡°Then she should act like it and show some respect.¡±


    My stomach twisted.


    ¡°It¡¯s only fair that Jessie leaves,¡± Lucas calmly said. However, the look in his eyes was icy.


    ¡°Nonsense!¡± Evelyn said. ¡°Jessie is as good as my daughter.¡±


    ¡°Mother¡ª¡±


    I gently touched Levi¡¯s hand under the table, stopping him. ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡±


    ¡°Hazel¡ª¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll just step out for a bit. I need some fresh air anyway,¡± I said.


    Shooting the triplets a reassuring smile, I rose from my seat. Jessie shot me a victorious smile, but I paid her no mind.


    The moment I stepped out into the cool night air, I took a deep breath, and my head began to clear. The soundproofed walls of the mansion blocked out whatever shouting may have been happening inside. I couldn¡¯t hear a thing.


    I slipped behind the tool shed, my fingers brushing the edge of my shirt. A run would help. I hadn¡¯t shifted in weeks, and every muscle in my body was begging for release.


    I took a deep breath and started to pull off my shoes.


    Then I froze. There were footsteps behind me, but I couldn¡¯t smell my mates, so it couldn¡¯t be them.


    I barely had time to turn when a hand grabbed my waist and another mped a rag over my mouth.


    A chemical, cloying scent filled my nose. My eyes widened in fear.


    Chloroform.

 Chapter 44: Hunted

    <h4>Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Hunted</h4>


    Pure panic shot through me. My survival instincts kicked in instantly. I drove my elbow backward as hard as I could, making contact with something solid¡ªa stomach or ribs. The attacker grunted, his grip loosening just enough for me to wrench away, stumbling forward and spinning around to face him.


    He was massive¡ªat least six and a half feet tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in ck. A bandana covered the lower half of his face, and a hood shadowed his eyes. My heart hammered against my ribs as I backed away, measuring the distance between us.


    I couldn¡¯t take him in a fight. Even with wolf strength, he outweighed me by at least a hundred pounds.


    "Who are you?" I demanded, voice shaking despite my effort to sound strong. "What do you want?"


    He didn¡¯t answer, just lunged forward with surprising speed. I dodged sideways, nearly tripping over an exposed root. The packhouse lights glimmered in the distance, but he stood between me and safety.


    My instincts screamed at me to call for help.


    "LIA¡ª" I started to scream, but he moved with shocking speed, mping his hand over my mouth.


    I bit down hard on his palm. He snarled, jerking his hand away, and I seized my chance. I bolted¡ªnot toward the house where he could intercept me, but deeper into the woods where I might lose him in the darkness.


    Branches whipped at my face as I ran, my lungs burning. I could hear him crashing through the undergrowth behind me. He was fast¡ªtoo fast. My heart pounded in my ears as I zigzagged between trees, desperately trying to throw him off.


    "You can¡¯t escape," he growled, his voice unfamiliar and rough.


    I pushed harder.


    Shift, I thought. But I wasn¡¯t nearly practiced enough to shift in such circumstances.


    My wolf lent me speed, but the forest floor was treacherous with hidden roots and fallen branches. My foot caught on something, and I went down hard, pain shooting through my ankle.


    Before I could scramble up, a weight crashed onto my back, pinning me to the ground. Rough hands flipped me over. The cloth descended again, pressed firmly over my nose and mouth despite my thrashing.


    "Stop fighting," he hissed. "It¡¯ll only make this worse."


    I wed at his arms, kicked wildly, but he was too strong. The sickly sweet smell of chloroform filled my lungs. My limbs grew heavier with each second, my vision blurring at the edges.


    Myst conscious thought was a desperate plea through the mate bond before darkness swallowed me whole.


    ---


    Levi mmed his fist on the dining table, rattling the crystal sses. "Mother, that¡¯s enough. Hazel is our mate. Our priority."


    "You¡¯re being manipted," Evelyn insisted, her voice cold and controlled. "She¡¯s marked all three of you, and now she can leave whenever she pleases, taking pieces of your souls with her."


    "We¡¯ve marked her too," Liam countered. "And she¡¯s already said she¡¯s staying."


    "Words are easy," Jessie interjected sweetly. "Actions are what matter. And her actions have always shown she wants to leave Emberfang behind."


    Lucas opened his mouth to retort when suddenly all three brothers stiffened simultaneously. A strange sensation washed over them¡ªdistant but unmistakable. Fear. Panic. Desperation.


    "What is it?" Evelyn asked, noticing their change in demeanor.


    Lucas tilted his head, concentrating on the mate bond. "Something¡¯s wrong."


    "I¡¯m sure it¡¯s nothing," Jessie said quickly. "Maybe she¡¯s just upset about dinner."


    Liam was already on his feet. "No. This is different."


    A muffled sound carried from outside¡ªbarely audible through the mansion¡¯s soundproofing, but their enhanced hearing caught it.


    "That was a scream," Levi said, already moving toward the door.


    "You¡¯re overreacting," Evelyn called after them. "Hazel¡¯s fine¡ª"


    But they were already gone, bursting through the front door into the night. Liam led the charge, his instincts pulling him toward the tree line where Hazel¡¯s scent trail disappeared.


    "She¡¯s in trouble," he growled, stripping off his shirt. "I can feel it."


    Without another word, all three brothers shifted, bones cracking and reforming as human bodies gave way to massive ck wolves. Three pairs of golden eyes gleamed in the darkness as they lowered their noses to the ground, tracking Hazel¡¯s scent.


    ¡¯She was taken this way,¡¯ Lucas¡¯s voice echoed through their pack link. ¡¯There¡¯s a second scent. Male. Unfamiliar.¡¯


    ¡¯If he¡¯s hurt her¡ª¡¯ Levi¡¯s thought was a snarl of rage.


    ¡¯Focus,¡¯ Liammanded. ¡¯Find her first. Killter.¡¯


    They moved like shadows through the trees, following the trail of disturbed earth and broken branches. The scent of chloroform hung in the air, mixing with the unmistakable tang of Hazel¡¯s fear.


    ¡¯There!¡¯ Levi spotted movement ahead¡ªa dark figure carrying something over his shoulder. Hazel¡¯s blonde hair caught the moonlight, her body limp.


    Lucas took the lead position. ¡¯Levi, nk left. Liam, right. I¡¯ll confront him.¡¯


    They spread out, using the darkness for cover. The masked man seemed unaware of their presence, continuing to carry Hazel deeper into the forest.


    Lucas broke the silence with a bone-chilling growl. The man froze, turning slowly to find himself surrounded by three massive wolves, their teeth bared and hackles raised.


    He cursed, reaching for something at his belt¡ªbut Levi was faster. The youngest tripletunched himself through the air, a blur of ck fur and fury. He mmed into the attacker¡¯s chest, sending him crashing to the ground.


    Hazel¡¯s unconscious form was flung from his shoulder. Liam shifted back to human form in an instant, diving forward to catch her before she hit the forest floor. He cradled her against his chest, checking for injuries.


    "Hazel? Baby, can you hear me?" he murmured urgently, brushing hair from her face.


    Her eyelids fluttered, a small groan escaping her lips as consciousness slowly returned. "Liam?"


    Meanwhile, Levi had the attacker pinned, massive paws pressing against his chest. With a ripple of muscle and fur, Levi shifted back to human form, his hand wrapping around the man¡¯s throat, squeezing just enough to make breathing difficult.


    He ripped away the bandana, revealing a face none of them recognized.


    "Who are you?!" Levi demanded, eyes zing with fury.

 Chapter 45: Safe Haven

    <h4>Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Safe Haven</h4>


    Consciousness returned slowly, like swimming up through murky water. My head throbbed, and my mouth felt dry as sandpaper. I blinked, trying to focus on the face above me.


    "Liam?" My voice came out as a raspy whisper.


    "I¡¯m here, baby. You¡¯re safe now." His arms tightened around me, solid and warm.


    Relief flooded through me as the fog in my mind cleared. I was in Liam¡¯s arms, his naked chest warm against my cheek. My eyes darted around, taking in the scene. Lucas was still in wolf form, his massive ck body positioned protectively in front of us, hackles raised and golden eyes glowing in the darkness. Levi was a few feet away,pletely naked and pinning down my attacker with one hand wrapped around his throat.


    "Who are you?!" Levi demanded, his voice a feral growl.


    The man¡¯s eyes widened, darting frantically between the three brothers. His face was exposed now, the bandana torn away. What I could see made my stomach turn¡ªhis skin was a maze of raised scars, burns, and poorly healed wounds. His features were so distorted it would be impossible to identify him.


    Before Levi could tighten his grip, the man¡¯s jaw clenched. A sickening crunch echoed through the clearing, and immediately his body began to convulse.


    "What the¡ª" Levi jumped back as foam bubbled from the man¡¯s mouth, his eyes rolling back.


    Lucas shifted back to human form in a fluid motion of muscle and bone. "He¡¯s poisoned himself," he said grimly, kneeling beside the thrashing body. "Wolfsbane pill. Hidden in his mouth."


    Within seconds, the man went still, his eyes ssy and fixed on the night sky.


    "Dammit!" Levi mmed his fist against the ground. "We needed answers!"


    Liam shifted me in his arms, his eyes scanning my face. "Are you hurt? Did he hurt you?"


    I shook my head, though the movement made me dizzy. "Just the chloroform. I think I¡¯m okay."


    Lucas came to kneel beside us, his hand gently cupping my cheek. "We need to get her back to the house. Now."


    Liam lifted me effortlessly, cradling me against his chest. My fingers curled into his skin, seeking his warmth. The terror of the attack still pulsed through me, but here, surrounded by my mates, I felt the fear beginning to recede.


    "What about him?" I asked, ncing at the dead kidnapper.


    "I¡¯ll call the warriors," Lucas said, already reaching for the phone he¡¯d stashed in a hollow tree before shifting. "Liam, get her inside. Levi, stay here and guard the body. No one touches it until our people arrive."


    The walk back to the house was a blur. I pressed my face against Liam¡¯s chest, listening to his steady heartbeat. His arms around me felt like the safest ce in the world.


    "I was so scared," I whispered.


    Liam¡¯s arms tightened. "I know, baby,¡± he said. ¡°I felt it. Through the bond. I¡¯ve never been so terrified in my life."


    By the time we reached the mansion, the entire pack was on high alert. Warriors patrolled the perimeter, their expressions grim. Inside, the house buzzed with activity.


    "Lockdown protocol is in effect," someone called as we entered.


    Alpha Henry strode toward us, his face a mask of controlled fury. I¡¯d rarely seen him look so serious¡ªor so concerned.


    "Hazel," he said, his voice gentler than I¡¯d ever heard it. "Are you alright?"


    I nodded weakly. "Yes, Alpha."


    His hand briefly touched my shoulder¡ªthe most affection he¡¯d ever shown me. "Good. Liam, get her checked out by the medics. I want a full report within the hour."


    "Yes, Father," Liam said.


    The next half hour passed in a whirlwind. A pack nurse examined me, checking my vitals and confirming that the chloroform would have nosting effects. Lucas returned, now dressed, with Levi close behind. Their expressions were thunderous.


    "No identification on him," Lucas reported. "Nothing to indicate who sent him."


    "What about the body?" I asked.


    "Being examined," Levi said, dropping onto the edge of my bed and taking my hand. "But those scars... it¡¯s like someone deliberately made sure he couldn¡¯t be identified."


    Alpha Henry appeared in the doorway. "The council is assembled. We need to discuss security measures."


    "We¡¯re staying with Hazel," Liam said firmly.


    Henry nodded. "Of course. I¡¯ve doubled the guards around the house. She¡¯ll be safe here."


    I nced around. "Where¡¯s Luna Evelyn?"


    A shadow passed over the Alpha¡¯s face. "Attending to Jessie. The girl was... upset by themotion."


    Of course she was, I thought bitterly. After the Alpha left, the triplets surrounded me on the bed, forming a protective circle. Lucas sat at the head, his hand absently stroking my hair. Liam held my right hand, and Levi sprawled across the foot of the bed, one hand resting on my ankle.


    "Who would do this?" I asked. That was what I couldn¡¯t figure out. "Who would want to kidnap me?"


    The brothers exchanged nces.


    "This wasn¡¯t random," Lucas said carefully. "They targeted you specifically."


    "But why? I¡¯m nobody important."


    "You¡¯re our mate," Levi said fiercely. "Future Luna of Emberfang. That makes you important."


    My mind raced through possibilities. "Could it be... someone who doesn¡¯t want me with you? Like one of your ex-girlfriends?" I hesitated. "Or... your mother?"


    "Hazel¡ª" Liam started.


    "I know how she feels about me," I said quietly. "She made it clear tonight."


    "She wouldn¡¯t go this far," Lucas said, though he didn¡¯t sound entirely convinced. "But we will investigate every possibility. I promise you that."


    Levi squeezed my ankle reassuringly. "Whoever it was, they failed. And now they¡¯ve lost their operative."


    "We¡¯ll double security," Liam added. "No one will get near you again."


    I nodded. I know I could trust them to get to the bottom of this. Right now, there was no safer ce than here with my mates.


    Lucas¡¯s brow suddenly furrowed, his expression turning grave. "There¡¯s another possibility we need to consider."


    "What¡¯s that?" Liam asked.


    Lucas¡¯s eyes met mine, dark and serious. "What if it¡¯s The Dark Hour?"

 Chapter 46: Morning Light

    <h4>Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Morning Light</h4>


    "The Dark Hour?" Liam¡¯s brow furrowed. "What¡¯s that?"


    Levi looked equally confused, but something about the name tickled my memory. I¡¯d heard it before, but where?


    "Wait," I said slowly. "That¡¯s what Luna Evelyn mentioned when she was talking about my parents."


    Lucas nodded, his expression grim. "I overheard your conversation with Mother that day. I¡¯ve been researching it ever since."


    "Howe you never mentioned it?" Levi asked, looking slightly betrayed.


    "I wanted to gather more information first," Lucas exined. "It wasn¡¯t easy. The Dark Hour operates in shadows, deliberately keeping a low profile."


    I shifted to sit up straighter. "What exactly is it?"


    "On the surface, it¡¯s an illegal fighting ring where people bet on werewolf matches," Lucas said. "But it¡¯s much more than that. It¡¯s a nexus for all kinds of underground activities¡ªtrafficking, ck market trading, information brokering."


    A chill ran down my spine. "And my parents were involved with them?"


    "I don¡¯t know the extent," Lucas admitted. "But Mother seemed to imply there was some connection."


    My stomach twisted into knots. The thought that my parents might have been mixed up with something so sinister made me feel sick. No wonder they had to drop me off at Luna Evelyn and Alpha Henry¡¯s ce. There was no way they could keep me safe with enemies like that.


    I could still remember Luna Evelyn¡¯s expression when she had let slip the name. Now I understand why.


    "Hey," Liam squeezed my hand, sensing my distress. "This is just a theory. We don¡¯t know anything for certain yet."


    Levi moved closer, draping an arm around my shoulders. "And even if it is this Dark Hour thing, we¡¯ll handle it. No one¡¯s getting near you again."


    I leaned into his touch, drawingfort from his warmth. "How would they even know about me? Or care?"


    "That¡¯s what we need to find out," Lucas said. "But Hazel, I promise you¡ªwe will get to the bottom of this. And we will keep you safe."


    I looked at each of them¡ªLucas with his intense, determined gaze; Liam with his steady, reassuring smile; Levi with his protective arm around me. For years, these same boys had been the source of my pain. Now they were my sanctuary.


    "I need you to know something," I said, my voice stronger than I expected. "No matter what your mother says, I¡¯m not leaving. Not now, not ever. If I disappear, it¡¯s not by choice."


    "We know," Liam said softly.


    ¡°Even if they leave clues that said I did,¡± I pressed, shuffling around. ¡°I didn¡¯t. I would never leave you guys.¡±


    ¡°We know, Hazel,¡± Lucas said, repeating his brother¡¯s words. ¡°We know you wouldn¡¯t.¡±


    "Do you promise you¡¯ll always look for me?" The question slipped out before I could stop it, betraying my deepest fear.


    "Always," Lucas said firmly. "There¡¯s nowhere in this world you could go that we wouldn¡¯t find you."


    "You¡¯re stuck with us, sweetheart," Levi added with a wink, though his eyes remained serious. "Forever."


    I felt tears prick my eyes, overwhelmed by the certainty in their voices. The mate bond hummed between us, warm and reassuring.


    Exhaustion suddenly hit me like a wave. The adrenaline crash from the attackbined with the emotional roller coaster of the day left me barely able to keep my eyes open.


    "Sleep," Lucas murmured, noticing my drooping eyelids. "We¡¯ll be right here."


    I felt myself being gently arranged on the bed, covers pulled up to my chin. Thest thing I remembered was the weight of three bodies settling around me.


    ---


    Sunlight streamed through the curtains when I opened my eyes. For a moment, I was disoriented, surprised to find myself alone in the bed. The sheets beside me were still warm, suggesting the triplets hadn¡¯t been gone long.


    I sat up slowly, taking stock of how I felt. My head was clear, though my muscles ached from my desperate run through the forest. The memory of the masked man sent a shiver down my spine, but the fear felt more distant now in the bright light of morning.


    The bathroom door clicked open, releasing a cloud of steam. Levi emerged with a towel wrapped low around his hips, his hair dripping wet and his bronze skin glistening with moisture. Under different circumstances, the sight would have made my mouth go dry.


    "Morning, beautiful," he said, his face lighting up when he saw me awake. "How are you feeling?"


    "Better," I said, offering a small smile. "Where are Lucas and Liam?"


    Levi crossed to the dresser, pulling out clothes. "Lucas left at dawn to check the perimeter with the warriors. He wanted to see if there were any signs of other intruders."


    "And Liam?"


    "Meeting with the security team. He¡¯s revamping the entire system." Levi pulled a shirt over his head, then sat on the edge of the bed. "Everyone¡¯s taking this very seriously, Hazel."


    "Is all of this really necessary?" I asked. "It was just one guy, and he¡¯s... dead now."


    Levi¡¯s expression turned unusually serious. "One guy who managed to get onto heavily guarded Sullivan property without triggering any rms. One guy who was willing to die rather than give information. This wasn¡¯t some random attack, sunshine."


    When he put it that way, my stomach twisted with renewed anxiety. I reached for his hand, needing the contact.


    "I¡¯m sorry," he said, softening. "I didn¡¯t mean to scare you. But I need you to understand why we¡¯re being so cautious."


    "I understand," I said quietly.


    He brushed a strand of hair from my face. "Good. Now, what do you want for breakfast? I¡¯ll have the kitchen send something up. I¡¯m thinking pancakes. Lots of them, with blueberries¡ª"


    A shrill ring cut through his words. I nced over at my bedside table where my phone was vibrating furiously, the screen lit up with my rm.


    ¡°Is someone calling?¡± Levi asked, raising an eyebrow.


    I matched his frown.


    ¡°Not that I know of,¡± I said.


    Reaching for the bedside table, I grabbed my phone before my eyesnded on the reminder that upied the entire screen.


    "Oh no," I groaned, the realization hitting me. "Shit, Ipletely forgot. I have work today."

 Chapter 47: Supervision

    <h4>Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Supervision</h4>


    I jumped out of bed, the events ofst night momentarily forgotten as panic set in.


    "I can¡¯t bete again. Greta will kill me!"


    Levi sat back, watching me with an amused expression as I frantically rummaged through the dresser for clean clothes.


    "You¡¯re not seriously thinking of going to work today, are you?"


    I paused, one sock in hand. "Of course I am. Why wouldn¡¯t I?"


    "Oh, I don¡¯t know," he drawled, "maybe because someone tried to kidnap youst night?"


    I resumed getting dressed, pulling a simple t-shirt over my head. "I can¡¯t just stop living my life, Levi."


    He stood up, suddenly serious. "This isn¡¯t about living your life, Hazel. It¡¯s about keeping you safe." His hands gently gripped my shoulders. "Quit the diner. You don¡¯t need to work anymore anyway."


    "That¡¯s not fair to Greta," I argued, pulling away to brush my hair. "She¡¯s already short-staffed, and the dinner rush gets crazy. Plus, I actually like my job."


    "Screw fair," Levi said, following me into the bathroom as I brushed my teeth. "What¡¯s fair about someone trying to chloroform you and drag you into the woods?"


    I spat into the sink, meeting his eyes in the mirror. "Greta¡¯s a former warrior, you know. She was one of the best in her day."


    "Former. As in retired. As in probably hasn¡¯t taken down an attacker in decades."


    "Better than nothing," I countered, slipping past him back into the bedroom to put on shoes.


    Levi ran a hand through his still-damp hair, frustration evident on his face. "We could assign a warrior to guard you there. Or hire security."


    "And scare away all the customers? Great business strategy." I softened my tone, seeing genuine worry in his eyes. "Look, I¡¯ll be careful. I¡¯ll stay inside, I¡¯ll be alert, and the diner is public enough that no one would try anything."


    He studied me for a long moment, then sighed dramatically. "You¡¯re the most stubborn woman I¡¯ve ever met."


    "One of the many things you love about me," I replied with a cheeky smile.


    His expression softened into a reluctant grin. "Fine. But I¡¯m driving you there."


    "Deal," I said, grabbing my bag. Thest thing I wanted was to walk alone through the woods, even in daylight.


    On the drive to town, I couldn¡¯t help noticing how Levi constantly checked the mirrors, his eyes scanning every car that passed us. When we pulled up behind the diner, he insisted on walking me inside and checking every corner of the building before letting me start my shift.


    "Text me if anything seems off," he instructed, walking backward toward the door. "Anything at all."


    "Yes, sir," I said with a mock salute.


    Greta emerged from the kitchen, raising an eyebrow at Levi¡¯s protective stance. "She¡¯ll be fine, Romeo. I¡¯ve got my shotgun under the counter."


    Levi looked momentarily reassured. "I¡¯ll be back soon," he promised, finally leaving.


    The morning rush kept me busy, and for a while, I was able to forget about masked attackers and mysterious organizations. I fell into the familiar rhythm of taking orders, delivering food, and refilling coffee cups.


    Just before noon, the bell above the door jingled. I turned with my standard greeting on my lips, only to stop short when I saw Levi strolling in with a casual grin, as if he hadn¡¯t just left a few hours ago.


    "What are you doing here?" I asked as he imed a booth in my section.


    "Having lunch," he replied innocently, but his eyes scanned the diner, taking in every customer and exit.


    "Levi," I sighed, "you can¡¯t babysit me all day."


    "Watch me," he said, then stood up abruptly. "Actually, can I have everyone¡¯s attention please?"


    The diner fell quiet as heads turned toward him. I felt my face heat up. "What are you doing?" I hissed.


    Levi ignored me, addressing the room. "Some of you might have heard about the security increase around packnds. There was an incidentst night¡ªan attempted kidnapping." He ced a protective hand on my shoulder. "Hazel was targeted."


    Murmurs swept through the diner. I noticed several people nodding; the news had clearly already spread.


    "I¡¯m asking everyone to keep an eye out for suspicious behavior or unfamiliar faces," Levi continued. "If you see anything concerning, report it to a pack warrior immediately."


    Greta stepped forward, her expression fierce. "Anyone who tries anything in my diner will answer to me first," she dered, patting the pocket where I knew she kept a small knife.


    There were nods of agreement from the regr customers. The atmosphere shifted from shocked to protective, and I felt a surge of warmth.


    "Thank you," Levi said, finally sitting back down.


    I leaned over his table, keeping my voice low. "Was that really necessary?"


    "Absolutely," he replied, unrepentant. "More eyes watching means more safety for you."


    I straightened up, trying to look stern but failing. "Just don¡¯t cause trouble while you¡¯re here. And don¡¯t distract me."


    He ced a hand over his heart. "I would never."


    His innocent expression was so over-the-top that I couldn¡¯t helpughing. "Sure you wouldn¡¯t."


    Surprisingly, Levi kept his promise for the most part. He stayed in his booth, alternating between working on hisptop and watching me serve customers. asionally, I¡¯d catch him studying someone who walked in with too much intensity, but overall, his presence was moreforting than disruptive.


    When my break finally came around mid-afternoon, I headed to the small back room where employees could rest. I¡¯d barely sat down when the door opened and Levi slipped inside, turning the lock behind him.


    "What are you doing here?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.


    "Making sure you¡¯re working hard, of course," he replied, his eyes gleaming with mischief.


    Iughed, rxing back into the worn couch. "Are you now, Mr. Supervisor?"


    "Of course." He prowled closer, his movements suddenly predatory. "But it seems like you¡¯re cking off."


    My breath caught as he leaned down, cing his hands on either side of me. His fingers traced down my waist, sending shivers across my skin.


    "I¡¯m afraid," he murmured, his lips brushing my ear, "there might be a need to punish you.¡±

 Chapter 48: Break Time

    <h4>Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Break Time</h4>


    (Trigger Warning: This Chapter contains explicit content and is intended for mature readers.)


    His words sent heat rushing through me. The responsible part of my brain reminded me that I was at work, on a break that would end in fifteen minutes. But the way Levi looked at me¡ªeyes dark with desire, lips curved in that knowing smile¡ªmade it hard to care.


    "Punish me?" I asked, my voiceing out breathier than intended. "What did I do wrong?"


    Levi¡¯s hands slid under my uniform shirt, his warm fingers tracing patterns on my bare skin. "Taking too long to mark me, for one," he murmured, leaning in to brush his lips against my neck. "Making me worry about you. And looking so damn tempting in this uniform."


    I shivered as his teeth grazed my pulse point. "That¡¯s hardly my fault."


    "I disagree." His hands moved higher, cupping my breasts through my bra. "You know exactly what you do to me."


    My body responded instantly to his touch, nipples hardening beneath the fabric. I arched into his hands, desire flooding through me. "Levi, I only have fifteen minutes¡ª"


    "Then we better not waste time." He captured my lips in a searing kiss, swallowing my gasp as his thumbs brushed over my sensitive peaks.


    My hands found their way to his hair, fingers tangling in the soft strands. The knowledge that we could be caught, that Greta mighte looking for me any minute, only heightened the thrill. Levi¡¯s mouth was hot and demanding against mine, his tongue teasing and exploring.


    In one smooth motion, he pulled me up from the couch, hands dropping to grip my thighs and lift me. I wrapped my legs around his waist instinctively, feeling his hardness press against my core even through our clothes.


    "I¡¯ve been thinking about this all day," he confessed, carrying me to the small table in the corner. He set me down on its edge, hands already working on the buttons of my uniform. "Watching you bend over tables, stretch to reach things on high shelves..."


    "Pervert," I teased, but my hands were just as eager, tugging at his belt.


    He grinned wolfishly. "Only for you, sweetheart."


    My uniform top fell open, and Levi made a sound of approval at the sight of my simple ck bra. He bent to press open-mouthed kisses along the swell of my breasts while his hands moved to my waistband, quickly unfastening my pants.


    "Lift," hemanded softly, and I raised my hips so he could tug them down along with my underwear.


    Cool air hit my heated skin, making me shiver. I should have felt exposed, sitting half-naked on a break room table, but all I could focus on was the hunger in Levi¡¯s eyes as he looked at me.


    "Beautiful," he murmured, his hands running up my bare thighs. "So perfect."


    I fumbled with his zipper, desperate to feel him. "Hurry," I urged. "We don¡¯t have much time."


    He helped me free him from his jeans, his erection springing forth hard and ready. The sight made my mouth water and my core clench with anticipation.


    Levi stepped between my spread legs, one hand cupping my face while the other positioned himself at my entrance. "You¡¯re already wet for me," he said with satisfaction, sliding through my folds.


    "All day," I admitted, wrapping my arms around his neck. "Watching you watch me was... distracting."


    He smirked, then slowly pushed inside, stretching and filling me in the most exquisite way. We both moaned at the sensation, my walls clenching around his thickness.


    "Fuck, Hazel," he groaned, forehead pressed against mine. "You feel like heaven."


    His pace started slow but quickly became urgent, each thrust deeper and harder than thest. The table creaked beneath us, and I had to bite my lip to keep from crying out. Levi¡¯s mouth found mine again, muffling our sounds as he drove into me relentlessly.


    One of his hands slipped between us, fingers finding the sensitive bundle of nerves at my center. He circled it expertly, matching the rhythm of his thrusts.


    "Come for me," he urged against my lips. "I need to feel you."


    The dual stimtion was overwhelming. Pleasure coiled tighter within me, building rapidly toward release. When it hit, it crashed through me like a wave, my body clenching around him as stars burst behind my eyelids. I buried my face in his shoulder to muffle my cries.


    Levi¡¯s movements became erratic, his breathing harsh against my ear. With a few final deep thrusts, he followed me over the edge, his body tensing as he found his release.


    For a moment, we stayed locked together, hearts pounding in sync, bodies trembling with aftershocks. Then reality started to creep back in.


    "Greta¡¯s going to kill me if I¡¯mte," I whispered, pressing a quick kiss to his jaw.


    Levi chuckled, slowly pulling away. He helped me clean up and straighten my clothes, his movements surprisingly tender after such an intense encounter.


    "Worth it," he said with a satisfied grin, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.


    I checked my reflection in the small mirror hanging on the wall, making sure I looked presentable. My cheeks were flushed and my lips slightly swollen, but otherwise, I thought I could pass as someone who had just been resting.


    "You look thoroughly ravished," Levimented, admiring his handiwork.


    I swatted his arm. "Behave. And wipe that smirk off your face before we go out there."


    Heughed but made an effort topose his expression. "Yes, ma¡¯am."


    When we returned to the diner¡ªseparately, with Levi going first¡ªI was only two minuteste from my break. Greta gave me a knowing look but said nothing, just nodded toward a new group of customers that had just walked in.


    My eyes widened when I recognized Callum among them, along with three other wolves I knew from the pack. Thankfully, none of them were part of Annie and Joshua¡¯s crew.


    "Hey, Hazel," Callum greeted me with a friendly smile. "Good to see you back at work."


    "Thanks, Callum," I said, genuinely happy to see him. "And thank you again for what you did the other day. With Joshua and Annie."


    He shrugged, looking a bit embarrassed. "Anyone would have done the same."


    "Actually, they wouldn¡¯t," said one of the girls with him, a pretty redhead named Sophia. "Callum was really brave."


    I led them to a booth and took their orders, aware of Levi watching us from his seat across the diner. His posture was rxed, but I could tell he was listening to every word.


    As I delivered their drinks, Callum asked, "Are you doing okay? After... you know. Last night."


    News really did travel fast in our pack. "I¡¯m fine," I assured him. "The triplets got to me in time."


    "Lucky," said Sophia, stirring her iced tea. "Having three alpha wolves as mates must make you feel pretty safe."


    I nodded, surprised by her friendly tone. Most female wolves kept their distance from me now, either out of respect for my position as the triplets¡¯ mate or out of jealousy.


    "Hey," Sophia continued, her eyes brightening with an idea. "I¡¯m throwing a party this weekend. How about youe along, Hazel?"

 Chapter 49: The Invitation

    <h4>Chapter 49: Chapter 49: The Invitation</h4>


    ¡°A party?¡± I repeated, my voice faltering slightly as I looked at Sophia¡¯s eager face.


    Before I could respond, Levi appeared at my side, his warm hand settling on the small of my back. The touch was subtle but possessive.


    ¡°Did I hear someone say party?¡± he asked, shing his charming smile at Sophia and her friends.


    Sophia nodded. ¡°Yes! I¡¯m inviting Hazel to a get-together this weekend at my ce. Just some friends, good music, food... nothing crazy.¡±


    Levi¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°That sounds awesome! Doesn¡¯t it, sweetheart?¡± He turned to me, his expression so genuinely excited that I almost felt bad about the dread pooling in my stomach.


    ¡°I¡¯ll... think about it,¡± I said weakly, trying to keep my smile from faltering.


    Sophia grinned. ¡°Great! I¡¯ll text you the details.¡± She quickly exchanged numbers with me while I felt Levi¡¯s curious gaze on my face.


    ¡°I should get back to work,¡± I said, desperate for an escape. ¡°Thanks for the invitation, Sophia.¡±


    I hurried away, aware of Levi following close behind. Once we reached a quiet corner near the kitchen, I turned to face him.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± he asked immediately, his yful demeanor gone. ¡°You look like someone just invited you to your own execution, not a party.¡±


    I sighed, crossing my arms over my chest. ¡°I don¡¯t think I should go.¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡± His brow furrowed with genuine confusion.


    ¡°I just... I don¡¯t...¡± The words stuck in my throat.


    Levi moved closer, his hands gently gripping my shoulders. ¡°Hey, talk to me. What¡¯s really going on here?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve never been to a party before,¡± I finally admitted, my voice small. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know how to act or what to do.¡±


    Understanding dawned in his eyes. ¡°Never? Not even one?¡±


    I shook my head. The truth was far more pathetic than just never attending parties. Before bing the triplets¡¯ mate, I barely had any social life at all. Working as a maid for the Alpha family hadn¡¯t exactly opened doors to teenage normalcy. And the triplets¡¯ bullying had ensured most pack members kept their distance from me.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about safety,¡± Levi assured me. ¡°Me, Liam, or Lucas¡ªprobably all three of us¡ªwill be with you the whole time. We¡¯d never let anything happen to you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that,¡± I said, looking down at my hands. ¡°I just... I don¡¯t know how to be around people my age. I never really had friends before Callum, and I¡¯m frankly not even sure if we are friends! What if I make a fool of myself?¡±


    Levi¡¯s expression softened. He reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, his touch gentle. ¡°That¡¯s what this is about? Hazel, everyone feels awkward sometimes. But Sophia and Callum seem like good people. This could be your chance to make some real friends.¡±


    Before I could respond, the bell above the diner door chimed. I nced over and felt my heart skip as Lucas and Liam walked in, their tall framesmanding attention immediately. Despite everything, seeing them still gave me that flutter in my chest.


    They spotted us instantly, making their way over with purposeful strides. Lucas¡¯s serious eyes scanned my face, while Liam offered a sunny smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes.


    ¡°Everything okay?¡± Lucas asked, noticing our secluded conversation.


    ¡°Hazel got invited to a party,¡± Levi announced, ¡°but she¡¯s trying to find excuses not to go.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not an excuse,¡± I protested weakly.


    Liam¡¯s eyes widened with interest. ¡°A party? With who?¡±


    ¡°Sophia. She¡¯s hosting one with her friends,¡± Levi exined, nodding toward their table. ¡°Seems like a perfectly normal get-together, but our mate is nervous.¡±


    I shot Levi an annoyed look. ¡°Could you not announce my insecurities to everyone?¡±


    Lucas¡¯s expression remained thoughtful as he studied me. ¡°You¡¯ve never been to a social gathering before, have you?¡±


    The direct question made me flinch. Trust Lucas to cut straight to the heart of the matter.


    ¡°No,¡± I admitted quietly. ¡°Between working for your family and... everything else, I never really got invited anywhere.¡±


    Guilt flickered across all three of their faces, and I immediately regretted my words. I hadn¡¯t meant to remind them of ourplicated past.


    Liam was the first to recover. He reached for my hand, squeezing it gently. ¡°All the more reason to go now. You deserve to have fun, Hazel.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s right,¡± Lucas added, his tone serious but kind. ¡°As the future Luna of Emberfang, you¡¯ll need to befortable in social settings. This could be good practice, in a low-pressure environment with people your age.¡±


    I hadn¡¯t thought of it that way. The idea of someday bing Luna still felt surreal to me¡ªlike a distant future I couldn¡¯t quite imagine.


    ¡°Plus,¡± Liam added with an encouraging smile, ¡°we¡¯ll be right there with you. If you hate it, we can leave anytime.¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Levi chimed in. ¡°Just give it a chance. One hour, and if you¡¯re miserable, we¡¯ll make up some excuse and bail.¡±


    The three of them watched me expectantly, their expressions varying from Levi¡¯s yful encouragement to Liam¡¯s warm support to Lucas¡¯s steady confidence.


    I looked back at Sophia¡¯s table, where she and Callum wereughing about something. They seemed so... normal. So carefree. A part of me¡ªthe part that had always watched from the outside¡ªdesperately wanted to know what that felt like.


    ¡°Alright! Fine! I¡¯ll go!¡± I threw my hands up in surrender.


    Their reactions were immediate and overwhelming. Levi whooped loudly, Liam¡¯s face broke into a brilliant grin, and even Lucas allowed himself a satisfied smile.


    ¡°You won¡¯t regret it,¡± Liam promised, pulling me into a quick hug.


    ¡°It¡¯s going to be amazing,¡± Levi added, practically bouncing with excitement.


    Lucas simply nodded, but the pride in his eyes spoke volumes. ¡°This will be good for you.¡±


    Looking at their happy faces, I couldn¡¯t help but wonder if I¡¯d just made a huge mistake or agreed to something that might actually change things for the better.


    Either way, there was no backing out now. I was going to my first party.

 Chapter 50: Mysterious Clues

    <h4>Chapter 50: Chapter 50: Mysterious Clues</h4>


    Lucas drummed his fingers on the polished oak desk, his eyes scanning the financial reports of the Emberfang Pack. The numbers blurred together after hours of concentration. He rolled his shoulders, trying to ease the tension that had built there.


    A soft knock at his office door provided wee interruption.


    ¡°Come in,¡± he called, setting down the papers.


    Matilda, the pack physician, entered with a solemn expression. Her gray-streaked hair was pulled into a tight bun, and she carried a man folder tucked under her arm.


    ¡°Alpha Lucas,¡± she greeted with a slight bow of her head. ¡°I have the results from the examination.¡±


    Lucas straightened in his chair. ¡°What have you found?¡±


    Matilda took a seat across from him, cing the folder on the desk. ¡°As you and your brothers suspected, the kidnapper died from wolfsbane poisoning. He had a capsule hidden between his back mrs. Once bitten, death would have been swift.¡±


    ¡°A suicide pill,¡± Lucas muttered, his jaw clenching. ¡°Whoever sent him never intended for him to be captured alive.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not all,¡± Matilda continued, opening the folder. ¡°The tips of his fingers and toes were surgically removed. No fingerprints or toe prints to identify him.¡±


    Lucas¡¯s eyes narrowed before he let out a scoff. ¡°Seems like they¡¯ve had it all thought out.¡± This was too thorough to be a random attack. ¡°What about DNA?¡±


    ¡°I ran his hair sample through our pack database. No matches.¡± Matilda shook her head. ¡°He could be a rogue, or from a distant pack we have no records of.¡±


    Matilda then pursed her lips, her eyebrows furrowed.


    ¡°Until...¡± she said, trailing off.


    ¡°Until?¡± Lucas prompted, noticing her hesitation. He raised an eyebrow in question.


    Matilda sighed deeply. ¡°Until I saw this.¡±


    She pulled out a stack of photographs and spread them across the desk. They showed close-ups of the dead kidnapper¡¯s skin, focusing on his left shoulder de. There, burned into the flesh with what appeared to be silver, was a distinct symbol¡ªa wolf howling at the sun.


    Lucas leaned forward, studying the brand. ¡°A wolf and the sun? That¡¯s unusual.¡±


    Wolves are typically associated with the full moon and were considered creatures of the night.


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Matilda nodded. ¡°But the strangest thing is that this symbol seems familiar to me. I feel like I¡¯ve seen it before, but I can¡¯t ce where.¡±


    Lucas picked up one of the photos, examining it more closely. ¡°Could it be a pack symbol? Perhaps from one of the northern territories?¡±


    ¡°Possibly. But most pack symbols are registered in the council archives. This one...¡± She trailed off, her brow furrowing. ¡°It feels older somehow.¡±


    Another knock interrupted them. Lucas looked up to see Levi standing in the doorway, his usually yful expression reced with seriousness.


    ¡°Mind if I join?¡± Levi asked, stepping into the office.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Liam?¡± Lucas asked, gesturing for his brother toe in.


    Levi smirked. ¡°Shopping spree with Hazel. She needs outfits for the party, and he volunteered before either of us could blink, that sneaky bastard.¡±


    Despite the gravity of their current situation, Lucas felt his lips twitch in amusement. ¡°Good. She needs a break after everything that¡¯s happened.¡±


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Levi said, then held up a small notebook. ¡°I have some information about Angeline Bailey¡¯s old contacts.¡±


    Lucas¡¯s attention sharpened. ¡°You found something?¡±


    ¡°I decided to go straight to the source,¡± Levi said, leaning against the desk. ¡°I talked to Mom.¡±


    ¡°And she actually told you something?¡± Lucas was genuinely surprised. Their mother had always been tight-lipped about Hazel¡¯s parents, especially Angeline.


    ¡°Not willingly,¡± Levi admitted with a mischievous grin. ¡°But you know how she gets when she¡¯s angry. I pushed her buttons until she let something slip.¡±


    Lucas shook his head, though he couldn¡¯t help but admire his brother¡¯s tactics. ¡°What did you learn?¡±


    ¡°A name¡ªEsther Perez.¡± Levi flipped open his notebook. ¡°Apparently, she and Angeline were close. Mom mentioned it when she was ranting about ¡®that woman and her troublemaking friends.¡¯¡±


    Lucas turned back to Matilda. ¡°Please continue searching for DNA matches and see if you can ce where you¡¯ve seen that symbol before. This is now our top priority.¡±


    The physician nodded, gathering her materials. ¡°I¡¯ll let you know if I find anything else.¡±


    After Matilda left, Lucas stood and grabbed his coat from the back of his chair. ¡°What else do we know about this Esther Perez?¡±


    Levi pushed away from the desk. ¡°Not much. She¡¯s still alive, living on the outskirts of our territory. Bit of a recluse from what I could gather.¡±


    ¡°Someone who knew Hazel¡¯s mother might have answers about why someone would target her,¡± Lucas said, shrugging into his coat.


    With the new discoveries that hade to light, this attempted kidnapping was getting darker by the second. At first, Lucas had theorized that the kidnapper might¡¯ve wanted to take Hazel as some form of hostage to threaten them as the Alphas of Emberfang, but now, it seemed like Hazel was their primary target after all.


    Not for a mere ransom.


    ¡°That¡¯s what I figured,¡± Levi agreed. ¡°Though Mom seemed pretty hesitant to even mention her name. Makes me think this Esther person might know things our parents don¡¯t want uncovered.¡±


    Lucas¡¯s green eyes shed with determination.


    They had promised Hazel they would get to the bottom of her parents¡¯ mysterious disappearance. Now, it seemed like this kidnapper might just help them get a step closer, along with Angeline Bailey¡¯s old contact.


    ¡°While you¡¯re here,¡± Lucas said, handing Levi the file he had just received from Matilda, ¡°take a look at this.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Levi asked. But once his eyesnded on the documents inside, his expression darkened.


    ¡°Think it¡¯s linked?¡± Lucas asked.


    ¡°Hard to say,¡± Levi replied, ¡°but it might be. This brand...¡±


    ¡°Seared into his skin with silver,¡± Lucas finished his sentence with a coldugh. ¡°I hate to say it, but our mother might just be right.¡±


    Levi suddenly straightened, his eyes widening as he looked at his older brother. ¡°You don¡¯t think that Esther Perez might also be part of them?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what we¡¯re going to find out,¡± Lucas said. ¡°Let¡¯s pay Miss Perez a visit.¡±

 Chapter 51: Shopping Spree

    <h4>Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Shopping Spree</h4>


    ¡°No, Liam, this is way too expensive.¡± I held up the price tag of the dress he¡¯d picked out, my eyes widening at the numbers.


    Liam snatched the tag from my fingers with a yful smile. ¡°Price doesn¡¯t matter, Hazel. You deserve nice things.¡±


    We stood in the middle of Luxe Boutique, the fanciest store in Emberfang Mall. All around us were clothes that cost more than I made in months as the Sullivan family¡¯s maid. The glossy marble floors and crystal chandeliers made me feel even more out of ce.


    ¡°But I can find something nice at a different store,¡± I protested. ¡°Something more reasonable.¡±


    Liam shook his head, his dark brown hair falling across his forehead. Those green eyes with golden flecks¡ªidentical to his brothers¡¯¡ªfixed on me with determination.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t just any party, Hazel. It¡¯s your first time attending as our future Luna.¡± His voice softened. ¡°I want everyone to see you the way I do.¡±


    My heart fluttered. Among the triplets, Liam had always been the kinder one, but this new attentiveness still took some getting used to.


    ¡°And how¡¯s that?¡± I asked, genuinely curious.


    ¡°Beautiful.¡± He said it simply, without the teasing edge Levi would have added or themanding tone Lucas might have used. ¡°Stunning. Perfect.¡±


    My cheeks warmed. ¡°Fine. But I¡¯m trying on the less expensive pieces first.¡±


    ¡°Deal,¡± he agreed, though his grin told me he had no intention of letting me leave without several high-end outfits.


    Thirty minutester, I¡¯d tried on five dresses, three pairs of jeans, and countless tops. Liam insisted on seeing each outfit, offering sincerepliments that made my insides melt. The pile of ¡°approved¡± clothes grewrger than I wasfortable with.


    ¡°You need to try this one too,¡± Liam said, appearing at the fitting room door with yet another hanger. ¡°I think it¡¯ll be perfect for the party.¡±


    I peeked out from behind the door, reaching for what I assumed was another dress. Instead, my fingers closed around silky fabric that was decidedly not a dress. When I pulled it into the fitting room, I realized it was a bikini¡ªa very small, very revealing navy blue bikini with gold ents.


    ¡°Liam!¡± I opened the door a crack to see him standing there with a mischievous smile. ¡°Why would I need this for the party?¡±


    ¡°Sophia has a pool,¡± he replied innocently, though his eyes gleamed. ¡°Her parties usually end up with everyone swimming. Trust me, it¡¯ll be fun.¡±


    ¡°But this is...¡± I held up the triangle top that would barely cover anything.


    ¡°Perfect for you,¡± he finished, leaning against the wall outside my fitting room. ¡°At least try it on? For me?¡±


    I sighed, closing the door. ¡°The things I do for you Sullivans,¡± I muttered, knowing full well he could hear me with his wolf senses.


    His chuckle from the other side sent warmth spreading through me.


    I slipped out of the sundress I¡¯d been modeling and carefully put on the bikini, adjusting the pieces as best I could. Looking in the mirror, I barely recognized myself. The navy fabric contrasted beautifully with my fair skin, and the cut entuated curves I didn¡¯t know I had.


    Still, it was so revealing. The bottoms sat low on my hips, and the top...well, it left little to the imagination.


    ¡°Are you done yet?¡± Liam called.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think this is appropriate,¡± I called back, still studying my reflection. ¡°It¡¯s too...small.¡±


    ¡°Let me see,¡± he insisted.


    I cracked open the door, intending to just peek out and tell him no way. But before I could speak, his eyes widened, taking in what little of me was visible through the gap.


    ¡°Hazel,¡± he breathed, his voice suddenly lower.


    There was a gentle knock on the door, and I opened it slightly wider, nning to exin why I couldn¡¯t possibly wear this in public. Instead, Liam slipped inside the small fitting room, closing the door behind him.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± I whispered frantically, pointing to the sign on the door. ¡°It says one person per fitting room!¡±


    Liam stepped closer, his tall frame making the small space seem even tinier. ¡°They¡¯ll never know,¡± he said with a shrug. ¡°And even if they did, they wouldn¡¯t stop me.¡±


    His eyes traveled slowly over my body, and I resisted the urge to cover myself. The heat in his gaze made me feel powerful in a way I¡¯d never experienced before.


    ¡°You¡¯re beautiful, Hazel,¡± he said softly, sincerity ringing in every word. ¡°So damn beautiful it hurts to look at you sometimes.¡±


    Unlike when Leviplimented me with flirty remarks or when Lucas praised me with intense focus, Liam¡¯s admiration felt like warm sunshine¡ªgenuine and life-giving.


    ¡°You really think so?¡± I asked, surprised by the boldness in my own voice.


    ¡°I know so.¡± He stepped closer, his fingers brushing the bare skin at my waist. ¡°Everyone at that party will be looking at you. But you¡¯ll only be mine¡ªours.¡±


    The possessive edge to his words sent a thrill through me. I noticed his breathing growing heavier, his pupils dting as he looked at me. The front of his jeans tightened visibly, and I felt my lower stomach clench in anticipation.


    Feeling braver than I¡¯d ever been, I looped my arms around his neck and leaned in until our bodies were almost touching.


    ¡°Is something wrong, Alpha?¡± I asked with a coy smile. ¡°You seem awfully red.¡±


    Liam growled low in his throat, a sound that vibrated through my entire body. His hands moved to my hips, gripping them firmly as he backed me against the fitting room wall.


    ¡°You¡¯re ying with fire,¡± he murmured, his lips brushing my ear.


    ¡°Maybe I want to get burned,¡± I whispered back.


    That was all it took. His mouth crashed down on mine, hungry and demanding. My fingers tangled in his dark hair as his hands explored the bare skin of my back, my waist, my thighs. Every touch left a trail of heat that pooled low in my belly.


    He broke the kiss to trail his lips down my neck, and I bit my lip to keep from moaning out loud. We were still in a public ce, after all.


    ¡°I¡¯ve wanted this for so long,¡± Liam confessed against my skin. ¡°Wanted you.¡±


    His hand slipped under the edge of my bikini top, and I gasped at the sensation of his fingers against my sensitive skin. My head fell back against the wall as he continued his exploration, his other hand moving dangerously high on my thigh.


    ¡°We shouldn¡¯t,¡± I breathed, even as my body arched into his touch. ¡°Not here.¡±


    ¡°Just say the word, and I¡¯ll stop,¡± he whispered, his fingers pausing their movement.


    But I didn¡¯t want him to stop. Not now, not when every cell in my body was crying out for more of him.


    Instead of answering, I pulled his face back to mine and kissed him deeply.

 Chapter 52: Afterglow

    <h4>Chapter 52: Chapter 52: Afterglow</h4>


    (Trigger Warning: This Chapter contains explicit content and is intended for mature readers.)


    Liam¡¯s body pressed against mine, pinning me to the fitting room wall. Our kisses grew desperate as his hands worked magic against my skin. The tiny bikini that had seemed so scandalous minutes ago was now pushed aside, barely hanging on my body.


    ¡°Liam,¡± I gasped as his fingers explored between my thighs. ¡°Please.¡±


    He looked into my eyes, his pupils blown wide with desire. ¡°Tell me what you want, Hazel.¡±


    ¡°You,¡± I whispered. ¡°Now.¡±


    That was all the permission he needed. In seconds, he had his jeans unbuttoned and lowered just enough. He lifted me against the wall, my legs wrapping around his waist instinctively.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± he asked, his voice strained with the effort of holding back.


    I nodded, beyond words. The mate bond between us pulsed with need, drawing us together like mas. When he finally pushed inside me, I had to bite his shoulder to keep from crying out.


    ¡°God, Hazel,¡± he groaned against my neck. ¡°You feel incredible.¡±


    The small space filled with our hushed moans and the sound of skin against skin. Each thrust drove me higher, the tension building low in my belly. Liam¡¯s movements grew more urgent, his breathing ragged against my ear.


    ¡°That¡¯s it, baby,¡± he encouraged when he felt me tightening around him. ¡°Let go for me.¡±


    His words pushed me over the edge. Pleasure crashed through me in waves as I clung to him, trembling. Secondster, he followed, burying his face in my neck to muffle his groan as he found his release.


    For a moment, we stayed locked together, breathing hard, our bodies slick with sweat. Reality slowly crept back in as our heartbeats settled. I was half-naked in a store fitting room, wrapped around Liam Sullivan, the boy who had once made my life miserable.


    But that boy was gone. The man holding me now looked at me with something close to worship in his eyes.


    ¡°You¡¯re perfect,¡± he murmured, kissing me softly as he lowered my feet back to the ground.


    Before I could respond, a sharp knock on the door made us both freeze.


    ¡°Is everything alright in there?¡± a female voice called. ¡°You¡¯ve been in there quite a while.¡±


    Liam cleared his throat, but his voice still came out husky when he answered. ¡°Everything¡¯s fine. Just deciding between a few options.¡±


    I pressed my face against his chest to stifle my giggle, feeling like a teenager caught doing something naughty.


    ¡°Of course, sir. Please let me know if you need any assistance.¡± The store attendant¡¯s tone was professional, but I detected a knowing note in her voice.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Liam replied. ¡°We¡¯ll be out shortly.¡±


    We heard her heels clicking away across the marble floor. Only then did I dare look up at Liam, whose expression was part amusement, part satisfied male pride.


    ¡°She totally knows what we were doing in here,¡± I whispered, mortification setting in as I quickly fixed my bikini and grabbed for my clothes.


    Liam chuckled, tucking himself back into his jeans. ¡°Definitely.¡±


    ¡°This is so embarrassing!¡± I hissed, pulling my shirt over my head. ¡°How am I supposed to walk out there now?¡±


    ¡°With your head held high.¡± He caught my hand, stopping my frantic dressing. ¡°Hey, look at me.¡±


    I reluctantly met his eyes.


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing to be ashamed of. We¡¯re mates. This is natural.¡±


    ¡°Having sex in a public fitting room is natural?¡± I asked skeptically.


    ¡°When you¡¯re with someone as beautiful as you?¡± He grinned. ¡°Absolutely unavoidable.¡±


    Despite my embarrassment, Iughed. ¡°You Sullivans and your charm.¡±


    ¡°So, getting back to shopping,¡± he said casually, as if we hadn¡¯t just had mind-blowing sex against the wall. ¡°I think we should take everything you¡¯ve tried on.¡±


    I blinked, remembering the mountain of clothes I¡¯d modeled for him. ¡°Everything? Liam, there must be fifteen outfits out there!¡±


    ¡°So?¡± He shrugged, redoing the buttons on his shirt that I¡¯d apparently ripped open. I didn¡¯t even remember doing that.


    ¡°That¡¯s thousands of dors!¡±


    ¡°And you¡¯re worth every penny.¡± He kissed my forehead. ¡°Besides, after our little fitting room adventure, it¡¯s the polite thing to do.¡±


    ¡°How do you figure that?¡± I asked, running my fingers through my tangled hair.


    ¡°Well, we just used their fitting room for activities it wasn¡¯t designed for.¡± His eyes twinkled mischievously. ¡°The least I can do is be a good customer.¡±


    I rolled my eyes but couldn¡¯t help smiling. ¡°You¡¯re incorrigible.¡±


    ¡°I believe the word you¡¯re looking for is ¡®generous.¡¯¡± Liam smoothed down his rumpled shirt. ¡°Now, get dressed so we can pay and leave before the manager figures out exactly what happened in here.¡±


    Ten minutester, we approached the register with an armful of clothes, including the navy bikini. The store attendant¡ªa sleek blonde with perfect makeup¡ªgave us a knowing smile that made my cheeks burn.


    ¡°Find everything you were looking for?¡± she asked pleasantly.


    ¡°And more,¡± Liam replied, not missing a beat. ¡°We¡¯ll take all of these.¡±


    Her eyes widened slightly as she began scanning the items. The total climbed higher and higher, but Liam didn¡¯t even flinch when the final amount appeared on the screen. He simply handed over his ck credit card as if spending a small fortune on clothes was an everyday urrence.


    For him, I supposed it was.


    As we left the store with our many shopping bags, I couldn¡¯t help but feel a strange mixture of emotions.


    ¡°And what¡¯s with that smile on your face?¡± Liam asked, raising an eyebrow with a doting smile on his lips.


    ¡°Can¡¯t a girl be happy?¡± I asked back teasingly.


    ¡°Of course you can,¡± Liam said. He bent down and pressed a kiss to the top of my head. ¡°But with that giant grin on your face, I might be misunderstanding it as a sign you¡¯re looking for round two. Maybe I¡¯ll let the store attendant know I¡¯ll be renting their fitting room for the rest of the day¡ª¡±


    I blushed, smacking his arm as heughed at my embarrassment.


    ¡°Ready for our next stop?¡± Liam asked, taking most of the bags from my hands.


    I nodded. For the first time, I would be attending as something other than the Sullivan family¡¯s maid. I would be there as their mate, wearing clothes that made me feel beautiful and confident.


    ¡°You know,¡± I said as we walked through the mall, ¡°I¡¯m actually really looking forward to this party now.¡±

 Chapter 53: The Party

    <h4>Chapter 53: Chapter 53: The Party</h4>


    My stomach twisted into knots as Lucas¡¯s sleek ck SUV pulled up to the curb outside Sophia¡¯s house. I¡¯d never been to a real party before¡ªnot as a guest, anyway. Usually, I was the one cleaning up after the Sullivans¡¯vish gatherings.


    ¡°You look beautiful,¡± Lucas said from the driver¡¯s seat, his green eyes meeting mine in the rearview mirror.


    I smoothed down the front of my new emerald dress¡ªone of many outfits from our shopping spree. ¡°I¡¯m not sure I belong here.¡±


    Liam squeezed my hand. ¡°Of course you do. You¡¯re our mate.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s exactly what makes me nervous,¡± I admitted. ¡°Everyone will be watching me.¡±


    Levi leaned forward from the backseat. ¡°Let them watch. They¡¯ll just be jealous that we got the prettiest girl in the pack.¡±


    Hispliment made me smile despite my anxiety. I took a deep breath and reminded myself that this was my new reality. Being with Lucas, Liam, and Levi meant I would someday be Luna of the Emberfang Pack. I needed to start gettingfortable in the spotlight.


    ¡°Remember,¡± Lucas said, his voice taking on that authoritative tone that sent shivers down my spine, ¡°you¡¯re not just anyone, Hazel. You¡¯re our mate¡ªthe future Luna of this pack. Hold your head high.¡±


    I nodded, squaring my shoulders. ¡°Okay. I¡¯m ready.¡±


    But as we stepped out of the car, I realized I wasn¡¯t ready at all.


    Sophia¡¯s ¡°house¡± was actually a sprawling mansion on the edge of pack territory, and it was packed with people. Music pulsed from inside, and the frontwn was dotted with groups chatting andughing. This wasn¡¯t just a small get-together¡ªit was a full-blown event.


    ¡°I thought this was going to be a small party with a few friends,¡± I whispered, panic rising in my chest.


    ¡°Wee to pack social life,¡± Levi grinned, cing his hand on the small of my back. ¡°It¡¯s never small.¡±


    Before I could protest, Sophia came rushing down the front steps. Her fiery red hair was styled in loose waves, and she wore a short red dress that hugged her curves andplemented her hair.


    ¡°Hazel! You came!¡± She pulled me into a hug. ¡°And you brought your men. Perfect!¡± She turned to the triplets and smiled with teasing propriety. ¡°Wee to my humble abode, Alphas.¡±


    ¡°This is... a lot of people,¡± I managed to say.


    Sophia waved dismissively. ¡°Just a few pack members and some neighboring wolves. Come on, let me show you around. Callum is here somewhere¡ªI saw him by the pool earlier.¡±


    ¡°Woah, hold it,¡± Levi said, stepping forward. ¡°You¡¯ve got wolves from neighboring packs too?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ve all registered with the office for a temporary visitation pass,¡± Sophia said with a pout. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯ve hired some security staff as well to make sure there are no strays mixed in.¡±


    The triplets shared a look but otherwise didn¡¯t say a word. Taking their silence as approval, Sophia grinned.


    She linked her arm through mine and led us inside.


    The house was even more impressive on the inside, with high ceilings and modern furnishings. Every room we passed was filled with people drinking,ughing, and dancing. True to Liam¡¯s word, the backyard featured a massive pool where several people were sshing around or lounging on floating chairs.


    What struck me most was how people reacted to our group. The crowd literally parted as we walked through.


    Some nodded respectfully to the triplets, acknowledging their status as future Alphas. Others stared openly, whispering to their friends. Several girls squealed when they spotted Lucas, Liam, and Levi, while their eyes narrowed when they saw me beside them.


    A few guys let their gazes linger on me a bit too long, eyes traveling down my body in a way that made my skin crawl. Their stares didn¡¯tst long, though. Lucas stepped forward, wrapping his arm possessively around my waist and fixing them with a re that could freeze fire. The message was clear¡ªback off.


    ¡°Everyone¡¯s staring,¡± I muttered, pressing closer to Lucas¡¯s side.


    ¡°Let them,¡± he replied, his thumb stroking small circles on my hip. ¡°They¡¯re just getting used to seeing us together.¡±


    As we continued our tour, I noticed more and more people turning to look. I caught snippets of their whispered conversations.


    ¡°That¡¯s the maid?¡±


    ¡°How did she end up with all three of them?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s their mate? All of them?¡±


    Heat rose to my cheeks, but I remembered Lucas¡¯s words and kept my head high. This was my new life, and I needed to own it.


    We reached arge living room that had been transformed into a dance floor, where dozens of people were moving to the beat of a popr song. Sophia suddenly squealed and waved to a group of girls across the room.


    ¡°Oh! My friends are here,¡± she said, already backing away. ¡°I need to say hi. You guys have fun, okay? Drinks are in the kitchen, food is on the back patio, and feel free to use any of the rooms¡ªexcept the ones with closed doors.¡± She winked before disappearing into the crowd.


    Lucas¡¯s hand tightened on my waist. ¡°What do you want to do first?¡±


    I looked around at the party in full swing. People were dancing,ughing, drinking¡ªhaving the kind of fun I¡¯d only ever watched from the sidelines for years.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± I admitted. ¡°I¡¯ve never really been to a party as a guest before.¡±


    ¡°We could get drinks,¡± Liam suggested.


    ¡°Or find somewhere quiet to talk,¡± Lucas added.


    Levi wiggled his eyebrows yfully. ¡°Or find one of those rooms with open doors.¡±


    Iughed and shook my head at him. ¡°Behave yourself.¡±


    ¡°Never,¡± he replied with a wink.


    I was about to suggest we find Callum when the music changed. The heavy beat dropped into something slower, more sensual, and I recognized the song immediately¡ªit had been ying on the radio constantly, one of those infectious tunes I couldn¡¯t help but dance to when I was alone in my room.


    Without thinking, I grabbed Levi¡¯s hand. ¡°I love this song!¡±


    Liam grinned. ¡°Does that mean you want to dance?¡±


    Instead of answering, I took his hand too, then reached for Lucas. Their surprised expressions made me smile as I pulled all three of them toward the dance floor.

 Chapter 54: Chicken Fight

    <h4>Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Chicken Fight</h4>


    A few hours had passed since we¡¯d first stepped into Sophia¡¯s party.


    The initial nervousness I¡¯d felt had faded, reced by a warm, fuzzy sensation that I suspected was from the drinks I¡¯d had. I¡¯d never been much of a drinker¡ªI¡¯d never had the opportunity¡ªso the couple of fruity cocktails Levi had handed me went straight to my head.


    Now I was in the pool, the cool water a wee relief from the heat of the crowded party. Levi swam circles around me, sshing water yfully as I tried to keep my hair from getting too wet.


    ¡°Stop it!¡± Iughed, sshing him back.


    ¡°Make me,¡± he challenged, swimming closer. His wet hair was slicked back, water droplets clinging to his long eyshes. Even in the dim lighting of the pool area, his green eyes glowed with mischief.


    From a nearby table, Lucas sat with hisptop open, his brow furrowed in concentration. He¡¯d stepped away to handle what he called an ¡°emergency pack matter¡± but had refused to leave the party entirely.


    ¡°Look at him,¡± Levi said, nodding toward his oldest brother. ¡°Always working. Even at a party, he can¡¯t rx.¡±


    ¡°I can hear you,¡± Lucas replied without looking up from his screen. ¡°Someone has to be responsible around here.¡±


    ¡°Being responsible is boring,¡± Levi called back. ¡°You¡¯re missing all the fun.¡±


    Lucas finally nced up, his eyes locking with mine. A small smile yed on his lips. ¡°I¡¯m enjoying the view just fine from here.¡±


    His words sent a shiver down my spine despite the warm night air. I ducked under the water briefly to hide my blush,ing up to find Levi much closer than before.


    ¡°He¡¯s not wrong,¡± Levi murmured, his voice low as he tucked a wet strand of hair behind my ear. ¡°You look incredible wet.¡±


    Before I could respond, a ssh announced someone else entering the pool. Liam appeared beside us, his eyes bright with excitement.


    ¡°Who¡¯s up for a game of chicken fight?¡± he asked, running a hand through his wet hair.


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± I asked.


    Liam¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°You¡¯ve never yed? Basically, one person sits on another person¡¯s shoulders, and you try to knock the other team into the water.¡±


    ¡°I call dibs on being Hazel¡¯s partner!¡± Levi announced, reaching for me.


    Liam shoved him away. ¡°No way. You always drop your partner.¡±


    ¡°That was one time!¡±


    ¡°Three times, actually,¡± Lucas called from his table, still typing away.


    Iughed at their brotherly bickering. It was strange seeing this side of them¡ªyful, normal, almost... sweet. For years, I¡¯d only seen the cruel facade they showed me.


    ¡°I¡¯ll team up with Hazel,¡± Liam decided. ¡°You can find another partner, Lev.¡±


    Levi pouted dramatically. ¡°Who are you guys ying against?¡±


    As if on cue, Sophia appeared at the edge of the pool with Callum beside her. They were both in swimwear, clearly nning to join us.


    ¡°Did someone mention chicken fights?¡± Sophia asked, lowering herself gracefully into the water. ¡°I¡¯m the reigning champion.¡±


    ¡°Not for long,¡± Liam challenged, swimming over to me. ¡°Ready to show them how it¡¯s done, Hazel?¡±


    I nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. I¡¯d never yed games like this¡ªhad never been included in the fun. ¡°I¡¯ll try not to fall.¡±


    ¡°If you fall, I¡¯ll catch you,¡± Liam promised, his voice suddenly serious. Our eyes locked for a moment before he smiled again. ¡°Now, hop on.¡±


    Liam ducked underwater, positioning himself between my legs. I squealed as he stood up, lifting me high above the water¡¯s surface. His hands gripped my thighs firmly, steadying me.


    ¡°Hold on to my head if you need bnce,¡± he instructed, and I cautiously ced my hands on his wet hair.


    Across from us, Callum had lifted Sophia onto his shoulders. She looked confident, raising her hands in a fighting stance.


    ¡°Prepare to lose, new girl!¡± she called out yfully.


    ¡°Knock her over, babe,¡± Liam said, squeezing my legs encouragingly.


    The term of endearment sent a rush of warmth through me that had nothing to do with the alcohol.


    ¡°Ready, set, go!¡± someone shouted, and suddenly we were moving through the water toward Callum and Sophia.


    I reached out, intending to shove Sophia¡¯s shoulders, but she was quicker. Her hands pushed against mine, nearly toppling me backward. I squealed, gripping Liam¡¯s head tighter to regain my bnce.


    ¡°You¡¯ve got this, Hazel!¡± Lucas called from the sidelines, hisptop finally closed.


    Emboldened by his support, I pushed back against Sophia. We grappled back and forth, both of usughing as our partners tried to maintain bnce in the water.


    ¡°Left, Liam! Go left!¡± I directed, trying to outmaneuver them.


    He followed mymand perfectly, giving me the angle I needed to push harder against Sophia. We were locked in a stalemate when suddenly, Callum stopped moving. His body went rigid, his focuspletely gone from the game.


    ¡°Callum?¡± Sophia called down. ¡°What are¡ªwhoa!¡±


    Taking advantage of their distraction, Liam surged forward, allowing me to give Sophia one final push. She tipped backward with a ssh, falling into the water as Callum failed to keep her steady.


    ¡°We won!¡± I cheered, raising my arms in victory. Liam spun us around, hisughter mixing with mine.


    When Sophia resurfaced, she pushed her wet hair from her face. ¡°That wasn¡¯t fair! Callum froze up on me.¡± She turned to him. ¡°What happened?¡±


    Callum wasn¡¯t listening. His gaze was fixed on something¡ªor someone¡ªacross the pool area. His expression was one of awe and shock.


    ¡°I think...¡± he started, his voice barely audible. ¡°I think I just found my mate.¡±


    Without another word, he hauled himself out of the pool and disappeared into the crowd, leaving us all staring after him in surprise.


    ¡°What just happened?¡± I asked as Liam carefully lowered me back into the water.


    Sophia shrugged, climbing out to sit on the pool¡¯s edge. ¡°Mate bonds. They hit you like a truck, don¡¯t they?¡± She winked at me, knowing full well about my situation with the triplets.


    ¡°Should we go after him?¡± I asked, concerned for my friend.


    ¡°Give him a minute,¡± Sophia said. ¡°Finding your mate is... intense. He needs a moment to process.¡±


    ¡°Do you think Callum¡¯s mate is from a different pack?¡± I asked.


    Sophia nodded. ¡°I have a couple of friends from Ironhound, and they¡¯ve brought their friends, and theirs, and theirs... Well, you get the picture. Callum¡¯s fated mate could¡¯ve been from a different pack!¡±

 Chapter 55: Nauseating

    <h4>Chapter 55: Chapter 55: Nauseating</h4>


    Liam and I stood in the shallow end of the pool, watching as Callum rushed off into the crowd. Finding his mate at a random party¡ªwhat were the odds? The excited chatter around us grew louder as more people filtered into the backyard.


    ¡°Do you think he¡¯ll be okay?¡± I asked, turning to Liam.


    Liam¡¯s eyes softened. ¡°Finding your mate is overwhelming, but it¡¯s the best kind of overwhelming.¡± His fingers skimmed my waist underwater. ¡°Trust me on that.¡±


    I felt my cheeks warm. The pool area was packed now, with bodies pressed against each other in every direction. Someone had cranked the music up even louder, making conversation difficult.


    ¡°It¡¯s getting crowded,¡± I pointed out, ncing around at the mass of people. The excitement of winning the chicken fight was wearing off, and a strange queasiness had begun to settle in my stomach.


    Liam nodded. ¡°Yeah, word must have spread about the party.¡± He didn¡¯t seem bothered by the growing crowd, but something about all these strangers was making me feel ustrophobic.


    A wave of nausea hit me suddenly. Thebination of alcohol, excitement, and being jostled around in the water was taking its toll. I pressed a hand to my stomach, trying to breathe through it.


    ¡°I think I need to sit down for a bit,¡± I said, swimming toward the edge of the pool.


    Liam followed closely behind. ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    I pulled myself out of the water, droplets cascading down my body as I made my way to one of the empty lounge chairs.


    ¡°Just feeling a little off.¡± I wrapped a towel around my shoulders, fighting another wave of nausea.


    ¡°Off how?¡± Liam¡¯s brow furrowed with concern as he sat beside me. ¡°You¡¯re looking pale.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m probably not used to drinking,¡± I admitted. ¡°Plus all that spinning during the chicken fight.¡±


    Liam ced his hand on my forehead. ¡°You don¡¯t feel warm. Probably not a fever,¡± he muttered to himself. ¡°Let me get you some water.¡±


    I nodded gratefully. ¡°Thanks. I¡¯m just going to rest here for a bit.¡±


    I wasn¡¯t sure if I could do anything more. The world was starting to spin, and my head throbbed.


    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okay if I leave you?¡± His green eyes searched mine.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, honestly.¡± I forced a smile. ¡°Go have fun. Levi¡¯s right there if I need anything.¡±


    I pointed to where Levi stood several yards away, engaged in animated conversation with someone I didn¡¯t recognize. He caught my eye briefly and gave a quick wink before turning back to his conversation.


    Liam hesitated. His lips were pursed into a thin line. ¡°He¡¯s a little distracted right now.¡±


    ¡°Lucas is here too,¡± I said, gesturing to the table where Lucas worked. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Liam finally said with a sigh. Then, he firmly instructed, ¡°I¡¯ll be back with water in a minute. Don¡¯t move.¡±


    As he walked away, I leaned back on the chair and closed my eyes. The music pounded in my ears, doing nothing to help my queasiness. I tried to focus on my breathing, hoping the sensation would pass.


    A minute turned into five, and there was still no sign of Liam. I sat up slightly, scanning the crowd.


    Lucas remained at his table, now surrounded by several serious-looking wolves I assumed were pack members. Sophia¡¯s party didn¡¯t just have teens and youths around¡ªthere were people who were slightly older as well. Those whom Lucas was speaking to seemed like familiar faces from Alpha Henry¡¯s inner circle.


    Levi was still chatting away,pletely oblivious to my difort.


    Another wave of nausea hit me, stronger this time. I knew I wouldn¡¯t be able to hold it back much longer. Standing on shaky legs, I wrapped the towel tighter around myself and headed toward the house.


    The main floor bathroom had a line stretching into the hallway. I bit my lip, desperately looking around for another option. There had to be another bathroom somewhere in this massive house.


    Making a split-second decision, I headed for the stairs. My wet feet left damp prints on the wooden steps as I climbed, one hand pressed firmly against my rolling stomach.


    The second floor was quieter, with only a few partygoers lingering in the hallway.


    I tried the first door I came to¡ªa bedroom. The second was locked. The third, thankfully, swung open to reveal a bathroom. I rushed inside, barely managing to shut the door before dropping to my knees in front of the toilet.


    Everything I¡¯d consumed that evening came up in a violent heave. I clutched the porcin bowl, my body trembling as I emptied my stomach. When it was finally over, I flushed and leaned back against the cool tiled wall, exhausted.


    After a few minutes of recovery, I pulled myself up to the sink. My reflection looked back at me¡ªpale, with mascara slightly smudged beneath my eyes.


    I sshed water on my face, rinsing away the traces of sickness and trying topose myself. Thankfully, Sophia¡¯s bathrooms were well-equipped with all sorts of things, including make-up wipes. I quickly wiped the smudge away.


    My fingers were still trembling. When I looked down, they were soaked through and wrinkly. For some reason, just the sight of them made my stomach roll in difort, and I grabbed onto the edge of the sink for support before giving myself another ssh.


    For some reason, my body was heating up again. I felt hot and feverish inside.


    The cool water felt heavenly against my flushed skin. I grabbed a hand towel from the rack and patted my face dry.


    As I lowered the towel, I spotted a movement behind me in the mirror. I froze.


    There, in the mirror¡¯s reflection, stood a figure just inside the bathroom doorway¡ªa doorway I was certain I had closed.


    My heart leapt into my throat as I spun around, my wet hair whipping across my face as I came face to face with someone I was hoping and praying wouldn¡¯t be here.

 Chapter 56: Bathroom Confrontation

    <h4>Chapter 56: Chapter 56: Bathroom Confrontation</h4>


    I spun around to find myself face to face with not one but two familiar faces.


    Mnie and Kira stood just inside the doorway, their eyes narrowed with hatred as they shut the door behind them. Both were dressed in skin-tight dresses that hugged every curve¡ªMnie in red and Kira in white. Their makeup was wless, hair styled in borate updos that must have taken hours.


    ¡°Well, well,¡± Mnie sneered, taking a step closer. ¡°If it isn¡¯t the Sullivan triplets¡¯ supposed mate.¡±


    My stomach clenched, and not from nausea this time. ¡°What do you want?¡±


    Kira leaned against the wall, her perfectly manicured nails tapping against the tile. ¡°We want to know how someone like you managed to trick three alphas into thinking you¡¯re their mate.¡±


    I straightened my spine, refusing to be intimidated. ¡°I didn¡¯t trick anyone.¡±


    ¡°Please,¡± Mnie scoffed. ¡°At the triplets¡¯ birthday party, you stood there and said you had no interest in them. Now suddenly you¡¯re their precious mate? Make it make sense.¡±


    The memory of that night shed through my mind¡ªme dering I wanted nothing to do with the Sullivan brothers. How long ago that seemed now.


    ¡°Things change,¡± I said simply, trying to move past them toward the door. Kira blocked my path.


    ¡°You know what doesn¡¯t change?¡± she asked, her voice sickly sweet. ¡°The fact that you¡¯re nothing but a servant girl. A nobody.¡±


    My hands curled into fists at my sides. ¡°Get out of my way.¡±


    Mnie moved to stand beside Kira, forming a wall between me and the exit. ¡°Lucas deserves better than some pathetic orphan ying hard to get. You think you can just waltz into their lives and take what¡¯s ours?¡±


    ¡°Yours?¡± Iughed, the sound harsh even to my own ears. ¡°Last I checked, they dumped both of your asses.¡±


    Kira¡¯s fake smile vanished. ¡°You bitch. You have no idea what you¡¯re talking about.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I think I do,¡± I countered, anger rising in my chest. ¡°You¡¯re just mad because the triplets chose me instead of either of you.¡±


    ¡°Chose you?¡± Mnieughed. ¡°Is that what you think? Do you want to know what Levi said about you when we were together?¡±


    I shouldn¡¯t ask. I knew I shouldn¡¯t. But the words came out anyway. ¡°What?¡±


    Mnie¡¯s lips curved into a cruel smile. ¡°That you were nothing but a charity case. A burden his parents took in out of pity.¡±


    The words stung more than I wanted to admit. ¡°You¡¯re lying.¡±


    ¡°Am I?¡± She took a step closer. ¡°And Lucas? He told Kira he couldn¡¯t wait until you turned eighteen and left the pack for good.¡±


    ¡°Shut up,¡± I growled, feeling my wolf stir inside me.


    Kira joined in, her voice dripping with venom. ¡°It¡¯s true. We¡¯ve allughed about it¡ªhow pathetic you are, following them around like a lost puppy.¡±


    I knew they were trying to get under my skin, but knowledge didn¡¯t make it hurt any less.


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe you.¡±


    ¡°Of course you don¡¯t.¡± Mnie rolled her eyes. ¡°But deep down, you know it¡¯s true. Why would three powerful alphas want someone like you when they could have anyone?¡±


    Something inside me snapped. ¡°Because I¡¯m their mate. Their true fated mate. Something neither of you will ever be.¡±


    Mnie¡¯s face twisted with rage. ¡°You think being their mate means anything? Levi and I fucked on every surface of his bedroom while dating. In fact, we hooked up just a few days before you came into the picture.¡±


    Her lips curled into a vindictive smirk as Kira stepped forward.


    She said with a grin that matched Mnie¡¯s, ¡°Oh, I remember that. It was just the night before their birthday. We sure gave them one hell of a birthday surprise¡ª¡±


    The image her words painted sent a wave of jealousy through me so strong I could barely breathe. Before I could think twice, I lunged forward and shoved her hard.


    Kira stumbled back, her eyes widening in shock before narrowing dangerously. ¡°You¡¯re going to regret that.¡±


    She charged at me, grabbing a fistful of my hair and yanking. I cried out in pain but managed to grab her wrist, twisting until she released me.


    Mnie didn¡¯t stay out of the fight for long. She came at me from the side, her nails raking down my arm. I spun around, using my elbow to create space between us.


    ¡°Is this all you¡¯ve got?¡± I taunted, breathing hard. ¡°No wonder the triplets didn¡¯t want you.¡±


    With a screech of fury, Kira grabbed a bottle of perfume from the counter and hurled it at me. I ducked, and it smashed against the wall behind me. The scent of expensive fragrance filled the air as the fight escted.


    We grappled against the sink, pushing and pulling. Mnie grabbed my towel and yanked it away, leaving me in just my damp bikini. Kira took advantage of the distraction to push me hard against the counter.


    The impact sent pain shooting up my spine, but I didn¡¯t back down. I shoved back with all my strength, sending Kira stumbling into Mnie. They both crashed against the sink on the opposite wall.


    There was a sickening crack, and then the sound of rushing water. The pipe beneath the sink had broken, sending a spray of water across the bathroom. Within seconds, all three of us were soaked.


    ¡°Look what you did!¡± Mnie shrieked, her perfect makeup now running down her face in dark streaks.


    ¡°Me?¡± I shot back. ¡°You¡¯re the ones who started this!¡±


    Water continued to pour from the broken pipe, soaking our feet and spreading across the tiled floor. Kira¡¯s white dress had be nearly transparent, clinging to her body.


    The bathroom door suddenly flew open with a bang. We all froze, turning toward the doorway.


    Lucas stood there, his powerful frame filling the entrance. His eyes took in the scene¡ªthe three of us soaking wet, the bathroom in disarray, water pooling on the floor.


    ¡°What the hell is going on?¡± he demanded, his voice dangerously low.


    Kira¡¯s entire demeanor changed instantly. She rushed forward to where Lucas was standing and pouted, showing off her now see-through white dress.


    ¡°Baby! You¡¯re finally here!¡± she cooed, pressing herself against him. ¡°Look at what that bitch did to me!¡±

 Chapter 57: Confronting the Past

    <h4>Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Confronting the Past</h4>


    Lucas barely spared Kira a nce. His face remained hard as stone as he sidestepped her, pushing past as if she were nothing but an annoying obstacle in his path. His eyes locked on mine instead, filled with concern.


    ¡°Hazel,¡± he said, his voice softer than I¡¯d ever heard it before. He rushed toward me, his hands immediately checking me for injuries. ¡°Are you hurt? What happened?¡±


    The stark contrast between his coldness toward Kira and his tenderness toward me broke something inside me. The tears I¡¯d been holding back spilled over before I could stop them. The sobs came from deep in my chest, ugly and raw.


    ¡°Hey, hey,¡± Lucas murmured, pulling me against his chest. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ve got you.¡±


    His body stiffened as he turned toward Kira and Mnie, who stood watching us with identical expressions of shock and outrage.


    ¡°What did you two do to her?¡± His voice had transformed from gentle concern to pure fury in an instant.


    Kira recovered quickly, stepping forward with her hand outstretched. ¡°Lucas, baby, she attacked us first! Look at my dress¡ªit¡¯s ruined!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t give a damn about your dress,¡± Lucas growled. ¡°What I want to know is why my mate is crying.¡±


    Mnie crossed her arms over her chest. ¡°Your ¡®mate¡¯ is delusional. We were just having a friendly chat when she went crazy and broke the sink.¡±


    I flinched at the tant lie, but Lucas didn¡¯t seem to buy it for a second.


    ¡°Friendly chat?¡± he repeated, his voice dangerously calm. ¡°Is that why she¡¯s in tears while you¡¯re both standing here looking pleased with yourselves?¡±


    ¡°Lucas,¡± Kira purred, moving closer and trailing her fingers down his arm. ¡°Don¡¯t let her fool you. She¡¯s manipting you with those tears. Remember all the good times we had? How could you choose her over someone like me?¡±


    Lucas jerked away from her touch as if burned. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me. Ever again.¡±


    The venom in his voice seemed to finally prate Kira¡¯s confidence. She took a step back, eyes wide.


    ¡°Listen carefully, both of you,¡± Lucas continued, his arm tightening around my shoulders. ¡°Stay away from Hazel. If I hear that either of you has so much as looked at her wrong again, you¡¯ll be out of this pack before you can blink.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t be serious,¡± Mnie scoffed. ¡°You¡¯d choose this... this nobody over pack members who¡¯ve been here forever?¡±


    ¡°This ¡®nobody¡¯ is my mate,¡± Lucas said, each word clipped and precise. ¡°And yes, I would choose her over anyone and everyone. Is that clear enough for you?¡±


    The silence that followed was thick with tension.


    Finally, Kira¡¯s face crumpled into an ugly scowl. She stomped her foot indignantly before she grabbed Mnie¡¯s arm and pulled her toward the door, both of them dripping water across the floor.


    When the door mmed behind them, Lucas immediately turned his full attention to me. His hands cradled my face, thumbs gently wiping away tears.


    ¡°Come on,¡± he said softly. ¡°Let¡¯s get you somewhere dry.¡±


    He led me out of the bathroom and down the hall to what appeared to be a guest bedroom. It was tastefully decorated in neutral tones with arge, plush bed against one wall. Lucas disappeared into an adjoining bathroom and returned with a stack of fluffy towels.


    ¡°Here,¡± he said, wrapping one around my shoulders. He took another and began gently drying my hair. ¡°What happened back there? The truth, please.¡±


    I took a shaky breath. ¡°They cornered me in the bathroom. Started saying things...¡±


    ¡°What things?¡± he pressed when I trailed off.


    ¡°That I was nothing but a charity case. That you and your brothers never wanted me as your mate.¡± I swallowed hard, unable to meet his eyes. ¡°That you... that all of you had been with them before. Intimately.¡±


    Lucas¡¯s hands stilled in my hair. ¡°Is that what they said?¡±


    I nodded miserably. ¡°Mnie said she and Levi were together right before your birthday. And Kira implied the same about you two.¡±


    A muscle ticked in Lucas¡¯s jaw. ¡°And you believed them.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t a question, but I answered anyway. ¡°I don¡¯t know what to believe. Your past rtionships have not exactly been low-key.¡±


    Lucas sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed, pulling me down beside him. ¡°Look at me, Hazel.¡±


    I reluctantly raised my eyes to meet his.


    ¡°Yes, we¡¯ve dated other girls before. But those rtionships weren¡¯t what you think.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± I asked.


    ¡°For me, at least, it was never... serious. I never felt for Kira even a fraction of what I feel for you.¡± His gaze was intense, unwavering. ¡°And I never slept with her. Not once.¡±


    My eyes widened in surprise. ¡°But she¡ª¡±


    ¡°She liked to imply otherwise,¡± Lucas cut in. ¡°It made her feel important. But the truth is, I was never attracted to her that way. Never wanted her the way I want you.¡±


    The sincerity in his voice made something in my chest flutter. ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Really,¡± he confirmed, reaching up to brush a strand of wet hair from my face. ¡°None of them ever meant anything to us. Not the way you do.¡±


    ¡°But they¡¯re so beautiful,¡± I said quietly. ¡°So perfect.¡±


    Lucas actuallyughed at that, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Perfect? Did you see them just now?¡±


    I giggled a little at his words.


    His hand moved to cup my cheek, his thumb tracing my lower lip. ¡°You, Hazel Bailey, are everything. Do you understand me?¡±


    The intensity of his gaze made heat pool low in my belly. When he leaned in, I met him halfway, our lips colliding with newfound urgency. His hand slid to the back of my neck, pulling me closer as his mouth moved against mine with growing hunger.


    I gasped when he nipped at my bottom lip, and he took advantage of my parted lips to deepen the kiss. The towel fell from my shoulders as his hands moved down my back, leaving trails of fire in their wake.


    Lucas shifted us so I was lying back on the bed with him hovering above me, his body pressing me into the mattress. His lips left mine to trace a path down my neck, and I couldn¡¯t hold back a moan when he found a particrly sensitive spot just below my ear.


    ¡°You have no idea how attractive you are,¡± he murmured against my skin.


    His hands skimmed my sides, fingers ying with the edge of my bikini top. Every touch sent shivers racing across my skin, building a need inside me I¡¯d never experienced before.


    When his hand finally cupped my breast over the thin fabric, I arched into his touch, desperate for more. He groaned, the sound vibrating against my neck before he imed my mouth again in a kiss that left me breathless.


    ¡°Lucas...¡± I whispered, my voice shaky with need.


    He pulled back just enough to look into my eyes, his own dark with desire. ¡°What is it, little mate? Tell me what you want.¡±

 Chapter 58: Liquid Courage

    <h4>Chapter 58: Chapter 58: Liquid Courage</h4>


    (Trigger Warning: This Chapter contains explicit content and is intended for mature readers.)


    ¡°What is it, little mate? Tell me what you want.¡±


    The alcohol buzzed through my system, making my inhibitions melt away like ice in summer heat. I reached up, threading my fingers through Lucas¡¯s dark hair, pulling his face closer to mine.


    ¡°I want you,¡± I whispered, my voice huskier than usual. ¡°All of you.¡±


    A wolfish grin spread across his face, a rare sight to see. ¡°You¡¯re drunk, little mate.¡±


    I pouted, pressing my body against his. ¡°Not that drunk. Just... brave.¡±


    Lucas chuckled, the sound vibrating through his chest and into mine. ¡°Is that what we¡¯re calling it?¡±


    ¡°Mmhmm,¡± I hummed, my hands boldly sliding under his shirt, feeling the hard ridges of his abs. The alcohol had given me a confidence I¡¯d never experienced before. ¡°Liquid courage.¡±


    His eyes darkened as my fingers traced the waistband of his shorts. ¡°Hazel...¡±


    ¡°What?¡± I challenged, feeling unusually bold. ¡°Don¡¯t you want me too?¡±


    In answer, Lucas crashed his lips against mine, kissing me with an intensity that stole my breath. His hands moved to the strings of my bikini top, tugging until the fabric fell away.


    ¡°So beautiful,¡± he murmured against my lips as his palms covered my breasts.


    I moaned when his thumbs brushed over my nipples, arching into his touch. The sensation sent sparks of pleasure straight to my core.


    ¡°More,¡± I demanded, tugging at his shirt impatiently.


    Lucas pulled back just enough to yank his shirt over his head, tossing it carelessly to the floor. I drank in the sight of his sculpted chest and shoulders, marveling at how perfect he was.


    ¡°Like what you see?¡± he teased, noticing my stare.


    ¡°Very much,¡± I replied, running my hands over his chest. ¡°Take off your shorts too.¡±


    His eyebrows shot up at my directness, but heplied, standing to remove the rest of his clothes. When he straightened,pletely naked before me, I couldn¡¯t help but stare at his impressive erection.


    ¡°Now you,¡± he said, his voice rough with desire.


    I wiggled out of my bikini bottoms, feeling unusually uninhibited under his hungry gaze. The alcohol had banished my normal self-consciousness, recing it with a wanton need I¡¯d never experienced before.


    Lucas rejoined me on the bed, his warm body covering mine as he kissed me deeply. His hands were everywhere¡ªin my hair, caressing my breasts, sliding down my stomach to tease between my thighs.


    ¡°You¡¯re so wet for me,¡± he groaned, his fingers finding my center.


    I gasped as he began to stroke me, my hips bucking involuntarily. ¡°Lucas... please...¡±


    ¡°Please what?¡± he asked, circling my sensitive bud with his thumb.


    ¡°I need you inside me,¡± I panted, my nails digging into his shoulders.


    Lucas positioned himself between my legs, the tip of his length pressing against my entrance. But instead of pushing forward, he paused, his eyes searching mine.


