Chapter 2: The Unseen Rules

 

The morning sun streamed through the large glass wall of the bedroom, waking Lalisa from a restless sleep. She blinked several times to adjust her eyes to the brightness before pushing herself up to sit on the bed. The memories from yesterday slowly flooded back, making her heart feel heavy once more.

The ‘no locking the door’ rule was still like a large fishbone stuck in her throat. It wasn’t just a rule written on a plaque; it was a symbol of a complete invasion of her personal space. It was a clear declaration that in this place, nothing truly belonged to her. Every square inch of this penthouse was their territory, and she herself was merely a part of that territory.

After showering and changing into a comfortable light-blue cotton dress, Lalisa walked out of her bedroom. The fragrant aroma of coffee and toast hit her nose, making her stomach rumble softly. When she reached the kitchen, she saw Kline making coffee at the marble counter, with Seren leaning against it beside her, a glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice in her hand.

“You’re awake, Liz,” Kline turned and smiled at her. Her smile was as warm as ever. “Did you sleep well last night?”

“Yes… I slept well,” Lalisa told a huge lie. She didn’t want them to know she had been so paranoid she’d barely slept a wink.

“You’re a terrible liar,” Seren said, sipping her orange juice. Her dark brown eyes looked at Lalisa knowingly. “With dark circles like that, you must have been too excited about the new house to sleep.”

Seren’s words made Lalisa’s face flush. She instinctively raised a hand to touch the skin under her eyes.

“Don’t tease Liz, Seren,” Kline gently chided her friend before handing a freshly brewed cup of coffee to Lalisa. “Have some coffee. The toast is on the table. Kieran went for a run at dawn, she should be back soon.”

Lalisa took the coffee cup. The warmth from the ceramic helped to warm her cold hands. She walked over to the large dining table where a single plate of buttered toast and jam was placed. The morning atmosphere in the penthouse was quiet and relaxed, but Lalisa felt like she was sitting on a knife’s edge. She could feel Seren’s eyes on her, unblinking. It was an intense and curious gaze, like a predator observing its prey.

Before long, the front door opened, and Kieran appeared. Her tall, broad figure was clad in tight-fitting workout clothes, drenched in sweat, revealing every muscle in sharp detail. The scent of her cedarwood pheromones mixed with sweat instantly intensified the atmosphere in the room. It was a powerful and strangely arousing scent for an Omega like Lalisa.

“You’re back,” Kline greeted her.

Kieran nodded in acknowledgment before walking straight to the dining table. She didn’t sit down, but stopped behind Lalisa’s chair. Her large, damp hands rested on the back of the chair on either side, trapping Lalisa in the small space between her arms and the table.

“Have you had breakfast?” Kieran asked in a flat voice, but her warm breath on Lalisa’s cheek sent shivers down her spine.

“I… I was about to,” Lalisa replied, her voice trembling. She tried to move away, but could only do so slightly as her back was pressed against the chair.

Kieran leaned in closer, until Lalisa could smell her sweat and pheromones more clearly. Her sharp nose deliberately brushed past Lalisa’s hair as