    ¡°Are you sure about this? You¡¯ve been drinking...¡±


    I wrapped my legs around his waist, pulling him closer. ¡°I¡¯m sure. I want this. I want you.¡±


    With a groan of surrender, he pushed into me slowly, stretching me deliciously. I moaned loudly as he filled mepletely, the sensation so much more intense than I remembered.


    ¡°God, Hazel,¡± he hissed through clenched teeth. ¡°You feel amazing.¡±


    He began to move, his hips rolling against mine in a rhythm that had me seeing stars. Each thrust sent waves of pleasure crashing through me.


    ¡°Faster,¡± I urged, my inhibitionspletely gone. ¡°Harder.¡±


    Lucasplied, his pace increasing as his lips found my neck, sucking and biting at my sensitive skin. The dual sensations had me climbing rapidly toward my peak.


    ¡°Am I better than her?¡± The question tumbled from my lips before I could stop it.


    Lucas stilled for a moment, looking down at me with surprise. ¡°What?¡±


    The alcohol loosened my tongue further. ¡°Kira. Am I better than her?¡±


    Understanding dawned in his eyes, followed quickly by heat. ¡°Hazel, I told you¡ªI never slept with her.¡±


    ¡°But if you had,¡± I persisted, rolling my hips against him impatiently. ¡°Would I be better?¡±


    He resumed his movements, his thrusts deeper and more deliberate now. ¡°There¡¯s noparison. No one could everpare to you.¡±


    His words sent a thrill through me. I reached up, pulling his face down for a passionate kiss.


    ¡°What about the others?¡± I asked against his lips. ¡°Any of them?¡±


    Lucas growled, his pace bing almost punishing. ¡°There is no one else. Only you. Always you.¡±


    The possessiveness in his voice pushed me closer to the edge. I wrapped my legs tighter around him, meeting his thrusts with my own.


    ¡°Tell me you¡¯re mine,¡± he demanded, his hand sliding between us to circle my most sensitive spot.


    ¡°I¡¯m yours,¡± I gasped, pleasure building rapidly.


    ¡°Say my name,¡± hemanded, his fingers working magic against my flesh.


    ¡°Lucas!¡± I cried out, my back arching off the bed.


    ¡°Again,¡± he growled.


    ¡°Lucas, Lucas, Lucas!¡± I chanted as my climax washed over me, my body convulsing with wave after wave of ecstasy.


    He followed me over the edge momentster, his body tensing as he groaned my name against my neck. The feeling of his release inside me prolonged my own pleasure, making me tremble beneath him.


    Wey tangled together afterward, our breathing gradually slowing. Lucas pulled me against his chest, his fingers tracingzy patterns on my back.


    ¡°That was...¡± I trailed off, unable to find the right words.


    ¡°Incredible,¡± he finished for me, pressing a kiss to my forehead.


    I nodded, a satisfied smile spreading across my face. The alcohol still buzzed in my system, making me feel pleasantly warm and uninhibited.


    ¡°Ready for round two?¡± I asked boldly, my hand sliding down his stomach.


    Lucas¡¯s eyes widened in surprise before darkening with renewed desire. ¡°Already?¡±


    ¡°Mmhmm,¡± I hummed, enjoying his sharp intake of breath as my fingers wrapped around him. ¡°Unless you can¡¯t keep up?¡±


    He growled yfully, flipping us so I was straddling him. ¡°Challenge epted, little mate.¡±


    I leaned down, trailing kisses along his jaw and down his neck. His hands gripped my hips as I positioned myself over him, ready to sink down onto his already hardening length.


    Just as our bodies were about to join again, three sharp knocks on the door made me freeze.


    ¡°Lucas? You in there?¡± Liam¡¯s voice called from the other side.


    ¡°We¡¯re looking for Hazel,¡± Levi added, his tone worried. ¡°Is she with you?¡±


    Lucas and I stared at each other, caught between frustration and amusement.


    ¡°Worst timing ever,¡± he muttered under his breath.


    Lucas¡¯s head fell back against the pillows with a groan of frustration that matched the disappointment flooding through me.


    He then raised his voice to answer. ¡°Give us a minute!¡±

 Chapter 59: Drunk

    <h4>Chapter 59: Chapter 59: Drunk</h4>


    "Crap," I muttered, scrambling off Lucas as he pointed to our discarded clothes on the floor.


    My head spun slightly as I stood, making me reach for the bedpost to steady myself. The warm buzz from the alcohol had morphed into something more intense. My limbs felt heavier than before, and the room tilted oddly when I moved too quickly.


    "Hurry," Lucas whispered, tossing my bikini at me while he yanked on his shorts.


    I fumbled with the strings of my top, my fingers suddenly clumsy. Lucas noticed my struggle and came over, deftly tying the straps.


    "You okay?" he asked, brows furrowed.


    "Just a little tipsy," I giggled, swaying into his chest. I wrapped my arms around his waist, pressing my face against his skin. "You smell so good."


    He chuckled, helping me into my coverup. "And you¡¯re definitely drunk."


    Another round of knocking interrupted us.


    "One second!" Lucas called out, making sure I was decent before opening the door.


    Levi and Liam stood in the hallway, both wearing identical expressions of concern that quickly shifted to something else when they caught sight of us¡ªand presumably smelled the obvious scent of sex hanging in the air.


    "Well, well," Levi drawled, his eyes darting between us. "Seems like you two have been busy."


    I giggled, leaning heavily against Lucas¡¯s side. My body felt warm¡ªtoo warm¡ªand my thoughts were swimming in my head like fish in a bowl.


    "We were looking everywhere for you," Liam said, his gaze fixed on me. "Hazel, you don¡¯t look like yourself."


    "I¡¯m fine," I insisted, though my words came out slightly slurred. I rested my head on Lucas¡¯s shoulder, suddenly needing the support. "Just having fun with my mate."


    Levi¡¯s eyes narrowed. "What happened to her?"


    Lucas sighed. "I found her in one of the bathrooms. We came up here to talk, and things... escted."


    "She¡¯s drunk," Levi stated tly, disapproval evident in his voice. "And you had sex with her anyway?"


    "Hey!" I protested, jabbing a finger in Levi¡¯s direction but missingpletely. "Don¡¯t talk about me like I¡¯m not here. And don¡¯t me Lucas. I wanted it."


    I stepped closer to Levi, nearly stumbling. "Maybe you¡¯re just jealous it wasn¡¯t you?"


    Levi¡¯s cheeks flushed crimson, and I knew I¡¯d hit the mark. The thought made me giggle again.


    "That¡ªNo... That¡¯s besides the point!" Levi feebly argued, causing me to chuckle harder.


    The more Iughed, the redder the tips of his ears turned. I was starting to feel light and giddy. Levi was adorable.


    "You¡¯re cute," I said. I stumbled forward, wanting to ce a hand on Levi¡¯s chest only to miss. He reached his arms out and steadied me, causing me to grin. "I bet I feel much better than Mnie ever will."


    "Mnie?" Levi asked, raising an eyebrow in confusion. He looked at Lucas, who sighed in reply.


    "Mnie and Kira tried to pick a fight with her in the bathroom earlier," Lucas said.


    "Well," Levi said. "Shit."


    My lips curled in annoyance when I heard Mnie and Kira¡¯s name spilling from their lips, as though it was the sound of nails against a chalkboard. I pushed myself out of Levi¡¯s arms.


    "I think we should get her home," Liam suggested, reaching out to steady me as I swayed dangerously. "She¡¯s too drunk."


    "I¡¯m not¡ª" I started, then felt my stomach lurch. I pressed a hand to my mouth, swallowing hard against the sudden nausea. "Okay, maybe I am a little drunk."


    "A little?" Lucas raised an eyebrow.


    I tried to take another step but stumbled. All three brothers moved to catch me, their hands steadying me from different sides.


    Liam¡¯s expression turned serious. "How much did she drink, Lucas?"


    Lucas frowned. "She didn¡¯t take any new drinks by the time I found her, and she seemed fine before."


    A wave of nausea rolled through me suddenly, making me p a hand over my mouth. The triplets tensed, but I managed to swallow it back, grimacing at the taste.


    "I¡¯m fine," I insisted, though the room had started to spin more noticeably. "Just need to sit down for a sec."


    Liam¡¯s cool hand pressed against my forehead. "You¡¯re burning up, Hazel."


    I couldn¡¯t hear him well. Their voices seemed to be blurring together in the background.


    Instead, all I heard was a ringing in my ears. I scratched at my top. It felt like my skin was on fire.


    "Her temperature¡¯s rising," Levi replied, his hand on my neck while Liam¡¯s hand pried my fingers away from the bikini strings I was trying to untie. "This isn¡¯t normal."


    "I still want to party," I insisted, though my body was sending serious distress signals. My skin felt feverish, and sweat beaded on my forehead. "I haven¡¯t even seen Callum¡¯s new mate yet!"


    "You can meet her another time," Liam said gently.


    "But¡ª"


    "Yep. We¡¯re going home," Liam dered, his tone brooking no argument.


    "But I don¡¯t wanna..." I whined, even as my stomach churned unpleasantly.


    Lucas wrapped an arm around my waist. "Come on, little mate. Let¡¯s go."


    The four of us made our way downstairs, with me sandwiched between the triplets. Every step made my head spin more, and my body temperature seemed to rise by the second. Why was it so hot?


    As we reached the main floor, Sophia appeared in front of us, her red hair gleaming under the party lights.


    "Where are you all going?" she asked, then focused on me. "Hazel? Are you okay?"


    I tried to answer, but the room was spinning too fast. Lucas still had his arm around me, holding me upright.


    "She¡¯s had too much to drink," Lucas exined. "We¡¯re taking her home."


    Sophia frowned, studying my face. "She looks worse than just drunk. Are you sure she¡¯s okay?"


    "M¡¯fine," I slurred, but even I could tell that wasn¡¯t true. My skin burned, my vision blurred, and my stomach was performing somersaults.


    "She was fine earlier," Levi said, concern deepening his voice. "But she seems to be getting worse by the minute."


    "Maybe we should call Matilda," Liam suggested.


    I opened my mouth to argue, but instead of words, a different sensation overwhelmed me. My stomach rebelled violently, and before I could even turn away, I vomited...


    Directly onto Sophia¡¯s dress.

 Chapter 60: Burning Up

    <h4>Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Burning Up</h4>


    Gasps erupted around us as my stomach contents sttered all over Sophia¡¯s beautiful dress. The music screeched to a halt, leaving only shocked silence in its wake. Everyone at the party froze, their eyes locked on the disaster I¡¯d just created.


    My head spun wildly as I tried to process what had just happened. Horror washed over me through the haze of whatever was affecting my system.


    ¡°Oh my god, Sophia, I¡¯m so sorry,¡± I slurred, mortified. I tried to reach for her, but my limbs wouldn¡¯t cooperate properly. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to¡ª¡±


    Sophia stood motionless, her eyes wide with shock as she stared down at her ruined dress. The pretty fabric was now covered in my vomit. Her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out.


    ¡°We¡¯ll pay for the dress,¡± Lucas stepped in quickly, his arm still firmly around my waist to keep me standing. ¡°I apologize for the inconvenience.¡±


    Liam grabbed some napkins from a nearby table and awkwardly offered them to Sophia. ¡°We¡¯re really sorry about this.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s... it¡¯s fine,¡± Sophia finally managed, though her voice was faint. She epted the napkins with trembling hands. ¡°Is she okay? She looks really sick.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re taking her home right now,¡± Levi said, his voice tight with concern. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go.¡±


    The triplets practically carried me through the crowd that parted like the Red Sea before us. The cool night air hit my face as we exited, but it did nothing to soothe the burning sensation spreading through my body.


    ¡°Car. Now,¡± Lucas ordered, fishing keys from his pocket.


    They hustled me into the backseat of Lucas¡¯s sleek ck SUV. Liam slid in beside me while Levi took the passenger seat. Lucas jumped behind the wheel and peeled away from the curb.


    ¡°There¡¯s water in the glovepartment,¡± Lucas said, his eyes meeting mine briefly in the rearview mirror.


    Levi retrieved a bottle and passed it back to Liam, who unscrewed the cap and held it to my lips.


    ¡°Small sips, Hazel,¡± he instructed gently.


    I obeyed, letting the cool liquid slide down my throat. It felt good for a moment, but then my body temperature seemed to spike even higher.


    ¡°So hot,¡± I whimpered, wing at the neckline of my coverup. ¡°Why is it so hot?¡±


    Liam caught my hands. ¡°Shh, don¡¯t tear your clothes. Here.¡±


    He grabbed some tissues from apartment in the door and began dabbing at my forehead and neck. I leaned into his touch, desperate for relief.


    ¡°Something¡¯s not right,¡± Liam muttered, pressing his wrist to my forehead. ¡°She¡¯s burning up.¡±


    Lucas¡¯s knuckles whitened on the steering wheel. ¡°How much did she drink?¡±


    ¡°Just a couple,¡± I mumbled, letting my head fall against Liam¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Maybe three? But I started feeling weird after that blue one.¡±


    The brothers exchanged meaningful nces.


    ¡°Blue one?¡± Levi questioned, turning in his seat to face me. ¡°What blue drink, Hazel?¡±


    I tried to remember through the fog in my brain. ¡°Don¡¯t know,¡± I said. ¡°A girl gave me a blue drink and left.¡±


    ¡°What did she look like?¡± Levi continued to press.


    ¡°Brte,¡± I muttered, slowly losing consciousness. I fought to keep myself awake. ¡°I think she wore pink. Very nice silver boots.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like Mia,¡± Liam said, frowning. ¡°Annie¡¯s best friend.¡±


    ¡°Fuck,¡± Lucas growled, elerating the car. ¡°I¡¯m going to kill her.¡±


    Just then, Levi¡¯s head snapped up, nostrils ring. ¡°Do you smell that?¡±


    Liam inhaled deeply, then his eyes widened. ¡°Holy shit.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Lucas demanded.


    ¡°There¡¯s a scent,¡± Levi exined, his voice tight. ¡°Sweet. Like honey and vani and¡ª¡±


    ¡°And heat,¡± Liam finished, his gaze now fixed on me with an intensity that made my insides clench.


    Lucas sniffed the air, then cursed under his breath. ¡°It¡¯sing from Hazel.¡±


    My skin prickled at their words. Heat? As in...


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible,¡± I protested weakly. ¡°It¡¯s not my time. And it¡¯s never been like this before.¡±


    My cycle had always been regr and manageable. Nothing like the inferno currently consuming me from within.


    Liam¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°I think I know what happened. Someone spiked her drink. Probably with heat inducers.¡±


    ¡°Heat inducers?¡± I whispered, panic rising in my chest.


    ¡°Illegal substances that trigger and intensify a she-wolf¡¯s heat,¡± Levi exined grimly. ¡°Usually used by assholes who¡ª¡±


    ¡°Not now, Levi,¡± Lucas cut him off, elerating even more.


    The burning sensation was spreading lower now, pooling between my thighs. An ache was building there, insistent and demanding. I squeezed my legs together, but it only made the feeling worse.


    ¡°I don¡¯t feel right,¡± I whimpered, shifting restlessly in my seat.


    Liam ced a steadying hand on my knee, but quickly withdrew it when I moaned at the contact. His pupils dted, and he shifted away slightly.


    ¡°We¡¯re almost home,¡± Lucas assured me, his voice strained. ¡°Just hang on, Hazel.¡±


    By the time we pulled into the driveway of the Sullivan mansion, I was panting, my skin slick with sweat. Every brush of fabric against my body felt like torture. The brothers practically carried me inside and up the stairs, moving with urgent purpose.


    ¡°My room,¡± I gasped as we passed it.


    They changed course immediately, pushing open my door and guiding me to my bed. I copsed onto it, writhing as waves of heat and need crashed through me.


    ¡°Lucas, call Matilda,¡± Liam instructed. ¡°She¡¯ll know what to do.¡±


    Lucas nodded grimly, pulling out his phone and stepping into the hallway.


    Left alone with Levi and Liam, I became acutely aware of their scents¡ªwoodsy and wild, with hints of spice. My wolf stirred, wing at me from within, desperate to get closer to them.


    ¡°Please,¡± I moaned, not even sure what I was begging for. ¡°It hurts.¡±


    ¡°What hurts, sweetheart?¡± Levi asked, hovering uncertainly near the bed.


    ¡°Everything,¡± I gasped, arching my back as another wave of heat washed over me. ¡°I¡¯m burning up.¡±


    Liam approached cautiously, sitting on the edge of the bed. ¡°Matilda will be here soon. She¡¯ll have something to help.¡±


    I reached out blindly, grabbing his wrist. The contact sent electricity shooting through me, and I moaned again, louder this time.


    ¡°Touch me,¡± I pleaded, past the point of embarrassment. ¡°Please, I need...¡±


    ¡°Hazel,¡± Liam said, his voice strangled. ¡°You¡¯re not thinking clearly.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care,¡± I whimpered, tears forming in my eyes. ¡°It hurts so much. Please, you have to help me.¡±


    Levi approached from the other side of the bed, his eyes dark with concern and something else¡ªdesire, barely contained.


    ¡°Matilda¡¯s on her way,¡± Lucas announced, re-entering the room. He stopped short when he saw me clutching Liam¡¯s wrist, my body writhing on the bed.


    ¡°Please,¡± I begged again, looking desperately between Liam and Levi. My inhibitions hadpletely vanished, reced by primal need. ¡°I can¡¯t stand it. Help me. Make it stop.¡±


    The brothers exchanged troubled nces, the tension in the room thick enough to cut with a knife.


    ¡°Please,¡± I whispered one more time, tears streaming down my cheeks. ¡°I need you to make this pain go away.¡±

 Chapter 61: Shatter For Me

    <h4>Chapter 61: Chapter 61: Shatter For Me</h4>


    (Trigger Warning: This Chapter contains explicit content and is intended for mature readers.)


    Lucas paced at the foot of my bed, his jaw clenched tight as he watched me writhe in agony. The heat inducer was ravaging my system, turning my blood to fire and my core into a pulsing, aching void that demanded to be filled.


    ¡°Matilda says there are only two options,¡± Lucas announced, his voice strained. ¡°Either we wait it out, which couldst up to twenty-four hours with this much pain, or...¡±


    ¡°Or what?¡± I gasped, clutching the sheets as another wave of burning need crashed through me.


    Lucas looked at his brothers, then back to me. ¡°Or we help you through it.¡±


    ¡°Help me,¡± I begged without hesitation. My pride was long gone, reced by desperate, primal need. ¡°Please, I can¡¯t take this.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Liam asked, his eyes filled with concern. ¡°You¡¯re not thinking clearly right now, Hazel.¡±


    I grabbed his hand, pulling him closer. ¡°I¡¯ve never been more sure of anything. I need you. All of you.¡±


    The triplets exchanged looks, having a silent conversation with their eyes. Finally, Lucas nodded.


    ¡°We¡¯ll help you,¡± Lucas said firmly.


    Levi went to close and lock the door while Liam sat beside me, brushing sweat-dampened hair from my face. His touch sent sparks across my skin.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go first,¡± Liam said softly.


    I nodded frantically, already tugging at my clothes. Everything touching my skin felt unbearable.


    Liam¡¯s warm hands reced mine, carefully lifting my top over my head. Cool air hit my heated skin, bringing momentary relief.


    ¡°You¡¯re so beautiful,¡± Liam whispered, his eyes darkening as he gazed at my exposed chest.


    Lucas and Levi stood back, giving us space but watching with intensity that made my heart race even faster.


    Liam¡¯s fingers trailed down my sternum, leaving goosebumps in their wake. When he reached the waistband of my shorts, he hesitated.


    ¡°Please,¡± I whimpered, lifting my hips in silent invitation.


    He hooked his fingers into the stic and slowly pulled down, taking my underwear with them. I waspletely bare before him now, my skin flushed pink with heat and desire.


    ¡°I¡¯ll make you feel better,¡± Liam promised, his voice husky as he quickly stripped off his own clothes.


    My eyes widened at the sight of his naked body. He was magnificent¡ªall lean muscle and smooth skin. And he was ready for me, very ready.


    Liam positioned himself between my legs, his hands gently spreading my thighs. ¡°I¡¯ll go slow.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± I gasped, reaching for him. ¡°I need you now.¡±


    He leaned down, capturing my lips in a surprisingly tender kiss that contrasted with the urgency of our situation. His tongue swept into my mouth as his hand slipped between us, finding me hot and beyond ready.


    ¡°So wet,¡± he groaned against my lips. ¡°All for us?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± I panted, arching into his touch as his fingers explored my slick folds. ¡°Please, Liam.¡±


    He aligned himself with my entrance, his eyes locked on mine as he slowly pushed forward. The stretch was intense, but the relief was immediate. My wolf howled in satisfaction as he filled mepletely.


    ¡°Gods, Hazel,¡± Liam moaned, his forehead pressed against mine as he held still inside me. ¡°You feel amazing.¡±


    I wrapped my legs around his waist, urging him to move. The heat still burned through my veins, but now it felt good¡ªlike a delicious fire spreading pleasure instead of pain.


    Liam began to move, his thrusts slow and measured at first. Each drag and push sent waves of ecstasy through my body, easing the terrible ache of the heat.


    ¡°More,¡± I begged, digging my nails into his shoulders. ¡°Harder, please.¡±


    Heplied, picking up the pace and driving into me with more force. The bed creaked beneath us as our bodies moved in perfect rhythm.


    I was vaguely aware of Lucas and Levi watching, their breathing heavy, their eyes dark with desire as they waited their turn. The knowledge that they would all have me sent another rush of wetness between my thighs.


    ¡°She¡¯s close,¡± Lucas observed, his voice tight with restraint. ¡°I can smell it.¡±


    Liam slid a hand between our bodies, his thumb finding the bundle of nerves at my center. He circled it expertly while maintaining his steady thrusts.


    ¡°Let go, Hazel,¡± he encouraged, his lips brushing my ear. ¡°Come for me.¡±


    The pressure that had been building inside me suddenly burst. I cried out, my back arching as waves of pleasure crashed through me. Liam grunted, his rhythm faltering as my inner walls clenched around him.


    ¡°I¡¯m right behind you,¡± he gasped, thrusting once, twice more before burying himself deep inside me with a groan. I felt the warmth of his release, and my wolf purred with satisfaction.


    For a few blissful moments, the burning heat subsided. Liam copsed beside me, pulling me against his chest as we caught our breath. But all too soon, the fire began to build again, my skin prickling with renewed need.


    ¡°It¡¯s starting again,¡± I whimpered, squirming against Liam¡¯s body.


    ¡°My turn,¡± Levi announced, already naked and ready. He approached the bed with a predatory gleam in his eyes that made my heart race.


    Unlike Liam¡¯s tenderness, Levi¡¯s hands were possessive as he pulled me away from his brother. He flipped me onto my stomach in one swift move, pulling my hips up while my chest remained pressed against the mattress.


    ¡°I¡¯ve wanted you like this for so long,¡± Levi growled, his palm smoothing over the curve of my rear. ¡°Gonna make you forget your name, love.¡±


    I gasped when his hand came down in a light smack against my sensitive skin. The sharp sting only intensified the throbbing between my legs.


    ¡°Please, Levi,¡± I begged, pushing back against him.


    He leaned over me, his chest pressing against my back as his lips brushed my ear. ¡°So impatient. I like that.¡±


    His hand slid around to cup my breast, pinching the nipple just hard enough to make me moan. His other hand traveled down my stomach to slip between my thighs, finding me still slick with desire and Liam¡¯s release.


    ¡°So ready for me,¡± he purred, his fingers sliding through my folds. ¡°But I want to taste you first.¡±


    Before I could process his words, he¡¯d flipped me over again and was settling between my legs, his shoulders spreading my thighs wide. The first swipe of his tongue against my core made me cry out, my hands flying to his hair.


    ¡°Levi!¡± I gasped as he devoured me with hungry enthusiasm. Where Liam had been gentle, Levi was ravenous, licking and sucking as if he were starving and I was his feast.


    Lucas moved closer, sitting beside my head on the bed. His hand brushed my cheek, turning my face toward him. ¡°You¡¯re doing so well, Hazel,¡± he murmured, his eyes dark with desire. ¡°You look so beautiful like this.¡±


    Levi¡¯s tongue delved inside me before returning to circle the sensitive bundle of nerves that was already swollen from my first climax. He added his fingers, curling them upward to hit a spot inside me that had me seeing stars.


    ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± he encouraged between licks. ¡°Give it to me, Hazel. Come on my tongue.¡±


    I was teetering on the edge, my second orgasm building rapidly under Levi¡¯s skilled mouth, when suddenly he pulled away. I whimpered at the loss, my hips lifting in search of his touch.


    ¡°Not yet,¡± Levi smirked, rising to his knees between my spread legs. ¡°I want to feel youe around me.¡±


    He positioned himself at my entrance, the blunt head of his hardness brushing against my sensitive flesh. Slowly, inch by delicious inch, he began to push inside. He was thicker than Liam, stretching me in a way that bnced perfectly between pleasure and pain.


    ¡°Fuck, you¡¯re tight,¡± Levi groaned, his hands gripping my hips hard enough to bruise. ¡°So perfect for me.¡±


    As he seated himself fully inside me, our gazes locked. The yful glint in his eyes was reced by something more intense, more primitive. He pulled back slowly, almost withdrawingpletely before mming back in with a force that made the headboard bang against the wall.


    ¡°Oh god,¡± I cried out, clutching at the sheets as he set a punishing pace. Each powerful thrust drove me higher, the fire in my blood singing with each drag of his hardness against my walls.


    ¡°You like it rough, don¡¯t you?¡± Levi grinned wickedly, grabbing my leg and hooking it over his shoulder to change the angle. ¡°I can feel how wet you¡¯re getting.¡±


    The new position allowed him to hit even deeper, reaching ces inside me that I never knew could feel so good. My eyes rolled back as pleasure built to almost unbearable levels.


    ¡°Look at me,¡± Levimanded, his handing up to grip my jaw. ¡°I want to see your eyes when you shatter for me.¡±

 Chapter 62: Surrendering to Pleasure

    <h4>Chapter 62: Chapter 62: Surrendering to Pleasure</h4>


    (Trigger Warning: This Chapter contains explicit content and is intended for mature readers.)


    My eyes locked with Levi¡¯s as hemanded my attention. His pupils were blown wide, only a thin ring of green visible around the edges. I couldn¡¯t look away even if I wanted to.


    ¡°That¡¯s it, sweetheart,¡± he growled, continuing his relentless pace. ¡°Let me see you fall apart.¡±


    His thumb found my most sensitive spot, pressing and circling in time with his thrusts. The dual stimtion was too much. My back arched off the bed as waves of pleasure crashed through me, more intense than the first time. I cried out his name, my inner walls mping down around him.


    ¡°Fuck, Hazel!¡± Levi groaned, his rhythm faltering as my release triggered his own. He drove into me one final time, burying himself to the hilt as he pulsed inside me.


    For a moment, we stayed frozen like that, both panting, hearts racing in tandem. Then Levi lowered my leg from his shoulder and copsed beside me, pulling me against his sweat-slicked chest.


    ¡°Was that good, baby?¡± he murmured, pressing kisses to my temple.


    I could only nod, still trying to catch my breath. The edge had been taken off the burning heat, but I could already feel it building again, like embers threatening to burst back into mes.


    ¡°My turn,¡± Lucas¡¯s deep voice cut through the haze of my thoughts.


    Levi reluctantly released me, rolling to the other side of the bed. I felt the mattress dip as Lucas took his ce, his massive frame hovering over me. Unlike his brothers, Lucas was still fully clothed, and the sight of him looming above me while Iypletely naked sent a thrill down my spine.


    ¡°How are you feeling?¡± he asked, brushing sweat-dampened hair from my forehead.


    ¡°Better,¡± I whispered. ¡°But it¡¯sing back.¡±


    Lucas nodded, his jaw tightening. ¡°Can you stand?¡±


    The question surprised me, but I nodded. With his help, I rose on shaky legs. He guided me to the foot of the bed, positioning me so I was bent over it, hands braced on the mattress.


    ¡°Is this okay?¡± Lucas asked, his voice rough with desire.


    ¡°Yes,¡± I gasped, already feeling empty and desperate for him. ¡°Please, Lucas.¡±


    I heard the rustle of clothing as he undressed behind me. Then his warm hands were on my hips, steadying me. I felt his hardness press against me, thick and demanding.


    ¡°Rx for me, Hazel,¡± he murmured, one hand sliding up my spine.


    Lucas entered me with one smooth thrust, filling mepletely. I gasped at the fullness, the slight sting quickly giving way to pleasure. He was bigger than his brothers, stretching me in ways that made my toes curl against the carpet.


    ¡°You¡¯re taking me so well,¡± he praised, his grip on my hips tightening as he began to move.


    Where Liam had been gentle and Levi passionate, Lucas was controlled andmanding. Each thrust was measured and deliberate, designed to drive me wild without pushing me over the edge too soon. He knew exactly what he was doing, angling his hips to hit spots inside me that had me moaning his name.


    ¡°Look at her,¡± I heard Lucas say. ¡°She¡¯s perfect like this.¡±


    I turned my head to see Liam and Levi watching us, their eyes dark with renewed desire despite having already had their turn. The heat inducer was affecting them too, their wolves responding to mine.


    Lucas reached around to cup my breast, pinching the nipple between his fingers. The sharp pleasure-pain made me cry out, pushing back against him.


    ¡°More,¡± I begged shamelessly. ¡°Harder, Lucas.¡±


    He growled in response, his pace increasing. The sound of skin pping against skin filled the room, along with our harsh breathing and my desperate moans.


    ¡°She wants more,¡± Levi remarked with a wicked grin, sliding off the bed. ¡°Let¡¯s give her more.¡±


    Before I could question what he meant, Levi was on his knees in front of me. His hand slid up my inner thigh, fingers finding my sensitive bud even as Lucas continued to pound into me from behind.


    ¡°Oh god,¡± I gasped as Levi began to circle my clit with expert precision.


    ¡°Not enough,¡± Liam said, joining us. Liam moved to kneel in front of me, his hardness level with my face.


    I was surrounded by them now, each brother touching and pleasuring a different part of me.


    ¡°We want to worship every inch of you,¡± Liam said softly, his hand caressing my cheek.


    I opened my mouth willingly, taking him inside as Lucas continued his relentless rhythm behind me. Levi¡¯s lips closed around my nipple, his tongue swirling in circles that matched the movement of Lucas¡¯s hips.


    The triple stimtion was overwhelming. My legs trembled, threatening to give out as pleasure built to impossible heights. Only Lucas¡¯s firm grip on my hips kept me upright.


    ¡°She¡¯s close,¡± Levi observed, his fingers moving faster. ¡°I can feel her shaking.¡±


    ¡°Come for us, Hazel,¡± Lucasmanded, his voice like velvet wrapped around steel. ¡°Show us how good we make you feel.¡±


    It was as if my body was waiting for his permission. The coiled tension inside me snapped, sending me careening into the most intense orgasm yet. I moaned around Liam as ecstasy flooded every nerve ending, my inner walls mping down so hard around Lucas that he cursed.


    ¡°Fuck,¡± he growled, his rhythm faltering. ¡°I can¡¯t¡ª¡±


    His fingers dug into my hips as he found his own release, filling me with warmth. Liam grunted as well, his hips stuttering as he came.


    Behind my closed eyes, I saw stars, my entire body pulsing with aftershocks.


    When I opened my eyes again, I found myself being lifted and cradled against Lucas¡¯s chest. He carried me back to the head of the bed,ying me down gently against the pillows.


    ¡°The heat should break now,¡± he murmured, brushing my hair back from my face. ¡°How do you feel?¡±


    ¡°Better,¡± I whispered truthfully. The burning was subsiding, reced by a pleasant warmth and bone-deep satisfaction. ¡°Tired.¡±


    ¡°Rest,¡± Liam said, climbing onto the bed beside me. Levi joined on my other side, the three of them forming a protective circle around me.


    Despite my exhaustion, I felt another wave of arousal building. The heat inducer wasn¡¯t done with me yet.


    ¡°It¡¯s still not enough,¡± I whimpered, frustrated tears pricking my eyes.


    ¡°We¡¯re not going anywhere,¡± Lucas assured me, his hand trailing down my stomach. ¡°We¡¯ll take care of you all night if necessary.¡±


    Levi¡¯s mouth found my neck, sucking lightly at my pulse point. ¡°Round two?¡±


    I nodded weakly, already spreading my legs in invitation. This time, it was Liam who settled between them, his hardness pressing against my entrance once more.


    As they pleasured me again and again throughout the night, their touches became a blur of sensation. I lost count of how many times I came, each orgasm blending into the next until I could no longer distinguish where one ended and another began.


    ¡°Sleep now,¡± someone whispered in my ear after what felt like hours.


    I tried to respond, but my lips wouldn¡¯t form words. My eyelids grew impossibly heavy, my limbs like lead weights. Thest thing I remembered was feeling three pairs of strong arms around me, before darkness imed me and I surrenderedpletely to exhaustion.


    Chapter 63: Consequences


    I slowly blinked my eyes open, squinting against the light streaming through the windows.


    A gentle scratching sound caught my attention. Turning my head, I spotted Matilda sitting in a chair next to the bed, scribbling something on a clipboard. She wore her usual pristine white coat, her graying brown hair pulled back in a tight bun.


    ¡°Matilda?¡± My voice came out raspy. My throat felt raw¡ªprobably from all the screaming I¡¯d donest night. Heat rushed to my cheeks at the memory.


    She looked up, her experienced eyes quickly assessing me. ¡°Good afternoon, Hazel. How are you feeling?¡±


    Afternoon? I nced toward the windows again, noticing the angle of the sunlight. I must have slept for hours.


    ¡°I¡¯m okay,¡± I answered, taking mental inventory of my body. ¡°A little sore. Tired.¡±


    I realized I was wearing a clean t-shirt and shorts. My hair was no longer sticky with sweat, and my skin felt fresh. Someone had cleaned me up while I slept. Looking around, I noticed the room was empty except for Matilda and me.


    ¡°Where are the triplets?¡± I asked, trying to keep my voice neutral despite the flutter of anxiety in my chest.


    ¡°They¡¯ve been taking turns watching over you,¡± Matilda exined, noting something on her clipboard. ¡°Lucas and Liam stepped out a couple of hours ago. Levi was here until he went to get something to eat. He should be back soon.¡±


    I nodded, sinking back into the pillows. ¡°How bad was it? The heat inducer?¡±


    Matilda¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line. ¡°Quite severe, I¡¯m afraid. Your temperature spiked dangerously high, and you were severely dehydrated after all that vomiting. Surprisingly, despite regurgitating some of it out earlier, the drug¡¯s effect was still abnormally high.¡±


    She set her clipboard aside and reached into her medical bag, pulling out a small bottle of pills.


    ¡°I¡¯m prescribing these supplements to help your body recover. Take one with each meal for the next week.¡± She ced the bottle on the nightstand. ¡°You need to drink plenty of water and rest for at least another day. No strenuous activities.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t help but blush again, thinking about just how strenuous my activities had beenst night.


    ¡°Will there be any...sting effects?¡± I asked hesitantly.


    ¡°The heat inducer should bepletely out of your system by now,¡± Matilda assured me. ¡°But we¡¯ll need to monitor you for a few days to make sure there¡¯s no rpse. If you feel even slightly feverish or notice any unusual symptoms, tell one of the triplets immediately.¡±


    She stood up, tucking her clipboard under her arm. ¡°I¡¯ll check on you again tomorrow. For now, just rest and hydrate.¡±


    As Matilda headed for the door, it swung open to reveal Levi. His hair was damp, like he¡¯d just showered, and he carried a tray with a ss of water and what looked like soup.


    ¡°How¡¯s our patient?¡± he asked Matilda, his eyes immediately finding mine over her shoulder.


    ¡°She¡¯s recovering well,¡± Matilda replied professionally. ¡°But she needs rest and constant monitoring. The heat inducer dose she received was dangerously high. If she hadn¡¯t purged some of it and received... attention when she did, it could have been fatal.¡±


    Levi¡¯s expression darkened, his jaw clenching. ¡°How high are we talking?¡±


    ¡°Enough to kill a wolf with a weaker constitution,¡± Matilda said bluntly. ¡°Someone wanted to make absolutely sure she¡¯d be incapacitated. I¡¯ve never seen such a high dosage used outside of medical emergencies.¡±


    I felt the blood drain from my face. Someone had tried to kill me? Or at least hadn¡¯t cared if I died?


    ¡°Thank you for everything, Matilda,¡± Levi said, his voice tight with controlled anger. ¡°We appreciate your discretion in this matter.¡±


    Matilda nodded. ¡°Of course. Call me if there¡¯s any change in her condition.¡± With that, she slipped out the door, leaving me alone with Levi.


    He ced the tray on the nightstand and sat on the edge of the bed, his hand immediately finding mine. ¡°Hey there, beautiful. How are you feeling?¡±


    ¡°Better,¡± I said, squeezing his hand. ¡°Where are Lucas and Liam?¡±


    A shadow passed over Levi¡¯s face, his green eyes hardening. ¡°They¡¯re taking care of some pack business.¡±


    ¡°Pack business?¡± I asked, not buying his vague exnation. ¡°Or are they hunting down whoever did this to me?¡±


    Levi¡¯s lips curved into a small, dangerous smile. ¡°Let¡¯s just say they¡¯re making sure justice is served.¡±


    Something in his tone sent a chill down my spine. ¡°What are they going to do?¡±


    ¡°What needs to be done,¡± he replied simply, then changed the subject. ¡°You need to eat something. I made you chicken soup¡ªwell, I asked ra to make it, but I carried it all the way up here without spilling a drop.¡±


    His attempt at lightening the mood worked, and I found myself smiling slightly. ¡°That¡¯s very impressive. I didn¡¯t know you were so coordinated.¡±


    ¡°I have many skills,¡± Levi winked, helping me sit up against the pillows. ¡°Some of which you experienced thoroughlyst night.¡±


    My cheeks burned. ¡°Levi!¡±


    Heughed, the sound warming me from the inside. ¡°Sorry, couldn¡¯t resist. Here, eat your soup before it gets cold.¡±


    As I took the bowl, my mind drifted to Lucas and Liam, wondering exactly what kind of justice they were delivering.


    +++


    Third POV


    The Silver Pines Mall buzzed with weekend shoppers, music drifting from the stores that lined the wide corridors. Annie and Mia strolled arm in arm, shopping bags swinging at their sides, giggling over theirtest purchases.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe you bought those shoes,¡± Mia said, rolling her eyes. ¡°They¡¯re practically identical to the ones you gotst month.¡±


    ¡°They are not!¡± Annie protested. ¡°These are blush pink, not rose pink. Totally different.¡±


    They were so absorbed in their conversation that they didn¡¯t notice the two tall figures approaching until they blocked their path.


    Annie looked up, her expression morphing instantly from annoyance to delight when she recognized Liam and Lucas Sullivan standing before them. Her eyes immediately locked on Liam, a coy smile spreading across her face.


    ¡°Liam!¡± she eximed, brushing her long blonde hair over her shoulder. ¡°What a surprise running into you here.¡±


    Mia nudged her friend, her eyes darting nervously between the two brothers. Unlike Annie, she seemed to notice the cold fury in their expressions.


    ¡°Annie,¡± Liam said, his voice eerily calm. ¡°Just the person we were looking for.¡±


    Hope red in Annie¡¯s eyes. Ever since Liam had broken up with her, she¡¯d been desperate to win him back. Finding out he was mated to that nobody Hazel had been devastating. But now he was seeking her out? Maybe he¡¯de to his senses after all.


    ¡°Really?¡± she purred, stepping forward and cing a manicured hand on his chest. ¡°Did you miss me?¡±


    Before she could blink, Liam¡¯s hand shot up, striking her across the face with enough force to send her staggering backward. The sharp crack of the p echoed through the mall corridor, drawing shocked gasps from nearby shoppers.

 Chapter 63: Consequences

    <h4>Chapter 63: Chapter 63: Consequences</h4>


    I slowly blinked my eyes open, squinting against the light streaming through the windows.


    A gentle scratching sound caught my attention. Turning my head, I spotted Matilda sitting in a chair next to the bed, scribbling something on a clipboard. She wore her usual pristine white coat, her graying brown hair pulled back in a tight bun.


    ¡°Matilda?¡± My voice came out raspy. My throat felt raw¡ªprobably from all the screaming I¡¯d donest night. Heat rushed to my cheeks at the memory.


    She looked up, her experienced eyes quickly assessing me. ¡°Good afternoon, Hazel. How are you feeling?¡±


    Afternoon? I nced toward the windows again, noticing the angle of the sunlight. I must have slept for hours.


    ¡°I¡¯m okay,¡± I answered, taking mental inventory of my body. ¡°A little sore. Tired.¡±


    I realized I was wearing a clean t-shirt and shorts. My hair was no longer sticky with sweat, and my skin felt fresh. Someone had cleaned me up while I slept. Looking around, I noticed the room was empty except for Matilda and me.


    ¡°Where are the triplets?¡± I asked, trying to keep my voice neutral despite the flutter of anxiety in my chest.


    ¡°They¡¯ve been taking turns watching over you,¡± Matilda exined, noting something on her clipboard. ¡°Lucas and Liam stepped out a couple of hours ago. Levi was here until he went to get something to eat. He should be back soon.¡±


    I nodded, sinking back into the pillows. ¡°How bad was it? The heat inducer?¡±


    Matilda¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line. ¡°Quite severe, I¡¯m afraid. Your temperature spiked dangerously high, and you were severely dehydrated after all that vomiting. Surprisingly, despite regurgitating some of it out earlier, the drug¡¯s effect was still abnormally high.¡±


    She set her clipboard aside and reached into her medical bag, pulling out a small bottle of pills.


    ¡°I¡¯m prescribing these supplements to help your body recover. Take one with each meal for the next week.¡± She ced the bottle on the nightstand. ¡°You need to drink plenty of water and rest for at least another day. No strenuous activities.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t help but blush again, thinking about just how strenuous my activities had beenst night.


    ¡°Will there be any...sting effects?¡± I asked hesitantly.


    ¡°The heat inducer should bepletely out of your system by now,¡± Matilda assured me. ¡°But we¡¯ll need to monitor you for a few days to make sure there¡¯s no rpse. If you feel even slightly feverish or notice any unusual symptoms, tell one of the triplets immediately.¡±


    She stood up, tucking her clipboard under her arm. ¡°I¡¯ll check on you again tomorrow. For now, just rest and hydrate.¡±


    As Matilda headed for the door, it swung open to reveal Levi. His hair was damp, like he¡¯d just showered, and he carried a tray with a ss of water and what looked like soup.


    ¡°How¡¯s our patient?¡± he asked Matilda, his eyes immediately finding mine over her shoulder.


    ¡°She¡¯s recovering well,¡± Matilda replied professionally. ¡°But she needs rest and constant monitoring. The heat inducer dose she received was dangerously high. If she hadn¡¯t purged some of it and received... attention when she did, it could have been fatal.¡±


    Levi¡¯s expression darkened, his jaw clenching. ¡°How high are we talking?¡±


    ¡°Enough to kill a wolf with a weaker constitution,¡± Matilda said bluntly. ¡°Someone wanted to make absolutely sure she¡¯d be incapacitated. I¡¯ve never seen such a high dosage used outside of medical emergencies.¡±


    I felt the blood drain from my face. Someone had tried to kill me? Or at least hadn¡¯t cared if I died?


    ¡°Thank you for everything, Matilda,¡± Levi said, his voice tight with controlled anger. ¡°We appreciate your discretion in this matter.¡±


    Matilda nodded. ¡°Of course. Call me if there¡¯s any change in her condition.¡± With that, she slipped out the door, leaving me alone with Levi.


    He ced the tray on the nightstand and sat on the edge of the bed, his hand immediately finding mine. ¡°Hey there, beautiful. How are you feeling?¡±


    ¡°Better,¡± I said, squeezing his hand. ¡°Where are Lucas and Liam?¡±


    A shadow passed over Levi¡¯s face, his green eyes hardening. ¡°They¡¯re taking care of some pack business.¡±


    ¡°Pack business?¡± I asked, not buying his vague exnation. ¡°Or are they hunting down whoever did this to me?¡±


    Levi¡¯s lips curved into a small, dangerous smile. ¡°Let¡¯s just say they¡¯re making sure justice is served.¡±


    Something in his tone sent a chill down my spine. ¡°What are they going to do?¡±


    ¡°What needs to be done,¡± he replied simply, then changed the subject. ¡°You need to eat something. I made you chicken soup¡ªwell, I asked ra to make it, but I carried it all the way up here without spilling a drop.¡±


    His attempt at lightening the mood worked, and I found myself smiling slightly. ¡°That¡¯s very impressive. I didn¡¯t know you were so coordinated.¡±


    ¡°I have many skills,¡± Levi winked, helping me sit up against the pillows. ¡°Some of which you experienced thoroughlyst night.¡±


    My cheeks burned. ¡°Levi!¡±


    Heughed, the sound warming me from the inside. ¡°Sorry, couldn¡¯t resist. Here, eat your soup before it gets cold.¡±


    As I took the bowl, my mind drifted to Lucas and Liam, wondering exactly what kind of justice they were delivering.


    +++


    Third POV


    The Silver Pines Mall buzzed with weekend shoppers, music drifting from the stores that lined the wide corridors. Annie and Mia strolled arm in arm, shopping bags swinging at their sides, giggling over theirtest purchases.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe you bought those shoes,¡± Mia said, rolling her eyes. ¡°They¡¯re practically identical to the ones you gotst month.¡±


    ¡°They are not!¡± Annie protested. ¡°These are blush pink, not rose pink. Totally different.¡±


    They were so absorbed in their conversation that they didn¡¯t notice the two tall figures approaching until they blocked their path.


    Annie looked up, her expression morphing instantly from annoyance to delight when she recognized Liam and Lucas Sullivan standing before them. Her eyes immediately locked on Liam, a coy smile spreading across her face.


    ¡°Liam!¡± she eximed, brushing her long blonde hair over her shoulder. ¡°What a surprise running into you here.¡±


    Mia nudged her friend, her eyes darting nervously between the two brothers. Unlike Annie, she seemed to notice the cold fury in their expressions.


    ¡°Annie,¡± Liam said, his voice eerily calm. ¡°Just the person we were looking for.¡±


    Hope red in Annie¡¯s eyes. Ever since Liam had broken up with her, she¡¯d been desperate to win him back. Finding out he was mated to that nobody Hazel had been devastating. But now he was seeking her out? Maybe he¡¯de to his senses after all.


    ¡°Really?¡± she purred, stepping forward and cing a manicured hand on his chest. ¡°Did you miss me?¡±


    Before she could blink, Liam¡¯s hand shot up, striking her across the face with enough force to send her staggering backward. The sharp crack of the p echoed through the mall corridor, drawing shocked gasps from nearby shoppers.

 Chapter 64: Banishment

    <h4>Chapter 64: Chapter 64: Banishment</h4>


    Third POV


    Annie stumbled back, holding her cheek as pain bloomed across her face. Mia caught her friend before she could fall, stabilizing her as Annie stared at Liam in utter disbelief. Her blue eyes widened with shock, mouth hanging open. Around them, mall shoppers had frozen, phones already out to record the unfolding drama.


    ¡°What the hell, Liam?¡± Annie shrieked, her voice cracking. ¡°Have you lost your mind?¡±


    Lucas stepped forward, his expression carved from stone. His green eyes, usually warm with golden flecks, had hardened to chips of emerald ice. ¡°Annie Williams and Mia Thompson, by the authority vested in me as the Alpha of Emberfang Pack, you are both hereby banished from our territory, effective immediately.¡±


    Annie¡¯s face drained of color. ¡°What? Banished? This is some kind of sick joke, right?¡± She looked frantically between the brothers, waiting for the punchline that wouldn¡¯te.


    ¡°This is no joke,¡± Liam said, his voice dangerously low. ¡°You¡¯re lucky we¡¯re allowing you to live after what you did.¡±


    Mia¡¯s grip on Annie¡¯s arm tightened. ¡°What are you talking about? We haven¡¯t done anything!¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Lucas arched an eyebrow.


    Without breaking eye contact, he reached into his jacket and pulled out a man envelope. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed it at their feet. The contents spilled onto the polished mall floor¡ªphotographs, receipts, and printed screenshots.


    Annie crouched down, fingers trembling as she picked up one of the photos. It showed her and Mia at a pharmacy outside pack territory, leaning over the counter as a sketchy-looking man handed them a small package.


    ¡°That¡¯s... That¡¯s not what it looks like!¡± Annie stammered, dropping the photo like it had burned her.


    ¡°Save it,¡± Liam snapped. ¡°We have the CCTV footage, the receipts, and your text messages discussing how to slip the heat inducer into Hazel¡¯s drink. Did you really think we wouldn¡¯t investigate when our mate nearly died?¡±


    Mall security had started to approach, but one look from Lucas sent them retreating.


    Mia stepped forward, pushing Annie aside.


    ¡°It was her idea!¡± she blurted out, pointing usingly at her friend. ¡°I just went along with it. She was obsessed with getting you back, Liam. She kept saying if Hazel was out of the picture, you¡¯de back to her!¡±


    Annie gasped, whirling around to stare at Mia with wide eyes.


    ¡°You backstabbing bitch! You¡¯re the one who said we should use heat inducers! You¡¯re the one who knew where to get them!¡±


    ¡°You wanted to use wolfsbane at first!¡± Mia shot back. ¡°You didn¡¯t care if she died!¡±


    Wolfsbane?


    Just the thought of it sent the passers-by shivering.


    Lucas¡¯s growl silenced their bickering.


    ¡°Enough. You both conspired to harm our future Luna. You purchased and used illegal substances with the intent to cause severe harm. The punishment for such crimes is death.¡±


    Whispers rippled through the growing crowd of onlookers, but no one dared intervene. The looks in the Alphas¡¯ eyes were murderous.


    Annie fell to her knees before Liam, tears streaming down her face, smearing her mascara.


    ¡°Please, Liam. I love you. I... I just love you too much. I was just so hurt when you left me for... for her.¡± She clutched at his pants leg. ¡°Give me another chance. I¡¯ll do anything!¡±


    Liam looked down at her with cold detachment.


    ¡°You tried to kill my mate.¡± He shook her off like she was nothing more than dirt on his shoe. ¡°You¡¯re lucky we¡¯re showing mercy by only banishing you. If it were up to me alone, especially after seeing what Hazel went through, you¡¯re lucky to even be alive.¡±


    The deadly look in his eyes made Annie shrink back.


    ¡°You can¡¯t do this,¡± Mia protested, looking desperately around the mall as if searching for an ally. ¡°My family has been part of Emberfang for generations!¡±


    ¡°Should have thought about that before you poisoned our mate,¡± Lucas replied evenly. He nodded to someone behind them.


    Four warriors from the Emberfang Pack emerged from the crowd, moving with purposeful strides to nk Annie and Mia.


    ¡°Your belongings will be packed and delivered to the pack borders by nightfall,¡± Lucas continued. ¡°You are forbidden from entering Emberfang territory ever again. If either of you attempts to return or contact anyone within our pack, you will be treated as an invading rogue. Is that understood?¡±


    Annie scrambled to her feet. ¡°You can¡¯t be serious! Where am I supposed to go? What about my family? My friends?¡±


    ¡°You should have considered those questions before attempting to murder Hazel,¡± Liam said coldly. ¡°Your families have been informed of your crimes and your banishment.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Annie whispered, fresh tears welling in her eyes. ¡°My parents wouldn¡¯t abandon me.¡± She sharply looked up. ¡°Where¡¯s my dad? I demand to speak to him!¡±


    Lucas¡¯s expression didn¡¯t soften.


    Samuel Williams had been a prominent member of the pack for decades, working closely with the previous Alpha. But that high rank was not going to do Annie any favors.


    Mia grabbed Annie¡¯s arm, her face contorted with rage.


    ¡°This is your fault! You and your pathetic obsession with Liam! I told you to let it go, but you wouldn¡¯t listen!¡± She shoved Annie hard. ¡°Now we¡¯re rogues because you couldn¡¯t ept being dumped!¡±


    Annie stumbled, thenunched herself at Mia with a scream. ¡°You lying snake! It was your idea! You hated Hazel just as much as I did!¡±


    ¡°At least I knew that the Sullivan brothers moved on quickly!¡± Mia yelled back. She yanked at Annie¡¯s hair and thetter screamed in pain. ¡°You should¡¯ve been prepared for the day they would dump your sorry ass!¡±


    ¡°I am going to kill you!¡±


    The warriors moved quickly, separating the fighting she-wolves before they could do more harm. By the time they were pulled apart, their hairstyles were a mess, their outfits ruined, and their faces were littered with red cuts and bruises.


    ¡°Enough!¡± Lucasmanded, his Alpha voice making everyone in the vicinity flinch. ¡°You¡¯ve disgraced yourselves and your families enough for one day.¡±


    ¡°Your possessions will be at the eastern border at sunset,¡± Liam added. ¡°I suggest you start walking now. You¡¯re no longer wee to use pack transportation.¡±


    Annie¡¯s mascara-streaked face crumpled. ¡°Liam, please. We had something special. Don¡¯t throw me away for her. She¡¯s nothing¡ªa servant, an orphan. I¡¯m from a respected family. I can give you status, connections¡ª¡±


    ¡°I am the Alpha,¡± Liam cut her off. ¡°I don¡¯t need your connections.¡±


    ¡°Take them away,¡± Lucas ordered the warriors. ¡°Escort them to the border and make sure they leave.¡±


    As the warriors gripped Annie¡¯s and Mia¡¯s arms, Annie made onest desperate attempt. ¡°What about my car? My clothes? My life is in Emberfang!¡±


    ¡°You forfeited that life when you decided to harm our mate,¡± Lucas replied without emotion. ¡°Be grateful we¡¯re allowing you to take anything at all.¡±


    The warriors began to lead the sobbing girls away. The crowd of shoppers parted for them, phones still recording every humiliating moment of their banishment.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t over!¡± Annie shrieked over her shoulder, mascara streaking her flushed cheeks. ¡°You can¡¯t treat me like this! My father will¡ª¡±


    Just as the warriors were about to escort the disgraced she-wolves out of the mall, the crowd parted again. A figure pushed through, stopping directly in the brothers¡¯ path.


    ¡°What is going on?!¡± a familiar voice demanded.

 Chapter 65: Father鈥檚 Pride

    <h4>Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Father¡¯s Pride</h4>


    Third POV


    ¡°What is going on?!¡± a familiar voice demanded.


    Samuel Williams pushed through the crowd, his expensive suit andmanding presence parting the onlookers like water. His face was flushed with anger, eyes darting between his sobbing daughter and the Sullivan brothers.


    ¡°Daddy!¡± Annie cried out, breaking free from the warrior¡¯s grip to run toward her father. ¡°They¡¯re banishing me! Tell them they can¡¯t do this!¡±


    Samuel pulled his daughter protectively behind him, squaring his shoulders as he faced Lucas and Liam. Despite being in his fifties, he didn¡¯t look haggard or old¡ªthe result of decades as one of the pack¡¯s highest-ranking officials.


    ¡°Lucas, Liam,¡± he acknowledged with barely concealed contempt. ¡°Would someone care to exin why my daughter is being manhandled through a public mall?¡±


    Some people in the crowd drew a breath at theck of formality. Samuel had failed to properly address his Alphas.


    Lucas stepped forward, his expression neutral but his eyes hard. ¡°Samuel. Your daughter attempted to poison our mate with illegal heat inducers that could have killed her. She¡¯s being banished, along with her aplice.¡±


    ¡°This is ridiculous,¡± Samuel scoffed, waving his hand dismissively. ¡°Girls have spats all the time. I¡¯m sure whatever happened was just a misunderstanding.¡±


    ¡°A misunderstanding?¡± Liam¡¯s voice was dangerously low. ¡°Your daughter purchased illegal substances with the intent to harm our mate. We have evidence.¡±


    Samuel¡¯s expression faltered for just a second before he regained hisposure. ¡°Evidence can be misinterpreted. Annie is a good girl from a respectable family. Surely we can handle this internally, without such dramatic measures?¡±


    ¡°The decision has been made,¡± Lucas stated firmly. ¡°The punishment is lenient, considering the crime.¡±


    ¡°Lenient?¡± Samuel¡¯s face reddened further. ¡°You¡¯re destroying her life! And over what? That servant girl? Please. I¡¯ve known your father for thirty years, boys. I think we cane to a more reasonable arrangement.¡±


    Annie clung to her father¡¯s arm, tears streaking her face. ¡°Daddy, please don¡¯t let them do this to me. Where will I go? What will I do?¡±


    Samuel patted his daughter¡¯s hand while keeping his eyes fixed on the Sullivan brothers. ¡°Now, as head of pack finances and your father¡¯s trusted advisor, I think I have some say in this matter. You boys are new to leadership. Perhaps you¡¯re letting your emotions cloud your judgment.¡±


    Lucas¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°Our judgment is perfectly clear. And speaking of your position, Samuel, we¡¯ve been reviewing the pack¡¯s leadership structure.¡±


    An ufortable silence fell over the gathering. Even Annie stopped sobbing, sensing the shift in the air.


    ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± Samuel asked, narrowing his eyes.


    Liam stepped forward, hands casually slipping into his pockets. ¡°It means, perhaps you¡¯re getting old with age and it¡¯s time to enjoy your retirement.¡±


    Samuel¡¯s face paled. ¡°Retirement? I¡¯ve served this pack faithfully for decades! Your father relies on me!¡±


    ¡°Our father is no longer Alpha,¡± Lucas reminded him coolly. ¡°We are. And we¡¯ve decided the pack would benefit from fresh perspectives in leadership.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t do this,¡± Samuel sputtered, hisposure cracking. ¡°I¡¯ve built connections, rtionships that benefit Emberfang¡ª¡±


    ¡°Connections that you¡¯ve been using for personal gain,¡± Liam cut in. ¡°Our financial audit revealed some interesting discrepancies in pack fund allocations.¡±


    Annie looked up at her father with confusion. ¡°Daddy, what are they talking about?¡±


    Samuel ignored her, his nostrils ring as he stared at the brothers. ¡°You ungrateful pups. I helped build this pack while you were still in diapers. You think you can just waltz in and¡ª¡±


    ¡°We can and we have,¡± Lucas interrupted. ¡°Your retirement package will be generous, considering your years of service. You¡¯ll remain a respected member of the pack, but your leadership position is terminated, effective immediately.¡±


    The crowd murmured in shock. Samuel Williams had been in pack politics for as long as anyone could remember.


    ¡°You¡¯ll regret this,¡± Samuel hissed, his hands balling into fists at his sides. ¡°When you need my expertise, my connections¡ª¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re done here,¡± Lucas said with finality. ¡°Warriors, please continue escorting Ms. Williams and Ms. Thompson to the border. Mr. Williams, I suggest you take some time to process this transition.¡±


    As the warriors once again took hold of Annie, she reached desperately for her father. ¡°Daddy! Do something!¡±


    But Samuel stood frozen, rendered speechless. Decades of authority had been stripped away from him in a few short sentences.


    The crowd parted once more as Annie and Mia were led away, their sobs echoing through the mall.


    +++


    Hazel¡¯s POV


    ¡°Drink this. It¡¯ll help you feel better.¡±


    I epted the steaming mug from Levi, wrapping my fingers around its warmth. The herbal aroma was soothing, but it did little to calm my frayed nerves.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± I murmured, taking a small sip. The liquid was sweet with honey, masking the bitter herbs beneath.


    Levi sat beside me on the couch, his body radiating heat that seemed to call to me.


    ¡°You¡¯re worried,¡± Levi observed, his fingers brushing against mine as he adjusted my grip on the mug. ¡°I can feel it.¡±


    I sighed. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you be? I can¡¯t help feeling that something¡¯s wrong.¡± I felt a faint pulse of anger flicker through me. It wasn¡¯t my own. ¡°Are they okay? Lucas and Liam?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re handling Annie and her friend,¡± Levi said, his usual yfulness subdued. ¡°They didn¡¯t want you to have to deal with any of that mess.¡±


    ¡°But I can feel their emotions,¡± I admitted, setting the mug down.


    Levi ran a hand through his dark hair, confliction evident on his face. ¡°They told me to keep you home. You need to rest.¡±


    ¡°When have you ever done what your brothers told you to do?¡± I challenged, raising an eyebrow.


    A slow grin spread across his face, those golden flecks in his green eyes dancing with mischief.


    ¡°Fair point, cupcake.¡± He stood, offering me his hand. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go see what kind of trouble my brothers are getting into.¡±


    Twenty minutester, Levi¡¯s sleek ck sports car pulled into the Silver Pines Mall parking lot. My stomach knotted with anxiety as we walked through the entrance, following the unmistakable buzz of drama.


    ¡°They¡¯re this way,¡± Levi said, his hand protective at the small of my back as we navigated through curious onlookers.


    We rounded the corner just in time to see Lucas and Liam facing off against an older man in an expensive suit. Even from a distance, I could feel the tension radiating from both my mates.


    ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡± I whispered to Levi.


    ¡°Samuel Williams, Annie¡¯s father,¡± Levi replied quietly. ¡°High-ranking pack official, or at least he was. Looks like my brothers are taking care of that too.¡±


    We hung back, watching as the confrontation unfolded. I could barely hear what they were saying over the murmurs of the crowd, but their bodynguage told me everything I needed to know. The triplets were asserting their authority, and Samuel wasn¡¯t taking it well.


    When the warriors finally led Annie and her friend away, I felt a wave of relief. Maybe now we could all move forward from this mess.


    That¡¯s when I saw her¡ªAnnie, being escorted past the crowd, her makeup streaked down her face. Her blue eyes locked with mine, and in an instant, her expression transformed from despair to pure hatred.


    ¡°You!¡± she shrieked, pointing a finger at me. ¡°This is all your fault!¡±


    Before anyone could react, Annie¡¯s body contorted. Bones cracked and reshaped as fur burst through her skin. Where the blonde girl had stood seconds before, a snarling tan wolf now crouched, teeth bared and eyes fixed directly on me.


    With a vicious growl that froze my blood, she lunged through the crowd, straight toward me.

 Chapter 66: Too Light A Punishment

    <h4>Chapter 66: Chapter 66: Too Light A Punishment</h4>


    Time slowed to a crawl as Annie¡¯s wolf lunged at me, teeth bared and ws extended. My brain screamed at me to shift, but my body couldn¡¯t catch up with themand.


    ¡°Hazel, move!¡± Levi shouted beside me.


    Instinct took over. I ducked and threw myself sideways, tumbling onto the hard tile floor as Annie¡¯s massive wolf form sailed through the air where I had been standing seconds ago. The crowd erupted in screams and chaos as people scattered in all directions.


    The momentum of my dodge sent me rolling away from Levi, and suddenly we were separated by a sea of panicking shoppers. Annie¡¯s wolf recovered quickly, turning to face me with a murderous gleam in her eyes.


    I scrambled to my feet, heart pounding against my ribcage.


    ¡°Annie, stop!¡± Lucas¡¯s voicemanded from somewhere in the distance, but she was beyond reason.


    The tan wolf advanced on me, her muzzle pulled back in a vicious snarl. I backed away, looking around frantically for anything I could use to defend myself. Shifting now was impossible¡ªAnnie wasn¡¯t giving me the chance, keeping me constantly on the defensive.


    ¡°Get out of the way!¡± I yelled to a terrified woman frozen beside me as Annie charged again.


    I dove behind a kiosk selling phone cases, hearing it splinter and crash as Annie barreled through it. Pain red across my arm as her ws caught me, leaving three shallow gashes. Blood immediately soaked my sleeve, the coppery smell filling the air and sending Annie into an even greater frenzy.


    ¡°You psychotic bitch,¡± I muttered, clutching my injured arm.


    Where were the triplets? I couldn¡¯t see them through the chaos. People were still running, screaming, creating a perfect storm of confusion.


    I caught a glimpse of Levi trying to push through the crowd toward me, but he was fighting against the human tide.


    I backed up against the storefront of a home goods shop, my eyes darting inside. Annie stalked closer, her wolf form lowering into a hunting crouch. I knew that posture¡ªshe was about to lunge again.


    The wolf coiled and sprang toward me. In a split-second decision, I grabbed a heavy ceramic vase from a disy just inside the store entrance and swung with all my might.


    A sickening crack echoed through the air.


    The vase shattered against Annie¡¯s head mid-leap. She yelped and tumbled to the ground, momentarily stunned. I didn¡¯t waste the opportunity, snatching up a fallen metal sign stand as she struggled to regain her footing.


    ¡°You want a fight?¡± I snarled, adrenaline pumping through my veins. ¡°Come get it.¡±


    Blood matted the fur on Annie¡¯s head where I¡¯d struck her, but she shook it off with a growl. Her eyes, wild with hatred, locked onto mine as she gathered herself for another attack.


    Before she could pounce, a massive ck blur collided with her from the side. Levi¡¯s wolf, with his distinctive midnight coat, had finally broken through the crowd. He mmed into Annie with such force that they skidded across the polished floor, knocking over a bench in the process.


    Annie snapped and wed at Levi, but he was stronger and faster. His jaws mped around the back of her neck, not breaking skin but holding her firmly against the ground. His massive paws pinned her struggling body.


    The mall had mostly cleared now, with only a few brave onlookers watching from a safe distance. Through the now-open space, I saw Lucas and Liam sprinting toward us, fury on their faces.


    ¡°Are you hurt?¡± Lucas demanded as he reached me, his hands immediately going to the bloody gashes on my arm.


    ¡°It¡¯s not deep,¡± I said, wincing as he examined the wound. ¡°I¡¯m okay.¡±


    Liam walked past us, his posture rigid with authority as he approached where Levi had Annie pinned. Samuel Williams stood frozen nearby, his face drained of all color as he witnessed his daughter¡¯s attack. Mia was beside him, hand over her mouth, tears streaming down her face.


    ¡°Annie Williams,¡± Liam¡¯s voice boomed with Alpha authority, ¡°shift back. Now.¡±


    Levi maintained his hold as Annie¡¯s wolf form whimpered and trembled under the weight of themand. Slowly, her body began to change, fur receding, bones reshaping until the blonde girly there on the ground, clothes torn and hair matted with blood from where I¡¯d hit her.


    As soon as she was human again, Levi backed off but remained in wolf form, teeth bared in warning.


    Annie immediately scrambled to her knees, tears streaming down her face. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to!¡± she sobbed, looking around wildly. ¡°She provoked me! She¡¯s always trying to ruin everything!¡±


    ¡°I was standing across the mall when you shifted and attacked,¡± I said tly, my voice steadier than I felt.


    Lucas¡¯s arm wound protectively around my waist as he guided me forward. The gashes on my arm had already stopped bleeding, thanks to werewolf healing.


    ¡°Annie Williams,¡± Lucas said, his voice like ice, ¡°this is the second time you¡¯ve attacked the future Luna.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± she wailed, mascara running down her cheeks. ¡°I just¡ªI got so angry, and I couldn¡¯t control myself! Please, I was just upset!¡±


    ¡°It seems like you¡¯ve not learned your lesson,¡± Liam said, stepping closer to her cowering form. ¡°Banishment is too merciful for what you¡¯ve done after all.¡±


    Samuel finally found his voice, stepping forward with hands raised. ¡°Please, she¡¯s just a girl who made a mistake¡ª¡±


    ¡°Silence,¡± Lucasmanded, and Samuel¡¯s mouth snapped shut. ¡°Your daughter attempted to murder our mate. Twice. There is no excuse.¡±


    Two warriors who had been helping manage the crowd now approached, awaiting instructions.


    ¡°Take her to the cells,¡± Liam ordered. ¡°She¡¯ll await judgment there.¡±


    ¡°The cells?¡± Samuel¡¯s face went even paler. ¡°But that¡¯s for¡ª¡±


    ¡°Criminals awaiting execution,¡± Lucas finished coldly. ¡°Yes.¡±


    Annie¡¯s sobs became hysterical as the warriors grabbed her arms. ¡°No! Daddy, please! I didn¡¯t mean to kill her, I swear! I was just so angry! Please don¡¯t let them do this!¡±


    ¡°The packws are clear,¡± Liam continued, addressing the small crowd that had gathered. ¡°Attempted murder of an Alpha¡¯s mate is punishable by death.¡±


    Mia copsed to her knees, sobbing uncontrobly as she watched her friend being dragged away. Samuel stood shell-shocked, the gravity of what had just happened seeming to finally sink in.


    I looked over at Levi, still in his wolf form, standing guard. His green eyes met mine, and I could feel his concern pulsing through our bond.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get you home,¡± Lucas murmured, pressing a kiss to my temple.

 Chapter 67: Unwelcome Homecoming

    <h4>Chapter 67: Chapter 67: Unwee Homing</h4>


    ¡°What in the moon goddess¡¯s name happened at the mall?¡±


    Alpha Henry¡¯s voice boomed through the entrance hall as we stepped into the mansion. His imposing figure blocked our path, arms crossed over his chest and eyes narrowed with displeasure.


    I instinctively shrank back, the familiar feeling of fear creeping up my spine. Even with the triplets surrounding me protectively, years of conditioning made me want to make myself invisible in Henry¡¯s presence.


    ¡°Dad, this isn¡¯t the time,¡± Lucas said firmly, his arm tightening around my waist. ¡°Hazel¡¯s injured and needs attention.¡±


    Henry¡¯s gaze flicked to my bloodied sleeve, then back to his eldest son¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯ve just received word that Samuel Williams has been stripped of his position and his daughter thrown in the cells. As the former Alpha and your father, I deserve an exnation.¡±


    The tension in the air thickened. Lucas and Liam exchanged nces while Levi moved closer to me, his hand finding the small of my back.


    ¡°Samuel¡¯s daughter attacked Hazel. Again,¡± Liam exined, his voice tight with controlled anger. ¡°This time in wolf form, in public, at the mall. She could have killed her.¡±


    ¡°And Samuel?¡± Henry pressed.


    ¡°Defended his daughter¡¯s actions and tried to undermine our authority,¡± Lucas replied coldly. ¡°We can¡¯t have someone in leadership who doesn¡¯t respect our decisions, especially regarding our mate¡¯s safety.¡±


    Henry¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°You¡¯ve thrown our financial advisor in jail? The man who¡¯s managed our pack¡¯s resources for nearly two decades?¡±


    ¡°We didn¡¯t throw him in jail,¡± Levi corrected. ¡°We relieved him of his duties. Annie is the one in the cells, and rightfully so.¡±


    The sound of heels clicking against marble drew our attention to Luna Evelyn descending the grand staircase. Her face wore its usual mask of cold indifference, but her eyes gleamed with interest at the unfolding drama.


    ¡°What¡¯s all thismotion about?¡± she asked, joining her husband at the bottom of the stairs. Her gazended on my bloodied arm, and her lips thinned into a disapproving line. ¡°I see.¡±


    ¡°Annie Williams shifted and attacked Hazel in the mall,¡± Liam exined again. ¡°She¡¯s in the cells awaiting trial for attempted murder.¡±


    Evelyn raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. ¡°And you¡¯ve dismissed Samuel? Over his daughter¡¯s tantrum?¡±


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t a tantrum,¡± Lucas snapped. ¡°It was a deliberate attack, and Samuel tried to excuse it.¡±


    ¡°Still,¡± Evelyn sighed dramatically, ¡°turning the entire pack hierarchy upside down for a mere girl seems excessive, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    My chest tightened at her words. Even now, after everything, I was still just ¡®a mere girl¡¯ in her eyes.


    ¡°She¡¯s not a ¡®mere girl,¡¯¡± Liam cut in sharply, his green eyes shing dangerously. ¡°She¡¯s our mate and the future Luna of this pack. I suggest you start treating her with the respect her position demands, Mother.¡±


    Evelyn¡¯s face flushed with anger and shock at being spoken to in such a manner by her son. For a moment, she seemed ready tosh back, but Henry ced a warning hand on her arm.


    ¡°We¡¯ll discuss this further after you¡¯ve settled Hazel,¡± Henry said, his tone making it clear it wasn¡¯t a suggestion. ¡°My office, one hour.¡±


    With that, he turned and strode away, Evelyn following after onest cold nce in my direction.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Lucas asked softly once his parents were out of earshot.


    I nodded, though the confrontation had left me drained. ¡°I just need to clean up.¡±


    The triplets guided me upstairs to my bedroom. The massive space with its king-sized bed and luxurious furnishings felt worlds away from the small servant¡¯s room I¡¯d upied for years.


    ¡°Let me see your arm,¡± Liam said, gently helping me sit on the edge of the bed.


    I winced as he carefully rolled up my sleeve, revealing the three parallel gashes left by Annie¡¯s ws. They had already begun healing, but still looked angry and red against my pale skin.


    ¡°That bitch,¡± Levi growled, pacing at the foot of the bed. ¡°Should have let us kill her on the spot.¡±


    ¡°Levi,¡± I lightly scolded, though his protective rage sent a warm flutter through my chest. ¡°We don¡¯t need the pack thinking you¡¯re a tyrant.¡±


    Levi huffed but did not argue.


    Lucas disappeared into the bathroom, returning with a first aid kit.


    ¡°This might sting a bit,¡± he warned before pressing an antiseptic-soaked cotton ball to the wounds.


    I bit my lip but remained still as he cleaned the gashes. Liam sat beside me, his thumb tracing soothing circles on my back, while Levi continued his agitated pacing.


    ¡°I don¡¯t like the way my parents spoke to you,¡± Lucas said quietly as he worked. ¡°That¡¯s going to change, Hazel. I promise you.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ve had years of seeing me as nothing but a servant,¡± I replied, trying to keep the hurt from my voice. ¡°It won¡¯t change overnight.¡±


    ¡°It will if we have anything to say about it,¡± Liam insisted.


    A knock at the bedroom door interrupted us. Levi strode over and opened it, revealing a young warrior standing at attention.


    ¡°Alpha Lucas, Alpha Liam, Alpha Levi,¡± the warrior greeted them formally. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to disturb you, but there are urgent matters regarding Annie Williams¡¯ trial that require your immediate attention. The packwyer needs signatures on the formal charges, and the council is requesting a full report of the incident.¡±


    Lucas finished bandaging my arm and sighed. ¡°Now?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid so, sir. They¡¯re waiting in the pack office.¡± His gaze flitted to me for a split second before returning to Lucas. ¡°Former Alpha Henry is also present.¡±


    The triplets exchanged frustrated nces.


    ¡°You three go,¡± I said, forcing a smile. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine here.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to leave you alone,¡± Levi frowned, returning to my side and pressing a soft kiss to my temple.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. I could use a shower and some rest anyway,¡± I assured him.


    Another knock sounded, and the warrior opened the door again. ¡°I almost forgot to mention¡ªthere are two visitors asking for Hazel Bailey. Sophia Reynolds and Callum Parker. They said they heard about what happened at the mall.¡±


    Relief washed over me at the mention of my friends. ¡°See? I won¡¯t be alone.¡±


    Lucas still looked reluctant. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okay with theming up?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely,¡± I nodded. ¡°Sophia and Callum are good people.¡±


    Liam studied me for a moment before nodding. ¡°That makes me feel better about leaving you.¡±


    ¡°Tell them they cane up,¡± Lucas instructed the warrior, who nodded and departed.


    The triplets gathered their things, clearly still unhappy about having to leave. Each one came to me before departing¡ªLucas pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead, Liam capturing my lips in a sweet kiss, and Levi giving me a lingering embrace.


    ¡°We won¡¯t be long,¡± Lucas promised at the door. ¡°And if you need anything¡ª¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll howl,¡± I finished with a small smile. ¡°Go. The sooner you finish, the sooner you cane back.¡±


    With reluctant nods, they filed out of the room. I could hear their footsteps receding down the hallway, leaving me alone in therge bedroom. Taking a deep breath, I stood and moved to the window, watching as they crossed the grounds toward the pack office building.


    I was so lost in thought that I nearly jumped when a knock sounded at the door.


    ¡°Hazel?¡± Sophia¡¯s familiar voice called. ¡°You in there?¡±

 Chapter 68: Unexpected Revelations

    <h4>Chapter 68: Chapter 68: Unexpected Revtions</h4>


    ¡°Oh my god, Hazel!¡± Sophia eximed, rushing forward to hug me. ¡°We heard what happened at the mall. Are you okay?¡±


    I winced slightly at the pressure against my injured arm but returned her hug with my good arm. ¡°I¡¯m okay. Just a few scratches that are already healing.¡±


    Callum followed Sophia into my room, his face etched with concern. ¡°Annie Williams attacked you? In public? That¡¯s insane.¡±


    ¡°Tell me about it,¡± I sighed, moving to sit on the edge of the bed. My body still felt tired from the healing process. ¡°It happened so fast. She just shifted right there in the mall and lunged at me.¡±


    ¡°Everyone¡¯s talking about it,¡± Sophia said, sitting beside me. ¡°And how the triplets put her in the cells immediately. Her dad too, from what I heard.¡±


    ¡°Just Annie¡¯s in the cells,¡± I rified. ¡°Samuel was just removed from his position for defending her actions.¡±


    Callum leaned against the wall, arms crossed. ¡°About time someone stood up to that family. Annie¡¯s been horrible for years.¡±


    ¡°Have you heard anything else?¡± I asked, curious about how the news was spreading through the pack.


    Sophia nodded. ¡°Kira and Mnie are absolutely horrified. I saw them at the coffee shop earlier.¡±


    I raised an eyebrow. ¡°I didn¡¯t know that you¡¯re friends with Kira and Mnie.¡±


    A strange look passed between Sophia and Callum. She fidgeted with the hem of her shirt, suddenly ufortable.


    ¡°Not friends exactly,¡± she said carefully. ¡°More like... acquaintances by circumstance.¡±


    ¡°But they were at your party,¡± I pointed out.


    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s because¡ª¡± Callum started, then stopped abruptly when Sophia shot him a warning look.


    ¡°Because what?¡± I pressed, sensing something they weren¡¯t telling me.


    Callum ran a hand through his hair. ¡°Well, I mean, Sophia knows a lot of people because of her past... connections.¡±


    ¡°What connections?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing, really,¡± Sophia insisted, but her cheeks had turned pink.


    Callum nced between us, clearly not realizing he¡¯d stepped into something awkward. ¡°You know, from when she dated Levi.¡±


    The room fell silent. Sophia closed her eyes with a grimace while Callum¡¯s face morphed into an expression of horror when he realized our expressions weren¡¯t right.


    ¡°Callum!¡± Sophia hissed.


    ¡°You dated Levi?¡± I asked, stunned. The triplets had never mentioned this, and I had been living with them my entire life.


    ¡°Oh shit,¡± Callum muttered. ¡°I thought she knew.¡±


    Sophia sighed deeply. ¡°It was nothing serious, Hazel. Just a very short thing about a year ago.¡±


    My mind raced. ¡°How did I not know about this? I literally live in the same house.¡±


    ¡°It was only for a week,¡± Sophia exined, her voice gentle. ¡°It was kept really quiet. Levi and I realized pretty quickly we were better as casual acquaintances. His parents didn¡¯t approve of me because my family isn¡¯t high-ranking enough.¡±


    That made sense. Henry and Evelyn had always been obsessed with status.


    ¡°We didn¡¯t even tell many people,¡± she continued. ¡°Just went on a couple of dates, realized there was no spark, and ended it mutually.¡±


    I nodded slowly, processing this information. ¡°So that¡¯s why you know Kira and Mnie.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Sophia admitted. ¡°That¡¯s also why I don¡¯t really like them. Or Annie. But our parents are all officials and work together, so we have to interact sometimes. It¡¯s all just pack politics.¡±


    Callum, clearly desperate to change the subject, pped his hands together. ¡°Speaking of interesting connections, guess what? I found my mate!¡±


    I shot him a grateful look for the topic change. The revtion about Sophia and Levi wasn¡¯t exactly earth-shattering, but it had caught me off guard.


    ¡°Yes, tell us everything!¡± I said, perking up. ¡°You¡¯ve been so secretive since the party.¡±


    His face lit up instantly. ¡°Her name is Cassandra Barry. She¡¯s from the Ironhound Pack.¡±


    ¡°Ironhound?¡± Sophia perked up. ¡°I know plenty of people from Ironhound!¡±


    ¡°We know,¡± Callum said with augh. ¡°Anyway, she¡¯s incredible. She has this tinum blonde hair that practically glows in the sunlight, and the most piercing blue eyes I¡¯ve ever seen.¡±


    I smiled at his obvious infatuation. ¡°How did you two meet again? Was it really at Sophia¡¯s party?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, she came with some friends from her pack. The moment our eyes met...¡± he trailed off, a dreamy expression on his face. ¡°It was exactly like everyone describes the mate bond. Like everything else in the world just disappeared.¡±


    Sophia and I exchanged amused nces. His enthusiasm was adorable.


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll say,¡± Sophia said, chuckling. ¡°I had my first chicken fight loss in years because of you.¡±


    Callum gave a sheepish grin.


    ¡°Actually,¡± he continued, checking his phone, ¡°she¡¯s visiting Emberfang today. She texted me earlier saying she¡¯s at the mall right now.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± I asked. ¡°That¡¯s great!¡±


    ¡°I was thinking maybe you two coulde with me to meet her?¡± Callum looked hopeful. ¡°I¡¯ve told her so much about my friends, and she¡¯s excited to get to know you better.¡±


    Sophia nced at me. ¡°Are you feeling well enough, Hazel? You were just attacked a few hours ago.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m healing up nicely,¡± I assured her, standing to prove my point. ¡°Werewolf healing has its perks. And honestly, I could use some normal friend time after everything that¡¯s happened.¡±


    ¡°What about the triplets?¡± Sophia asked. ¡°Won¡¯t they freak out if theye back and you¡¯re gone?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll text them,¡± I said, grabbing my phone from the nightstand. ¡°They¡¯re busy with pack business anyway, dealing with the Annie situation. This will be a good distraction.¡±


    I quickly typed out a message to Lucas, Liam, and Levi, exining where I was going and who I was with. Within seconds, Lucas replied that they were still dealing with the aftermath and to be careful. Liam added that Callum better keep me safe. Levi simply sent a series of heart emojis followed by a threatening knife emoji that I assumed was directed at anyone who might try to hurt me again.


    ¡°All clear,¡± I announced. ¡°Let¡¯s go meet your mysterious mate.¡±


    Twenty minutester, we pulled into the parking lot of Emberfang Mall. The Silver Pines Mall was still closed after what happened with Annie due to ongoing investigations, so most shoppers ended up visiting the Emberfang Mall instead¡ªthere were way more people here than I imagined.


    ¡°Where are we meeting her?¡± Sophia asked as we entered through the main doors.


    Callum checked his phone again. ¡°She said she¡¯d be at the central fountain.¡±


    We made our way through the mall, passing by shops and cafes bustling with afternoon shoppers.


    As we approached therge decorative fountain in the center of the mall, Callum suddenly quickened his pace, his face breaking into a wide grin. He raised his arm in an enthusiastic wave.


    ¡°Cassandra, over here!¡± he called out.

 Chapter 69: Porcelain Doll

    <h4>Chapter 69: Chapter 69: Porcin Doll</h4>


    Following his gaze, I spotted a young woman sitting on the edge of the fountain. She had the palest skin I¡¯d ever seen, almost translucent, with tinum blonde hair that fell in soft waves down her back. When she turned toward us, I was struck by her ice-blue eyes¡ªunnaturally bright against her pale features.


    Something about her made me uneasy, though I couldn¡¯t exin why.


    Cassandra¡¯s face lit up when she saw Callum. She stood gracefully, smoothing down her light blue sundress before hurrying over to us. The way she moved was almost ethereal, like she was floating rather than walking.


    ¡°Callum!¡± Her voice was soft and melodic as she threw her arms around his neck. He caught her with ease, spinning her around once before setting her back down.


    ¡°I missed you,¡± he said, pressing a quick kiss to her forehead.


    Cassandra blushed, ducking her head shyly before turning her attention to Sophia and me. ¡°You must be Hazel and Sophia. Callum has told me so much about you both.¡±


    ¡°All good things, I hope,¡± Sophia replied with a friendly smile, extending her hand.


    ¡°Of course!¡± Cassandra took Sophia¡¯s hand, then mine. Her skin was surprisingly cold to the touch, making me suppress a shiver. ¡°It¡¯s wonderful to finally meet Callum¡¯s friends.¡±


    ¡°Likewise,¡± I said, trying to shake off my unexined wariness. Maybe I was just on edge after everything that had happened with Annie. ¡°We¡¯ve been curious about the girl who stole our friend¡¯s heart.¡±


    Cassandra¡¯s blush deepened, and she looked up at Callum through hershes. ¡°He¡¯s been very sweet.¡±


    Callum wrapped an arm around her shoulders, beaming with pride. ¡°Hey, are you guys hungry? We could grab some dinner and get to know each other better.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m starving,¡± Sophia chimed in. ¡°There¡¯s a new ce that openedst week near the food court. Supposed to have great pasta.¡±


    ¡°That sounds perfect,¡± I agreed. Food would help settle my nerves. ¡°What do you think, Cassandra?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d love that,¡± she replied with a timid smile. ¡°I haven¡¯t eaten since breakfast.¡±


    We made our way through the crowded mall, Callum and Cassandra walking ahead of us, hand in hand. I noticed how he kept ncing at her, his expression full of adoration.


    ¡°They¡¯re cute together,¡± Sophia whispered to me. ¡°Though she¡¯s so... delicate-looking. Like a porcin doll or something.¡±


    I nodded. ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I was thinking.¡±


    The restaurant, a cozy Italian ce called Be Notte, wasn¡¯t too crowded. We were seated at afortable booth near the window, Sophia and I on one side, Callum and Cassandra on the other.


    After cing our drink orders, I watched as Cassandra carefully studied the menu, her pale fingers tracing the list of dishes. Up close, her features were even more striking¡ªhigh cheekbones, perfectly arched eyebrows, and those piercing blue eyes that seemed to catch every bit of light in the room.


    ¡°So, Cassandra,¡± Sophia began once the waiter had taken our food orders. ¡°Tell us about yourself. Callum mentioned you¡¯re from Ironhound?¡±


    Cassandra nodded, folding her hands neatly on the table. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve lived there my whole life. My family isn¡¯t high-ranking or anything special¡ªjust ordinary pack members. My father works in construction, and my mother is a teacher at the elementary school.¡±


    ¡°Do you have any siblings?¡± I asked, trying to engage in the conversation despite my lingering unease.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s just me,¡± she replied with a small smile. ¡°Which made growing up a little lonely at times. I don¡¯t have a lot of friends back home either. I¡¯ve always been... shy.¡±


    She nced at Callum, who squeezed her hand encouragingly.


    ¡°That¡¯s why meeting Callum was such a blessing,¡± she continued. ¡°And now meeting you both¡ªI feel like I¡¯m finally making connections.¡±


    ¡°How did you end up at Sophia¡¯s party?¡± I asked, curious. ¡°It seems like a long way from Ironhound just for a house party.¡±


    Something flickered in Cassandra¡¯s eyes¡ªso quickly I almost missed it¡ªbefore her sweet smile returned. ¡°My cousin knows someone from Emberfang. When I mentioned I was feeling cooped up at home, she suggested I tag along. I never expected to meet my mate there.¡±


    Callum grinned. ¡°Best party ever.¡±


    Sophiaughed. ¡°d my chicken fight loss served a greater purpose.¡±


    ¡°Oh, the infamous chicken fight!¡± Cassandra giggled, the sound like tinkling bells. ¡°Callum told me all about it.¡±


    ¡°I swear I thought I slipped, died, and went to heaven after seeing you,¡± he cooed.


    ¡°Nearly drowned poor Sophia in the process,¡± I added, smiling at the memory.


    Our drinks arrived, and we all took a moment to sip our beverages. Cassandra dabbed at her lips delicately with a napkin before turning her attention to me.


    ¡°I hope you don¡¯t mind me asking, Hazel, but Callum mentioned you¡¯re mated to the triplet alphas of Emberfang?¡± Her voice was hesitant, almost apologetic. ¡°I¡¯m just curious... I¡¯ve never heard of someone having multiple mates before. How does that work?¡±


    The question caught me off guard. I set down my water ss, considering how to respond.


    ¡°It¡¯s...plicated,¡± I admitted. ¡°I¡¯ve read about it but I didn¡¯t think it would ever happen to me. The bond feels different with each of them, but somehow connected at the same time. It¡¯s hard to exin.¡±


    ¡°That sounds incredible,¡± Cassandra leaned forward, eyes wide with interest. ¡°And they¡¯re identical triplets, right? Can you tell them apart easily?¡±


    ¡°I can,¡± I said. ¡°They may look the same physically, but their personalities arepletely different. Lucas is serious and protective, Liam is warm andpassionate, and Levi is yful and flirtatious.¡±


    ¡°And they all fell for you at the same time?¡± She tilted her head curiously.


    I felt my cheeks warm. ¡°We actually have aplicated history. They weren¡¯t exactly kind to me growing up.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Cassandra¡¯s eyebrows shot up. ¡°But now they¡¯re your mates? That¡¯s quite a transformation.¡±


    Before I could respond, Sophia jumped in. ¡°It¡¯s been quite the journey for Hazel. The boys have had to work hard to make amends.¡±


    ¡°How fascinating,¡± Cassandra murmured, her intense gaze fixed on me. ¡°Mate bonds are so powerful, aren¡¯t they? Able to ovee even the deepest resentments...¡±


    Something in her tone made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. But before I could analyze why, the waiter approached our table carrying arge tray of food.


    ¡°Here we go,¡± he announced cheerfully. ¡°The fettine alfredo, spaghetti bolognese, chicken parmesan, and¡ª¡±


    Suddenly, a small child darted between the tables, chasing after another kid. The first child collided with our waiter¡¯s legs, causing him to stumble. He managed to keep his bnce, but the bowl of hot minestrone soup he was carrying tilted precariously.


    Time seemed to slow down as the soup slid off the tray, sshing directly onto Cassandra¡¯s arm.

 Chapter 70: Hot Soup

    <h4>Chapter 70: Chapter 70: Hot Soup</h4>


    Time seemed to freeze as the bowl of hot minestrone soup slid off the tray, tipping directly toward Cassandra. The scalding liquid sshed across her pale forearm, and she let out a startled cry.


    ¡°Oh my god!¡± Callum jumped up instantly, panic shing across his face. ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    Cassandra automatically pulled back, but she wasn¡¯t fast enough to avoid the souppletely. The hot liquid had already soaked through the sleeve of her light blue sundress, leaving an angry red stain spreading across the fabric.


    ¡°I¡¯m so incredibly sorry, miss!¡± The waiter¡¯s face had gone pale with horror. He frantically grabbed napkins from the table, offering them to Cassandra. ¡°Please, let me help¡ª¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Cassandra said, though her voice was tight with pain. She pressed the napkins against her arm, wincing slightly.


    Callum was already on his feet, hovering over her with concern etched into every line of his face. ¡°Let me see, Cass. You might need burn cream.¡±


    He reached for her arm, gently pushing up her sleeve to check the damage. I watched as the wet fabric slid up, revealing angry red skin underneath¡ªbut something else caught my eye. Just below her elbow was what looked like a dark mark or scar. It was partially hidden, but I could make out what appeared to be four leg-like lines, almost like part of an animal.


    Cassandra noticed my gaze and quickly tugged her sleeve back down. ¡°It¡¯s really nothing,¡± she insisted, her movements just a little too hurried.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Sophia asked. ¡°That soup was steaming hot. We should at least get some ice on it.¡±


    Themotion had drawn attention from nearby tables. A harried-looking woman rushed over, pulling two sheepish children behind her.


    ¡°I am so sorry,¡± she began, her tone irritated. ¡°My boys were supposed to be¡ª¡± She stopped abruptly when her eyesnded on me, her expression shifting instantly. ¡°Oh! I didn¡¯t realize¡ªI¡¯m so sorry for not watching my kids better. Come on, boys, let¡¯s go.¡±


    She hurried away with her children before I could even respond, leaving me confused by the sudden change in her demeanor. Was she intimidated because of my connection to the Sullivan triplets? I still wasn¡¯t used to how differently some pack members treated me now.


    The waiter returned, his forehead beaded with sweat. ¡°Again, I sincerely apologize. The restaurant would like top your entire meal aspensation for the ident.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s really not necessary,¡± Cassandra said, her sweet smile back in ce. ¡°It was an ident. I¡¯ll heal soon enough.¡± Her voice was light, but I noticed she kept her arm carefully angled away from view.


    ¡°At least let me bring you an ice pack,¡± the waiter insisted.


    Cassandra nodded. ¡°That would be nice, thank you.¡±


    As the waiter rushed off, Sophia leaned forward. ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want to see one of the pack healers? There¡¯s a clinic just a few stores down from here.¡±


    ¡°No, really, I¡¯m fine.¡± Cassandra¡¯s voice was soft but firm. ¡°Wolf healing, remember? It¡¯ll be gone in a few hours.¡±


    Callum didn¡¯t look convinced, but he settled back into his seat, keeping a protective arm around her shoulders. ¡°If you¡¯re sure...¡±


    ¡°Completely sure,¡± she replied, before turning to me with that same serene smile. ¡°Now, where were we before all this excitement?¡±


    The waiter returned with an ice pack wrapped in a clean cloth, which Cassandra pressed gently against her arm. The rest of our food arrived shortly after, and the conversation gradually returned to normal. Sophia talked about her studies, Callum shared stories from his job, and Cassandra listened attentively, asking thoughtful questions.


    But I couldn¡¯t stop thinking about Cassandra¡¯s reaction. I looked at her. Everything about her seemed normal, every much the loving, infatuated she-wolf who had just found her mate. Yet, there was an unsettling feeling in my stomach.


    I tried to shrug it off. Maybe the unsettling feeling wasn¡¯t mine. Maybe the triplets had met an issue at their meeting.


    ¡°Hazel? Earth to Hazel?¡± Sophia nudged me gently.


    I blinked, realizing everyone was looking at me expectantly. ¡°Sorry, what?¡±


    ¡°Cassandra was asking if you¡¯re nning to attend the spring festival next month,¡± Callum exined, eyebrows raised in concern. ¡°You okay? You zoned out for a minute there.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, just thinking about some pack stuff I need to take care of,¡± I lied, forcing a smile. ¡°The spring festival? I¡¯m not sure yet. It depends on how things go with the... current situation.¡±


    Cassandra tilted her head. ¡°Current situation?¡±


    Sophia and Callum exchanged nces, clearly unsure how much to share about the Annie investigation.


    ¡°Just some pack business,¡± I said vaguely. ¡°Nothing too exciting.¡±


    ¡°I understand,¡± Cassandra replied, though something in her eyes made me wonder if she actually knew more than she was letting on. ¡°Pack politics can be soplicated.¡±


    As we finished our meals, I tried to push away my suspicions. Maybe I was being paranoid after everything that had happened.


    When we finally said our goodbyes in the parking lot, Cassandra hugged me with surprising strength for someone so delicate-looking.


    ¡°It was lovely meeting you, Hazel,¡± she whispered, her breath cool against my ear. ¡°I hope we¡¯ll be seeing much more of each other.¡±


    A shiver ran down my spine, though I couldn¡¯t exin why.


    ¡°Me too,¡± I replied automatically.


    As Callum drove away with Cassandra in the passenger seat, I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something wasn¡¯t right about her.


    +++


    Third POV


    Lucas Sullivan paced the length of his father¡¯s office, tension evident in every line of his body. His brothers sat nearby, equally on edge as they listened to the reports.


    ¡°All the evidence points to Annie working alone,¡± Beta Cohen was saying, gesturing to the documents spread across Alpha Henry¡¯s desk. ¡°The items found in her room match exactly with what was used in the attacks against Hazel.¡±


    ¡°But why?¡± Liam asked, frustration clear in his voice. ¡°I know she was upset about our rtionship ending, but to go that far?¡±


    Levi shook his head and shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know, man. She always seemed like a bitch to me.¡±


    Alpha Henry frowned, examining the photographs of the evidence. ¡°Sometimes we never truly know what others are capable of until they¡¯re pushed to their limits.¡±


    Lucas stopped pacing. ¡°We need to talk to Samuel Williams about this. He has always been protective of his daughter. I don¡¯t believe that he didn¡¯t have a single clue about her ns.¡±


    ¡°I agree,¡± Alpha Henry nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve always valued Samuel as an advisor, but in this case, his loyalty to his daughter might be clouding his judgment.¡±


    The door burst open suddenly, and a young warrior rushed in, breathing hard. The triplets immediately tensed, recognizing the panic on his face.


    ¡°Alpha Henry, young alphas,¡± the warrior said, bowing quickly. ¡°I apologize for the interruption, but I thought you should know immediately¡ªAnnie Williams is missing.¡±

 Chapter 71: Suspicious Marks

    <h4>Chapter 71: Chapter 71: Suspicious Marks</h4>


    Third POV


    Lucas, Liam, and Levi stood frozen in front of the empty cell, the silver bars bent outward at an impossible angle.


    The warrior who had been assigned to guard Anniey motionless on the ground, his skin an unnatural blue-gray color. Blood trickled from his nose and ears, and his eyes were wide open, staring sightlessly at the ceiling.


    ¡°Damn it,¡± Lucas muttered, kneeling beside the fallen warrior. He checked for a pulse, though it was clear the man was beyond help. ¡°This wasn¡¯t supposed to happen.¡±


    Liam¡¯s eyes narrowed as he spotted something in the warrior¡¯s neck. ¡°Look,¡± he said, pointing to a small needle protruding from the skin. ¡°Poison, most likely.¡±


    ¡°Probably wolfsbane,¡± Levi said, recognizing the faint purple residue around the entry point. The youngest triplet moved closer to examine the bent bars. ¡°These were forced from the outside. Annie didn¡¯t do this alone.¡±


    Lucas stood up slowly, his jaw tight with anger. ¡°She had help. Someone broke her out.¡±


    Alpha Henry pushed through the small crowd of warriors that had gathered at the holding cells. His face darkened when he saw the scene before him.


    ¡°Report,¡± he demanded, his voice hard and cold.


    ¡°Annie¡¯s gone,¡± Lucas said. ¡°The guard is dead¡ªpoisoned with what looks like wolfsbane. And those bars were broken from the outside.¡±


    Henry examined the cell, eyeing the bent silver bars. Even standing so close he could feel the heat of the metal searing through the air.


    ¡°Silver this thick doesn¡¯t bend easily, especially not by a werewolf. Whoever did this has considerable strength.¡±


    ¡°Or there were multiple perpetrators,¡± Liam suggested. ¡°Working together.¡±


    ¡°The cameras,¡± Levi said suddenly. ¡°We need to check the security footage.¡±


    One of the warriors stepped forward hesitantly. ¡°Alpha, the surveince system went down about an hour ago. We thought it was just a technical glitch and sent someone to check it out.¡±


    ¡°And?¡± Henry growled.


    ¡°The equipment was tampered with. All the wires cut.¡±


    Lucas mmed his fist against the wall. ¡°This was nned. They knew exactly what they were doing.¡±


    Liam nodded grimly. ¡°The question is, who helped her? And why?¡±


    ¡°And where did they take her?¡± Levi added.


    Henry surveyed the scene once more, his expression grim. The triplets exchanged dark looks. This was no coincidence.


    ¡°Find her,¡± Alpha Henry ordered, his voice hard. ¡°Now.¡±


    The warriors scattered immediately, rushing to organize search parties. Henry turned to his sons.


    ¡°Lucas, coordinate the search efforts. Levi, I want you to question Samuel Williams¡ªfind out if he knew anything about this. And Liam¡ª¡± he pointed to the needle still embedded in the dead warrior¡¯s neck, ¡°¡ªtake that to Matilda for analysis. We need to confirm it¡¯s wolfsbane and see if she can tell us anything else about it.¡±


    The brothers nodded, each understanding the gravity of the situation. Annie wasn¡¯t just Liam¡¯s spurned ex-girlfriend anymore¡ªshe was a threat to the pack, to Hazel, and to their future.


    ¡°Be careful,¡± Lucas warned his brothers. ¡°Whoever did this is still out there. And they clearly have no problem killing.¡±


    +++


    Liam knocked on the door to Matilda¡¯s office, the extracted needle carefully sealed in a small stic evidence bag. The pack physician called for him to enter, and he found her sorting through medical supplies, her graying hair pulled back in a tight bun.


    ¡°Alpha Liam,¡± she said, straightening up when she saw him. ¡°What can I do for you?¡±


    Liam held up the evidence bag. ¡°We need this analyzed immediately. We believe it contains wolfsbane poison.¡±


    Matilda¡¯s eyes widened slightly as she took the bag from him. ¡°May I ask what happened?¡±


    ¡°Annie Williams escaped. The guard was killed with this.¡±


    ¡°Goddess,¡± Matilda breathed, her expression grim. ¡°Give me a few minutes. I¡¯ll run some tests right away.¡±


    While Matilda moved to theboratory section of her office, Liam paced restlessly.


    His eyes drifted to Matilda¡¯s desk, where a thick medical textbooky open. Curious, he picked it up, more to distract himself than anything else.


    Advanced Werewolf Physiology: Mate Bonds and Pack Dynamics.


    Flipping through the pages, Liam noticed the author¡¯s name.


    Dr. Esther Perez.


    Lucas and Levi had mentioned this name before. Apparently, their mother knew her as one of Angeline Bailey¡¯s no-good, troublemaking friends.


    Liam raised an eyebrow. It was hard to believe that a celebrated doctor would be ssified under that umbre.


    At the back of the book was a glossy photo of Dr. Perez with her research team, all smiling proudly at the camera. Esther stood in the center, her dark hair streaked with gray even then, wearing a whiteb coat with her pack¡¯s emblem pinned to thepel.


    Something caught Liam¡¯s eye. There was a mark partially visible on Esther¡¯s neck, just above her cor. He squinted, trying to make out what it was.


    ¡°It¡¯s definitely wolfsbane,¡± Matilda announced, returning to the office. ¡°A particrly potent strain, too. It would have killed him within seconds.¡±


    Liam nodded absently, his attention still fixed on the photo. ¡°Matilda, this book... It¡¯s by Esther Perez, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Matilda said, looking surprised. ¡°One of the finest medical texts ever written about werewolf physiology. Dr. Perez was revolutionary in her understanding of mate bonds.¡±


    ¡°My mother mentioned her once,¡± Liam said slowly. ¡°Said she was a friend of Hazel¡¯s mother.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Matilda confirmed. ¡°She and Angeline Bailey were close, from what I understand. A terrible tragedy, what happened to both of them.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Matilda sighed. ¡°Well, Angeline disappeared, as you know. And Esther... she was doing groundbreaking work, but then suddenly withdrew from the medicalmunity. Lives like a hermit now, from what I hear. Won¡¯t see visitors, won¡¯t publish her research. Some say she had a mental breakdown after Angeline vanished.¡±


    Liam frowned, his mind making connections. ¡°Lucas tried to visit her once, when we first found out Hazel was our mate. She refused to see him.¡±


    ¡°Not surprising,¡± Matilda said. ¡°She refuses to see anyone these days.¡±


    Liam turned the book around, pointing to the mark on Esther¡¯s neck. ¡°Do you know what this is?¡±

 Chapter 72: Between Evidence and Ecstasy

    <h4>Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Between Evidence and Ecstasy</h4>


    (Trigger Warning: This Chapter contains explicit content and is intended for mature readers.)


    Third POV


    Matilda leaned in closer, examining the mark in the photograph that Liam was pointing to. Her brows furrowed as she studied it intently.


    ¡°I¡¯m not entirely sure,¡± she admitted, her voice hesitant. ¡°But wait... I might have something that could help us understand.¡±


    Matilda hurried to her filing cab and began rummaging through folders until she pulled out a thick man envelope. She returned to the desk and carefully extracted several photographs.


    ¡°These are from medical conferences I attended years ago. Dr. Perez was often a keynote speaker before she disappeared from public life.¡±


    Liam watched as Matilda spread the photos across her desk. They showed Esther Perez in variousboratories and clinics, always surrounded by admiring colleagues. The woman had amanding presence, her dark hair streaked with gray, her eyes bright with intelligence.


    ¡°There,¡± Matilda pointed to one photo where Esther was leaning her head to the side, exposing her neck to the camera. ¡°You can see the mark more clearly here.¡±


    Liam leaned in, his heart suddenly pounding faster. The mark was unmistakable.


    ¡°Oh shit,¡± Liam cursed under his breath.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Matilda said, letting out a low whistle. ¡°I knew I¡¯d seen that mark before.¡±


    The image might be slightly blurry, but there was no mistaking it. Esther Perez had the same brand as the man who tried to kidnap Hazel¡ªthe symbol of a wolf howling at the sun.


    +++


    Hazel¡¯s POV


    I dragged myself down the stairs after my shower, feeling like my limbs were made of lead. Ever since returning home from dinner, I¡¯d felt unusually tired, my energypletely drained. All I wanted was a ss of cold water tobat the strange lethargy.


    As I reached the kitchen, the front door opened. Levi walked in, his tall frame filling the doorway. When he saw me, his face broke into a heart-stopping smile.


    ¡°There¡¯s my beautiful mate,¡± he said, crossing the room in a few long strides.


    Before I could respond, his strong arms were around me, and his lips captured mine in a kiss that made my toes curl. He smelled like pine and midnight air, and despite my exhaustion, I melted against him.


    ¡°How was your day?¡± he asked when we finally broke apart, his green eyes bright with affection.


    ¡°Nothing special,¡± I said, reaching past him to grab a ss from the cab. ¡°Just hung out with Callum and his new mate.¡±


    ¡°Oh? How are they doing?¡± Levi asked, shrugging off his jacket and draping it over a kitchen chair.


    ¡°They seem happy.¡± I filled my ss with water, deliberately leaving out how Cassandra gave me a weird feeling I couldn¡¯t quite ce. Something about her seemed off. But I didn¡¯t want to rain on Callum¡¯s parade based on just a feeling. ¡°Callum¡¯spletely smitten.¡±


    Levi opened the refrigerator and surveyed its contents. ¡°I¡¯m starving. Want me to make you something too?¡±


    I shook my head. ¡°I¡¯m not really hungry.¡±


    ¡°You sure? It¡¯s no trouble,¡± he said, pulling out leftover pasta and some vegetables.


    I nodded, smiling. ¡°Maybeter.¡±


    I settled on a stool at the kitchen ind, content to watch Levi move around the kitchen. The way his muscles shifted beneath his t-shirt as he reached for pans and utensils was mesmerizing.


    As he started heating oil in a pan, the smell suddenly hit me like a truck. My stomach lurched violently, and I pped a hand over my mouth.


    ¡°Hazel?¡± Levi looked at me with concern, immediately turning off the stove.


    I swallowed hard, fighting the wave of nausea. After a moment, it mercifully subsided.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± I said, breathing deeply through my mouth. ¡°I don¡¯t know what that was about.¡±


    Levi was at my side instantly, his hand gently rubbing my back. ¡°Are you feeling sick?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m fine now. It was just... the smell suddenly made me nauseous.¡±


    His brows knitted together. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s anxiety, after everything that¡¯s happened.¡±


    That made sense. Between kidnapping attempts and pack drama, my nerves were probably shot.


    ¡°Yeah, probably,¡± I agreed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. Go ahead and make your food.¡±


    He looked uncertain but returned to the stove. This time, the smell didn¡¯t affect me as strongly, though I still kept my distance.


    When his food was ready, Levi joined me at the ind. I watched as he dug into his meal with enthusiasm, admiring the strong line of his jaw as he chewed.


    ¡°You¡¯re staring,¡± he said with a smirk, catching my eyes.


    ¡°Just appreciating the view,¡± I replied with a small smile.


    A bit of sauce clung to the corner of his mouth. Without thinking, I leaned forward and, instead of wiping it away, licked it off slowly.


    Levi froze, his fork halfway to his mouth. His eyes darkened instantly, pupils dting as he stared at me.


    ¡°Hazel,¡± he growled, his voice dropping an octave. ¡°You can¡¯t do that and expect me to keep eating.¡±


    Heat pooled in my lower belly at his tone. ¡°Maybe I don¡¯t want you to keep eating.¡±


    In one fluid motion, Levi pushed his te aside and pulled me onto hisp. I straddled him, feeling his hardness press against me through our clothes.


    ¡°What do you want me to do instead?¡± he asked, his hands gripping my hips.


    I leaned in until my lips brushed his ear. ¡°I want your mouth somewhere else.¡±


    Levi¡¯s growl vibrated through his chest as he stood, lifting me with him. In seconds, he had me sitting on the edge of the ind, my legs dangling over the side.


    ¡°Here?¡± he asked, his voice rough with desire. ¡°Where anyone could walk in?¡±


    The thought sent a thrill through me. ¡°Everyone¡¯s out,¡± I reminded him, feeling breathless and bold. ¡°And I don¡¯t want to wait.¡±


    His eyes shed gold as he pulled my sweats and underwear down in one quick movement. I gasped as the cool air hit my heated center.


    ¡°Look at you,¡± he murmured, pushing my thighs apart. ¡°Already so wet for me.¡±


    I bit my lip as he knelt between my legs, his hot breath teasing my sensitive skin. When his tongue finally made contact, I had to grip the edge of the counter to keep from falling backward.


    Levi was relentless, his mouth working magic as he alternated between long, slow licks and quick flicks against my most sensitive spot. My hips bucked involuntarily, but his strong hands held me firmly in ce.


    ¡°Levi,¡± I gasped, one hand moving to tangle in his dark hair.


    He hummed against me, the vibration sending shockwaves of pleasure through my body. I felt myself climbing higher, getting closer to the edge with each expert stroke of his tongue.


    My breathing became erratic as the tension built. Levi seemed to sense my closeness, doubling his efforts until I was trembling beneath his touch.


    ¡°That¡¯s it, baby,¡± he murmured against me. ¡°Let go for me.¡±


    Just as the first waves of my release began to crash over me, Levi slid two fingers inside me, curling them upward to hit that perfect spot. Stars exploded behind my eyelids as I cried out his name, my back arching off the counter.


    Before I could fullye down from my high, Levi stood and captured my mouth in a searing kiss. I could taste myself on his lips as his hands worked to unbuckle his belt.


    ¡°I need to be inside you,¡± he growled against my mouth. ¡°Right now.¡±

 Chapter 73: Exposed Desires

    <h4>Chapter 73: Chapter 73: Exposed Desires</h4>


    (Trigger Warning: This Chapter contains explicit content and is intended for mature readers.)


    ¡°Someone could walk in any minute,¡± I gasped against Levi¡¯s lips, my body still trembling from the intense orgasm he¡¯d just given me on the kitchen counter.


    His eyes darkened with mischief. ¡°Then let¡¯s go somewhere more private.¡±


    Before I could respond, Levi scooped me up in his arms. I squealed in surprise, clinging to his shoulders as he carried me out of the dining room, leaving our dishes behind. My pants and underwear were still dangling from one ankle.


    ¡°Levi! Let me fix my clothes first,¡± I whispered urgently.


    ¡°No need,¡± he growled, taking the stairs two at a time. ¡°I¡¯m just going to take them off again anyway.¡±


    Heat rushed to my cheeks, but excitement pulsed through me at his words. Even after everything we¡¯d done together, the raw desire in his voice still made my heart race.


    He carried me past the bedrooms on the top floor, heading toward a door at the end of the hallway I rarely visited.


    ¡°Where are we going?¡± I asked, my arms tightening around his neck.


    ¡°Somewhere special,¡± he replied with a wink.


    Levi shouldered open the door to reveal a spacious balcony furnished with plush sun loungers and potted nts. The evening air was cool against my skin as he carried me outside. The balcony overlooked the vast forest surrounding the pack house, with a perfect view of the driveway and front yard below.


    ¡°I¡¯ve always wanted to take you here,¡± Levi murmured, setting me down on one of the lounge chairs. ¡°Ever since I realized you were our mate.¡±


    The lounge chair was surprisinglyfortable, wider than I expected and lined with soft cushions. Levi stood back, drinking me in with his eyes as Iy there with my pants still half off.


    ¡°You look so fucking sexy right now,¡± he said, his voice dropping low. ¡°Spread out for me like a feast.¡±


    I shivered, both from the cool breeze and from the intensity of his gaze. ¡°Someone might see us.¡±


    Levi¡¯s lips curved into a devilish smile. ¡°That¡¯s part of the thrill, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    The thought sent a forbidden excitement coursing through me. We were high enough that no one could see us clearly from the ground, but the sense of exposure was intoxicating.


    ¡°Take off your shirt,¡± hemanded softly.


    My hands moved almost of their own ord, pulling my t-shirt over my head and tossing it aside. My bra followed secondster. Levi¡¯s eyes zed as he took in my naked body.


    ¡°Perfect,¡± he breathed, stripping off his own shirt to reveal his sculpted chest and abs.


    I watched, mesmerized, as he removed the rest of his clothes. His erection sprang free, hard and ready. My mouth watered at the sight.


    ¡°Now, where were we?¡± he asked, joining me on the lounge chair.


    Levi positioned himself above me, his powerful arms bracketing my head. He leaned down to capture my lips in a kiss that sent heat spiraling through my body. One of his hands moved to cup my breast, his thumb brushing over my nipple until it hardened under his touch.


    ¡°Levi,¡± I moaned, arching into his hand.


    ¡°I love when you say my name like that,¡± he murmured against my neck, nipping lightly at the sensitive skin. ¡°Say it again.¡±


    ¡°Levi,¡± I breathed as his lips traveled down my body, leaving a trail of fire in their wake.


    His mouth closed around my nipple, tongue swirling as he sucked gently. My hands flew to his hair, holding him against me as pleasure shot straight to my core.


    ¡°You taste so sweet,¡± he groaned, moving tovish attention on my other breast.


    My legs fell open wider, inviting him closer. Levi shifted between them, his hardness pressing against my entrance. I was already wet from our kitchen encounter, my body aching for him.


    ¡°Please,¡± I whimpered, rolling my hips up to meet his.


    ¡°Please what?¡± he teased, rubbing himself against my slick folds without entering me.


    ¡°I need you inside me,¡± I begged, digging my nails into his shoulders.


    Levi¡¯s eyes shed with triumph. ¡°As my matemands.¡±


    In one smooth thrust, he buried himself inside me. I cried out at the delicious stretch, my inner walls clenching around him. He felt impossibly big, filling mepletely.


    ¡°Fuck, you¡¯re tight,¡± he groaned, holding still for a moment. ¡°Every damn time, it¡¯s like the first time.¡±


    I wrapped my legs around his waist, pulling him deeper. ¡°Move,¡± I demanded breathlessly.


    Levi didn¡¯t need to be told twice. He began to thrust, setting a steady rhythm that had me gasping with each stroke. The lounger creaked beneath us, rocking slightly with our movements.


    ¡°You feel so good,¡± I moaned, tossing my head back as he hit that perfect spot inside me.


    ¡°Yeah? You like that?¡± he growled, angling his hips to strike that spot repeatedly.


    ¡°Yes! Right there,¡± I cried out, not caring if anyone heard us.


    Levi increased his pace, driving into me harder and faster. One of his hands slid between our bodies to circle my clit, adding anotheryer to the building pleasure.


    ¡°I want to feel youe on my cock, Hazel,¡± he demanded, his voice rough with desire. ¡°Come for me.¡±


    Thebination of his words, his skilled fingers, and the relentless thrusting of his hips pushed me closer to the edge. The forbidden thrill of being outside, where anyone could potentially see us, only heightened my arousal.


    ¡°Oh god, I¡¯m close,¡± I panted, feeling the tension coil tighter in my lower belly.


    ¡°That¡¯s it, baby,¡± Levi encouraged, his strokes bing more deliberate. ¡°Let go.¡±


    I was teetering on the brink when Levi suddenly slowed his movements. He pulled me off the lounge and against the balcony railing, standing behind me, still sheathed inside my folds. I whimpered in protest, my body desperate for release.


    ¡°Look,¡± hemanded, gently turning my head to the side. ¡°Look down there.¡±


    Through the haze of pleasure, I followed his gaze to the driveway below. My heart nearly stopped when I saw Lucas and Liam getting out of a car, returning home earlier than expected.


    ¡°They¡¯re back,¡± I whispered, panic mixing with excitement in my veins.


    ¡°They can¡¯t see us clearly,¡± Levi assured me, resuming his thrusts at a slower, more deliberate pace. ¡°But isn¡¯t it exciting knowing they¡¯re so close?¡±


    The thought sent a forbidden thrill through me. I bit my lip to stifle a moan as Levi¡¯s thumb returned to my clit, circling with expert precision.


    ¡°What if they hear us?¡± I gasped.


    ¡°Then they¡¯ll know how good I¡¯m making you feel,¡± he growled possessively, driving into me with renewed vigor.


    I was close again, the pressure building to an unbearable peak. Levi¡¯s movements became more urgent, his breathing harsh in my ear.


    ¡°I¡¯m going toe,¡± he groaned. ¡°Come with me, Hazel.¡±


    Just as I was about to shatter, something made Lucas and Liam pause on the pathway. As if sensing our presence, they both looked up simultaneously, their eyes searching the balcony.


    Our gazes locked¡ªfour eyes staring directly into mine from below. The shock and heat in their expressions pushed me over the edge.


    The orgasm hit me like a tidal wave, pleasure crashing through every inch of my body as I came apart under their watchful eyes.

 Chapter 74: On Display

    <h4>Chapter 74: Chapter 74: On Disy</h4>


    (Trigger Warning: This Chapter contains explicit content and is intended for mature readers.)


    Wave after wave of pleasure crashed through me as I came undone against the balcony railing. My legs trembled violently, threatening to give out beneath me. Levi¡¯s strong arm wrapped around my waist, holding me steady as he continued to thrust through my orgasm.


    ¡°That¡¯s it, baby,¡± he murmured against my ear, his voice rough with desire. ¡°Let them see how beautiful you look when youe.¡±


    Through my haze of ecstasy, I could see Lucas and Liam standing frozen in the driveway below, their eyes locked on us. The hunger in their expressions was unmistakable, even from this distance. My cheeks burned with a mixture of embarrassment and arousal at being caught in such apromising position.


    ¡°They¡¯reing,¡± Levi chuckled, his double meaning not lost on me as he slowly pulled out. ¡°And they look eager to join us.¡±


    As if on cue, I heard the front door m open downstairs, followed by heavy footsteps rushing through the house.


    The balcony door burst open shortly after. Lucas and Liam stood there, chests heaving, eyes dark with hunger as they took in our naked forms.


    ¡°Started without us?¡± Lucas growled, his voice deeper than usual.


    Liam¡¯s gaze raked over my naked body. ¡°And giving the whole neighborhood a show?¡±


    ¡°No one can see except you two,¡± Levi replied with a smirk. ¡°Perfect timing, though. Our mate here just had her second orgasm of the evening.¡±


    Lucas stalked toward me, his movements predatory. Without a word, he pulled me against his chest and crushed his lips to mine. I melted into the kiss, my body still sensitive from my climax.


    ¡°You look so fucking beautiful when youe,¡± he murmured against my lips. ¡°Couldn¡¯t wait until we got up here.¡±


    I felt Liam press against my back, his hands sliding around to cup my breasts. ¡°Did you enjoy giving us that little preview, sweetheart?¡± His thumbs circled my nipples, sending fresh sparks of pleasure through me.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know you wereing home,¡± I admitted breathlessly as Lucas¡¯s mouth moved to my neck.


    ¡°Surprise,¡± Liam whispered, nipping my earlobe. ¡°Best homing ever.¡±


    Lucas backed me toward the lounger, gently pushing me down. I watched as he and Liam quickly stripped off their clothes, their muscled bodies gleaming in the fading evening light.


    ¡°How do you want her?¡± Levi asked his brothers, already stroking himself back to hardness.


    Lucas¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°On your knees, Hazel.¡±


    The authority in his voice had me obeying instantly. I positioned myself on all fours on the wide lounge chair, my heart pounding with anticipation.


    Lucas knelt behind me, his hands gripping my hips. ¡°You¡¯re soaked,¡± he observed, running a finger through my folds.


    ¡°Levi takes good care of me,¡± I replied with a small smile.


    ¡°Let¡¯s see if I can do better,¡± Lucas challenged, positioning himself at my entrance.


    He pushed in slowly, allowing me to adjust to his size. I moaned at the delicious stretch, my body eagerly epting him.


    ¡°Fuck,¡± he groaned. ¡°So tight.¡±


    Liam appeared in front of me, his erection level with my face. ¡°Open,¡± hemanded softly.


    I parted my lips, taking him into my mouth as Lucas began to thrust from behind. The dual sensation was overwhelming¡ªbeing filled from both ends, pleasuring two of my mates simultaneously.


    ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± Liam praised, his hands tangling in my hair. ¡°Just like that.¡±


    Levi watched us, his eyes hooded with lust as he stroked himself. ¡°You three look perfect together.¡±


    Lucas¡¯s pace increased, his thrusts bing more forceful. Each movement pushed me forward onto Liam, taking him deeper into my throat. I moaned around him, the vibrations making him groan.


    ¡°Not going tost long,¡± Lucas warned, his fingers digging into my hips. ¡°You feel too good.¡±


    Liam guided my movements with gentle pressure on my head. ¡°Look at me, Hazel,¡± he instructed.


    I lifted my gaze to meet his, and the raw desire in his eyes sent a fresh flood of wetness between my legs. Lucas felt it, growling his approval as he drove into me harder.


    ¡°She¡¯s close again,¡± he told Liam. ¡°Can feel her tightening around me.¡±


    Levi moved to kneel beside me, his hand sliding beneath my body to find my clit. ¡°Let¡¯s help her along,¡± he suggested, starting to rub gentle circles.


    The triple stimtion was too much. I moaned desperately around Liam as pressure built rapidly inside me. Lucas hit that perfect spot inside me with each thrust while Levi¡¯s fingers worked magic on my sensitive bundle of nerves.


    ¡°Come for us, Hazel,¡± Lucasmanded. ¡°Now.¡±


    My body obeyed, shattering into a thousand pieces as pleasure ripped through me. I cried out around Liam, my inner walls mping down on Lucas. The intensity of my orgasm triggered Lucas¡¯s release. He thrust deep one final time, pulsing inside me with a guttural groan.


    Liam gently pulled out of my mouth, allowing me to catch my breath.


    ¡°My turn,¡± he said, helping me up as Lucas withdrew.


    Before I knew it, Liam had me pressed against the railing, facing the forest.


    ¡°Anyone could see us,¡± I whispered, though the thought excited me rather than frightened me now.


    ¡°Let them look,¡± Liam replied, lifting one of my legs to hook over his arm. ¡°Let them see that you belong to us.¡±


    He entered me in one smooth thrust, filling mepletely. I cried out at the new angle, clutching the railing for support.


    ¡°So perfect,¡± Liam murmured, setting a steady rhythm that had me gasping with each stroke.


    Lucas and Levi watched us, their eyes hungry despite their recent releases. The sight of them watching only heightened my pleasure, knowing they were enjoying the show.


    Liam¡¯s thrusts became more urgent, his breathing ragged against my neck.


    ¡°Close, Hazel,¡± he warned. ¡°So close.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± I encouraged, pushing back against him. ¡°Come for me.¡±


    With a strangled groan, Liam buried himself deep, his body shuddering as he found his release. I clung to him, savoring the feeling of his climax.


    Slowly, reality began to creep back in. The four of us were naked on the balcony, exposed to anyone who might look up.


    ¡°We should probably get inside,¡± I suggested, suddenly feeling the coolness of the evening air on my skin.


    Lucas nodded, gathering our scattered clothing. ¡°Let¡¯s get you back to your room. You need to rest.¡±


    Levi wrapped me in his shirt, the fabric engulfing my smaller frame. ¡°Our little mate is worn out,¡± he teased, pressing a kiss to my forehead.


    We made our way back into the house, the brothers supporting me on my wobbly legs. Just as we reached the stairway to head down to my room, we heard the front door open.


    ¡°Mom¡¯s home,¡± Lucas whispered, pulling me into the shadows of the hallway.


    ¡°Shit,¡± Liam added, recognizing the second voice. ¡°With Jessie too.¡±


    We pressed ourselves against the wall, trying to move silently toward my bedroom. My heart pounded as I clutched the shirt around me, praying we wouldn¡¯t be caught.


    A floorboard creaked beneath Levi¡¯s foot as we neared the stairs. The conversation below paused abruptly.


    ¡°Hello?¡± Jessie called up. ¡°Is someone there?¡±


    We froze, holding our breaths. Another step, another creak.


    ¡°Levi? Is that you?¡± Jessie¡¯s voice rang out clearly in the silence.

 Chapter 75: Connections

    <h4>Chapter 75: Chapter 75: Connections</h4>


    Before I could process what was happening, Lucas scooped me up and bundled me in his arms. The shirt I wore barely covered anything, and I tucked myself against his chest as he carried me swiftly down the hallway toward my bedroom.


    Levi followed closely behind, gathering our scattered clothing as we made our hasty retreat. My heart hammered against my ribs as we slipped into my bedroom, Lucas kicking the door shut behind us.


    For a moment, we all froze, listening for footsteps on the stairs. When none came, the tension broke, and we dissolved into nervousughter.


    ¡°That was close,¡± Levi whispered, dropping our clothes in a pile by the bed. ¡°Too close.¡±


    ¡°Your face,¡± Liam snickered, pointing at me. ¡°You looked absolutely terrified.¡±


    I swatted at him yfully. ¡°Because I was! Can you imagine if Jessie had caught us all naked in the hallway?¡±


    Lucas set me down on the bed, his eyes dancing with amusement. ¡°Maybe she would get the hint after that?¡±


    ¡°Pretty sure she¡¯d be scarred for life,¡± Levi added, flopping down beside me.


    Ourughter gradually subsided, and I pulled the covers up over my still-naked body. The adrenaline from our near-miss was fading, leaving me suddenly exhausted. Lucas noticed my drooping eyelids and sat beside me, his hand stroking my hair.


    ¡°Tired, little mate?¡± he asked softly.


    I nodded, leaning into his touch. ¡°It¡¯s been an... eventful day.¡±


    Liam settled on my other side, his expression growing serious. ¡°Before you rest, there¡¯s something I wanted to tell you. I found some information today that might interest you.¡±


    My fatigue instantly vanished. ¡°About what?¡±


    ¡°Your parents,¡± he said simply.


    I sat up straighter, clutching the nket to my chest. ¡°What about them?¡±


    Liam exchanged nces with his brothers before continuing. ¡°I was visiting Matilda¡¯s office today when I found a book that was supposedly written by Esther Perez, a friend of your mother¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°And?¡± I urged when he paused.


    ¡°There were some photos of her from her book and some other conventions,¡± Liam said. He leaned forward, his voice dropping. ¡°She has the same symbol on her arm as the kidnapper who attacked you.¡±


    My blood ran cold.


    Lucas frowned. ¡°The wolf howling at the sun?¡±


    Levi¡¯s expression turned grim as well.


    ¡°What does it mean?¡± I whispered.


    Lucas shrugged. ¡°We don¡¯t know. I¡¯ve never seen that symbol before in any pack documentation.¡±


    ¡°Neither have I,¡± Liam added. ¡°And I¡¯ve been through most of the archives since bing Alpha.¡±


    I wrapped my arms around myself, suddenly feeling vulnerable. ¡°Do you think she¡¯s connected to whoever tried to take me?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s possible,¡± Lucas said carefully. ¡°But we don¡¯t want to jump to conclusions. She might just be part of the same... whatever this is. Doesn¡¯t mean she was directly involved.¡±


    Levi cleared his throat. ¡°There¡¯s more. The border patrols reported increased rogue activitytely. Far more than usual.¡±


    ¡°Around our territory?¡± I asked.


    He nodded. ¡°Specifically around our borders. They¡¯re not attacking, just... watching. Whenever our warriors approached them, they would back off immediately.¡±


    A shiver ran down my spine. ¡°You think it¡¯s all connected? Esther, the symbol, the rogues, the attack on me?¡±


    ¡°It seems too coincidental not to be,¡± Lucas confirmed. ¡°But don¡¯t worry.¡± He took my hand, squeezing it gently. ¡°We¡¯re not going to let anything happen to you. We¡¯re increasing patrols, and one of us will always be near you.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll figure this out,¡± Liam promised, his thumb brushing across my cheek. ¡°But for now, you need to rest.¡±


    Despite the troubling news, exhaustion was quickly overtaking me again. I nestled back against the pillows, and the triplets arranged themselves around me protectively. Levi spooned me from behind while Lucasy facing me, and Liam draped his arm over us all.


    ¡°Sleep, mate,¡± Lucas murmured. ¡°You¡¯re safe with us.¡±


    I drifted off surrounded by their warmth, their heartbeats aforting rhythm against the uneasy thoughts swirling in my mind.


    +++


    I returned to Greta¡¯s diner the next day, trying to focus on work despite the lingering questions about Esther and the mysterious symbol. The morning rush hade and gone, leaving the ce rtively quiet for the afternoon lull.


    I was wiping down the counter when the bell above the door jingled. Looking up, I nearly dropped my cloth at the sight of Cassandra entering the diner. She was dressed strangely, covered from head to toe despite the mild weather, withrge sunsses and an oversized sun hat that shadowed her face.


    Once inside, she removed the essories, revealing her ethereal features. Her tinum blonde hair gleamed under the diner lights as she spotted me and waved enthusiastically.


    ¡°Hazel! Hi!¡± she called, making her way toward the counter.


    ¡°Cassandra,¡± I greeted, genuinely surprised. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to see you here.¡±


    She smiled, sliding onto one of the counter stools. ¡°I was in the area and thought I¡¯d stop by. Callum mentioned you work here.¡±


    I nodded toward one of the empty booths by the windows. ¡°Would you prefer to sit over there? Morefortable than these stools.¡±


    Cassandra nced at the booths, then quickly shook her head. ¡°No, this is perfect. I don¡¯t need so much space when I¡¯m alone. Plus, I can chat with you this way.¡±


    ¡°Fair enough,¡± I said, grabbing a menu and cing it before her. ¡°What can I get you?¡±


    She barely nced at it. ¡°Just a strawberry milkshake, please.¡±


    I nodded and set about preparing her order. As I worked, I felt her watching me intently.


    ¡°So how are things with Callum?¡± I asked, breaking the slightly ufortable silence.


    Her face lit up. ¡°Wonderful! He¡¯s... everything I could have hoped for in a mate.¡±


    Something about her enthusiasm seemed forced, but I pushed the thought aside. Who was I to judge someone else¡¯s rtionship?


    ¡°That¡¯s great,¡± I said, cing herpleted milkshake in front of her.


    She took a small sip. ¡°Mm, delicious. You know, I hope you don¡¯t mind, but I am really curious about how you grew up with the Sullivan triplets. Callum said you worked for them?¡± Her voice turned a little softer. ¡°Was that why you said that you had aplicated history with them before finding out they are your mates?¡±


    The sudden change in topic caught me off guard. ¡°Well, yes. My parents died when I was young. The Sullivans took me in after that.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry to hear that,¡± she said, offering aforting smile. ¡°My family is pretty small too.¡±


    I nodded politely as I began cleaning sses that had been left to dry.


    ¡°It must have been hard growing up without your parents,¡± Cassandra continued, her ice-blue eyes tracking my movements. ¡°Did you ever wonder about them? Who they were, what happened?¡±


    I hesitated, ufortable with how personal the conversation had be. ¡°Sometimes.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t imagine not knowing my family history,¡± she mused, tracing a finger around the rim of her ss. ¡°Family is so important, don¡¯t you think? The connections, the bloodlines...¡±


    Her intensity was starting to unnerve me. I focused on polishing the milkshake sses, trying to appear casual.


    ¡°I suppose so,¡± I replied cautiously.


    Cassandra leaned forward slightly, her voice dropping. ¡°Do you have any siblings, Hazel?¡±

 Chapter 76: Suspicions

    <h4>Chapter 76: Chapter 76: Suspicions</h4>


    The question caught me off guard, but I wasn¡¯t offended. Something in Cassandra¡¯s eyes made her seem genuinely curious rather than intrusive.


    ¡°No,¡± I answered, setting down the ss I¡¯d been polishing. ¡°I was an only child.¡±


    Cassandra nodded slowly, her fingers tracing patterns on her milkshake ss. For a brief moment, something like sadness flickered across her features.


    ¡°I lied to you before,¡± she confessed abruptly.


    My hands stilled. ¡°About what?¡±


    ¡°When we first met, I said I didn¡¯t have any siblings.¡± She took a deep breath. ¡°But I did have an older brother. His name was Caleb.¡±


    The way she said ¡°was¡± didn¡¯t escape my notice.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I murmured, not knowing what else to say.


    Cassandra shrugged, attempting nonchnce, but her knuckles were white where they gripped her ss.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. He died when he was very young. I don¡¯t even remember him, really.¡±


    ¡°That must be hard.¡±


    ¡°Sometimes I wonder what it would have been like, growing up with him.¡± Her eyes met mine. ¡°That¡¯s why I asked about siblings. I¡¯ve always envied the Sullivan triplets because theye from such a big family. Having siblings is like having natural best friends, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    There was something in her voice that sounded so lonely. Despite all my suspicions about Cassandra, in that moment, she seemed genuinely vulnerable.


    ¡°You know,¡± I said, surprising myself, ¡°anytime you visit Emberfang, you¡¯re wee at our ce. I mean, if you¡¯re looking forpany outside of Callum...¡±


    Her face lit up, the sadness vanishing so quickly I wondered if I¡¯d imagined it. ¡°Really? You¡¯d let me visit your home?¡±


    ¡°Of course. Why wouldn¡¯t I?¡±


    She beamed, taking another sip of her milkshake. ¡°That¡¯s so sweet of you, Hazel. I knew there was a reason Callum spoke so highly of you.¡±


    As if summoned by his name, the bell above the door jingled again. Callum walked in, his gaze immediately finding Cassandra. His entire face transformed, softening with such obvious adoration that I almost felt like an intruder watching them.


    ¡°There you are,¡± he said, crossing the diner in long strides and bending to kiss her cheek. ¡°Ready to go?¡±


    Cassandra nodded, finishing thest of her milkshake. ¡°Hazel and I were just having a lovely chat. She¡¯s invited me to visit your pack house sometime.¡±


    Callum¡¯s eyebrows rose slightly as he nced at me, but his smile remained warm. ¡°That¡¯s great. I¡¯d love to show you around properly next time.¡±


    They were so affectionate with each other¡ªCallum¡¯s arm draped protectively around her shoulders, Cassandra leaning into his touch¡ªthat I wondered if I¡¯d misjudged their rtionship. Maybe there weren¡¯t any problems between them after all.


    ¡°We should get going,¡± Callum said, checking his watch. ¡°We¡¯ve got that dinner reservation at seven.¡±


    Cassandra nodded, sliding off the stool. She reached across the counter to squeeze my hand. ¡°Thanks for the milkshake. And the invitation. I¡¯ll definitely take you up on it soon.¡±


    ¡°Anytime,¡± I replied with a smile.


    +++


    Third POV


    Lucas drummed his fingers against the steering wheel as Liam studied the crumpled address in his hand. The road had grown increasingly narrow as they drove deeper into the forest, far from the well-maintained streets of the main pack territory.


    ¡°Are you sure this is the right way?¡± Liam asked, eyeing the overgrown path ahead.


    Lucas nodded. ¡°ording to the records, Esther Perez lives at the very edge of Ironhound territory. I¡¯ve been here before.¡±


    Eventually, the trees thinned, revealing a small, dpidated cabin. Smoke curled from the chimney, the only sign that someone might be home.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t exactly look like the residence of a once-celebrated doctor,¡± Liam muttered as he parked the car.


    The brothers approached cautiously, their senses on high alert. Lucas knocked firmly on the weathered door.


    Silence.


    He knocked again, harder this time.


    They could hear the sound of rustling papers, the scrape of a chair, and footsteps approaching hesitantly.


    ¡°Who is it?¡± a woman¡¯s voice called, sharp with suspicion.


    ¡°Alpha Lucas and Alpha Liam Sullivan from Emberfang,¡± Lucas answered, his voice carrying the natural authority of his position. ¡°We¡¯d like to speak with Esther Perez.¡±


    There was a moment of silence before the woman replied, ¡°I don¡¯t receive visitors. Please leave.¡±


    Liam stepped forward. ¡°We just want to ask a few questions about Angeline Bailey. It¡¯s important.¡±


    The door cracked open an inch, revealing a sliver of a gaunt face and one wary eye. ¡°Angeline? What about her?¡±


    ¡°She was a friend of yours, wasn¡¯t she?¡± Liam asked gently. ¡°May wee in? It won¡¯t take long.¡±


    The woman regarded them for a long moment before sighing deeply. ¡°Very well.¡±


    The door swung open wider, revealing a thin woman with ck hair streaked heavily with gray. She looked very different from the way she appeared in the photos in Matilda¡¯s clinic.


    ¡°Alpha Lucas, Alpha Liam,¡± she acknowledged with a slight nod, but notably without the customary bow many would offer to Alphas.


    She stepped back, gesturing for them to enter. The cabin¡¯s interior was cramped but meticulously organized. Books lined every avable surface, and various dried herbs hung from the ceiling.


    ¡°Please, sit,¡± she said, indicating two worn chairs by a small firece. ¡°Would you care for tea? Water?¡±


    ¡°No, thank you,¡± Lucas declined immediately, his instincts keeping him alert.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take some tea, if it¡¯s not too much trouble,¡± Liam said politely, ignoring his brother¡¯s sharp nce.


    Esther nodded, busying herself at the stove. Lucas scanned the room, noting theck of personal effects¡ªno photographs, no mementos, nothing to indicate a life beyond these walls.


    ¡°We apologize for disturbing you,¡± Liam began once Esther had handed him a small cup of fragrant tea. ¡°But we¡¯re trying to learn more about Hazel Bailey¡¯s parents.¡±


    Esther¡¯s hands trembled slightly as she took her seat across from them. ¡°Angeline and I were friends, yes. Many years ago.¡±


    ¡°How did you meet?¡± Lucas asked.


    ¡°School, initially. Later, we worked together briefly at the pack hospital.¡± Esther¡¯s gaze drifted to the window. ¡°She was brilliant. Kind. Everyone loved Angeline.¡±


    ¡°But she disappeared?¡± Liam prompted.


    Esther nodded. ¡°One day, she simply... wasn¡¯t there anymore. No goodbye, no exnation. She and David both, gone without a trace.¡±


    ¡°Were there any signs beforehand? Anything unusual?¡± Lucas pressed.


    ¡°They were happy,¡± Esther said, her voice suddenly distant. ¡°They had just given birth to their daughter not too long ago. Everything seemed perfect.¡±


    Lucas leaned forward. ¡°Did Angeline ever mention anyone who might wish her harm? Or any group she might have been involved with?¡±


    Esther¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°What kind of group?¡±


    ¡°Any kind,¡± Liam said, taking a careful sip of his tea. ¡°We¡¯re just trying to understand what happened.¡±


    Esther studied them for a long moment. ¡°Angeline kept to herself mostly. Outside of work and family, she didn¡¯t have many connections.¡±


    Lucas noticed how carefully she chose her words, revealing nothing while appearing cooperative.


    ¡°Thank you for your time,¡± he said suddenly, standing. ¡°We appreciate your hospitality.¡±


    Liam looked startled but quickly followed his brother¡¯s lead, setting down his half-finished tea. ¡°Yes, thank you, Ms. Perez.¡±


    Esther walked them to the door, her expression unreadable. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else...¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s all for now,¡± Lucas assured her. ¡°We¡¯ll be in touch if we have any more questions.¡±


    Once back in the car, Liam turned to his brother. ¡°Why the rush? We barely learned anything.¡±


    Lucas started the engine, his eyes fixed on the rearview mirror where Esther¡¯s cabin was slowly disappearing from view.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you notice?¡± he asked quietly.


    ¡°Notice what?¡±


    Lucas¡¯s hands tightened on the steering wheel.


    ¡°Esther¡¯s neck. She doesn¡¯t have the brand.¡±

 Chapter 77: Spring Tensions

    <h4>Chapter 77: Chapter 77: Spring Tensions</h4>


    After months of heavy snow and crisp cold, winter had finally thawed and gave way to spring. Snow was finally melting, and the days were starting to turn warm.


    ¡°Thosenterns need to be higher, Hazel,¡± Jessie¡¯s bossy voice cut through my moment of peaceful appreciation. ¡°The festival starts tomorrow, and everything needs to be perfect.¡±


    I bit back a sigh and continued hanging the colorful papernterns along the forest clearing. The spring festival was one of the biggest events of the year¡ªa three-day celebration shared between Emberfang and Ironhound packs in the neutral forest patch that separated our territories. Tonight¡¯s fireworks would officially kick off the festivities.


    ¡°Thenterns are at exactly the right height,¡± I replied, not bothering to hide my irritation. ¡°Any higher and they¡¯ll get lost in the tree branches.¡±


    Jessie flipped her sleek ck hair over her shoulder. ¡°Luna Evelyn specifically said they should be visible from both sides of the clearing.¡±


    ¡°And they will be,¡± I countered, feeling a throb begin at my temples. This headache had been building all morning, and Jessie¡¯s constant nitpicking was only making it worse. ¡°The triplets approved thisyout yesterday.¡±


    Her eyes narrowed at the mention of Lucas, Liam, and Levi. ¡°Luna Evelyn put me in charge of decorations, not you.¡±


    ¡°And the Alphas put me in charge of the entire festival coordination,¡± I reminded her, standing my ground despite the pounding in my head. ¡°So unless you want to exin to them why you¡¯re undermining their decision...¡±


    I couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge of satisfaction at Jessie¡¯s scowl. Three months ago, I would have quietly epted her domineering attitude, desperate to avoid conflict. But things had changed. I had changed.


    ¡°You know,¡± I said, reaching for anotherntern, ¡°this reminds me of the triplets¡¯ birthday party. Remember how that turned out?¡±


    Jessie¡¯s face darkened at the reminder. Jessie might have gotten the praise for the decorations back then, but between both of us, we knew who did all of the work.


    ¡°Things were different then,¡± she snapped, aggressively straightening a flower arrangement. ¡°You may have them wrapped around your finger now, but it won¡¯tst.¡±


    I raised an eyebrow, grateful that most of the other pack members were busy setting up at the opposite end of the clearing. ¡°Is that what you think? That this is temporary?¡±


    ¡°Of course it is.¡± Jessie¡¯s voice dropped to a venomous whisper. ¡°Luna Evelyn will never ept you as the next Luna. Never. You¡¯re just the orphan maid who got lucky.¡±


    Anger red inside me, but I tamped it down. My head throbbed in protest.


    It¡¯s true. Even though everyone knew I was the triplets¡¯ mate now, I still wasn¡¯t officially the Luna. That title was still held by Luna Evelyn.


    ¡°Luna or not,¡± I said calmly, ¡°I¡¯m still their mate. That¡¯s something no amount of scheming can change.¡±


    Jessie abandoned all pretense of working on decorations, turning to face me fully. ¡°You think you¡¯re so special because fate chose you? Fate makes mistakes.¡±


    ¡°Does it?¡± I challenged, stepping closer. ¡°Or are you just hoping it does because you can¡¯t ept reality?¡±


    ¡°The reality,¡± she hissed, ¡°is that they deserve someone who understands what it means to lead a pack. Someone from a respectable family. Not some girl whose parents abandoned her because they couldn¡¯t even be bothered to stick around.¡±


    The jab hit its mark. Anger boiled within me as I gritted my teeth. I couldn¡¯t let it show, knowing it would only give her more satisfaction.


    ¡°Is that the best you can do, Jessie? Recycling the same insults you¡¯ve been using since we were kids?¡± I shook my head, wincing slightly at the increased throbbing. ¡°Here¡¯s a reality check for you. No matter how much Luna Evelyn favors you, no matter how many times you bat your eyshes at the triplets, they will never be yours.¡±


    Her face flushed an angry red. ¡°You don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t I? You¡¯ve been trailing after them since we were children, desperately hoping one of them would notice you. Well, they noticed, all right¡ªthey just weren¡¯t interested.¡±


    ¡°You little¡ª¡±


    ¡°Face it, Jessie,¡± I continued, riding a wave of confidence that pushed past my headache. ¡°They¡¯re my mates, not yours. And while we¡¯re at it, these decorations are staying exactly where I put them.¡±


    Jessie¡¯s eyes shed with fury. ¡°You think you¡¯ve won? Luna Evelyn still has influence. She still has the final say in who bes the next Luna.¡±


    ¡°Actually, she doesn¡¯t,¡± I corrected her. ¡°That choice belongs to Lucas, Liam, and Levi. Not to her, and certainly not to you.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ll get bored of you,¡± she spat. ¡°Once they¡¯ve had their fun, once the novelty wears off, they¡¯ll see what I¡¯ve always known¡ªthat you¡¯re nothing special. Just convenient.¡±


    I stepped forward, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. ¡°Are you really so delusional that you think you still have a chance with them? After everything that¡¯s happened? After they¡¯ve chosen me again and again?¡±


    ¡°Chosen you?¡± she scoffed. ¡°They were forced to ept you because of some cosmic mistake. There¡¯s a difference.¡±


    ¡°Is that what you tell yourself at night?¡± I asked, ignoring the worsening pain in my head. ¡°That the only reason they¡¯re with me is because they have to be? That¡¯s pathetic, even for you.¡±


    Jessie¡¯s hand flew up, and for a moment, I thought she might actually try to p me. I braced myself, ready to block her.


    ¡°I¡¯ve known them my entire life,¡± Jessie hissed. ¡°I understand their responsibilities, their position. I was bred to be Luna, while you were bred to clean toilets.¡±


    The nearby pack members weren¡¯t even pretending not to listen now. Some had stopped working entirely, watching our confrontation with wide eyes.


    ¡°Is that what you tell yourself at night?¡± I asked, my patience snapping. ¡°That somehow you¡¯ll break a mate bond that¡¯s existed since the beginning of our kind? That the Goddess is wrong?¡±


    Jessie¡¯s face flushed with anger. ¡°Mate bonds can be broken.¡±


    ¡°Not without consequences,¡± I shot back. ¡°But please, keep living in your fantasy world where the triplets will suddenly wake up one day and decide they want you instead.¡±


    ¡°They deserved better than you,¡± she hissed.


    ¡°And yet, here I am,¡± I replied with a confidence I never would have had months ago. ¡°Their chosen and fated mate, helping lead their pack, sharing their bed¡ª¡±


    ¡°Enough!¡±


    The sharp voice cut through our argument like a knife. Both Jessie and I turned to find Luna Evelyn standing just a few feet away, her expression thunderous.

 Chapter 78: Power Dynamics

    <h4>Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Power Dynamics</h4>


    (Trigger Warning: This Chapter contains explicit content and is intended for mature readers.)


    Luna Evelyn¡¯s eyes darted between Jessie and me, her lips pressed into a thin line of disapproval. The tension in the air thickened.


    ¡°What is going on here?¡± she demanded, her voice cold.


    Before I could open my mouth to exin, Jessie¡¯s entire demeanor transformed. The venom and anger in her eyes melted into injustice. Tears welled up in her eyes.


    ¡°Luna Evelyn,¡± she said, her voice quivering perfectly. ¡°I was just trying to help with the decorations like you asked, but Hazel keeps undermining me.¡±


    I stared at her in disbelief. The quick switch from vicious to victim was masterful.


    ¡°That¡¯s not what happened¡ª¡± I started, but Luna Evelyn cut me off with a raised hand.


    ¡°I heard enough,¡± she said, her gaze settling coldly on me. ¡°Hazel, this behavior ispletely uneptable. Is this how you think the future Luna should conduct herself? Arguing publicly with pack members who are only trying to help?¡±


    My cheeks burned with indignation. ¡°With all due respect, Luna Evelyn, Jessie was¡ª¡±


    ¡°Just doing as I instructed,¡± Evelyn finished for me, crossing her arms. ¡°Which is more than I can say for you. Perhaps Jessie is right after all.¡±


    ¡°Right about what?¡± I asked, frowning.


    Luna Evelyn¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°About your suitability as Luna. This pack needs someone who understands diplomacy and respect for authority, not someone who creates scenes in front of both packs the day before our biggest festival.¡±


    Jessie¡¯s smug smile appeared briefly before sheposed her features back into a mask of innocence.


    ¡°My sons may be blinded by the mate bond,¡± Evelyn continued, ¡°but I¡¯ve been Luna for over twenty years. I know what this position requires.¡±


    The crowd around us had grown, with pack members pretending to work while clearly listening to every word. My headache pounded harder as humiliation washed over me. After everything I¡¯d been through, I was still being treated like the orphan maid who didn¡¯t belong.


    ¡°You¡¯re right about one thing,¡± a deep voice cut through the tension. ¡°You¡¯ve been Luna for over twenty years.¡±


    Lucas emerged from between the trees, his tall framemanding immediate attention. The crowd parted for him as he approached, his green eyes shing with authority.


    ¡°But that time ising to an end,¡± he continued, stepping beside me. His warm hand found the small of my back, a silent gesture of support that made my heart skip.


    Luna Evelyn¡¯s expression faltered. ¡°Lucas, I¡¯m merely pointing out¡ª¡±


    ¡°I heard what you were pointing out, Mother,¡± he interrupted, his voice level but edged with steel. ¡°And I¡¯m reminding you that you¡¯re only the acting Luna now because Hazel hasn¡¯t officially married us yet.¡±


    His mother¡¯s face flushed. ¡°I¡¯m still your mother, and I deserve¡ª¡±


    ¡°Respect? Absolutely,¡± Lucas nodded. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t give you the right to undermine my mate or my authority. The decision about who bes Luna isn¡¯t yours to make.¡±


    Evelyn¡¯s mouth opened and closed, clearly unused to being challenged so directly by her son.


    Lucas turned to the watching crowd. ¡°Don¡¯t you all have preparations to finish? The festival begins tomorrow.¡±


    The pack members scattered immediately, leaving only the four of us standing in ufortable silence.


    ¡°Jessie,¡± Lucas said without looking at her, ¡°I believe your father needs help with the food vendors at the north entrance.¡±


    Jessie hesitated, looking to Evelyn for support, but finding none as the older woman was still processing her son¡¯s rebuke. With a final re in my direction, Jessie stalked off.


    ¡°Mother,¡± Lucas continued, his tone softening slightly, ¡°I understand your concerns for the pack. But Hazel is my mate¡ªour mate. That¡¯s not changing.¡±


    Luna Evelyn pressed her lips together, clearly unhappy but unwilling to challenge her Alpha son further in public. With a stiff nod, she turned and walked away, her posture rigid. Although, she didn¡¯t forget to shoot me a re before she left.


    I released a breath I hadn¡¯t realized I was holding. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for causing trouble with your mom.¡±


    Lucas shook his head, guiding me away from the clearing. ¡°Don¡¯t apologize for something that isn¡¯t your fault. My mother needs to understand her new role.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the second time you¡¯ve saved me from a situation like that,¡± I said quietly as we moved deeper into the forest.


    ¡°I¡¯ll save you as many times as needed,¡± he replied, his hand still warm against my back. ¡°But for what it¡¯s worth, you were handling yourself well before I arrived.¡±


    I smiled despite my lingering headache. ¡°I wasn¡¯t always this confident.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡± His eyes softened as he gazed down at me. ¡°And I take some responsibility for that. But despite what my mother might im, you¡¯re growing into the role of Emberfang¡¯s future Luna very well.¡±


    We walked until the sounds of the festival preparations faded, reced by the peaceful rustling of leaves and distant birdsong. Lucas led me to a small clearing away from the crowd.


    ¡°I should get back,¡± I said reluctantly. ¡°There¡¯s still so much to finish before tomorrow.¡±


    Lucas caught my hand, pulling me gently back to him. ¡°The preparations are practically done. The others can handle the rest.¡±


    His closeness sent electricity through my veins.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    ¡°Positive,¡± he murmured, his fingers tracing my jawline. ¡°I want some time with just you.¡±


    The way he looked at me made my breath catch. His green eyes darkened with desire as he backed me against a tree, his body pressing against mine.


    ¡°Lucas,¡± I whispered as his lips found my neck.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about you all day,¡± he growled against my skin. ¡°Watching you take charge of everything, not backing down...¡±


    His hands gripped my waist, lifting me slightly. His lips brushed against the mark he left on me, and I shivered.


    ¡°Do you have any idea how sexy that is?¡±


    Without waiting for an answer, his mouth imed mine in a kiss that sent heat spiraling through my body. I wrapped my arms around his neck, returning his passion with equal fervor. The stress of the confrontation with Jessie and Luna Evelyn melted away under his touch.


    My fingers tangled in his dark hair as his hands roamed my body, slipping under my shirt to caress bare skin. I gasped as his thumb brushed the underside of my breast.


    ¡°We shouldn¡¯t,¡± I breathed, even as my body arched into his touch. ¡°Someone mighte by.¡±


    Lucas pulled back slightly, his pupils dted with lust. ¡°No onees this far into the forest during preparations.¡±


    To emphasize his point, he pressed his hips against mine, letting me feel how hard he was. A moan escaped my lips at the contact.


    ¡°In that case, let me take care of you,¡± I whispered, surprising myself with my boldness.


    Before he could respond, I switched our positions, pushing him gently against the tree. His eyes widened slightly before darkening further as I sank to my knees in front of him.


    ¡°Hazel,¡± he groaned as my fingers worked at his belt.


    I looked up at him through myshes, enjoying the power I had over him at this moment.


    ¡°Let me.¡±


    His pants and boxers slid down enough to free his erection, hard and ready. I wrapped my hand around his shaft, feeling him pulse beneath my fingers.


    ¡°Fuck,¡± he hissed as I leaned forward, my tongue swirling around the tip.


    I took my time, teasing him with light licks and gentle strokes before taking him into my mouth. Lucas¡¯s head fell back against the tree, one hand tangling in my hair while the other clenched at his side.


    ¡°That¡¯s it, baby,¡± he encouraged, his voice strained. ¡°Just like that.¡±


    His praise spurred me on as I took him deeper, hollowing my cheeks and finding a rhythm that made his breathing ragged. The taste of him, the sounds he made, the way his fingers tightened in my hair, all sent waves of arousal through me.


    ¡°Hazel,¡± he warned, his muscles tensing. ¡°I¡¯m close.¡±


    I only increased my pace in response, looking up to watch his face contort with pleasure. His green eyes locked with mine, and I could even feel his overwhelming pleasure pulse through our bond. My panties quickly grew wet from my own arousal.


    ¡°Fuck!¡± Lucas groaned, his release hitting him hard as he pulsed in my mouth.


    I swallowed everything he gave me, only pulling back when his body rxed. His chest heaved as he looked down at me with wonder.


    Just as he reached to help me up, a sharp snap of twigs broke the silence. We both turned, rmed.

 Chapter 79: Unexpected Company

    <h4>Chapter 79: Chapter 79: Unexpected Company</h4>


    (Trigger Warning: This Chapter contains explicit content and is intended for mature readers.)


    Just as Lucas reached to help me up from my knees, the sharp snap of twigs made both our heads turn toward the sound. My heart pounded, embarrassment flooding me at the thought of being caught in such apromising position.


    ¡°Well, well, well,¡± a familiar voice drawled. ¡°I knew I smelled something interesting out here.¡±


    Levi emerged from between the trees, his green eyes gleaming with mischief as they swept over the scene¡ªme on my knees, caught in apromising position.


    ¡°Levi!¡± I gasped, quickly scrambling to my feet.


    ¡°Don¡¯t stop on my ount,¡± Levi said with a smirk, leaning casually against a nearby tree. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you two are having all the fun without me.¡±


    My cheeks burned hot, but the embarrassment was mixed with a flicker of excitement. For some reason, getting caught by Levi sent a thrill running through me.


    ¡°This was supposed to be private,¡± Lucas said, though there wasn¡¯t much heat behind his words.


    Levi pushed off from the tree, moving closer with the predatory grace all three brothers shared.


    ¡°Nothing¡¯s private between mates, big brother. Besides, our sweet little Hazel looks like she could use some attention too.¡±


    His eyes locked on mine, molten with desire.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that right, sweetheart?¡±


    My mouth went dry as both men stared at me, waiting for my response. The forest around us suddenly felt a few degrees hotter.


    ¡°I...¡± My voice faltered before I found my courage. ¡°Maybe you would like to join us?¡±


    Lucas¡¯s eyebrows shot up in surprise before his expression darkened with lust. Levi¡¯s face split into a victorious grin as he closed the distance between us.


    ¡°I knew you couldn¡¯t resist me,¡± he teased, his finger trailing along my jawline.


    ¡°Don¡¯t get cocky,¡± I retorted, though my breathless tone ruined the effect.


    Levi chuckled, his breath hot against my ear. ¡°Toote for that, baby.¡±


    Before I could respond, his mouth captured mine in a hungry kiss that left me dizzy. His hands slid down my sides, gripping my hips and pulling me against him so I could feel his hardness through his jeans.


    ¡°My turn,¡± Lucas growled from behind me, his chest pressing against my back as his hands slipped under my shirt.


    Trapped between them, I moaned as four hands explored my body. Lucas¡¯s fingers worked the button of my jeans while Levi¡¯s mouth trailed hot kisses down my neck. My head fell back against Lucas¡¯s shoulder, giving Levi better ess.


    ¡°Too many clothes,¡± Levi murmured against my skin, tugging at the hem of my shirt.


    They worked in tandem, stripping me with an efficiency that might have beenical if it wasn¡¯t so damn sexy. Cool forest air kissed my bare skin as my clothes fell away piece by piece, leaving me naked and trembling with desire between them.


    ¡°Beautiful,¡± Lucas whispered, his hands cupping my breasts from behind.


    Levi dropped to his knees in front of me, his hands spreading my thighs. ¡°Let me taste you, sweetheart.¡±


    My breath caught as his tongue found my center, sending shockwaves of pleasure through my body. Lucas pinched my nipples, rolling them between his fingers as his teeth grazed the mark on my neck.


    ¡°Oh god,¡± I gasped, my hands finding purchase in Levi¡¯s hair.


    ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± Lucas encouraged in my ear. ¡°Let us hear you.¡±


    Levi¡¯s tongue worked magic, circling my clit before dipping inside me. My legs shook as pleasure built rapidly.


    ¡°I¡¯m already¡ª¡± I couldn¡¯t finish the sentence before my first orgasm crashed over me, my body jerking against Lucas¡¯s solid frame.


    Levi looked up with a satisfied smirk, his lips glistening. ¡°That was just the appetizer.¡±


    He rose to his feet, pulling his shirt over his head in one fluid motion. Lucas¡¯s hands left my body briefly as he too began shedding clothes. I watched, still trembling from my release, as both men stripped down.


    They were magnificent¡ªmuscled, tanned, and unmistakably aroused. Identical in appearance but so different in the way they approached me. Lucas with controlled intensity, Levi with yful hunger.


    ¡°How do you want us, baby?¡± Levi asked, stepping close again.


    Lucas¡¯s hands returned to my waist. ¡°Together.¡±


    The word sent a fresh wave of heat through me. ¡°Yes,¡± I breathed. ¡°Both of you.¡±


    Lucas guided me down onto his discarded jacket on the forest floor, positioning me on my hands and knees. Levi knelt in front of me, his erection level with my face.


    ¡°Open for me, sweetheart,¡± he coaxed, thumb brushing my lower lip.


    I took him into my mouth as Lucas positioned himself behind me, his fingers testing my readiness. Finding me wet and willing, he pushed inside with a groan that echoed Levi¡¯s as I took him deeper.


    The sensation of being filled from both ends was overwhelming. I moaned around Levi¡¯s thickness as Lucas began to move, his thrusts pushing me forward onto his brother.


    ¡°Fuck, she¡¯s perfect,¡± Lucas growled, his fingers digging into my hips.


    Levi¡¯s hand tangled in my hair, guiding my movements. ¡°So fucking good with that mouth.¡±


    They found a rhythm, working together to build my pleasure while chasing their own. The forest filled with the sounds of skin against skin and our breathless moans.


    Through our bond, I felt their desire mingling with mine, multiplying the sensations until I couldn¡¯t tell where my pleasure ended and theirs began. It was almost too much.


    ¡°I can feel her getting close,¡± Lucas said, his pace increasing. ¡°She¡¯s tightening around me.¡±


    Levi grinned down at me. ¡°Come for us, Hazel. Let go.¡±


    Lucas¡¯s hand slipped around to find my clit, circling it in time with his thrusts. The added stimtion pushed me over the edge, my second orgasm ripping through me with an intensity that left me screaming around Levi.


    ¡°Fuck!¡± Levi hissed, pulling back. ¡°Not yet. I want to feel you too.¡±


    They repositioned me quickly, Lucas sitting back against a tree with me straddling hisp, facing away from him. Levi knelt between our spread legs, his eyes dark with hunger as he watched Lucas¡¯s cock disappear inside me.


    ¡°Room for one more?¡± Levi asked, his fingers tracing where Lucas and I were joined.


    The implication sent a thrill of both anticipation and nervousness through me. ¡°I¡¯ve never¡ª¡±


    ¡°Not now,¡± Lucas soothed, kissing my shoulder. ¡°But there are other ways.¡±


    Levi nodded, understanding passing between the brothers. He pressed close, his erection sliding against my slick folds alongside where Lucas filled me. The friction against my sensitive bundle of nerves had me gasping.


    ¡°Hold on, baby,¡± Lucas murmured as he and Levi began to move in tandem.


    The dual stimtion was maddening¡ªLucas thrusting up into me while Levi rocked against my front. Their hands were everywhere as they continued to tease me.


    ¡°I can¡¯t¡ªit¡¯s too much,¡± I panted, feeling another climax building impossibly fast.


    ¡°One more,¡± Lucas urged, his voice strained. ¡°Come for us again, Hazel.¡±


    Levi captured my mouth in a bruising kiss as Lucas¡¯s teeth found my mark. The dual sensation sent me spiraling into my third release, my body convulsing between theirs as wave after wave of pleasure washed over me.


    I copsed back against Lucas¡¯s chest, utterly spent. Both men were still hard, having held back their own release, but their expressions showed no frustration. In fact, they looked very satisfied with themselves.


    Levi brushed sweat-dampened hair from my face. ¡°You okay, sweetheart?¡±


    I nodded, unable to form words yet. Lucas¡¯s arms tightened around my waist, his lips pressing soft kisses to my shoulder.


    The peaceful moment was interrupted by slow, deliberate pping.

 Chapter 80: Triple Connection

    <h4>Chapter 80: Chapter 80: Triple Connection </h4>


    (Trigger Warning: This Chapter contains explicit content and is intended for mature readers.)


    My head snapped up to see Liam standing at the edge of our little clearing, leaning casually against a tree. His eyes zed with heat as they traveled over our intertwined bodies, a smirk ying on his lips.


    ¡°Mind if I join in?¡± he asked, pushing off from the tree and taking a step toward us.


    ¡°Liam,¡± I gasped, suddenly aware of how exposed I was between his brothers.


    Lucas¡¯s arms tightened around my waist, his breath hot against my ear. ¡°The gang¡¯s all here now.¡±


    ¡°Were you watching us the whole time?¡± I asked Liam, a mixture of embarrassment and excitement flooding through me.


    Liam¡¯s grin widened as he closed the distance. ¡°Long enough to know I¡¯ve been missing out.¡± His gaze raked over my naked body, lingering on where Lucas and I were still joined. ¡°You look absolutely delicious, mate.¡±


    Levi chuckled, rising to his feet. ¡°Perfect timing, brother. Our little mate was just warming up.¡±


    The three identical faces surrounding me made my head spin¡ªor maybe it was the thick scent of arousal filling the forest air. The brothers exchanged looks that told me they weremunicating silently, deciding how to proceed.


    ¡°What do you say, Hazel?¡± Liam asked, his voice dropping to a husky whisper as he knelt in front of me. ¡°Can I have a taste too?¡±


    The hunger in his eyes sent a fresh wave of heat through my core. I nodded, unable to find my voice.


    Liam¡¯s hands went to his shirt buttons, undoing them with maddening slowness. ¡°Don¡¯t move yet,¡± he instructed as Lucas gently lifted me off hisp.


    I watched, transfixed, as Liam stripped away his clothesyer byyer. When he stood fully naked before me, his arousal evident and impressive, my mouth went dry.


    ¡°Come here,¡± he beckoned, settling on the forest floor.


    Lucas helped me to my feet, steadying me when my wobbly legs threatened to give out. I moved toward Liam, hypnotized by the fire in his eyes.


    ¡°That¡¯s it, beautiful,¡± Liam encouraged, guiding me down to straddle hisp.


    His hands traveled up my thighs as I positioned myself above him. Behind me, Lucas and Levi watched with heated gazes, their bodies still gloriously naked and ready.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been dreaming of this,¡± Liam confessed, his thumbs circling my hipbones. ¡°Watching youe apart on my cock while my brothers wait their turn.¡±


    A whimper escaped me at his crude words, my body responding instantly. Liam caught the sound with his mouth, kissing me deeply as his hands moved to cup my breasts.


    ¡°She likes it when you talk dirty,¡± Levi offered helpfully, moving to kneel beside us. ¡°Don¡¯t you, sweetheart?¡±


    I broke away from Liam¡¯s kiss, gasping when his fingers tweaked my nipples. ¡°Yes,¡± I admitted, my cheeks burning.


    ¡°Good to know,¡± Liam murmured against my throat, his teeth grazing my pulse point. ¡°I¡¯ve got plenty more where that came from.¡±


    His hand slipped between our bodies, finding me slick and ready. I moaned as he stroked through my folds, teasing my entrance.


    ¡°She¡¯s so wet,¡± he told his brothers, his eyes never leaving mine. ¡°Is that all for me, Hazel? Or did these two get you worked up already?¡±


    ¡°All of you,¡± I managed to say. ¡°I want all of you.¡±


    The triplets groaned in unison, the sound making me clench with need.


    ¡°Patience, baby,¡± Liam soothed, continuing his torturous exploration. ¡°We¡¯ve got all night.¡±


    Lucas moved behind me, his hands running down my back. ¡°Let¡¯s take care of her properly,¡± he suggested.


    Before I could ask what he meant, Liam¡¯s fingers slipped inside me, curling to hit a spot that had me arching and crying out.


    ¡°Right there,¡± Levi said with a knowing grin. ¡°She loves that.¡±


    The three of them working together was overwhelming. Liam¡¯s fingers pumped in and out while his thumb circled my clit. Lucas¡¯s hands massaged my breasts from behind, asionally pinching my sensitive nipples. Levi leaned in to kiss me, swallowing my moans as pleasure built rapidly.


    ¡°Please,¡± I begged when Levi released my mouth. ¡°I need more.¡±


    ¡°What do you need, mate?¡± Liam asked, his eyes dark with desire. ¡°Tell us.¡±


    ¡°I want you inside me,¡± I answered, beyond shame now. ¡°All of you.¡±


    The brothers exchanged another look, some silent agreement passing between them.


    ¡°We¡¯ll take it slow,¡± Lucas promised, his hands trailing down to my hips. ¡°Just like we discussed.¡±


    Liam withdrew his fingers, bringing them to his lips to taste. ¡°Fucking perfect,¡± he groaned, before positioning his cock at my entrance. ¡°Ready?¡±


    I nodded frantically, sinking down onto him with a gasp that turned into a moan. He filled me perfectly, stretching me in the most delicious way.


    ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± he encouraged as I began to move. ¡°Take what you need.¡±


    I rode him slowly at first, adjusting to the feeling of him inside me. His hands guided my hips, helping me find a rhythm that had us both panting.


    ¡°Lucas,¡± Liam called over my shoulder. ¡°She¡¯s ready for you too.¡±


    I felt Lucas shift behind me, his chest pressing against my back. His hands spread over my lower back, massaging gently.


    ¡°This might be intense,¡± he warned, his voice thick with restraint. ¡°Tell me if it¡¯s too much.¡±


    I nodded, understanding what wasing. Liam reached between us, his fingers returning to my clit to distract me as Lucas¡¯s slick fingers probed my back entrance.


    ¡°Rx,¡± Levi instructed, moving to kneel beside Liam. ¡°It feels better if you don¡¯t tense up.¡±


    Lucas worked me open slowly. The strange sensation gradually gave way to pleasure as he prepared me.


    ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± Lucas praised when his finger slipped in fully. ¡°You¡¯re doing so well.¡±


    The dual stimtion of Liam inside me and Lucas¡¯s fingers working me open had me trembling on the edge of release.


    ¡°Not yet,¡± Levi chided, reaching to pinch my nipple. ¡°We want you toe when we¡¯re all inside you.¡±


    The image those words painted made me moan. Lucas added another finger, stretching me further while Liam remained perfectly still beneath me, his cock throbbing inside me.


    ¡°I think she¡¯s ready,¡± Lucas finally said, withdrawing his fingers.


    The loss made me whimper, but then I felt the blunt head of Lucas¡¯s cock pressing against me. My breath caught as pressure built.


    ¡°Breathe, baby,¡± Liam reminded me, his hands stroking my sides soothingly.


    I focused on rxing as Lucas pushed forward carefully, entering me inch by inch. The strange fullness of having both brothers inside me at once was overwhelming.


    ¡°Holy shit,¡± I gasped when Lucas was fully seated.


    ¡°You okay?¡± Lucas asked, his voice strained with the effort of holding still.


    I nodded, unable to form words. The sensation of beingpletely filled by both of them was both painful and pleasurable at the same time.


    ¡°Give her a minute,¡± Levi suggested, stroking my hair. His own arousal stood proud, waiting for his turn. ¡°She needs to adjust.¡±


    They remained motionless, letting me get used to the feeling. Gradually, the difort faded, reced by a burning need for movement.


    ¡°I¡¯m okay,¡± I whispered. ¡°You can move.¡±


    Lucas and Liam established a careful rhythm¡ªwhen one pushed in, the other pulled out. The coordination was impressive, and soon had me moaning with each thrust.


    ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± Levi encouraged, his hand wrapping around his own length as he watched. ¡°Take them both, Hazel.¡±


    The dirty talkbined with the friction of both brothers moving inside me pushed me closer to the edge. I reached for Levi, wanting him to share in the pleasure.


    ¡°My turn wille,¡± he assured me with a wink. ¡°But right now, I¡¯m enjoying the show.¡±


    Lucas¡¯s pace increased, his thrusts bing more forceful as he lost himself in pleasure. Liam matched him, driving up into me with powerful movements that had me seeing stars.


    ¡°Fuck, I¡¯m close,¡± Lucas groaned, his fingers digging into my hips.


    ¡°Me too,¡± Liam admitted, his thumb finding my clit again. ¡°Come with us, Hazel.¡±


    The added stimtion was all it took. My orgasm crashed over me like a tidal wave, my entire body clenching around them as I cried out their names. Lucas shuddered as well, and I felt his hands squeeze as he found his own release, bucking against me a few times with shaky breaths.


    ¡°Don¡¯t get toofortable,¡± he warned with a wicked smile. ¡°I haven¡¯t had my turn yet.¡±

 Chapter 81: Two Is Better Than One

    <h4>Chapter 81: Chapter 81: Two Is Better Than One</h4>


    (Trigger Warning: This Chapter contains explicit content and is intended for mature readers.)


    The waves of pleasure still coursed through my body as I copsed against Liam¡¯s chest, breathless and tingling from my intense release. Lucas remained behind me, his hands caressing my back as we all took a moment to recover.


    Levi¡¯s eyes were dark with desire as he approached us, his arousal evident and demanding attention.


    Lucas carefully pulled out of me, making me wince slightly at the loss. ¡°Easy, baby,¡± he whispered, helping me adjust my position.


    ¡°My turn now,¡± Levi said, his trademark yful smirk in ce despite the hunger in his eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, sweetheart, I¡¯ve been taking notes on what makes you scream.¡±


    I blushed at his words but couldn¡¯t deny the fresh wave of desire they sparked within me. Liam was still inside me, throbbing and hard.


    ¡°How do you want me?¡± I asked Levi, surprising myself with my boldness.


    His eyebrows shot up, clearly pleased by my directness. ¡°I want to see your face while I¡¯m inside you, alongside my brother.¡±


    My eyes widened as I realized what he was suggesting. ¡°Both of you...?¡±


    ¡°Only if you¡¯re willing,¡± Liam quickly added, stroking my hair soothingly. ¡°We don¡¯t want to hurt you.¡±


    I bit my lip, considering their proposal. The thought of taking both of them at once was intimidating but undeniably arousing.


    ¡°I trust you,¡± I finally said, looking between them. ¡°Show me how.¡±


    Levi¡¯s grin turned wicked as he positioned himself between our legs. Liam shifted slightly beneath me but remained inside, his hands steadying my hips.


    ¡°Rx, beautiful,¡± Levi instructed, his fingers tracing my entrance where Liam and I were joined. ¡°We¡¯ll go slow.¡±


    I nodded, gripping Liam¡¯s shoulders as Levi carefully pressed a finger alongside his brother¡¯s cock, stretching me further. The burn of the stretch made me gasp.


    ¡°Still okay?¡± Lucas asked from beside us, his hand squeezing mine supportively.


    ¡°Yes,¡± I breathed, focusing on rxing as Levi worked a second finger in, preparing me for what was toe.


    ¡°You¡¯re doing amazing,¡± Levi praised, his eyes locked on where his fingers disappeared inside me. ¡°So fucking perfect for us.¡±


    When he deemed me ready, he removed his fingers and positioned himself at my entrance, the head of his cock pressing insistently against me.


    ¡°Deep breaths,¡± Liam reminded me, kissing my neck as Levi began to push inside alongside him.


    The stretch was unlike anything I¡¯d ever felt before. I whimpered, my nails digging into Liam¡¯s skin as Levi continued his slow but determined entry.


    ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± Levi encouraged, his voice strained with the effort of controlling himself. ¡°Taking us so well, sweetheart.¡±


    When he was finally seated fully inside me, we all stilled. I felt impossibly full, stretched to my limit with both brothers throbbing within me.


    ¡°Move when you¡¯re ready,¡± Liam murmured, his hands rubbing soothing circles on my hips.


    After a few moments of adjustment, I gave a tentative roll of my hips. The sensation was overwhelming¡ªboth brothers groaned in unison, their fingers tightening on my skin.


    ¡°Fuck, Hazel,¡± Levi hissed, his eyes rolling back slightly. ¡°You feel incredible.¡±


    They started to move together, causing me to see stars. I didn¡¯t think this was even possible before now. Now that they were in me, I realized that two was better than one.


    Lucas moved to kneel beside us, his eyes dark as he watched his brothers pleasure me. ¡°You look so beautiful taking both of them,¡± he said. His finger found my clit, gently circling the sensitive bud.


    Our scents mingled in the air, and their touches sent fire across my skin.


    ¡°She¡¯s close,¡± Levi announced, his own pace turning sloppy as he approached his own climax. ¡°I can feel her tightening.¡±


    ¡°Come for us again, Hazel,¡± Liammanded, thrusting up sharply. ¡°Let us feel you.¡±


    Thebined sensations of both brothers moving inside me and Lucas¡¯s skilled fingers on my clit quickly sent me spiraling into another powerful orgasm. I cried out their names as my body convulsed around them, triggering their own releases.


    Levi cursed loudly as he emptied himself inside me, his hips jerking erratically against mine. Liam followed momentster with a deep groan, his arms tightening around my waist. Lucas continued to ease me through my orgasm.


    For several minutes, wey there in a breathless heap. The cool evening breeze caressed our heated skin as reality slowly filtered back in.


    ¡°I think we missed the sunset,¡± Lucasmented with a chuckle, ncing at the darkened sky visible through the trees.


    I blinked, suddenly realizing how much time had passed. The forest had grown darker around us, with the only light sourcesing from the moon and the distant festive lights.


    A loud boom overhead made me jump, followed by a burst of color illuminating the clearing. The fireworks had started.


    ¡°Perfect timing,¡± Levi said, carefully pulling out of me with a groan. ¡°Best seat in the house.¡±


    Liam helped me lift off him, cradling me against his chest as we all shifted to watch the sky. Colorful bursts of light exploded overhead, visible through the gaps in the forest canopy.


    ¡°You¡¯re trembling,¡± Lucas noticed, grabbing his discarded shirt and draping it over my shoulders.


    ¡°I¡¯m okay,¡± I assured him, leaning back against his chest as Liam and Levi nked us on either side. ¡°I just... That was wild.¡±


    Levi smirked, pressing a kiss to my temple. ¡°A good sort of wild, I hope?¡±


    I rolled my eyes but couldn¡¯t help smiling. ¡°The best.¡±


    ¡°We should probably head back soon,¡± Liam eventually said, running his fingers through my tangled hair. ¡°People will wonder where we disappeared to.¡±


    ¡°Let them wonder,¡± Levi replied with a wink, but he reached for his scattered clothes nheless.


    Once we were somewhat presentable¡ªthough I was certain my hair and flushed cheeks would give us away¡ªwe made our way back through the trees toward the festival grounds.


    The celebration was in full swing when we emerged from the forest, with pack members gathered in the central area to watch the fireworks finale. Music yed from speakers set up around the field, and the scent of food still filled the air.


    ¡°There you are!¡± Callum¡¯s voice called out as he approached with Sophia beside him. ¡°We¡¯ve been looking everywhere for you guys.¡±


    ¡°Where have you been hiding?¡± Sophia asked, her eyes narrowing suspiciously as she took in our disheveled appearance.


    The triplets and I exchanged nces before bursting intoughter.


    ¡°Just enjoying the view,¡± Lucas answered smoothly, his arm tightening around my waist.


    ¡°The fireworks are better from the clearing,¡± Levi added with a straight face.


    Callum¡¯s eyebrows rose as he looked between us. Sophia¡¯s nose wrinkled as though she smelled something. She and Callum exchanged a look, and Callum¡¯s face morphed into disgust while Sophia cackled.


    ¡°You¡¯re a minx, Hazel Bailey!¡± Sophia barked inughter. ¡°You¡¯ve been up to no good!¡±


    I merely turned and looked at the triplets, and all four of us began tough.

 Chapter 82: Old Flames

    <h4>Chapter 82: Chapter 82: Old mes</h4>


    The spring festival buzzed with activity as I adjusted thest wreath of flowers above the entrance arch. Standing on tiptoes atop the shortdder, I carefully secured the floral arrangement before stepping back to admire my work.


    ¡°Perfect,¡± I whispered to myself, dusting my hands on my jeans.


    My body was still sore fromst night¡¯s forest adventure with the triplets. But the spring festival started at noon, and it still needed onest check before it was ready, in case Luna Evelyn and Jessie found more things to pick at. I barely got out of bed in time.


    ¡°Still working? The festival started half an hour ago!¡± Sophia¡¯s voice pulled me from my thoughts as she approached, looking stunning in a flowy green dress thatplemented her fiery red hair.


    I offered her a sheepish smile. ¡°Just making sure everything¡¯s perfect.¡±


    ¡°Perfection achieved,¡± she dered, gesturing around us. ¡°Now please tell me you n to actually enjoy this festival you¡¯ve worked so hard on?¡±


    ¡°I will,¡± I promised, though my eyes continued scanning the area for any decorations that needed adjusting. ¡°But I¡¯m in charge, remember? I have a duty to make sure everything goes well.¡±


    Sophia rolled her eyes and linked her arm through mine. ¡°You need to rx a little. The hard work is done. Look¡ª¡± She gestured to the mingling crowd. ¡°Everyone¡¯s having a great time.¡±


    She was right. Pack members from both territories chatted animatedly while children ran between game booths with cotton candy in hand. The scent of grilled food wafted through the air, mingling with the sweet fragrance of spring flowers.


    ¡°Speaking of enjoyment,¡± Sophia continued with a yful nudge, ¡°where are those mates of yours? I expected them to be hovering around you after yesterday.¡±


    Heat rushed to my cheeks at the memory. ¡°They¡¯re handling some official business with the Ironhound representatives. Alpha duties and all that.¡±


    Actually, thest I checked, they were still in bed, knocked out.


    Or at least, Liam and Levi were.


    Lucas had woken up even earlier than I did. He had a meeting with his father and Alpha Joseph of Ironhound to discuss the recent issue of rogues appearing around their borders. Apparently, even Ironhound faced such a problem.


    ¡°Efficient,¡± Sophia remarked, nodding toward the main pavilion. ¡°From forest frolicking to diplomatic rtions in less than twenty-four hours.¡±


    ¡°Sophia!¡± I hissed, ncing around to make sure no one heard her. ¡°Keep your voice down.¡±


    Sheughed, clearly enjoying my embarrassment. ¡°Oh please, it¡¯s not like the whole pack doesn¡¯t already know you four disappeared during the fireworks. Besides, you¡¯re their mate. It¡¯s allowed.¡±


    Before I could respond, a familiar figure approached us. Callum strode through the crowd, looking handsome in a button-down shirt and dark jeans.


    ¡°Ladies,¡± he greeted with a warm smile. ¡°The festival looks amazing, Hazel. You¡¯ve outdone yourself.¡±


    ¡°Thanks,¡± I replied, genuinely pleased by hispliment. ¡°Is Cassandra with you?¡± I looked around, expecting to see his mate nearby.


    Callum¡¯s smile faltered slightly. ¡°She¡¯s feeling a bit under the weather today. Said she might jointer if she feels better.¡±


    ¡°Oh no,¡± I said with a worried frown. ¡°Nothing serious, I hope?¡±


    He shook his head. ¡°Just feeling nauseous, she says. I offered to stay with her, but she insisted Ie and have fun.¡±


    ¡°Nauseous¡± Sophia¡¯s eyebrows scrunched. Then, her eyebrows shot up and a devious grin stretched her lips. ¡°Have you been up to something bad, Callum?¡± she teased.


    Callum¡¯s face flushed red in an instant. ¡°Noment!¡±


    We chatted for a while, sampling treats from various food stalls and watching some of the performances. Despite my attempts to rx and enjoy myself, I couldn¡¯t help continuing to scan the crowds for any issues that needed addressing.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to grab us some drinks,¡± Callum announced after we¡¯d watched a traditional dance performance. ¡°Any preferences?¡±


    ¡°Whatever¡¯s cold,¡± Sophia replied. I nodded in agreement, and he headed toward the refreshment stands.


    As we waited, a familiar voice caught my attention from behind.


    ¡°¡ªmust be like a reunion for the triplets.¡±


    I stiffened, recognizing Kira¡¯s distinctive tone. She and Mnie stood just a few feet away.


    ¡°I know,¡± Mnie replied, her voice carrying easily to where Sophia and I stood. ¡°This festival is practically a gathering of every girl they¡¯ve ever dated. Did you see who they¡¯re talking to now?¡±


    I shouldn¡¯t have turned around. I knew better than to give them the satisfaction. But curiosity won out, and I nced over my shoulder, following their gaze.


    ¡°You¡¯re eavesdropping,¡± Sophia muttered, casting me a nce.


    ¡°Is it called eavesdropping if they¡¯re purposely speaking loud enough for me to hear?¡± I murmured back.


    ¡°But you won¡¯t like what you hear,¡± Sophia replied. ¡°They¡¯re trying to get under your skin.¡±


    Unfortunately, Sophia was right. They did get under my skin. My eyes had already found what¡ªor rather who¡ªthey were referring to.


    Across the festival grounds stood Liam and Levi, engaged in what appeared to be a friendly conversation with three women I had never seen before. They were all beautiful, like models who walked out of a fashion catalogue.


    ¡°I told you they¡¯d get bored eventually,¡± Kira continued, her voice deliberately loud enough for me to hear. ¡°It¡¯s the Sullivan way. They chase, they conquer, they move on. Poor little maid thought she was different.¡±


    Mnieughed. ¡°Well, being their mate doesn¡¯t mean being their only one.¡±


    My stomach clenched as I watched one of the women ce her hand on Levi¡¯s arm,ughing at something he¡¯d said. He didn¡¯t pull away.


    ¡°Bethany, Olivia, and...what¡¯s her name again?¡± Kira asked.


    ¡°Amber,¡± Mnie supplied. ¡°She was Levi¡¯s ex before he got together with me.¡±


    ¡°Now I remember,¡± Kira said. ¡°They met and dated when our packs held joint training sessions a couple of months ago.¡±


    Both girls cast me a not-so-subtle smirk.


    ¡°Right,¡± Mnie said with augh. ¡°Amber wasn¡¯t too happy when Levi and her broke up. Guess she¡¯s using the festival to worm her way back into his life.¡±


    ¡°Ignore them,¡± Sophia insisted, stepping directly into my line of sight. ¡°They¡¯re just jealous because the triplets chose you.¡±


    I tried to smile, but it felt brittle on my face. ¡°It¡¯s fine. They¡¯re just doing their jobs as Alphas¡ªbeing diplomatic.¡±


    But even as I said the words, I couldn¡¯t tear my eyes away from the scene. Liam was now animatedly describing something, his hands gesturing enthusiastically while the blonde woman watched him with obvious admiration. Levi had his arm draped casually over the back of a bench where the auburn-haired girl sat.


    ¡°Have you seen Lucas?¡± I asked Sophia, trying to keep my voice steady.


    She scanned the crowd. ¡°I don¡¯t see him. But his father is there chatting with Alpha Joseph and some others.¡±


    Sophia gestured to one of the benches a short distance away. Both men were holding drinks,ughing over their conversation. I had never seen Alpha Henry smile so widely before.


    ¡°Shame Lucas isn¡¯t with them,¡± Kira said with a sigh.


    Mnie giggled. ¡°Maybe your lover boy is just catching up with another one of his old flings somewhere else. Privately. Perhaps you should go look for him. He might give you a chance too.¡±


    Both womenughed loudly, their voices catching several people¡¯s attention as they walked past. Mnie and Kira didn¡¯t stay long either. They threw us onest smug grin before walking away hand in hand.


    I felt my cheeks burn in anger and a bit of embarrassment. I knew better than anyone how many old mes the triplets had before they were with me. Inparison, I had no other romantic experience to speak of.


    But to stand here and watch Levi and Liam so at ease with these beautiful women of their past was like a p to my face.


    ¡°Here are the drinks,¡± Callum announced, returning with three cups. He paused, noticing the tension. ¡°What did I miss?¡±

 Chapter 83: A Gift From Cassandra

    <h4>Chapter 83: Chapter 83: A Gift From Cassandra</h4>


    Callum had returned with the drinks in his hands. He looked tired and worn, his smile barely reaching his eyes.


    I took the cold drink from him, quickly bringing it to my lips.


    ¡°Callum, are you okay?¡± Sophia asked, taking her drink as well. It seemed like I wasn¡¯t the only one who noticed Callum¡¯s sudden mood shift. ¡°You look like you¡¯ve seen a ghost.¡±


    He blinked rapidly, shaking his head. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Just felt weird for a second.¡± He ran a hand through his hair, still looking slightly dazed. ¡°Thought I felt... never mind.¡±


    Shaking his head, Callum turned his attention to me instead.


    ¡°What¡¯s up with you?¡± he asked. ¡°You don¡¯t look so great either.¡±


    I might have pressed him further, but my attention was still divided between our conversation and the sight of my matesughing with their former mes.


    ¡°Nothing important,¡± I murmured, though my eyes betrayed me by drifting back to where Liam and Levi were still chatting with the three women.


    When I didn¡¯t exin further, Sophia stepped in. ¡°Liam and Levi are over there talking to some girls from Ironhound,¡± she exined, keeping it vague. ¡°Former acquaintances, apparently.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± Callum¡¯s voice was careful.


    He turned and followed my line of gaze to see Liam and Leviughing at something the girls said. Callum bit his lips, his expression clouding.


    ¡°That¡¯s... diplomatic of them.¡±


    I forced a smile. ¡°Exactly. They¡¯re just being good Alphas.¡± I took a long sip of my drink, relishing the cool sweetness. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m not going to let it ruin the festival. I¡¯ve worked too hard setting this whole thing up.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the spirit,¡± Sophia said, linking her arm with mine. ¡°And I¡¯m starving. Let¡¯s check out those food stalls near theke.¡±


    The three of us wandered through the festival grounds, deliberately heading in the opposite direction from where Liam and Levi stood. I tried to focus on the colorful decorations, theughter of children ying games, the music floating through the air¡ªbasically anything but the nagging insecurity gnawing at me.


    ¡°These smoked turkey legs look amazing,¡± Callum said as we approached the food area. The aroma of grilled meats, fried pastries, and sweet desserts filled the air, momentarily distracting me from my troubles.


    ¡°I could eat three of those right now,¡± Sophia dered, making a beeline for the stall.


    We gathered our food and found a small table near theke. The day had grown warmer, and I could feel strands of hair sticking to the back of my neck as I bit into my turkey leg.


    ¡°Ugh, it¡¯s getting hot,¡± Iined, putting down my food and gathering my long hair in one hand. ¡°I need to tie this up before I eat.¡±


    I reached into my pocket for my hair tie, pulling it out and attempting to wrap it around my gathered hair. As I twisted it for the second loop, the stic snapped, breaking in my fingers.


    ¡°Damn it,¡± I muttered, letting my hair fall back down around my shoulders. ¡°That was myst one.¡±


    ¡°Here,¡± Callum said, reaching into his pocket. ¡°I might have something that could help.¡±


    He pulled out a strange-looking clip unlike any I¡¯d seen before. It was metallic, with an unusual mechanism that didn¡¯t immediately reveal how it was meant to function.


    ¡°What is that?¡± I asked, examining the odd contraption.


    ¡°It¡¯s a hair clip,¡± Callum exined. ¡°Cassandra asked me to give it to you, actually. Said it was a gift.¡±


    I raised my eyebrows in surprise. ¡°For me? That¡¯s... unexpected. But I can¡¯t take her clip if she¡¯s not here.¡±


    ¡°No, no,¡± Callum insisted. ¡°She bought it specifically for you. She mentioned something about seeing you always struggling with your hair at the dinerst week.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s... thoughtful,¡± I said, though something about it felt off. Cassandra had never shown much interest in befriending me before. Why the sudden gift?


    I turned the clip over in my hands, trying to figure out how it worked. It had a curved piece on one side and a straight piece on the other, with some kind of spring mechanism in between.


    ¡°I have no idea how to use this,¡± I admitted, looking to Sophia for help.


    Sophia took it, examining it with a frown. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen one like this either. Is it some kind of Ironhound fashion?¡±


    Callum nodded. ¡°Cassandra says they¡¯re popr there. Here, let me help. She showed me how to use it.¡±


    He moved behind me, taking the clip back from Sophia. His fingers gathered my hair carefully, pulling it away from my face and neck. The cool air on my skin was an immediate relief.


    ¡°You just twist it like this,¡± he exined, his fingers working through my hair, ¡°and then the clip locks into ce and¡ª¡±


    ¡°What the hell do you think you¡¯re doing?¡±


    The harsh voice cut through our conversation like a knife. I jumped, and Callum¡¯s hands froze in my hair. Turning slightly, I saw Liam and Levi standing there, their expressions dark with fury.


    Levi stepped forward, his green eyes zing with an intensity that sent a chill down my spine despite the warm day.


    ¡°Get your hands off her. Now.¡± His voice was low, dangerous.


    Before Callum could react, Levi reached out and yanked him backward, away from me. The sudden movement caused the clip to fall from Callum¡¯s fingers, ttering onto the ground.


    ¡°I was just helping her with her hair,¡± Callum exined, his voice calm despite the aggressive posture of both brothers.


    ¡°With. Your. Hands.¡± Levi enunciated each word through clenched teeth. He still had a grip on Callum¡¯s shirt, his knuckles white.


    ¡°What else was I supposed to use?¡± Callum gawked.


    ¡°Levi!¡± I stood up quickly, my chair scraping loudly against the ground. ¡°Stop it! He was just helping me.¡±


    But Levi wasn¡¯t listening. His eyes had darkened to an unnatural shade, his wolfing dangerously close to the surface. Beside him, Liam looked equally furious, his body tense as if preparing to attack.


    ¡°Funny,¡± Liam snarled, ¡°I don¡¯t see Cassandra anywhere. Yet here you are, with your hands all over our mate.¡±

 Chapter 84: Possessive

    <h4>Chapter 84: Chapter 84: Possessive</h4>


    Whispers started spreading through the crowd like wildfire. More and more people heard themotion and had turned their heads to watch. But they didn¡¯t seem to care about the attention.


    Levi grip on Callum¡¯s shirt tightened. ¡°I asked you a question.¡±


    ¡°Let go of him!¡± I stepped between them, cing my hands against Levi¡¯s chest. ¡°Callum was helping me because my hair tie broke. That¡¯s all.¡±


    ¡°He had his hands in your hair,¡± Liam growled from behind me. ¡°Why does he need to help you with that?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a funny looking hair clip!¡± Callum protested, his voice strained. ¡°Cassandra asked me to give it to Hazel as a gift, and unfortunately, Hazel didn¡¯t know how to use it. I was just showing her how.¡±


    ¡°Where is this supposed gift then?¡± Liam demanded.


    I looked down at the ground where the clip had fallen. My heart sank when I saw the mangled pieces of metal scattered across the festival dirt. In their fury, one of the brothers had stepped on it, crushing itpletely.


    ¡°You broke it,¡± I whispered, staring at the destroyed gift.


    Levi followed my gaze and cursed under his breath. ¡°Hazel, we didn¡¯t mean¡ª¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t mean what?¡± I turned on both of them, anger ring in my chest. ¡°You didn¡¯t mean to act likeplete animals? You didn¡¯t mean to embarrass Callum and me in front of everyone?¡±


    More people were staring now. I could see phones being pulled out, probably recording this whole scene.


    ¡°Hazel, please,¡± Liam released Callum and reached for me instead. ¡°We just saw him with his hands on you and we¡ª¡±


    ¡°You what?¡± I stepped back, avoiding his touch. ¡°You lost your minds over nothing? You destroyed a gift that someone gave me out of kindness?¡±


    I knelt down and picked up thergest piece of the broken clip. The metal was twisted beyond repair, the delicate mechanismpletely destroyed.


    ¡°Cassandra specifically bought this for me,¡± I said, my voice shaking with rage. ¡°And you crushed it like it was garbage.¡±


    ¡°We can get you another one,¡± Levi offered weakly.


    ¡°That¡¯s not the point!¡± I stood up, clutching the broken metal. ¡°The point is that you two can¡¯t control yourselves. You see me talking to another guy and you turn into possessive monsters.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re your mates,¡± Liam said quietly. ¡°It¡¯s natural for us to feel protective.¡±


    ¡°Protective?¡± Iughed bitterly. ¡°This isn¡¯t protective. This is ridiculous. Callum wasn¡¯t even doing anything out of line!¡±


    Sophia cleared her throat. ¡°Maybe we should take this conversation somewhere more private?¡±


    She was right. The crowd around us was growing, and I could hear people whispering about us. But I was too angry to care about discretion anymore.


    ¡°No,¡± I said firmly. ¡°I¡¯m done with this conversation entirely.¡±


    I turned to Callum, who was straightening his shirt and looking ufortable. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about them. And I¡¯m sorry about the clip. Please tell Cassandra I appreciated the thought.¡±


    ¡°Hazel, wait¡ª¡± both brothers called after me as I started walking away.


    ¡°Don¡¯t follow me,¡± I called back without turning around. ¡°I need space to cool down before I say something I¡¯ll really regret.¡±


    I pushed through the crowd, ignoring their calls behind me. People stepped aside as I stormed past, probably recognizing the anger radiating from me. The festival suddenly felt suffocating, too bright and too loud. It didn¡¯t help that my headache was still there.


    I needed to get away from everyone, especially Liam and Levi. Their possessive behavior was getting insane. I hadn¡¯t even said anything about them talking to their ex-girlfriends in such an overly-friendly manner, and yet, they dared to point fingers first.


    I ducked between food stalls and around groups of families, using the festival crowd to lose them. After several minutes of weaving through the busy grounds, I finally stopped hearing their voices calling my name.


    Breathing heavily, I found myself near the edge of the festival area, close to where the tree line began. The noise was quieter here, giving me space to think.


    But as I caught my breath, I felt someone bump into my shoulder from behind.


    ¡°Oh!¡± A feminine voice eximed. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, I wasn¡¯t watching where I was going.¡±


    I turned to see a girl with striking ck hair. She was beautiful, with high cheekbones and full lips. Her dark eyes were wide with apology.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± I said automatically, still trying to calm down from my argument with the brothers.


    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t happen to know where Alpha Lucas is, would you?¡± she asked hopefully. ¡°I¡¯ve been looking everywhere for him.¡±


    I studied her face more carefully. There was something familiar about her features, but I couldn¡¯t ce where I might have seen her before.


    ¡°Alpha Lucas?¡± I repeated. ¡°Um, no, I haven¡¯t seen him. Sorry.¡±


    Her face fell with disappointment. ¡°Oh. I was really hoping to find him. My father sent me to speak with him about some pack business.¡±


    Pack business. That meant she wasn¡¯t from Emberfang. Probably one of the visiting wolves from the neighboring packs here for the festival.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure he¡¯s around somewhere,¡± I offered. ¡°Have you tried the main stage area? The Alphas should be having their wee speech soon.¡±


    It wouldn¡¯t be for another hour at least, but it was still a good ce to start. Knowing Lucas, he would want to prepare a little ahead of time.


    ¡°That¡¯s a good idea, thank you,¡± she said with a grateful smile. ¡°I¡¯m Bethany, by the way. From the Ironhound Pack.¡±


    My eyes widened with realization. That was why she looked so familiar. She was one of the girls that Liam and Levi were talking to just now. Only, they stood so far away that I couldn¡¯t see their features clearly then.


    ¡°Oh,¡± I managed to say. ¡°I¡¯m Hazel.¡±


    ¡°Nice to meet you, Hazel,¡± Bethany said warmly, not recognizing my name or its significance. To her, I was just another Emberfang pack member.


    Suddenly, her expression brightened as she looked past me. ¡°Lucas!¡±


    I turned around to see Lucas walking toward us, looking asposed and serious as always. His green eyes met mine briefly, a sh of surprise crossing his features when he saw me talking to Bethany.


    Bethany didn¡¯t hesitate. She ran toward him with obvious joy, throwing her arms around his neck in an enthusiastic embrace.


    Lucas stood frozen for a moment, clearly shocked by the sudden contact. His hands remained at his sides as Bethany hugged him tightly, her face pressed against his shoulder.


    It took him several seconds to react, his hands finallying up to gently but firmly remove her arms from around his neck. He stepped back, putting distance between them.


    ¡°Bethany,¡± he said carefully. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    She beamed at him, seemingly oblivious to his ufortable bodynguage. ¡°Daddy sent me to find you. He wanted to know if you¡¯d finished speaking with him about the arrangements.¡±


    ¡°Arrangements?¡± Lucas nced at me, his expression unreadable.


    ¡°For our engagement party, silly,¡± Bethanyughed, reaching out to touch his arm. ¡°And he wanted to know if you had any preferences for the wedding date. Spring or summer?¡±


    The words hit me like a physical blow. Wedding date?

 Chapter 85: Hypocritical & Emotional

    <h4>Chapter 85: Chapter 85: Hypocritical & Emotional</h4>


    Chapter 85: Hypocritical & Emotional


    ¡°Wedding date?¡± The words tumbled out of my mouth before I could stop them.


    Bethany¡¯s smile faltered slightly as she looked between Lucas and me. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t realize you¡¯re still here.¡±


    Lucas¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°Bethany¡ª¡±


    He was cut off by Bethany¡¯s chirpy voice. Shepletely missed the tension radiating from him.


    ¡°Oh, Lucas. Daddy is so excited about finalizing everything. He¡¯s been talking about our union since we were pups.¡±


    My stomach dropped. They were talking about it like it was already set in stone.


    ¡°What exactly are you talking about?¡± I asked, my voice smaller than I intended.


    Bethany turned to me with enthusiasm. ¡°Lucas and I have been promised to each other since childhood. Our packs have hoped to join together through matrimony for years now. My father is the Alpha of Ironhound, and this alliance would strengthen both our territories.¡±


    She reached for Lucas¡¯s arm again, but he stepped away from her touch.


    ¡°Bethany,¡± Lucas said firmly. ¡°Nothing has ever been finalized.¡±


    ¡°But Daddy said¡ª¡±


    ¡°Your father and mine discussed possibilities,¡± Lucas interrupted. ¡°That¡¯s all they were. Discussions.¡±


    Bethany¡¯s face scrunched in confusion. ¡°I don¡¯t understand. Why wouldn¡¯t you want to marry me? We¡¯ve known each other forever, and I thought we got along well. We even dated for a bit, so you obviously like me enough.¡±


    My heart was pounding so hard I was sure everyone could hear it. Lucas had been promised to someone else? How had I never known about this?


    ¡°Because I¡¯ve already found my mate,¡± Lucas said.


    Bethany¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Your mate? But I thought... when did this happen?¡±


    ¡°Recently,¡± Lucas replied. He moved closer to me, his presence bothforting and overwhelming. ¡°And I¡¯ve made it clear to your father that neither I nor my brothers are interested in arranged marriages. We intend to marry our fated mate.¡±


    ¡°Brothers?¡± Bethany looked even more confused. ¡°What do your brothers have to do with¡ª¡±


    She stopped mid-sentence, her gaze shifting between Lucas and me. I watched realization dawn across her features as she took in how close he stood to me, how protective his posture was.


    ¡°It¡¯s her, isn¡¯t it?¡± Bethany whispered, staring at me. ¡°You¡¯re their mate.¡±


    Before I could respond, I heard familiar voices calling my name.


    ¡°Hazel!¡± Liam¡¯s voice carried over the festival noise. ¡°Where did you go?¡±


    ¡°We need to talk,¡± Levi added, both of them approaching quickly.


    Great. Thest thing I wanted was to deal with all three of them while Bethany was asking ufortable questions about our mate bond.


    ¡°Hazel, please don¡¯t run off like that again,¡± Liam said as he reached us,pletely ignoring Bethany¡¯s presence.


    ¡°We¡¯re sorry about the hair clip,¡± Levi added. ¡°We can rece it, I promise.¡±


    Bethany looked between all four of us, her confusion growing.


    Lucas frowned. ¡°Hair clip? What¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯splicated,¡± Levi said tersely.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not,¡± I snapped, my earlier annoyance quickly returning. I turned to Lucas. ¡°Your brothers made a scene at the festival because Callum was helping me with my hair. They destroyed a gift Cassandra gave me and embarrassed everyone involved.¡±


    ¡°We were protecting you,¡± Liam protested.


    ¡°From what?¡± I turned on him. ¡°From a friend helping me with a broken hair tie?¡±


    ¡°He had his hands all over you,¡± Levi growled.


    ¡°He was fixing my hair!¡± I shouted, not caring that people were starting to stare again. ¡°Meanwhile, you two were chatting intimately with your ex-girlfriends like nothing had changed.¡±


    ¡°Bethany, could you give us some privacy, please?¡± Liam asked.


    ¡°But¡ª¡±


    She didn¡¯t say anything more when Lucas shot her a warning look. Bethany pursed her lips, took onest nce at the four of us, and stormed off. Likewise, the triplets guided us to a more secluded corner away from possible eavesdroppers.


    ¡°We were just being polite earlier,¡± Liam insisted once Bethany was out of earshot.


    ¡°Polite?¡± Iughed bitterly. ¡°I watched youughing. They were obviously flirting with you!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not true,¡± Levi protested.


    ¡°Hazel, perhaps you¡¯re just tired,¡± Liam said. ¡°It¡¯s been a long day, and I know you¡¯ve worked very hard for this festival.¡±


    ¡°Yeah!¡± Levi chimed in. ¡°Maybe that¡¯s why you¡¯re feeling so emotional.¡±


    The words hit me like a p. ¡°Emotional?¡±


    Maybe I was. Everything was piling up. The triplets being so dismissive, theirundry list of ex-girlfriends who were still interested in them, their mother absolutely detesting my guts... the list was endless.


    ¡°Hazel¡ª¡±


    ¡°You know what? I don¡¯t want to talk about this right now,¡± I interrupted. ¡°I¡¯m going back to the packhouse.¡±


    I started walking away, but Lucas caught my arm.


    ¡°We¡¯re sorry,¡± he said desperately. ¡°We didn¡¯t mean to upset you.¡±


    ¡°I just need some time alone,¡± I said, tugging my arm free.


    My nose was starting to sour, and I didn¡¯t dare to turn back lest they notice the tears welling in my eyes. I could feel my wolf yearning to talk things through with them, but I couldn¡¯t guarantee I wouldn¡¯t say something I would end up regretting.


    Before they could respond, I turned and walked away quickly, not looking back even when I heard them calling my name.


    The walk back to the packhouse felt endless. My head was pounding, my emotions were all over the ce, and I feltpletely overwhelmed by everything that had happened today.


    Instead of going inside the packhouse where someone might find me, I walked around to the back, toward the tree line.


    The woods were peaceful, unlike the lively atmosphere of the festival. I sat down on a log and finally let myself breathe properly for the first time in hours.


    Birds chirped overhead, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves. For a few minutes, I felt my anger start to fade, reced by exhaustion.


    It was tiring having to deal with all these women who were more than eager to throw themselves at my mates. Jessie, Annie, and now even the she-wolves from Ironhound.


    I trusted the triplets to stay away, but jealousy couldn¡¯t help rear its ugly head, especially when those women were more than happy to test my boundaries time and time again.


    Then, I heard the unmistakable sound of twigs snapping underfoot. My ears pricked to attention. I really needed some time to cool off away from them right now.


    ¡°I thought I told you guys to leave me alone!¡± I called out without turning around.


    The footsteps stopped, but something felt wrong. I stiffened. This scent didn¡¯t belong to any of the triplets. Their scent was warm, homey, andforting. This one smelled faintly like blood.


    I started to turn around, but before I could see who was behind me, a massive wolf lunged from the shadows. Pain exploded through my arm as sharp teeth bit down hard, and I screamed.


    Before I could fight back or shift, several men emerged from the trees. One of them pressed something sweet-smelling over my nose and mouth.


    Chloroform.


    Darkness quickly engulfed me. Thest I saw was a woman bending down to face me, a familiar, wicked smile curving her lips.

 Chapter 86: Missing Mate

    <h4>Chapter 86: Chapter 86: Missing Mate</h4>


    Third POV


    ¡°I don¡¯t think we handled that well,¡± Liam admitted, running a hand through his dark hair. ¡°She seemed really upset.¡±


    Lucas led the way back to the packhouse as the festival music faded into the background. They were careful to walk a little slower to give Hazel the space she requested and to discuss what just happened.


    Levi kicked a stone along the path, sulking. ¡°She overreacted. Callum was too close to her.¡±


    ¡°No, she didn¡¯t,¡± Lucas countered firmly. ¡°Think about it. Hazel hasn¡¯t had normal rtionships her entire life. Her only experience with male attention has been our bullying and then suddenly finding out we¡¯re her mates. She¡¯s more sensitive to threats because of it.¡±


    ¡°We weren¡¯t even flirting with those girls,¡± Liam protested. ¡°Bethany just came over asking if we¡¯d seen you, Lucas. Then Olivia and Amber spotted us and decided to join in.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, we were just catching up,¡± Levi added.


    Lucas sighed. ¡°Were they flirting with you?¡±


    Liam hesitated. ¡°Maybe a little. But we made it clear we weren¡¯t interested.¡±


    ¡°While simultaneously ripping a hair clip out of Callum¡¯s hands when he was just helping her,¡± Lucas deadpanned.


    Liam and Levi instantly fell silent.


    ¡°I think we¡¯re all missing the bigger picture here,¡± Lucas said. ¡°Hazel is overwhelmed. Between the festival nning, Mom¡¯s attitude, and trying to adapt to the pack, she¡¯s hardly had time to breathe.¡±


    Liam nodded slowly. ¡°You¡¯re right. We¡¯ve been pushing her too hard.¡±


    ¡°So what do we do?¡± Levi asked, his usual yful demeanor reced by genuine concern.


    ¡°We ease off,¡± Lucas decided. ¡°No more Luna training until after the wedding and honeymoon. Let her breathe.¡±


    The brothers shared a look of agreement as they approached the packhouse.


    ¡°I say we draw her a bubble bath, bring her some soothing tea, and just let her rx tonight,¡± Liam suggested with a small smile. ¡°Show her we¡¯re sorry.¡±


    ¡°And mean it,¡± Lucas added firmly.


    Levi¡¯s face brightened. ¡°I just bought some new fancy bath salts are. The ones that smell like vani andvender. Think she might like them?¡±


    They entered the packhouse with renewed determination, climbing the stairs to Hazel¡¯s room. Lucas knocked gently on her door.


    ¡°Hazel? Sweetheart, can we talk?¡±


    Silence greeted them.


    Liam frowned and knocked again, louder this time. ¡°Hazel? Are you in there?¡±


    When there was still no response, Levi turned the handle. The door swung open to reveal an empty room.


    ¡°Maybe she¡¯s in one of our rooms?¡± Liam suggested, but his voice was already tinged with worry.


    The brothers split up, each checking their own rooms and bathrooms. They met back in the hallway minutester, all wearing the same expression of growing panic.


    ¡°She¡¯s not in my room,¡± Lucas said.


    ¡°Not in mine either,¡± Liam added.


    ¡°Or mine,¡± Levi finished.


    Liam ran a hand through his hair. ¡°I¡¯ll check her old servant quarters. Maybe she wanted to be alone.¡±


    He disappeared down the hallway while Lucas and Levi continued searching the upper floor. When Liam returned, his face had paled considerably.


    ¡°She¡¯s not there.¡±


    Levi¡¯s jaw clenched. ¡°I don¡¯t like this.¡±


    ¡°Hazel!¡± Liam shouted, his voice echoing through the packhouse.


    Servants and pack members looked up in surprise as the triplets began frantically searching every room.


    ¡°She said she wasing back to the packhouse,¡± Levi said, panic rising in his voice. ¡°That¡¯s what she said before she walked away.¡±


    Lucas stopped suddenly, lifting his head. He stepped outside and took a deep breath in. Then, he narrowed his eyes.


    ¡°This way,¡± Lucas said before shifting. Liam and Levi followed suit.


    The brothers moved deeper into the woods, following Hazel¡¯s scent until they reached a small clearing. Lucas froze, his nostrils ring. They shifted back.


    ¡°Blood,¡± he whispered.


    Liam crouched down, touching a dark spot on the forest floor. His fingers came away red. ¡°It¡¯s fresh.¡±


    Levi growled, his eyes shing gold. ¡°There are other scents here. It¡¯s almost chemical.¡±


    Lucas bent down, inhaling carefully. ¡°Chloroform.¡±


    The word hung in the air like a death sentence.


    ¡°Shit. She¡¯s been taken,¡± Liam said, his voice hollow with shock. ¡°I smell some others, but they¡¯re not from Emberfang.¡±


    Lucas stood up, his entire body rigid with fury. ¡°Spread out. Try to find which way they went.¡±


    Liam and Levi didn¡¯t need to be told twice. Shifting smoothly into their wolves, they disappeared into the trees. However, they returned not long after.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± Liam said with a growl, shifting back. ¡°The trail just... disappears.¡±


    ¡°They must have used something to mask their scent,¡± Lucas reasoned, though his voice trembled with barely contained rage.


    Levi let out a roar of frustration, mming his fist into a nearby tree with such force that it splintered. ¡°How could this happen?!¡±


    His outburst echoed through the forest, causing birds to take flight in rm. Lucas grabbed his younger brother by the shoulders.


    ¡°Get it together! We need to think clearly if we¡¯re going to find her.¡±


    Levi¡¯s eyes were wild, tears of rage threatening to spill over. ¡°Someone took her, Lucas. They took our mate!¡±


    Themotion had drawn attention. Several pack members who had been taking a break from the festival came running, including Callum and Sophia.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Callum asked, his eyes wide as he took in the triplets¡¯ distress.


    ¡°Hazel¡¯s been kidnapped,¡± Liam said, his voice cracking.


    Gasps rippled through the small crowd. Sophia covered her mouth in horror.


    ¡°Send out the warriors,¡± Lucas ordered. ¡°I want the entire border secured. No one gets in or out without being questioned.¡±


    More pack members arrived, including Henry and Evelyn.


    ¡°What¡¯s all this about?¡± Henry demanded.


    ¡°Hazel¡¯s been taken,¡± Lucas replied curtly. ¡°There¡¯s blood and chloroform, and foreign scents in our territory.¡±


    Evelyn raised an eyebrow. ¡°Taken? By whom?¡±


    Levi whirled on her, his eyes shing dangerously. ¡°Why don¡¯t you tell us, Mom? You¡¯ve never exactly hidden your hatred for her.¡±


    ¡°Levi!¡± Henry barked in shock.


    Lucas moved between them. ¡°This isn¡¯t helping, Levi.¡±


    Jessie pushed her way through the gathering crowd, her eyes scanning the scene. A flicker of satisfaction spread across her face before she stamped the rising corners of her lips down.


    ¡°Maybe she just ran off,¡± she said, shrugging. ¡°I mean, it can¡¯t be easy realizing you¡¯re in way over your head as Luna.¡±


    The words had barely left her mouth before Levi lunged. His hand wrapped around Jessie¡¯s throat, lifting her off the ground. Jessie let out a choked gasp.


    ¡°Say that again,¡± he growled, his voice barely human.


    Jessie wed at his hand, her eyes bulging as she struggled for air.


    ¡°LEVI!¡± Liam yelled, grabbing his brother¡¯s arm. ¡°Let her go! This won¡¯t help Hazel!¡±


    For a terrifying moment, it seemed Levi wouldn¡¯t listen. Then, slowly, he released his grip. Jessie copsed to the ground, coughing and gasping, shock written across her face.


    ¡°Get the warriors organized,¡± Lucas ordered, his voice cutting through the tension. ¡°I want every inch of our territory searched. Check security cameras, question anyone who was near this section of the forest in thest hour.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Alpha!¡±


    The warriors immediately sprinted into action. They shifted and headed straight for the borders. Lucas watched with a hardened expression as their figures disappeared one by one.


    However, one suddenly returned.


    ¡°Alpha,¡± the warrior called, ¡°I found him sneaking around the eastern border.¡±


    Lucas¡¯s eyes narrowed dangerously as Samuel Williams was thrown over. The older man huffed as he slid on the grass, stopping only right in front of Lucas¡¯s feet. His limbs were secured tightly with silver cuffs, his skin already turning red around the metal.


    ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this?¡± Lucas demanded.


    The warrior straightened. ¡°He was acting suspicious, Alpha. Circling the border like he was waiting for someone.¡±


    The triplets exchanged a dark look. Annie.


    ¡°Well, well,¡± Levi growled, stepping forward. ¡°Looks like we need to have a little chat, Samuel.¡±

 Chapter 87: The Face of a Stranger

    <h4>Chapter 87: Chapter 87: The Face of a Stranger</h4>


    Hazel¡¯s POV


    My head throbbed as consciousness slowly returned. The first thing I noticed was the stench. The air was musty, thick with mold and decay. My eyelids felt heavy, but I forced them open, wincing at the dull pain pulsing behind my temples.


    The room was dark. There was barely enough lighting in from the cracks of what seemed like the door. It allowed me to make out vague shapes and outlines.


    I was in some kind of basement. The walls were covered in peeling, water-stained wallpaper. The concrete floor beneath me was cold and damp against my skin. Above, exposed pipes ran across a cracked ceiling.


    I tried to move and immediately felt the bite of metal against my wrists, causing me to hiss in pain. Looking down, I saw silver chains binding my arms, the metal already leaving angry red marks on my skin. My ankles were simrly bound.


    Silver. Of course.


    Not only did it burn my skin, but it also blocked my healing abilities and weakened our mate bond. The bite mark the wolf left on my arm was still raw and red. Thankfully, it had stopped bleeding. Whoever had taken me knew exactly what they were doing.


    ¡®Lucas? Liam? Levi?¡¯ I called through our bond, desperate to reach my mates. But the connection felt muffled and all I got back was silence.


    Voices drifted from beyond a door at the top of a short flight of stairs. There were two women arguing. I strained to hear their words, but I couldn¡¯t catch much.


    Suddenly, footsteps approached. I stiffened, heart hammering against my ribs as the door creaked open. Light from the hallway spilled in the moment they opened the door, momentarily blinding me.


    A figure stepped into the basement, and as my eyes adjusted, I recognized the smug face of Annie Williams. Behind her, more hesitant in her movements, was Cassandra.


    My heart immediately fell into the pits of my stomach.


    ¡°Well, well, look who¡¯s finally awake,¡± Annie taunted, flipping a switch that illuminated a single bare bulb hanging from the ceiling. ¡°Comfortable, Hazel?¡±


    She circled me like a predator, her blue eyes gleaming with malice. Cassandra remained by the stairs, arms crossed over her chest. Unlike Annie¡¯s excited cruelty, Cassandra¡¯s face was devoid of any emotion.


    I red at both of them, unable to speak through the duct tape over my lips. Annie leaned down, her blonde hair falling forward as she brought her face close to mine.


    ¡°What¡¯s that? Can¡¯t hear you,¡± she mocked. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you won¡¯t need to talk much longer anyway.¡±


    I shifted my gaze to Cassandra, trying tomunicate with my eyes what I couldn¡¯t say with words.


    Why? What is this ce? What did I ever do to you?


    Cassandra met my stare for a brief moment before looking away.


    ¡°Don¡¯t bother,¡± Annie sneered, noticing our exchange. ¡°Cassie¡¯s been working with us from the beginning. That whole mate thing with Callum? Fake. She¡¯s quite the actress, isn¡¯t she?¡±


    My eyes widened in surprise. What did Annie mean it was all fake?


    ¡°Annie,¡± Cassandra snapped, her expression much colder than I had ever heard before. ¡°She doesn¡¯t need to know all this.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯ll eventually know,¡± Annie said, waving the matter off.


    Then, she turned to me.


    ¡°You should see your face right now,¡± Annieughed, standing straight again. ¡°You really thought everyone wanted to be your friend, didn¡¯t you? Poor little orphan Hazel, finally finding her ce.¡±


    I turned my head away, refusing to give her the satisfaction of seeing how much her words stung.


    ¡°Hey!¡± Annie grabbed my chin, forcing me to look at her. ¡°I¡¯m talking to you. The least you could do is pay attention when I exin how I¡¯ve ruined your life.¡±


    ¡°Quit it,¡± Cassandra said, her voice calm. ¡°Remember what he said. Just check the chains and leave her.¡±


    ¡°Oh please,¡± Annie rolled her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve waited too long for this. I want to savor the moment.¡±


    When I continued to ignore her taunts, focusing instead on trying to loosen my restraints, Annie¡¯s expression darkened.


    ¡°You think you¡¯re better than me?¡± Her hand connected with my cheek in a sharp p that snapped my head to the side. ¡°After everything those triplets did to you, you still spread your legs for them the first chance you got. Pathetic.¡±


    I tasted blood where my teeth had cut the inside of my cheek. The pain of the p was nothingpared to the burning of the silver against my skin, but it ignited a fury inside me. I lunged forward as far as my chains would allow, a growl rumbling in my throat despite the tape.


    Annie stepped back, momentarily startled, before her face contorted with rage. She raised her hand for another strike.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± Cassandra warned. ¡°He won¡¯t be pleased if she¡¯s damaged.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care,¡± Annie snarled. ¡°What he doesn¡¯t know won¡¯t hurt him.¡±


    She swung again, but this time I was ready. I ducked my head, causing her to miss. Enraged, she grabbed a fistful of my hair and yanked my head back.


    ¡°You¡¯ll pay for¡ª¡±


    A blur of movement cut off Annie¡¯s threat. A booted foot suddenly connected with her side, sending her flying across the room. She crashed into a stack of boxes with a shriek.


    A tall figure stepped into the light, his face hidden in shadow. Annie groaned, trying to push herself up from the debris.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you not to touch her?¡± The man¡¯s voice was low, dangerous, with an ent I couldn¡¯t quite ce.


    He stalked toward Annie, who was now cowering among the fallen boxes. In one swift motion, he reached down and grabbed her by the hair, yanking her to her feet as she screamed in pain.


    ¡°If I find even one strand of hair missing from her,¡± he hissed, his face inches from Annie¡¯s, ¡°you¡¯ll have to pay for it.¡±


    I shifted back in shock, the chains nking against the floor. The man¡¯s head turned toward me, and as he stepped into the light from the single bulb, I felt my blood run cold.


    His face held the sharp jawline and the same high cheekbones. If it weren¡¯t for his eye color, I would¡¯ve thought one of them hade for me. At first nce, the resemnce was unmistakable.


    He looked exactly like the Sullivan triplets.

 Chapter 88: The Devil鈥檚 Name

    <h4>Chapter 88: Chapter 88: The Devil¡¯s Name</h4>


    Hazel¡¯s POV


    I stared at the man in front of me, my mind struggling to process what my eyes were seeing. The resemnce was so uncanny it was almost frightening. If not for his grayish-brown eyes, I would have sworn one of my mates had found me.


    Same dark brown hair, same sharp jawline, same tall, imposing frame. Even the way he moved reminded me of Lucas¡ªprecise and predatory. My heart leaped with hope before crashing back down when I realized this wasn¡¯t my salvation, but another part of my nightmare.


    Annie whimpered as he tightened his grip on her hair.


    ¡°Please,¡± she begged, tears streaming down her face. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to¡ª¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t mean to what?¡± he asked, his voice deceptively soft. ¡°Disobey a direct order? Or get caught doing it?¡±


    He twisted his hand, making Annie cry out in pain. Despite everything she¡¯d done to me, watching her being tormented made my stomach turn.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she sobbed, mascara running down her cheeks. ¡°It won¡¯t happen again.¡±


    The man smirked, letting her dangle for a moment longer before releasing her with a shove that sent her stumbling against the wall.


    ¡°You¡¯re right about that,¡± he said coolly. ¡°Because if it does, I won¡¯t be so gentle next time.¡±


    Annie rubbed her scalp, her blue eyes filled with hatred as she nced my way. Even in her fear, she couldn¡¯t hide her contempt for me.


    ¡°Don¡¯t look at her,¡± the man snapped, stepping between us. ¡°In fact, don¡¯t even breathe in her direction. Get out.¡±


    Cassandra, who had been silently watching from the stairs, finally spoke up. ¡°Leo, we should stick to the n. Annie¡¯s impulsive, but she¡¯s still useful.¡±


    Leo. So that was his name.


    He turned to look at Cassandra, his expression softening slightly. ¡°Fine. But get her out of here before I change my mind.¡±


    Cassandra nodded and beckoned to Annie. ¡°Come on.¡±


    Annie shot me onest venomous re before stumbling toward the stairs. As she passed Cassandra, the tinum blonde caught her arm firmly.


    ¡°And Annie? If you try anything like this again,¡± Cassandra whispered, loud enough for me to hear, ¡°I won¡¯t stop him next time.¡±


    The door mmed behind them, leaving me alone with the man who wore the face of my mates but was clearly not them. He stood looking at me for a long moment, his eyes traveling over my bound form with an intensity that made my skin crawl.


    Finally, he crouched down to my level. I flinched away as his hand moved toward my face, but all he did was grasp the edge of the duct tape across my mouth.


    ¡°This might hurt,¡± he warned, then ripped it off in one swift motion.


    I gasped, the sting bringing tears to my eyes.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± I demanded as soon as I could speak, my voice hoarse from disuse.


    He settled back on his heels, studying me with those unsettling eyes.


    ¡°My name is Leo,¡± he said simply. ¡°But I suspect that¡¯s not really what you want to know.¡±


    I swallowed hard, tasting blood and fear. ¡°What do you want with me? Where am I?¡±


    Leo¡¯s lips curved into a smile that didn¡¯t reach his eyes. ¡°Straight to the point. I like that about you, Hazel.¡±


    The way he said my name was so intimate that it sent a chill down my spine.


    ¡°You¡¯re wondering why I look like them, aren¡¯t you?¡± he continued, tilting his head slightly.


    I remained silent, but my expression must have betrayed my thoughts because he chuckled.


    ¡°Family resemnce is a powerful thing,¡± he said cryptically. ¡°But that¡¯s a conversation for another time.¡±


    Family resemnce? My mind whirled. Did Lucas, Liam, and Levi have a long-lost brother roaming the streets as a rogue?


    ¡°What am I doing here then?¡± I asked again, pulling against my silver chains despite the burning pain. ¡°What do you want?¡±


    Leo stood up slowly, towering over me. ¡°You don¡¯t need to know so much, sweetheart. Let¡¯s just say you¡¯re valuable to me in ways you can¡¯t begin to understand.¡±


    ¡°My mates will find me,¡± I said with as much conviction as I could muster. ¡°They won¡¯t stop looking.¡±


    Or at least, I hope they didn¡¯t. I could only pray that they remembered what I told them; that if I disappeared, I didn¡¯t leave willingly.


    My heart clenched painfully at the thought of them. We didn¡¯t even part on good terms. Thest time I spoke with them, we fought.


    Something dark shed in Leo¡¯s eyes. ¡°Your mates can look all they want. They won¡¯t find you here.¡±


    He walked to the stairs and let out a sharp whistle. The door opened, and a stooped figure shuffled down with a tray in hand.


    ¡°Dinner time,¡± Leo announced, taking the tray and dismissing the servant with a nod.


    He ced it on the floor in front of me and removed the cover. The smell hit me instantly¡ªrancid and putrid, like meat left in the sun for days. On the te was a grayish lump that might have once been food, surrounded by congealed brown liquid.


    My stomach lurched violently. This looked more like expired cat food than anything else.


    ¡°Eat up,¡± Leo said, pushing the tray closer to me. ¡°This is all you¡¯re getting.¡±


    I turned my head away. ¡°I¡¯m not eating that.¡±


    His expression hardened. ¡°You¡¯ll eat what you¡¯re given, or you¡¯ll starve. Your choice.¡±


    My stomach let out a rumble, betraying my words. Instantly, my face flushed red as a cold smirk drove the corner of Leo¡¯s lips up. He clicked his tongue, pushing the te a little closer to me, and I withdrew just as quickly.


    ¡°Your body is honest,¡± Leomented.


    Instantly, my stomach coiled and gurgled in disgust. The smell was revolting. I had smelled better scented garbage cans than this, even after it had been fermenting out in the hot summer heat. What¡¯s more, I couldn¡¯t be sure this food wasn¡¯t poisoned.


    I felt my body jerk as my stomach heaved. Instantly, I mped my lips tightly together, trying to hold my puke down. But it didn¡¯t work too well. Another heave was what it took before I could no longer control it.


    Bile poured from my mouth and out onto the concrete floor. Leo jerked back instinctively, the vomit missing him by a few short inches. The smell quickly filled the room, and his nose wrinkled.


    He watched as I threw up the remaining contents of my stomach, trembling. I was cold, drained, and every inch of my body was in pain, from the burn of my wrists to the scorching of my throat. I had never felt so miserable before.


    ¡°Get the doctor,¡± Leo said in the background to someone I couldn¡¯t see. My eyes were zed over with unshed tears as I continued to retch.


    ¡°She¡¯s not in,¡± someone replied. ¡°She¡¯s still in¡ª¡±


    ¡°Then get someone to clean up this mess,¡± Leo snapped.


    He rose to his feet, his footsteps echoing after him, along with his final instructions.


    ¡°Prepare the room downstairs. She needs to be in good health for her blood extraction tomorrow.¡±

 Chapter 89: Unraveling Threads

    <h4>Chapter 89: Chapter 89: Unraveling Threads</h4>


    Third POV


    The tension in Alpha Henry¡¯s office hung thick in the air like smoke. The older wolf looked exhausted, dark circles shadowing his eyes as he faced the angry man before him.


    ¡°This is uneptable!¡± Former Beta Cohen mmed his fist on the desk, causing the pens to rattle. ¡°My daughter is not a criminal. Why is Jessie being treated like one?¡±


    Henry rubbed his temples. He couldn¡¯t even fault the man for theck of respect toward his former Alpha now. As a father, he knew too well what Cohen felt.


    ¡°It¡¯s standard procedure, Cohen,¡± Henry said. ¡°Everyone who had contact with Hazel in the days before her disappearance is being questioned.¡±


    Before Cohen could respond, the door burst open. Alpha Joseph Lancaster of the Ironhound Pack stormed in, his face contorted with fury.


    ¡°Henry!¡± Joseph¡¯s voice boomed across the room. ¡°Why is my daughter being held prisoner in your territory?¡±


    Henry straightened in his chair, his expression hardening. ¡°She¡¯s not a prisoner, Joseph. She¡¯s a person of interest in an ongoing investigation.¡±


    ¡°Person of interest?¡± Joseph scoffed. ¡°Bethany has done nothing wrong!¡±


    ¡°No one is using her of anything yet,¡± Henry replied wearily. ¡°But my sons¡¯ mate has been abducted. This isn¡¯t just a simple missing person case.¡±


    Cohen crossed his arms. ¡°And so you detain our daughters without proof? Based on what evidence?¡±


    ¡°Based on proximity and opportunity,¡± Henry said firmly. ¡°And they¡¯re not the only ones. We¡¯ve detained over twenty people from both packs. Everyone is getting the same treatment. You can rest assured that they will be infortable amodations while we conduct interviews until they¡¯ve been found guilty.¡±


    Joseph paced the office, his boots heavy against the floor. ¡°How long will this charade continue?¡±


    ¡°Hopefully, not long,¡± Henry said with a sigh. ¡°They are questioning everyone they can, even their own mother.¡±


    This caused Cohen and Joseph to share a look of shock.


    ¡°Even Former Luna Evelyn?¡±


    ¡°No one is above suspicion right now,¡± Henry replied. ¡°I am sure you two know how bad it is to lose a mate.¡±


    Both men fell silent. The loss of a mate was perhaps the most devastating thing a werewolf could experience. Even though Hazel wasn¡¯t dead, her absence was a physical torture for the triplets.


    Cohen¡¯s shoulders slumped in reluctant eptance.


    ¡°Fine,¡± Joseph finally conceded. ¡°But I want updates. And I want assurance that Bethany is being treated with respect.¡±


    Henry nodded. ¡°You have my word.¡±


    +++


    In the stark interrogation room, Jessie sat with her arms crossed, tapping her manicured nails against the metal table. Across from her, Levi stared with cold eyes, while Callum stood in the corner, clipboard in hand.


    ¡°I¡¯ve already told you everything I know,¡± Jessie huffed. ¡°I was at the festival until everyone started making a ruckus. I headed to the clearing with the rest of the crowd, only to find out that Hazel¡¯s missing. I don¡¯t know what happened to your precious little mate.¡±


    Levi¡¯s jaw clenched. ¡°You¡¯ve always had a problem with Hazel.¡±


    ¡°Especially thement you made right after she disappeared,¡± Callum added darkly under his breath.


    ¡°So? That doesn¡¯t mean I kidnapped her.¡± Jessie flipped her ck hair over her shoulder. ¡°Besides, she isn¡¯t exactly the nicest person either. If she wasn¡¯t such a bitch, perhaps I would¡¯ve been nicer to her.¡±


    ¡°A bitch?¡± Levi¡¯s voice dropped dangerously low.


    Callum stepped forward, clearing his throat. ¡°Where were you before the festival started? You were appointed by Former Luna Evelyn to handle some of the decor, but eye witnesses reported you weren¡¯t there until after the event started.¡±


    ¡°In bed, obviously.¡± Jessie rolled her eyes. ¡°After a night of drinking, who wouldn¡¯t be? Besides, Hazel was being a pain in the ass with the decorations. She obviously had it all handled.¡±


    ¡°Any witnesses?¡± Levi pressed.


    ¡°My mother checked on me around eight. Ask her yourself.¡±


    Levi leaned back in his seat. ¡°When was thest time you spoke to her?¡±


    Jessie scoffed. ¡°The day before when she was whining on and on about the decorations. Seriously, does she really think she¡¯s all that just because she fucks the three of you¡ª¡±


    ¡°Watch it,¡± Levi growled, his eyes shing gold.


    ¡°What?¡± Jessie¡¯s haughty expression returned. ¡°It¡¯s not like I¡¯m saying anything that isn¡¯t true. She was nobody until you decided she was special.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s our mate,¡± Levi¡¯s voice was deadly quiet.


    ¡°Well, maybe it¡¯s for the best she¡¯s gone,¡± Jessie snapped. The meek pretense she always used in front of the triplets had been long torn to shreds. ¡°This pack needs a real Luna, not some orphan charity case who doesn¡¯t know her ce.¡±


    Levi surged to his feet, sending his chair crashing backward. Callum quickly moved between them, cing a restraining hand on his friend¡¯s chest.


    ¡°I think we¡¯re done here,¡± Callum said firmly. ¡°Officer Brooks will escort you out, Miss Jones.¡±


    As the door opened and a uniformed pack officer appeared, Jessie stood and smoothed her skirt. ¡°You know I¡¯m right, Levi. Deep down, even you must see it.¡±


    After she was gone, Levi copsed back into his chair, running his hands through his hair. The room fell silent except for the hum of the fluorescent lights.


    ¡°You okay?¡± Callum asked after a moment.


    ¡°No,¡± Levi admitted. His usual yful demeanor had vanished entirely in the days since Hazel¡¯s disappearance. ¡°I keep thinking about her out there somewhere, scared, while these people sit here smirking.¡±


    Callum nodded sympathetically. ¡°We¡¯ll find her.¡±


    Levi looked up. ¡°I never apologized properly. For the hair clip thing at the festival.¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter now,¡± Callum shrugged.


    ¡°It does.¡± Levi rubbed his face. ¡°I was a jealous asshole. You were just being a friend to her when we were too stupid to be.¡±


    ¡°Water under the bridge,¡± Callum said, though his expression turned troubled.


    He pulled out his phone from his pocket, tapping the screen. It lit up, but seeing what¡¯s there, he frowned.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Levi asked, observing Callum¡¯s fallen expression.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± Callum said, shaking his head. ¡°It¡¯s just... I haven¡¯t heard from Cassandra since Hazel disappeared. She¡¯s not answering calls or texts.¡±


    Levi¡¯s eyebrows quickly furrowed. ¡°Since when?¡±


    ¡°Since she mentioned she wasn¡¯t feeling well enough to attend the festival,¡± Callum replied. ¡°She said she would attendter in the afternoon, but she never showed.¡±


    Before Levi could respond, there was a knock at the door. Officer Brooks poked his head in.


    ¡°Alpha Levi, Mnie¡¯s here for her interview.¡±

 Chapter 90: Dark Trails

    <h4>Chapter 90: Chapter 90: Dark Trails</h4>


    Third POV


    The door opened, and Mnie Simmons strode in, her light brown hair perfectly styled despite the hours held in detainment. When her eyesnded on Levi, a smile stretched across her face.


    ¡°Levi! I was wondering when you¡¯d want to see me.¡± Her voice was sweet, almost hopeful as she took the seat across from him.


    Levi¡¯s expression remained stone cold. Gone was the flirtatious man who would have winked or made a suggestivement just months ago. His green eyes were hard as emeralds.


    ¡°Cut the crap, Mnie,¡± he said tly. ¡°I need information, not small talk.¡±


    Her smile faltered slightly. ¡°I don¡¯t know anything about Hazel¡¯s disappearance, if that¡¯s what you¡¯re asking. I¡¯m sure you know that we were never close¡ª¡±


    Levi¡¯s fist mmed onto the table with such force that both Mnie and Callum flinched. The sound echoed through the small interrogation room like a gunshot.


    ¡°Stop wasting my time!¡±


    Mnie¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°I swear, I don¡¯t know where she is! I was at the festival the whole time. Ask anyone¡ª¡±


    ¡°We already did,¡± Callum interjected, stepping forward with his clipboard. ¡°You were seen speaking with Kira near the edge of the clearing shortly before the wee speech was supposed to start. What were you talking about?¡±


    ¡°What? Is it a crime now to gossip with my friend?¡± Mnie¡¯s gaze darted between the two men. ¡°We were just chatting about girl stuff. Nothing important.¡±


    ¡°Girl stuff,¡± Levi repeated, his voice dangerously low. ¡°Like plotting ways to hurt my mate?¡±


    ¡°No! I wouldn¡¯t¡ª¡±


    ¡°Because it¡¯s not like you haven¡¯t tried before,¡± Callum cut in. ¡°The locker room incident? The sabotaged food at the pack gathering? Ring any bells?¡±


    Mnie¡¯s face paled. Those were from years ago, even before Mnie dated Levi.


    ¡°Not to mention you two tried to corner her at Sophia¡¯s house just recently,¡± Callum added.


    Levi leaned forward, his eyes shing gold for a brief second. ¡°Who have you been talking to, Mnie?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just¡ª¡± She stopped herself, but it was toote. ¡°I mean¡ª¡±


    ¡°Who?¡± Levi growled.


    ¡°It¡¯s not what you think,¡± Mnie rushed to say. ¡°Annie just wanted to visit her family, that¡¯s all. She misses them, especially with the Spring Festival and all. She¡ª¡±


    ¡°Annie?¡± Levi¡¯s voice cut through the room like a de. ¡°You¡¯ve been in contact with Annie Williams? The same Annie who was thrown out of this pack for attacking Hazel?¡±


    Callum stepped closer, his normally friendly face now hard with anger. ¡°How long have you beenmunicating with her?¡±


    Mnie¡¯sposure crackedpletely. ¡°It¡¯s not a crime to talk to an old friend! She¡¯s been having a rough time since she was exiled. We just chat sometimes, that¡¯s all.¡±


    Levi stood up, towering over her. ¡°What exactly did Annie say to you?¡±


    ¡°Nothing important! She just¡ªshe just mentioned missing her family and wanting to see them during the festival.¡± Mnie¡¯s voice grew smaller. ¡°She asked if there was any way she could sneak in for a quick visit.¡±


    ¡°And what did you tell her?¡± Callum demanded.


    Mnie hesitated, her fingers nervously tapping the table. ¡°I might have... suggested that security would be lighter during the festival. With so many visitors from the Ironhound Pack, one more face wouldn¡¯t stand out.¡±


    Levi¡¯s nostrils red as he fought to control his wolf. ¡°You helped her sneak back in? After what she did to Hazel?¡±


    ¡°She said she just wanted to see her parents!¡± Mnie¡¯s voice rose in panic. ¡°How was I supposed to know she¡¯d do anything bad?¡±


    ¡°Because she tried to maul and poison my mate before!¡± Levi roared, mming both hands on the table this time.


    Callum ced a restraining hand on Levi¡¯s shoulder before turning back to Mnie. ¡°Where is Annie now?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know! I swear!¡± Mnie¡¯s eyes welled with tears. ¡°She hasn¡¯t been answering my texts since the festival. I thought maybe she got caught or changed her mind.¡±


    Levi straightened, his mind racing. ¡°Was Kira in on this too?¡±


    Mnie¡¯s hesitation was all the confirmation they needed.


    ¡°Officer Brooks!¡± Levi called out. The door opened immediately. ¡°Detain Miss Simmons and bring in Kira next. They¡¯re both to be held in cells until further notice.¡±


    ¡°What? You can¡¯t do that!¡± Mnie protested as the officer stepped forward.


    ¡°I¡¯m the Alpha,¡± Levi said coldly. ¡°I can do whatever I need to protect my pack and find my mate.¡±


    As Mnie was escorted out, Levi pulled out his phone and typed a quick message to his brothers.


    It¡¯s Annie.


    Callum watched him with concern. ¡°You really think Annie took Hazel?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Levi admitted, running a hand through his hair. ¡°I doubt she could¡¯ve done it alone. But she has motive, opportunity, and apparently ess to our territory during the festival. It¡¯s the best lead we¡¯ve got.¡±


    +++


    Night had fallen by the time Lucas and Liam arrived at the address their mother had reluctantly provided.


    The Dark Hour didn¡¯t look like much from the outside¡ªjust an inconspicuous building with tinted windows and a small neon sign above the door. It sat on neutral territory, just outside the Emberfang Pack boundaries.


    ¡°Hard to believe this is the ce,¡± Liam muttered as they approached. ¡°Doesn¡¯t look like a fight club.¡±


    Lucas¡¯s face was grim. ¡°That¡¯s probably the point.¡±


    The bouncer¡ªa massive werewolf with arms thicker than Liam¡¯s thighs¡ªbarely nced at them before stepping aside. Either he recognized them as Alphas, or the club truly wasn¡¯t as exclusive as they¡¯d thought.


    Inside, the club pulsed with life and music. A DJ stood on a raised tform, controlling the beats that thundered through the space while bodies moved on the dance floor. Colored lights shed across sweating skin and glittering drinks.


    ¡°This doesn¡¯t seem right,¡± Liam said, frowning as he scanned the crowd. ¡°It just looks like a regr nightclub.¡±


    ¡°Maybe to some,¡± Lucas said with a scoff. ¡°Smell that?¡±


    Liam closed his eyes briefly, filtering through the assault of stimuli. Then he caught it. Beneath the perfume, alcohol, and sweat was the unmistakable metallic scent of blood.


    Liam¡¯s eyes widened as he stared at his brother.


    ¡°Over there,¡± Lucas nodded toward the bar.


    As they made their way through the crowd, several patrons turned to stare. A woman with long ck hair sidled up to Lucas, cing a hand on his chest.


    ¡°Looking forpany, handsome?¡± she purred.


    Lucas removed her hand firmly. ¡°No.¡±


    Another woman approached Liam with simr intentions, but his cold stare sent her retreating into the crowd.


    At the bar, a woman with neon pink hair and multiple piercings greeted them with a smile. Her nametag read ¡®Ruby¡¯. By the looks of it, she seemed human, which was a strange sight for a club filled with everything but.


    ¡°What can I get you gentlemen?¡± she asked, leaning forward to show off her cleavage.


    Before either could answer, a pale man with unnaturally sharp canines slid onto the stool beside them.


    ¡°The usual, Ruby,¡± he said, his voice carrying a thick ent.


    Without hesitation, Ruby pulled out a small knife, sliced her forearm, and let her blood flow into a ss. She filled it halfway before pressing a cloth to the cut and sliding the ss to the vampire, who downed it like a shot of liquor.


    Ruby popped a small pill into her mouth and swallowed it dry. Noticing Lucas and Liam¡¯s stares, she smiled.


    ¡°Blood replenishing pill,¡± she exined. ¡°Keeps us donors healthy.¡± Her gaze turned flirtatious as she looked them up and down. ¡°I offer other services too for good-looking folk, if you¡¯re interested. Private rooms in the back.¡±


    Liam¡¯s face showed disgust, but Lucas remained impassive.


    Lucas stated tly, ignoring her advances, ¡°I need to speak with the owner of this ce.¡±

 Chapter 91: Six Hundred Feet Under

    <h4>Chapter 91: Chapter 91: Six Hundred Feet Under</h4>


    Third POV


    Rubyughed, the sound surprisingly melodic in the pounding bass of the nightclub. She tossed her neon pink hair over her shoulder and leaned closer to Lucas,pletely unfazed by his cold demeanor.


    ¡°No can do, handsome,¡± she said, wiping down the bar with a cloth. ¡°Not anyone can just stroll in and demand to see the boss.¡± She smirked. ¡°Even for the famed triplet Alphas.¡±


    Lucas¡¯s jaw tightened. He¡¯d expected resistance, but time was running short. Every minute wasted here was another minute Hazel remained missing. They needed to know if The Dark Hour knew anything about Hazel¡¯s disappearance.


    Liam stepped forward, his normally friendly face hardened with determination. ¡°What needs to be done to see him?¡±


    Ruby¡¯s eyes lit up at the challenge. She licked her lips slowly and deliberately, her gaze traveling from Liam¡¯s face down to his chest.


    ¡°Well, if you entertain me and give me a fun time...¡± she purred, running a finger along Liam¡¯s arm, ¡°maybe I can consider putting in a good word.¡±


    Liam caught her wrist, his grip firm but not painful. He smiled¡ªa dangerous smile that didn¡¯t reach his eyes.


    ¡°Let me make this clear,¡± he said, voice low enough that only Ruby and Lucas could hear. ¡°Our mate is missing, and we have reason to believe your boss might have information we need. So either you help us, or¡ª¡±


    ¡°Or what?¡± Ruby challenged, not pulling away. ¡°You¡¯ll mess with me? Trust me, wolf boy, you mess with me, you mess with everyone in this club.¡±


    As if on cue, Lucas noticed several sets of eyes turning in their direction¡ªvampires at the end of the bar, a group of werewolves by the stairs, and what appeared to be a witch watching them from near the DJ booth. The air in the club suddenly felt charged with tension.


    ¡°We¡¯re not looking for trouble,¡± Lucas said evenly, cing a hand on his brother¡¯s shoulder. ¡°But this is urgent. What else can be done to gain an audience?¡±


    Ruby opened her mouth to retort when a tall man in ck clothing approached and whispered something in her ear. His eyes never left Lucas and Liam as he spoke.


    After the man retreated into the shadows, Ruby rolled her eyes dramatically and let out an exasperated sigh.


    ¡°Well, well. Looks like it¡¯s your lucky day, boys,¡± she said, reaching under the bar. ¡°The boss asked for you specifically.¡±


    Lucas and Liam exchanged wary nces.


    ¡°Follow me,¡± Ruby said, lifting a section of the bar to step out. ¡°And try to keep up.¡±


    She led them past the dance floor toward a door marked ¡®Staff Only¡¯ at the back of the club. The hallway beyond was dimly lit and lined with doors. They were probably the private rooms Ruby mentioned, Lucas assumed, for transactions he¡¯d rather not think about.


    At the end of the hall, Ruby pushed open a final door that opened into what appeared to be a standard staff break room. A beaten couch sat against one wall, and a small table with folding chairs upied the center of the room.


    ¡°Is this some kind of joke?¡± Liam asked, impatience edging into his voice.


    Ruby ignored him, walking to the corner of the room. With a swift movement, she pulled aside a worn area rug to reveal a metal trapdoor set into the concrete floor.


    ¡°Down there,¡± she said, pulling on the heavy ring handle to lift the door. ¡°The boss is waiting.¡±


    Lucas peered down into darkness. A set of metal stairs descended into what seemed like an endless ck void.


    Liam crossed his arms. ¡°How do we know this isn¡¯t a trap?¡±


    Rubyughed again, the sound bouncing off the concrete walls. ¡°I¡¯m sure big, strong Alphas such as yourselves wouldn¡¯t be too troubled by a little rock on the road.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll take our chances,¡± Lucas said, moving to the stairs.


    ¡°Have fun,¡± Ruby called after them as they began their descent.


    The trapdoor closed above them with a heavy thud, plunging them into darkness broken only by dim emergency lights along the wall. The staircase seemed to go on forever, spiraling down into the earth.


    ¡°I don¡¯t like this,¡± Liam muttered, his voice echoing slightly. ¡°We¡¯re too vulnerable here.¡±


    Lucas nodded grimly. ¡°But if there¡¯s even a chance this guy knows where Hazel is...¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Liam said. ¡°I¡¯d walk through hellfire to find her.¡±


    As they continued downward, a distant sound began to reach their ears. It sounded like cheering, shouting, and the unmistakable rhythm of fight music. The further they descended, the louder it grew.


    Finally, the stairs ended at a long, dark tunnel. The brothers walked side by side, following the sounds growing ever louder. At the far end, they could see a bright light.


    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen!¡± boomed a voice from beyond the light. ¡°ce your final bets! The match begins in five minutes!¡±


    The crowd roared in response, the sound reverberating through the tunnel.


    Lucas and Liam emerged from the tunnel and stopped dead in their tracks.


    Before them stretched an enormous underground stadium. A fighting pit sunk into the center of the floor, surrounded by tiered seating that rose up on all sides. Hundreds of spectators¡ªwerewolves, vampires, witches, and even humans¡ªfilled the seats, their excited voices deafening.


    ¡°This is impossible,¡± Liam breathed, looking up at the cavernous ceiling. ¡°We must be hundreds of feet underground. No wonder the noise doesn¡¯t reach the surface.¡±


    Lucas wasn¡¯t listening. His attention had been caught by a luxury box overlooking the arena. Behind the ss, an older man in an expensive suit stood watching the crowd, a drink in his hand. As if sensing their gaze, the man turned and looked directly at them, raising his ss in a mocking toast.


    ¡°That¡¯s him,¡± Lucas said. ¡°That¡¯s got to be the owner.¡±


    Liam nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s find a way up there.¡±


    They began moving along the perimeter of the arena, searching for stairs or an elevator that might lead to the box. But at each ess point, they found burly guards blocking their way.


    ¡°No entry without clearance,¡± one grunted when Lucas attempted to pass.


    After their third rejection, a thin man with slicked-back hair approached them. ¡°You boys looking to meet the big man?¡± he asked, voice oily with false friendship.


    ¡°What¡¯s it to you?¡± Liam asked.


    The man grinned, revealing gold-capped teeth. ¡°I couldn¡¯t help but overhear. There¡¯s only one way to get face time with the boss¡ªyou gotta fight.¡±


    Lucas narrowed his eyes. ¡°Fight?¡±


    ¡°In the pit,¡± the man rified, gesturing toward the center arena where two werewolves were currently circling each other. ¡°Winner gets to dine with the boss in his private box. That¡¯s your only shot at seeing him tonight.¡±


    Lucas and Liam exchanged a long look before Liam turned back to face the man.


    ¡°So,¡± he said, ¡°where do we sign up?¡±

 Chapter 92: Not Fated

    <h4>Chapter 92: Chapter 92: Not Fated</h4>


    Hazel¡¯s POV


    The door nged shut behind me as I took in my new surroundings.


    The room was significantlyrger than my previous cell¡ªcleaner too, with whitewashed walls and a smooth concrete floor. A single bed with actual sheets and a pillow sat against one wall. Across from it stood a small bathroom area without doors, offering zero privacy. A foldable table and chairpleted the sparse furnishings.


    No windows. Nothing I could use as a weapon. Butpared to before, this was practically luxury.


    To my surprise, one of the guards stepped forward and unlocked my chains. The heavy silver cuffs fell away, and I rubbed my raw wrists, watching them carefully.


    ¡°Don¡¯t try anything,¡± the taller guard warned. ¡°This room is monitored at all times.¡±


    I nced down, rubbing my wrists. They were red, and some parts of the skin had already started to tear. But in doing so, my eyes fell upon the guards¡¯ hands.


    They weren¡¯t wearing gloves while handling the silver chains.


    Any werewolf would have severe burns from such prolonged contact. The realization sent a chill down my spine.


    ¡°You¡¯re not werewolves,¡± I said quietly.


    The guards exchanged nces but said nothing before leaving, the heavy lock engaging with a final click.


    My body still ached from the prolonged contact with silver, and my head swam with dizziness. I stumbled to the bed and sank down, curling onto my side. The clean sheets smelled of industrial detergent¡ªnotforting, but better than the filth of my previous cell.


    I closed my eyes, thoughts immediately drifting to my mates. Lucas, Liam, and Levi. Did they know I was gone? Were they looking for me? The memory of our fight twisted like a knife in my gut.


    Maybe they thought I ran away.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I whispered to the empty room. ¡°I should have listened. I should have¡ª¡±


    The door suddenly swung open, and I bolted upright, heart hammering.


    Cassandra stood in the doorway, her tinum blonde hair gleaming under the fluorescent lights. She stepped inside and locked the door behind her, a first aid kit clutched in her pale hands.


    I drew my knees to my chest, eyeing her warily. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    Her blue eyes assessed me calmly. ¡°You¡¯re injured. May I?¡± She gestured to the bite mark on my arm, visible where my sleeve had ridden up.


    When I didn¡¯t respond, she approached slowly, like I was a frightened animal.


    ¡°I won¡¯t hurt you.¡±


    ¡°Toote for that,¡± I muttered, but I extended my arm nevertheless.


    She set the first aid kit on the bed and opened it, taking out antiseptic and bandages. Her touch was cool as she cleaned the wound.


    ¡°What is this ce?¡± I asked. ¡°Why am I here?¡±


    Cassandra¡¯s movements remained methodical, focused. ¡°I can¡¯t tell you much, but you¡¯re safe here. No one will harm you if you cooperate.¡±


    ¡°Cooperate with what?¡± I demanded. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be here. I want to be with my mates.¡±


    Her fingers paused momentarily before continuing to wrap the bandage around my arm.


    ¡°It¡¯s best if you forget about the Sullivan triplets,¡± Cassandra said. ¡°If you don¡¯t fight this, you¡¯ll be treated well. That¡¯s all I can say.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re my mates!¡± I said. ¡°How can I possibly forget them?¡±


    I stared at her, searching for any hint of the girl who had seemed so sweet and shy the first time Callum introduced us.


    ¡°You must understand how I feel,¡± I said carefully. ¡°Surely you¡¯d feel the same if someone took you away from Callum.¡±


    Her entire body went rigid. Her eyes met mine briefly, then dropped back to the first aid kit. She began packing it up with quick, jerky movements.


    ¡°Cassandra?¡± I pressed. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    She didn¡¯t answer, snapping the kit shut with more force than necessary.


    That¡¯s when I spotted it¡ªa brand on her arm, partially visible beneath her sleeve as she moved. A wolf howling at the sun. That must¡¯ve been the image I caught thest time at the restaurant.


    Cassandra must¡¯ve noticed I stared a little too long at the symbol, because she quickly tugged her sleeve down, her face expressionless.


    ¡°What did Annie mean just now?¡± I slowly asked. ¡°She said the whole mate thing you have with Callum is fake. What¡¯s that all about?¡±


    She kept her lips pursed.


    ¡°What?¡± I continued to press. ¡°So are you actually faking it the whole time? Do you have him drugged or under some sort of spell?¡±


    Her silence was answer enough.


    Looks like my gut feeling had been right after all. When we first met, there was just something off about Cassandra, but I could never put my finger on it.


    Turns out I was right. There was something wrong with her. Only, I had never thought that it would¡¯ve been this.


    ¡°How could you do that to him?¡± My voice cracked with anger. ¡°He loves you. He thinks you¡¯re his mate!¡±


    Cassandra stood, clutching the first aid kit against her chest. ¡°You don¡¯t understand.¡±


    ¡°Then exin it to me!¡± I demanded. ¡°What are you doing with Callum? Is this all part of some n to get to me? Did you hurt him?¡±


    ¡°I never meant to hurt him!¡± she snapped, a sh of real emotion breaking through her calm facade. ¡°I was assigned to him because of your connection, yes, but¡ª¡±


    She stopped herself, biting down on her bottom lip before she turned toward the door.


    ¡°Cassandra, wait!¡± I jumped up, grabbing her arm. ¡°Please, tell me what¡¯s going on. You owe me that much.¡±


    She yanked her arm away. ¡°I don¡¯t owe you anything.¡±


    ¡°You brought me here against my will!¡± I snapped back. ¡°The least you could do was tell me why!¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t bring you here,¡± Cassandra hissed. ¡°Annie and the others did.¡± Then, she shook her head and exhaled heavily. ¡°Forget it. I shouldn¡¯t havee. Leo¡¯s gonna kill me.¡±


    I ignored her muttering.


    ¡°Who is Leo, then? Why do you care so much about what he thinks? What about Callum?¡± I demanded. ¡°How could you possibly not be his real mate if he felt the pull of the fated bond¡ª¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you get it?¡± she burst out. ¡°There is no way a vampire can be a werewolf¡¯s fated mate!¡±


    The words hung in the air between us. My mouth fell open in shock.


    Cassandra¡¯s eyes widened in horror at her own admission. She took a step back, hand flying to her mouth.


    ¡°What... are you...¡± I breathed out. I staggered back, my eyebrows scrunched tightly together in confusion. ¡°Are you... Are you saying you¡¯re a... vampire?¡±

 Chapter 93: Underground Fight

    <h4>Chapter 93: Chapter 93: Underground Fight</h4>


    Third POV


    The underground arena of The Dark Hour pulsed with energy as spectators roared and ced their final bets. The fighting pit at the center was being prepared for the next match.


    Lucas and Liam stood at the edge of the ring, speaking in low tones as they assessed their opponent. A tall, lean vampire with jet-ck hair paced the opposite side, his fangs partially extended in anticipation. He was surrounded by a few friends of his own, each of them egging him on as he looked at them tauntingly.


    ¡°Remember,¡± Lucas said, keeping his voice steady despite the concern gnawing at his insides, ¡°vampires are quick, but their movements are predictable once you learn their patterns.¡±


    Strong as they were, werewolves hardly crossed paths with vampires. They each had their own territories, and hardly ever mingled be it for better or for worse. As a result, Liam did not have practicalbat experience against them.


    But that didn¡¯t mean he was about to lose to a mere vampire.


    Liam nodded, rolling his shoulders to loosen them. ¡°I¡¯ve got this. You focus on finding a way to that office once I win.¡±


    Lucas¡¯s phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out to see Levi¡¯s message.


    ¡®It¡¯s Annie.¡¯


    ¡°What is it?¡± Liam asked.


    ¡°Annie¡¯s most likely the one who took Hazel,¡± Lucas muttered, showing Liam the message. ¡°Levi¡¯s tracking her down. Samuel¡¯s under interrogation right now, along with his mate.¡±


    Liam¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°When I get my hands on her¡ª¡±


    ¡°Later,¡± Lucas cut in. ¡°One problem at a time.¡±


    The host¡¯s voice boomed over the speakers,manding the attention of the crowd.


    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, supernatural beings of all kinds!¡± he called out, his voice dripping with theatrical enthusiasm. ¡°Our next fight promises blood, sweat, and possibly tears!¡±


    The crowd responded with a deafening cheer.


    ¡°In the red corner, representing the nightwalkers, Felix ¡®The Fang¡¯ Romano!¡±


    The vampire raised his arms, basking in the mix of cheers and boos.


    ¡°And in the blue corner, a new challenger¡ªone-third of the infamous Sullivan triplets, Alpha Liam Sullivan of the Emberfang Pack!¡±


    A mixture of surprised gasps and excited shouts rippled through the audience. It wasn¡¯t everyday an Alpha of a werewolf pack would participate. They always had more important business to handle, and if one were to find this fight club, they might even try to snuff it out.


    ¡°The rules are simple,¡± the host continued. ¡°You lose if you¡¯re knocked out or knocked off the stage. Everything else¡ª¡± he paused dramatically, ¡°¡ªEVERYTHING else is allowed! Use any means necessary to win. Kill if you must!¡±


    Lucas gave his brother a supportive pat on the back before stepping away from the ring. ¡°End this fight quickly.¡±


    Liam stepped forward into the ring, his green eyes never leaving his opponent. The vampire sneered, exposing razor-sharp fangs as he settled into a fighting stance.


    The host raised his hand, the crowd falling into an expectant hush.


    ¡°Let the match begin!¡±


    The vampire didn¡¯t waste any time. He lunged forward with supernatural speed, his movement almost a blur to the untrained eye. But Liam was ready. He sidestepped at thest possible moment, causing Felix to miss his target by mere inches.


    The crowd roared as the two opponents circled each other, sizing each other up. Felix¡¯s eyes gleamed with predatory intensity, while Liam maintained a deceptively rxed posture.


    ¡°Heard you¡¯re looking for someone,¡± Felix taunted, his voice a silky hiss. ¡°Must be pretty desperate toe here.¡±


    Liam¡¯s jaw tightened but he kept hisposure. ¡°You can say that,¡± he replied coolly.


    Felix charged again, this time feinting left before striking right. His fist connected with Liam¡¯s jaw, sending the werewolf staggering back a step. The vampire grinned, clearly pleased with himself.


    Blood dripped from the corner of Liam¡¯s mouth. He wiped it away with the back of his hand, his eyes darkening with focus rather than rage. This wasn¡¯t the time to let emotions take over.


    From the sidelines, Lucas watched intently, analyzing the fight while scanning the room for any path to the upper levels. He spotted a guarded staircase leading up to what appeared to be private boxes.


    Back in the ring, Felix had settled into a rhythm¡ªattack, retreat, circle, repeat. Each time, he moved with the same predictable pattern, though his supernatural speed made it difficult for Liam to counter effectively. Vampires were much more agile than werewolves.


    But unfortunately for vampires, werewolves were much stronger.


    Liam absorbed several more blows, bidding his time, studying his opponent. Felix was a good fighter, but he was also arrogant. He had the bad habit of hinting what his next move would be, and eventually, Liam realized that he wasn¡¯t purposely showing it just to trick his opponents.


    After taking a particrly hard hit to the ribs, Liam decided he¡¯d learned enough.


    As Felix circled back for another attack, Liam anticipated the vampire¡¯s movement perfectly. Just as Felix lunged, Liam dropped low and swept his leg in a powerful arc, catching the vampire mid-stride.


    Felix tumbled and mmed on the floor, causing the crowd to gasp. But he recovered quickly, springing back to his feet with a snarl. ¡°Lucky shot, mutt.¡±


    The crowd¡¯s excitement grew, sensing the shift in momentum. Many who had bet on the vampire now looked worried.


    Liam remained silent, focused entirely on the fight. When Felix charged again, Liam dodged the initial strike and countered with a powerful uppercut that sent the vampire reeling backward.


    Blood sttered across the arena floor. Felix realized his pattern wasn¡¯t working anymore. He switched tactics, bing more erratic in his movements, trying to throw Liam off.


    But Liam had found his rhythm now. He matched the vampire blow for blow, gradually gaining the upper hand. The crowd sensed it too, their cheers growing louder with each sessful strike from the werewolf.


    ¡°Finish him!¡± someone shouted from the audience.


    Felix, growing desperate, reached into his boot and pulled out a small de. It glinted under the arena lights. The crowd gasped then cheered even louder at this development as Liam scowled.


    Silver.


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Felix sneered. ¡°Let¡¯s make this interesting.¡±


    Liam eyed the de warily but didn¡¯t back down. When Felix lunged with the knife, Liam growled.


    In an instant, skin turned into fur, and his body shifted. The crowd gasped as the humanpetitor was suddenly reced by a massive ck wolf with glowing gold eyes.


    The transformation had been so quick that Felix hadn¡¯t adjusted his trajectory. He stumbled forward, off-bnce, as his target disappeared. Before he could recover, powerful jaws mped around his knife-wielding arm.


    Felix let out an inhuman screech as Liam¡¯s teeth sank deep. The silver knife ttered to the ground. With a swerve, Liam threw the vampire across the ring, sending him crashing through the ropes and out of the arena.


    ¡°That¡¯s it!¡± the host called out excitedly. ¡°The winner¡ªAlpha Liam Sullivan of the Emberfang Pack!¡±


    The crowd erupted in cheers and boos. Liam stepped back, exhaling deeply as his eyes scanned the crowd. When he raised his gaze, he met the old man¡¯s eyes from the luxury box. He stared down at Liam for a few seconds before turning away.


    A yell suddenly came from behind. ¡°You were just lucky!¡±

 Chapter 94: Percival Hunt

    <h4>Chapter 94: Chapter 94: Percival Hunt</h4>


    Felix had recovered faster than anyone thought. He jumped up the stage, snarling as he brandished his silver weapon. Off the stage, Lucas¡¯s eyes widened.


    ¡°Liam!¡±


    Instantly, Liam swiveled back. His jaws mped down on Felix¡¯s hand as the vampire screeched in pain. Then, with a sharp yank of his head, Felix¡¯s arm was torn clean off.


    Felix screamed, copsing to his knees as ck blood spurted from the wound. His severed arm fell to the ground, the sleeve of his jacket tearing away to reveal a distinctive mark on the pale flesh.


    A wolf howling at the sun.


    Liam¡¯s eyes narrowed at the symbol, recognizing it instantly from their encounters with the kidnapper and Esther. Before he could question Felix about it, several security guards rushed down to the arena floor. Lucas hurried over as well.


    ¡°He tastes disgusting,¡± Liam said as he shifted back, wiping the blood off his lips.


    They watched as Felix reached for his arm and attached it back, groaning in agony the entire time. His flesh quickly reattached the wound, and he moved his shoulder, testing the limb. Once he was sure it was working properly, he red at Liam.


    ¡°You son of a bitch¡ª¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± one of them barked, stepping between Liam and Felix.


    ¡°The boss wants to see you two.¡± He pointed at Lucas and Liam. ¡°Alphas, this way please.¡±


    The two brothers shared a look. Liam had only won one fight. That was far from being the champion of tonight. However, they chose not to question it.


    ¡°You okay?¡± Lucas asked his brother.


    Liam nodded. ¡°The fight was easier than I thought.¡±


    Hearing him, Felix turned back and red at him, though he didn¡¯t daree over.


    ¡°I know,¡± Lucas said, resisting the urge to smirk. ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s go get some answers.¡±


    The guards led them away from the fighting pit, through a maze of hallways filled with gamblers and spectators. Most of them were loudly discussing the results of the match, and when Liam and Lucas walked past, they cast a curious nce at the two men.


    ¡°This way,¡± one of the guards said, gesturing toward a private elevator.


    The doors opened to reveal a plush interior with gold ents. As they ascended, Lucas exchanged a nce with his brother. Whatever waited for them upstairs could be a trap, but they had no choice. They needed information about Hazel, and this seemed their best lead.


    When the elevator doors opened, they were met with another set of guards who led them down a short hallway. The sounds from the arena were muffled here, reced by soft jazz ying from hidden speakers.


    ¡°Through here,¡± the guard said, opening a set of double doors.


    The luxury box was more grand than they¡¯d expected. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the fighting pit below, giving a perfect view of the action. Inside, a private bar lined one wall, stocked with bottles that would cost most people a month¡¯s sry each. Plush leather couches were arranged around a central coffee table, and in the corner sat a gleaming pool table.


    A man sat with his back to them, smoke from his cigar creating a hazy cloud above his head. He didn¡¯t turn when they entered.


    ¡°The Sullivan brothers, as requested, sir,¡± announced the guard.


    ¡°Leave us,¡± the man said, his voice deep andmanding.


    Once the guards had filed out and closed the doors behind them, the man pressed a button on a remote control. The windows overlooking the arena instantly tinted, providingplete privacy.


    Only then did he turn to face them.


    He was old, perhaps seventy, with pure white hair slicked back from a weathered face. Despite his age, he carried himself with the power and confidence of someone half his years. His tailored suit looked expensive, and several heavy rings adorned his fingers. He looked like an old mafia boss from the movies.


    ¡°Please, sit,¡± he said, gesturing to the couches across from him.


    ¡°We prefer to stand,¡± Lucas replied coolly.


    The man chuckled. ¡°Suit yourselves. I¡¯m Percival.¡± He tapped his cigar on a crystal ashtray. ¡°What brings the Alphas of the Emberfang Pack to my humble establishment?¡±


    Lucas kept his expression neutral. ¡°We heard The Dark Hour has information to offer.¡±


    ¡°Information is a valuablemodity,¡± Percival said, taking another pull from his cigar. ¡°What specifically are you looking for?¡±


    ¡°We want to know about two things,¡± Liam cut in. ¡°First, do you know Angeline Bailey? She was said to frequent The Dark Hour years ago.¡±


    At the mention of the name, something flickered in the old man¡¯s eyes, but it was gone in a sh.


    ¡°And second,¡± Lucas continued, ¡°what does this symbol mean?¡± He described the mark they¡¯d seen on Felix¡¯s arm¡ªthe wolf howling at the sun. ¡°We¡¯ve encountered it multiple times recently.¡±


    Percival stiffened, the cigar halfway to his lips. For a moment, the only sound in the room was the faint jazz music and the distant cheers from the arena below. A new match had started.


    He set the cigar down carefully, as if buying himself time.


    ¡°You¡¯ve stumbled onto something quite dangerous,¡± he finally said, his voice lower now. ¡°That symbol belongs to a group called Vox Solis.¡±


    Lucas and Liam exchanged nces.


    ¡°What is the Vox Solis?¡± Lucas pressed.


    Percival leaned back, steepling his fingers. ¡°They¡¯re a cult, though they¡¯d call themselves scientists and visionaries. They believe our kind¡ªwerewolves, vampires, all supernaturals¡ªshould control our own destinies rather than be ves to the whims of fate.¡±


    ¡°Meaning?¡± Liam asked.


    ¡°Meaning they despise the concept of fated mates,¡± Percival exined. ¡°They¡¯ve been working for decades to find ways to break mate bonds and create new ones artificially.¡±


    Lucas felt his blood run cold. If this cult targeted mate bonds, and they were somehow involved with Hazel¡¯s kidnapping...


    ¡°How do they do it? Break mate bonds?¡± Lucas asked, trying to keep his voice steady.


    ¡°Various methods,¡± Percival said. ¡°Some traditional¡ªseparation, psychological maniption. Others more... scientific. They¡¯ve recruited members from all walks of life¡ªwerewolves, vampires, humans with knowledge of our world, even fae. Anyone who can contribute to their cause.¡±


    ¡°And they¡¯re involved with Angeline Bailey?¡± Liam pressed.


    Percival¡¯s eyes hardened. He stood up slowly, walking to the bar where he poured himself a drink. The brothers watched him warily, tensed for any sign of threat.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t answer our first question,¡± Lucas reminded him. ¡°Do you know Angeline Bailey?¡±


    Percival took a long sip of his drink before turning to face them fully.


    ¡°Yes,¡± he said finally. ¡°I know her.¡±


    He set down his ss with a soft clink.


    ¡°Angeline Bailey was my daughter.¡±

 Chapter 95: Missing Granddaughter

    <h4>Chapter 95: Chapter 95: Missing Granddaughter</h4>


    Lucas felt his world tilt. Beside him, Liam wentpletely still, his face draining of color.


    ¡°Your daughter?¡± Lucas managed, his voice barely above a whisper.


    They should¡¯ve guessed. Percival¡¯s eyes were the same color as Hazel¡¯s. They could even see some other subtle facial simrities.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Angeline Bailey was my daughter. Which means...¡± He paused, taking another sip of his drink. ¡°You two are asking about my dead child.¡±


    ¡°Dead?¡± Liam stepped forward, his hands clenching into fists. ¡°You¡¯re sure she¡¯s dead?¡±


    ¡°Of course I¡¯m sure.¡± Percival¡¯s voice turned sharp, pain flickering across his weathered features. ¡°What kind of father do you think I am to not know when my daughter dies?¡±


    Lucas exchanged a nce with his brother. Their research had suggested Angeline and David Bailey were dead, but hearing it confirmed by her own father made it real in a way that twisted something deep in his chest.


    ¡°How?¡± Lucas asked quietly.


    Percival walked back to his chair, settling into it heavily. For the first time since they¡¯d met him, he looked every one of his seventy years.


    ¡°They were hunted,¡± he said simply. ¡°Werewolf hunters got them in the end.¡±


    ¡°Hunters?¡± Liam frowned. ¡°But we heard they were addicts.¡±


    ¡°We thought they would¡¯ve died from an overdose or from debts.¡±


    A bitterugh escaped Percival¡¯s lips. ¡°Is that the story that¡¯s been spreading? Typical.¡± He shook his head. ¡°Angeline and David weren¡¯t major addicts. They experimented in their youth. What young werewolf doesn¡¯t? But they were clean when they died.¡±


    ¡°Then why¡ª¡±


    ¡°Because someone needed scapegoats,¡± Percival cut him off. His eyes hardened. ¡°One of their so-called friends had been conducting illegal experiments on humans. When she got caught, she needed someone to take the fall. Angeline and David were convenient targets.¡±


    Lucas felt sick. ¡°So they were framed?¡±


    ¡°Framed, hunted, and eventually killed for crimes they didn¡¯tmit.¡± Percival¡¯s knuckles were white around his ss. ¡°The hunters tracked them down based on false information. My daughter died because her friend was a coward.¡±


    The room fell silent except for the muffled sounds from the arena below. Lucas tried to process what this meant for Hazel. Her parents hadn¡¯t been the worthless addicts everyone believed them to be. They¡¯d been victims.


    ¡°Who was the friend?¡± Liam asked. ¡°The one who framed them?¡±


    Percival¡¯s smile was cold. ¡°She went into hiding shortly after the hunters started looking for Angeline and David, just in case the fire rained on her. I believe she¡¯s very near the Emberfang grounds.¡±


    Before either brother could ask more, Percival continued.


    ¡°Angeline and David came to see me shortly before they disappeared. They were terrified. They knew dangerous people were after them. They begged me to take care of their daughter.¡±


    Lucas¡¯s heart stopped. ¡°Their daughter?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Percival¡¯s expression softened slightly. ¡°My granddaughter. They brought her to me for protection, said they needed to draw their pursuers away from her. I agreed, of course. She was just a baby then.¡±


    ¡°A baby?¡± Liam¡¯s voice was strained. ¡°How old would she be now?¡±


    ¡°Eighteen, just turned. Same age as your generation, I believe.¡±


    That would match with Hazel¡¯s age.


    Lucas immediately frowned. Something wasn¡¯t adding up.


    ¡°Where is she now?¡± Lucas demanded, stepping closer to Percival¡¯s chair.


    The old man¡¯s face fell. ¡°That¡¯s the tragedy of it all. I raised her for twelve years, watched her grow into a beautiful young woman. But then the pack that we were living in was attacked six years ago. In the chaos, I lost track of her. I haven¡¯t seen my granddaughter since.¡±


    ¡°Which pack?¡±


    ¡°The Eclipse Pack,¡± Percival answered.


    ¡°The Eclipse Pack?¡± Liam repeated. ¡°You were part of the Eclipse Pack?¡±


    ¡°Not officially. I lived on the outskirts, kept to myself mostly. But when rogues attacked the pack, everything fell apart. People scattered. I¡¯ve been searching for her ever since, using every contact I have, every resource at The Dark Hour¡¯s disposal. But she¡¯s vanished without a trace.¡±


    Lucas¡¯s mind was racing. The timeline didn¡¯t make sense. They had grown up with Hazel, long before she even turned twelve. She¡¯d never lived with Percival and had never been part of the Eclipse Pack.


    ¡°What did she look like?¡± Lucas asked carefully. ¡°Your granddaughter?¡±


    ¡°Beautiful. Blonde hair, hazel eyes. She looked just like her mother when she was younger.¡± Percival smiled sadly. ¡°She was spirited, brave. Even as a child, she never let anyone push her around.¡±


    Liam shot Lucas a look. The description could fit Hazel, but the timeline was all wrong.


    ¡°You said you haven¡¯t been able to find any trace of her?¡± Lucas pressed.


    ¡°None. It¡¯s like she disappeared off the face of the earth after the attack. I¡¯ve had my people searching neighboring packs, checking rogue territories, following up on every lead. Nothing.¡± Percival¡¯s voice turned bitter. ¡°The one person I should have been able to protect, and I failed herpletely.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯re still running The Dark Hour,¡± Liam realized. ¡°For the informationwork.¡±


    ¡°Among other reasons, yes. I¡¯ve operated The Dark Hour for years before that. Information is power, and power is what I need to find her. Every day she¡¯s missing is another day she could be in danger, or¡ª¡± He stopped himself, jaw clenching.


    Lucas felt a strange mixture of sympathy and confusion. This man had clearly loved his granddaughter, and had spent years searching for her. But something about his story didn¡¯t add up with what they knew about Hazel¡¯s past.


    ¡°You mentioned the Vox Solis earlier,¡± Lucas said, changing tactics. ¡°Do you think they could be involved in your granddaughter¡¯s disappearance?¡±


    Percival¡¯s expression darkened immediately.


    ¡°I¡¯ve considered it. The timing of the Eclipse Pack attack was suspicious. And the Vox Solis has shown interest in young werewolves before, especially those from powerful bloodlines.¡±


    ¡°Powerful bloodlines?¡±


    ¡°Angeline¡¯s bloodline, my bloodline, goes back generations. We¡¯ve always been strong, our wolvesrger and more dominant than most. If the Vox Solis wanted test subjects for their mate bond experiments, my granddaughter would be an ideal candidate.¡±


    Lucas felt ice in his veins. ¡°We need to tell you something. The reason we¡¯re here, asking about the Vox Solis, is because they¡¯ve taken our mate.¡±


    Percival sat up straighter. ¡°Your mate?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s Angeline Bailey¡¯s daughter,¡± Liam said. ¡°The Vox Solis attempted to kidnap her. We managed to fight them off once, but they took her a few days ago.¡±


    For a moment, Percival looked stunned. Then his eyes lit up with something between hope and desperation.


    ¡°My granddaughter is alive?¡± he breathed. ¡°Where is she? How long have you known her?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what we¡¯re trying to find out,¡± Lucas said. ¡°We need to know where the Vox Solis might¡¯ve taken her.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡± Percival stood up, suddenly energized. ¡°I can attempt to find them, but they¡¯re a bunch of snakes. Difficult to catch. They have hideouts scattered across multiple territories and they don¡¯t stay in one ce for too long.¡±


    ¡°Anything you can do would help,¡± Liam said. ¡°We¡¯re running out of leads.¡±


    Percival nodded, already moving toward his desk where he pulled out a phone. ¡°I¡¯ll mobilize every contact I have. The Vox Solis might be slippery, but they¡¯re not invisible.¡±


    He paused, looking back at them with curiosity and something that might have been paternal protectiveness.


    ¡°How did you meet Helena?¡± he asked. ¡°How is she? What kind of woman has she grown into?¡±


    Lucas frowned, sharing a look with Liam, who looked equally confused. ¡°Who is Helena?¡±

 Chapter 96: Blood Sample

    <h4>Chapter 96: Chapter 96: Blood Sample</h4>


    Hazel¡¯s POV


    I jolted awake at the sound of the door creaking open. My muscles tensed as Leo strode in, followed by three people in whiteb coats.


    "Good morning, sweetheart," Leo said, his tone casual as if this were a normal wake-up call. Despite the nickname, there was no affection in his tone. "Sleep well?"


    I scrambled backward on the bed until my spine hit the headboard.


    "What¡¯s going on?" I croaked. "Who are they?"


    The strangers stood silently behind Leo. Their expressions were clinical, detached. The woman carried a small case that she set down on the bedside table.


    "Nothing to worry about," Leo said, but his eyes told a different story. "We just need a small sample from you."


    "A sample of what?" I pulled the nket tighter around me.


    Instead of answering, Leo nodded to the woman. She opened her case, revealing several vials and a syringe. My stomach dropped.


    "I¡¯m not giving you my blood," I said, my voice stronger than I felt.


    Leo¡¯s expression hardened. "This can go two ways, Hazel. Easy or hard. Your choice."


    The male doctors moved closer. One of them looked at Leo.


    "We need at least three vials for the preliminary tests."


    "Tests for what?" I demanded.


    "Take what you need," Leo told them,pletely ignoring my question.


    When the woman approached with the syringe, I tried to scramble away, but Leo was faster. He caught my arm, his grip firm but not bruising.


    "Don¡¯t make this difficult," he warned, his face inches from mine.


    "Let go of me!" I struggled against him, but it was useless. The other two doctors came forward, holding me in ce while the woman swabbed the crook of my elbow with alcohol.


    "The subject is disying expected resistance," the woman remarked dispassionately. "Heart rate elevated, stress hormones likely peaking."


    "I¡¯m not your ¡¯subject¡¯!" I snapped.


    The needle pierced my skin. I winced, watching helplessly as my blood filled the first vial.


    "Might not want to move too much," Leo warned. "No one can help you if that needle breaks in your arm."


    I gritted my teeth at his warning.


    "Healthy flow," the womanmented. "Good vein ess."


    They spoke about me as if I wasn¡¯t here listening. The woman connected a second vial, then a third. The room started to feel a little warm. Maybe it was my imagination, but the ceiling seemed to spin.


    "What are you doing with my blood?" I asked again, my voice smaller now.


    Leo watched with narrowed eyes. "Ensuringpatibility."


    "Compatibility for what?"


    He didn¡¯t answer.


    When they finished, the woman ced a cotton ball over the puncture site and applied a bandage. "All done. We¡¯ll begin processing immediately."


    Leo nodded. "How long until we know?"


    "Preliminary results by this evening," one of the men replied. "Full analysis will take longer."


    "Make it quick," Leo ordered. "Time isn¡¯t on our side."


    The doctors packed up their equipment. As they headed toward the door, a sudden wave of nausea hit me. I gagged, my hand flying to my chest.


    The movement caught Leo¡¯s attention. His eyes snapped back to me.


    "Wait outside," he told the others.


    After they left, Leo shut the door and approached the bed. I tried to control my breathing, but the nausea wouldn¡¯t subside.


    He grabbed my chin, forcing me to look up at him. His touch wasn¡¯t gentle, but it wasn¡¯t cruel either. His eyes scanned my face carefully.


    "You don¡¯t look good," he muttered. The back of his hand pressed against my forehead. "No fever."


    For a moment, his touch softened, bing almost tender. The gesture reminded me so much of Liam that my chest ached. Whenever I¡¯d been sick, Liam had always checked on me like this, worried eyes and careful hands.


    It didn¡¯t help that they looked so simr.


    I jerked away from Leo¡¯s touch. "Don¡¯t touch me."


    His expression darkened instantly. Whatever gentleness I¡¯d glimpsed vanished like it had never existed.


    Another wave of nausea hit me, stronger this time. I barely had time to shove past Leo before I was sprinting to the bathroom. I fell to my knees in front of the toilet, heaving up what little was in my stomach. Mostly acid.


    Tears sprang to my eyes from the burn in my throat. I clutched the porcin, trying to catch my breath between spasms.


    To my surprise, Leo followed me. He stood in the doorway, watching with an unreadable expression.


    "Nice act," he finally said, his voice cold. "Being sick won¡¯t change anything."


    I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, too miserable to be insulted. "I¡¯m not acting."


    "Right." His tone dripped with sarcasm. "Convenient timing."


    "What do you want from me?" I asked, my voice raw. "What¡¯s all this for?"


    Leo remained silent, studying me. Even the way he gazed at me looked so much like the triplets¡¯ but carried none of their warmth¡ªat least not the warmth I¡¯d grown ustomed to in recent months.


    "You really don¡¯t know, do you?" he finally said.


    "Know what?"


    He shook his head. "It doesn¡¯t matter. You¡¯ll understand soon enough."


    "The blood," I insisted. "What¡¯s it for?"


    Leo turned to leave. "Rest. You look terrible."


    "Leo!" I called after him. "What are you nning to do?"


    The door closed behind him, leaving my question hanging in the air. I slumped against the bathroom wall, exhausted and confused. What kind of tests were they running? What did he mean by patibility¡¯?


    I rinsed my mouth and sshed cold water on my face. The face that stared back at me in the mirror looked pale and drawn. Dark circles shadowed my eyes, and my hair hung limp around my face.


    My thoughts turned to the triplets. Were they looking for me? Did they even know I was missing yet? An ache settled in my chest at the thought of them.


    Did they even care I was gone?


    I dragged myself back to the bed and curled up, pulling the nket around me. Despite my situation, fatigue pulled at me. I closed my eyes, hoping sleep might offer temporary escape.


    It felt like only minutester when the door opened again. I sat up, blinking away sleep.


    Leo stood in the doorway. Without a word, he tossed something onto the bed. Itnded next to my leg with a soft thump.


    I picked it up, confused at first. Then recognition dawned when my eyesnded on thebel of the packaging.


    It was a pregnancy test!

 Chapter 97: The Test

    <h4>Chapter 97: Chapter 97: The Test</h4>


    ¡°What is this for?¡± I asked, staring at the pregnancy test in my hands.


    Leo raised an eyebrow, his expression mocking. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize your readingprehension was that poor, sweetheart.¡±


    ¡°I know what it is,¡± I snapped, heat rising to my cheeks. ¡°I¡¯m asking why you¡¯re giving it to me.¡±


    ¡°Why do you think?¡± Leo leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed over his chest. The casual pose couldn¡¯t hide the tension in his shoulders. ¡°To see if you¡¯re pregnant.¡±


    I tossed the box onto the bed. ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous. I¡¯m not pregnant.¡±


    ¡°Really? After all that unprotected fun with your three mates?¡± His lips curved into a cold smile. ¡°Better safe than sorry.¡±


    My face burned hotter. ¡°That¡¯s none of your business.¡±


    ¡°Everything about you is my business now, Hazel.¡± Leo pushed off the door and walked closer, making me instinctively back up. ¡°Take the test.¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    His eyes narrowed. ¡°Don¡¯t be difficult.¡±


    ¡°Why does it even matter?¡± I challenged. ¡°What difference does it make to you?¡±


    Leo¡¯s jaw clenched. ¡°It matters because I need to know exactly what I¡¯m working with. Pregnant or not pregnant¡ªsimple question, simple answer.¡±


    ¡°Working with?¡± I echoed. ¡°Is that what I am to you? Some kind of project?¡±


    He didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he just stared at me.


    Every time I looked at him, I saw echoes of the triplets¡ªthe same jawline, the same nose, even simr mannerisms. But where their eyes showed warmth when they looked at me, his held something different. Something I couldn¡¯t name.


    ¡°Take the test,¡± he repeated, his voice lower. ¡°I don¡¯t have time for games.¡±


    ¡°Neither do I,¡± I fired back. ¡°I¡¯m not pregnant. Even if I am, it¡¯s none of your damn business. End of discussion.¡±


    He stepped closer, his body nearly touching mine. My heart pounded against my ribs.


    ¡°You don¡¯t know that for certain,¡± he said quietly. ¡°And I need to know. So you¡¯re going to take that test right now.¡±


    Before I could argue further, a knock came at the door. Leo¡¯s expression darkened as he turned.


    One of the scientists from earlier stood in the doorway. ¡°Sir? We need you for a moment. The preliminary blood results are ready.¡±


    Leo¡¯s jaw worked, obviously annoyed at the interruption. He nced back at me, then at the pregnancy test on the bed.


    ¡°Pee on the damn stick,¡± he ordered bluntly. ¡°I¡¯ll be back soon.¡±


    He followed the scientist out, closing the door behind him with a click. I heard the lock engage.


    I stared at the pregnancy test box, my stomach churning. Despite what I¡¯d told Leo, a nagging doubt crept in. I¡¯d had a lot of unprotected sex with the triplets. It was entirely possible I was pregnant. Not to mention I had been feeling increasingly nauseous in thest weeks.


    Moving to the bathroom, I picked up the box again, turning it over in my hands. My fingers shook slightly as I read the instructions. Simple enough.


    I nced at the closed door. Leo would be back soon, demanding results. And part of me was curious too, if I was being honest with myself.


    After making sure no one was watching through some hidden camera, I took the test.


    I couldn¡¯t help but wonder what it would be like to have a child with them. Would I have even known which one was specifically the father? Would it have mattered?


    Lucas, Liam, and Levi were triplets. Gically, whatever children I had with them would still be siblings, and I knew for a fact that they would¡¯ve been equally good fathers to all of them.


    Those three minutes of waiting felt like the longest of my life. I sat on the edge of the tub, staring at the little stic stick on the counter. While I waited, I examined the box more closely.


    It was a house brand from a store I recognized.


    Paulson¡¯s Quick Mart.


    But the store didn¡¯t exist inside Emberfang territory. I knew there was a branch near Ironhound¡¯s grounds, in the opposite direction from Emberfang. Slowly, I let out a shaky breath as a smile curved my lips.


    They were either overly confident that I couldn¡¯t escape, or they were just sloppy at hiding our current location.


    My thoughts were interrupted as the results started to appear. One line formed clearly.


    I waited for the second line.


    It never came.


    Not pregnant.


    A sudden, unexpected wave of emotion hit me. I slid to the floor, test clutched in my hand, as tears sprang to my eyes. Why was I crying? Shouldn¡¯t I be relieved?


    It was almost like I was mourning for a child I never had. That seed that Leo had nted in my head had taken root.


    Yet, none of it mattered now. I wasn¡¯t pregnant. And I wasn¡¯t sure I¡¯d ever see my mates again.


    The sobs came harder, echoing in the small bathroom. I felt ridiculous, crying over something that shouldn¡¯t have happened anyway. But I couldn¡¯t stop the tears or the hollow feeling in my chest.


    ¡°Hazel?¡±


    Leo¡¯s voice made me jerk my head up. He stood in the bathroom doorway, his expression unreadable. I hadn¡¯t even heard him return.


    ¡°Leave me alone,¡± I said, trying to hide the test.


    His eyes narrowed. ¡°Show me.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡±


    ¡°Everything about you is my business,¡± he repeated, stepping into the bathroom. ¡°Give me the test.¡±


    I clutched it tighter. ¡°No.¡±


    Leo moved with surprising speed. He grabbed for the test, but I twisted away, scrambling to my feet. I tried to dash past him, but he was too quick. His arm shot out, catching me around the waist.


    ¡°Let go!¡± I struggled against him.


    We stumbled backward into the bedroom. My knees hit the edge of the bed, and suddenly I was falling, Leoing down with me. He pinned me to the mattress, his body pressing against mine as he reached for the test in my hand.


    For a moment, we froze. His face was inches from mine, his breath warm against my cheeks. Those eyes¡ªso like the triplets¡¯, yet different¡ªstared into mine with an intensity that made my heart race.


    Something flickered in his expression. I couldn¡¯t tell what it was but the moment stretched between us.


    Then he snatched the test from my hand.


    Leo pushed himself up, examining the result. A frown creased his forehead.


    ¡°You¡¯re not pregnant,¡± he said, his voice oddly t.


    I sat up, wiping tears from my face. ¡°I told you that already.¡±


    ¡°You should be thankful,¡± he said, tossing the test aside. ¡°A baby would onlyplicate things.¡±


    His dismissive tone sparked anger in me. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me how to feel. And don¡¯t act like you know what¡¯s best for me.¡±


    ¡°You have no idea what¡¯s best for you,¡± Leo snapped back. ¡°If you did, you wouldn¡¯t have let those three im you.¡±


    ¡°My mates,¡± I emphasized, ¡°will destroy you when they find me.¡±


    Leo¡¯sugh was cold and harsh. ¡°They won¡¯t find you, Hazel.¡±


    ¡°They will,¡± I insisted. ¡°They¡¯ll never stop looking.¡±


    He moved closer again, looming over me. ¡°Even if they somehow tracked us to this location¡ªwhich they won¡¯t¡ªwe¡¯ll be long gone.¡±


    ¡°Gone?¡± I whispered. My heart dropped. This was why he didn¡¯t give a damn about giving me a clue on our current location. ¡°Where?¡±


    His lips curved into a smile that didn¡¯t reach his eyes.


    ¡°As soon as the preliminary results are ready, we¡¯re moving to a more permanent location.¡± He leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper. ¡°Where no one will ever find us.¡±

 Chapter 98: Twin Sister

    <h4>Chapter 98: Chapter 98: Twin Sister</h4>


    Third POV


    "Who is Helena?"


    Lucas¡¯s question hung in the air. The confusion on his face mirrored Liam¡¯s own.


    "What do you mean, ¡¯who is Helena?¡¯" Percival asked, his eyebrow twitching in annoyance. "She¡¯s my granddaughter. The one you im is your mate."


    Lucas and Liam exchanged nces.


    "No," Liam said slowly. "Our mate¡¯s name is Hazel. Hazel Bailey."


    "So that¡¯s why I couldn¡¯t find her," Percival muttered to himself, slumping into his seat. "She must¡¯ve changed her name and found a new identity."


    "No," Lucas said, his frown deepening. "I don¡¯t think that¡¯s the case."


    "And why is that?" Percival asked.


    Lucas¡¯s jaw tightened. "Hazel Bailey is the daughter of David and Angeline Bailey. She was ced in our pack¡¯s care when she was young. She¡¯s been living with us nearly her entire life."


    Percival sank back into his chair, the color draining from his weathered face. "That¡¯s impossible. Angeline brought Helena to me. I raised her until she was twelve."


    "And we¡¯ve known Hazel since we were children," Liam countered. "She¡¯s the one who was left with our family to pay off her parents¡¯ debts. Or at least, that¡¯s what we thought until recently."


    Percival shook his head slowly. "Left with your family? No, that can¡¯t be right. Angeline would never¡ª" He stopped abruptly, his eyes growing distant. "Unless..."


    "Unless what?" Lucas pressed.


    "Twins," Percival whispered. "Goddess, could they have had twins?"


    The realization hit the brothers simultaneously. Lucas felt his heart race. "Are you saying Hazel might have a sister?"


    "Yes," Percival confirmed, his voice thick with emotion. "It would exin everything. I raised Helena, while Hazel was sent to your family."


    "But why split them up?" Liam asked. "Why not keep them together?"


    Percival¡¯s hands trembled slightly. "Protection, perhaps. If they were being hunted, separating the girls would ensure at least one might survive."


    Lucas paced the small office, his mind working furiously. "So Hazel has never known she has a twin? And you never knew about Hazel?"


    "No," Percival said quietly. "Angeline never told me about another baby." His eyes clouded with sorrow. "And you say this Hazel has been with your family all these years?"


    "Yes," Liam nodded. "Though not exactly as family. She was treated more like..." He hesitated.


    "A servant," Lucas finished, shame coloring his voice. "Our parents treated her poorly. We did too, when we were younger."


    Percival¡¯s expression hardened. "And now she¡¯s your mate? Both of you?"


    "All three of us, actually," Liam corrected. "Our younger brother Levi is also mated to her."


    Percival smiled, but the joy in his eyes was only half full.


    Liam noticed it immediately. "You thought we were Helena¡¯s mates."


    He must be d that he actually had more family left on this earth than he thought, but no doubt Percival was upset that this wasn¡¯t the granddaughter he had raised himself.


    The old man nodded slowly. "I had hoped finding her mates might lead me to her."


    "I¡¯m sorry," Liam said, his voice softening. "But I promise you this¡ªin return for helping us find Hazel, we¡¯ll do everything we can to locate Helena. Hazel would want to know her sister too."


    Hope sparked in Percival¡¯s eyes. "You would do that?"


    "Absolutely," Lucas assured him. "Family is important to Hazel. Finding her sister would mean everything to her."


    The old man nodded, seeming to gather himself. "Then let me tell you what I know about the Vox Solis. There¡¯s a location on our suspect list. It¡¯s on neutral territory, but it¡¯s dangerous¡ªoverrun with rogues. We haven¡¯t pinpointed the exact spot yet."


    Liam suddenly straightened. "Wait. My opponent at the fighting ring¡ªthe vampire. He had the Vox Solis brand." His expression darkened. "He knew that we were looking for Hazel."


    "A vampire with their brand?" Percival leaned forward, suddenly alert. "If we could capture him, make him talk..."


    "If this vampire is connected to the Vox Solis," Lucas said, "he might know where they¡¯re keeping Hazel."


    Liam nodded grimly. "And if he knows anything about Helena, we¡¯ll find that out too."


    The old man¡¯s eyes glistened. "I¡¯ve been searching for so long. To learn I have another granddaughter, and that she¡¯s in danger..."


    Liam ced a hand on the elder¡¯s shoulder. "We¡¯ll find them both, sir. I promise."


    "In that case," Percival said, pressing the button on the coffee table.


    The inte crackled to life.


    "I need eyes on the arena," Percival said, his voice hardening. "Find me the vampire that fought earlier."


    Percival looked at Liam, waiting.


    Liam grinned. Consider this as revenge for all the free punches. "Felix Romano."


    +++


    The Shattered Fang lived up to its name. The dive bar¡¯s neon sign flickered pathetically, half the letters burned out. Levi Sullivan pushed through the door, wrinkling his nose at the assault of odors that hit him.


    Smoke hung thick in the air, mixed with the sharp scents of various herbs¡ªa deliberate tactic by the bar to mask the scents of its clientele. Perfect for those who didn¡¯t want to be found. Like Annie Williams.


    She¡¯d been spotted here three times in the past week, ording to their sources.


    ¡¯Levi?¡¯ A familiar voice hummed in his head, and Levi stopped in his tracks.


    ¡¯What is it, Lucas?¡¯ he asked. ¡¯Found anything?¡¯


    ¡¯Does Hazel¡¯s grandfather count?¡¯ Liam chimed in.


    ¡¯Her grandfather?¡¯ Levi echoed.


    ¡¯Apparently Hazel also has a twin sister named Helena. She was raised by their grandfather, who never knew about Hazel¡¯s existence.¡¯


    Levi¡¯s eyebrows shot up. A twin sister? Just when he thought this situation couldn¡¯t get any moreplicated.


    ¡¯More importantly, the mark,¡¯ Lucas said. ¡¯It represents a cult called the Vox Solis. We¡¯re working on finding their hideout.¡¯


    His eyes scanned the dimly lit room. A handful of patrons hunched over their drinks, faces obscured in shadow. Near the back, two werewolves yed pool, their movements unnaturally smooth. Judging by their rugged appearances, they were rogues, most likely.


    They weren¡¯t obvious, but Levi still caught them looking in his direction.


    Warily keeping an eye on them, he turned his attention back to the conversation with his brothers.


    ¡¯Annie¡¯s probably working with them,¡¯ Liam added.


    ¡¯Got it,¡¯ he mindlinked. ¡¯I¡¯m currently at The Shattered Fang. Heard Annie¡¯s been seen¡ª¡¯


    However, something cut through the bar¡¯s manufactured scent-mask. It was so familiar that his wolf stood at attention. His finger hovered above the screen and his eyes widened.


    Hazel.

 Chapter 99: Hazel鈥檚 Trail

    <h4>Chapter 99: Chapter 99: Hazel¡¯s Trail</h4>


    Hazel!


    Her sweet, unmistakable fragrance cut through the manufactured scent blockers of the dingy bar.


    The scent hit Levi like a physical blow. He felt his knees buckle slightly and his heart skip a beat.


    ¡®Levi?¡¯ Liam¡¯s voice echoed in his head. ¡®You there?¡¯


    ¡®What¡¯s wrong?¡¯ Lucas asked.


    His wolf surged forward, nearly taking control as Levi¡¯s eyes darted frantically around the crowded space. Every muscle in his body tensed, ready to sprint toward the source of that scent.


    ¡°Hazel!¡± he called out, not caring who heard him. The connection with Lucas and Liam was instantly cut off due to his distraction.


    Patrons turned to stare as he pushed through the crowd and followed the trail. His heart hammered against his ribs.


    The scent grew stronger as he approached the back of the bar. Levi shoved past a group of rogues, ignoring their growls of protest. Nothing mattered except finding her.


    But as he rounded the corner toward the restrooms, the trail led him to a hooded figure who was about to head out the back door. Judging by the physique, it was a man, a hood casting a shadow on the upper half of his face, and a mask covering the lower half.


    Levi gritted his teeth. It was faint, but it was there. She had interacted with this man recently, enough for her scent to cling onto his clothes.


    ¡°Hey!¡± Levi grabbed the man¡¯s hoodie, yanking him backward. ¡°Where is she? Where¡¯s Hazel?¡±


    Cold eyes stared back at him through the shadows of the hood. The stranger remained silent, his gaze unsettlingly familiar in a way Levi couldn¡¯t ce.


    ¡°I said, where is she?¡± Levi growled, his voice dropping to a dangerous timbre. ¡°If you¡¯ve hurt her¡ª¡±


    The hooded man finally spoke, his voice muffled by the mask. ¡°You Sullivans really are predictable.¡±


    Something about the man sent warning signals through Levi¡¯s brain. His wolf bristled, sensing danger. This wasn¡¯t just some random guy. Something about the look in this man¡¯s eyes made Levi¡¯s skin crawl.


    Before Levi could respond, a sh of blonde hair caught his peripheral vision. Even if it had just been for a split second, Levi could recognize it was Annie.


    She didn¡¯t turn back. She hadn¡¯t seen Levi, and instead, walked straight out of the main entrance of the bar.


    ¡°Shit,¡± Levi muttered, his attention momentarily diverted.


    That split-second was all the stranger needed. When Levi turned back, the man had shrugged off his hold and vanished as if he¡¯d never been there.


    Levi cursed again, torn between pursuing the mysterious man and chasing Annie. But Annie was someone who definitely had information about Hazel¡¯s whereabouts.


    Levi bolted after her, pushing through the crowd and back out onto the street. It was raining outside. The downpour immediately soaked through his clothes as he spotted Annie¡¯s retreating figure turning the corner.


    ¡°Annie!¡± he shouted, breaking into a run.


    She nced back, her expression changing from confusion to shock. Her eyes widened before she turned back and bolted.


    Levi cursed, clicking his tongue before hurrying after her. He rounded the corner cautiously, finding himself in a narrow street between two abandoned buildings.


    Something wasn¡¯t right. Levi slowed down his pace, his eyes narrowing. The rain made it difficult to pick up scents, but there was just something about the situation that felt unsettling.


    True enough, when he walked forward, Annie stood in the middle of the street. She had her back faced to him, standingpletely still instead of running. Levi immediately frowned.


    Annie slowly turned around. A small smirk stretched across her lips.


    ¡°Took you long enough,¡± she called over the drumming rain. ¡°I was starting to think you weren¡¯ting.¡±


    Levi approached her slowly. ¡°Where is she, Annie? Where¡¯s Hazel?¡±


    Annieughed, the sound unnaturally shrill against the backdrop of the storm. ¡°This was exactly what I told Mnie and Kira the other time. That bitch will be the end of you three. You¡¯ve turned so predictable.¡±


    As she spoke, there came movement in the shadows. Levi clenched his fists as three figures stepped out, surrounding him in a triangle. Their sickly pale skins, paired with the fangs that poked past their lips told Levi enough. He didn¡¯t need his sense of smell to recognize a vampire.


    ¡°You led me into a trap,¡± Levi stated tly, keeping his eyes on Annie while tracking the vampires in his peripheral vision.


    Annie¡¯s smile widened. ¡°Smart boy. Not smart enough, though.¡±


    The first vampire attacked without warning,unching himself at Levi¡¯s back. Levi spun, catching the attacker by the throat and hurling him into the brick wall with enough force to crack the mortar.


    The other two moved simultaneously. One swung a knife that gleamed silver in the dim light while the other aimed a kick at Levi¡¯s knee. When the knife flew close to Levi, he could catch the strong whiff of wolfsbane clinging onto the de.


    Levi dodged the knife, catching the second vampire¡¯s leg and using the momentum to flip him onto his back. The impact sent water sshing around them.


    ¡°Is this really all you¡¯ve got?¡± Levi taunted, despite the danger. His wolf was fully alert now, reveling in the fight. ¡°I expected better from the Vox Solis.¡±


    The first vampire had recovered, circling back with inhuman speed. Levi barely had time to block the punch aimed at his face. The impact sent jarring pain up his arm. Vampires weren¡¯t as strong, but their insane speed made up for it.


    Levi countered with a series of strikes, driving the vampire back.


    ¡°Where is she?¡± he demanded between blows. ¡°What have you done with Hazel?¡±


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you like to know?¡± the vampire hissed, fangs gleaming.


    From the corner of his eye, Levi saw Annie edging away, trying to escape while he was upied. Not today.


    He faked a left, then dropped low, sweeping the legs out from under the vampire in front of him. As the creature fell, Levi delivered a crushing blow to its chest, feeling ribs shatter beneath his fist.


    The vampire with the knife lunged again. Levi twisted, the de missing his throat by inches. He grabbed the attacker¡¯s wrist, snapping it with a vicious twist. The knife ttered to the ground as the vampire shrieked in pain.


    ¡°Last chance,¡± Levi growled at the remaining vampire who was backing away. ¡°Where¡¯s Hazel?¡±


    Instead of answering, the vampire turned to flee. Levi was on him in three strides, tackling him to the wet pavement. He flipped the creature onto its back, pinning it with a knee to the chest.


    ¡°Tell me!¡± he roared, his face inches from the vampire¡¯s.


    ¡°It¡¯s toote,¡± the vampire whispered, then startedughing. ¡°She¡¯s already gone.¡±

 Chapter 100: Rendezvous at the Packhouse

    <h4>Chapter 100: Chapter 100: Rendezvous at the Packhouse</h4>


    Rage flooded Levi¡¯s system. With a snarl, he mmed the vampire¡¯s head against the pavement, knocking him unconscious.


    Annie had nearly reached the end of the street. Levi sprinted after her, catching her easily. He grabbed her arm, spun her around, and mmed her against the brick wall.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to tell me everything,¡± he hissed, his face inches from hers. ¡°Where is Hazel? What does the Vox Solis want with her?¡±


    Even trapped and at his mercy, Annie¡¯s smirk remained. ¡°You¡¯re toote, Levi. She¡¯s long gone.¡±


    ¡°What does that mean?¡± His grip tightened on her arms. ¡°Is she dead?¡±


    The words nearly choked him. If they had done anything to her, he would burn them to ashes.


    Annieughed. ¡°No, but by the time you find her, she won¡¯t be yours anymore.¡±


    Levi¡¯s wolf howled with rage, and his eyes saw red. His hand moved to Annie¡¯s throat, fingers tightening just enough to make her eyes widen with fear.


    ¡°Tell me everything. Now.¡±


    ¡°Or what? You¡¯ll kill me?¡± She managed to look smug despite the fear in her eyes. ¡°Then you¡¯ll never find her.¡±


    Levi fought against his instinct to crush her windpipe. ¡°No, I won¡¯t kill you. But there are worse things than death, Annie. And I¡¯ll make sure you experience all of them if you don¡¯t start talking.¡±


    Fear finally flickered in Annie¡¯s eyes. Her confidence wavered. ¡°Your threats don¡¯t scare me.¡±


    ¡°They should.¡± Levi leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. ¡°Because I¡¯m going to take you back to the pack, and we have ways of making people talk. Painful ways.¡±


    He saw the moment her bravado cracked. ¡°The Vox Solis wille for me.¡±


    Levi snorted. ¡°Sure they will.¡±


    In one swift movement, Levi struck Annie at the base of her skull, catching her unconscious form before she could hit the ground.


    With Annie draped over his shoulder, he mindlinked Callum.


    ¡®I found Annie. She made some new vampire friends.¡¯


    ¡®You alright?¡¯ Callum¡¯s response was immediate.


    ¡®Of course,¡¯ Levi answered. He walked past the street where the vampires were. Their injuries had rendered them unconscious for a while. Sadly, not dead. Vampires typically recovered fast enough, and would be up and about in no time. ¡®I¡¯m bringing Annie back to the pack for questioning. She knows something about Hazel.¡¯


    ¡®Copy,¡¯ Callum replied. ¡®We¡¯ll prepare a high security cell for her and her friends and family. Consider it her homing gift.¡¯


    Levi made his way back to his car, depositing Annie in the trunk after binding her wrists and ankles. He wasn¡¯t taking any chances with her.


    As he pulled into the packhouse driveway, he spotted Lucas and Liam getting out of Lucas¡¯s SUV. Sitting in the backseat was an elderly man Levi didn¡¯t recognize.


    Levi parked and stepped out, noting how his brothers¡¯ expressions changed when they saw him soaking wet and bruised.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Lucas demanded, striding over.


    ¡°You cut off all of a sudden,¡± Liam said.


    ¡°Ran into some Vox Solis vampires, but I caught Annie. She¡¯s in the trunk.¡± Levi gestured behind him.


    Liam¡¯s lips twisted. ¡°Perfect,¡± he said. ¡°Thanks for bringing her back. I¡¯ll get the knife.¡±


    ¡°She needs to be alive for questioning,¡± Lucas reminded, though his lips twitched into a small smirk of amusement.


    ¡°Unfortunate,¡± Liam grumbled under his breath.


    Levi then turned his attention to the old man. Something about the stranger made Levi pause.


    ¡°Who¡¯s this?¡± he asked, unable to tear his gaze away.


    ¡°This is Percival Hunt,¡± Liam exined. ¡°Hazel¡¯s grandfather.¡±


    Levi stared at the elderly man climbing out of the car. Despite his age, Percival moved with surprising grace. His hair was pure white, but thick and well-kept. And his eyes¡ªLevi felt a jolt of recognition. They were the exact same shade of hazel as their mate¡¯s.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Levi asked, though he already knew the answer. The resemnce was unmistakable.


    Lucas and Liam merely gave Levi a pointed look, and thetter shrugged.


    Percival stepped forward, his keen eyes assessing Levi. ¡°You must be the third triplet. You look just like your brothers.¡±


    ¡°And you look just like Hazel,¡± Levi said bluntly.


    The old man¡¯s face softened at the mention of her name. ¡°Unfortunately, I have not had the luxury to meet my granddaughter yet.¡±


    Levi¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Convenient timing, isn¡¯t it? Showing up right when Hazel¡¯s missing.¡±


    ¡°Levi,¡± Lucas warned.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± Percival said, raising a weathered hand. ¡°Skepticism is healthy. Especially when ites to protecting someone you love.¡± His gaze sharpened. ¡°And you do love her, don¡¯t you? All three of you.¡±


    Levi didn¡¯t answer, but his silence was confirmation enough.


    Lucas cleared his throat. ¡°I¡¯m taking Percival to Ironhound. They have a base right off the territory. It could be where they¡¯re holding Hazel.¡±


    ¡°And I¡¯m staying here to help with Annie,¡± Liam added. ¡°She might respond better to me.¡±


    ¡°By ¡®respond better,¡¯ do you mean ¡®break down crying and begging for forgiveness¡¯?¡± Levi asked drily. ¡°Because that¡¯s definitely what she¡¯ll do when she sees you.¡±


    ¡°Which we can use to our advantage,¡± Liam pointed out. ¡°You know, before we send her and her traitorous father to hell.¡±


    Levi popped the trunk open. ¡°Then let¡¯s get her inside before she wakes up. She¡¯s heavier than she looks.¡±


    Anniey in the back trunk,pletely still. Her hands and feet were bent at an awkward angle from being cramped in the back, and her hair was a mess.


    ¡°Ropes?¡± Liammented. ¡°Doesn¡¯t look too sturdy.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t have anything else with me that I could use,¡± Levi replied. ¡°It would have to do.¡±


    ¡°We need to get her in a set of silver cuffs before she wakes up,¡± Liam said as he moved closer to her. He leaned down, prepared to drag her out of the car. ¡°We might need to get some holy water as well, especially if the Vox Solis has vampires working for them¡ª¡±


    Before he could finish his sentence, Liam¡¯s eyes widened with shock. He stepped back, dodging right as Annie jabbed her hand outwards. Something in her hand caught the light and sparkled.


    Liam cursed, immediately swatting the item out of her grip as she hissed in pain. Levi stepped in as well, quickly subduing her before she could leap out of the trunk.


    ¡°What the hell?!¡± Liam yelled as Levi pressed her back down, preventing her from moving.


    ¡°She had managed to work the ropes loose,¡± Levi spat.


    ¡°Told you the ropes aren¡¯t good enough,¡± Liam muttered.


    Annie¡¯s face contorted with rage and frustration as she missed her target. She scrambled, attempting to push Levi¡¯s weight off her, but failed.


    ¡°Get off me!¡± she barked.


    ¡®Callum!¡¯ Levi called out via the pack link. ¡®Get a set of silver cuffs and meet me at the packhouse driveway. Now.¡¯


    ¡®On it, Alpha,¡¯ came Callum¡¯s reply.


    Liam looked at the ground. Bending down, he carefully picked up the weapon that Annie had dropped.


    Only, it wasn¡¯t a weapon. It was a syringe, filled with an unknown liquid.

 Chapter 101: Importance Of A Mark

    <h4>Chapter 101: Chapter 101: Importance Of A Mark</h4>


    Hazel¡¯s POV


    I jolted awake with a gasp, my heart racing. The room spun for a moment before settling into focus. Soft morning light filtered through floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating an unfamiliar space.


    My mind felt foggy. Thest thing I remembered was Leo bringing me food after our pregnancy test confrontation. I¡¯d been so hungry that I¡¯d eaten a few bites despite my suspicions.


    ¡°Drugged,¡± I muttered, rubbing my temples. ¡°The food was drugged.¡±


    I pushed myself up from thefortable bed and took in my surroundings. This wasn¡¯t the sterile room I¡¯d been kept in before. This space was lived-in, personal. The walls were painted a soft gray, with blue ents throughout¡ªthrow pillows, a rug, artwork. The furniture was sleek and modern but showed signs of use.


    This wasn¡¯t a cell. It was someone¡¯s bedroom.


    I slid out of bed, my bare feet sinking into the plush carpet. The room was spacious, with therge windows offering a view of a city I didn¡¯t recognize¡ªtall buildings stretching toward the sky, cars like tiny ants moved along the streets far below.


    ¡°Where the hell am I?¡± I whispered, approaching the windows.


    I pressed my palms against the ss, but it didn¡¯t budge. Sealed shut. And even if I could break it, we were at least twenty floors up. Jumping would mean certain death.


    A quick survey of the room revealed a bathroom, a walk-in closet filled with men¡¯s clothing, and a small sitting area with bookshelves. The whole space smelled faintly of sandalwood¡ªmasculine but not overpowering.


    It smelled... oddlyforting.


    Moving to the closet, I fingered through the shirts hanging there. Business casual, mostly, with a few t-shirts and hoodies. All expensive brands. Nothing gave me any hints about where I was or who owned this ce.


    The nightstand drawers held nothing interesting¡ªjust a few books, a phone charger, and some over-the-counter sleeping pills. The dresser contained neatly folded clothes, but again, nothing personal.


    My gazended on a desk in the corner. I walked over and began rifling through the drawers. Most contained ordinary office supplies¡ªpens, paper clips, sticky notes. The bottom drawer was locked.


    ¡°Of course,¡± I muttered.


    I ran my fingers along the underside of the desk and paused when I felt an irregrity. Pressing the spot, I heard a soft click. A hiddenpartment in the desk slid open.


    Insidey a single photograph.


    I picked it up, and my breath caught in my throat. It was me¡ªor at least, it looked exactly like me. In the photo, I was smiling, caught midugh. My hair was blowing slightly in the wind, and sunlight lit up my face. I looked genuinely happy.


    But I had no memory of this photo being taken. I also did not own a dress like that.


    ¡°What the hell?¡± I whispered, staring at my own face.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    I whirled around, nearly dropping the photo. Leo stood in the doorway, his expression morphing from surprise to anger when he saw what I was holding.


    ¡°How do you have a picture of me?¡± I demanded, holding up the photo.


    Leo¡¯s eyes widened. In three quick strides, he crossed the room and snatched the picture from my hands.


    ¡°Where did you find this?¡± he growled, his eyes shing with rage.


    ¡°In your desk,¡± I answered, refusing to back down. ¡°Why do you have a picture of me? Have you been stalking me?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t touch things that don¡¯t belong to you,¡± he snapped, carefully cing the photo back in thepartment and sealing it shut. ¡°It¡¯s rude to snoop through other people¡¯s belongings.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re one to talk,¡± I snapped. ¡°It¡¯s not particrly polite to kidnap someone either.¡±


    Leo clenched his jaw but said nothing in reply.


    ¡°Where am I?¡± I asked, changing tactics. ¡°Whose room is this?¡±


    Leo¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°Mine.¡±


    ¡°Yours?¡± I looked around again. The room suddenly felt more intimate, knowing it belonged to him. ¡°Why did you bring me here?¡±


    ¡°Because our other amodations weren¡¯t suitable for a long-term stay,¡± he answered coolly. ¡°As I told you yesterday, we¡¯re moving to a more permanent location.¡±


    ¡°And that location is your bedroom?¡± I raised an eyebrow.


    A hint of a smirk touched his lips. ¡°For now. Do you find itfortable, sweetheart?¡±


    ¡°Stop calling me that,¡± I snapped. ¡°And you still haven¡¯t exined why you have a picture of me. When was it even taken? I don¡¯t remember ever being photographed like that.¡±


    Leo¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Drop it, Hazel. Some questions are better left unanswered.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± I stepped closer to him, refusing to be intimidated. ¡°I deserve answers. You kidnapped me, drugged me, and now I find out you¡¯ve been keeping pictures of me? What kind of sick game are you ying?¡±


    He loomed over me, his eyes boring into mine. ¡°You know nothing about what¡¯s happening here.¡±


    ¡°Then tell me!¡± I shouted, frustration boiling over.


    Something shifted in his expression. Pain shed across his eyes before it was quickly masked by anger.


    ¡°You¡¯re here because you belong here. With me. Not with them.¡±


    The intensity in his voice made my heart race. Leo was so close now that I could feel the heat radiating from his body. The smell of sandalwood enveloped me. Now I knew that was Leo¡¯s scent.


    ¡°I belong with my mates,¡± I said firmly, even as my traitorous body reacted to his proximity.


    In one swift movement, Leo pressed me against the wall, one hand beside my head. The move trapped me between his body and the wall.


    ¡°Those three don¡¯t deserve you,¡± he murmured, his voice dropping lower. His eyes flicked down to my neck, and his expression hardened.


    Before I could react, his hand dipped into his pocket, pulling out a small tub. He quickly unscrewed it, revealing a white cream.


    ¡°What are you¡ª¡±


    Leo pulled down the cor of my shirt slightly, exposing the mark the triplets had left on me. Without warning, he smeared the cream over it.


    I gasped, shocked by both the coolness of the cream and the audacity of his action.


    ¡°What the hell did you just put on me?¡± I reached up to wipe it away, but he caught my wrist.


    ¡°Don¡¯t touch it,¡± he ordered. The area tingled slightly but wasn¡¯t painful.


    ¡°Are you insane?¡± I demanded, struggling against his grip. ¡°Do you have any idea what a mate mark means to a wolf? You can¡¯t just put random crap on it!¡±


    ¡°I know exactly what it means,¡± Leo said coldly. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m doing this.¡±


    He released my wrist and turned away, clearly considering the conversation over.


    Rage surged through me. I lunged forward, grabbing at his arm. ¡°You don¡¯t get to walk away after that!¡±


    Leo spun around, but my momentum was already carrying me forward. My fingers caught in the fabric of his shirt as I stumbled. There was a ripping sound as the material tore.


    We both froze.


    Through the torn fabric, I could clearly see a mark on his neck¡ªa mate mark. It was slightly faded and rough around the edges, but unmistakable in its significance. Someone had imed him.


    Leo had a mate.

 Chapter 102: Confusing Connection

    <h4>Chapter 102: Chapter 102: Confusing Connection</h4>


    I stared at the mate mark on Leo¡¯s neck, my mind spinning with confusion. The mark was unlike any other mate mark I had ever seen. It was red and raw, and some portions of the flesh didn¡¯t look like it had healed properly but instead scarred over.


    However, weird-looking or not, the meaning was the same. Leo already had a mate.


    ¡°You have a mate,¡± I whispered, my voice barely audible.


    Leo¡¯s hand flew to his neck, covering the mark as his eyes darkened with fury. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me again.¡±


    ¡°If you have a mate, why am I here?¡± I demanded, stepping back. ¡°Why did you say I belong to you when someone else already does?¡±


    While there were exceptions, most werewolves only had one mate. I certainly didn¡¯t feel the same bond with Leo that I did with Lucas, Liam, and Levi.


    Leo¡¯s jaw clenched so tight I could see the muscle twitching. ¡°It¡¯splicated.¡±


    ¡°Complicated?¡± Iughed without humor. ¡°You kidnapped me, drugged me, and said all those funny things about how I ¡®belonged¡¯ to you. Now I find out you already have a mate? What kind of sick game are you ying? You have no respect at all for your fated mate!¡±


    He turned away, his shoulders tense. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t understand.¡±


    ¡°Then make me understand!¡± I shouted, my patience snapping. ¡°Where is she? Your mate?¡±


    Leo whirled around, his eyes shing with something raw and painful. ¡°She¡¯s gone.¡±


    The words hung heavy in the air between us. The grief in his voice was unmistakable, but it didn¡¯t excuse anything he¡¯d done.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for your loss,¡± I said, softening my tone slightly. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t exin why you want me.¡±


    Leo¡¯s gaze pinned me in ce. ¡°Doesn¡¯t it?¡±


    A chill ran down my spine as the pieces started clicking together. The photograph that looked like me but wasn¡¯t quite me. His obsession. The strange familiarity I felt toward him despite never having met him before.


    ¡°Did I... did I look like her?¡± My voice trembled.


    ¡°You don¡¯t just look like her,¡± Leo said, his voice tight with emotion. ¡°You¡¯re identical to her.¡±


    My heart pounded against my ribcage. ¡°That¡¯s impossible.¡±


    ¡°Is it?¡± Leo stepped closer, his eyes tracing my features. ¡°Hazel, don¡¯t you ever wonder why you feel like a piece of you is missing? Why you¡¯ve always felt iplete?¡±


    I backed away until I hit the wall. ¡°Stop it.¡±


    ¡°You had a twin sister,¡± he continued, ignoring my plea. ¡°Helena.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± I shook my head violently. ¡°I don¡¯t have a sister. I would know if I had a twin.¡±


    ¡°Would you? When everyone has been lying to you your entire life?¡± Leo¡¯s voice turned bitter. ¡°Your precious triplets. Their parents. They had been lying to you your entire life about your parents. What makes you think this would be an exception?¡±


    Anger red inside me. ¡°Don¡¯t bring them into this. Lucas, Liam, and Levi have nothing to do with your delusions. They couldn¡¯t have known.¡±


    Leo¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Those three are just as corrupt as their parents. You think they care about you? They¡¯re using you, just like they use everyone.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know them,¡± I snapped, defensive heat rushing through me. ¡°They¡¯ve changed. They care about me.¡±


    ¡°Care about you?¡± Leo scoffed. ¡°Is that why they let you walk straight into danger? Why they couldn¡¯t protect you from being kidnapped? Some mates they are.¡±


    ¡°At least they¡¯re not nning to rece me with my own sister!¡± I regretted the words as soon as they left my mouth.


    Leo¡¯s face transformed into something dangerous. He strode forward, closing the gap between us quickly. I moved back instinctively to avoid him.


    However, before he could reach me, a sudden, searing pain cut through my neck, right where the triplets¡¯ mark was. I gasped, my hand flying to the spot where Leo had applied the cream. It felt like someone had pressed a hot iron against my skin.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± I choked out, legs trembling as the pain intensified.


    Leo¡¯s anger melted into surprise. His eyebrows shot up. ¡°The cream... it shouldn¡¯t be reacting like this.¡±


    Another wave of agony crashed through me, stronger than before. My knees buckled, and I would have copsed if Leo hadn¡¯t caught me.


    Instantly, I was engulfed in his warmth and a wave of sandalwood. The smell instantly brought tears to my eyes. It was oddly soothing. All my instincts screamed at me to curl further into thefort. It took all my remaining strength to hold back.


    ¡°It burns,¡± I whimpered, wing at my neck. ¡°What did you put on me?¡±


    Leo¡¯s arms tightened around me. ¡°Something to weaken your bond with them. It wasn¡¯t supposed to hurt you.¡±


    The pain sharpened, and I couldn¡¯t hold back anymore. A howl of agony tore from my throat, my wolf responding to the attack on our bond mark. My vision blurred as tears filled my eyes.


    ¡°Make it stop,¡± I begged, pride forgotten in the face of overwhelming pain.


    Worry flickered across Leo¡¯s face. ¡°I didn¡¯t think it would be this bad. The connection must be stronger than I realized.¡±


    I struggled to stand upright as another wave of pain radiated through me. Tears began to stream down my face uncontrobly as I cried out. I couldn¡¯t even hold myself upright; if it weren¡¯t for Leo holding me still, I would¡¯ve been curled on the floor.


    ¡°Hold still,¡± he suddenly said.


    Before I could protest, he tilted my head to expose my neck. His lips hovered over the burning mark, his breath cool against my inmed skin.


    My lips trembled as I tried to push him away, but I was too weak to do so. ¡°What are you¡ª¡±


    Then his teeth sank into my neck, right over the triplets¡¯ mark.


    I expected more pain, but instead, relief washed through me like a tidal wave. The burning sensation vanished instantly, reced by something else entirely¡ªpleasure.


    Pure, undiluted pleasure shot through every nerve in my body. My back arched involuntarily, a moan escaping my lips before I could stop it.


    Leo¡¯s touch seemed to set fire to my skin, and I let out a shaky breath as my body trembled. Pain slowly melted into pleasure, and the relief of it all had my eyes rolling to the back of my head. Strength slowly returned to my body.


    Then, my eyes snapped open.


    With a gasp, I shoved Leo away, my hand flying to my neck. The mark no longer burned, but I could feel wetness there¡ªa mixture of his saliva and my blood.


    ¡°What the hell?¡± I eximed, finally gathering the strength to shuffle away.


    Leo copsed onto the floor as well. He sat a distance away, his eyes slightly gazed as he raised his hand to his lips. His pupils were dted, breathing in short pants.


    ¡°Are you serious?¡± I asked, horrified. ¡°Did you just... did you just try to mark me?!¡±

 Chapter 103: Primal Urge

    <h4>Chapter 103: Chapter 103: Primal Urge</h4>


    I touched my neck where Leo had just bitten me, expecting to feel a new mark forming or some kind of connection sparking between us. But there was nothing¡ªno rush of emotion, no invisible thread tying us together, nothing like what I¡¯d experienced with the triplets.


    The wound was already starting to heal, the sharp pain fading to a mild tingle. I couldn¡¯t help but heave out a sigh of relief.


    ¡°What the hell did you just do?¡± I demanded, backing away from Leo who still looked dazed.


    His eyes were wide, confusion written across his face. He stared at his hands like they belonged to someone else. ¡°I don¡¯t... I didn¡¯t mean to...¡±


    ¡°You bit me!¡± I shouted, pressing my fingers against the spot. The skin felt normal¡ªno raised mark, no burning sensation. ¡°Were you trying to mark me?¡±


    Leo finally met my gaze, his expression hardening. ¡°It wasn¡¯t supposed to happen like that.¡±


    ¡°Like what? You weren¡¯t supposed to sink your teeth into my neck?¡± I was trembling now, anger and fear mixing together. ¡°What kind of sick game are you ying?¡±


    He stood up slowly, his movements careful as if he didn¡¯t trust himself. ¡°There is no game.¡±


    ¡°Then what is it? No normal wolf goes around biting other werewolves¡¯ necks, unless you¡¯re a vampire!¡± The words came out in a rush, my voice rising with every syble.


    Something dark shed in Leo¡¯s eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t associate me with those filthy nightwalkers. You don¡¯t understand even half of it.¡±


    ¡°Then exin it to me!¡± I stepped forward, jabbing a finger at his chest.


    It was a mistake.


    Leo moved faster than I could track, grabbing my wrist and spinning me around. My back hit the wall hard enough to knock the breath from my lungs. He pinned both my hands above my head, his body pressing against mine.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need to exin anything,¡± His voice was dangerously low, his face inches from mine. ¡°I¡¯ve spent years searching for you. Now that I have you, you¡¯re not going anywhere.¡±


    His proximity was overwhelming. The scent of sandalwood flooded my senses, making it hard to think straight. Despite everything, my traitorous body responded to him. My heart started to race and my skin turned warm.


    ¡°Let. Me. Go,¡± I said, hating how breathless I sounded.


    ¡°Make me,¡± he challenged, his eyes dropping to my lips.


    I didn¡¯t think. I brought my knee up hard, aiming for his groin. Leo anticipated the move and shifted, but it was enough to loosen his grip. I twisted free and shoved him back.


    ¡°Don¡¯t touch me again,¡± I warned, circling away from the wall.


    Leo¡¯s lips curved into a smile that didn¡¯t reach his eyes. ¡°Your sister was a fighter too.¡±


    ¡°Stopparing me to her!¡± The words exploded out of me. ¡°I¡¯m not Helena. I¡¯m Hazel. I have my own life, my own mates.¡±


    ¡°Those triplets don¡¯t deserve you,¡± he snarled. ¡°They¡¯ve treated you like garbage your entire life.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s my business, not yours.¡± I straightened my shoulders. ¡°You have your own mate and I have mine. It sucks that you lost her, but I am not here to pay those debts.¡±


    He moved toward me slowly, his expression darkening. I braced myself for another confrontation. But this time, he merely reached out slowly, his fingers hovering near my throat. For a second, I thought he was going to choke me for everything I had said.


    But that didn¡¯t happen.


    Before I could respond, he turned and strode to the door.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± I called after him. My knees felt weak.


    ¡°To get answers,¡± he replied without looking back. The door mmed behind him, leaving me alone with my confusion.


    I slid down the wall until I was sitting on the floor, fingers still tracing where his teeth had broken my skin. The wound was barely noticeable now, healing at the elerated rate of a werewolf. But the memory of his bite lingered.


    There was a strange moment where the pain turned into a connection. It wasn¡¯t the pull of a mate¡¯s bond, but even I could tell it wasn¡¯t normal.


    The tingling sensation of the cream had slowly dulled into nothing. My body felt normal again, and the triplets¡¯ mark on me was still there. It hadn¡¯t disappeared. Everything was just as though nothing had happened.


    However, my gut still churned in difort. I couldn¡¯t understand why for a second, I thought I felt a pull towards this man who looked so much like the faces I hade to love.


    +++


    Third POV


    Leo stalked down the hallway, his thoughts in chaos. The moment his teeth had broken Hazel¡¯s skin, he¡¯d felt it¡ªa jolt of connection that he¡¯d never experienced before, not even with Helena. Itsted only for a fraction of a second before it disappeared.


    It had shocked him to his core. This was an unexpected response to someone who shouldn¡¯t have triggered such a primal reaction.


    With a roar of frustration, Leo mmed his fist into the wall. The concrete cracked under the impact, dust raining down as a spiderweb of fractures spread outward. The physical pain in his knuckles did nothing to clear his head.


    ¡°Having a temper tantrum, Sullivan?¡±


    Leo turned to see Dr. Ramos, one of the facility¡¯s scientists, watching him with a raised eyebrow.


    ¡°Not now,¡± Leo growled.


    ¡°Actually, now is perfect timing,¡± Dr. Ramos replied. ¡°Perry wants to see you in theb. It¡¯s about the samples.¡±


    Leo¡¯s anger gave way to urgency. Without another word, he followed the scientist down a series of hallways until they reached the main researchboratory.


    The room was a stark contrast to the rest of the facility¡ªbright white lights, gleaming equipment, and the sterile smell of antiseptic. At the center of it all stood Perry, hunched over a microscope.


    The head scientist didn¡¯t look up as they entered.


    ¡°I assume you¡¯re here for results,¡± Perry said, voice clipped and professional.


    ¡°Did you analyze the samples?¡± Leo asked, trying to keep the impatience from his voice.


    Hazel¡¯s blood had been brought to Perry for enough hours. Time was ticking. It wouldn¡¯t be long before the Sullivan triplets found them.


    Perry straightened and fixed Leo with a prating stare. ¡°I did. And something¡¯s wrong.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°The DNA sample is corrupted,¡± Perry said. ¡°Something¡¯s interfering with the gic markers we need to ess.¡±

 Chapter 104: Corrupted DNA

    <h4>Chapter 104: Chapter 104: Corrupted DNA</h4>


    Leo frowned. ¡°Corrupted? How is that possible?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯d like to know.¡± Perry gestured to a screen disying aplex series of patterns. ¡°These should be clean sequences, but look at these anomalies. It¡¯s as if someone deliberately tampered with the gic code.¡±


    ¡°Could it be a mistake in the testing?¡±


    Perry¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°We ran it three times. The corruption is consistent.¡±


    Leo struggled to understand what this meant for his ns. ¡°So what now?¡±


    ¡°Now we need a fresh sample,¡± Perry said. ¡°And we need to investigate why this happened.¡±


    A chill ran down Leo¡¯s spine as realization dawned. ¡°You think someone did this intentionally?¡±


    ¡°I think there¡¯s more to your little twin theory than we initially thought.¡± Perry handed him a tablet disying side-by-sideparisons of DNA sequences. ¡°These patterns shouldn¡¯t exist naturally.¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Perry said, shrugging, ¡°unless of course...¡± She trailed off.


    Leo raised an eyebrow. ¡°Unless what?¡±


    ¡°Unless she¡¯s pregnant,¡± Perry said tly. ¡°That would exin the extra set of data that we¡¯re seeing.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Leo said with a shake of his head. ¡°That¡¯s not possible. We¡¯ve tested it. The results came up negative.¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s the only exnation I can think of,¡± Perry replied. ¡°Either that, or she has already been tampered with. Without a proper set of data, we cannot guarantee whether or notplications would arise. If we¡¯re to forcibly proceed, you might end up with a second dead mate¡ª¡±


    Perry didn¡¯t get the chance to finish her sentence. Leo had crossed the distance between them in an instant. His hands wrapped around her throat as he mmed her back against the wall. A choked cry escaped her lips.


    ¡°I would not finish that sentence if I were you,¡± Leo growled in warning.


    ¡°Go on then,¡± Perry taunted, sneering. ¡°If I die, you will never get your precious mate.¡±


    Leo¡¯s fingers twitched, tightening momentarily before he released her with a snarl. Perry dropped to her knees, coughing violently.


    ¡°Fix this,¡± Leo demanded, towering over her. ¡°Find a way to make it work.¡±


    Perry rubbed her throat, eyes watering. ¡°Science doesn¡¯t bend to your will, Sullivan. If she¡¯s pregnant, the procedure could kill her. Even if she survives, the fetus wouldn¡¯t.¡±


    Leo paced the sterileb like a caged animal. ¡°Then we terminate the pregnancy first. If there is one, the baby will not be born anyway.¡±


    ¡°And if that¡¯s not the issue? If her DNA has truly been altered already?¡± Perry pulled herself to her feet, keeping a wary distance. ¡°We need more tests. More time.¡±


    Leo mmed his fist onto a nearby table, sending equipment crashing to the floor. ¡°Time is the one thing we don¡¯t have! Those triplets will find us eventually.¡±


    ¡°Then perhaps you should have thought of that before kidnapping their mate,¡± Perry said coolly, straightening herb coat. ¡°I need at least twelve more hours with her.¡±


    Leo¡¯s jaw clenched. ¡°You have six.¡±


    +++


    Meanwhile at the Emberfang Pack interrogation room, the Williams family sat huddled together, fear etched on their faces. Samuel Williams, once a respected pack official, now looked small and defeated, his arm protectively around his wife. Annie sat opposite them, separated by the cold metal table.


    Liam circled the room slowly. Levi leaned against the wall, twirling a knife between his fingers as though he was toying with his food before a meal.


    ¡°Let¡¯s try this again,¡± Liam said, his voice deceptively gentle. ¡°Where did you take Hazel?¡±


    Annie¡¯s eyes darted to her parents. Her mother was silently crying, mascara streaming down her face. In the end, Annie chose to keep her mouth shut.


    Samuel cleared his throat. ¡°Please, we¡¯ve cooperated. We¡¯ve told you everything¡ª¡±


    ¡°Shut up,¡± Liam snapped, mming his palms on the table. The metal dented under the impact. ¡°Your daughter poisoned my mate, tried to have her raped, and has now brought her to Goddess knows where. You want me to believe it was all her teenage jealousy?¡±


    ¡°It was the Vox Solis,¡± Annie blurted suddenly, tears spilling down her cheeks. ¡°They broke me out of the Emberfang cells the first time. They said...¡±


    ¡°They said what?¡± Liam prompted.


    ¡°They said that they could break me out if I helped them kidnap Hazel,¡± Annie confessed.


    The brothers exchanged nces.


    ¡°Why?¡± Levi asked. The metal de caught and reflected the ceiling light.


    Liam¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°What do they want with her?¡±


    Annie shook her head frantically. ¡°They didn¡¯t say! I didn¡¯t ask! I was angry and hurt, and they offered me a way to get back at her.¡±


    Samuel reached for his daughter¡¯s hand. ¡°Annie, what have you done?¡±


    ¡°Who was your contact?¡± Levi demanded.


    Annie hesitated, terror evident in her eyes.


    Liam¡¯s patience snapped. In one fluid motion, he grabbed Samuel¡¯s hand and mmed the knife through it, pinning it to the table. Samuel¡¯s scream echoed through the room as his wife shrieked in horror.


    ¡°DADDY!¡± Annie wailed. ¡°Stop it! Please!¡±


    ¡°A name,¡± Liam growled. ¡°Now.¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Annie hesitated, her tears running down her face.


    She had seen Lucas and Levi angry before. However, she had observed Liam Sullivan for such a long time, long before they started dating. She had never seen him this mad, other than that time at the diner.


    Liam Sullivan was a monster, and she had poked the slumbering bear.


    ¡°His name is Leo,¡± she said. ¡°I don¡¯t know hisst name. I think he¡¯s a rogue. I heard from Cassandra¡ª I¡¯m not sure how much of it is true, but Leo apparently wants Hazel to be his fated mate.¡±


    Outside the room, Callum stood frozen, having heard every word through the open door. His face paled when he heard the familiar name.


    Levi caught sight of him and stepped out, closing the door behind him.


    ¡°You weren¡¯t supposed to hear that.¡±


    ¡°What the hell is going on?¡± Callum demanded. ¡°What is the Vox Solis? And how can someone just... want to make Hazel their mate? That¡¯s not how it works.¡±


    Levi ran a hand through his hair. ¡°We need to find Lucas. I¡¯ll exin on the way.¡±


    He turned to one of the guards. ¡°Keep them here. Liam¡¯s not done with them yet.¡±


    Momentster, Levi and Callum were in the car on the way to Lucas¡¯s location.


    ¡°The Vox Solis is a shadowy group,¡± Levi exined, eyes fixed on the road. ¡°They¡¯ve been around for a while, studying mate bonds, trying to find ways to manipte them.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible,¡± Callum insisted. ¡°Mates are chosen by the Moon Goddess. It¡¯s sacred.¡±


    ¡°And yet they¡¯ve had some sess,¡± Levi said grimly. ¡°Breaking bonds, forcing new ones... It¡¯s against thews of nature but they did it.¡±


    Callum shook his head in disbelief. ¡°And they want Hazel?¡±


    ¡°Apparently,¡± Levi said with a snarl. That was his fated mate. Where did this random pup spring up from and why couldn¡¯t he find his own mate?


    ¡°I heard Cassandra¡¯s name,¡± Callum suddenly carefully said. ¡°Why did Annie mention her¡ª?¡±


    Levi suddenly mmed on the brakes as a figure stumbled into the road.


    A woman, clothes torn and bloody, was running from the tree line. Behind her, three massive wolves emerged, snarling and snapping at her heels.


    ¡°Rogues,¡± Levi growled, throwing the car into park.

 Chapter 105: Truth and Escape

    <h4>Chapter 105: Chapter 105: Truth and Escape</h4>


    The woman stumbled, blood spattering onto the grass as she desperately tried to outrun the three massive rogues chasing her. Her eyes were wild with terror, her clothes torn and dirty.


    Without thinking, Callum flung open the car door.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Levi shouted, but Callum was already moving.


    An unexinable urge surged through him. It was a primal need to protect this stranger. His bones cracked and reshaped as he shifted mid-leap,nding on all fours as a sandy-colored wolf.


    With a ferocious growl, he charged at the nearest rogue, colliding with therger wolf and sending them both tumbling across the ground.


    Levi cursed under his breath before shifting as well. His ck wolf wasrger than Callum¡¯s, his movements more precise as he tackled another rogue. The third wolf hesitated, looking between its fallenpanions and the woman who had copsed by the roadside.


    Callum sank his teeth into his opponent¡¯s shoulder, tasting blood. The rogue yelped in pain, twisting to break free. Nearby, Levi had pinned his target to the ground, jaws mped around the rogue¡¯s throat in warning.


    The third wolf decided the fight wasn¡¯t worth it. With a frustrated howl, it retreated into the forest. Seeing their pack mate flee, the other two rogues struggled harder, eventually breaking free and limping after theirpanion.


    Callum stood panting, watching the rogues disappear into the trees. Only then did he shift back to human form, quickly pulling on his discarded clothes from the ground.


    ¡°Why are there rogues in Emberfang territory?!¡± Levi growled the moment he shifted back, sneering.


    He ran a frustrated hand through his hair, turning to face the other side. The security team was spread thin since half of the warriors had been sent out to search for Hazel. Rogues finding a new way into Emberfang was not good news.


    Meanwhile, the woman was still huddled on the ground, trembling.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Callum asked, approaching slowly.


    She looked up, her blue eyes meeting his. ¡°Thank¡ª¡±


    The world seemed to stop. A jolt of electricity shot through Callum¡¯s body, leaving him frozen in ce. His wolf howled in recognition, wing to get closer to her.


    ¡°Callum?¡± Levi called, now back in human form and dressed. ¡°We don¡¯t have time for¡ª¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s...¡±


    Callum was unable to shift his eyes away from the woman. Likewise, she stared at him with wide eyes, her lips slightly parted in surprise.


    ¡°My mate.¡±


    +++


    Hazel¡¯s POV


    I paced the small room for what felt like the hundredth time, searching for anything that might help me escape. Unfortunately, the door was locked, and there were little to no tools avable to help me pry the lock open.


    The sound of footsteps outside made me stiffen. I grabbed a heavymp from the bedside table, prepared to defend myself. The door opened, and Cassandra stepped in, carrying a tray of food.


    Her eyes widened at the sight of themp in my hands.


    ¡°I¡¯m not here to hurt you,¡± she slowly said.


    ¡°Sorry, but I can¡¯t exactly believe anything you say right now,¡± I snapped.


    Cassandra sighed, setting the tray down. ¡°I deserve that. But you should eat something.¡±


    I kept my distance,mp still gripped tightly. ¡°Where am I?¡±


    ¡°The headquarters of the Vox Solis,¡± she replied, sitting on the edge of the bed.


    ¡°And what exactly is the Vox Solis?¡± I demanded, though I suspected I already knew the answer.


    Cassandra¡¯s eyes met mine. ¡°We... research mate bonds. How to break them, how to create them.¡±


    A chill ran down my spine. ¡°That¡¯s not possible. The Goddess chooses our mates.¡±


    ¡°Science has found ways to interfere with even sacred bonds.¡± Her voice was soft, almost apologetic. ¡°I should know. I volunteered to be an experiment.¡±


    I lowered themp slightly, curiosity overtaking my fear. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not a werewolf, Hazel.¡± Cassandra smiled sadly, revealing sharp fangs.


    I sucked in a cold gasp of air through my teeth. I had already guessed as much from ourst exchange, but this felt like the final nail in the coffin. Pun unintended.


    ¡°I¡¯m a vampire. We don¡¯t have fated mates the way wolves do. I¡¯ve lived for nearly a century, watching everyone around me find their perfect match while I remained alone.¡±


    ¡°So you... what? Pretended to be Callum¡¯s mate?¡±


    ¡°The Vox Solis developed a way to simte mate bonds,¡± she exined. ¡°It¡¯s not perfect, not as deep as a true fated connection, but it feels real enough. I was desperate to experience that bond, so I volunteered. In exchange, I had to spy on you.¡±


    My stomach churned with disgust. ¡°You stole him from his real mate. You lied to him.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Cassandra whispered, regret evident in her voice. ¡°I¡¯ve fallen in love with him beyond the artificial bond. He¡¯s kind and gentle and everything I¡¯ve longed for. But now I¡¯ve hurt him irreparably.¡±


    I set down themp, my anger shifting to disturbed confusion. ¡°Why are you telling me this?¡±


    ¡°Because Leo wants to do the same to you,¡± she said inly. ¡°He wants to break your bond with the triplets and make you his mate instead.¡±


    My blood ran cold. ¡°That¡¯s why he kidnapped me?¡±


    Cassandra nodded. ¡°His mate died. He believes you¡¯re the key to filling that void.¡±


    I knew that already. But hearing it confirmed was chilling.


    ¡°I won¡¯t let him,¡± I said firmly, though fear gripped my heart. ¡°A forced bond isn¡¯t real.¡±


    ¡°No, it isn¡¯t,¡± Cassandra agreed. ¡°A chosen mate bond is nothingpared to a fated one. The connection is superficial, easily broken by distance or time. But what the Vox Solis simtes is a real fated bond. It doesn¡¯t mimic a chosen mate bond.¡±


    I crossed my arms. ¡°Is that supposed to make me feel better about being kidnapped?¡±


    ¡°No. I just wanted you to understand.¡± She stood, moving toward the door. ¡°And to apologize. For Callum, for this situation... for everything.¡±


    ¡°Your apology means nothing if you¡¯re still keeping me prisoner.¡±


    Cassandra paused at the doorway, conflict evident on her face. ¡°I wish things were different.¡±


    With that, she left. I moved to the door, expecting to hear the lock click into ce, but the sound never came. Had she forgotten to lock it? Or was this deliberate?


    I waited a few minutes, heart racing. Then, carefully, I pushed the door open a crack and peered out. The hallway was empty.


    This was my chance.


    Slipping out, I found myself in a long corridor lined with simr doors. The ce looked like a cross between a research facility and a clinic, with sterile white walls and fluorescent lighting. It was hard to believe anyone did anything here other than work, much less live here.


    I moved quietly, trying to find an exit.


    Voices echoed from around the corner, forcing me to duck into an alcove. Two men inb coats walked past, deep in conversation.


    ¡°...unstable readings from Subject 17,¡± one was saying. ¡°The rejection rate is nearly eighty percent now.¡±


    ¡°Leo won¡¯t be happy about another failure,¡± the other replied. ¡°Especially with his new acquisition.¡±


    I waited until they were gone before continuing down the hallway. Signs on the wall indicated that an exit was to the left. My pulse quickened as I neared the corner, hope rising in my chest.


    Just a few more steps to freedom. I could escape, find help, get back to my mates. I rounded the corner¡ª


    And collided with a solid chest.


    Strong hands gripped my arms before I could fall. I looked up to find cold gray-brown eyes staring down at me. The familiar face that resembled my mates twisted into a smirk.


    ¡°Did you really think you could escape?¡±

 Chapter 106: Congratulations, Sweetheart

    <h4>Chapter 106: Chapter 106: Congrattions, Sweetheart</h4>


    The smug look on Leo¡¯s face made me want to punch him. Hard. I twisted in his grip, trying to wrench my arms free.


    ¡°Let go of me,¡± I snarled, attempting to kick his shin.


    Leo effortlessly sidestepped my attack, his grip tightening. ¡°Not a chance, sweetheart. You¡¯ve caused enough trouble already.¡±


    I red up at him, hating how simr he looked to my mates yet how different he felt. Where the triplets¡¯ touch brought warmth andfort, Leo¡¯s fingers against my skin felt like ice, sending unpleasant shivers down my spine.


    ¡°I was just stretching my legs,¡± I lied, jutting my chin out defiantly.


    ¡°Sure you were.¡± His tone dripped with sarcasm as he started dragging me down a different hallway. ¡°And I¡¯m just the Easter Bunny on vacation.¡±


    Despite my struggling, Leo¡¯s strength far outmatched mine. My wolf whined anxiously inside me, sensing danger but unable to help. The clinical white walls blurred as he pulled me along, turning down corridors I hadn¡¯t explored yet.


    ¡°Where are you taking me?¡± I demanded, digging my heels into the floor without sess.


    ¡°Somewhere more... private.¡± The way his lips curled around the word made my stomach clench.


    We stopped in front of a heavy metal door. Leo punched a code into a keypad, then grabbed the silver handle to pull it open.


    I gasped as the metal sizzled against his palm, the unmistakable scent of burning flesh filling the air. Silver was toxic to werewolves¡ªeveryone knew that¡ªyet Leo didn¡¯t even flinch as it scorched his skin.


    ¡°What the hell?¡± I whispered, momentarily forgetting my escape ns.


    Leo nced at his blistering hand with indifference before shoving me into the room. ¡°Might want to keep your mouth closed. Wouldn¡¯t want flies going in.¡±


    I gritted my teeth immediately, scowling.


    Theboratory was smaller than I expected, filled with machines whose purposes I couldn¡¯t begin to guess. A single chair with metal restraints sat in the center, beside aputer station.


    ¡°Sit,¡± Leo ordered, closing the door behind us. The lock engaged with a heavy click.


    ¡°I¡¯d rather stand.¡±


    His eyes narrowed. ¡°That wasn¡¯t a request.¡±


    Before I could react, he seized my shoulders and forced me into the chair. Cold metal cuffs snapped around my wrists and ankles, securing me in ce.


    ¡°Is this really necessary?¡± I spat, jerking against the restraints.


    They didn¡¯t burn, so at least they weren¡¯t silver. But that didn¡¯t mean they weren¡¯t strong. Pulling against them did little to nothing.


    Leo ignored me, moving to a cab where he retrieved a syringe and a small vial. He quickly slipped on a pair of surgical gloves, covering his burned hands.


    ¡°What are you going to do?¡± My voice betrayed a hint of fear despite my best efforts.


    ¡°Just a simple blood test.¡± He approached with the needle, rolling up my sleeve. ¡°Hold still, or this will hurt more than it needs to.¡±


    I clenched my teeth as the needle pierced my skin. ¡°You people and your obsession with my blood. What are you even looking for this time?¡±


    Leo¡¯s expression remained impassive as he drew a vial of crimson liquid from my arm. ¡°Confirmation.¡±


    ¡°Of what?¡± I pressed, watching him withdraw the needle and press a cotton ball against the small puncture.


    ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon enough.¡± He turned away, taking my blood to a machine in the corner.


    The next hour and a half passed in ufortable silence. Leo worked methodically, transferring samples between machines, typing on keyboards, and staring at screens I couldn¡¯t see from my position. asionally, he¡¯d mutter something under his breath, too quiet for even my wolf ears to catch.


    I shifted in the chair, the metal cuffs chafing my wrists. ¡°You know, most first dates involve dinner and a movie, not kidnapping and blood tests.¡±


    Leo nced over his shoulder, one eyebrow raised. ¡°Who said this was a date?¡±


    ¡°The restraints gave it away,¡± I replied sarcastically. ¡°You seem like the kinky type.¡±


    ¡°You have no idea, sweetheart.¡± A dangerous smirk yed across his lips. ¡°Be careful. One wrong word and I might think you¡¯re flirting with me.¡±


    The casual threat sent an unwee heat through my body. I hated how my traitorous nervous system reacted to him.


    And to that familiar face.


    It was purely physical, I told myself. A confused response to familiar features.


    ¡°I meant what I said before,¡± I continued, trying to distract myself from our ufortable proximity. ¡°The tests must have already confirmed whatever you¡¯re looking for, or you wouldn¡¯t have moved me from that first location.¡±


    Leo turned back to his screen. ¡°Maybe I just wanted you all to myself.¡±


    ¡°ttering,¡± I scoffed. ¡°But we both know there¡¯s something specific you want from me. Is it because I look like your dead mate?¡±


    His shoulders stiffened¡ªa tiny reaction, but it told me I¡¯d hit a nerve.


    ¡°Helena was nothing like you,¡± he said coldly, still facing away.


    ¡°Yet here you are, obsessed with her twin.¡±


    Leo didn¡¯t respond, focusing intently on whatever results were processing. I leaned back in the chair, exasperated by his silence.


    ¡°This is ridiculous. I¡¯m not Helena. I can¡¯t rece her. Whatever you and your cult are trying to do¡ª¡±


    Theputer emitted a sharp beep. Leo froze, staring at the screen.


    For the first time since I¡¯d met him, Leo looked genuinely surprised. No¡ªshocked was more urate. His usual calcted mask slipped, revealing raw emotion that transformed his features into something almost vulnerable.


    The changested only seconds before his expression hardened again. He stood abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor with a harsh screech.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± I asked, unnerved by his reaction.


    Leo stalked toward me, eyes burning with intensity. Before I could protest, he gripped the arms of my chair and leaned down, his face inches from mine.


    ¡°Why did you lie?¡± he demanded, voice dangerously soft.


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± My heart hammered against my ribs as a faint sandalwood scent enveloped me.


    ¡°Don¡¯t y dumb with me, Hazel.¡± His breath was warm against my cheek. ¡°You know exactly what I mean.¡±


    ¡°I really don¡¯t,¡± I insisted, trying to lean away from his overwhelming presence. ¡°What results? What did you find?¡±


    Leo¡¯s grip tightened on the chair, knuckles whitening. ¡°Did they know? Or have you failed to tell them as well?¡±


    ¡°Tell who what?¡± Frustration mounted as I strained against the cuffs. ¡°Just tell me what the hell you¡¯re talking about!¡±


    His eyes bored into mine, searching for deception. Finding none, his brow furrowed in confusion.


    ¡°You honestly don¡¯t know?¡±


    ¡°Know what?¡± I practically shouted.


    Leo straightened slightly, allowing me to see past him to theputer screen. Numbers and graphs filled most of the disy, meaningless to my untrained eye. But at the bottom, in bold red letters, three words stood out clearly:


    PREGNANCY TEST: POSITIVE


    My mouth immediately ran dry.


    ¡°I¡¯m... pregnant?¡± The words felt foreign on my tongue.


    ¡°So it would seem.¡± Leo¡¯s expression was unreadable now. ¡°Congrattions, sweetheart. You¡¯re carrying the heir of the Emberfang Pack.¡±

 Chapter 107: Don鈥檛 Let Perry Find You

    <h4>Chapter 107: Chapter 107: Don¡¯t Let Perry Find You</h4>


    I stared at the screen, my mind struggling to process those three words. Pregnant. I was pregnant.


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible,¡± I whispered, even as my hand instinctively moved toward my stomach, stopped by the restraint. ¡°I took a test. It was negative.¡±


    Leo snorted, crossing his arms. ¡°Home pregnancy tests aren¡¯t exactly the pinnacle of medical science, sweetheart.¡±


    My thoughts raced chaotically. It made perfect sense. The sudden mood swings. The bouts of nausea I¡¯d been experiencing. The headaches that came and went. I couldn¡¯t even remember when myst cycle had been.


    With all the unprotected sex with the triplets, I should have seen thising.


    ¡°But the test...¡± I trailed off, remembering how disappointed I¡¯d felt seeing that single pink line.


    ¡°False negatives happen all the time,¡± Leo said, watching me closely. ¡°Especially if you tested too early.¡±


    Despite everything¡ªbeing kidnapped, restrained in this sterileb, separated from my mates¡ªI felt a wave of happiness wash over me. A baby. Our baby. A piece of Lucas, Liam, and Levi growing inside me.


    ¡°I¡¯m having their baby,¡± I whispered, a small smile forming on my lips.


    For a brief moment, I forgot where I was.


    I imagined telling the triplets, seeing their faces light up with joy. Lucas would probably try to hide his emotions, but his eyes would give him away. Liam would sweep me up in his arms, spinning me around. And Levi? He¡¯d probably drop to his knees and talk to my still-t stomach.


    The disappointment I¡¯d felt seeing that negative result vanished. I missed my mates desperately, but now I carried a piece of them with me.


    ¡°Don¡¯t get too attached,¡± Leo said, shattering my daydream. ¡°The fetus will need to go before we proceed.¡±


    I froze, my blood turning to ice. ¡°What did you just say?¡±


    Leo turned back to theputer, typing something with casual indifference.


    ¡°The procedure can¡¯t be performed with a pregnancy. It would interfere with the hormonal adjustments and bond restructuring.¡±


    ¡°No.¡± The word came out as a growl, my wolf rising to the surface. I didn¡¯t even know or care what he was talking about. ¡°You¡¯re not touching my baby.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be dramatic, Hazel.¡± Leo sighed, not even looking at me. ¡°It¡¯s just a cluster of cells at this point.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s my child!¡± I screamed, yanking against the restraints with all my strength. ¡°The child of my mates!¡±


    ¡°Former mates,¡± he corrected coldly. ¡°Once the procedure isplete.¡±


    Rage and protective instinct surged through me like electricity. I pulled against the metal cuffs with everything I had, feeling something within me snap.


    A loud crack echoed through the room as the metal cuff around my right wrist split apart. Leo whirled around, eyes wide with shock. They may not be silver cuffs, but they were meant to still be able to hold a werewolf down with significant ease.


    I immediately reached for my other wrist, trying to break that restraint too, but it wouldn¡¯t budge. My right wrist throbbed with pain, blood trickling down my hand where the metal had cut into my skin.


    ¡°How did you¡ª¡± Leo started, lunging toward me.


    I swung my free arm at him. I caught his cheek, my nails leaving four bloody scratches across his face.


    ¡°Stay away from me!¡± I snarled. ¡°You¡¯re not taking my baby!¡±


    Leo pressed his hand to his bleeding cheek, looking more annoyed than hurt. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be able to muster such strength while pregnant. The energy should be diverted to the fetus.¡±


    ¡°Guess I¡¯m special,¡± I spat, continuing to struggle against the remaining restraints.


    Leo approached more cautiously this time, his eyes fixed on my bleeding wrist. ¡°Stop fighting, Hazel. You¡¯re only hurting yourself.¡±


    ¡°Better me than my baby,¡± I hissed, tears of frustration and fear welling in my eyes.


    A sudden knock at the door made us both freeze.


    ¡°Everything okay in there?¡± a muffled voice called from the hallway. ¡°I heard shouting.¡±


    Leo pressed his hand over my mouth, his eyes warning me to stay quiet. The pressure of his palm against my lips made me want to bite down, but I restrained myself, knowing an outburst might bring more enemies.


    ¡°Everything¡¯s fine,¡± Leo called back, his voice impressively calm. ¡°Just dropped something heavy on my foot. Clumsy moment.¡±


    The silence that followed was tense. I could hear my heart pounding in my ears.


    ¡°If you¡¯re sure...¡± The voice sounded uncertain. ¡°I didn¡¯t take you for the clumsy type.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t sleep welltely, I guess,¡± Leo answered.


    There was a grumble in reply.


    We remained frozen until footsteps retreated down the hallway. Only then did Leo remove his hand from my mouth, wiping it on his pants as if I¡¯d contaminated him.


    Our faces were inches apart, his body practically pinning me to the chair. I could smell the metallic scent of his blood from the scratches I¡¯d left, mixed with that familiar sandalwood.


    ¡°Get away from me,¡± I whispered harshly.


    Leo didn¡¯t move, his eyes searching mine with an intensity that made me ufortable. For a moment, something flickered in his expression. I couldn¡¯t tell what it was.


    ¡°Please,¡± I added, my voice breaking. ¡°Don¡¯t take my baby from me.¡±


    He straightened abruptly, running a hand through his hair in frustration. Without a word, he moved to unlock the remaining restraints, gripping my upper arm firmly once I was free.


    ¡°I¡¯m taking you back to my quarters,¡± he said, his voice strangely tight. ¡°This room isn¡¯t secure enough.¡±


    I blinked in confusion. ¡°You¡¯re not going to...¡± I couldn¡¯t finish the sentence.


    He jabbed a few keys on the machine and the results were instantly wiped from the screen.


    ¡°We¡¯ll deal with thatter,¡± he muttered, pulling me toward the door. ¡°Right now, we need to get you somewhere safe before Perry finds out about this.¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s Perry?¡± I asked as he checked the hallway before pulling me along.


    Leo didn¡¯t answer, moving swiftly through the corridors. My wrist stung with each movement, but I could already feel the skin beginning to heal. The bleeding had slowed significantly.


    We reached his room without encountering anyone else. Leo pushed me inside, locking the door behind us.


    ¡°Stay put,¡± he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument. ¡°If you try to escape again and Perry finds you wandering around, things will end badly for you and your...¡± He paused, seemingly unable to say the word ¡®baby.¡¯


    ¡°Who is Perry?¡± I repeated, wrapping my arms protectively around my midsection.


    Leo¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°Someone you don¡¯t want to meet.¡±


    ¡°Are they in charge of this ce?¡± I pressed. ¡°In charge of you?¡±


    His eyes shed with something like anger or perhaps pride wounded. ¡°No one is in charge of me.¡±


    ¡°But Perry is in charge of this operation,¡± I concluded, watching his expression carefully.


    Leo moved toward the door without answering. ¡°Don¡¯t leave this room. For your own safety.¡± He hesitated, then added, ¡°And if you want to keep that thing safe.¡±


    The door closed behind him with a heavy click. A terrifying realization dawned upon me.


    Leo wasn¡¯t the boss of this operation like I had initially thought.


    Perry was.

 Chapter 108: Impossible Bonds

    <h4>Chapter 108: Chapter 108: Impossible Bonds</h4>


    Third POV


    ¡°What did you just say?¡± Levi¡¯s eyes widened as he stared at Callum, who remained frozen, eyes locked on the woman before him.


    ¡°She¡¯s my mate,¡± Callum repeated, his voice barely above a whisper.


    Levi blinked rapidly, trying to process the information. ¡°How is this possible?¡±


    The strange woman¡¯s blue eyes darted between them, confusion written across her face. She was still catching her breath from the chase, her ck hair disheveled and clothes torn in ces. Despite her ragged appearance, her eyes were still bright.


    She stared straight at Callum.


    Callum was visibly conflicted. His jaw clenched and unclenched as he took a step back, then forward again, as if his body couldn¡¯t decide whether to approach or retreat from the woman.


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± he finally muttered, running a hand through his dirty blond hair. ¡°This can¡¯t be happening.¡±


    The woman frowned. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Her voice was soft but clear. ¡°You feel it too, right?¡±


    ¡°I do, but...¡± Callum¡¯s voice trailed off, his expression pained.


    Levi stepped closer, cing a firm hand on Callum¡¯s shoulder. Thest thing they needed was anotherplication. They were supposed to be tracking Lucas and Percival, trying to catch up with them before they reached Esther¡¯s hideout.


    ¡°We need to figure this out quickly,¡± Levi said, then turned his attention to the woman. ¡°Who are you? Why were those rogues chasing you?¡±


    The woman stood up straighter, brushing dirt off her clothes. ¡°My name is Kendra. I¡¯m... I¡¯m a rogue myself, I suppose. Though not by choice.¡±


    ¡°Where are you from?¡± Levi pressed, keeping his tone even but authoritative.


    ¡°Originally from the Redhowl Pack,¡± she replied.


    ¡°That¡¯s far away,¡± Levimented, eyebrows raised. The Redhowl Pack was at least three states over.


    Kendra nodded. ¡°Our pack was attacked by rogues about five years ago. I¡¯ve been on my own ever since, moving from ce to ce.¡±


    ¡°And what were you doing here, of all ces?¡± Levi¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. The timing was too convenient to be coincidence.


    ¡°I was just wandering around a nearby street when those rogues spotted me,¡± Kendra exined, wrapping her arms around herself. ¡°I don¡¯t know why, but they immediately attacked. They seemed intent on killing me, not just scaring me off their territory.¡±


    Levi studied her face for signs of deception but found none. ¡°Do you have enemies? Anyone who might want you dead?¡±


    Kendra shook her head. ¡°None that I know of. I¡¯ve been trying to keep a low profile. I blend in with humans, never stay in one ce too long. I just moved to this area a couple of weeks ago.¡±


    Throughout the conversation, Callum had remained uncharacteristically silent. Levi could practically see the wheels turning in his friend¡¯s mind.


    Kendra¡¯s gaze kept drifting back to Callum. She pursed her lips, her eyes remaining fixed on him. It was too easy to guess what she was thinking.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to find my mate today,¡± she said softly. ¡°I¡¯d almost given up hope.¡±


    Callum winced at her words.


    Levi caught his arm.


    ¡°Excuse us for a moment,¡± he said.


    He pulled Callum several paces away, keeping his voice low. ¡°What the hell is going on, Callum? How can she be your mate when Cassandra is?¡±


    Callum ran his hands over his face. ¡°I don¡¯t know! But I can¡¯t deny what I¡¯m feeling. It¡¯s the same pull I felt with Cassandra, maybe even stronger.¡±


    ¡°Is that even possible? Having two mates?¡±


    ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be,¡± Callum hissed, frustration evident in his voice. ¡°I thought that you guys are the exception because you¡¯re triplets. You share a mate bond with Hazel because you¡¯re essentially parts of the same whole. But this? This makes no sense.¡±


    Levi frowned, thinking through the possibilities. ¡°Could they be rted somehow? Twins separated at birth or something equally dramatic?¡±


    ¡°Look at them,¡± Callum said. ¡°Cassandra is pale with tinum blonde hair. Kendra has ck hair and olive skin. They look nothing alike.¡±


    ¡°Distant rtives, then?¡± Levi suggested, though he knew he was reaching.


    ¡°Even if they were, I doubt that¡¯s how mate bonds work.¡± Callum¡¯s voice was strained. ¡°Something is very wrong here, Levi.¡±


    Levi couldn¡¯t argue with that. In all werewolf history, the only times where a wolf had multiple mates had been when those mates were twins, triplets, or so on. There had never been records of two strangers sharing the same mate.


    Especially two strangers who look nothing alike.


    ¡°What do you want to do?¡± Levi asked finally. ¡°We need to keep moving. Lucas and Percival are still waiting for us.¡±


    Callum nced back at Kendra, who was watching them with worried eyes. ¡°Maybe she should go back to Emberfang. She¡¯d be safe there while we figure this out.¡±


    Levi shook his head immediately. ¡°No way. That¡¯s too risky. We don¡¯t know anything about her, and on the small chance that she¡¯s a spy or something, we can¡¯t send her back to our pack.¡±


    ¡°You think she could be with the Vox Solis?¡± Callum asked, his voice dropping even lower.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Levi admitted. ¡°But I¡¯m not taking chances when ites to the pack¡¯s safety, especially with everything that had just happened. Maybe she¡¯s just here to break Annie out.¡±


    ¡°So what then?¡±


    Levi considered their options. ¡°Shees with us. We keep an eye on her, and maybe she can even help. If those rogues were specifically targeting her, it might be connected to what¡¯s happening with Hazel.¡±


    Callum nodded reluctantly. ¡°Fine. But I¡¯m not telling her about Cassandra yet. Not until I figure out what¡¯s going on.¡±


    ¡°Your call,¡± Levi said, though he didn¡¯t envy Callum¡¯s position. ¡°But don¡¯t wait too long. This kind of secret has a way of blowing up spectacrly.¡±


    They returned to Kendra, who straightened up at their approach. Her eyes immediately sought Callum¡¯s, but he avoided direct contact.


    ¡°You¡¯reing with us,¡± Levi announced. ¡°We¡¯re tracking some other members of our party and can¡¯t afford to lose any more time.¡±


    Relief washed over Kendra¡¯s face. ¡°Thank you. I don¡¯t think I¡¯d survive another rogue attack on my own.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll protect you,¡± Callum said automatically, then winced at his own words.


    Levi watched the interaction with concern. The situation was growing moreplicated by the minute.


    All of a sudden, Levi felt an aching pang. He missed Hazel. She would know what to do or say to Callum in such a situation. If only she were here.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get moving,¡± Levi said, gesturing toward their vehicle. ¡°Lucas and Percival have enough of a head start already.¡±


    As they walked back to the car, Levi caught Callum stealing nces at Kendra. The pull of the mate bond was undeniable¡ªLevi knew that feeling all too well. But if Cassandra was truly Callum¡¯s mate too, then something supernatural and potentially sinister was at y.


    And at this point, he was bing more and more inclined to think that anything wrong was the work of the Vox Solis.


    ¡°Get in,¡± Levi told Kendra, opening the back door of their SUV. ¡°We¡¯ve got a long drive ahead and a lot of catching up to do.¡±


    Kendra slid into the backseat, while Callum and Levi took the shotgun and driver¡¯s seat respectively. The moment Levi started the engine, he clenched his teeth.


    ¡®Lucas, I¡¯m afraid that we might have a new problem.¡¯

 Chapter 109: An Unusual Bunker

    <h4>Chapter 109: Chapter 109: An Unusual Bunker</h4>


    Third POV


    The sleek ck SUV rolled to a stop at the edge of a dense forest on the outskirts of Ironhound territory. Lucas cut the engine and peered through the windshield at the rocky terrain ahead of them.


    ¡°This is it?¡± Percival asked, his weathered face creased with skepticism.


    Lucas nodded. ¡°ording to the coordinates Felix gave us.¡±


    The drive through Ironhound Packnds had been faster than expected. Alpha Joseph had granted them special permission to cross directly through their territory¡ªa rare courtesy that saved them valuable time. Now they faced what appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary hillside with scattered cave openings.


    ¡°Hard to believe this is where they¡¯d keep a research facility,¡± Percival muttered, opening the passenger door.


    Lucas stepped out into the crisp air. ¡°The best hideouts are the ones that don¡¯t look like one.¡±


    They approached the hillside cautiously. Lucas¡¯s eyes scanned the area, noting theck of footprints or signs of recent activity.


    The silence was unsettling. There were no birds chirping, no small animals scurrying about. It didn¡¯t seem like an ordinary part of the forest.


    ¡°Something¡¯s not right,¡± Lucas said, his voice low. ¡°I thought this ce was supposed to be crawling with rogues.¡±


    Percival¡¯s hand moved to the knife hidden beneath his jacket. ¡°Maybe the Vox Solis had them all removed from the grounds.¡±


    Lucas sniffed the air. Instead of the smell of wet grass and mildew, there was a strange mixture of antiseptic and alcohol drifting from one of the cave openings. It was subtle but distinct, especially out here in the middle of nature where such scents didn¡¯t belong.


    ¡°This way,¡± he gestured, leading Percival toward the opening.


    As they approached, the unnatural scent grew stronger. Lucas was about to step inside when a voice pierced through his mind.


    ¡®Uh... Lucas, I¡¯m afraid that we might have a new problem.¡¯


    Lucas halted, raising his hand to signal Percival to wait. Levi sounded troubled.


    ¡®What is it?¡¯ Lucas responded mentally.


    ¡®We ran into a situation. Turns out, we might have to start a club soon. Callum has a second mate.¡¯


    Lucas frowned. ¡®What do you mean a second mate? Does Cassandra have a twin?¡¯


    ¡®Not likely. Her name¡¯s Kendra. She ims she¡¯s from the Redhowl Pack. Some rogues were chasing her when we found her. But here¡¯s the weird part¡ªCallum says he feels the mate bond with her just like he does with Cassandra.¡¯


    There was a pause before Levi continued to speak.


    ¡®I swear, man. They look nothing alike.¡¯


    Lucas¡¯s jaw clenched. ¡®That¡¯s not possible. Unless...¡¯


    ¡®Unless what?¡¯


    ¡®Unless one of them isn¡¯t his real mate.¡¯


    There was a brief pause before Levi responded. ¡®You¡¯re thinking what I¡¯m thinking, aren¡¯t you? The Vox Solis.¡¯


    ¡®If they¡¯re researching how to break and create mate bonds...¡¯ Lucas¡¯s thoughts trailed off.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Percival asked, noticing Lucas¡¯s distant expression.


    Lucas held up a finger, asking for one more moment of silence.


    ¡®Where are you now?¡¯ he asked Levi.


    ¡®On our way to you. We¡¯re bringing Kendra with us. Not sure if we can trust her, but leaving her behind seemed riskier.¡¯


    ¡®Good call. How far out are you?¡¯


    ¡®About forty minutes if I push it.¡¯


    ¡®Be careful. We don¡¯t know what we¡¯re walking into here.¡¯


    ¡®Will do. See you soon.¡¯


    The mind link closed, and Lucas turned to Percival.


    ¡°We might have aplication,¡± he exined briefly about Callum¡¯s situation with the two supposed mates.


    Percival¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°If the Vox Solis can manipte mate bonds...¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Lucas nodded. ¡°One or both of these women could be working for them.¡±


    ¡°Or worse,¡± Percival added grimly, ¡°they¡¯re perfecting their techniques.¡±


    Lucas¡¯s face hardened. ¡°Let¡¯s keep moving. Levi and the others will catch up.¡±


    They approached the cave entrance again. The antiseptic smell was stronger now, almost burning Lucas¡¯s sensitive nose. As they ventured deeper, the natural rock walls gradually became reinforced walls and a metallic floor.


    ¡°Silver,¡± Lucas muttered as a wave of dizziness hit him. ¡°The bunker¡¯s lined with it.¡±


    Percival reached out to steady himself against the wall but quickly pulled back his hand, wincing at the burn.


    ¡°Wait here,¡± Lucasmanded, rushing back to the car.


    He returned momentster with a pair of thick rubber gloves. He handed one to Percival and kept the other for himself.


    ¡°These won¡¯t block itpletely, but they¡¯ll help,¡± he exined.


    Even with the gloves, the silver¡¯s effect was immediate. It felt like he was holding a hot mug through a thin cloth.


    Lucas gritted his teeth and pushed forward. He would be damned if he let this little bit of difort stop him from finding Hazel.


    The hallway opened into arger space. The clinical smell was overwhelming now. Lucas flicked on his shlight, revealing what looked like a research facility. Computer terminals lined one wall, and various medical equipment sat on stainless steel tables.


    ¡°Looks like they cleared out in a hurry,¡± Percival observed, pointing to fallen chairs and scattered papers.


    Lucas knelt to examine some of the documents on the floor. Most were meaningless to him¡ªcharts and graphs with scientific terminology he didn¡¯t understand. But one paper caught his eye. He picked it up, and his blood ran cold.


    It was Hazel¡¯s medical chart. Her name, vital statistics, and several notes about her patibility¡± with various treatments.


    ¡°Those bastards,¡± Lucas growled, his grip tightening on the paper.


    They were testing her. Judging from what this cult researched on, there could only be one reason.


    They were nning to change Hazel¡¯s fated mate. Just the thought of it had Lucas¡¯s blood boiling with anger.


    A call from another room interrupted his thoughts.


    ¡°Lucas! You need to see this,¡± Percival¡¯s voice echoed from down a hallway.


    Lucas tucked the paper into his pocket and headed toward Percival¡¯s voice. As he walked, something else caught his attention¡ªa familiar scent cutting through the antiseptic.


    It was sweet. There were even lingering hints of her favorite shampoo. Lucas would recognize this scent even if he was in the grave.


    Hazel.


    Lucas froze mid-step, his heart hammering in his chest. The scent was faint but unmistakable.


    He followed the scent trail, his pace quickening with each step. It led away from Percival¡¯s voice, down a different corridor. The silver lining in the walls made his head spin, but he pushed through the difort.


    The corridor ended near a flight of stairs and a heavy metal door. Lucas ced his gloved hand on the handle and pushed. It swung open with a metallic groan, revealing a small room.


    There was a small bed, a folded table, and a chair. In the corner was a small bathroom attached. Hazel¡¯s scent was strong here.


    ¡°Lucas?¡± Percival called out,ing up behind him. ¡°What did you find?¡±


    Lucas didn¡¯t reply. Instead, his eyesnded on a small object on the floor. He quickly crossed the room and picked it up, his eyes widening with recognition.


    A pregnancy test!

 Chapter 110: Tell Me About Her

    <h4>Chapter 110: Chapter 110: Tell Me About Her</h4>


    Hazel¡¯s POV


    ¡°Damn it,¡± I muttered, mming my palm against the wall.


    Night had fallen but I couldn¡¯t stop pacing. My eyes scanned every inch of the room for the tenth time. There had to be a way out.


    I tried the door handle again, knowing it would be locked but hoping for a miracle. Nothing. The windows were out of question, and the air vent was too small for even a child to crawl through.


    My mind drifted to Lucas, Liam, and Levi. Were they looking for me? Did they even know where to start? The thought of never seeing them again made my chest ache with a pain so deep I could barely breathe.


    I sank onto the bed, cradling my still-t belly protectively.


    ¡°We¡¯ll be okay,¡± I whispered to my unborn child. ¡°Your dads will find us.¡±


    Exhaustion finally won over my anxiety, and I fell into a restless sleep. In my dreams, the triplets were there, their faces clear as day. Lucas¡¯s stern but loving gaze. Liam¡¯s warm smile. Levi¡¯s yful wink.


    I reached out, touching Levi¡¯s face, feeling the warmth of his skin under my fingertips.


    ¡°Damn. Are we throwing ourselves into each other¡¯s arms already, sweetheart?¡±


    My eyes snapped open. The voice was all wrong. It wasn¡¯t Levi¡¯s. I jerked my hand back in horror when I realized I¡¯d been caressing Leo¡¯s face. He sat on the edge of the bed, eyebrows raised in amusement.


    ¡°Get away from me!¡± I scrambled backward until my spine hit the wall.


    Leo chuckled, standing up. ¡°Rx. If I wanted to hurt you, I would¡¯ve done it while you were drooling in your sleep.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t drool,¡± I snapped, wiping my mouth just to be sure.


    His eyes glinted with that familiar mischief that reminded me too much of Levi. ¡°Whatever helps you sleep at night.¡±


    I red at him, pulling the nket tighter around me. ¡°What do you want?¡±


    Leo leaned over to the bedside table and picked up a bowl I hadn¡¯t noticed before. The scent of chicken soup wafted toward me, making my stomach growl loudly.


    ¡°Thought you might be hungry.¡± He handed the bowl to me.


    I didn¡¯t move to take it. ¡°How do I know it¡¯s not poisoned?¡±


    He rolled his eyes. ¡°If I wanted you dead, there are much more efficient ways than poisoning your soup.¡±


    When I still didn¡¯t reach for it, he sighed dramatically. ¡°Fine.¡± He took a spoonful and swallowed it. ¡°See? Not poisoned. Now eat.¡±


    My hands shook as I epted the bowl, still wary. ¡°I won¡¯t die from this. But my baby might.¡±


    Leo¡¯s expression turned cold. ¡°Please. There are many other easier ways to get rid of that lump of cells growing in you. Now eat it or starve. Your choice. I¡¯m not the one eating for two.¡±


    Thement stung, but my hunger won out. I took a cautious sip, then another. It was surprisingly good¡ªrich broth with chunks of chicken and vegetables. Before I knew it, I¡¯d emptied the bowl.


    ¡°Wow,¡± Leo said dryly. ¡°If I¡¯d known you were starving, I would¡¯ve brought a trough.¡±


    ¡°Shut up,¡± I muttered, but then my empty stomach growled again, betraying me. I bit my lip before asking, ¡°Do you have any more?¡±


    His lips twitched. ¡°The pregnantdy wants seconds? Shocking.¡±


    Despite his sarcasm, he stood and retrieved another serving from somewhere outside the room. When he returned, he handed me the refilled bowl.


    ¡°Try not to inhale it this time,¡± he said, sitting back down on the chair across from me.


    I was too hungry to care about hisments. I dug in eagerly, but in my haste, the spoon slipped. Hot soup sshed onto my hand and wrist.


    ¡°Shit!¡± I hissed, nearly dropping the bowl.


    Leo moved with surprising speed, taking the bowl from me and setting it aside. ¡°For Goddess¡¯s sake, be careful,¡± he snapped, but there was something else in his voice.


    Was it concern? Either way, I didn¡¯t have the time to think it through.


    Leo grasped my wrist, examining the reddening skin.


    ¡°It¡¯s not bad,¡± he muttered under his breath. ¡°Just a minor burn.¡±


    His touch was gentle as he led me to the small bathroom and ran cold water over my skin. The cool relief was immediate.


    ¡°Seriously, you¡¯re just like Helena,¡± he murmured, almost to himself. ¡°Always rushing. Never looking before leaping.¡±


    I stared at him. ¡°What was she like? Helena?¡±


    Leo¡¯s hand froze on my wrist. His jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought he might yell at me. Instead, he carefully dried my hand with a towel and stepped back.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡±


    ¡°It matters to me,¡± I insisted. ¡°You said she was my sister. My twin. I didn¡¯t even know she existed until recently.¡±


    ¡°You have your parents to thank for that,¡± he snapped, his eyes darkening. ¡°They shipped you to different packs like unwanted baggage. Helena grew up without knowing you existed either.¡±


    I felt a pang of sadness. ¡°Please, Leo. I want to know about her.¡±


    Leo turned away, his shoulders tense. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to tell.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not true. You loved her. She was your mate. There must be a thousand things you could tell me about her.¡±


    ¡°And what good would that do?¡± he growled, spinning back to face me. ¡°She¡¯s gone, and talking about her won¡¯t bring her back.¡±


    ¡°But it might help me understand why you¡¯re doing all this.¡± I took a step closer to him. ¡°Why you want me to rece her. Why you kidnapped me. Why¡ª¡±


    ¡°Stop!¡± Leo¡¯s voice echoed off the walls. His chest heaved with emotion.


    I fell silent, watching him struggle to regain hisposure.


    After a long moment, he sighed. ¡°There¡¯s no doubt you two are sisters.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re both stubborn as hell. Both of you keep pushing until you get what you want.¡± A ghost of a smile crossed his face. ¡°It¡¯s a miracle you turned out so alike, even though you were raised apart.¡±


    My heart quickened. This was the most he¡¯d ever revealed about Helena. All my life, I¡¯ve never had any family to call my own. I wanted¡ªneeded¡ªto know more.


    ¡°Tell me about her, Leo. Please.¡±


    Leo studied my face for what felt like an eternity. Something in his expression shifted, like he was seeing someone else when he looked at me. Maybe he was seeing Helena.


    He ran a hand through his hair and sighed deeply.


    ¡°Fine!¡± he eximed. ¡°What do you want to know?¡±

 Chapter 111: The First Meeting

    <h4>Chapter 111: Chapter 111: The First Meeting</h4>


    Third POV, shback


    Helena¡¯s lungs burned as she sprinted through the dense forest. Twigs snapped beneath her feet, branches whipped against her face, but she didn¡¯t slow down.


    She couldn¡¯t. The snarls and howls behind her grew closer with each passing second.


    ¡°Shit,¡± she gasped to herself when she cast one look behind. ¡°Oh no no no no.¡±


    The moon hung high above, casting just enough light for her to navigate through the trees.


    She¡¯d been on her own since she had escaped the rogues when the Eclipse Pack was attacked. She slept in abandoned buildings and stole food when necessary. But through the years, she¡¯d never been in danger like this before.


    Her foot caught on an exposed root, and she tumbled forward. Pain shot through her ankle as she crashed into the dirt. Panic seized her chest as she tried to scramble back to her feet, but her ankle gave way beneath her.


    ¡°There she is!¡± a gruff voice called out.


    Three men emerged from the shadows, their eyes gleaming with predatory satisfaction. They weren¡¯t shifted, but it wasn¡¯t difficult to sniff them out.


    Rogues. The worst kind of werewolves¡ªthose who had either left their packs or been banished.


    ¡°Nowhere left to run, little girl,¡± the tallest one sneered. His face was scarred, his teeth yellowed when he grinned.


    Helena backed away, dragging her injured ankle. ¡°What do you want from me?¡±


    The second rogue, a stocky man with a shaved head,ughed. ¡°You¡¯ll fetch a nice price at the auction. Young, pretty, unimed. Easy pickings.¡±


    ¡°No pack, no friends, no family,¡± the third one taunted. ¡°No one to miss you.¡±


    Helena¡¯s blood ran cold. She¡¯d heard about these auctions before. Victims from every supernatural pool¡ªespecially she-wolves¡ªwere sold to the highest bidder. Men became ves, females breeding stock.


    She¡¯d rather die.


    ¡°Like hell,¡± she spat, summoning her courage.


    When the first rogue moved closer, Helena struck. Sheshed out with her good leg, catching him square in the face. His nose crunched under her boot, blood spurting as he howled in pain. The second rogue lunged for her, but she drove her fist upward, connecting with his groin. He doubled over, wheezing.


    The third rogue wasn¡¯t as easily caught off guard. His eyes narrowed, and with a sickening sound of cracking bones, he began to shift.


    Terror gripped Helena¡¯s heart. She was only seventeen¡ªshe hadn¡¯t even received her wolf yet. She couldn¡¯t shift to defend herself.


    The first two rogues, recovered from her attacks, began shifting as well. Three massive wolves now surrounded her, lips pulled back to reveal razor-sharp teeth, saliva dripping onto the forest floor.


    Helena backed up until her spine hit a tree trunk. This was it. She was done for.


    Thergest wolf lunged. Helena threw her arm up in defense, feeling teeth sink into her forearm. She screamed in pain as blood flowed from the wound. She tried to run again but copsed as her injured ankle gave way.


    That was when a savage growl cut through the night. Helena¡¯s eyes shot open. This howl came from a distance away. It was deeper, more powerful than the others.


    A ck blur crashed into the wolves attacking her. Helena watched in shock as a massive ck wolf, at least twice the size of the rogues, tore into them with frightening efficiency. He moved with deadly precision, jaws snapping, ws shing.


    The rogues fought back, but they were clearly outmatched.


    After a brief, bloody struggle, the three rogues retreated into the darkness, yelping in pain and defeat.


    The ck wolf stood still, chest heaving from exertion. Then he turned to face Helena.


    She froze, terrified he might attack her next. She tried to scramble backward, wincing as pain shot through her arm and ankle.


    To her surprise, the wolf¡¯s form began to shift. Bones cracked and realigned, fur receded, and within seconds, a man stood before her.


    A very naked man.


    Helena averted her eyes, feeling heat rise to her cheeks.


    ¡°You¡¯re¡ªyou¡¯re not wearing anything.¡±


    ¡°That tends to happen when you shift,¡± he replied, his voice deep and tinged with amusement. He didn¡¯t seem the least bit concerned about the fact that he was parading himself in front of a stranger in his birthday suit.


    Despite her embarrassment, she couldn¡¯t help but notice his impressive physique¡ªtall, muscr, with broad shoulders and¡ª


    Helena gulped, quickly averting her eyes again. She shouldn¡¯t look down any further. But it didn¡¯t stop her imagination from running wild.


    He extended his hand to her. ¡°Can you stand?¡±


    Helena hesitantly took his hand, still trying not to look at him directly.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± she mumbled. ¡°For saving me.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve got guts,¡± he said, helping her to her feet. ¡°Not many would take on three rogues with nothing but a sharp tongue and quick fists.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t have much choice,¡± she replied, wincing as she put weight on her ankle. ¡°I wasn¡¯t the one that picked a fight with them.¡±


    Helena watched as realization dawned in his eyes. Rogues often only attacked for a handful of things. It wasn¡¯t difficult to piece the puzzle when their prey was someone young and attractive.


    He studied her injuries with a frown. ¡°Those need cleaning. There¡¯s a stream nearby.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine,¡± Helena insisted. ¡°I don¡¯t even know who you are.¡±


    ¡°Someone who just saved your ass,¡± he pointed out with a raised eyebrow. ¡°But sure, hobble around the forest bleeding. I¡¯m sure that won¡¯t attract more rogues. You know, injured woman and all.¡± He waved his hand nonchntly. ¡°It would be too easy to pluck you off the forest floor and chuck you into the next auction hall.¡±


    Helena red at him. ¡°Do you always insult people you rescue?¡±


    A smile tugged at his lips. ¡°Only the pretty ones who run straight into trouble.¡± He shifted back into his wolf form, nudging her leg with his nose before turning to leave.


    ¡°Wait!¡± Helena called after him. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±


    The wolf paused, ncing back at her with intelligent eyes. Then he continued into the forest, disappearing among the trees.


    +++


    Hazel¡¯s POV


    ¡°Then? What happened?¡± I asked,pletely absorbed in Leo¡¯s story.


    Leo leaned back in his chair, a distant look in his eyes.


    ¡°The second time we met was in a bar in a whole different country. In Croatia, if I remember correctly.¡±


    He shook his head, a small smile ying on his lips.


    ¡°Helena seemed to always find trouble wherever she went.¡±

 Chapter 112: Second Encounter

    <h4>Chapter 112: Chapter 112: Second Encounter</h4>


    Third POV


    Six months after their first encounter, Helena sat at a dimly lit bar somewhere on the Croatian coast. The ce reeked of cigarette smoke and cheap alcohol, but it catered to supernatural beings. It was a perfect ce to blend in while she figured out her next move.


    At eighteen, she had finally shifted for the first time. Her wolf was beautiful and strong. However, for some reason, ever since that time in the woods, rogues followed her wherever she went.


    It didn¡¯t matter which country she was in. As long as it was neutral territory, they would hunt her down.


    Helena checked the clock on the wall. She had been here for almost an hour. If she stayed any longer, the rogues would surely find her again.


    ¡°Buy you a drink, beautiful?¡± a silky voice asked.


    Helena turned to find three well-dressed men watching her. Their pale skin and too-perfect features gave them away immediately. Vampires.


    ¡°Not interested,¡± she replied curtly, turning back to her ss of whiskey.


    The tallest vampire slid onto the barstool beside her. ¡°Don¡¯t be like that. We just want to be friendly.¡±


    ¡°I said no,¡± Helena repeated more firmly.


    ¡°ying hard to get?¡± another vampire purred, cing a cold hand on her shoulder. ¡°I like that in a woman.¡±


    Helena shrugged off his touch. ¡°Touch me again, and you¡¯ll pull back a stump.¡±


    The vampires exchanged amused nces. The third one leaned in closer, his breath unnaturally cool against her ear.


    ¡°Feisty little wolf. Maybe we should teach you some manners.¡±


    That was it.


    Helena spun around, fist connecting with the vampire¡¯s jaw. He stumbled backward, shock registering on his face before it morphed into rage.


    ¡°You¡¯ll regret that,¡± he hissed, fangs extending.


    The vampires moved with supernatural speed, surrounding her. The tallest one grabbed her arm, twisting it painfully behind her back.


    ¡°Let¡¯s take this somewhere private,¡± he snarled.


    Before he could drag her away, a familiar voice cut through the tension.


    ¡°Now now. That¡¯s no way to talk to a woman, is it, boys?¡±


    Helena¡¯s head snapped toward the voice. She hadn¡¯t thought she would ever see him again, but there he stood. The man who¡¯d saved her in the forest. Even in the dim lighting, she recognized his confident stance, the dark hair, and that infuriating smirk.


    ¡°Mind your own business,¡± the vampire holding Helena spat.


    ¡°See, that¡¯s where we have a problem.¡± The man stepped closer, his eyes never leaving the vampires. ¡°When you mess with her, it bes my business.¡±


    The vampires exchanged nces. ¡°You¡¯re outnumbered, wolf. Walk away while you can.¡±


    ¡°Am I supposed to be scared?¡± Heughed, and the sound was both charming and dangerous. ¡°Three bloodsuckers against one wolf? Seems almost unfair... for you.¡±


    The vampire released Helena and turned to face him. ¡°You¡¯re going to regret this.¡±


    ¡°I doubt that,¡± came the cocky reply.


    The tallest vampire lunged first, moving with blinding speed. Helena¡¯s savior dodged with surprising agility, grabbing the vampire¡¯s arm and using his momentum to m him into the bar counter. Bottles shattered, patrons scattered, and chaos erupted.


    The second vampire attacked from behind, but the wolf spun around, his fist connecting with the vampire¡¯s face with bone-crushing force. The third vampire joined the fray, and soon the entire bar dissolved into mayhem.


    Helena didn¡¯t stand idle. When one of the vampires broke free and charged at her, she grabbed a broken bottle and drove it into his shoulder. He howled in pain.


    More vampires from around the bar were standing up now, their eyes fixed on the fight. They were outnumbered.


    Severely.


    ¡°Time to go!¡± Helena yelled at the mysterious man, kicking away another attacker.


    Without hesitation, she grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the back exit. They burst into the alley behind the bar and ran into the night, not stopping until they had put several blocks between themselves and the bar.


    In a quiet side street, they finally paused to catch their breath. Helena leaned against a wall, her heart hammering in her chest.


    ¡°You know,¡± the man said between breaths, ¡°I had that under control.¡±


    Helena snorted. ¡°Sure you did. There were at least ten vampires in there. You wouldn¡¯t have made it out alive.¡±


    ¡°Have you always been this insufferable?¡± he asked, running a hand through his dark hair. ¡°I did just save you, did I not?¡±


    Helena paused, studying him. Under the streetlight, she could see him clearly now. He was handsome in a rugged way, with sharp features and eyes that seemed to see right through her.


    Her expression softened. ¡°Thank you. For saving me. Again.¡±


    ¡°You actually remember,¡± he said, genuine surprise in his voice.


    ¡°How could I forget?¡± Helena pushed herself off the wall and extended her hand. ¡°I¡¯m Helena. Helena Bailey.¡±


    He took her hand, and his palm was warm against hers. ¡°Leo. Leo Sullivan.¡±


    ¡°Well, Leo Sullivan,¡± she said with a small smile, ¡°why is it that you keep showing up when I¡¯m in trouble?¡±


    ¡°Bad timing?¡± he suggested with a grin. ¡°Or actually, if you think about it, it¡¯s bad timing for me, but great timing for you.¡±


    Helenaughed, and for a moment, the weight of constantly running seemed to lift from her shoulders.


    ¡°Or maybe you¡¯re my guardian angel disguised as a cocky werewolf,¡± she said, grinning.


    ¡°Angel? Now that¡¯s a first.¡± Leo¡¯s eyes sparkled with amusement. ¡°Most people call me a pain in the ass.¡±


    ¡°I can see why,¡± Helena teased. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. ¡°But seriously, twice now you¡¯ve saved me. Why?¡±


    Leo shrugged, looking away. ¡°Right ce, right time.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡± Helena tilted her head. ¡°Or maybe you just have a weakness for pretty damsels in distress.¡±


    ¡°Is that what you are? A damsel?¡± Leo countered. ¡°Because from where I¡¯m standing, you were handling yourself pretty well back there.¡±


    ¡°ttery will get you everywhere, Mr. Sullivan.¡±


    Their eyes met, and something shifted in the air between them. A tension that wasn¡¯t there before.


    ¡°So,¡± Helena said, breaking the moment, ¡°what brings you to Croatia?¡±


    +++


    Hazel¡¯s POV


    I leaned forward,pletely caught up in Leo¡¯s story. The way he described my sister¡ªher courage, her quick wit¡ªmade my heart ache with loss for the twin I never knew.


    ¡°But that wasn¡¯t the case, right?¡± I asked softly. ¡°You didn¡¯t save her just because she was a pretty face.¡±


    Saying it out loud made me cringe a little. It felt like I wasplimenting myself.


    I continued, ¡°You saved her because she was your mate?¡±


    Leo¡¯s expression changed, a shadow passing over his features. He rubbed the back of his neck where his mark was, avoiding my eyes.


    ¡°No,¡± he finally said, his voice low. ¡°Helena and I weren¡¯t... We weren¡¯t fated mates.¡±

 Chapter 113: Chosen Mates

    <h4>Chapter 113: Chapter 113: Chosen Mates</h4>


    Leo¡¯s words hung in the air. My eyes widened into the size of saucers.


    ¡°But... I thought...¡± My voice trailed off.


    Leo looked up, his eyes meeting mine. ¡°We were chosen mates, Hazel. Not fated.¡±


    ¡°Chosen mates?¡± I repeated, trying to make sense of his words.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Leo nodded slowly. ¡°Helena and I chose to be mated to each other. I have never met my fated mate.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± I said, shaking my head. ¡°I know what chosen mates mean. I just thought...¡±


    I thought that Leo¡¯s obsession with me stemmed from losing his fated mate¡ªmy twin sister, Helena. I thought that the pull of his bond with her was what drove him to such an insane idea of having me rece her. I thought that he was consumed by his grief.


    But a chosen mate did not have the same bond as a fated mate. While he would still feel immense pain from losing his chosen mate, it wasn¡¯t nearly the same as if Helena had been his fated mate. The bond wouldn¡¯t be the same.


    The pull of a fated mate would always be stronger. That was why many werewolves chose to wait for their fated mates. Or, if they had a chosen mate, they would often eventually leave their chosen mates for their fated mates.


    If Helena was his chosen mate, he would grieve losing her. But he would eventually heal and possibly even move on.


    And not remain so obsessed with the thought of her.


    ¡°And Helena has never met her fated mate?¡± I slowly asked, my eyes never leaving Leo¡¯s face for even a second.


    ¡°No,¡± he said. ¡°And she didn¡¯t want to. Or at least, that was what she told me.¡±


    I narrowed my eyes slightly. A strange thought crossed my mind. I had multiple mates¡ªtriplets. Beforehand, I never knew I had a twin sister. But now that I knew of Helena¡¯s existence, I couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Helena was also meant to be fated to the Sullivan triplets as well.


    Just like how I had three mates because they were triplets, they could also have two mates just because we were twins.


    But that theory could never be verified. Helena was dead.


    ¡°How did she...¡± I hesitated, observing Leo¡¯s expression. He remained impassive as ever. I swallowed. ¡°How did she die?¡±


    Leo¡¯s face hardened immediately. The muscles in his jaw tightened, and his eyes darkened with what I recognized as deep pain. He stood up abruptly, turning away from me.


    ¡°You need to rest,¡± he said curtly, his voice strained.


    ¡°Leo, wait¡ª¡±


    ¡°No,¡± he cut me off sharply. ¡°Perry will run more tests tomorrow. You need all your strength.¡±


    The sudden change in his demeanor reminded me where I was and why. I wasn¡¯t a guest. I was a captive. A recement for my dead sister. A sick experiment for the Vox Solis.


    ¡°Leo,¡± I called out as he headed toward the door. Something in me didn¡¯t want him to leave. Not like this. Not with this tension between us.


    Without thinking, I reached out and grabbed his hand.


    The moment our skin touched, an electric shock ran through my entire body. I gasped, yanking my hand back at the same time Leo jerked away from me.


    We stared at each other, both wide-eyed and stunned.


    What the hell was that?


    The sensation had been like touching a live wire, but not painful¡ªmore like a jolt of pure energy. From Leo¡¯s expression, I could tell he had felt it too.


    Neither of usmented on it.


    ¡°Good night, Hazel,¡± Leo said finally, his voice oddly husky.


    He left the room without another word, the door clicking shut behind him.


    I stared at my hand, still tingling from where I had touched him. What was that? I had never felt anything like it before, except...


    No. That wasn¡¯t possible. The only time I¡¯d felt anything remotely simr was when I first touched the triplets after realizing they were my mates.


    But Leo couldn¡¯t be...


    I shook my head violently. No. I didn¡¯t even want to consider that possibility. It was absurd. I already had three mates. The universe couldn¡¯t possibly be cruel enough to throw a fourth at me, especially one who had kidnapped me.


    I slumped back against the pillows, trying to make sense of everything I¡¯d learned. If Helena and Leo were chosen mates, not fated, then why was Leo so desperate to have me as Helena¡¯s recement? The bond between chosen mates wasn¡¯t supposed to be that powerful.


    There had to be more to the story. Something Leo wasn¡¯t telling me.


    My thoughts drifted to the triplets. I wondered if they had figured out where I was yet.


    I closed my eyes, imagining them bursting through the door to rescue me.


    Goddess, I missed them. All of them.


    I wanted to go home. Back to them. Back to where I belonged.


    Back to my mates.


    +++


    Third POV


    Lucas stared at the negative pregnancy test in his hand, his expression unreadable. The small stic stick seemed so insignificant yet carried so much weight. He knew without a doubt that this was Hazel¡¯s. Her scent lingered on it, faint but unmistakable.


    He felt a strange mixture of disappointment and relief wash over him. A part of him had hoped... but no. Given their current situation, it was better this way. Hazel would be in even more danger if she were pregnant.


    ¡°Find anything useful?¡± Percival asked, his voice breaking through Lucas¡¯s thoughts.


    Lucas quickly pocketed the test and the documents he had found. ¡°Yes. Evidence that Hazel was definitely here.¡±


    Before he could borate, a sound from outside caught their attention. Lucas¡¯s head snapped up, his wolf instantly alert. He and Percival rushed out of the underground bunker just in time to see a familiar ck SUV pulling up.


    Levi jumped out the moment the car jerked to a stop, his face a mixture of hope and anxiety.


    ¡°Any sign of her?¡± he asked, striding toward them.


    Lucas shook his head, pulling out the pregnancy test and documents. ¡°She was here, but they¡¯ve moved her. Found this and some paperwork.¡±


    Levi¡¯s eyes widened at the sight of the pregnancy test. ¡°Is that¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Lucas confirmed. ¡°It¡¯s negative.¡±


    Levi¡¯s shoulders slumped slightly. Like his brother, he felt both disappointed and relieved. ¡°So she¡¯s not pregnant.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Lucas said, his voice tight. ¡°But she was here, Levi. Right under our fucking noses.¡±


    Levi cursed, kicking at the dirt. ¡°How far are we from Emberfang territory?¡±


    ¡°Less than fifty miles,¡± Percival answered grimly. ¡°They¡¯ve been keeping her close.¡±


    ¡°But why?¡± Levi questioned, running a hand through his hair in frustration. ¡°What do they want with her?¡±


    Lucas was about to respond when Callum approached them, his expression tense.


    ¡°Alphas, I hate to disturb, but it seems like we havepany,¡± Callum warned, his body already shifting into a defensive stance.


    Percival frowned, his experienced eyes scanning the tree line.


    ¡°Rogues,¡± he growled, his expression hardening. ¡°Seems like they¡¯re back.¡±


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 Chapter 114: Leo鈥檚 Fears

    <h4>Chapter 114: Chapter 114: Leo¡¯s Fears</h4>


    Hazel¡¯s POV


    A hand mped over my mouth, jolting me awake. I thrashed against my attacker until my eyes adjusted to the darkness and I recognized Leo¡¯s silhouette hovering over me.


    My heart hammered in my chest as he removed his hand.


    ¡°Get up,¡± Leo whispered, his voice sharp with urgency. ¡°We need to leave. Now.¡±


    I blinked, still groggy from sleep. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°No questions. Just move.¡±


    Something was off. Leo wasn¡¯t making sarcastic remarks or calling me ¡°sweetheart¡± or ¡°babe.¡± His face was full of concentration, his jaw clenched tight. This wasn¡¯t the Leo I¡¯de to know.


    ¡°Leo¡ª¡±


    ¡°Hazel, please,¡± he hissed, grabbing my arm and pulling me from the bed. ¡°We don¡¯t have much time.¡±


    I stumbled to my feet, barely managing to slip on my shoes before Leo dragged me toward the door. He pressed his ear against it, listening intently before cracking it open and peering into the hallway.


    ¡°Clear,¡± he muttered, more to himself than to me. ¡°Stay close.¡±


    We slipped into the dimly lit corridor. The facility was eerily quiet at this hour, with only the hum of distant machinery breaking the silence. I nced at a wall clock as we passed¡ª3:17 AM. The middle of the night.


    Leo moved with purpose, his grip on my wrist firm as he guided me through the maze of hallways. We ducked into a supply closet as footsteps approached. I held my breath as two scientists walked by.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± I whispered once they¡¯d passed. ¡°Why are we running?¡± Then, an idea shot through my head. My eyes widened with hope. ¡°Did the triplets find us?¡±


    Leo¡¯s head snapped toward me, his eyes narrowed. ¡°No. This has nothing to do with your mates.¡±


    I studied his face. He wasn¡¯t lying. If the triplets weren¡¯t the reason for this midnight escape, then what was?


    My heart immediately sunk to the pits of my stomach. ¡°Then why¡ª¡±


    ¡°Later,¡± Leo cut me off, checking the hallway again. ¡°We need to reach the east exit. It¡¯s the least guarded.¡±


    The bad feeling in my gut intensified as we continued our escape. Leo seemed genuinely afraid. In a facility where he was nearly at the top of the food chain, that was a worrisome sight.


    We rounded another corner and Leo froze, pushing me behind him. Ahead, the hallway opened into a wider area near what looked like an exit. But between us and freedom stood four guards. Their unnaturally pale skin and predatory postures marked them as vampires.


    ¡°Stay back,¡± Leo ordered, his voice barely audible. ¡°If anything happens to me, run for the exit. Don¡¯t look back.¡±


    ¡°What? No. What about you? Am I supposed to just leave you with the vampires?¡± I whispered, surprising myself with how much I meant it.


    I didn¡¯t even know why I said that. The words slipped out of my mouth before I could even control it. This was his home and those were his subordinates. Why would it matter if he was left behind?


    But with how guarded Leo seemed against them, my anxiety only grew.


    ¡°Yes.¡± Leo¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°And this isn¡¯t a discussion. If you want the thing in your stomach to live, then you¡¯ll do as you¡¯re told.¡±


    Before I could respond, he moved forward, his body tensing like a coiled spring. The first vampire spotted him immediately, but Leo was faster. He tackled the creature to the ground with inhuman speed,nding a crushing blow to its face.


    The other vampires reacted instantly, pulling what looked like metal batons from their belts. Silver, I realized with horror as they gleamed under the fluorescent lights.


    This wasn¡¯t good. Just one hit could put Leo out ofmission.


    ¡°Leo!¡± I cried out in warning.


    He ducked as one of the batons swung over his head, then delivered a powerful uppercut that sent the second vampire flying backward. But the third and fourth closed in, and I could see Leo was outnumbered.


    Despite his warning, I couldn¡¯t just stand there. I grabbed a fire extinguisher from the wall and ran forward, swinging it with all my strength at one of the vampires. It connected with a sickening crunch, buying Leo precious seconds.


    ¡°I told you to stay back!¡± he snarled, blocking another blow.


    Two more vampires appeared from a side corridor, drawn by themotion. Six against one. Leo fought like a demon, taking down another vampire with a series of brutal strikes, but I could see he was getting tired.


    When a silver baton caught him across the shoulder, he howled in pain, his skin sizzling where the metal touched.


    ¡°Leo!¡± I screamed, trying to reach him.


    One of the vampires grabbed me from behind, his cold hands like iron around my arms. I kicked and thrashed, mming my head back with a grunt. The vampire hissed in pain, momentarily loosening his grip.


    ¡°Nice try, littledy,¡± he hissed. Before I could put distance between us, he pulled me back into his arms again. ¡°But you¡¯re not going anywhere.¡±


    Leo¡¯s eyes found mine and they widened in fear. Not for himself, I realized with a jolt, but for me. He lunged toward me, but two batons struck him simultaneously, one across his back and another at his knees.


    He copsed with a choked cry.


    ¡°Stop!¡± I begged as they continued to beat him. ¡°Please stop!¡±


    Leo¡¯s eyes met mine onest time before he finally went still, his body slumping to the floor. My chest constricted with panic. I didn¡¯t understand why I cared so much, but seeing him injured sent waves of distress crashing through me.


    The vampires separated us, dragging me down a different corridor while others hauled Leo¡¯s unconscious body away. I fought them every step, screaming his name until my throat was raw.


    Why was I so worried about the man who had kidnapped me? It made no sense, but I couldn¡¯t deny the fear gripping my heart.


    They took me to a sterile room with a single chair in the center. Despite my struggles, they forced me into it, securing my wrists and ankles with silver-lined cuffs. The cold metal burned against my skin, preventing any chance of shifting or escaping.


    A door opened, and a woman entered, her face hidden in shadow. She approached me with a syringe filled with a pale purple liquid.


    ¡°What is that?¡± I demanded, straining against my restraints. ¡°What are you going to do to me?¡±


    ¡°Hold still,¡± shemanded.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± I asked, though she ignored me. ¡°Get the hell away from me!¡±


    I thrashed as she brought the needle to my arm, but the restraints held firm. I felt the sharp prick as the needle pierced my skin, followed by a burning sensation as the substance entered my bloodstream.


    ¡°What did you inject me with?¡± I gasped, feeling a strange weakness spreading through my body.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a bit of wolfsbane,¡± the woman replied calmly.


    My eyes widened in horror. ¡°Wolfsbane?!¡±


    I struggled harder against the restraints, panic consuming me.


    ¡°Rx,¡± she said, stepping closer. ¡°The dosage is small enough to weaken you, but no harm wille to you.¡±


    As she moved into the light, her features became clear. Middle-aged, with ck hair streaked heavily with gray. She was standing so close that I could clearly see the brand on her neck.


    I narrowed my eyes, her name on the tip of my tongue. She seemed familiar. I had definitely seen her before, but where¡ª


    Recognition dawned on me like a physical blow.


    ¡°Well,¡± she added with a cold smile, ¡°I suppose I cannot guarantee the same for your baby.¡±


    My blood turned to ice in my veins as I stared at the face I¡¯d seen before in magazines and medical journals whenever I tidied the packhouse. The woman who was supposed to be my mother¡¯s friend.


    Esther Perez.


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 Chapter 115: A Fourth Brother?

    <h4>Chapter 115: Chapter 115: A Fourth Brother?</h4>


    Third POV


    ¡°Where is she? Where the fuck did you take Hazel?¡± Levi snarled, pressing his foot harder against the rogue¡¯s head.


    The man beneath him whimpered, face crushed against the forest floor.


    Around them, the other roguesy incapacitated, some unconscious, others groaning in pain. Lucas stood nearby, his knuckles bloodied from the fight. Callum and Percival were securing the area, making sure no one escaped to warn others.


    Kendra remained hidden in the car as Callum had instructed, safely away from the fight.


    Thankfully, things were solved quickly enough. No one had to shift and the rogues didn¡¯t even get the chance to.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about,¡± the rogue wheezed out.


    Levi increased the pressure on the man¡¯s skull. ¡°Stop ying stupid. We know this is one of the ces they brought her. People saw you here. Talk!¡±


    ¡°We weren¡¯t the ones that brought people here!¡±


    Levi clenched his teeth, growling.


    The rogue¡¯s face contorted in pain. ¡°Okay! Okay! They were here, but they left!¡±


    ¡°When?¡± Lucas demanded, stepping closer.


    ¡°About a day ago. They cleared out in a hurry,¡± the rogue admitted, his eyes darting between the two brothers. ¡°I overheard them saying something about moving closer to the city.¡±


    Lucas and Levi exchanged looks of frustration. Another dead end.


    ¡°Did you see her? A blonde woman?¡± Lucas asked, his voice deadly calm. ¡°About 5¡¯6.¡±


    The rogue nodded quickly. ¡°Yeah, I caught a glimpse of someone fitting that description. They brought her with them when they left.¡±


    ¡°And where exactly in the city did they go?¡± Levi pressed, grinding his heel into the man¡¯s temple.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know the exact location! I swear! I was just waiting for them to clear out the spot so that we could take it!¡± the rogue cried out. He paused, shifting ufortably. ¡°But why are you asking me? One of your brothers went with her, so just check with him!¡±


    Lucas froze. ¡°What did you just say?¡±


    ¡°Your brother,¡± the rogue repeated. ¡°Guy looks just like you two. I figured he was with you.¡±


    Levi¡¯s foot eased off slightly in his confusion. ¡°We only have one other brother and he wasn¡¯t with her.¡±


    ¡°Well, whoever he is, he was giving orders. Everyone listened to him.¡±


    Lucas signaled to Levi, and they stepped away, leaving the rogue gasping on the floor as Callum moved in to secure him.


    ¡°What the hell is he talking about?¡± Levi whispered. ¡°Liam¡¯s back at Emberfang.¡±


    Lucas¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Unless there¡¯s something our parents never told us.¡±


    +++


    Liam ran his hands through his hair for the tenth time, staring at the maps and reports scattered across his office desk. It had been days since Hazel disappeared, and they were no closer to finding her.


    The warriors had been patrolling constantly, reporting back every few hours. Several vampires had been spotted along the border, likely trying to break Annie out, but they¡¯d always fled before being captured. They appeared to be creating diversions rather than mounting serious rescue attempts.


    They don¡¯t care about Annie, Liam realized. She¡¯s disposable to them.


    He¡¯d already squeezed every bit of useful information from Annie, but it hadn¡¯t led them to Hazel. With each passing hour, his worry grew, gnawing at him like a physical pain.


    A sudden voice in his mind made him sit up straight.


    ¡®Liam, we need to talk,¡¯ Lucas¡¯s voice came through their shared mindlink.


    ¡®Did you find something?¡¯ Liam responded immediately, hope ring.


    ¡®Maybe. A rogue just told us Hazel was moved by one of our ¡°brothers¡±.¡¯


    Liam frowned. ¡®That¡¯s impossible. I¡¯ve been here the whole time.¡¯


    ¡®Exactly,¡¯ Lucas replied. ¡®But he was adamant. He said the guy looked just like us and was giving orders.¡¯


    Liam¡¯s expression hardened. Annie hadn¡¯t been useful, but she had given one name. Liam had searched this man up. It led up to nothing. The man had no virtual traces.


    A gnawing feeling in his gut told him that the man the rogue was talking about was none other than Leo.


    ¡®But we don¡¯t have another brother,¡¯ Levi chimed in. ¡®Do we?¡¯


    ¡®I¡¯ll talk to Mom and Dad,¡¯ Liam decided, already rising from his desk. ¡®This doesn¡¯t make sense.¡¯


    ¡®Yeah, that would be great,¡¯ Lucas responded. ¡®We¡¯ll head closer towards the city to see what we can find.¡¯


    ¡®Got it.¡¯


    Liam scrambled out of his office and headed through the packhouse. Wolves bowed their heads respectfully as he passed, but he barely noticed them.


    He found his parents in the living room. Evelyn was arranging flowers while Henry read a newspaper. While the rest of the pack had been on high alert for days, these two had been acting like it was any other day.


    Evelyn, especially.


    ¡°Liam!¡± Evelyn brightened when she saw him, setting down her vase. ¡°What a nice surprise. I wasn¡¯t expecting to see you today with everything going on.¡±


    She moved to embrace him, but Liam stepped back, maintaining his distance. Hurt shed across her face at the rejection.


    ¡°Oh,e on,¡± Evelyn said, pouting slightly. ¡°Is that any way to greet your mother?¡±


    ¡°I need to ask you something,¡± he said, his voice t. ¡°And I need the truth.¡±


    Henry lowered his newspaper, sensing the tension. ¡°What is it, son?¡±


    ¡°Do we have another brother?¡± Liam asked bluntly. ¡°An older one, maybe? Or any other family who might look like us?¡±


    Evelyn¡¯s smile faltered. ¡°What a strange question. Why would you ask such a thing?¡±


    ¡°Because Lucas just checked in. He said that someone who looks exactly like us has taken Hazel,¡± Liam replied, watching his mother¡¯s reaction carefully. ¡°We need to find out who it is.¡±


    Evelyn¡¯s expression soured at the mention of Hazel. She waved her hand dismissively.


    ¡°Oh, Liam, are you still fixated on that girl? Perhaps she simply ran away. It might be for the best, you know.¡±


    She moved closer, her voice softening.


    ¡°There are so many suitable females in our pack who would make wonderful Lunas. Jessie, for instance, has always adored you boys. Perhaps this is a sign you should consider... greener pastures.¡±


    ¡°Mother,¡± Liam cut her off sharply. ¡°Answer the question. Do we have another brother?¡±


    Evelyn stepped back, her lips pressing into a thin line. ¡°Of course not. Don¡¯t be ridiculous.¡±


    ¡°Your mother¡¯s right,¡± Henry said, setting down his newspaperpletely. ¡°You only have two brothers, Lucas and Levi. No others.¡±


    Liam studied his father¡¯s face, looking for signs of deceit.


    ¡°Then who is this person?¡± Liam pressed. ¡°Or do we have to raise our defenses against possible skinwalkers now?¡±


    Henry sighed heavily, exchanging a look with Evelyn.


    Then, he turned to Liam and said, ¡°I don¡¯t have another son, but I do have a younger brother who ran away from home many years ago.¡±


    Liam¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°A brother? You have a brother we never knew about?¡±


    ¡°Half-brother, technically,¡± Henry said nonchntly. ¡°He was born outside of a mate bond.¡±


    Evelyn turned away with a roll of her eyes.


    ¡°Where did he go?¡± Liam asked.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear your father?¡± Evelyn asked. ¡°He ran off and decided to be a rogue. Goddess knows where he went.¡±


    ¡°His name,¡± Liam pressed, staring at his father. ¡°What was his name?¡±


    ¡°His name was Leonard,¡± Henry answered. ¡°But everyone called him Leo.¡±


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 Chapter 116: Bloodlines and Unexpected Experiments

    <h4>Chapter 116: Chapter 116: Bloodlines and Unexpected Experiments</h4><subtxt> ¡°Of course he ran away,¡± Evelyn snorted, flicking her wrist dismissively. ¡°Leonard was always a social pariah. Nobody liked him.¡±


    Liam frowned, studying his mother¡¯s contemptuous expression. At this point, he would like to assume that his mother actually hated everyone. As for the ones she ¡®liked¡¯, perhaps she simply tolerated them.


    ¡°Why not?¡± Liam asked.


    ¡°Because he was born wrongfully,¡± Evelyn said sharply. Her eyes narrowed as she arranged the flowers with more force than necessary. ¡°Outside of a mate bond. Your grandfather cheated on your grandmother with some random wolf. A disgrace to the family name.¡±


    Henry¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°Evelyn.¡±


    ¡°What? It¡¯s true.¡± Evelyn shrugged, not looking apologetic in the slightest. ¡°That¡¯s why nobody respected him.¡±


    Liam processed this information, trying to make the pieces fit together. He looked at his father. ¡°What¡¯s the age difference between you and Leonard?¡±


    ¡°Five years,¡± Henry replied, his expression grim. ¡°I was five when he was born.¡±


    Liam nodded slowly, mind working through the implications. ¡°And when did he leave?¡±


    ¡°He took off when he was eighteen,¡± Henry said, folding his newspaper neatly. ¡°We haven¡¯t had contact since.¡±


    ¡°So that would make him...¡± Liam calcted quickly. ¡°In his forties now?¡±


    Henry nodded, his expression giving away nothing.


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t make sense,¡± Liam muttered, mostly to himself. He stood abruptly, grabbing his keys from the side table. ¡°I need to find Lucas and Levi.¡±


    ¡°Liam,¡± Evelyn called after him, ¡°this foolish obsession with that girl¡ª¡±


    But Liam was already gone, the front door mming behind him.


    The engine of Liam¡¯s SUV roared as he sped down the highway. He immediately reached for his brothers through the pack link.


    ¡®Well, I managed to squeeze some interesting information out of them.¡¯


    ¡®What?¡¯ Lucas¡¯s voice came through instantly.


    ¡®Dad had a younger half-brother named Leonard, nicknamed Leo. He¡¯s five years younger than Dad.¡¯


    ¡®Leo?¡¯ Levi echoed. ¡®That¡¯s the name Annie mentioned in the interrogation room.¡¯


    ¡®Yeah, but it doesn¡¯t add up,¡¯ Liam replied, changingnes aggressively. ¡®The guy the rogues saw would be in his forties by now. No way he could be mistaken for our brother.¡¯


    ¡®Unless...¡¯ Lucas¡¯s voice had that thoughtful quality it got when he was piecing something together. ¡®What if it¡¯s not our uncle, but our cousin? Leo could be Leonard¡¯s son.¡¯


    ¡®With the same name?¡¯ Levi questioned.


    ¡®Why not? Families pass down names all the time,¡¯ Lucas reasoned. ¡®Either way, we can¡¯t rule out the possibility that both Leonard and Leo could be working with the Vox Solis.¡¯


    ¡®Where are you guys now?¡¯ Liam asked, checking his GPS.


    ¡®We just handed the rogues over to the Ironhound warriors,¡¯ Lucas answered. ¡®We¡¯re headed to Moonbite Lane. It¡¯s closer to the city center. One of the rogues admitted they¡¯ve done mercenary work there before. Apparently, there¡¯s a research facility hidden in in sight along that street.¡¯


    ¡®We think that they might¡¯ve taken Hazel there,¡¯ Levi added.


    ¡®Perfect. I¡¯ll meet you there,¡¯ Liam said, pressing harder on the gas pedal. ¡®Twenty minutes tops.¡¯


    ¡®Hurry,¡¯ Levi urged. ¡®I¡¯ve got a bad feeling about this.¡¯


    The mindlink fell silent as Liam focused on the road. His thoughts were churning. They had a secret uncle they¡¯d never heard about, a cousin who looked just like them, and somehow, Hazel was caught in the middle of it all.


    His grip tightened on the steering wheel. This was ridiculous. At this point, it felt like a fever dream.


    Stepping on the pedal, Liam clenched his teeth as the car¡¯s engine roared, tearing down the street.


    +++


    Leo¡¯s eyes snapped open with a violent gasp. Pain coursed through his body like liquid fire, burning from the inside out. Every breath felt like swallowing broken ss. It had been a while since he had felt his body hurt like that.


    ¡°Careful now,¡± a calm voice instructed from somewhere nearby. ¡°Mind the stitches.¡±


    Leo¡¯s vision swam into focus gradually. White ceiling. Sterile walls. Metal bars and a thick ss panel. His gazended on the figure sitting outside his cell. Daniel Ramos scribbled something on a clipboard, not bothering to look up.


    Leo nced down at himself. His torso was wrapped in bandages, spotted with blood in several ces.


    ¡°Wha¡ª¡± Leo tried to speak, but his throat was parched. As such, his voice was raspier than usual.


    ¡°Two broken ribs, punctured lung, internal bleeding, and a damaged spleen,¡± Dr. Ramos listed methodically, still writing. ¡°Not to mention the extensive tissue damage from the silver in the batons. Your healing is significantlypromised.¡±


    Leo groaned, attempting to sit up. Fresh painnced through him, forcing him back down.


    He growled, gritting his teeth in pain. ¡°And why am I in a cell?¡±


    Dr. Ramos finally looked up, his expression clinically detached. ¡°Perry¡¯s orders. She said you needed to be kept here until your ¡®temper tantrum¡¯ is under control.¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s Hazel?¡± Leo demanded, struggling to keep his voice steady through the pain.


    ¡°Miss Bailey has been taken to Perry¡¯s office.¡±


    Leo¡¯s blood ran cold. ¡°Perry¡¯s office?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Leo gripped the edge of the tiny single bed, forcing himself upright despite the agony. ¡°Let me out. Now.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not possible,¡± Dr. Ramos said tly, returning to his notes. ¡°You¡¯re in no condition to move, and I have strict orders.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t understand,¡± Leo hissed through clenched teeth. ¡°I¡¯m stopping the alteration process. I don¡¯t want to change her mate bond anymore.¡±


    A flicker of surprise crossed Dr. Ramos¡¯s face before it settled back into its usual impassiveness.


    ¡°If that¡¯s your concern, you needn¡¯t worry. Perry has decided not to proceed with that particr procedure.¡±


    Relief washed over Leo for a brief moment¡ªuntil he caught the slight shift in Dr. Ramos¡¯s tone.


    ¡°What does that mean?¡± Leo asked, dread pooling in his stomach.


    Dr. Ramos adjusted his sses. ¡°It means Perry has decided Miss Bailey would be more valuable as a research subject for another experiment.¡±


    The words hit Leo like physical blows. ¡°What experiment?¡±


    ¡°I believe Perry is interested in testing the effects of multiple simultaneous mate bonds on a single subject,¡± Dr. Ramos exined, his clinical detachment never wavering. ¡°Miss Bailey¡¯s unusual situation¡ªbeing mated to triplets¡ªpresents a unique opportunity to study how mate bonds can be manipted, replicated, or transferred.¡±


    He flipped the page on his clipboard before he continued.


    ¡°While it has been documented before, it¡¯s not exactly amon sight. It¡¯s difficult to get test subjects, and Miss Bailey just so happens to be avable.¡±</subtxt>

 Chapter 117: A Favor Repaid

    <h4>Chapter 117: Chapter 117: A Favor Repaid</h4>


    Leo lunged forward, barely registering the pain as he grabbed the bars. A loud bang echoed through the cell room, but Dr. Ramos didn¡¯t even flinch.


    ¡°That was not part of the deal!¡± Leo yelled. ¡°Perry agreed that no harm woulde to Hazel. Those experiments could kill her.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s rather the point of experimentation, isn¡¯t it?¡± Dr. Ramos replied mildly. ¡°To determine oues.¡±


    ¡°You bastard,¡± Leo snarled, fingers tightening around the metal bars. ¡°Get Perry here. Now.¡±


    ¡°Perry is currently unavable,¡± Dr. Ramos replied. ¡°As mentioned, she¡¯s busy with Miss Bailey right now.¡±


    ¡°Ramos, don¡¯t fuck with me. Get Perry here. Now.¡±


    Dr. Ramos stood, tucking his clipboard under his arm. He sighed, shaking his head. ¡°I¡¯m merely following protocol. Perry makes the decisions.¡±


    Clenching his fist, Leo mmed against the ss panel. Even with how thick it was, a fine crack appeared in the ss. Dr. Ramos merely nced at it before exhaling loudly.


    ¡°I¡¯d rmend you rest, Sullivan. There¡¯s nothing you can do now.¡±


    The doctor turned and walked away, leaving Leo alone seething.


    Leo roared, lunging at the bars again. This time, the burning sensation shot up his arms as the silver made contact with his skin. He stumbled back, hissing in pain as angry red welts formed on his palms.


    ¡°Damn it!¡±


    He paced the small cell like a caged animal, his mind racing.


    This cell was made to hold werewolves. Ironically, Leo himself helped to design it. White walls, smooth surfaces, and no windows. The only exit was through the reinforced door with its silver bars and thick ss panel, operated by a biometric scanner on the outside.


    It was a perfect cell. The air vents were too small for even a mouse to crawl through. The walls were solid concrete beneath their pristine white paint. Even the tiny bathroom attached to his cell had nothing he could use as a tool.


    Every surface was smoother than a baby¡¯s bottom. Even the corners of the room were rounded.


    Leo¡¯s wounds throbbed, his healing slowed by the silver poisoning. Beads of perspiration slowly gathered at his forehead. When he looked down at his torso, he could see the white bandages turning redder and redder.


    The sound of footsteps made him tense. He moved to the front of the cell, ready to confront whoever wasing. But instead of Dr. Ramos or Perry, a different figure appeared.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Leo narrowed his eyes at the tinum blonde vampire.


    She put a finger to her lips, ncing over her shoulder before approaching the biometric panel. ¡°Keep your voice down.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have the clearance to be on this floor,¡± Leo hissed, watching as she ced her palm on the scanner.


    The panel glowed green. There was a soft click as the lock disengaged. Leo¡¯s eyebrows jerked up in surprise. He couldn¡¯t believe it worked. From what he remembered, he hadn¡¯t entered Cassandra¡¯s biometrics into this system.


    ¡°If you want to get out, you¡¯d better hurry,¡± she whispered, pulling the door open.


    Leo didn¡¯t move, his eyes fixed on her suspiciously. ¡°Why are you helping me?¡±


    Cassandra¡¯s blue eyes shed with impatience. ¡°Look, I owe Emberfang. I... I won¡¯t let them hurt Hazel. She doesn¡¯t deserve this.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re risking your life,¡± Leo said, still not moving. ¡°They¡¯ll know it was you. The security system will show your biometrics.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡± A sad smile flickered across her ethereal features. ¡°Consider this my attempt at redemption.¡±


    Leo studied her for a moment longer before stepping out of the cell. His body protested the movement, pain shooting through his chest, but he ignored it.


    ¡°Where to?¡± he asked. ¡°They would¡¯ve increased the security detail by now.¡±


    ¡°Follow me.¡± Cassandra turned, leading him down the corridor. ¡°I know a service exit that¡¯s minimally guarded. From there, we can reach the street level.¡±


    They moved as quickly and silently through the facility as possible. To be fair, there wasn¡¯t much Leo wanted to say to Cassandra.


    She was an experiment that Perry brought in. From what he knew, she was just a naive vampire who was desperate for true love¡ªso much so that she didn¡¯t mind risking her life to experience having a mate.


    Cassandra was also the first vampire to sessfully survive the procedure. In return, she had to work for the Vox Solis.


    It was an unfair trade, but who was Leo to judge? If it weren¡¯t for him, she would¡¯ve probably never found this ce. He was the one who dragged her down to hell.


    ¡°I need to get Hazel,¡± Leo whispered as they paused in an empty conference room.


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible,¡± Cassandra replied. ¡°You¡¯d never make it there like this.¡± She gestured to his injured state.


    ¡°That¡¯s the whole reason I bothered leaving that cell,¡± Leo said with a growl. ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one who said you didn¡¯t want her hurt?¡±


    Cassandra grabbed his arm. ¡°You¡¯ll be caught, and then you can¡¯t help her at all. Get out, recover,e back with help.¡± She pursed her lips. ¡°Your best bet is if we can find the Sullivan triplets.¡±


    Leo wanted to argue, but he knew she was right. In his condition, against multiple guards, he didn¡¯t stand a chance.


    ¡°Fine,¡± he growled. ¡°Lead on.¡±


    They continued their careful journey through the facility, finally reaching a service corridor that smelled of bleach and industrial cleaners.


    ¡°Through here,¡± Cassandra said, pointing to a heavy metal door.


    Leo looked in the direction she pointed. If he remembered correctly, the door led to the loading dock. He could easily slip into the alley and leave from there. At this hour, it should be fairly empty.


    ¡°You¡¯re staying?¡± Leo asked, raising an eyebrow. ¡°They already know you broke me out. Don¡¯t me me if Perry sticks you under a UV light or turns you into her newestb rat.¡±


    Cassandra¡¯s lips twisted at the imagery.


    ¡°I¡¯ll deal with it,¡± she said firmly. ¡°Now go.¡±


    Leo paused. He narrowed his eyes but said nothing for a while. In the end, he shrugged.


    ¡°Suit yourself.¡±


    With that, Leo pushed through the door and disappeared.


    +++


    Hazel¡¯s POV


    I stared at the woman before me, my mind reeling.


    Esther Perez. Apparently, she was also my mother¡¯s friend back in the days. Yet, she was standing here like a viin from a nightmare.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Leo?¡± I demanded, pulling against my restraints.


    Esther smiled, setting down the empty syringe.


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 Chapter 118: A Ready Lab Rat

    <h4>Chapter 118: Chapter 118: A Ready Lab Rat</h4>


    Dr. Esther Perez.


    Famed medical journalist, doctor, and scientist. She had her fair share of scientific breakthroughs in the supernatural world. Even though I wasn¡¯t much of a science kid growing up, even I had seen her face enough to recognize her.


    After all, she was everywhere. She had her photographs in medical journals and articles that were scattered around the packhouse. Every once in a while, I woulde across one whenever I had to clean up, especially during my childhood years.


    Rumor was that she had retired in recent years, choosing to stay indoors in her home in Ironhound.


    ¡°I thought you were in Ironhound,¡± I muttered under my breath, staring at the woman. ¡°You¡¯re hardly even sighted outside your home... They said you gave up on science.¡±


    I hadn¡¯t taken much note of her name until recently, when I discovered that she was somehow connected to my mom. But knowing she was once my mother¡¯s closest friend made me a little more interested.


    Only, this wasn¡¯t at all how I imagined she would be like.


    ¡°Leo has been removed from the project,¡± Esther said. ¡°He¡¯s no longer relevant. As for myself...¡± She paused and smiled. ¡°I am an indoor person, yes. But Ironhound is just not my cup of tea.¡±


    My stomach dropped. ¡°What did you do to Leo?¡±


    ¡°Nothing permanent,¡± she said with a dismissive wave. ¡°He simply outlived his usefulness. He wasn¡¯t asmitted to our cause as we¡¯d hoped.¡±


    I looked around the sterile room, searching for any way out. But the wolfsbane in my system made my limbs feel heavy. Even my head was starting to get foggy.


    ¡°I thought...¡± I swallowed hard. ¡°I thought you were going to give me to Leo.¡±


    That was what he said. I was supposed to be Helena¡¯s recement. I assumed that because the connection between chosen mates and fated mates weren¡¯t the same, this time, he wanted to make sure we had a ¡®fated¡¯ bond.


    Estherughed. ¡°That was indeed the original n. Leo wanted to relive his days with Helena through you.¡± She circled my chair slowly. ¡°But he developed a conscience at the worst possible time. Shame.¡±


    ¡°Then you can let me go,¡± I said, trying to keep my voice steady. ¡°You have no more use for me.¡±


    ¡°Of course not!¡± Esther said, pretending to be scandalized. ¡°Do you know how difficult it is to find a wolf with more than one fated mate?¡±


    ¡°Not difficult,¡± I said. ¡°There are plenty of others. I am not the only one.¡±


    ¡°Well, you aren¡¯t,¡± Esther agreed with a nod. ¡°But I am not going to put out volunteer posters looking for people who fit the description, when you¡¯re already right where I want you.¡±


    She leaned closer towards me, her eyes gleaming with excitement.


    I felt sick as understanding dawned. ¡°You want to study me.¡±


    ¡°Precisely.¡± She nodded, clearly pleased I¡¯d caught on. ¡°Every experiment we¡¯ve conducted on creating artificial mate bonds has only seeded in establishing one connection. Any attempt to create multiple bonds has resulted in the subject¡¯s death.¡±


    The casual way she mentioned people dying made my skin crawl.


    ¡°But you,¡± she continued, ¡°you naturally sustain three bonds. If we can understand how your body manages that, we could revolutionize our work.¡±


    ¡°Maybe it didn¡¯t work because you¡¯re not supposed to y with bonds like that,¡± I spat. ¡°Every connection is carefully designed by the Moon Goddess. You¡¯re a werewolf. You should know how sacred it is.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps fated mates aren¡¯t always what¡¯s best for every individual wolf,¡± Esther snapped, her face suddenly contorting into anger.


    She reached forward and grabbed my face, her fingers digging into my cheeks as I yelped in pain.


    ¡°You got lucky,¡± Esther continued. ¡°You epted your fated mates really quickly, and despite what they¡¯ve done to you your entire life, they¡¯ve somehow earned your forgiveness through either sheer dumb luck or your folly. But not everyone has the same sort of luck.¡±


    When she finally loosened her grip, I pulled away instantly.


    ¡°I won¡¯t help you,¡± I growled. ¡°I don¡¯t know what sort of shit luck you¡¯ve had with your fated mate to warrant this sort of insanity, but that¡¯s not my problem.¡±


    This was insane. Esther Perez was basically challenging the Moon Goddess¡¯s design. It was taboo in more ways than one.


    ¡°Your cooperation isn¡¯t required.¡± Esther picked up another syringe from a nearby tray. ¡°Just your body¡¯s response to stimuli.¡±


    Fear shot through me as she approached with the needle. ¡°Stay away from me!¡±


    ¡°This won¡¯t hurt,¡± she said calmly. ¡°It¡¯s just a tiny little prick. You won¡¯t feel a thing.¡±


    ¡°My mates will find me,¡± I said, desperation coloring my voice. ¡°They¡¯ll tear this ce apart.¡±


    ¡°You know what?¡± Esther asked, a maniacal smile in her eyes. ¡°I kinda hope they do. That would be more research material to see how exactly your fated bond with them works.¡±


    The cold tip of the needle pressed against my skin. It was filled with another pale purple liquid, and I instantly wiggled, trying to get out of the restraints.


    Wolfsbane! It had to be another dose!


    ¡°Hold still,¡± Esther said, gritting her teeth. Her patience was visibly wearing thin. ¡°Before we can start, I need to get rid of the variable.¡±


    The variable?!


    My eyes widened with horror when I realized what it was that Esther was referring to. She was talking about my baby! Panic quickly red through me.


    ¡°You¡¯re not touching my baby!¡± I yelled, struggling even harder, so much so that she stumbled back.


    Esther¡¯s back knocked into the trolley, causing the tray that was on it to topple onto the floor. ss shattered and liquid spilled across the floor, but I didn¡¯t pay it any attention. Instead, I mustered all my strength, swinging my body left and right.


    ¡°She¡¯s shifting!¡± someone yelled.


    ¡°That¡¯s not possible. She¡¯s under the influence!¡±


    ¡°Get more silver!¡±


    More and more people came to hold me down. Someone pressed a burning hot baton¡ªsilver¡ªon my arms, and I yelled in pain. A sharp pain shot through my neck. Soon enough, I felt my strength fading, and my vision started to cken.


    ¡®Lucas... Liam... Levi...¡¯


    ¡®Save me...¡¯


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 Chapter 119: Familiar Stranger

    <h4>Chapter 119: Chapter 119: Familiar Stranger</h4>


    Third POV


    ¡®Save me...¡¯


    Levi¡¯s head snapped up suddenly, his body tensing. He could have sworn he heard Hazel¡¯s voice. It sounded super soft and weak, but it was unmistakable. She was calling out for help.


    ¡°What was that?¡± he asked, his eyes darting around the car. ¡°Lucas, did you hear that?¡±


    Lucas frowned, his jaw tightening as he nced at his brother. ¡°Hear what exactly?¡±


    ¡°I thought I heard Hazel,¡± Levi said, his voice dropping to a whisper. ¡°She was calling for help.¡±


    Lucas immediately pursed his lips, his eyes darkening. ¡°I thought I hallucinated it.¡±


    Callum leaned forward from the backseat. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°We heard Hazel¡¯s voice,¡± Lucas exined, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the steering wheel. ¡°We don¡¯t know how.¡±


    The SUV fell into an ufortable silence.


    The seating arrangement was awkward at best¡ªCallum had deliberately taken the seat furthest from Kendra, pressed against the door as if trying to melt into it. He hadn¡¯t made eye contact with her since they¡¯d all gotten into the car. Percival sat between them, either unaware of or choosing to ignore the tension.


    No onemented on it outwardly, but even a blind man could see that Callum was avoiding Kendra. Thankfully, she didn¡¯t make anyments about it and let him have his space.


    ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± Lucas announced as he pulled the car into a spot on Moonbite Lane. The street was eerily empty for midday, with only a few pedestrians hurrying past shuttered storefronts.


    They all climbed out of the vehicle, stretching their legs after the tense drive. Lucas checked his phone for the time, then looked up at the others.


    ¡°Liam should be here any minute,¡± he said. ¡°In the meantime, let¡¯s discuss how we¡¯re going to do this.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t see why we need to wait,¡± Levi argued, pacing back and forth on the sidewalk. His whole body thrummed with restless energy. ¡°We should start looking now.¡±


    Lucas shot him a stern look. ¡°We need a n, Levi. We can¡¯t just rush in blindly.¡±


    ¡°I agree with Lucas,¡± Percival said. ¡°This is no time for recklessness.¡±


    Lucas nodded gratefully at the older man. ¡°We should split into two groups to cover more ground. Callum, you take Percival and Kendra. Levi and I will wait for Liam, then head in another direction.¡±


    Callum nodded, clearly relieved to have something to focus on besides avoiding Kendra¡¯s gaze. They would be in the same group, but at least the task would allow him some form of distraction.


    ¡°What exactly are we looking for?¡±


    ¡°Anything suspicious,¡± Lucas replied. ¡°Research facilities disguised as normal businesses, unusual security, ces with unusual chemical smells¡ªanything that feels off. Let¡¯s meet back here in three hours.¡±


    ¡°Got it,¡± Callum said with a nod. He gestured for Percival and Kendra to follow him down the street. ¡°We¡¯ll take the east side.¡±


    As the three of them walked away, Levi turned to his brother. ¡°Where do we even start? This street is longer than I thought.¡±


    Lucas pulled out his phone, studying a map. ¡°We should work our way from the south end. ording to what those rogues told us, the facility is hidden in in sight. It could be behind any of these buildings.¡±


    Before their discussion could go any further, Levi froze. His nostrils red as he caught a familiar scent on the breeze.


    ¡°Hazel,¡± he whispered.


    It was just like that night at The Shattered Fang when he¡¯d caught Annie. The same unmistakable sweet scent.


    Levi stilled when he realized the smell was mixed with something else. His eyes widened when he realized what it was.


    Blood.


    Without waiting for Lucas, Levi bolted down the street, following the scent trail. His heart hammered against his ribs as panic seized him.


    ¡°Levi!¡± Lucas shouted behind him. ¡°Wait!¡±


    But Levi couldn¡¯t wait. Not when Hazel¡¯s scent was growing stronger with each step, not when the metallic tang of blood was bing more pronounced.


    He skidded around a corner, nearly colliding with a dumpster as he turned down a narrow alleyway.


    The scent led him deeper into the maze of back streets, away from the main road. Small droplets of blood marked the path, glistening crimson against the pavement.


    ¡°Hazel!¡± Levi called out, his voice echoing off the brick walls.


    He rounded another corner and stopped short. The alley dead-ended at a chain-link fence, and huddled against it, partially hidden behind a trash can, was a figure.


    Levi approached cautiously, his wolf senses on high alert. The scent of Hazel was strongest here, clinging to the figure like a second skin, but it wasn¡¯t her.


    It was a man.


    Instantly, Levi saw red. He strode forward and grabbed the man by his cor, yanking him up with enough force to lift him off the ground.


    ¡°Where is she?¡± he demanded through clenched teeth. ¡°Where¡¯s Hazel?¡±


    The man said nothing and only softly hissed in pain. But what caught Levi¡¯s attention was the dark stain spreading across the man¡¯s torso, seeping through the once-white bandages and his clothes.


    ¡°Levi!¡± Lucas¡¯s voice came from the entrance of the alley. He was jogging toward them with Liam at his side, having finally caught up.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Liam asked, slightly out of breath. ¡°I just got here and Lucas said you took off.¡±


    ¡°This guy,¡± Levi said, not loosening his grip on the man¡¯s cor. ¡°He smells like Hazel. He¡¯s the same one I caught a whiff of at The Shattered Fang, but he disappeared when I got distracted by Annie.¡±


    Lucas stepped forward, his expression changing from anger to shock.


    The man¡¯s hood had shifted back due to how roughly Levi had been handling him. As soon as he got a clear look at the man¡¯s face, Lucas¡¯s eyes widened. Liam gasped beside him.


    Slowly, Lucas reached out and pulled the hood further back, revealing the man¡¯s featurespletely.


    The three brothers stared in stunned silence.


    The man had their face. Identical in every way¡ªthe same jawline, the same nose, the same brow¡ªexcept for his eyes, which were a grayish brown instead of green. They were even almost the same height.


    ¡°What the hell?¡± Levi whispered, his grip loosening slightly in his shock.


    ¡°Wait...¡± Liam stepped forward hesitantly. ¡°Leo?¡± he asked, uncertainty coloring his voice.


    The man chuckled weakly, a grimace of pain crossing his familiar-yet-strange face.


    ¡°Guess you finally found me,¡± he rasped. ¡°Hello there, Alphas. I would say it¡¯s a pleasure to meet you all, but I would be lying.¡±

 Chapter 120: A Spring of Adrenaline

    <h4>Chapter 120: Chapter 120: A Spring of Adrenaline</h4>


    Third POV


    They could definitely see why the rogues had mistook him for one of them. Even with his bruised and swollen face, they could easily tell that he had the exact same features.


    But one thing was for sure, this definitely could not be Leonard, their uncle. He was the wrong age. He couldn¡¯t be more than a year or two older than them.


    The theory that this Leo was their cousin was starting to look more and more usible. If they hadn¡¯t known better, they would¡¯ve thought this was their fourth brother. The resemnce was uncanny.


    Levi tightened his grip again, anger flowing back. ¡°I don¡¯t care who you are. Where¡¯s Hazel? Her scent is all over you!¡±


    ¡°Levi, wait,¡± Liam said, pointing at Leo¡¯s torso. ¡°He¡¯s badly injured. Look at those stitches¡ªthey¡¯reing apart.¡±


    Lucas moved closer, examining the bloodstained bandages. ¡°The wounds are healing too slowly. Those wounds were probably caused by silver.¡±


    ¡°He can bleed out for all I care,¡± Levi snarled, bringing his face close to Leo¡¯s. ¡°I just want to know where our mate is.¡±


    Leo¡¯s eyes focused on Levi with surprising rity despite his obvious pain.


    ¡°You¡¯re right to be worried,¡± Leo said, his voice strained. ¡°Perry has her.¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s Perry?¡± Liam questioned.


    Leo stared at them as though they were idiots. Then, he rolled his eyes and heavily exhaled. ¡°You three should know her as ¡®Esther¡¯,¡± he replied.


    ¡°Esther? As in Esther Perez?¡± Lucas asked sharply.


    Leo nodded weakly. ¡°The one and only. She¡¯s running the Vox Solis.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible,¡± Lucas said, frowning. ¡°She¡¯s at Ironhound.¡±


    Leo simplyughed, before pain caused him to cough. ¡°You know, for Alphas, you three sure are dumb.¡±


    ¡°What the fuck did you just say¡ª¡± Levi started to say but was stopped by Lucas.


    ¡°Levi,¡± Lucas barked. Then, his gaze rested on Leo. ¡°Exin.¡±


    ¡°The one at Ironhound is a mere clone. A decoy. It¡¯s to throw people like you off our tracks.¡± Then, heughed to himself as though he had just heard a joke that none of the others did. ¡°Guess she isn¡¯t actually the one and only after all.¡±


    That would exin plenty of things, such as the brand on Esther¡¯s neck in the photos but not one when they saw her in person. Lucas nodded in understanding.


    ¡°¡®Our¡¯ tracks?¡± Liam echoed,pletely ignoring the way Leo was mumbling to himself.


    Leo¡¯s eyes sharpened. He clenched his jaw and looked away.


    ¡°Where?¡± Levi demanded, giving Leo a slight shake. ¡°Tell us where she is!¡±


    Leo winced at the movement, fresh blood seeping through his bandages.


    ¡°Fuck, there¡¯s no need to be so loud. I¡¯ll tell you,¡± he said, wincing when Levi¡¯s face inched too close to his. Leo¡¯s eyes moved between the three identical faces surrounding him. ¡°But don¡¯t say that I didn¡¯t warn you. You can¡¯t just charge in there. Perry¡ªno, Esther has got vampires working for her. That ce is crawling with them.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, we got that,¡± Liam said, wrinkling his eyebrows. ¡°Come on. We¡¯ll get you patched out before you die here on the road. Then you¡¯re taking us to Hazel.¡±


    ¡°Just let him bleed out,¡± Levi snarled. ¡°Who cares? Hazel is more important.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s right,¡± Leo said, surprising Liam and Lucas. Ignoring their wide-eyed expressions, Leo continued, ¡°Esther ns to experiment with Hazel¡¯s fated bonds. We need to get to her before it¡¯s toote.¡±


    Lucas¡¯s jaw clenched. ¡°Where exactly is she keeping Hazel?¡±


    Leo coughed, a trickle of blood running from the corner of his mouth. ¡°Three blocks down. It looks like an apartment building on the outside, but the Vox Solis owns the entire block. It¡¯s her main research facility.¡±


    +++


    Hazel¡¯s POV


    Darkness swam in and out of my vision. I wasn¡¯t sure how long I¡¯d been unconscious, but the persistent pain in my arm from where they¡¯d injected me told me it hadn¡¯t been long enough.


    Voices floated around me. Theycked any emotion, and most of them sounded like they were speaking in a tunnel.


    ¡°Increase the dosage. We need to terminate the pregnancy before we begin the bond experiments.¡±


    My baby. They wanted to kill my baby.


    Rage flooded through me, pushing back the fog in my mind. I could feel my wolf stirring, fighting against the wolfsbane they¡¯d pumped into me.


    I kept my eyes closed, pretending to still be unconscious while I tested my restraints. They were tight and surprisingly not made of silver. They must¡¯ve moved me from the first chair.


    Additionally, the wolfsbane was wearing off faster than it should have been. Maybe because I was carrying triplets? Maybe my body was processing it differently?


    I didn¡¯t know, and I didn¡¯t care. All I knew was that I had a chance.


    I felt another needle press against my arm, and that was when I made my move.


    With every ounce of strength I could muster, I jerked my arm away and twisted hard against my restraints. The leather strap on my right wrist snapped, surprising even me. Ished out blindly, connecting with someone¡¯s face. There was a cry of pain and the tter of something metallic hitting the floor.


    ¡°Restrain her!¡± someone in ab coat shouted.


    Hands grabbed at me, but adrenaline was coursing through my veins. I managed to free my other wrist and both ankles, kicking and punching at anyone who came near me.


    ¡°She shouldn¡¯t be this strong!¡± someone yelled. ¡°The wolfsbane¡ª¡±


    ¡°Just sedate her again!¡± anothermanded.


    Someone jammed a needle into my thigh, and I screamed in pain. Agony tore through my lower belly, and for a second, my vision swam. I shook my head and squeezed my eyes tightly closed. I stumbled off the table, knocking over trays of instruments.


    Guards rushed into the room quickly, their footsteps thundering. At this rate, I wouldn¡¯t be able to fight them off.


    I needed to shift.


    Maybe it was the adrenaline, maybe it was because of my pup, but I felt a sudden surge of strength. My bones cracked and reformed, my skin stretching and then disappearing beneath fur. The pain was blinding, but when it was done, I stood on four legs, my teeth bared at the shocked faces around me.


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible,¡± one of the scientists breathed. ¡°No one can shift while under that much wolfsbane.¡±


    I didn¡¯t wait for them to recover from their surprise. I lunged at the nearest guard, sinking my teeth into his arm.

 Chapter 121: Brat Of A Twin

    <h4>Chapter 121: Chapter 121: Brat Of A Twin</h4>


    He howled in pain, dropping the syringe he¡¯d been holding.


    Chaos erupted in the room. rms began to re, red lights shing along the walls. I fought my way toward the door, biting and wing at anyone who tried to stop me.


    Once in the hallway, I shifted back to human form. Staying a wolf made it more difficult to weave in and out without getting spotted.


    The shift back was even more painful, and I nearly copsed from the effort. My vision spotted, and I had to lean against the wall to stay upright.


    On my way out, I pried a t-shirt and ab coat off of one of the unconscious technicians to cover myself. Then, I grabbed my shoes, hopping on one foot to put them on before I let the door m closed behind me.


    The hallway split into two directions. I chose left, staggering as fast as I could. Every step sent waves of pain through my stomach. I clenched my jaw, my hand reaching down to brace my lower belly.


    Something was wrong with my pregnancy. With such a high dose of wolfsbane in me, I wasn¡¯t even sure how I hadn¡¯t already copsed dead. Thankfully, there wasn¡¯t any blood for now. But I didn¡¯t dare linger for too long in fear that it would start.


    I could hear shouting behind me, footsteps pounding against the floor.


    Damn it. They probably had half the building looking for me.


    I ducked into the first room I came across, mming the door shut behind me.


    The room was dark except for the glow ofputer screens. And standing in front of one of those screens was Esther.


    My eyes widened with horror when I realized that out of all the rooms, I had chosen one of the worst options.


    ¡°Well,¡± she said, her eyes barely even leaving the screen, ¡°this is awkward.¡±


    I instantly turned to try to open the door, only to realize that she had remotely locked it from her desk. I turned back, ring at her as I braced myself for an iing fight.


    Her fingers flew across the keyboard, typing something quickly before she turned to face me fully.


    ¡°I see you managed to escape.¡± Her tone was eerily casual, as if we were discussing the weather. ¡°Impressive. That was quite a dose of wolfsbane they gave you.¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s the exit?¡± I asked, narrowing my eyes. ¡°You¡¯ve already gotten the data you wanted. Let me go.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve not even nearly begun to scratch the surface,¡± Esther said with augh. ¡°Your baby is still intact, isn¡¯t it? That means the research has not started.¡±


    ¡°No thanks to you!¡± I growled. Pain pulsed through my stomach at the same time. ¡°Let me go or I¡¯ll tear this ce apart!¡±


    My change in tone seemed to have worn down thest bit of Esther¡¯s patience.


    She clicked her tongue and frowned. ¡°You¡¯re just like your mother¡ªa pain in the ass. I should have sent you down to meet your parents the moment they died.¡±


    The words felt like a p across my face. ¡°You... what?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t look so shocked, dear. It wasn¡¯t personal. Just business.¡± She turned back to herputer, tapping a few more keys. ¡°Your parents were in the way. Unfortunately, you are following in their footsteps.¡±


    Rage built inside me. ¡°You had something to do with their deaths? Did you kill my parents?¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± she said with a shrug, ¡°not directly, no.¡±


    My legs nearly gave out beneath me. All these years, wondering where my parents had gone, whether they had died or if they had left me behind purposely, only to find out they had been murdered.


    ¡°Why?¡± I managed to ask, my voice breaking. ¡°My mother... I thought you were her best friend?!¡±


    ¡°Friendships should be mutually beneficial,¡± Esther coldly retorted. ¡°I have given your mother what she wanted. In return, she should pay the price for it.¡±


    ¡°With her life?¡± I squawked. ¡°What could you have possibly offered her that would cost so much?!¡±


    ¡°My time,¡± Esther replied smoothly, ignoring the way my jaw was practically grazing the floor at her sheer audacity. ¡°A researcher¡¯s time is very precious, don¡¯t you know?¡±


    My lips trembled with fury. This was bullshit! With every word Esther used to rile my anger, the wider her smile became.


    Esther, seeing me infuriated, merely smirked and continued, ¡°She outlived her usefulness. Her death was killing two birds with one stone.¡±


    ¡°And what were the birds?¡± I asked, my curiosity acting as the sole thing pinning me to the ground to listen.


    ¡°She lucked out with her mate and, as such, hated the fact that I was researching it. Quite like you, actually. Only...¡± Esther huffed angrily, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect her mate to die with her. I thought he would consider the fact that he had young children to take care of.¡±


    My ears prickled at her choice of words. She said ¡®children¡¯.


    ¡°You knew my sister?¡± I asked.


    ¡°I have not met her personally, if that¡¯s what you mean,¡± Esther said. ¡°But Leo has mentioned her a few times.¡±


    No. This wasn¡¯t the only time she had heard about Helena. Esther¡¯s smile was wide. Her words clearly implied that she knew long ago that my parents had twins instead of just me. Esther Perez would¡¯ve already known about Helena¡¯s existence before Leo came into the picture.


    ¡°Don¡¯t lie,¡± I sneered. ¡°You knew her before Leo told you about her!¡±


    I stepped forward. Perhaps because of the anger that I was radiating, Esther surprisingly cowered back a little when I got near her. Her expression smile faltered.


    ¡°Why are you so obsessed with mate bonds?¡± I asked, trying to keep her talking while I looked for a way out. ¡°How did you know my sister? What happened to make you hate my mother so much?¡±


    Esther¡¯s face shed her previous amusement and contorted back into annoyance. ¡°That¡¯s none of your business.¡±


    ¡°I think it is if you¡¯re using me as a guinea pig,¡± I retorted. ¡°You can¡¯t experiment on me without telling me why.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t owe you exnations!¡± She suddenly shouted, losing her cool. ¡°You are just like your mother¡ªalways questioning, never knowing when to stop! If I had known, I would¡¯ve sent the rogues after you instead of your brat of a twin!¡±


    My heart instantly felt like it dropped. Even Esther¡¯s eyes widened slightly when she realized what she had said.


    Helena was killed by rogues. And not just any rogue¡ªrogues that Esther had sent to kill her.


    Just then, my ears pricked to attention. At the same time, both Esther¡¯s and my eyes fell on the door handle behind me. Someone was outside!


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 Chapter 122: Mates Reunited

    <h4>Chapter 122: Chapter 122: Mates Reunited</h4>


    Third POV


    Leo, Lucas, Liam, and Levi arrived at the research facility. Leo led them in, only to see that the rms were ring. Instantly, he frowned.


    ¡°Something¡¯s wrong,¡± he said urgently.


    ¡°Yeah, no shit,¡± Levi snapped. ¡°As if the rms aren¡¯t already a clue.¡±


    ¡°Do you think Hazel managed to escape?¡± Liam asked.


    ¡°That¡¯s highly possible,¡± Leo said.


    He highly doubted he was important enough for them to re the rms. Besides, it had been a hot minute since he left the building. It would be too little toote to start searching now.


    ¡°Come on. It¡¯s this way.¡±


    Without saying anything else, he carefully led the others through a series of corridors, carefully avoiding the patrol hot spots. Whenever footsteps could be heard, they would dodge into empty rooms to hide.


    It should be easy enough for three alphas to fight their way through, but it wouldn¡¯t be great to attract the attention of more guards.


    Or worse, Perry¡¯s attention.


    ¡°Wait...¡± Liam suddenly said. He clutched his chest where his heart was. His chin tilted up as he surveyed their surroundings. ¡°It¡¯s Hazel. I can feel her.¡±


    Now that he had said it, Lucas and Levi exchanged a nce of realization. Once they were inside the building, Lucas, Liam, and Levi could feel Hazel¡¯s presence much more strongly than before. The sensation was like a sudden jolt of electricity through their bodies.


    Beforehand, there seemed to be a cavern in their bodies, though they weren¡¯t sure of the sensation. Now that they had aparison, everything seemed so obvious.


    ¡°Why can we feel her now when we couldn¡¯t before?¡± Lucas demanded.


    Leo grimaced. ¡°The whole building is lined with a thinyer of silver¡ªenough to block mindlinks and dampen mate bonds without affecting the werewolves¡¯ daily tasks. It acts like a barrier. But now that you¡¯re inside...¡±


    ¡°We can feel her,¡± Liam finished, his face lighting up with hope.


    Lucas suddenly froze, his instincts taking over. Without saying a word, he darted forward down a corridor, his brothers following closely behind.


    ¡°This way,¡± he said withplete certainty, despite never having been in the building before.


    They raced through the hallways, ignoring the shocked faces ofb technicians and security personnel. Most of them couldn¡¯t react in time. They merely stared with their eyes wide and their jaws cked when four identical faces rushed past them.


    Finally, they arrived at a door. Through it, they could hear a familiar voice. Levi¡¯s hand immediately found the handle. He jiggled it with force, only to realize it had been locked.


    Inside the room, the argument merely got louder.


    ¡°...I would¡¯ve sent the rogues after you instead of your brat of a twin!¡±


    The triplets looked at each other in rm before Leo growled, pushing Levi out of the way.


    ¡°Move!¡± he barked, before he mmed his foot against the door, kicking it clean off its hinges with one swift movement.


    +++


    Hazel¡¯s POV


    The door splintered with a deafening crack. I whirled around just as Esther lunged for something on her desk. Without warning, four nearly identical faces burst into the room. It took me half a second to realize that it was none other than the triplets and Leo.


    ¡°Hazel!¡± Levi shouted.


    My heart soared at the sight of them. Without thinking, I rushed toward them, pushing past Leo to throw myself into their arms. The familiar scent of the three men I loved enveloped me as they encircled me in a protective embrace.


    ¡°You came,¡± I breathed, my voice cracking with emotion. ¡°You really came for me.¡±


    ¡°Always,¡± Lucas murmured against my hair, his arms tightening around me.


    Liam¡¯s hand cupped my cheek. ¡°Are you hurt? Did they do anything to you?¡±


    Before I could answer, a shrill rm sted through the room. Esther had pressed a button on her desk, a malicious smile twisting her lips.


    ¡°How touching,¡± she sneered, her eyes fixed on Leo. ¡°You brought the cavalry, I see.¡±


    Leo stepped forward, cing himself between us and Esther. ¡°Just give it up, Perry. It¡¯s over.¡±


    Estherughed, the sound cold and brittle. ¡°Oh, Leo. You of all people should know our work is never over.¡± Her eyes flicked to me. ¡°Not when there¡¯s still so much to learn from our little test subject.¡±


    Leo lunged at her, but Esther was faster than she looked. She dodged to the side, reaching into herb coat to pull out a syringe filled with amber liquid.


    ¡°You know what this is, don¡¯t you?¡± she taunted, holding it up. ¡°All those years of research, culminating in this. One injection, and all established bonds are severed forever.¡±


    The triplets tensed around me. I could feel their fear, and I mirrored it.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare,¡± Levi growled, stepping forward.


    The door behind us burst open again as guards flooded the room. The triplets immediately shifted their attention, forming a protective circle around me as they engaged with the attackers.


    ¡°Hazel, stay behind us!¡± Lucas ordered, his fist connecting with a guard¡¯s jaw.


    The room erupted into chaos. Liam and Levi worked in perfect unison, their movements fluid and deadly as they took down guard after guard. Lucas stayed closest to me, his powerful form a shield between me and danger.


    Over their shoulders, I kept my eyes on Esther and Leo. They circled each other like predators, each looking for an opening.


    ¡°You¡¯re a fool, Leo,¡± Esther spat. ¡°You could have had everything¡ªa new mate, a new chance. But you threw it away for what? Sentimentality?¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have needed a second chance if you hadn¡¯t been a meddlesome fuck,¡± Leo spat, hatred in his eyes.


    Esther¡¯s eyes narrowed with confusion. It took her a while before her eyes widened and her lips curled into a smirk. I could practically see it clicking into ce when she realized what Leo was referring to.


    ¡°Eavesdropping isn¡¯t polite, Leo, didn¡¯t I teach you that?¡± she said.


    ¡°You killed her!¡± He yelled.


    Unable to contain his anger any further, Leo stepped forward and threw a punch. Esther barely dodged in time, staggering back with Leo¡¯s fist just a hair¡¯s breadth away from her cheek.


    As they fought, I noticed more guards streaming in. The triplets were holding their own, but they were outnumbered. Liam had a gash on his arm, and Levi¡¯s lip was split and bleeding. Lucas was breathing heavily, his knuckles raw.


    I needed to do something. My eyesnded on a fire extinguisher mounted on the wall. I darted toward it, yanking it free from its bracket.


    ¡°Lucas!¡± I shouted, tossing it to him.


    He caught it one-handed, immediately understanding my intention. With a powerful swing, he unleashed a cloud of white foam, temporarily blinding several guards and giving us a brief advantage.


    In the confusion, I spotted Esther making her move. She¡¯d circled around and wasing straight for me, the syringe raised high.


    I didn¡¯t have the time to react. My body felt rooted to the spot in fear. Through themotion, somehow, she had managed to worm towards me.


    Everything happened in slow motion. I saw the needle descending toward my arm. Then there was a blur of movement. Leo threw himself between us, his body colliding with Esther¡¯s. At the same time, a hiss of pain echoed.


    ¡°Leo!¡±


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 Chapter 123: Against the Clock

    <h4>Chapter 123: Chapter 123: Against the Clock</h4>


    The moment Leo staggered back, I rushed to his side without thinking.


    ¡°Leo! Are you okay?¡± I grabbed his arm to steady him.


    Instantly, a wave of perfume hit me, causing my breath to stutter in surprise. My heart skipped a beat unnaturally. This feeling. It was almost like¡ª


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± he gritted out, though his face was contorted slightly in pain.


    His ears had turned increasingly red, and his breathing wasbored. The needle was still sticking out of his forearm where he¡¯d intercepted it before it could pierce my skin. A thin trickle of amber liquid was dripping down his skin.


    Behind us, Levi moved with lightning speed. Before Esther could retreat, he had her in a chokehold, his muscr arm wrapped around her throat. Her eyes bulged as she wed at him.


    ¡°Tell your people to stand down,¡± Levi growled, tightening his grip just enough to make his point, ¡°or I snap your neck right here.¡±


    The guards hesitated, looking to Esther for direction. Her face was turning an rming shade of red.


    Leo winced as he looked at me. ¡°Hazel, there¡¯s a button under the desk. Press it. Now.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± I asked, confused by his sudden instruction.


    ¡°Just do it!¡± he barked.


    I hesitated, meeting his intense gaze. Despite everything, I trusted him.


    I rushed to the desk, dropped to my knees, and felt underneath the surface. My fingers found a small rectangr button set into the wood. Without further hesitation, I pressed it.


    Immediately, red lights began shing throughout the room, and an automated female voice red over the speakers.


    ¡°SELF-DESTRUCT SEQUENCE INITIATED. ALL PERSONNEL EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY. TEN MINUTES TO COMPLETE FACILITY DESTRUCTION.¡±


    Esther¡¯s eyes widened in horror. ¡°What have you done?!¡± she screeched, renewing her struggles against Levi¡¯s hold.


    The guards immediately began to scatter, abandoning their posts and running for the exits. In the face of impending destruction, they couldn¡¯t care less about Esther¡¯s well-being. It was every man for themselves.


    Leo grunted, plucking the needle from his arm with a wince. ¡°You need to get her out of here,¡± he said to the triplets, nodding in my direction.


    ¡°What about you?¡± Lucas demanded, already moving to take my hand.


    ¡°There¡¯s something I need to take care of,¡± Leo replied grimly. ¡°Don¡¯t wait for me.¡±


    ¡°No, wait!¡± I protested, pulling against Lucas¡¯s grip. ¡°We can¡¯t leave without Leo! Wait!¡±


    My heart raced as the triplets began dragging me toward the exit. Levi had taken hold of Esther, forcing her along with us, while Liam and Lucas nked me on either side.


    ¡°We don¡¯t have time to argue, Hazel,¡± Lucas said firmly. ¡°This ce is about to blow.¡±


    The corridors were chaos¡ªpeople running in all directions, rms ring, the automated countdown continuing its ominous announcement. We pushed our way through the throng, heading for the stairwell that would take us to the ground floor.


    Behind us, the first explosion rocked the building. The floor shuddered beneath our feet, and dust rained down from the ceiling. The tremor sent several people stumbling into walls and each other.


    ¡°The levels are exploding at random,¡± Liam shouted over the noise. ¡°We need to move faster!¡±


    We picked up our pace, racing down corridors as the building continued to shake. The second wave of explosions came just as we reached a junction in the hallway. The force was much stronger this time, sending ripples through the floor and causing the ceiling to crack.


    Without warning, a massive chunk of concrete broke free above us. Lucas shoved me forward just as it crashed down between us, creating an impassable barrier of rubble and twisted metal.


    ¡°Hazel!¡± I heard Liam¡¯s panicked voice from the other side. ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine!¡± I called back, my voice shaking. ¡°But I can¡¯t get through!¡±


    ¡°Stay there!¡± Lucasmanded. ¡°We¡¯ll find another way around!¡±


    I heard them discussing urgently on the other side, their voices growing fainter as they moved away to find an alternate route. I stood there for a moment, my heart pounding, before making a split-second decision.


    Leo had taken that needle for me. He¡¯d sacrificed himself to protect me, and I couldn¡¯t just leave him behind to die. Besides, I realized I was now on the same floor where I remembered his bedroom being.


    There was only one thing Leo would stay in a self-destructing building for.


    Helena.


    Turning away from the debris wall, I ran in the direction of Leo¡¯s room, ignoring the rational part of my brain that was screaming at me to find an exit.


    The hallways were emptying now, most people having already evacuated or at least trying to.


    I skidded around a corner and spotted the familiar door to Leo¡¯s room. Pushing it open without knocking, I found him standing by his dresser, staring intensely at a photograph in his hands¡ªthe same one I¡¯d picked up when I was locked in his room. Helena¡¯s face smiled back from the image.


    ¡°Leo!¡± I called out.


    He spun around, surprise and anger shing across his face. ¡°What are you doing here? It¡¯s not safe!¡±


    ¡°I could say the same to you!¡± I shot back. ¡°We need to go, now!¡±


    ¡°I told you not to wait for me,¡± he growled, shoving the framed photograph into a random bag before he slung it over his body.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m not good at following orders,¡± I retorted. ¡°Are youing or not?¡±


    The building shuddered again as the next explosion tore through the floors below us. The walls groaned ominously, and the floor beneath our feet began to tilt at a slight angle.


    ¡°This whole ce ising down,¡± Leo muttered, closing the distance between us. The closer he got to me, the faster my heart started to beat. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    We hurried to the door, but just as Leo reached for the handle, the third explosion hit¡ªmuch closer this time. The entire building swayed like a tree in a storm. The ceiling above us cracked with a sound like a gunshot, and huge chunks of concrete and steel began raining down.


    Without hesitation, Leo threw himself over me, shielding my body with his own as debris crashed around us.


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 Chapter 124: Finally Over

    <h4>Chapter 124: Chapter 124: Finally Over</h4>


    I felt his arms tighten around me, his body tensing as something heavy struck his back. His grunt of pain was muffled against my hair as dust and chunks of debris rained down on us.


    ¡°Leo!¡± I gasped, trying to look up at him. His face was twisted in a grimace, sweat beading on his forehead. Blood trickled from a gash near his temple where a piece of concrete had struck him.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± he growled, though his breathing was ragged. ¡°Just stay down.¡±


    The building continued to shake violently around us. Cracks spread across the walls like lightning bolts, and the floor beneath us tilted at an rming angle. The automated voice continued its countdown.


    Leo lifted his head slightly, quickly assessing our situation. ¡°We need to move. Now.¡±


    He grabbed my hand and pulled me to my feet, his grip surprisingly gentle despite the urgency. We stumbled into the hallway, which was barely recognizable now. It was filled with debris, exposed wiring, and thick dust that made it hard to breathe.


    ¡°This way,¡± Leo urged, tugging me along.


    He navigated the crumbling corridors with impressive speed and precision, pulling me close whenever a new tremor shook the building. The emergency lights flickered, casting eerie red shadows across his face.


    ¡°How much farther?¡± I coughed, my lungs burning from the dust.


    ¡°Two more floors down,¡± he replied tersely. ¡°There¡¯s a side exit there that goes down from outside the building. It will be safer than staying inside.¡±


    We rounded a corner and came face to face with a massive gap where part of the floor had given way. Leo didn¡¯t hesitate. He scooped me up and leapt across the chasm,nding with perfect bnce on the other side.


    ¡°Show-off,¡± I muttered against his chest. It didn¡¯t stop my heart from skipping a beat. Hopefully, Leo couldn¡¯t hear it with all themotion around us.


    The ghost of a smile crossed his face before he set me down. ¡°Feel free to repeat that when we¡¯re not on the brink of death.¡±


    Another explosion rocked the building, this one closer than thest. The force of it knocked us both against the wall.


    ¡°Two minutes remaining,¡± the automated voice announced calmly, as ifmenting on the weather.


    ¡°Come on!¡± Leo grabbed my hand again, pulling me toward a stairwell that was miraculously still intact.


    We¡¯d barely made it down one flight when familiar voices echoed from below.


    ¡°Hazel!¡± Lucas¡¯s deep voice carried up to us.


    ¡°Lucas!¡± I eximed, relief flooding through me. ¡°Up here!¡±


    Secondster, Lucas and Liam appeared below us, their faces streaked with dust and sweat. Lucas¡¯s expression was a mixture of anger and relief, while Liam seemed ready to cry when we headed down to meet them.


    ¡°What the hell were you thinking?¡± he demanded, but there was no real heat behind his words. He grabbed my shoulders and scanned me up and down for injuries. ¡°How could you run off like that?¡±


    ¡°No time for reunions,¡± Leo cut in. ¡°This ce is about to be a pile of rubble.¡±


    Liam nodded. ¡°Levi¡¯s already outside with Esther. We need to move.¡±


    The building gave another violent shudder, and I stumbled. Lucas caught me effortlessly, his strong arms steadying me against his chest.


    ¡°Can you shift?¡± he asked quickly. ¡°We¡¯d move faster as wolves.¡±


    I tried to shift, but when I tried, I felt a wave of weakness. Pain pierced through my stomach, causing me to grimace.


    ¡°I can¡¯t,¡± I admitted, frustration coloring my voice.


    ¡°Thirty seconds remaining,¡± the mechanical voice intoned.


    ¡°Fuck,¡± Leo cursed. ¡°Run. Now.¡±


    We sprinted down the remaining stairs, the four of us moving as one group. The ground floor was in shambles, with fallen beams blocking the main entrance.


    ¡°This way,¡± Leo directed, pointing to a narrow corridor I hadn¡¯t noticed before.


    We followed him, ducking under hanging wires and jumping over debris. The exit appeared at the end of the hallway, illuminated by a flickering emergency light.


    Leo shoved it open, and fresh air hit us like a blessing. We burst out into the open, running at full speed away from the doomed facility.


    ¡°Ten... nine... eight...¡± The countdown was audible even from outside.


    ¡°Shift!¡± Lucas yelled.


    In seconds, three wolves stood where they once stood.


    Lucas took one nce at me, and instantly, I knew he was signaling for me to climb on his back. I didn¡¯t argue, quickly mounting him and gripping his fur tightly.


    The wolves took off, racing away from the building with supernatural speed. We¡¯d barely made it a hundred yards when the countdown reached zero.


    The explosion was deafening. A massive fireball erupted from the center of the facility, followed by a shock wave that rippled through the ground. The wolves staggered but kept running as the building copsed in on itself, sending a massive cloud of dust and debris billowing into the air.


    We didn¡¯t stop until we reached a safe distance, a small clearing in the woods that surrounded the now-destroyed facility. As I slid off Lucas¡¯s back, a familiar wolf with ck fur bounded toward us.


    Levi shifted back to human form, hastily pulling on the clothes he¡¯d tied to his ankle.


    ¡°About time you guys showed up,¡± he said, relief evident in his voice. ¡°I was starting to think I¡¯d have to go back in there after you.¡±


    ¡°What happened to Esther?¡± I asked, my throat dry from dust and exertion.


    ¡°Handed her off to the warriors Callum contacted,¡± Levi exined, running a hand through his messy hair. ¡°They¡¯ve got her secured. Callum¡¯s escorting them back now.¡±


    The other men shifted back to human form, quickly dressing. Lucas immediately pulled me into his arms, burying his face in my hair.


    ¡°Don¡¯t ever do that again,¡± he whispered fiercely. ¡°When that explosion hit and we got separated...¡±


    Liam joined the embrace, his warm arms encircling both of us. ¡°We thought we¡¯d lost you.¡±


    Levipleted the circle, his usual yfulness reced by raw emotion. ¡°Family hug,¡± he murmured, his voice uncharacteristically thick.


    I felt the tension drain from their bodies as we tightly held onto each other. It was finally over. The facility was destroyed. Esther was captured. We were reunited and all safe.


    Leo stood apart from us, his expression unreadable as he watched the smoke rise from the ruins of the building. He looked down and pulled out the photograph from his bag.


    Helena¡¯s photograph.


    I couldn¡¯t see his face directly, but I could only imagine the sort of expression he must be wearing.


    The moment was broken when a sharp pain suddenly stabbed through my lower abdomen. It was so unexpected and intense that I gasped, doubling over.


    ¡°Hazel?¡± Liam¡¯s concerned voice seemed toe from far away.


    I tried to straighten up, but the pain intensified. My vision blurred at the edges.


    ¡°She¡¯s bleeding,¡± someone said. The agony was so much that I couldn¡¯t tell who it was anymore.


    I looked down and saw with horror that blood was streaming down my legs, staining the ground beneath me. My head felt impossibly light, as if it were filled with air.


    ¡°I don¡¯t feel...¡± I tried to say, but the words slipped away from me.


    Thest thing I saw was the panicked faces of Lucas, Liam, Levi, and even Leo, as they rushed toward me. The world tilted sideways, and quickly, darkness imed me.

 Chapter 125: Waking Up From A Nightmare

    <h4>Chapter 125: Chapter 125: Waking Up From A Nightmare</h4>


    My eyes cracked open. The first thing I saw was a blinding sh of sterile white. Panic instantly shot through me.


    For a terrifying moment, I thought I was back in that facility¡ªthat everything had been a hallucination, and I was still trapped in one of Esther¡¯s experiments.


    My heart rate spiked, and I tried to sit up, only to feel a sharp pain in my abdomen that forced me back down with a gasp.


    ¡°Easy there,¡± a familiar voice said, and relief flooded through me as Matilda¡¯s face came into view, her kind eyes crinkling at the corners. ¡°You¡¯re safe now, Hazel. You¡¯re at the pack infirmary.¡±


    I took a shaky breath, trying to calm my racing pulse. If Matilda was here, that meant that I was finally back in Emberfang grounds.


    ¡°How long have I been out?¡± I croaked.


    ¡°About twelve hours,¡± Matilda replied, checking the IV drip attached to my arm. ¡°You copsed from exhaustion, among other things. We thought it would be better to keep you here rather than in your bedroom. Those triplets of yours would never have given you the peace you need to heal properly.¡±


    A small smile tugged at my lips. ¡°They can be a bit... overwhelming.¡±


    Except I had greatly missed this sort of ¡®overwhelming¡¯.


    ¡°That¡¯s putting it mildly,¡± Matilda snorted, making notes on a chart. ¡°I had to physically bar them from spending the night in here. Even then, they took shifts sitting outside the door like guard dogs.¡±


    I nced around the room, taking in the medical equipment and the sunlight streaming through the blinds. It was fairly empty, and the only thing I could smell was the antiseptic.


    ¡°What happened to me?¡± I asked, my hand instinctively moving to my stomach. Fear gripped me as I remembered the blood running down my legs before I passed out.


    Matilda noticed the movement and her expression softened. ¡°We found a significant amount of wolfsbane in your system. It¡¯s a miracle it didn¡¯t kill you, considering the concentration. We¡¯ve managed to purge most of it out now.¡±


    I immediately pinched my lips. I could still feel the cold needle pressed against my skin again and again, injecting some unknown liquid into my system. Just the memory of it made me shiver.


    ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m baffled as to how you survived it,¡± Matilda said, shaking her head. ¡°That amount would have been lethal to most wolves.¡±


    I swallowed hard, afraid to ask my next question. My fingers pressed lightly against my abdomen. ¡°And... did I... is my...¡±


    Matilda¡¯s eyes followed my hand, and her expression changed to one of understanding. ¡°Right, about that...¡±


    My breath caught in my throat. The way she was looking at me¡ªwas she about to deliver bad news? Had I lost the baby? The thought made my chest tighten painfully.


    ¡°I suppose you might¡¯ve already known about your pregnancy?¡± Matilda asked gently.


    The relief that washed over me was so intense I felt tears spring to my eyes. ¡°It¡¯s still there? The baby is okay?¡±


    Before Matilda could answer, the door burst open with such force it banged against the wall. Three tall figures rushed in, their expressions a mix of concern, relief, and excitement.


    ¡°You¡¯re pregnant?¡± Lucas demanded, his green eyes wide with shock.


    Liam moved to my bedside immediately, taking my hand in his. ¡°Hazel, why didn¡¯t you tell us?¡±


    Levi, for once, seemed speechless, staring at me with his mouth slightly open before a slow, delighted grin spread across his face.


    ¡°Alphas!¡± Matilda instantly wore a stern expression. ¡°I told you not to eavesdrop! The patient needs sufficient peace and quiet to rest!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not our fault the walls are paper thin!¡± Levi whined. He turned back to me with a delighted expression, like a dog wagging its tail.


    I looked from one to the other, caught off guard by their sudden appearance. ¡°I¡ªI only found out recently myself. There wasn¡¯t exactly time to share the news between kidnappings and explosions.¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s the father?¡± Lucas asked, his voice carefully controlled.


    Matilda cleared her throat. ¡°From a gic standpoint, it might be near impossible to check. Identical triplets share the same DNA. Unless we run extensive tests after the birth, we may never know which of you is the biological father.¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Liam said firmly, squeezing my hand. ¡°The baby is ours¡ªall of ours.¡±


    Lucas nodded, his expression softening as he looked at me. ¡°Liam¡¯s right. This child is a Sullivan, regardless of which one of us contributed the DNA.¡±


    ¡°I call dibs on being the fun dad,¡± Levi announced, perching on the edge of my bed and cing his hand gently on my stomach. His touch sent a warm tingle through me. ¡°Hey there, little pup. Uncle Levi¡ªor maybe Daddy Levi¡ªcan¡¯t wait to meet you.¡±


    Despite everything, I found myselfughing at his antics. ¡°The baby can¡¯t hear you yet, Levi.¡±


    ¡°Never too early to start bonding,¡± he countered with a wink, then leaned closer to whisper, ¡°You look beautiful like this, you know. All soft and glowing.¡± His breath tickled my ear, causing me to blush.


    ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough,¡± Matilda said, shooing him back. ¡°Hazel needs rest, not you three hovering and exciting her.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re not leaving her alone again,¡± Lucas stated, his tone leaving no room for argument. ¡°Not after everything that¡¯s happened.¡±


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Liam said, his eyes darkening. ¡°From now on, one of us is with her at all times.¡±


    ¡°And I mean at ALL times,¡± Levi added with a suggestive wiggle of his eyebrows that made me roll my eyes despite the seriousness of the situation.


    ¡°We can discuss security measures without overwhelming my patient,¡± Matilda said firmly. ¡°Hazel¡¯s body has been through a tremendous ordeal. The wolfsbane, the stress, the physical exertion¡ªit¡¯s a miracle both she and the baby survived.¡±


    The mention of our close call sobered everyone. Lucas¡¯s jaw tightened, and he moved to stand by my other side, his hand finding mine.


    ¡°We won¡¯t let anything happen to either of you again. I swear it.¡±


    The intensity in his eyes made my breath catch. I believed him. For all their faults, the Sullivan brothers protected what was theirs with fierce determination.


    Suddenly, a memory shed through my mind¡ªLeo standing apart from our group, staring at Helena¡¯s photograph as the facility burned behind us. Leo, who had risked his life to save me multiple times despite his gruff exterior.


    ¡°Wait,¡± I said, looking around at the triplets. ¡°Where¡¯s Leo? Is he okay?¡±


    The atmosphere in the room shifted instantly. The brothers exchanged a look that sent a chill down my spine.


    ¡°What happened?¡± I demanded, trying to sit up again despite the pain. ¡°Is he hurt?¡±

 Chapter 126: An Unexplainable Connection

    <h4>Chapter 126: Chapter 126: An Unexinable Connection</h4>


    The triplets exchanged ufortable nces at my question about Leo. The tension in the room thickened instantly.


    ¡°What happened to him?¡± I pressed, ignoring the pain as I tried to sit up straighter. ¡°Is he okay?¡±


    Lucas stepped forward, his face serious. ¡°He¡¯s alive, Hazel.¡±


    ¡°Then where is he?¡± My heart raced. Despite everything, I couldn¡¯t shake my concern for Leo.


    The brothers shared another look,municating silently in that way only they could. Finally, Liam broke the heavy silence.


    ¡°Leo is currently being held in the cells,¡± he said gently, his warm eyes filled with caution.


    My jaw dropped. ¡°The cells? Why?¡±


    Levi snorted, crossing his arms. ¡°Why? Because he¡¯s the one who caused this whole mess in the first ce!¡±


    ¡°Levi,¡± Lucas warned, shooting his brother a stern look.


    ¡°What? It¡¯s true!¡± Levi threw his hands up. ¡°He confessed everything while we had him locked up! He practically started the Vox Solis with Esther. He kidnapped you because he wanted to make you his mate!¡±


    My breath got caught in my throat. ¡°He... confessed all that?¡±


    That was surprising. I thought it would had taken a lot more convincing to get Leo to confess.


    ¡°Hazel, you have a twin sister,¡± Lucas gently revealed. ¡°Leo was her chosen mate.¡±


    I nodded. ¡°Yes,¡± I said. ¡°I know that. He eventually told me.¡±


    I vaguely exined how they met, and Lucas, Liam, and Levi shared a look and a nod.


    ¡°Other than confessing, he also came with us willingly,¡± Liam exined, his voice soft. ¡°He said he¡¯d ept whatever judgment we passed, in exchange for...¡± He trailed off, looking at his brothers again.


    ¡°In exchange for what?¡± I demanded.


    Lucas sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. ¡°He just wanted to know if you were alright, Hazel. That was his only request.¡±


    Something tightened in my chest at his words. Leo, who¡¯d risked everything to save me from that needle, who¡¯d taken the serum meant for me, had only cared about my safety.


    The way we met started out so wrong, but he was doing his part to rectify everything.


    Matilda cleared her throat. ¡°I should give you all some privacy. Call me if you need anything.¡± She slipped out of the room, closing the door softly behind her.


    Liam sat on the edge of my bed, taking my hand in his. ¡°Why do you care so much about him, Hazel? After everything he did?¡±


    I stared at our joined hands, struggling to find the right words. My skin tingled where I touched Liam. It felt right to have my hand in his, and warmth instantly bloomed through me in the best way.


    Oddly enough, I couldn¡¯t help but think this was also how it felt to hold Leo¡¯s hand when he pulled me through the exploding building.


    ¡°I know what he did was wrong. I know he created this mess, but... I feel sorry for him.¡±


    ¡°Sorry for him?¡± Levi scoffed. ¡°He literally tried to steal you from us!¡±


    ¡°I know that!¡± I snapped, then softened my tone. ¡°But he also saved my life. Multiple times. And there¡¯s something else...¡±


    Lucas moved closer, his green eyes intense. ¡°What is it?¡±


    I took a deep breath. ¡°I feel a strange bond with Leo. It¡¯s not the same as what I feel with you three, but it¡¯s... simr. Like a weaker version of our fated mate bond.¡±


    The room fell silent. Lucas¡¯s jaw tightened, Liam¡¯s grip on my hand loosened slightly, and Levi¡¯s yful demeanor vanishedpletely.


    ¡°You feel a mate bond with Leo?¡± Lucas finally asked, his voice carefully controlled.


    ¡°Not exactly,¡± I rushed to exin. ¡°It¡¯s different. Weaker. But after he took that injection for me¡ªthe one that was supposed to erase mate bonds¡ªI felt it even stronger.¡±


    Liam¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°So that¡¯s why you wanted to find him so badly even when the building was falling apart.¡±


    I nodded, guilt washing over me. ¡°I feel like I¡¯m betraying you three. And Helena¡ª Oh Goddess, I am terrible. What am I even saying?!¡±


    I buried my face into my hands. This was all so wrong. I already had my mates. Not only that, I had three of them! I wasn¡¯t expecting to find a fourth one as well.


    Lucas paced the room, hands sped behind his back. ¡°This doesn¡¯t make sense. Mate bonds don¡¯t work that way. We are an exception only because we are triplets.¡±


    ¡°He sure looks like us,¡± Levi said, wincing. ¡°But Mom and Dad are insistent they don¡¯t have a fourth son. Even they were pretty surprised when they first saw Leo.¡±


    I peeped out from between my fingers, a smile tugging at my lips. What I would give to see the look of horror on Evelyn¡¯s face when she realized there was another man with such a simr appearance to her beloved sons.


    ¡°Unless...¡± Liam¡¯s face lit up with understanding. ¡°Unless the serum they injected Leo with didn¡¯t erase mate bonds at all.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± I asked.


    ¡°What if it did the opposite?¡± Liam continued, excitement building in his voice. ¡°What if instead of erasing a bond, it created one? Or strengthened an artificial one?¡±


    Levi snapped his fingers. ¡°That¡¯s it! They were experimenting with creating mate bonds, not just breaking them.¡±


    Lucas stopped pacing. ¡°And Leo could be a test subject without even realizing it.¡±


    The pieces started falling into ce. ¡°So the bond I feel with Leo...¡±


    ¡°Might be manufactured,¡± Lucas finished. ¡°Not natural like ours.¡±


    ¡°But...¡± I shook my head. ¡°No, that¡¯s not possible. Esther was aiming for me, remember? She wanted to sabotage my bond with the three of you.¡±


    Almost immediately after the words left my lips, the triplets¡¯ faces fell.


    ¡°We need to have Matilda assess both of you,¡± Liam said decisively. ¡°She might be able to figure out what¡¯s going on.¡±


    ¡°Did they perform any procedures on you while you were there, Hazel?¡± Lucas asked, his voice tight with concern.


    I shook my head. ¡°They tried, but the preliminary tests kept failing. Esther¡¯s guess was that it might be due to the baby. That¡¯s why they kept injecting me with wolfsbane before you all found me.¡±


    Aplicated expression washed over the triplets¡¯ faces. It was a mix of worry and relief.


    ¡°Thank the Moon Goddess,¡± Levi breathed. ¡°At least nothing irreversible happened to you.¡±


    ¡°But something happened to Leo,¡± I whispered. He had lost the remaining connection he had with the woman he loved. ¡°And it¡¯s partly my fault.¡±


    Lucas sat beside me, opposite Liam. ¡°None of this is your fault, Hazel. Leo made his choices, for better or worse.¡±


    ¡°And regardless of what¡¯s happening with this strange bond, we¡¯re your true mates,¡± Levi added, his usual yfulness reced by rare seriousness. ¡°Nothing will change that.¡±


    I nodded, but couldn¡¯t shake the heaviness in my heart. ¡°I need to see him.¡±


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 Chapter 127: Giving Thanks

    <h4>Chapter 127: Chapter 127: Giving Thanks</h4>


    The brothers stiffened simultaneously.


    ¡°Hazel, I don¡¯t think that¡¯s wise,¡± Lucas said carefully.


    ¡°You¡¯re still recovering,¡± Liam added.


    ¡°And he¡¯s locked up for good reason,¡± Levi pointed out.


    I looked at each of them in turn. ¡°I want to see Leo. Right now.¡±


    ¡°Hazel¡ª¡± Lucas began.


    ¡°I need to understand what¡¯s happening,¡± I insisted. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to know too?¡±


    The triplets exchanged nces again, having one of their silent conversations.


    ¡°She has a point,¡± Liam admitted reluctantly.


    ¡°I don¡¯t like it,¡± Levi grumbled.


    Lucas sighed deeply. ¡°If we agree to this, you stay in bed. We¡¯ll bring Leo up to the infirmary under guard.¡±


    Hope blossomed in my chest. ¡°So you¡¯ll do it?¡±


    ¡°We want answers as much as you do,¡± Lucas said firmly. ¡°But the moment anything seems off, he goes straight back to the cells. Understood?¡±


    I nodded quickly. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t thank us yet,¡± Levi muttered. ¡°This could be a terrible idea.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go make the arrangements,¡± Lucas said, standing. ¡°Liam, stay with Hazel. Levi, find Matilda and bring her back here.¡±


    As Lucas and Levi left the room, Liam squeezed my hand gently. ¡°Are you sure about this, Hazel? Leo isn¡¯t exactly trustworthy.¡±


    I met his concerned gaze. ¡°I need to face him, Liam. I need to know what¡¯s real and what¡¯s not.¡±


    He nodded slowly. ¡°We¡¯ll be right here with you. Always.¡±


    I nodded, smiling as I squeezed his hand back.


    fre.eweb(n)ovel\.c om


    ¡°I know,¡± I said. ¡°Thank you. For not freaking out.¡±


    Liam edged a little closer to me on the bed. ¡°Only that?¡± he asked, wiggling his eyebrows a little suggestively.


    ¡°And for finding me,¡± I said, leaning in a little closer to him.


    His eyes darkened slightly as they dropped to my lips. ¡°I would have torn the world apart to find you, Hazel.¡±


    My heart skipped a beat. The sincerity in his voice made my chest tighten with emotion.


    ¡°I don¡¯t deserve you,¡± I whispered. ¡°Any of you.¡±


    Liam shook his head firmly. ¡°No, we¡¯re the ones who don¡¯t deserve you. After everything we put you through...¡±


    I ced a finger against his lips, silencing him. ¡°That¡¯s in the past.¡±


    He smiled against my finger before gently taking my hand and kissing the palm. ¡°I¡¯m never letting you go again.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t help the smile that spread across my face. Feeling bold, I leaned forward and pressed my lips against his. Liam froze for a split second before responding, his lips moving gently against mine. The kiss was tender, as if he was afraid I might break.


    When we pulled apart, his eyes were dark with desire, the wolf in him close to the surface. He took a deep breath, clearly trying to control himself.


    ¡°I should probably stop,¡± he murmured, his voice rougher than before. ¡°You¡¯re still recovering.¡±


    My eyes fell onto the tent that was starting to pitch in his pants. Grinning, I touched his face, tracing his jaw.


    ¡°I¡¯ll make it up to you when I¡¯m better,¡± I promised.


    A groan escaped him. ¡°Don¡¯t make promises like that when I¡¯m trying to be good.¡±


    Iughed softly, and he smiled, the tension easing. His thumb traced patterns on the back of my hand.


    ¡°So much happened while I was gone,¡± I said after a moment. ¡°Can you catch me up?¡±


    Liam¡¯s expression brightened. ¡°Well, for starters, we¡¯ve met your grandfather.¡±


    I blinked in surprise. ¡°My grandfather?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Percival Hunt. He¡¯s your mother¡¯s father,¡± Liam exined. ¡°He arrived shortly after you were taken. Apparently, he¡¯s been looking for you for years.¡±


    My breath caught in my throat. ¡°I have family? All this time, I thought I was alone.¡±


    Liam nodded. ¡°He¡¯s quite a character¡ªtough as nails but with a soft spot for you. He nearly tore Dad apart when he found out how you¡¯d been treated.¡±


    Augh bubbled out of me at the mental image of someone standing up to Alpha Henry. ¡°I wish I¡¯d seen that.¡±


    ¡°It was something,¡± Liam chuckled. ¡°Anyway, he¡¯s staying with us for as long as he wants. He¡¯s eager to meet you properly once you¡¯re feeling better.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe it,¡± I whispered, tears stinging my eyes. ¡°I have a grandfather.¡±


    Liam brushed away a tear that escaped. ¡°He¡¯s been telling us stories about your mother. You look just like her, ording to him.¡±


    The idea of learning about my parents from someone who actually knew them was overwhelming. For so long, they¡¯d just been shadowy figures in my mind.


    ¡°What else did I miss?¡± I asked, trying topose myself.


    Liam¡¯s expression turned more serious. ¡°Well, there¡¯s the situation with Callum.¡±


    ¡°What about Callum?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯splicated,¡± Liam sighed. ¡°ording to Leo, Cassandra isn¡¯t actually Callum¡¯s fated mate. She faked the bond¡ªit was manufactured by the Vox Solis.¡±


    I nodded. ¡°Cassandra told me.¡±


    fr eewe(b)nove.l.co\m


    Liam¡¯s eyes widened with surprise. ¡°She did?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± I said, shrugging. ¡°She was in the facility, along with Annie. She eventually confessed that she was a volunteer for the research.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s part of what makes their work so terrifying,¡± Liam said grimly. ¡°They¡¯ve figured out how to mimic the sensation of a mate bond. But while Callum was with us searching for you, he met Kendra, a rogue wolf. The connection was immediate and real.¡±


    ¡°Kendra?¡± I echoed. ¡°Wait,¡± I gasped. Are you saying that Callum found his real fated mate?¡± I gasped. ¡°How is Callum handling it?¡±


    ¡°Not well,¡± Liam admitted. ¡°He¡¯s buried himself in work, avoiding Kendrapletely. And now Cassandra has disappeared, which has only made things worse.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s missing?¡± I couldn¡¯t help but furrow my eyebrows. What she did wasn¡¯t right, but to think that she might¡¯ve died in the self-destructing building made me slightly upset.


    ¡°We tried searching the rubble for survivors and to tally the dead,¡± Liam said. ¡°She wasn¡¯t among them. She might¡¯ve escaped the building before it copsed.¡±


    That quickly allowed me to breathe out in relief.


    ¡°Poor Callum,¡± I said. ¡°He must be so confused.¡±


    ¡°He is. But he¡¯ll figure it out eventually,¡± Liam assured me. ¡°Right now, we¡¯re more concerned about you and this strange connection you feel with Leo.¡±


    The reminder brought me back to our current situation. ¡°Do you think Matilda will know what¡¯s happening?¡±


    ¡°If anyone can figure it out, it¡¯s her,¡± Liam said confidently.


    Just then, the door opened, and Lucas walked in with Leo behind him. Leo¡¯s hands were bound in front of him, and he looked tired but unharmed. His eyes immediately sought mine, and I felt that strange tug again. When theynded on me, his eyes noticeably widened with joy and relief.


    Levi entered behind them with Matilda right behind Lucas and Leo. She gave me a reassuring smile.


    ¡°Alpha Levi has exined the situation,¡± Matilda said, walking over to her desk where the medical equipment was. ¡°Let¡¯s see what we¡¯ve got here.¡±


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 Chapter 128: Fated Mates?!

    <h4>Chapter 128: Chapter 128: Fated Mates?!</h4>


    ¡°Well...¡± Matilda said with a sigh. She took a step back, wincing at the results on the screen. ¡°All the tests seem to check out. From what I can tell, it seems like Hazel and Leo are...¡±


    ¡°Are?¡± Lucas, Liam, and Levi bunched together, practically squeezing their faces next to Matilda in anticipation.


    Her eyes went wide as she moved slightly back and away from them. Then, she cleared her throat.


    ¡°They¡¯re fated mates.¡±


    The room fell into stunned silence. I felt like someone had dumped ice water over my head. No one moved. No one breathed.


    ¡°That¡¯s not possible,¡± Lucas said finally, his voice tight.


    ¡°Run the test again,¡± Levi demanded, his face flushing with anger. ¡°There must be a mistake.¡±


    Liam said nothing, but his jaw clenched so hard I could see the muscle twitching beneath his skin.


    Leo, who had been sitting quietly on a chair with his hands still bound, stood up abruptly.


    ¡°She can¡¯t be my mate,¡± he said. His voice was rough, almost desperate. ¡°That¡¯s impossible.¡±


    Matilda rubbed her temple, looking exhausted. ¡°I¡¯ve run the test three times already. There¡¯s no mistake.¡±


    ¡°Could it be the serum?¡± Lucas asked sharply. ¡°Something Esther gave them?¡±


    Matilda shook her head. ¡°I specifically tested for foreign substances. Both their blood samples are clean¡ªno trace of any serum that might alter their biochemistry.¡±


    ¡°Run it again,¡± Leo insisted. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure if Hazel were my fated mate, there would be a stronger pull.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t like I wanted Leo to be my fated mate, but with how he was so quick to deny it, it caused pain to flicker through me. I wasn¡¯t sure at first, but with this strange feeling, it felt almost like the stamp that sealed the deal.


    Why else would his denial hurt?


    But Leo was right.


    ¡°I agree with Leo,¡± I said quietly, drawing everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°It doesn¡¯t feel the same. Not like with you three.¡± I looked at the triplets. ¡°When I found out you were my mates, I immediately knew. There was no question about it. But it¡¯s different with Leo.¡±


    ¡°But you still feel something,¡± Matilda said. ¡°That actually supports my theory. Leo, you had apleted bond with your chosen mate, correct?¡±


    Leo¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Yes,¡± he said.


    I recalled the mark that was left by Helena on his neck. It was jagged and raw, almost as though it didn¡¯t belong.


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Matilda said firmly. ¡°Apleted bond, chosen or not, takes priority. It might have dampened the natural fated bond between you and Hazel.¡±


    Leo grew quiet.


    Lucas¡¯s eyes widened with sudden understanding. ¡°The serum Leo took at the facility¡ªthe one that dissolvespleted bonds...¡±


    ¡°Would have broken his bond with Helena,¡± Matilda finished. ¡°Allowing his true fated bond with Hazel to emerge. It might be weaker because of her existing bonds with the three of you. However, there should be some semnce of an attraction even without the serum dissolving the chosen mate bond.¡±


    Leo¡¯s jaw clicked as he looked down at the floor. For the first time since I had known him, he seemed oddly quiet.


    My head was spinning. However, there was almost no denying it.


    It was weird how immediately, ever since I met Leo, there was a strange pull that drew me to him. At first, I thought it was because he was so physically alike the triplets, but now, it made so much more sense.


    ¡°But how is this even possible?¡± I asked out loud. ¡°How can I have four mates?¡±


    Matilda sighed. ¡°I¡¯m not entirely sure. I am not sure if there are other examples the past that weren¡¯t twins, or triplets, so on. But...¡± She nced between Leo and the triplets. ¡°The resemnce is striking. And you mentioned Helena was...?¡±


    ¡°My sister,¡± I whispered, the pieces suddenly falling into ce. ¡°My twin sister.¡±


    Matilda nodded slowly. ¡°That could exin it. Leo¡¯s attraction to Helena might have been because his wolf sensed she was connected to his true fated mate¡ªyou.¡±


    A crash made us all jump. Levi had knocked over a medical tray, sending instruments ttering across the floor.


    ¡°This is bullshit,¡± he growled, his eyes shing gold. ¡°He kidnapped her. He helped torture her. And now we¡¯re supposed to ept him as her fourth mate?¡±


    Without waiting for a response, Levi stormed out, mming the door so hard the frame cracked.


    An ufortable silence descended. Liam finally moved, his face carefully nk as he approached Leo.


    ¡°Back to the cells,¡± he said tly. ¡°Now.¡±


    Leo didn¡¯t resist as Liam led him away, though his eyes lingered on me until the door closed behind them.


    Matilda gathered her scattered tools. ¡°I should give you two some space,¡± she said. ¡°Call if you need anything.¡±


    When she left, it was just Lucas and me in the sterile infirmary. The beeping of monitors seemed too loud in the quiet.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what to do,¡± I whispered, staring at my hands.


    Lucas sat on the edge of my bed, his weight making the mattress dip. ¡°What do you want to do?¡±


    I looked up at him, surprised by the question. ¡°You¡¯re not going to tell me to stay away from him?¡±


    A sad smile crossed his face. ¡°Would it matter if I did?¡± He took my hand, his thumb tracing circles on my skin. ¡°Whatever you choose, I¡¯ll respect it. We all will, even Levi once he calms down.¡±


    Tears welled in my eyes. ¡°How can you be so understanding?¡±


    ¡°Because I love you,¡± he said simply. ¡°And I want you to be happy, even if that means epting Leo.¡±


    I shook my head. ¡°I don¡¯t even know how I feel about him. Everything¡¯s so confusing.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to decide anything right now,¡± Lucas assured me. ¡°Take time to heal, to process.¡±


    I nodded, suddenly feeling exhausted.


    ¡°Can you take me back to our room?¡± I asked. ¡°I¡¯m tired of this ce.¡±


    Lucas frowned. ¡°Matilda wants you under observation.¡±


    ¡°What Matilda doesn¡¯t know won¡¯t hurt her,¡± I replied with a small smile. ¡°Please? I miss our bed. I miss sleeping in your arms.¡±


    After a moment of hesitation, Lucas¡¯s expression softened. ¡°Alright. But if you feel unwell, we¡¯reing straight back.¡±


    His arms slipped around me, carrying me off the bed with ease. We slipped out when no one was looking. The hallways were quiet as he carried me back to our bedroom.


    When we arrived, Lucas ced me gently on the bed. ¡°Would you like to shower? I can get your things ready.¡±


    ¡°Actually,¡± I said, catching his hand before he could move away. ¡°I¡¯d rather you stayed with me.¡±


    His eyes darkened slightly. ¡°Hazel...¡±

 Chapter 129: Missed Your Touch

    <h4>Chapter 129: Chapter 129: Missed Your Touch</h4>


    (Trigger Warning: This Chapter contains explicit content and is intended for mature readers.)


    ¡°Hazel...¡±


    There was warning in his voice, but I didn¡¯t care. After everything that had happened¡ªfinding out about Leo being my fourth mate, the chaos, the confusion¡ªI needed something real. Something that would ground me.


    I tugged Lucas closer until he was forced to sit on the bed beside me. ¡°I¡¯ve missed you,¡± I whispered, reaching up to trace the strong line of his jaw with my fingertips.


    ¡°You need to rest,¡± he said, his voice strained as he caught my wandering hand. ¡°You¡¯re still healing.¡±


    I shook my head. ¡°What I need is you.¡±


    Lucas¡¯s eyes shed gold momentarily. ¡°Hazel, be reasonable.¡±


    ¡°I am being reasonable,¡± I countered, moving closer to him. ¡°I¡¯m tired of being treated like I¡¯m made of ss. I want to feel something other than confusion and fear.¡±


    His jaw tightened as I pressed a soft kiss to his neck. ¡°Your pregnancy¡ª¡±


    ¡°Is fine,¡± I assured him, my lips curving into a smile against his skin. ¡°I¡¯m pregnant, not sick. Besides, I know that you won¡¯t hurt me.¡±


    When he still hesitated, I pulled back to look him in the eyes.


    ¡°Lucas, I¡¯ve missed you. I¡¯ve missed this.¡± I guided his hand to my breast, letting him feel my rapidly beating heart. ¡°I want to feel you. All of you.¡±


    A groan escaped him as his resolve visibly weakened. ¡°If I hurt you¡ª¡±


    ¡°You won¡¯t,¡± I whispered, leaning in to brush my lips against his. ¡°You¡¯ll be gentle. You always are when I need you to be.¡±


    That was all it took. With a low growl, Lucas captured my mouth with his, kissing me with a hunger that had been held back for too long. His hands tangled in my hair, tilting my head to deepen the kiss, his tongue sweeping past my lips to taste me.


    ¡°Goddess help me,¡± he murmured against my mouth, his voice rough with desire. ¡°I¡¯ve missed you,¡±


    I smiled, triumphant. ¡°Then show me.¡±


    Lucas¡¯s eyes darkened, and in one swift movement, he stood and crossed the room to lock the door. The decisive click of the lock made me giggle.


    ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± he asked, stalking back toward me like a predator.


    ¡°Just imagining the look on Liam and Levi¡¯s faces when they find the door locked,¡± I replied, myughter fading as I watched him pull his shirt over his head, revealing the chiseled nes of his chest and abdomen.


    The door was thin, and a werewolf¡¯s sense of hearing and smell wasn¡¯t to be underestimated. They would surely know what¡¯s going on even before they reached the door.


    ¡°They¡¯ll get over it,¡± Lucas said, his voice low and possessive as he rejoined me on the bed. ¡°Right now, you¡¯re all mine.¡±


    His mouth found mine again, more demanding this time, as his hands began to explore my body. His touch was careful but heated as he eased me onto my back, his weight pressing me gently into the mattress.


    ¡°Tell me if I¡¯m hurting you,¡± he whispered against my skin as his lips traced a path down my neck.


    ¡°Does teasing me count?¡± I cheekily retorted, arching up as his hands slipped under my shirt, his warm palms skimming over my ribs to cup my breasts.


    He grinned at my words.


    My nipples were sensitive from the pregnancy, and I gasped as his thumbs brushed over the hardened peaks through the thin fabric of my bra. Taking his time, Lucas pushed my shirt up and over my head, his eyes darkening at the sight of me.


    ¡°You¡¯re so beautiful,¡± he murmured, lowering his head to press a reverent kiss between my breasts. ¡°Even more so now that you¡¯re carrying our child.¡±


    The tenderness in his voice made my heart swell. I ran my fingers through his dark hair, guiding his mouth to my breast as he unhooked my bra with practiced ease.


    When his lips closed around my nipple, I couldn¡¯t help the moan that escaped me. His tongue swirled around the sensitive peak, teeth grazing lightly, sending sparks of pleasure shooting through me.


    ¡°Lucas,¡± I breathed, my body already thrumming with need.


    He switched to my other breast, giving it the same thorough attention while his hand slid down my stomach to the waistband of my pants. With a swift tug, he had them undone and was sliding them down my legs along with my underwear.


    The cool air against my heated skin made me shiver, but Lucas¡¯s warm hands were already moving back up my thighs, spreading them gently to amodate him between them.


    ¡°I want to taste you first,¡± he said, his voice thick with desire as he settled between my legs.


    My breath hitched as he pressed a kiss to my inner thigh, working his way higher with agonizing slowness. When his mouth finally found my center, I gripped the sheets, my back arching off the bed.


    Lucas knew exactly how to touch me, his tongue circling my most sensitive spot before dipping lower, tasting me with appreciative sounds that vibrated against my flesh. One finger slipped inside me, then another, curling expertly to find that spot that made stars burst behind my eyelids.


    ¡°Lucas,¡± I gasped, my hips moving against his mouth as the familiar tension built inside me. ¡°Oh god...¡±


    He doubled his efforts, his fingers pumping steadily as his tongue worked magic against my clit. It didn¡¯t take long before I was shattering, my first orgasm washing over me in waves as I cried out his name.


    But Lucas wasn¡¯t done. As Iy panting, trying to catch my breath, he moved up my body, his lips capturing mine in a kiss that let me taste myself on his tongue.


    ¡°That was just the beginning,¡± he promised, his voice husky as his fingers continued their gentle assault, keeping me on the edge.


    I fumbled with the button of his jeans, desperate to feel him. ¡°I need you inside me,¡± I pleaded.


    Lucas helped me push down his jeans and boxers, kicking them off before positioning himself between my thighs again. The hard length of him pressed against my entrance, hot and ready.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± he asked onest time, searching my face.


    ¡°Absolutely sure,¡± I replied, wrapping my legs around his waist to pull him closer.


    With excruciating slowness, Lucas pushed into me, stretching me deliciously as he filled me inch by inch. We both moaned at the sensation.


    ¡°You feel so good,¡± he groaned, holding still once he was fully seated within me. ¡°So tight, so perfect.¡±


    He began to move, his thrusts shallow and careful at first, watching my face for any sign of difort. But there was none¡ªonly building pleasure as he hit that spot deep inside me with each stroke.


    My nails dug into his back as he gradually increased his pace, his control evident in the tightness of his jaw and the careful precision of his movements. One of his hands slid between us, finding my clit again, circling it in time with his thrusts.


    ¡°Lucas,¡± I moaned, feeling another orgasm approaching rapidly. ¡°Don¡¯t stop. Please don¡¯t stop.¡±


    ¡°Never,¡± he promised, his eyes locked on mine as he drove me toward the edge. ¡°Come for me again, Hazel. Let me feel you.¡±


    His words pushed me over the precipice, and I came undone around him, my inner walls pulsing as pleasure coursed through me. Lucas groaned, clearly fighting his own release as my body gripped him tightly.


    But true to the serious, controlled man he was, Lucas didn¡¯t falter. Even as I rode out my second climax, he maintained his rhythm, adjusting slightly to hit a new angle that had me gasping anew.


    He leaned in close and pressed a kiss to the center of my throat, causing me to writhe against him in pleasure.


    ¡°I¡¯m not done with you yet.¡±

 Chapter 130: Overflowing Lust

    <h4>Chapter 130: Chapter 130: Overflowing Lust</h4>


    (Trigger Warning: This Chapter contains explicit content and is intended for mature readers.)


    My body was still trembling with aftershocks when Lucas pressed a tender kiss to my forehead. His breathing was heavy, but I could see the way his jaw clenched in a desperate bid to control his own lust.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get you cleaned up,¡± he murmured against my skin, his hands already sliding beneath me. His cock popped out of me, and I gasped at the sudden empty feeling.


    ¡°But you¡¯ve not¡ª¡± I started to say, but stopped when he kissed me.


    ¡°Later,¡± he said, a glint of amusement in his eyes. ¡°There¡¯s no rush.¡±


    I tried to stand, but my legs wobbled embarrassingly. ¡°I don¡¯t think I can walk yet,¡± I admitted with a breathlessugh.


    Lucas¡¯s lips curved into a rare, satisfied smile. ¡°Good.¡±


    Without warning, he scooped me into his arms. I yelped in surprise, instinctively wrapping my arms around his neck as he carried me toward the bathroom.


    ¡°Lucas! I can walk,¡± I protested weakly, though we both knew it wasn¡¯t true. I could probably walk as well as a newborn deer right now.


    ¡°Let me take care of you,¡± he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. The authority in his voice sent a renewed shiver of desire through me.


    The bathroom was spacious, with arge tub that could easily fit two people. Lucas set me down gently on the edge while he turned on the faucets, testing the water temperature with his hand.


    ¡°You¡¯re spoiling me,¡± I said, watching his naked form move with effortless grace.


    He nced over his shoulder, his green eyes darkening as they raked over my body. ¡°You deserve to be spoiled.¡±


    Steam began to rise from the filling tub, fogging the mirror. Lucas added some bath salts that smelled ofvender and vani, then turned to me with an outstretched hand.


    ¡°Come here,¡± he said softly.


    I took his hand, letting him guide me into the tub. The warm water enveloped me, soothing my aching muscles. I expected Lucas to leave me to soak, but instead, he stepped in behind me, his long legs bracketing mine as he settled into the water.


    ¡°Oh,¡± I breathed, surprised but pleased as he pulled me back against his chest.


    ¡°Is this okay?¡± he asked, his lips brushing my ear.


    I leaned back into him, feeling the hard nes of his chest against my back. ¡°More than okay.¡±


    His hands moved to my shoulders, massaging gently, working out knots of tension I hadn¡¯t realized were there. I sighed contentedly, my eyes drifting closed as his strong fingers worked their magic.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t hurt you earlier, did I?¡± His voice was low with concern.


    I shook my head. ¡°No. You were perfect.¡±


    His hands slid lower, skimming over my corbone, down to cup my breasts. The water made his touch glide smoothly over my skin, and I arched into his hands, my body responding instantly.


    ¡°Lucas,¡± I whispered, surprised by how quickly desire was building again.


    ¡°I know,¡± he murmured, his thumbs circling my nipples. ¡°I can¡¯t get enough of you either.¡±


    One of his hands continued its exploration, sliding down my stomach to the apex of my thighs. I gasped as his fingers parted me beneath the water, finding my sensitive bundle of nerves with unerring uracy.


    ¡°You¡¯re still so responsive,¡± he observed, his voice deepening with renewed desire.


    I couldn¡¯t form words, could only moan as his fingers moved in slow, deliberate circles. Behind me, I felt him fully turning hard again, his arousal pressing insistently against my lower back.


    ¡°Turn around,¡± hemanded softly. ¡°I want to see your face.¡±


    Carefully, mindful of the water sloshing around us, I shifted and turned to face him. His eyes were heavy-lidded, his lips slightly parted. Without hesitation, I straddled hisp, my knees on either side of his hips.


    ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± he encouraged, his hands settling on my waist.


    I felt the hard length of him beneath me, and slowly, deliberately, lowered myself onto him. We both groaned as he filled me again, the water creating a new sensation around us.


    ¡°You feel amazing,¡± I breathed, bracing my hands on his shoulders.


    Lucas¡¯s fingers dug into my hips, guiding my movements. ¡°So do you. So tight, so perfect for me.¡±


    The water sshed gently as I began to move, rising and falling on him in a rhythm that quickly had us both breathing hard. Lucas thrust up to meet me, his hips lifting from the bottom of the tub.


    ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± he encouraged, one hand sliding up to cup my breast. ¡°Take what you need.¡±


    My movements grew more urgent, my thighs trembling with the effort. Lucas, sensing my fatigue, took over, thrusting up from below while holding me steady. Water sloshed over the sides of the tub, but I barely noticed, lost in the pleasure building inside me.


    ¡°Lucas,¡± I gasped, feeling my climax approaching rapidly. ¡°I¡¯m close.¡±


    ¡°Me too,¡± he ground out, his control slipping as his thrusts became more forceful. ¡°Come for me, Hazel.¡±


    His thumb found my center, pressing and circling in the way he knew drove me wild. The dual sensation of him inside me and his thumb working its magic was too much. I came with a cry, my inner walls clenching around him.


    Lucas followed momentster, his hands gripping my hips hard enough to leave marks as he thrust up one final time, spilling himself inside me with a deep groan of satisfaction.


    I copsed against his chest, both of us breathing heavily. His arms wrapped around me, holding me close as we basked in the afterglow.


    ¡°I love you,¡± I whispered against his neck.


    His arms tightened around me. ¡°I love you too. More than you know.¡±


    We stayed like that for several minutes, content in each other¡¯s embrace. The water had cooled slightly, but was stillfortably warm. Lucas¡¯s hands traced idle patterns on my back, asionally dipping lower to squeeze my bottom yfully.


    It wasn¡¯t until I heard insistent banging on the bathroom door that reality intruded.


    ¡°Lucas! Hazel! Open up!¡± Liam¡¯s voice called through the door.


    ¡°There¡¯s water everywhere!¡± Levi added, sounding both amused and exasperated. ¡°We know what you two are doing in there, but did you have to flood the entire bedroom?¡±


    I jerked upright, suddenly noticing the water that had spilled over the sides of the tub. It wasn¡¯t just a little sshing¡ªthe floor waspletely flooded, water seeping under the door into the bedroom beyond.


    ¡°Oh my goddess,¡± I gasped, mortified. ¡°We didn¡¯t notice¡ª¡±


    Lucasughed, the sound deep and genuinely amused. ¡°Worth it,¡± he said with a wink.


    My cheeks burned. ¡°Lucas! This isn¡¯t funny. We¡¯ve flooded the entire room!¡±


    He shrugged,pletely unperturbed. ¡°It¡¯s just water. It¡¯ll dry.¡±


    More banging came from the door. ¡°Seriously, guys,¡± Levi called. ¡°As happy as we are that you¡¯re reconnecting, could you maybe do it without creating a smallke?¡±


    Lucas sighed, finally looking somewhat chagrined. ¡°We should probably deal with this.¡±


    ¡°You think?¡± I said sarcastically, climbing off him and reaching for a towel.


    Lucas stood and grabbed another towel, wrapping it around his waist before handing me a bathrobe hanging on the back of the door. I slipped into it gratefully, cinching it tight around my waist.


    ¡°Ready?¡± he asked, one hand on the doorknob.


    I nodded, bracing myself for the teasing that was sure toe.


    Lucas opened the door to reveal Liam and Levi standing there, both with identical expressions of amusement on their faces. Behind them, I could see that the water had indeed seeped quite far into the hallway outside, creating a sizable puddle on the hardwood floor.


    ¡°Had fun?¡± Levi asked with a smirk, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.


    ¡°Don¡¯t start,¡± Lucas warned, though there was no real heat in his voice.


    Liam¡¯s eyes softened as he looked at me. ¡°Nice to see you feeling better, Hazel,¡± he said, his tone gentler than his brother¡¯s. Then he added, more seriously, ¡°But we do have some news. Percival heard you¡¯re out of the infirmary. He wants to see you.¡±


    My momentary embarrassment was instantly reced by apprehension. My grandfather wanted to see me. Now.

 Chapter 131: Meeting Grandpa Percival

    <h4>Chapter 131: Chapter 131: Meeting Grandpa Percival</h4>


    My heart pounded in my chest as I tugged nervously at the hem of my sweater.


    The triplets had given me time to change into something more presentable after our bathroom incident, but no amount of clean clothes could calm the storm of emotions inside me. I was about to meet my grandfather¡ªa man I¡¯d never known existed until recently.


    ¡°You look beautiful,¡± Liam assured me, his warm smile easing my tension slightly. He stood beside me at the top of the stairs, his hand resting supportively on my lower back.


    ¡°He¡¯s going to love you,¡± Lucas added, his normally serious expression softened with understanding. ¡°Just be yourself.¡±


    Levi, ever the lighthearted one, winked at me. ¡°And if he doesn¡¯t, we¡¯ll just have to drown him in the bathroom too.¡±


    ¡°Levi!¡± I hissed, my cheeks burning at the reminder of what had just happened, but I couldn¡¯t help the smallugh that escaped me. The triplets always knew how to break the tension.


    ¡°Ready?¡± Lucas asked, offering his hand.


    I took a deep breath and nodded, slipping my hand into his. ¡°As I¡¯ll ever be.¡±


    The triplets formed a protective formation around me as we descended the stairs¡ªLucas leading, Liam and Levi nking me on either side. The gesture wasn¡¯t lost on me; they were presenting a united front, showing their support.


    As we entered the living room, I immediately spotted him¡ªan older gentleman sitting rigidly on the edge of the sofa. His white hair was neatlybed back, and despite his age, he held himself with the strength and dignity of a much younger man. Evelyn and Henry sat across from him, their postures tense.


    The moment I stepped into the room, Percival Hunt¡¯s eyes found mine, and he froze. Something shed across his face¡ªrecognition, shock, grief¡ªall mingled together. Slowly, he rose to his feet.


    ¡°Hazel,¡± he breathed, my name sounding like a prayer on his lips.


    I stood rooted to the spot as he approached, my heart hammering wildly. Up close, I could see the hazel eyes that matched my own¡ªthe feature that I guess I¡¯d inherited from my mother¡¯s side.


    With trembling fingers, he reached out and gently touched my cheek, his eyes filling with tears.


    ¡°You look just like her,¡± he said softly. ¡°Just like Helena.¡±


    The name sent a jolt through me. Helena. That¡¯s right. Percival raised her.


    ¡°I wish...¡± His voice cracked. ¡°I wish I had been there during your childhood. I wish I had known.¡±


    Lucas¡¯s arm slid protectively around my waist. ¡°She¡¯s with us now,¡± he said. ¡°She¡¯s safe.¡±


    Henry cleared his throat. ¡°Percival, as I was saying before, Hazel was well taken care of growing up in our home.¡±


    Percival¡¯s face hardened as he turned to Henry. ¡°Was she? From what I¡¯ve gathered, only her basic needs like food and shelter were provided. But what about love? What about family? What about respect?¡±


    Each questionnded like a blow.


    Henry fell silent, shame evident on his face.


    ¡°That¡¯s what I thought,¡± Percival said with a huff. ¡°Guess that beating wasn¡¯t enough.¡±


    My lips twitched, trying not to grin. How could I forget? Alpha Henry had already received a round of hell for the way I was treated here growing up.


    ¡°We can¡¯t change the past,¡± Liam interjected gently. ¡°But we can promise that from now on, Hazel will want for nothing.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll spend the rest of our lives making sure she knows how cherished she is,¡± Levi added, his usual yfulness reced by sincere conviction.


    Percival studied the triplets for a long moment before nodding. ¡°I¡¯ll hold you to that promise.¡±


    He turned and walked back to where he¡¯d been sitting, retrieving several elegantly wrapped packages I hadn¡¯t noticed before.


    ¡°These are for you,¡± he said, presenting them to me. ¡°Eighteen years¡¯ worth of missed birthdays and Christmases won¡¯t fit in a few boxes, but it¡¯s a start.¡±


    I stared at the gifts, overwhelmed by the gesture. ¡°You didn¡¯t have to¡ª¡±


    ¡°I wanted to,¡± he insisted. ¡°Please.¡±


    Hesitantly, I epted the first box. Inside was an exquisite diamond ne that made me gasp.


    ¡°It was your grandmother¡¯s,¡± Percival exined, his voice soft with memories. ¡°And before that, her mother¡¯s.¡±


    Evelyn made a small noise that drew everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°Surely Hazel doesn¡¯t need such extravagant things,¡± she said, her tone superficially polite but undercut with disdain. ¡°She¡¯s never been one for luxury items.¡±


    ¡°How would you know what she likes?¡± Lucas¡¯s voice cut through the room like ice. ¡°You¡¯ve never bothered to ask or notice.¡±


    ¡°Lucas,¡± Henry said warningly. ¡°Watch your tone. That¡¯s your mother.¡±


    ¡°And I am the new Alpha,¡± Lucas reminded evenly.


    Evelyn¡¯s face flushed with anger. ¡°I¡¯ve known her since she was a child¡ª¡±


    ¡°And treated her like an unwanted burden the entire time,¡± Lucas interrupted. ¡°You have no say in what gifts she receives or what she deserves.¡±


    The tension in the room thickened. Evelyn¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line as she stood abruptly.


    ¡°I see I¡¯m not needed for this family reunion,¡± she said stiffly. ¡°If you¡¯ll excuse me.¡±


    She strode from the room without another word. Henry sighed heavily, looking torn between his wife and his sons.


    ¡°I apologize for Evelyn,¡± he said finally. ¡°She¡¯s... adjusting to the changes.¡± With a nod to Percival, he added, ¡°Please make yourself at home,¡± before following his wife out.


    Once they were gone, the atmosphere in the room lightened considerably. Percival¡¯s stern expression softened as he gestured for me to continue opening the gifts.


    The next few hours passed in a blur of conversation andughter. Percival was eager to learn everything about me¡ªmy likes and dislikes, my hopes and dreams. In turn, he shared stories about my mother, painting a picture of a woman I¡¯d never had the chance to know.


    ¡°Your mother was brilliant,¡± he said, smiling at a memory. ¡°Stubborn as a mule, but with a heart of gold. You have her spirit.¡±


    ¡°And her eyes,¡± Liam added, gazing at me affectionately.


    I learned that my grandfather owned several sessful businesses across the country¡ªsome legal and some not so¡ªand that he loved sailing and ssical music. He¡¯d never stopped searching for my mother and sister after each of their disappearances.


    ¡°When I heard what happened to Angeline and David,¡± he said, his voice growing somber, ¡°I was devastated. Then Helena too...¡± Percival¡¯s voice cracked.


    I looked at the triplets questioningly. Did my grandfather know about Helena¡¯s death?


    Liam nodded. ¡°We told him,¡± he said.


    ¡°Actually, Leo did,¡± Levi said, though he spat out Leo¡¯s name like it was bile.


    ¡°I¡¯m just sorry it took so long to find you,¡± I said.


    Percival reached over and squeezed my hand. ¡°We have time now. That¡¯s what matters.¡±


    As evening approached, the conversation gradually shifted. Percival¡¯s expression turned more serious as he looked between me and the triplets.


    ¡°Now,¡± he said, setting down his tea cup with deliberate care, ¡°there¡¯s something important we need to discuss.¡±


    The triplets straightened, sensing the change in tone.


    ¡°You three are fated mates to my granddaughter,¡± Percival stated, his gaze piercing each of them in turn. ¡°And I understand you¡¯ve already proposed.¡±


    Lucas nodded. ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡± Percival¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°So when, exactly, do you n to officially marry her?¡±


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 132: Working On It

    <h4>Chapter 132: Chapter 132: Working On It</h4>


    The question hung in the air, catching all of us off guard. The triplets exchanged nces, and I realized with a start that despite our engagement, we¡¯d never actually discussed a timeline for our wedding.


    Lucas cleared his throat first, taking the lead as always. ¡°Actually, we¡¯ve been thinking about that.¡± His green eyes flickered to me, gauging my reaction. ¡°I was hoping to have the wedding once Hazel feltfortable in her role as Luna.¡±


    Liam nodded, his warm smile spreading across his face. ¡°But with recent events, we feel the pack needs to understand just how important she is to us.¡± His fingers found mine, squeezing gently.


    ¡°Which is why we hope to have the wedding as soon as possible,¡± Levi finished, bouncing slightly on his heels. ¡°We¡¯re looking at next month.¡± He shed me his trademark grin. ¡°That is, if Hazel agrees.¡±


    All three pairs of eyes turned to me, hopeful yet cautious. The sudden wave of emotion caught me off guard, and I felt tears welling up before I could stop them.


    ¡°Oh, Goddess,¡± Lucas said hurriedly, his usualposure slipping. ¡°We don¡¯t have to rush if you don¡¯t want to. It was just an idea¡ª¡±


    ¡°No, no,¡± I tried to say, but the words caught in my throat as tears spilled down my cheeks.


    ¡°We¡¯ve already done lots of preparation,¡± Levi promised, his yful demeanor reced with genuine concern. ¡°The venue, flowers, everything you¡¯d want.¡±


    Liam looked sheepish. ¡°I hope you don¡¯t mind, but we found some old journals of yours. You wrote about your dream wedding, and we¡¯ve been using them as reference.¡±


    ¡°You¡ªyou did?¡± I managed to choke out, imagining them poring over my childish scribbles and secret hopes.


    ¡°If it¡¯s too much, too fast¡ª¡± Lucas started, but I shook my head vigorously.


    ¡°These are happy tears,¡± I exined, wiping my cheeks. ¡°I want to marry you all as soon as possible. Next month sounds perfect.¡±


    The tension visibly drained from their bodies. Lucas¡¯s shoulders rxed, Liam¡¯s smile grew even brighter, and Levi pumped his fist in the air triumphantly.


    ¡°Yes!¡± he eximed. ¡°I told you guys she¡¯d say yes!¡±


    My grandfather watched our exchange with amused eyes, a small smile ying at his lips.


    ¡°Well, that settles that. I¡¯ll be sure to clear my calendar.¡± He paused, his expression turning more serious. ¡°Speaking of calendars, what exactly are you nning to do with that chap?¡±


    The room fell silent.


    ¡°Which... chap?¡± Liam asked carefully, though I suspected he knew exactly who my grandfather meant.


    ¡°The one who looks like he could be your brother,¡± Percival rified, confirming my fears. ¡°Leo.¡±


    The air around us instantly thickened with tension. I felt Levi stiffen beside me, his earlier joy evaporating.


    I nced nervously at my mates, unsure how to proceed. Leo was aplicated topic. I knew Levi struggled with the idea more than his brothers. While I had Lucas¡¯s blessing, Levi¡¯s hurt was visible.


    ¡°I should check on dinner,¡± Levi said abruptly, his voice strained. He stood up, avoiding my gaze. ¡°Excuse me.¡±


    Before I could stop him, he¡¯d disappeared into the kitchen.


    Percival raised his eyebrows. ¡°I seem to have touched a nerve.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯splicated,¡± I admitted.


    ¡°I see.¡± My grandfather nodded thoughtfully. ¡°Well, I should probably get going. It¡¯s been a long day, and you clearly have some things to discuss.¡± He stood, straightening his suit jacket with practiced ease. ¡°I¡¯ll be in town for a few more days. Perhaps we can have lunch tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d like that,¡± I said, rising to hug him goodbye.


    After walking my grandfather to the door and promising to call him in the morning, I returned to find only Lucas and Liam waiting in the living room, their expressions concerned.


    ¡°I should talk to Levi,¡± I said, wringing my hands nervously.


    Lucas nodded. ¡°He¡¯lle around, Hazel. He just needs time.¡±


    ¡°Leo is a difficult subject for him,¡± Liam exined gently. ¡°For all of us, really, but Levi¡¯s always been more...¡±


    ¡°Possessive,¡± Lucas finished. ¡°More impulsive with his emotions.¡±


    ¡°What about you two?¡± I asked, searching their faces. ¡°How do you really feel about Leo?¡±


    Liam sighed, running a hand through his hair. ¡°Honestly? It¡¯s hard. No one wants to share their mate. It¡¯s different to share you between the three of us because we¡¯ve shared everything almost all our lives.¡±


    He turned and exchanged a nce with Lucas, who nodded in encouragement.


    Liam turned his warm eyes back to me. ¡°But if he truly is your fated mate too, then he has every right to be in your life. And if that makes you happy, then I want that for you.¡±


    ¡°I feel the same,¡± Lucas added, his steady gaze holding mine. ¡°This situation isn¡¯t typical, but then again, nothing about us has been typical from the start.¡± He smiled slightly. ¡°Three mates instead of one, and now potentially four.¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯re okay with it?¡± I pressed.


    ¡°We¡¯re working on being okay with it,¡± Liam corrected gently. ¡°For you.¡±


    I nodded, understanding the distinction. ¡°And Levi?¡±


    ¡°Levi wants what makes you happy too,¡± Lucas assured me. ¡°He¡¯s just having a harder time epting it.¡±


    ¡°Go talk to him,¡± Liam encouraged, squeezing my hand. ¡°He might be upset, but he loves you more than anything.¡±


    Taking a deep breath, I headed toward the kitchen, rehearsing what I might say. Through the window, I glimpsed Levi¡¯s silhouette on the back porch, his shoulders hunched as he stared out into the darkening forest.


    My heart ached seeing him like this¡ªthe usually bubbly, carefree triplet looking so burdened. I pushed open the back door, the cool evening air raising goosebumps on my arms.


    ¡°Levi?¡± I called softly.

 Chapter 133: Full Circle

    <h4>Chapter 133: Chapter 133: Full Circle</h4>


    (Trigger Warning: This Chapter contains explicit content and is intended for mature readers.)


    ¡°Levi?¡± I called softly.


    He didn¡¯t turn around immediately. His shoulders remained tense, his gaze fixed on the darkening forest. The usual yfulness that defined him was nowhere to be seen.


    ¡°Hey,¡± he finally said, his voicecking its typical energy.


    I stepped closer, wrapping my arms around myself against the evening chill. ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± he answered too quickly.


    ¡°Levi,¡± I said gently, moving to stand beside him. ¡°I know you better than that.¡±


    He sighed, running a hand through his dark hair¡ªa gesture so simr to what Liam had done moments earlier that my heart ached at the reminder of their connection as triplets.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± he insisted, but his clenched jaw said otherwise.


    I ced my hand on his arm. ¡°Please talk to me.¡±


    Levi finally turned to look at me, his green eyes stormy with emotion. ¡°What do you want me to say, Hazel? That I¡¯m thrilled about sharing you with someone else? With Leo of all people?¡±


    His voice cracked slightly on Leo¡¯s name, and I felt a pang of guilt pierce my chest.


    ¡°I just want you to be honest with me,¡± I whispered.


    Levi exhaled sharply, his shoulders slumping. ¡°Fine. I hate it, okay? I absolutely hate it.¡±


    The raw honesty in his voice made me step back. This was the Levi few people got to see¡ªthe one behind the jokes and flirtatious remarks.


    ¡°It¡¯s different with Lucas and Liam,¡± he continued, words tumbling out now. ¡°We¡¯re triplets. We¡¯ve shared everything our entire lives. Our birthday, our clothes, our toys¡ª¡± He gestured vaguely between us. ¡°This doesn¡¯t feel weird because it¡¯s always been the three of us.¡±


    I nodded, understanding.


    ¡°But Leo?¡± Levi¡¯s voice turned bitter. ¡°He¡¯s not us. He¡¯s not part of our unit. He¡¯s our cousin we didn¡¯t even know existed until days ago.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± I said softly.


    ¡°And now I¡¯m supposed to be okay with him being your fated mate too?¡± Levi shook his head,ughing without humor. ¡°That¡¯s a lot to ask, Hazel.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not asking you to be okay with it,¡± I said quickly. ¡°I won¡¯t ept Leo as a mate if you guys aren¡¯tfortable with the idea. Besides, we don¡¯t even know if Leo wants me that way. He¡¯s probably still in love with my sister, Helena.¡±


    Levi¡¯s eyes widened, and he reached out to grab my hands. ¡°No, no, don¡¯t do that,¡± he said urgently. ¡°Don¡¯t make promises like that.¡±


    ¡°But¡ª¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m upset, yes,¡± he admitted. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean I want you to deny a part of yourself. If Leo is truly your fated mate too, then...¡± He swallowed hard. ¡°Then I¡¯ll learn to deal with it.¡±


    ¡°You will?¡± I asked skeptically.


    ¡°I¡¯ll try,¡± he corrected, his lips quirking up slightly. ¡°That¡¯s the best I can offer right now.¡±


    I squeezed his hands. ¡°That¡¯s more than enough.¡±


    ¡°And don¡¯t kid yourself about Leo not wanting you,¡± Levi added, a hint of his usual yfulness returning. ¡°He might be hung up on Helena, but I¡¯ve seen how he looks at you. The mate bond isn¡¯t something even he can ignore forever.¡±


    We stood in silence for a moment, the tension gradually easing between us.


    ¡°Want to go for a run?¡± I suggested suddenly. ¡°Clear our heads a bit?¡±


    Levi¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Now that¡¯s the best idea I¡¯ve heard all day.¡±


    Without another word, we both stepped off the porch and began removing our clothes. The night air kissed my bare skin as I folded my clothes neatly on the porch steps.


    I let my wolf take over, feeling the familiar rush of my bones shifting and reforming. Secondster, I stood on four paws, shaking out my silver-gray fur. Beside me, Levi¡¯s massive ck wolf towered over my smaller frame, his golden eyes gleaming in the moonlight.


    He nudged my side with his muzzle before taking off into the trees. I followed close behind, reveling in the freedom of running through the forest. The scent of pine and earth filled my nostrils as we weaved between trees, fallen logs, and over small streams.


    Levi led me deeper into the forest, following a path that seemed strangely familiar. We ran for what felt like hours but was probably only minutes, until we reached a small clearing bathed in moonlight.


    I skidded to a stop, recognition washing over me. A crystal-clear pond reflected the starry sky, surrounded by wildflowers that glowed silver in the moonlight.


    Levi shifted back to his human form, and I quickly followed suit.


    ¡°This ce,¡± I said breathlessly, looking around. ¡°It¡¯s where¡ª¡±


    ¡°Where we found you that day,¡± Levi finished, his voice soft. ¡°When you ran away after we upset you.¡±


    ¡°The first time I saw your wolves,¡± I murmured, memories flooding back.


    ¡°Full circle, huh?¡± Levi smiled, stepping closer to me.


    The moonlight sculpted his naked body into something almost ethereal¡ªhighlighting the defined muscles of his chest, the sharp angles of his hips, the smooth skin stretched over powerful thighs.


    ¡°I was so scared of you guys back then,¡± I admitted, suddenly very aware of our nakedness.


    ¡°And now?¡± Levi asked, his voice dropping lower as he closed the distance between us.


    ¡°Now I¡¯m scared of how much I love you,¡± I whispered. ¡°All of you.¡±


    Levi¡¯s eyes darkened. Without warning, he pulled me against him, his lips crashing down on mine with an urgency that made my knees weak. His hands roamed my body freely, leaving trails of heat wherever they touched.


    ¡°Levi,¡± I gasped as his mouth moved to my neck, teeth grazing over my pulse point.


    ¡°I need you,¡± he growled against my skin. ¡°Right here. Right now.¡±


    I nodded, unable to form words as his hands cupped my breasts, thumbs circling my hardening nipples. My body responded instantly to his touch, a familiar heat building between my legs.


    Levi backed me up against a nearby tree, lifting me effortlessly. I wrapped my legs around his waist, feeling his hardness press against me.


    ¡°Tell me you¡¯re mine,¡± he demanded, his voice husky with desire. ¡°Ours.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m yours,¡± I breathed. ¡°Always yours.¡±


    He captured my mouth again, his kiss possessive and hungry. One hand slid between us, fingers finding my wet heat.


    ¡°So ready for me,¡± he murmured appreciatively, stroking me until I whimpered his name.


    The forest around us seemed to fade away as Levi positioned himself at my entrance, his eyes locked with mine. The yful triplet was gone, reced by a man consumed with primal need.


    ¡°I love you, Hazel,¡± he whispered, just before pushing into me with one powerful thrust.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 134: Reclaimed

    <h4>Chapter 134: Chapter 134: Reimed</h4>


    (Trigger Warning: This Chapter contains explicit content and is intended for mature readers.)


    A gasp escaped my lips as Levi filled mepletely. The rough bark of the tree pressed against my back, a delicious contrast to the heated skin of the man holding me. His powerful hands gripped my thighs, keeping me steady as he buried himself inside me.


    ¡°Fuck, Hazel,¡± he groaned, pressing his forehead against mine. ¡°You feel so fucking perfect.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t speak, could barely breathe as he stayed still for a moment, letting me adjust to his size. My fingers dug into his shoulders, feeling the hard muscle beneath my touch.


    ¡°Move,¡± I finally whispered. ¡°Please, Levi.¡±


    He didn¡¯t need to be told twice. Pulling back until just the tip of him remained inside me, he mmed back in with enough force to make the breath catch in my throat. The forest around us swallowed my moans as he set a relentless pace, each thrust deeper than thest.


    ¡°You like that, baby?¡± he asked, his voice rough with desire. ¡°Tell me how much you like it.¡±


    ¡°I love it,¡± I panted, my head falling back against the tree. ¡°I love you.¡±


    His rhythm faltered for just a second before picking up again, more intense than before. Levi¡¯s eyes gleamed in the moonlight, wild and possessive as they raked over my naked body.


    ¡°Mine,¡± he growled, leaning down to nip at my corbone. ¡°Ours.¡±


    The dual possession in his words sent a shiver down my spine. Even in this moment, he acknowledged his brothers¡¯ im on me. It was so perfectly Levi¡ªselfish and generous all at once.


    ¡°Yes,¡± I agreed breathlessly. ¡°Yours. All of you.¡±


    Something dangerous shed in his eyes then, something primal and untamed. Without warning, he pulled out of mepletely, earning a whimper of protest from my lips.


    ¡°Turn around,¡± hemanded, his voice leaving no room for argument.


    He set me down on shaky legs, and I did as he asked, bracing my hands against the rough tree trunk. I felt his heat at my back immediately, his hard chest pressed against me as his hands came around to cup my breasts.


    ¡°I need to remind you,¡± he whispered hotly in my ear, ¡°just who you belong to.¡±


    Before I could ask what he meant, one of his hands slid down my stomach to the apex of my thighs, fingers finding the bundle of nerves that made me cry out. His other arm wrapped around my waist, holding me securely against him.


    ¡°Levi, please,¡± I begged, pushing back against him.


    ¡°What do you need, baby?¡± he teased, his fingers continuing their torturous circles. ¡°Tell me.¡±


    ¡°You,¡± I gasped. ¡°Inside me. Now.¡±


    He chuckled darkly, the sound sending heat pooling in my core. ¡°So demanding,¡± he murmured, but I felt him positioning himself at my entrance. ¡°I love that about you.¡±


    In one swift motion, he thrust inside me again, the new angle allowing him to hit spots that made my vision blur. I moaned his name, the sound echoing through the trees as he set a punishing pace.


    His lips found my neck, trailing hot kisses up to my ear. ¡°Do you know how long I¡¯ve wanted you like this?¡± he asked between thrusts. ¡°How many nights I¡¯ve dreamed of having you all to myself?¡±


    Each word was punctuated by a thrust that drove me closer to the edge. My fingers wed at the bark, seeking something to ground me as pleasure built low in my belly.


    ¡°Even before I knew you were our mate,¡± he continued, his voice strained with his own building release. ¡°I wanted you.¡±


    His confession unleashed something inside me. I pushed back against him, meeting each of his thrusts with equal fervor. The sound of skin against skin mingled with our heavy breathing, creating a symphony of desire in the quiet forest.


    Levi¡¯s hand moved from my waist to my hair, gently pulling my head to the side to expose my neck. I knew what he was looking at¡ªthe mating mark that all three brothers had ced on me, the physical representation of our bond.


    ¡°Mine,¡± he growled again, his thrust bing more erratic. ¡°Say it, Hazel.¡±


    ¡°Yours,¡± I gasped, teetering on the brink of release. ¡°I¡¯m yours, Levi.¡±


    Without warning, his teeth sank into the existing mark on my neck, not hard enough to break skin but enough to send a shock of pleasure-pain racing through my body. The sensation was electric, multiplied by our mate bond, and it catapulted me over the edge instantly.


    I cried out his name as waves of pleasure crashed over me, my inner walls clenching around him. Levi continued to thrust through my orgasm, prolonging it until I thought I might pass out from the intensity.


    Only when the aftershocks began to fade did he let himself go, burying himself deep inside me onest time as he found his own release. His teeth remained on my mark, sending echoes of pleasure through both of us as he emptied himself inside me.


    For several long moments, we stood there, connected in the most intimate way, our breathing gradually slowing. Levi¡¯s lips softened against my neck, cing gentle kisses where his teeth had been. The tender gesture, so at odds with his earlier ferocity, made my heart swell.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± he murmured, his arms wrapping around me protectively.


    I nodded, not trusting my voice just yet. With gentle hands, he turned me to face him, his expression softening as he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t hurt you, did I?¡± he asked, suddenly looking worried. ¡°When I bit you? Or was I too rough?¡± His eyes then widened. ¡°The baby¡ª!¡±


    I smiled, reaching up to cup his cheek. ¡°No, you were just perfect,¡± I assured him. ¡°It was... incredible.¡±


    The relief on his face was immediate, followed by a proud grin that was so typically Levi it made meugh.


    ¡°What?¡± he asked, still smiling.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± I said, shaking my head. ¡°I just love you.¡±


    His smile widened, and he leaned down to kiss me softly. ¡°I love you too, baby.¡±


    We stood like that for a while, wrapped in each other¡¯s arms as our bodies cooled in the night air. Eventually, Levi nced up at the moon and sighed.


    ¡°We should probably head back,¡± he said reluctantly. ¡°Lucas and Liam will start to worry.¡±


    I nodded, equally hesitant to break our private bubble. As we separated and began to shift back into our wolf forms, a thought urred to me.


    ¡°Wait,¡± I said, pausing mid-shift. ¡°Why did you bite my mark again?¡±


    Levi¡¯s expression turned sheepish, a rare vulnerability crossing his features. ¡°I guess I needed to... reinforce it,¡± he admitted. ¡°With everything that¡¯s happened with Leo, I just...¡±


    ¡°Wanted to remind me I was yours,¡± I finished for him, understanding dawning.


    He nodded, looking slightly embarrassed. ¡°Stupid wolf instincts.¡±


    I stepped closer, kissing him gently. ¡°Not stupid. I get it.¡±


    We shifted then, running side by side through the forest back toward the packhouse. The journey felt shorter this time, our paws eating up the distance as we raced through familiar territory.


    When we reached the edge of the trees, we shifted back and quickly dressed in the clothes we¡¯d left on the porch. As Levi helped me straighten my shirt, a thoughtful expression crossed his face.


    ¡°Hey, Hazel?¡± he said, suddenly serious. ¡°Do you think it¡¯s time we let Leo out of the cells?¡±


    The question caught me off guard, but I found myself smiling. ¡°We can visit him in the next few days,¡± I said, bopping his nose yfully. ¡°For now, I¡¯d like to catch up on lost time with my fated mates and maybe spend some time with my grandfather.¡±


    Levi¡¯s expression rxed into a grin. ¡°Good. Let him wait. That¡¯s what he gets for monopolizing you for thest couple of days.¡±

 Chapter 135: The Question of Fate

    <h4>Chapter 135: Chapter 135: The Question of Fate</h4>


    ¡°You sure about this, Hazel?¡± Lucas asked, his hand brushing against mine. His voice was calm, but I could sense the tension underneath.


    The dim corridor leading to the pack cells felt longer than I remembered. Every step echoed against the concrete floor as I made my way toward Leo, the triplets following close behind me. My heart pounded against my ribcage, uncertainty gnawing at my insides.


    I nodded, trying to ignore the trembling in my hands. ¡°I need to talk to him.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll be right beside you,¡± Liam assured me, his warm smile a contrast to the concern in his eyes.


    Levi, uncharacteristically quiet, simply squeezed my shoulder.


    The past few days had been a whirlwind¡ªspending time with my mates, catching up with my grandfather before he returned to The Dark Hour, and hanging out with Sophia and Callum. It felt like I¡¯d been living in a bubble of happiness, deliberately avoiding the conversation I needed to have with Leo.


    The guard at the cell block nodded at Lucas and stepped aside, unlocking the heavy door for us. The familiar scent of dampness and disinfectant hit me as we entered.


    ¡°He¡¯s in thest cell,¡± the guard informed us. ¡°Been quiet. Barely touched his food.¡±


    My stomach clenched. The guard¡¯s words only intensified my guilt about leaving Leo here for days while I settled back into pack life. Yes, he¡¯d deceived me, manipted me¡ªbut he¡¯d also protected me, in his own way.


    Above all, he was still one of my fated mates. Leaving him here for so long seemed too cruel.


    We reached his cell, and I peered through the bars. Leo sat in the corner, his back against the wall, staring nkly ahead. He¡¯d always been lean, but days in confinement had sharpened the angles of his face. Only when he caught my scent did he turn, his grayish-brown eyes finding mine.


    ¡°Well, well,¡± he said, his voice hoarse from disuse. ¡°Look who finally remembered I exist.¡±


    Lucas stepped forward protectively. ¡°Watch your tone.¡±


    Leo¡¯sugh was dry and humorless. ¡°Or what? You¡¯ll throw me in jail? Oh wait.¡±


    ¡°We can let him out,¡± I said quietly, looking at Lucas. ¡°Please.¡±


    The three brothers exchanged nces before Lucas nodded to the guard. ¡°Open it.¡±


    As the cell door creaked open, Leo remained seated, eyeing us warily. ¡°To what do I owe this pleasure? Is it time for my execution?¡± His sarcasm couldn¡¯t quite mask the genuine uncertainty in his voice as he looked past me to the triplets.


    Levi snorted. ¡°Don¡¯t be so dramatic. If we wanted you dead, you¡¯d be dead already.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re here to free you,¡± I exined, stepping into the cell. ¡°I want to talk to you.¡±


    Leo¡¯s eyebrow arched skeptically. ¡°Free me? Just like that?¡±


    ¡°Not exactly,¡± Lucas countered. ¡°There will be conditions.¡±


    I turned to the triplets, suddenly aware that what I needed to say to Leo required privacy. ¡°Actually, I¡¯d like to speak with Leo alone.¡±


    Three pairs of green eyes widened in unison.


    ¡°Absolutely not,¡± Lucas said firmly.


    ¡°Hazel, he¡¯s dangerous,¡± Liam added.


    Levi crossed his arms. ¡°No fucking way.¡±


    I stood my ground, meeting their concerned gazes. ¡°I need to do this. Please.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Leo said from his corner, his tone bored. ¡°I¡¯m not going to hurt your precious mate. I¡¯ve had plenty of opportunities before, and I didn¡¯t.¡±


    The triplets bristled at his words, but I ced a hand on Lucas¡¯s arm. ¡°Just wait outside the door. If anything happens, you¡¯ll hear.¡±


    After a tense moment, Lucas relented with a sharp nod. ¡°Fine. But the door stays open, and we¡¯ll be right outside.¡±


    As they filed out, each brother gave Leo a warning look. Levi was thest to leave, pointing two fingers at his eyes, then at Leo in the universal ¡°I¡¯m watching you¡± gesture that would have made meugh under different circumstances.


    Once they were outside, I pulled up the lone chair in the cell and sat facing Leo.


    ¡°How have you been?¡± I asked softly.


    His lips quirked in a humorless smile.


    ¡°Alive. Been better.¡±


    He shifted, and I noticed the mark on his neck¡ªthe mate mark Helena had left him¡ªjust visible beneath his t-shirt cor. It looked more faded than I remembered. When he caught me staring, he adjusted his cor higher.


    ¡°You look well,¡± he said, his voice losing some of its edge. ¡°Happy, even. I guess the reunion with your mates went as expected.¡±


    I ignored the hint of bitterness in his tone. ¡°My grandfather went back to The Dark Hour,¡± I said instead. ¡°He promised to visit again soon. For the wedding.¡±


    ¡°How domestic,¡± Leo remarked dryly. ¡°And your friends? That boy who always looks at you like a lovesick puppy?¡±


    ¡°Who?¡± I asked, wrinkling my nose.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t bother remembering his name,¡± Leo said, dismissively waving a hand. ¡°Starts with a ¡®C¡¯. The one that got suckered in with Cassandra.¡±


    ¡°Callum?¡± I asked, my eyes widening with surprise. I shook my head profusely. ¡°Callum does not look at me like a lovesick puppy. Mind you, he has a mate¡ªa true one,¡± I replied, though I frowned slightly. ¡°He doesn¡¯t talk about her much, which is weird. And Sophia doesn¡¯t seem to know anything about her.¡±


    Leo¡¯s expression shifted almost imperceptibly, something calcting crossing his features before it disappeared. ¡°Interesting.¡±


    There was no doubt that we thought the same thing. Callum probably hadn¡¯t forgotten about Cassandra yet, and thetter was still missing.


    An ufortable silence stretched between us. I fidgeted with my hands, trying to find the right words.


    ¡°Why are you really here, Hazel?¡± Leo finally asked, his piercing gaze making me squirm. ¡°To gloat? To seek forgiveness for leaving me to rot?¡±


    ¡°I... just thought we needed to figure out what happens next,¡± I said quietly.


    Leoughed, the sound hollow. ¡°What happens next is you go live your perfect life with your three perfect mates, and I... well, I go back to being a rogue. Of course, provided your mates don¡¯t kill me.¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t have to be like that.¡±


    His eyes narrowed. ¡°What does that mean?¡±


    I took a deep breath. ¡°You and I... I can¡¯t just pretend you¡¯re not also my fated mate.¡±


    ¡°A connection,¡± he repeated slowly. ¡°How do you know that it wasn¡¯t artificially created? Maybe I lied. Maybe Perry¡ª¡± He paused, shaking his head before correcting himself, ¡°Maybe Esther¡¯s little science project worked.¡±


    ¡°We both know that¡¯s not true,¡± I said. ¡°You can¡¯t deny it.¡±


    After a whole week had passed, Esther¡¯s serum had reached its full effect. Leo¡¯s connection with Helena had faded, along with her mark on his skin. What¡¯s left there now was just a small faded scar. On the other hand, the bond between us felt stronger.


    Much stronger. Even being in the same room as Leo was making my heart thunder.


    Leo¡¯s expression softened almost imperceptibly.


    ¡°No, I can¡¯t deny it.¡± His hand unconsciously moved to his neck, touching the spot where Helena¡¯s mark was fading. ¡°But what exactly are you suggesting, Hazel? That we all live happily ever after? Me, you, and your three Alpha mates?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± I admitted. ¡°I just know that cutting you out of my lifepletely feels... wrong.¡±


    Leo stood up slowly, moving closer until he was standing right in front of me. I could smell the faint scent of sandalwood that always clung to him, could see the flecks of gold in his grayish-brown eyes.


    ¡°What exactly are you asking me, Hazel?¡±


    My heart raced as I forced myself to say the words I¡¯d been turning over in my mind for days. ¡°Are you willing to ept our fated bond? Even if it¡¯s different from what you nned?¡±


    Leo¡¯s expression was unreadable as he stared down at me. After what felt like an eternity, he finally spoke.


    ¡°Are you?¡±

 Chapter 136: I Release You

    <h4>Chapter 136: Chapter 136: I Release You</h4>


    I stared at Leo, my heart hammering against my ribcage.


    ¡°I asked you first,¡± I finally said, my voice barely above a whisper.


    Leo¡¯s lips twitched into what might have been a smile, but it didn¡¯t reach his eyes. He turned away from me, running a hand through his dark hair.


    ¡°Always deflecting,¡± he muttered.


    ¡°I¡¯m not deflecting,¡± I insisted. ¡°I just need to know where you stand.¡±


    Leo paced the small confines of the cell, his movements reminding me of a caged wolf. When he finally spoke, his voice was tight with restrained emotion.


    ¡°Where I stand?¡± He let out a bitterugh. ¡°I stand nowhere, Hazel. I¡¯m a rogue with a faded mate mark and feelings for a woman who already has three mates.¡±


    I flinched at his harsh tone.


    ¡°Is that all I am to you?¡± I asked softly. ¡°Just Helena¡¯s recement?¡±


    Leo¡¯s head snapped up, his eyes shing with anger. ¡°Is that what you think? After everything?¡±


    ¡°What am I supposed to think?¡± My own frustration bubbled to the surface. ¡°You admitted you wanted me because I looked like her. You tried to use the Vox Solis to manipte our bond.¡±


    Only ironically, there wasn¡¯t even a need for it.


    ¡°That was before¡ª¡± He cut himself off, jaw clenching.


    ¡°Before what?¡±


    He didn¡¯t answer, instead leaning against the wall and staring at the ceiling.


    ¡°Leo,¡± I pressed, standing up from my chair. ¡°Before what?¡±


    The silence stretched between us, thick with unspoken words. Outside, I could hear one of the triplets¡ªprobably Levi¡ªshifting impatiently.


    ¡°Before I got to know you,¡± Leo finally said, his voice so quiet I barely heard him. ¡°Before I realized you weren¡¯t her.¡±


    Something in my chest tightened at his admission. I took a step toward him, but he held up a hand, stopping me.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter anyway,¡± he continued. ¡°Your mates would never ept me in your life.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know that,¡± I argued, though doubt crept into my voice.


    Leo¡¯s eyebrow arched skeptically. ¡°Really? You think Lucas, Liam, and Levi Sullivan, Alphas of the Emberfang Pack, would be willing to share their mate with a rogue? That all three of those possessive wolves would wee a fourth?¡±


    Heughed coldly and shook his head.


    ¡°I may also be a Sullivan, but I am not one of them. You know that too.¡±


    I thought about how protective the triplets were, how their eyes tracked Leo¡¯s every movement when he was near me. But I also remembered their words¡ªthat they wanted my happiness above all else.


    ¡°They told me to follow what I want,¡± I said. ¡°If we¡¯re truly fated, they believe it¡¯s the Moon Goddess¡¯s choice.¡±


    Leo¡¯s expression softened for a brief moment before his usual sarcastic mask slipped back into ce. ¡°How magnanimous of them.¡±


    ¡°Stop it,¡± I said, frustration building. ¡°Stop hiding behind sarcasm. Just talk to me.¡±


    Something broke in Leo¡¯s carefully maintainedposure. He pushed off the wall, closing the distance between us in two quick strides.


    ¡°You want me to talk? Fine. I¡¯ll talk.¡± His voice was low, intense. ¡°When I first saw you, I was drawn to you instantly. I thought it was because you looked like Helena, and yes, I thought maybe you could rece what I lost.¡±


    My heart sank, but he wasn¡¯t finished.


    ¡°But then I got to know you,¡± he continued. ¡°The way you stand up for yourself even when you¡¯re terrified. How fiercely you protect the people you care about. Your stubbornness, yourpassion even towards someone who stole you away...¡± He trailed off, looking away. ¡°You may look like Helena, but you¡¯re nothing like her.¡±


    He touched the faded mark on his neck, a gesture that seemed unconscious. ¡°And that scared the hell out of me, because it meant I wasn¡¯t just trying to rece her. I was falling for you. For Hazel.¡±


    My breath caught in my throat. ¡°Leo...¡±


    ¡°And that felt like betrayal,¡± he admitted, his voice cracking slightly. ¡°Like I was betraying my chosen mate by feeling something real for someone else. Even if that someone else is her twin sister.¡±


    The vulnerability in his confession stunned me. This wasn¡¯t the sarcastic, aloof Leo I knew. This was a manid bare, his walls temporarily down.


    ¡°I understand that feeling,¡± I said softly. ¡°Sometimes I wonder if it¡¯s unfair to the triplets that they have to share me among the three of them.¡±


    Leo scoffed. ¡°I doubt they see it that way.¡±


    ¡°And now it would be even worse,¡± I continued, ¡°because there¡¯s a fourth mate to consider.¡±


    ¡°A fifth wheel,¡± Leo remarked sarcastically. ¡°Just what every rtionship needs.¡±


    I ignored hisment, steeling myself for what I needed to say next.


    ¡°I need to know what you want, Leo. If you want to be with me, I¡¯ll ept you. If you want to return to your life as a rogue, I¡¯ll convince Lucas, Liam, and Levi to let you go.¡± I swallowed hard. ¡°We can reject each other and end the bond between us.¡±


    Leo wentpletely still, his face unreadable. The silence stretched on so long that I started to doubt he¡¯d heard me.


    ¡°Leo?¡± I prompted.


    He remained silent, his eyes searching my face for something I couldn¡¯t name. My stomach dropped as I interpreted his silence as an answer.


    ¡°I see,¡± I whispered, fighting back the unexpected sting of tears. ¡°If that¡¯s what you want...¡±


    I took a deep breath, preparing to say the words that would sever our bond forever. The rejection ritual required clear intent and specific words. Once spoken, there would be no going back.


    ¡°I, Hazel Bailey, reject the mate bond between us. I release you, Leo Sullivan, from¡ª¡±


    I never got to finish the sentence. Leo moved with startling speed, closing the distance between us. One hand cupped the back of my head while the other wrapped around my waist, pulling me against him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare,¡± he growled, his breath warm against my lips.


    Before I could respond, his mouth crashed down on mine, cutting off my words and my thoughts in one decisive moment.

 Chapter 137: Surrounded by Love

    <h4>Chapter 137: Chapter 137: Surrounded by Love</h4>


    His kiss was desperate, almost angry¡ªthe kiss of a man who¡¯d been fighting himself for too long.


    And despite everything, despite all theplications, all the reasons this was a bad idea, I found myself kissing him back.


    Leo¡¯s hands tightened on my waist, pulling me closer as if afraid I might disappear. The scent of sandalwood enveloped me, intoxicating and warm. My fingers tangled in his hair, my body responding to his touch with an intensity that surprised even me.


    When we finally broke apart, we were both breathing hard. Leo¡¯s forehead rested against mine, his eyes closed as if savoring the moment.


    ¡°That wasn¡¯t a rejection,¡± he murmured, his voice rough.


    I couldn¡¯t help the smallugh that escaped me. ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t.¡±


    His eyes opened, those grayish-brown depths studying me with an intensity that made my heart skip. ¡°Are you sure about this, Hazel? There¡¯s no going back.¡±


    Before I could answer, the door to the cell burst open with a bang. Three identical figures rushed in, their movements halting abruptly as they took in the scene.


    ¡°We heard you both go quiet and got worried¡ª¡± Lucas began, then stopped mid-sentence.


    I felt my face flush hot with embarrassment as I realized what they were seeing. Leo and I still stood close, my lips swollen from his kiss, both of us looking thoroughly disheveled.


    ¡°Well, well,¡± Liam said, a slow grin spreading across his face. ¡°Looks like someone finally stopped being stubborn.¡±


    Lucas crossed his arms, his expression unreadable for a moment before softening into something almost like relief. ¡°It¡¯s about time.¡±


    I blinked in surprise. ¡°You¡¯re... not upset?¡±


    ¡°Why would we be upset?¡± Lucas asked, raising an eyebrow. ¡°We¡¯ve been waiting for you two to stop dancing around each other.¡±


    ¡°It was getting annoying watching how emotionally constipated you both are,¡± Liam added with augh.


    I noticed Levi hadn¡¯t said anything yet, which was unusual for him. His face was serious as he studied Leo and me.


    ¡°Levi?¡± I called uncertainly.


    Without warning, Levi darted forward. I tensed, unsure what to expect, but instead of pulling me away from Leo as I feared, he wrapped his arms around me in a protective hug, not exactly tugging me away.


    ¡°You hurt her,¡± he said to Leo, his voice yful but with an undercurrent of steel, ¡°and we¡¯ll hunt you down.¡±


    Leo snorted. ¡°How terrifying.¡±


    ¡°I mean it,¡± Levi continued, squeezing me tighter. ¡°We¡¯ve all got our eyes on you, cousin. You¡¯ll need to work extra hard to steal her away.¡±


    ¡°As if I¡¯d want to steal someone this stubborn,¡± Leo replied with his typical sarcasm, but his arm snaked around my waist, belying his words.


    Lucas shook his head, a rare smile ying at his lips. ¡°Four mates. The Moon Goddess must have quite the sense of humor.¡±


    ¡°Or she knows exactly what our little Hazel needs,¡± Liam said, winking at me.


    I looked around at the four men surrounding me¡ªthe triplets who had gone from my tormentors to my protectors, and Leo who had transformed from my captor to something else entirely.


    Augh bubbled up from somewhere deep inside me, surprising even myself. After everything¡ªall the pain, the fear, the confusion¡ªhere I stood, surrounded by more love than I ever thought possible.


    ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± Leo asked, his brow furrowing.


    I shook my head, unable to put it into words. ¡°Just... life. Fate. Everything.¡±


    Levi grinned and squeezed me tighter. ¡°She¡¯s gone crazy. Too many hot guys fighting over her.¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s fighting?¡± Liam asked innocently. ¡°We¡¯re sharing quite nicely.¡±


    The absurdity of it all¡ªfour powerful alpha wolves agreeing to share one mate¡ªmade meugh harder. And after a moment, they joined in, their deepughter blending with mine, filling the small cell with a warmth I never expected to find there.


    In that moment, I felt truly blessed.


    +++


    ¡°Hold still, Hazel! I swear, if you move one more time, this curl is going to be all wrong.¡±


    I winced as Sophia tugged at my hair, pinning another strand into ce. The dressing room was warm, filled with the scents of hairspray and floral perfume.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± I murmured, forcing myself to sit still despite my nerves.


    Sophia stepped back, admiring her handiwork. ¡°You look absolutely stunning. It¡¯s about time you got married, you know.¡±


    Heat rushed to my cheeks. One month had passed since that day in the cell. Just four weeks of adjusting to a life with four mates instead of three. I would be lying if I said there wasn¡¯t any adjusting needed. But we made it work, and it worked well.


    Life hadn¡¯t been the same since then¡ªit got better.


    ¡°The triplets were driving everyone crazy with the wedding preparations,¡± Sophia continued, adjusting my veil. ¡°Lucas nearly fired the florist when they brought the wrong shade of roses.¡±


    Iughed, picturing Lucas¡¯s serious face as he lectured some poor florist about proper color coordination. ¡°That sounds like him.¡±


    A knock on the door interrupted us. Sophia opened it to reveal Callum and Leo, both looking handsome in tailored suits. Leo carried a small box and what looked like my bouquet.


    ¡°The grooms sent these,¡± Callum said with a grin. ¡°Apparently there was some debate about which flowers wouldplement your eyes better.¡±


    Leo rolled his eyes. ¡°Three alphas trying to make wedding decisions is a nightmare. Never again.¡±


    He moved toward me, his eyes softening as he took in my appearance. When he leaned in for a kiss, Sophia smacked his arm.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare! I just finished her makeup, and I¡¯m not redoing it because you can¡¯t control yourself for five minutes.¡±


    Leo grumbled but retreated, settling for pressing a quick kiss to my hand instead. ¡°You look beautiful, sweetheart.¡±


    Callumughed at Leo¡¯s disgruntled expression. ¡°You¡¯ll have the rest of your lives for that.¡±


    As Sophia returned to fussing with my hair, I caught Leo and Callum exchanging nces. Something in their expressions made me pause.


    ¡°What?¡± I asked, suddenly nervous. ¡°Is everything okay? The triplets aren¡¯t fighting again, are they?¡±


    ¡°Everything¡¯s fine,¡± Leo assured me quickly. ¡°Your three other husbands-to-be are perfectly behaved.¡±


    But something still felt off. I studied Callum¡¯s face, noting the slight tension around his eyes.


    ¡°You look like you want to say something,¡± I said hesitantly.


    Callum shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s your wedding day. Let¡¯s focus on that.¡±


    I bit my lip, ncing between my friends. ¡°No, something¡¯s bothering you. Tell me.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing, really,¡± Callum insisted, but his smile didn¡¯t reach his eyes.


    ¡°Callum.¡±


    He sighed, exchanging another look with Leo. ¡°It¡¯s just pre-wedding jitters. Everyone has them.¡±


    I wasn¡¯t convinced. The nagging feeling that there was something they weren¡¯t telling me grew stronger.


    ¡°You¡¯re not even the one getting married today, so I don¡¯t know what sort of pre-wedding jitters you are having,¡± I said, raising an eyebrow. I crossed my arms. ¡°I¡¯m not walking down that aisle until you tell me what¡¯s going on.¡±


    Leo chuckled. ¡°Stubborn as always.¡±


    Sophia finished thest pin in my hair and stepped back. ¡°There. Perfect. I¡¯ll go check on the guests while you all... sort this out.¡± She shot Callum and Leo a warning look before slipping out the door.


    In the silence that followed, I gathered my courage. There was one question that had been on my mind all week, one I¡¯d been afraid to ask. I had a feeling it might be what had gotten Callum looking so conflicted.


    ¡°Is...¡± I swallowed hard. ¡°Is Kendraing to the wedding?¡±


    Callum¡¯s entire body stiffened, and a part of me immediately regretted asking.

 Chapter 138: Ready to Begin

    <h4>Chapter 138: Chapter 138: Ready to Begin</h4>


    ¡°If you¡¯re going to be such a wimp about it, I¡¯ll say it,¡± Leo announced, breaking the tense silence that had fallen over us.


    Callum sighed, shoulders slumping in defeat as he said nothing.


    I nced between them, confusion growing. ¡°Say what?¡±


    Leo rolled his eyes dramatically. ¡°There have been reports of a certain blonde vampire lurking around near Emberfang territory.¡± His voice dripped with disdain. ¡°Thought you should know, considering it¡¯s your wedding day.¡±


    My stomach dropped as the realization hit. ¡°Cassandra?¡±


    Lucas, Liam, and Levi tried sending out search parties to sift out the remaining members of the Vox Solis in thest month. Leo helped to identify them. However, among those found, dead or alive, Cassandra wasn¡¯t one of them.


    I looked at Callum worriedly, searching his face for confirmation.


    He nodded grimly, avoiding my eyes. ¡°And as for your question, I think Kendra ising too.¡±


    ¡°You think?¡± Leo scoffed, crossing his arms. ¡°She¡¯s your mate. How can you ¡®think¡¯ she¡¯sing and not know for sure?¡±


    Callum ran a hand through his hair, messing up the careful styling he¡¯d done for the wedding. ¡°I¡¯ve been avoiding her for the past month, okay? While I try to figure things out.¡±


    ¡°Figure what out?¡± I asked gently. ¡°I thought you epted that Cassandra wasn¡¯t really your mate?¡±


    ¡°We didn¡¯t mark each other,¡± Callum admitted. ¡°But I still have feelings for her. It¡¯s not as simple as attraction because of a fated¡ª¡± he winced, ¡°artificial bond.¡±


    Leo made a disgusted noise. ¡°Man up and stop avoiding the situation. You need to choose between the fake-blonde vampire and your actual mate. If you¡¯re not nning on having Kendra as your mate, reject her properly. Don¡¯t string her along.¡±


    ¡°I will handle it,¡± Callum snapped. ¡°I just need more time.¡±


    ¡°Callum,¡± I said softly, careful not to mess up my wedding dress as I reached for his hand. ¡°Leo¡¯s right about one thing. You should make a decision soon. It¡¯s good that Kendra is understanding, but it¡¯s not fair for her to wait like this.¡±


    Callum¡¯s shoulders slumped. ¡°I know.¡±


    The door swung open, revealing Sophia in her bridesmaid dress. ¡°The wedding is starting in ten minutes!¡± she announced cheerfully, before narrowing her eyes at the tense atmosphere. ¡°What did I miss?¡±


    ¡°Nothing,¡± Leo said smoothly. ¡°Callum and I need to go take our positions. Groomsmen duties and all that.¡±


    Callum nodded, clearly relieved for the escape. ¡°We¡¯ll see you out there, Hazel.¡±


    Leo squeezed my hand once before following Callum out, leaving me alone with Sophia.


    ¡°What was that about?¡± she asked, helping me adjust my veil.


    ¡°Just some minor drama,¡± I replied, not wanting to get into Callum¡¯splicated love life right before my wedding. ¡°Nothing that can¡¯t wait.¡±


    Sophia frowned but didn¡¯t push. Instead, she busied herself with smoothing out my dress. ¡°You look absolutely breathtaking. The triplets are going to lose their minds when they see you.¡±


    I smiled, looking at my reflection in the mirror. The white dress hugged my figure perfectly before ring out in a cascade of delicatece. My blonde hair was artfully arranged with tiny pearl pins, and the veil added a soft, ethereal quality.


    ¡°And Leo too, of course,¡± Sophia added with a wink. ¡°Though I still can¡¯t believe you¡¯re mated to all four of them.¡±


    ¡°Neither can I sometimes,¡± I admitted with augh. ¡°But it feels right.¡±


    It had been a whirlwind month of preparations. Three alphas nning a wedding was exactly as chaotic as it sounded. Lucas micromanaged every detail, Liam charmed all the vendors, and Levi kept suggesting increasingly oundish additions.


    Even Leo pretended not to care while secretly ensuring everything was perfect. He was a mere groomsman today, but even so, he helped the triplets with the wedding preparations whenever they weren¡¯t looking. I had caught him a few times, sneakily running about and watching over the decorations.


    It greatly warmed my heart that even though their rtionship had been stiff and awkward at the start, Leo had seemed to integrate pretty well into the family.


    ¡°Ready?¡± Sophia asked, offering me my bouquet of white roses and baby¡¯s breath.


    I took a deep breath. ¡°As ready as I¡¯ll ever be.¡±


    We stepped out of the bridal room and into the hallway of the grand cathedral. At the end of the corridor stood my grandfather, looking distinguished in a perfectly tailored suit.


    ¡°Hazel,¡± he said, his eyes softening at the sight of me. ¡°You look just like your mother on her wedding day.¡±


    Tears threatened to spill, but I blinked them back. ¡°Thank you foring, Grandpa.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t miss it.¡± He offered me his arm. ¡°Though I must say, you¡¯re only marrying three of them today. When¡¯s the fourth?¡± There was a yful glint in his eyes.


    Iughed softly. ¡°One step at a time, Grandpa.¡±


    Sophia gave my hand onest squeeze. ¡°I¡¯m going to take my ce. See you in there!¡±


    As she hurried inside, I could hear the soft music ying behind the closed cathedral doors. My heart began to race.


    ¡°Nervous?¡± Percival asked.


    ¡°A little,¡± I admitted. ¡°But mostly excited.¡±


    He nodded sagely. ¡°Marriage is a seriousmitment, especially for our kind. But I¡¯ve seen how those boys look at you. All four of them would die for you without hesitation.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± I whispered, remembering all we had been through together. The fights, the fears, the moments of tenderness that had gradually rebuilt my trust in the triplets who once tormented me. And Leo, who had gone from enemy to protector to something much more.


    The music changed, signaling it was almost time. The wedding march would begin any moment.


    ¡°Are you ready, my dear?¡± Percival asked, his voice gentle. ¡°Once those doors open, your new life begins.¡±


    I thought about everything waiting for me on the other side. From orphaned maid to alphas¡¯ mate. The Moon Goddess certainly had a strange sense of humor.


    ¡°Yes,¡± I said firmly, squeezing my grandfather¡¯s arm. ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡±


    As if on cue, the massive cathedral doors slowly began to open.

 Chapter 139: Forever Begins

    <h4>Chapter 139: Chapter 139: Forever Begins</h4>


    As the cathedral doors opened, the wedding march filled the air. I felt my grandfather¡¯s arm steady under my hand as we paused at the entrance. The scene before me took my breath away.


    The aisle stretched forward, lined with white rose petals and soft candles glowing in ss holders. Above, thousands of tiny lights hung like stars from the cathedral ceiling, casting a magical glow over everyone.


    I had seen the cathedral before during the rehearsals and set-up, but back then, it didn¡¯t look as magical as it did right now.


    At the end of the aisle, there they stood¡ªmy three grooms, waiting at the altar.


    Lucas was in the center, his posture perfect in his ck tuxedo, green eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that made my heart skip. To his right stood Liam, a warm smile spreading across his face, eyes shining with unshed tears. And to Lucas¡¯s left was Levi, practically bouncing with excitement, his signature grin making me feel lighter than air.


    Behind them, Leo and Callum stood as groomsmen, both looking handsome in their suits. Leo¡¯s face was carefullyposed, but I caught the softness in his eyes when they met mine.


    ¡°Ready, little one?¡± my grandfather whispered.


    I nodded, unable to find words.


    The music swelled as we began our walk.


    Pack members rose to their feet, faces smiling as we passed. I recognized so many¡ªSophia beaming from her ce with the bridesmaids, Matilda dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief, even Alpha Joseph from Ironhound nodding respectfully. Although, the same couldn¡¯t really be said about his daughter, but at least she didn¡¯t say a word or do anything brash.


    With each step, the triplets grew closer, their expressions shifting from awe to adoration. Lucas¡¯s jaw clenched with emotion, Liam¡¯s smile trembled, and Levi looked like he might break protocol and run down the aisle to meet me.


    When we reached the altar, Percival ced my hand in Lucas¡¯s waiting palm.


    ¡°Take care of her,¡± he said, his voice carrying across the silent cathedral. ¡°All of you.¡±


    ¡°With our lives,¡± Lucas promised, speaking for all three of them.


    The pack elder stepped forward as I took my ce between my mates. His voice carried across the cathedral as he began the ceremony.


    ¡°We gather today under the blessing of the Moon Goddess to witness the union of not just two souls, but four who have been chosen by fate itself.¡±


    The ceremony passed in a beautiful blur. We exchanged our vows, and halfway through, Levi started to sob happy tears. When it came time for the rings, each brother slipped a tinum band onto my finger, joining the engagement ring they had given me at the beach house.


    ¡°By the power vested in me by the Emberfang Pack and the Moon Goddess herself, I now pronounce you mates in the eyes of all werewolves,¡± the elder announced. ¡°You may kiss your bride.¡±


    Lucas went first, cupping my face gently before pressing his lips to mine in a kiss that was both tender and possessive. When he pulled away, Liam stepped forward, his kiss warm and sweet, full of promise. Then came Levi, who dipped me dramatically before capturing my lips in a yful but passionate kiss that had the audience chuckling.


    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen,¡± the elder called out as we turned to face our guests, ¡°I present to you the Alpha couple of Emberfang Pack!¡±


    The cathedral erupted in cheers and apuse as we made our way down the aisle, now bound together forever.


    The reception was held in the sprawling gardens behind the packhouse, transformed into an enchanted wondend. Fairy lights twinkled among the trees, mini crystal chandeliers hung from branches, and tables draped in white linen dotted thewn. The dance floor was set beneath a canopy of lights that mimicked the night sky.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe you guys really managed to do this,¡± I whispered to Liam as we greeted guests in the receiving line. ¡°The decorations look just like my drawings.¡±


    ¡°Lucas wouldn¡¯t settle for anything less than perfect,¡± he replied, squeezing my hand. ¡°And neither would Leo, though he¡¯d never admit it.¡±


    Iughed, knowing it was true. I¡¯d caught Leo directing the decorating team more than once, though he¡¯d imed to be ¡®just passing by¡¯ each time.


    After dinner was served, the triplets stood to address the crowd. Lucas tapped his ss,manding immediate silence.


    ¡°On behalf of my brothers and our beautiful mate,¡± he began, his deep voice carrying across the garden, ¡°I want to thank everyone for joining us today.¡±


    ¡°Some of you have known us since we were pups,¡± Liam continued with his warm smile. ¡°You¡¯ve watched us grow, make mistakes, and hopefully learn from them.¡±


    ¡°Mostly mistakes in my case,¡± Levi added, earningughter from the crowd. ¡°But the best decision we ever made was recognizing what was right in front of us all along.¡±


    Lucas¡¯s arm slipped around my waist. ¡°To Hazel, who saw past our ws and gave us a chance we didn¡¯t deserve. Our mate, our heart, our home.¡±


    ¡°To Hazel!¡± the crowd echoed, raising their sses.


    ¡°Now drink up and eat until you can¡¯t move!¡± Levi shouted. ¡°That¡¯s an Alpha order!¡±


    Moreughter rippled through the crowd as the music started up again. The triplets made their way down from the stage, each pulling me into an embrace as they reached me.


    ¡°Happy?¡± Lucas asked, pressing a kiss to my temple.


    ¡°Happier than I ever thought possible,¡± I admitted.


    Levi twirled me in a circle. ¡°Just wait until tonight, sweetheart. The real celebration starts once we¡¯re alone.¡±


    Heat flooded my cheeks at his suggestive tone.


    ¡°Levi, behave,¡± Liam chided, though his eyes held the same hunger.


    ¡°When do we leave for the honeymoon?¡± I asked, suddenly eager for privacy with my mates.


    We had chosen to return to the vacation home that the triplets had bought me for my birthday. It would be the perfect private beach escape. I had so many happy memories there, and it felt likeing full circle, since that was where the triplets had proposed.


    ¡°Tonight,¡± Lucas confirmed, his voice low. ¡°The jet is standing by whenever we¡¯re ready.¡±


    Leo appeared beside us, champagne in hand. ¡°Congrattions,¡± he said, his tone almost sincere. ¡°The ceremony wasn¡¯t totally boring.¡±


    ¡°High praiseing from you,¡± I teased, reaching for his free hand.


    ¡°We¡¯re heading to the ind house tonight,¡± Lucas told him. ¡°You¡¯re wee to join us.¡±


    Leo¡¯s eyebrows shot up in surprise.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 140: Stolen Moments

    <h4>Chapter 140: Chapter 140: Stolen Moments</h4>


    ¡°On your honeymoon?¡± Leo spluttered. He gave me an astonished nce before he turned back to the triplets. ¡°Are you sure that¡¯s¡ª¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t want toe, that would be even better,¡± Levi interrupted with a yful smirk.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be there,¡± Leo replied immediately, narrowing his eyes at Levi. ¡°Someone has to make sure she gets a break from you three asionally.¡±


    Liam and I exchanged amused nces. The rivalry between Leo and the triplets had softened into something closer to brotherly teasing, though they¡¯d all deny it if asked, especially Leo and Levi.


    ¡°I can¡¯t wait to be back at the beach house,¡± I said, thinking of the private ind paradise where the triplets had proposed. The memory of dropping to one knee in perfect unison, the gorgeous ring held out, still made my heart race.


    ¡°Our first night there as husband and wife,¡± Liam said softly against my ear. ¡°As your official mates.¡±


    A shiver ran down my spine at his words. Though we¡¯d marked each other a while ago, there was something different about being officially married in front of our pack.


    ¡°I¡¯ve packed your bags,¡± Lucas said, his hand resting possessively on my hip. ¡°We can slip away whenever you¡¯re ready.¡±


    ¡°After the first dance,¡± I decided. ¡°I don¡¯t want to miss that.¡±


    As if on cue, the music shifted to a slow, romantic melody. Lucas led me to the center of the dance floor, his brothers and Leo watching from the edge with identical expressions of hunger that made my pulse quicken.


    Lucas¡¯s strong arms encircled my waist, pulling me against his solid chest as we began to sway to the music. His green eyes held mine, full of promises that made heat pool low in my belly.


    ¡°You look breathtaking,¡± he whispered, his thumb tracing small circles on my lower back. ¡°I¡¯ve been fighting the urge to steal you away all day.¡±


    I smiled up at him, still not quite believing this powerful, handsome man was mine. ¡°We have forever now.¡±


    ¡°Forever won¡¯t be long enough,¡± he replied, brushing his lips against my forehead.


    As the song transitioned to another slow melody, Liam stepped forward, tapping his brother on the shoulder. ¡°My turn with our bride.¡±


    Lucas reluctantly released me, pressing a quick kiss to my lips before cing my hand in Liam¡¯s.


    Liam¡¯s dancing style was different¡ªmore fluid, more rxed. Where Lucas led withmanding precision, Liam guided with gentle warmth. He pulled me close, his familiar scent washing over me.


    ¡°Happy, Mrs. Sullivan?¡± he asked, his smile so bright it rivaled the fairy lights surrounding us.


    ¡°Deliriously,¡± I admitted, resting my head against his chest. I could hear his heart beating steadily beneath my ear.


    ¡°Good,¡± he murmured into my hair. ¡°Because making you happy is all I want to do for the rest of my life.¡±


    I looked up at him, touched by the sincerity in his voice. Liam had always been the one who wore his emotions most openly, and I could see every ounce of his love reflected in his eyes.


    The song ended too soon, and I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned to find Levi bouncing on his heels, hand extended toward me.


    ¡°Save the best forst,¡± he winked, pulling me from Liam¡¯s arms as a slightly more upbeat song began.


    Levi¡¯s energy was infectious as he guided me around the floor with unexpected grace. For someone so restless, he moved with surprising skill, adding yful twirls that had meughing.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting all day to get you alone,¡± he whispered, his lips brushing against my ear. His hand, which had been properly ced on my back, slid lower, dangerously close to the curve of my bottom.


    ¡°Levi,¡± I chastised, feeling my cheeks heat up. ¡°Everyone is watching.¡±


    ¡°So?¡± His hand gave a little squeeze, making me gasp. ¡°You¡¯re my wife now. I¡¯m allowed to touch my wife.¡±


    I nced around nervously, but no one seemed to be paying us any particr attention. Most guests were upied with their own dancing or conversations.


    ¡°You¡¯re impossible,¡± I whispered, but there was no real rebuke in my tone.


    ¡°Impossibly in love with you,¡± he countered, his hand continuing its exploratory path. ¡°I can¡¯t wait for our honeymoon. In fact, I don¡¯t know if I can even wait that long.¡±


    His fingers traced patterns along my spine, each touch sending sparks of desire through my body. When his hand dipped lower again, I bit my lip to suppress a whimper.


    ¡°Levi, please,¡± I whispered. ¡°Not here.¡±


    His eyes darkened with desire as he leaned in close. ¡°Then let¡¯s go somewhere else.¡±


    I nced around the reception. Lucas was engaged in conversation with Alpha Joseph. Liam was dancing with Sophia and Callum, all three of themughing at something. Leo was by the bar, sipping a drink and looking bored as usual.


    ¡°No one will miss us for a few minutes,¡± Levi whispered, his breath hot against my neck. ¡°What do you say, wife?¡±


    The way he said ¡°wife¡± sent a thrill through me. Looking into his mischievous green eyes, I found myself nodding.


    ¡°Just for a few minutes,¡± I agreed.


    Levi¡¯s face lit up with triumph. He took my hand, and we slipped away from the dance floor, moving casually toward the packhouse. Once we were out of sight of the reception, Levi¡¯s patience evaporated. He pressed me against the side of the building, his lips finding mine in a hungry kiss.


    ¡°Fuck, I¡¯ve wanted to do this all day,¡± he groaned against my mouth. ¡°You look so damn beautiful in this dress, but all I can think about is getting you out of it.¡±


    His hands roamed over my body, tracing the curves hidden beneathyers of white fabric. I melted into his touch, my own desire building rapidly.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go inside,¡± I suggested breathlessly, already fumbling with his tie.


    We barely made it through the packhouse doors before Levi was kissing me again, more urgently this time. His hands found the zipper at the back of my dress, slowly pulling it down as I worked on the buttons of his shirt.


    ¡°I love you,¡± he whispered against my neck, cing hot kisses down my throat. ¡°So much, Hazel.¡±


    ¡°I love you too,¡± I gasped as his teeth grazed my corbone.


    We stumbled down the hallway toward our bedroom, leaving a trail of discarded clothing¡ªhis jacket on the floor, my veil hanging from a doorknob, his tie draped over a chair. By the time we reached our bedroom door, Levi¡¯s shirt was fully unbuttoned, revealing his sculpted chest, and my dress was barely clinging to my shoulders.


    Once inside, Levi kicked the door shut and pressed me against it. His hands slid beneath my dress, pushing it up my thighs as his lips reimed mine. I moaned into his mouth, my fingers tangling in his hair.


    ¡°Been thinking about this all day,¡± he murmured, his hands cupping my bottom and lifting me. I wrapped my legs around his waist, feeling his desire pressing against me through his pants. ¡°Watching you walk down that aisle. Knowing you¡¯re ours. Forever.¡±


    He carried me to the bed,ying me down gently before covering my body with his. My dress bunched around my waist as his hands explored the newly exposed skin.


    ¡°You¡¯re so beautiful,¡± he whispered, eyes dark with need as he took in the sight of me in my wedding lingerie. ¡°My mate. My wife.¡±


    His fingers traced the edge of myce-trimmed panties, teasing but not yet venturing beneath. I arched toward his touch, silently begging for more.


    ¡°Tell me what you want,¡± Levi demanded, his voice husky with desire.


    ¡°You,¡± I breathed. ¡°Please, Levi.¡±


    That was all the encouragement he needed. His fingers slipped beneath thece, finding me ready for him. I gasped at the contact, my hips rising to meet his touch.


    ¡°So wet for me already,¡± he groaned, his skillful fingers working magic that had me panting his name. ¡°I love how responsive you are.¡±


    I reached for his belt, desperate to feel all of him. Levi helped, quickly unfastening his pants and pushing them down his hips. Just as he positioned himself between my thighs, the bedroom door swung open.


    ¡°Starting without me?¡± Liam¡¯s amused voice called from the doorway. ¡°I¡¯m hurt. Why wasn¡¯t I invited to this party?¡±

 Chapter 141: Three-Fold Desire

    <h4>Chapter 141: Chapter 141: Three-Fold Desire</h4>


    (Trigger Warning: This Chapter contains explicit content and is intended for mature readers.)


    I froze, my heart hammering in my chest as Liam leaned against the doorframe, his eyes dark with desire. Levi didn¡¯t stop his movements, his fingers continuing their delicious torture between my thighs.


    ¡°Levi,¡± I gasped, trying to push him away. ¡°Liam¡¯s here.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Levi murmured against my neck, his voice a husky whisper. ¡°Let him watch. You¡¯re his wife too, remember?¡±


    Heat flooded my cheeks as Liam stalked into the room, closing the door behind him. His warm smile had transformed into something predatory, hungry.


    ¡°Couldn¡¯t wait for the honeymoon?¡± Liam asked, loosening his tie as he approached the bed. ¡°Though I can¡¯t me you. Our bride looks absolutely ravishing.¡±


    Levi finally pulled back enough to sh his brother a grin. ¡°You snooze, you lose. Should¡¯ve followed us sooner.¡±


    Iy beneath Levi, my wedding dress bunched around my waist, feeling both embarrassed and aroused at being caught like this. Liam¡¯s gaze roamed over my body, lingering on where Levi¡¯s hand disappeared beneath myce panties.


    ¡°Room for one more?¡± Liam asked, his voice lower than I¡¯d ever heard it.


    Before I could answer, the bedroom door opened again.


    Levi groaned, burying his face in my neck when he realized yet another brother had showed up. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me Leo is here too?¡±


    ¡°He isn¡¯t,¡± Lucas replied, shutting the door firmly behind him. ¡°He¡¯s still chatting with Percival at the after-party and hasn¡¯t noticed we¡¯re gone.¡±


    I didn¡¯t say it aloud, but I suspected Leo had definitely noticed our absence. He just didn¡¯t want to intrude on our wedding night. For all his sarcastic remarks and standoffish behavior, he respected boundaries when it mattered.


    ¡°So,¡± Lucas continued, his green eyes darkening as he took in the scene before him. ¡°This is where you all disappeared to.¡±


    His voice held no judgment, only hunger. He removed his suit jacket with deliberate slowness, draping it over a nearby chair. The air in the room felt electric, charged with anticipation.


    ¡°We were just getting started,¡± Levi said, his fingers resuming their teasing motions. I bit my lip to stifle a moan. ¡°Care to join?¡±


    Lucas began unbuttoning his shirt. ¡°It seems our bride couldn¡¯t wait for the honeymoon.¡±


    ¡°I¡ª¡± My protest died on my lips as Levi¡¯s thumb circled my most sensitive spot. ¡°It wasn¡¯t my idea.¡±


    ¡°But you¡¯re notining,¡± Liam observed, now kneeling on the edge of the bed. His hand caressed my ankle, slowly sliding up my calf. ¡°Are you, baby?¡±


    How could I? With three pairs of identical green eyes locked on me, filled with desire and love, I couldn¡¯t form a coherent thought. My body responded to their touches, arching toward them instinctively.


    ¡°I want all of you,¡± I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.


    Those words triggered something primal in them. Lucas moved faster now, stripping off his shirt and pants until he stood only in his boxers. Liam followed suit, his clothes joining the growing pile on the floor.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get you out of this dress,¡± Lucas said, his voicemanding yet gentle.


    Together, they helped me stand. Levi¡¯s hands supported me from behind while Lucas carefully lowered the zipper the rest of the way. Liam¡¯s fingers brushed against my shoulders as he eased the straps down my arms. The wedding dress¡ªwhich had taken so much time just to put on properly¡ªpooled at my feet in seconds.


    I stood before them in only my whitece bridal lingerie. Three identical gasps filled the room.


    ¡°Fuck,¡± Levi breathed, his hands gripping my waist.


    ¡°Breathtaking,¡± Liam added, his eyes traveling slowly up and down my body.


    Lucas said nothing, but the intensity in his gaze spoke volumes. He stepped forward first, his hand cupping my cheek before drawing me into a deep, passionate kiss. His tongue swept into my mouth, iming and possessive.


    While Lucas kissed me, Liam moved behind me, his lips finding the sensitive spot where my neck met my shoulder. His lips brushed past the mark there, and I shuddered. Meanwhile, his hands unsped my bra, sliding it off and tossing it aside. Levi dropped to his knees in front of me, his mouth trailing hot kisses along my stomach, moving lower.


    Three sets of hands, three hungry mouths¡ªall focused solely on my pleasure. I was drowning in sensation, unable to track whose touch was whose as they worked in perfect harmony.


    Lucas broke our kiss, his forehead resting against mine as he caught his breath.


    ¡°On the bed,¡± he ordered softly.


    They guided me back to the massive bed that had been custom-made to amodate all four of us. Liam helped me lie down in the center, arranging pillows beneath my head. Levi crawled up between my legs, his eyes locked on thest piece of fabric separating him from what he wanted.


    ¡°These need to go,¡± he announced, hooking his fingers into the waistband of my panties. He dragged them down slowly, revealing me inch by inch.


    Lucas positioned himself by my head, his hand tangling in my hair as he leaned down for another kiss. Meanwhile, Liam knelt beside me, his hands cupping and caressing my breasts. His thumbs brushed over my nipples, drawing them into tight peaks.


    ¡°Perfect,¡± he murmured, recing one hand with his mouth. The wet heat of his tongue against my sensitive flesh made me cry out, the sound swallowed by Lucas¡¯s demanding kiss.


    Levi settled between my thighs, his breath hot against my center. ¡°Been dreaming of this all day,¡± he said, his voice thick with desire. Then his mouth was on me, his tongue exploring with expert precision.


    I broke away from Lucas¡¯s kiss on a gasp, my back arching off the bed. ¡°Levi!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s it, baby,¡± Lucas encouraged, his fingers stroking my cheek. ¡°Let us hear you.¡±


    Liam lifted his head from my breast, his eyes meeting mine. ¡°You¡¯re so beautiful like this,¡± he said softly, before moving to capture my neglected nipple between his lips.


    The sensations were overwhelming¡ªLevi¡¯s talented tongue between my thighs, Liam¡¯s mouth on my breast, and Lucas¡¯s fingers now tracing my lips before slipping inside for me to suck. Three different rhythms working together to drive me wild.


    Levi added his fingers to the mix, sliding one inside me while his tongue continued its relentless assault. I moaned around Lucas¡¯s fingers, my hips lifting to meet Levi¡¯s movements. When he added a second finger, curling them to hit exactly the right spot, I felt the tension building rapidly.


    ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± Lucas murmured, watching my face intently. ¡°Let go, Hazel. Come for us.¡±


    Liam¡¯s free hand found mine,cing our fingers together as he sensed my approaching climax. His thumb stroked soothingly over my knuckles, a tender gesture amidst the storm of passion.


    ¡°We¡¯ve got you,¡± he whispered against my skin. ¡°Always.¡±


    Levi increased his pace, his fingers thrusting deeper while his tongue flicked rapidly. Thebined sensations of all three of them touching me, loving me, pushed me over the edge. My body tensed, then shattered into waves of pleasure so intense I could barely breathe.


    ¡°That¡¯s my girl,¡± Lucas praised, his eyes dark with pride and desire as he watched mee undone.


    I was still trembling with aftershocks when Levi crawled up my body, his mouth glistening. He captured my lips in a fierce kiss, letting me taste myself on his tongue.


    ¡°You taste even better than I imagined,¡± he growled against my lips.


    When he pulled back, I saw the three of them exchanging nces, some silentmunication passing between them. Lucas nodded once, then Liam smiled.


    ¡°How do you want us?¡± Lucas asked, his voice husky with restrained desire.


    I looked between them¡ªmy husbands, my mates¡ªtheir bodies tense with need, all waiting for my answer. The night was just beginning, and my body already ached for more.


    ¡°I want all of you,¡± I repeated, my voice stronger this time. ¡°Show me what it means to be yours.¡±


    Levi¡¯s answering grin was wickedly yful. Liam¡¯s eyes sparkled with both tenderness and heat. And Lucas¡ªmy serious, controlled Lucas¡ªfinally let his careful mask slip, revealing the raw hunger beneath.


    ¡°With pleasure,¡± he promised, moving to position himself above me, his powerful body caging mine beneath him.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 142: Three-Fold Passion

    <h4>Chapter 142: Chapter 142: Three-Fold Passion</h4>


    (Trigger Warning: This Chapter contains explicit content and is intended for mature readers.)


    Lucas hovered above me, his powerful body radiating heat. His eyes¡ªdark with desire¡ªlocked onto mine as he positioned himself at my entrance. The bed dipped on either side as Liam and Levi found their ces beside us.


    ¡°Are you ready, love?¡± Lucas asked, his voice rough with need.


    I nodded, my hands gripping his shoulders. ¡°Yes.¡±


    He pushed forward slowly, filling me inch by inch. I gasped at the delicious stretch, my body weing him. When he was fully seated, he paused, allowing me to adjust to his size.


    ¡°You feel so perfect,¡± he groaned, his forehead dropping to rest against mine.


    Liam leaned in, his lips brushing my cheek. ¡°We¡¯ve dreamt of this moment for so long.¡±


    Lucas began to move, setting a steady rhythm that had me clinging to him. Each thrust drove me higher, pleasure building rapidly after my first release. Levi¡¯s hand tangled in my hair, turning my head toward him for a deep kiss that swallowed my moans.


    ¡°My turn,¡± Levi murmured when Lucas eventually pulled out, leaving me aching and empty.


    They shifted positions with practiced ease. Before I knew it, Levi had taken his brother¡¯s ce, pushing into me with one smooth stroke that had me crying out.


    ¡°Fuck, you feel amazing,¡± Levi groaned, setting a faster pace than Lucas had.


    Where Lucas had been controlled, Levi was wild, his hips snapping against mine. His enthusiasm was infectious, pulling sounds from me I didn¡¯t know I could make.


    Liam positioned himself behind me, lifting my upper body so my back pressed against his chest. His hands came around to cup my breasts, fingers teasing my nipples as Levi continued to thrust.


    ¡°You¡¯re so beautiful like this,¡± Liam whispered in my ear. ¡°Taking us so well.¡±


    Lucas moved to kneel beside us, his hand stroking himself as he watched. The sight of him touching himself while watching Levi take me sent another wave of heat through my body.


    ¡°I¡¯m close,¡± I gasped, my walls tightening around Levi.


    ¡°Let go, baby,¡± Levi encouraged, his rhythm faltering as his own release approached.


    Liam¡¯s fingers slid down my body to where Levi and I were joined, finding my sensitive bundle of nerves. The added sensation was all it took to send me over the edge, my second orgasm washing over me in powerful waves.


    Levi followed shortly after, his hips jerking as he spilled inside me with a hoarse shout of my name.


    As Levi withdrew, Liamid me gently on my back. ¡°Ready for more?¡± he asked softly, his eyes filled with both tenderness and heat.


    My body was trembling with aftershocks, but the mate bond hummed with insatiable need. ¡°Yes,¡± I breathed, reaching for him.


    Liam entered me slowly, his approach different from his brothers. Where Lucas had been controlled and Levi passionate, Liam was gentle and thorough. He maintained eye contact as he moved within me, each thrust deliberate and deep.


    ¡°I love you,¡± he whispered against my lips. ¡°My beautiful mate.¡±


    The intimacy of the moment brought tears to my eyes. Liam kissed them away as they fell, his hips never stopping their steady rhythm.


    Lucas and Levi positioned themselves on either side of us, their hands roaming over both our bodies. Levi bent to capture one of my nipples in his mouth, while Lucas imed my lips in a searing kiss.


    Thebined sensations were overwhelming¡ªLiam filling me sopletely, Levi¡¯s mouth on my breast, Lucas¡¯s tongue tangling with mine. I was drowning in pleasure, surrounded by the three men I loved more than anything.


    ¡°Come for us again, Hazel,¡± Liam urged, his pace increasing slightly. ¡°One more time.¡±


    Lucas¡¯s hand slid down between us, his fingers finding where Liam and I were connected. The added pressure was exactly what I needed. My third climax crashed over me, more intense than the previous twobined. I cried out, my body arching off the bed.


    Liam followed immediately, his face buried in my neck as he reached his peak. His body shuddered above me, his arms trembling as he held himself up.


    For several moments, the only sound in the room was our collective breathing. Then Levi broke the silence with a satisfiedugh.


    ¡°Best. Wedding. Ever.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t help butugh too, feeling boneless andpletely satisfied. Lucas smiled¡ªa rare, unguarded expression¡ªwhile Liam pressed gentle kisses to my shoulder.


    ¡°We should probably get back,¡± Lucas said reluctantly, ncing at his watch. ¡°People will notice we¡¯re missing.¡±


    ¡°Let them notice,¡± Levi grumbled, but he was already sitting up.


    Liam helped me to my feet, steadying me when my legs wobbled. ¡°Are you alright, sweetheart?¡±


    I nodded, feeling thoroughly loved and pleasantly sore. ¡°Perfect.¡±


    Getting dressed took significantly longer than undressing had. My wedding dress required all three of them to help me back into it properly. Lucas zipped me up while Liam arranged the train, and Levi attempted to fix my hair.


    ¡°You look thoroughly ravished,¡± Levimented with a smug grin.


    I nced in the mirror and blushed. My lips were swollen from their kisses, my cheeks flushed, and my eyes bright. Despite their efforts, my hair had a distinctly tousled appearance.


    ¡°Everyone will know exactly what we¡¯ve been doing,¡± I muttered, attempting to smooth my hair.


    ¡°Good,¡± Lucas said, adjusting his tie. ¡°Let them know you¡¯re ours now.¡±


    Liam kissed my temple. ¡°Are you ready to face our guests again?¡±


    With a deep breath, I nodded. ¡°As ready as I¡¯ll ever be.¡±


    +++


    The reception was in full swing when we returned. The dance floor was packed, the music loud enough to cover our entrance. I noticed a few knowing smiles from guests who spotted us slipping back in, but most were too caught up in the celebration to pay attention.


    ¡°There you are!¡± Alpha Joseph boomed, pping Lucas on the shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ve been looking for you. We need to discuss the territory agreement.¡±


    Before I could protest, Lucas was whisked away, throwing an apologetic nce over his shoulder.


    Secondster, Liam was surrounded by a group of pack elders, all eager to speak with the Alpha. Usually, Lucas was the one who dealt with these matters, but since he was currently upied speaking with Alpha Joseph, Liam was the next best thing.


    He squeezed my hand once before allowing himself to be pulled into their circle.


    ¡°Levi!¡± a couple of voices called out. Soon enough, a group came over and dragged Levi away. They were his friends from school, I recognized, and Levi could only toss me a quick look before he was entirely engulfed by them.


    Just like that, I found myself alone in the middle of my own wedding reception. I scanned the area, hoping to spot Leo among the guests. But he was nowhere to be seen.


    Sighing, I made my way to the bar. The bartender smiled as I approached.


    ¡°What can I get for the bride?¡±


    ¡°Something strong,¡± I replied with a tired smile.


    He nodded and quickly prepared a colorful cocktail, sliding it across the bar. ¡°Congrattions, Luna.¡±


    The title still felt strange to my ears. Three Alphas, one Luna. It was unprecedented, but then again, so was our entire situation.


    I picked up the drink, bringing it to my lips. Before I could take a sip, a hand reached out, plucking the ss from my fingers.

 Chapter 143: Island Escape

    <h4>Chapter 143: Chapter 143: Ind Escape</h4>


    A hand reached out, plucking the ss from my fingers just as I was about to take a sip. I turned, startled, to find Leo standing beside me with a raised eyebrow.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so, sweetheart,¡± he said, bringing the cocktail to his own lips and draining it in one swift motion.


    ¡°Leo! I was going to drink that,¡± I protested, watching as he set the empty ss back on the bar.


    His eyes fixed on mine with a mixture of concern and amusement. ¡°Did you forget something important?¡±


    I stared at him nkly for a moment before realization crashed over me. Pregnant. I was pregnant. Heat rushed to my face as I remembered that alcohol was off-limits now.


    ¡°Oh,¡± I said quietly, feeling foolish. ¡°Ipletely forgot.¡±


    Leo¡¯s expression softened. ¡°Good thing I was here then.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I said sincerely, grateful that he¡¯d stopped me before I made a mistake. ¡°I guess I¡¯m still getting used to the idea.¡±


    ¡°Understandable. You¡¯ve had a lot on your mind.¡± His eyes flicked to the dance floor, where guests continued to celebrate. ¡°Speaking of which, where have you been hiding? I looked for you earlier.¡±


    I shifted ufortably, aware that my absence had been noticed. ¡°I was just... around.¡±


    Leo snorted. ¡°Around? Try again, Hazel. You disappeared with the triplets for nearly an hour.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t think anyone would notice,¡± I admitted, unable to meet his eyes.


    ¡°I always notice when you¡¯re not in the room.¡± His voice dropped lower, more intimate. ¡°I find myself watching you whenever you¡¯re around.¡±


    My breath caught at the sincerity in his tone. Leo had always been difficult to read¡ªsarcastic and aloof one moment, unexpectedly warm the next. But right now, there was no mistaking the genuine emotion in his eyes.


    ¡°Leo...¡± I began, unsure what to say.


    He stepped closer, one hand settling on my waist. ¡°I couldn¡¯t help but notice all three of your husbands got to dance with you tonight.¡± His lips quirked up in a yful smile. ¡°Seems unfair that I didn¡¯t get a turn, being your fourth mate and all.¡±


    The tension between us broke, and I found myselfughing. ¡°Well, we can¡¯t have that, can we?¡± I took his hand and led him toward the dance floor. ¡°Come on then.¡±


    As Leo¡¯s arms encircled me, I couldn¡¯t help but notice how right it felt to be held by him. Different from the triplets, but no less powerful. We swayed together as the music yed, neither of us speaking for several moments.


    ¡°You look beautiful tonight,¡± he finally said, his eyes taking in my slightly disheveled appearance with a knowing look. ¡°Even if you do look thoroughly... celebrated.¡±


    I blushed furiously. ¡°Stop it.¡±


    His low chuckle vibrated against my chest where we pressed together. ¡°Just stating facts, sweetheart.¡±


    +++


    The next morning, we left Emberfang right at dawn.


    I stifled a yawn as I climbed aboard the yacht, still tired from the wedding festivities that had stretchedte into the night. After that, it had been hours of traveling. I hadn¡¯t slept properly throughout the journey.


    ¡°Coffee?¡± Liam appeared beside me, holding out a steaming travel mug.


    ¡°You¡¯re a lifesaver,¡± I said gratefully, taking the offered drink.


    Lucas and Liam were at the helm, going through pre-departure checks with focused efficiency. Levi was sprawled on one of the deck chairs, sunsses already in ce. And Leo stood at the railing, surveying the boat with what appeared to be reluctant admiration.


    ¡°First time on a yacht?¡± I asked, joining him.


    ¡°First time invited to the ¡®exclusive¡¯ Sullivan ind getaway too,¡± he replied, his tone casual but with an underlying edge. ¡°Funny how things change.¡±


    The engines roared to life, and soon we were cutting through the waves, leaving the maind behind. I sat next to Leo, enjoying the sea spray and sunshine. asionally, one of the triplets would join us, stealing a kiss or wrapping an arm around my shoulders before returning to whatever task had their attention.


    As we approached the private ind, I couldn¡¯t help but marvel at its beauty¡ªpristine beaches, lush greenery, and a stunning modern vi perched on a gentle slope.


    It was just how I remembered it.


    ¡°Impressed?¡± Leo asked, noting my wide-eyed expression.


    ¡°It¡¯s paradise,¡± I admitted. ¡°You¡¯ll understand what I mean when you see it.¡±


    As we docked, Leo let out a low whistle. ¡°I have to say, cousins, your family certainly knows how to unt their wealth.¡±


    Levi snorted. ¡°You¡¯re wee to head back to Emberfang if it¡¯s too much for you.¡±


    Before Leo could respond, Levi wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me against him. ¡°If you leave, my brothers and I would be more than happy to have some private time with our mate.¡±


    He leaned in, clearly intending to kiss me, when Leo¡¯s hand shot between us, pushing Levi back.


    ¡°Not happening,¡± Leo said firmly.


    I couldn¡¯t help butugh at their childish behavior. ¡°Boys, y nice.¡±


    A small staff greeted us at the dock¡ªa butler and two maids who efficiently collected our luggage. As they headed toward the vi with our bags, Liam pped his hands together.


    ¡°I say we hit the beach,¡± he suggested, blue eyes bright with excitement. ¡°It¡¯s almost sunset, perfect time for a beachside barbecue.¡±


    ¡°That sounds amazing,¡± I agreed enthusiastically.


    ¡°Everyone gets a job,¡± Lucas said, already organizing in his head. ¡°Levi, you¡¯re on drink duty. Liam can handle side dishes. I¡¯ll prep the meat. Leo...¡± He hesitated.


    ¡°I¡¯ll man the grill,¡± Leo offered, surprising everyone. ¡°I¡¯ve been cooking for myself since I was a kid. Unlike some people,¡± he added with a pointed look at the triplets, ¡°I didn¡¯t grow up with a personal chef.¡±


    ¡°And Hazel?¡± Liam asked.


    ¡°She can help me,¡± Leo said before anyone else could im me.


    Within an hour, the beach was transformed. Levi had set up a bar areaplete with non-alcoholic options for me. Liam was arranging a table with sds and sides. Lucas had finished seasoning various cuts of meat and was now supervising the fire pit that Leo was tending.


    I approached with a tter of vegetables for grilling. ¡°Where do you want these?¡±


    Leo nced up, the firelight casting interesting shadows across his face. ¡°Bring them here. I¡¯ll show you how it¡¯s done.¡±


    I set the tter beside the grill and picked up a skewer, beginning to arrange pieces of bell pepper, zhini, and mushroom.


    ¡°Not like that,¡± Leo said, shaking his head. ¡°You need to consider cooking times. Put the denser vegetables together so they cook evenly.¡±


    I frowned down at my skewer. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with how I¡¯m doing it?¡±


    Instead of answering, Leo stepped behind me. His chest pressed against my back as he reached around, his hands covering mine on the skewer. His warmth enveloped me, and I felt my breath catch in my throat.


    ¡°Let me show you,¡± he murmured, his breath tickling my ear as his body molded to mine.

 Chapter 144: Hot & Bothered

    <h4>Chapter 144: Chapter 144: Hot & Bothered</h4>


    Leo¡¯s body pressed against my back as he guided my hands, his fingers warm and firm over mine. The heat from the grill wasn¡¯t the only thing making my skin flush.


    ¡°Like this,¡± he murmured, his lips barely an inch from my ear. ¡°You need to arrange them by density. Mushrooms cook faster than peppers.¡±


    I tried to focus on the vegetables, but all I could think about was how his chest felt against my back, solid and warm. His hands dwarfed mine as he helped me thread the pieces onto the skewer.


    ¡°I¡¯ve worked in kitchens before,¡± I pointed out, trying to sound normal despite the flutter in my chest. ¡°I was a maid for years, remember?¡±


    Leo chuckled, the sound vibrating through his chest and into my back. ¡°Cooking and grilling are different beasts, sweetheart. Trust me on this one.¡±


    He adjusted my grip on the skewer, his fingers sliding between mine in a way that felt far more intimate than the simple act deserved. When he spoke again, his lips brushed the shell of my ear. I shivered when his breath danced across my skin.


    ¡°Hold it like this,¡± he whispered. ¡°Gentle but firm.¡±


    My breath hitched. Was he still talking about grilling? The double meaning wasn¡¯t lost on me, and from the smirk I could feel against my ear, it wasn¡¯t idental.


    ¡°Now you try,¡± he said, releasing my hands but keeping his body flush against mine.


    I fumbled with the next skewer, hyperaware of every point where our bodies touched. The vegetables kept slipping off as my usually steady hands trembled.


    ¡°I¡¯m usually better at this,¡± I mumbled, embarrassed.


    ¡°Are you?¡± His voice dropped lower, lips grazing the sensitive spot just below my ear. ¡°I bet you¡¯re good at a lot of things, Hazel.¡±


    Heat crawled across my skin that had nothing to do with the grill in front of us. I bit my lip to stifle a gasp when his hands settled on my hips.


    ¡°Let me help you focus,¡± he said, but his touch was doing exactly the opposite.


    His thumbs traced small circles at the small of my back as I attempted to finish another skewer. When I finallypleted it without dropping anything, I felt ridiculously proud.


    ¡°There you go,¡± he praised, his voice a low rumble. ¡°Now for the cement.¡±


    Leo guided my hand toward the grill, his chest pressed firmly against my back. The contact made me acutely aware of something hard pressing against my lower back. I nearly dropped the skewer into the mes.


    ¡°Careful now,¡± he warned, steadying my wrist. ¡°We don¡¯t want to ruin all your hard work.¡±


    I managed to ce the skewer on the grill, but when I tried to step back, Leo kept me in ce.


    ¡°We¡¯re not done yet,¡± he murmured, reaching for the tongs. ¡°You need to learn how to turn them at just the right time.¡±


    His free hand slid from my hip to my stomach, fingers sying wide across my abdomen. The possessive touch sent shivers up my spine, and I struggled to keep my breathing even.


    ¡°When do I turn them?¡± I asked, my voice embarrassingly breathy.


    ¡°When they¡¯re hot enough,¡± he replied, and I could hear the smirk in his voice. ¡°You have to be patient. Wait until they¡¯re sizzling.¡±


    As if to emphasize his point, Leo¡¯s lips found the curve where my neck met my shoulder¡ªright where a mating mark would go. The brief contact made me shiver violently, a soft gasp escaping my lips.


    ¡°Leo,¡± I whispered, not sure if I was asking him to stop or continue.


    He hummed against my skin, the vibration traveling down my spine. ¡°Just showing you the ropes, sweetheart.¡±


    I was about to reply when Levi¡¯s voice rang out across the beach.


    ¡°Hey! Is the food ready yet? We¡¯re starving over here!¡±


    Leo pulled back so quickly I nearly lost my bnce. The sudden absence of his warmth left me feeling strangely bereft. When I turned to look at him, his expression was calm and collected, as if he hadn¡¯t just been pressed against me, driving me crazy with his touch.


    ¡°Almost done,¡± he called back, shooting me a knowing smirk. ¡°Just giving Hazel some grilling pointers.¡±


    I gaped at him, amazed by how easily he¡¯d switched modes while I was still trying to calm my racing heart.


    ¡°Right,¡± I muttered, turning back to the grill with burning cheeks. ¡°Grilling pointers.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Leo murmured, just for my ears. ¡°We can continue your lessonter.¡±


    Within minutes, we carried tters of perfectly grilled meats and vegetables to the table. My hands still trembled slightly, and the throbbing between my legs made it hard to concentrate on anything else.


    ¡°This looks amazing,¡± Liam eximed as we set the food down.


    Lucas nodded in agreement, his eyes flicking between Leo and me with a hint of suspicion. ¡°You two work well together.¡±


    ¡°Hazel¡¯s a quick learner,¡± Leo replied smoothly, taking a seat across from me.


    Levi draped an arm around my shoulders as I sat down. ¡°You okay? You look flushed.¡±


    ¡°Just the heat from the grill,¡± I lied, avoiding Leo¡¯s gaze.


    The food was delicious¡ªtender meat and perfectly charred vegetables¡ªbut I could barely taste any of it. Every time Leo caught my eye, he¡¯d give me that infuriating smirk that made heat pool low in my belly. Whenever he reached for something across the table, his movements were deliberate, almost predatory, reminding me of how his hands had felt on my body.


    I shifted ufortably in my seat, crossing and uncrossing my legs to alleviate the persistent ache that refused to subside.


    ¡°I need to use the bathroom,¡± I finally announced, standing abruptly.


    ¡°Everything okay?¡± Liam asked, concern etched across his face.


    ¡°Fine! Just fine,¡± I assured him, perhaps too enthusiastically. ¡°Be right back.¡±


    I practically fled from the table, making my way to the vi as quickly as dignity would allow. Once inside, I located the nearest bathroom and pushed open the door, desperate for a moment alone topose myself.


    Before I could close it properly, a hand shot out, stopping the door. I gasped as Leo stepped inside, his tall frame filling the doorway.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± I demanded, backing up against the sink.


    Leo said nothing. He stepped forward, closing the distance between us. With one fluid motion, he reached behind me and locked the door. Then his lips came crashing down on mine in a passionate kiss.

 Chapter 145: Hungry For More

    <h4>Chapter 145: Chapter 145: Hungry For More</h4>


    (Trigger Warning: This Chapter contains explicit content and is intended for mature readers.)


    His lips crashed against mine with a hunger that stole my breath. My back pressed against the cold porcin sink as Leo¡¯s body caged me in. The small bathroom suddenly felt even smaller with his tall frame filling every inch of space around me.


    ¡°Leo,¡± I gasped when he finally let me breathe. ¡°What are you¡ª¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t y coy now, sweetheart,¡± he murmured against my lips, his voice rough with desire. ¡°You¡¯ve been squirming in your seat all through dinner.¡±


    Heat flooded my cheeks. ¡°The triplets are right outside.¡±


    A wicked smile curved his lips. ¡°That just makes it more exciting, doesn¡¯t it?¡±


    His hands slid down to grip my waist, lifting me effortlessly onto the edge of the sink. I squeaked at the sudden movement, and he pressed a finger to my lips.


    ¡°Shh,¡± he warned, eyes glinting with mischief. ¡°Unless you want your other mates to hear exactly what we¡¯re doing in here.¡±


    My heart hammered against my ribs as Leo wedged himself between my thighs. The position was intimate, our bodies pressed flush together in the cramped bathroom. His hands skimmed up my sides, taking my shirt with them.


    ¡°Arms up,¡± hemanded softly.


    I hesitated, suddenly shy despite the fire burning beneath my skin. ¡°This is our first time together.¡±


    Leo¡¯s expression softened marginally. ¡°I know. And I promise to make it good for you.¡±


    His gentleness surprised me, but it vanished as quickly as it had appeared, reced by that familiar sarcastic smirk.


    ¡°Now, are you going to keep talking, or are you going to let me show you what I can do?¡±


    I lifted my arms, letting him pull my shirt over my head. The cool air hit my skin, raising goosebumps across my flesh. Leo¡¯s gaze darkened as he took in the sight of me in just my bra.


    ¡°Beautiful,¡± he muttered, almost reluctantly.


    His fingers traced the edge of my bra, teasing the sensitive skin beneath. I bit my lip to hold back a moan when his thumb grazed my nipple through the thin fabric.


    ¡°Remember how I showed you to handle those vegetables earlier?¡± Leo whispered, his breath hot against my ear. ¡°Gentle but firm.¡±


    To demonstrate, he squeezed my breast, his touch exactly that¡ªgentle but firm. A whimper escaped my lips before I could stop it.


    ¡°Too loud,¡± he admonished, though his eyes glinted with satisfaction. ¡°What would your triplets think if they heard you moaning for me?¡±


    The reminder that Lucas, Liam, and Levi were just outside sent a forbidden thrill through me. This was insane. This was reckless. And yet, I couldn¡¯t bring myself to stop.


    Leo¡¯s hands moved to the button of my shorts, deftly popping it open. ¡°Lift your hips.¡±


    I obeyed, allowing him to tug my shorts and underwear down in one swift motion. The cool porcin against my bare skin made me gasp.


    ¡°Now for the fun part,¡± Leo murmured, his hands sliding up my now-naked thighs. ¡°Remember what I said about timing? About waiting until things are sizzling?¡±


    His fingers inched higher, stopping just short of where I needed him most. I squirmed, trying to guide his hand where I wanted it.


    ¡°Patience,¡± he chided, echoing his earlier lesson. ¡°Good thingse to those who wait.¡±


    ¡°Leo,¡± I pleaded, past caring how desperate I sounded.


    He finally relented, his fingers finding my center. I gasped at the contact, my head falling back against the mirror.


    ¡°Already so wet for me,¡± he remarked, circling my clit with expert precision. ¡°I barely had to touch you.¡±


    My hips bucked against his hand as pleasure built within me. Leo¡¯s free hand came up to cover my mouth when a moan threatened to escape.


    ¡°Remember where we are,¡± he warned, his voice strained with his own restraint.


    Outside, I could hear faintughter¡ªthe triplets, still at the dinner table,pletely unaware of what was happening just yards away. The knowledge should have made me stop, but instead, it heightened every sensation.


    Leo withdrew his hand suddenly, leaving me aching and empty. Before I could protest, he was unbuckling his belt, shoving his pants down just enough to free himself. The sight of him, hard and ready, made my mouth go dry.


    ¡°Are you sure about this?¡± he asked, a rare moment of genuine concern breaking through his usual sarcasm.


    ¡°Yes,¡± I breathed, reaching for him. ¡°Please, Leo.¡±


    He stepped closer, positioning himself at my entrance. Our eyes locked as he pushed forward slowly, filling me inch by delicious inch. The stretch burned slightly, but the fullness was exquisite.


    ¡°Fuck,¡± Leo hissed when he was fully seated within me. He paused there for a minute, getting used to the sensation. I clenched around him in impatience, drawing a rough groan from his throat. ¡°You feel perfect.¡±


    He began to move, each thrust careful but deep. The sink creaked beneath us, and Leo ced a steadying hand on the wall behind me.


    ¡°Not a word,¡± he reminded me, his other hand covering my mouth again as pleasure threatened to make me cry out.


    His pace quickened, each thrust hitting that spot inside me that made stars explode behind my eyelids. I clung to his shoulders, nails digging into his skin through his shirt.


    ¡°That¡¯s it, sweetheart,¡± he encouraged, his voice a rough whisper. ¡°Take what you need.¡±


    Leo dipped his head, his lips finding my neck. His teeth grazed the sensitive spot where a mate mark would go, and my entire body tensed with anticipation. For a breathless moment, I thought he might actually do it.


    Instead, he pulled back, a sh of something unreadable in his eyes.


    ¡°Not yet,¡± he murmured, more to himself than to me.


    The denial left me frustrated, even as pleasure continued to build within me. Each time Leo¡¯s lips returned to my neck, he would graze the spot with his canines but never bite down. It was maddening¡ªbeing brought to the edge only to be denied.


    ¡°Leo, please,¡± I begged, not even sure what I was asking for anymore.


    He seemed to understand, though. His hand slid between our bodies, finding my clit again. The dual stimtion was overwhelming, pushing me rapidly toward the edge.


    ¡°Come for me,¡± hemanded, circling the sensitive bundle of nerves. ¡°But silently. Not a sound, Hazel.¡±


    The challenge in his eyes pushed me over the edge. I buried my face against his shoulder to muffle my cries as waves of pleasure crashed through me. My inner walls mped down on him, pulsing around his length.


    Leo¡¯s rhythm faltered as my release triggered his own. His teeth clenched, jaw tight with the effort of staying silent as he found hispletion within me. For a moment, his forehead pressed against mine, ourbored breaths mingling in the small space between us.


    Then his lips brushed mine, surprisingly gentlepared to the intensity of our coupling. The tender gesture felt almost more intimate than what we¡¯d just shared.


    ¡°Worth the wait?¡± he asked, that familiar sarcasm creeping back into his voice, though it was softened by the lingering pleasure.


    Before I could answer, a knock on the door made us both freeze.


    Leo¡¯s eyes met mine, a wicked smile spreading across his face as he rolled his hips once more, still buried deep inside me. My breath caught in my throat as pleasure sparked through my oversensitive body.

 Chapter 146: Finding Home

    <h4>Chapter 146: Chapter 146: Finding Home</h4>


    The knock startled us back to reality. Leo¡¯s eyes widened slightly before that familiar smirk returned to his face.


    ¡°Hazel? Leo? Everything okay in there?¡± It was Liam¡¯s voice, tinged with concern.


    ¡°Just a minute!¡± I called out, my voice embarrassingly high-pitched. I scrambled off the sink, wincing at the slight soreness between my legs.


    Leo watched with amusement as I frantically pulled on my underwear and shorts. ¡°Rx, sweetheart. They already know what we were doing.¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t make it better!¡± I hissed, yanking my shirt over my head. My cheeks burned hotter than a summer bonfire.


    Leo casually adjusted his clothing, looking irritatinglyposed while I probably looked like I¡¯d been caught in a tornado. He ran his fingers through his dark hair once, and somehow it fell perfectly into ce.


    ¡°Your hair,¡± he murmured, reaching out to smooth my wild blonde strands. His touch was surprisingly gentle, a stark contrast to his usual sarcasm.


    Another knock, more insistent this time. ¡°Guys? Should we be worried?¡± This time it was Lucas.


    Leo rolled his eyes and moved toward the door. ¡°Ready to face the music, sweetheart?¡±


    I nodded, trying to look more dignified than I felt. Leo swung the door open to reveal all three Sullivan brothers standing in the hallway, each wearing a different expression.


    Lucas leaned against the wall with arms crossed, a knowing smirk ying on his lips. Liam stood slightly behind him, cheeks flushed pink with embarrassment, looking everywhere but directly at us. And then there was Levi, eyes wide and hands clutching his hair as if he might rip it out.


    ¡°Oh my God,¡± Levi wailed dramatically. ¡°You didn¡¯t! In our bathroom? Our sacred bathroom space?¡±


    Leo stepped out,pletely unfazed. ¡°It¡¯s a bathroom, not a temple, Sullivan.¡±


    ¡°But¡ªbut¡ª¡± Levi sputtered, looking genuinely distressed. ¡°We brush our teeth in there!¡±


    Lucas couldn¡¯t contain hisughter anymore. ¡°Levi, I¡¯m pretty sure they weren¡¯t doing anything on your toothbrush.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know that!¡± Levi pointed usingly at Leo. ¡°He looks like the type who would defile innocent oral hygiene products!¡±


    Liam finally looked up, patting his younger brother¡¯s shoulder sympathetically, though I could see the amusement dancing in his eyes. ¡°I think you¡¯re overreacting a bit.¡±


    I stood frozen in the doorway, mortification rooting me to the spot. This was somehow worse than if they¡¯d just been angry.


    ¡°If it helps,¡± Leo said with that infuriating nonchnce, ¡°we were very careful not to make a mess.¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t help!¡± Levi cried, dropping to his knees in mock despair. ¡°I¡¯ll never be able to pee in peace again!¡±


    Lucas and Liam burst outughing at their brother¡¯s theatrics. Lucas reached down to haul Levi back to his feet. ¡°Come on, drama queen. Let¡¯s go finish dinner.¡±


    As they turned to head back to the dining room, Leo threw me a quick grin that made my heart flutter stupidly in my chest. In that brief moment, I caught a glimpse of genuine happiness behind his usually guarded expression.


    ¡°Youing, sweetheart?¡± he called over his shoulder.


    I hurried after them, my embarrassment gradually fading as I watched the four men banter. Something about the scene¡ªthe way they interacted despite their different personalities¡ªmade warmth bloom in my chest.


    After dinner, I found myself standing at the sink beside Liam, washing dishes while the others cleared the table. Through the kitchen window, I could see Lucas sitting on the porch with hisptop, while Leo and Levi were down by the water¡¯s edge, apparently arguing about something.


    ¡°Levi¡¯s really giving Leo an earful,¡± Liam chuckled, nodding toward the pair.


    I smiled, watching as Levi gestured wildly while Leo stood with his hands in his pockets, looking utterly unbothered. ¡°I think Leo enjoys winding him up.¡±


    ¡°Probably.¡± Liam handed me a te to dry. ¡°So... things with Leo seem to be going well.¡±


    My cheeks warmed at his knowing tone. ¡°Yeah, they are. He¡¯s... not what I expected.¡±


    ¡°In a good way?¡±


    I nodded, unable to stop my smile. ¡°In a good way. Everything¡¯s been wonderful, actually. Being here with all of you... I never thought my life would turn out like this.¡±


    Liam¡¯s expression softened. ¡°You deserve it, Hazel. After everything you¡¯ve been through, you deserve to be happy.¡±


    Outside, Levi had now tackled Leo onto the sand, though Leo barely seemed fazed by the assault. Lucas nced up from hisptop, shaking his head at their antics but making no move to intervene.


    ¡°Look at them,¡± Liam said,ughing. ¡°I think Levi¡¯s finally warming up to having Leo around. They actually seem pretty tight now.¡±


    I raised an eyebrow. ¡°You think? Because it looks like Levi¡¯s trying to bury him in sand right now.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s how Levi shows affection,¡± Liam exined with a grin. ¡°Trust me, if he didn¡¯t like Leo, he wouldn¡¯t bother engaging with him at all.¡±


    As I watched more closely, I could see the truth in Liam¡¯s words. Despite Levi¡¯s apparent frustration, there was no real anger in his actions, and Leo was actually smiling¡ªa rare, genuine smile that transformed his usually stoic face.


    ¡°I think you¡¯re right,¡± I admitted, feeling a swell of happiness at seeing them get along.


    We finished the dishes just as the sun began to set, painting the sky in brilliant shades of orange and pink. Liam dried his hands on a towel and nudged my shoulder. ¡°Come on, we¡¯ve got a surprise for you.¡±


    Outside, the others hadid out nkets on the sand. Lucas patted the space beside him, and I settled down between him and Levi. Leo sat on Levi¡¯s other side, looking uncharacteristically rxed.


    ¡°What¡¯s the surprise?¡± I asked, snuggling closer to Lucas as the evening breeze picked up.


    ¡°Wait for it,¡± Lucas murmured, his arm wrapping around my shoulders.


    A few minutester, the first firework exploded across the darkening sky, a burst of red and gold that reflected on the water below. I gasped in delight as more followed, creating a dazzling disy above us.


    ¡°How did you arrange this?¡± I asked, turning to look at Lucas.


    He smiled, the colors from the sky dancing across his face. ¡°I have connections.¡±


    ¡°He means he paid an obscene amount of money to get permits for a private fireworks show,¡± Levi tranted, grinning.


    ¡°Worth every penny,¡± Lucas replied simply, his eyes on me rather than the spectacle above.


    I nestled deeper into Levi¡¯s arms as he pulled me closer, his warmth enveloping me against the cooling night air. On his other side, Leo watched the fireworks with quiet appreciation, asionally exchangingments with Lucas over our heads.


    The moment felt perfect¡ªsurrounded by my mates, watching the sky light up in celebration of nothing in particr except maybe our happiness. If someone had told me a year ago that I would end up here, loved by four men who once made my life miserable, I would haveughed in their face.


    But now, as I looked around at each of them¡ªLucas with his quiet strength, Liam with his gentle warmth, Levi with his yful spirit, and Leo with his reluctant loyalty¡ªI couldn¡¯t imagine being anywhere else.


    For the first time in my life, I truly felt like I belonged. After years of feeling unwanted, of being pushed aside and mistreated, I had finally found my ce in the world.


    I had finally found my home in my mates.


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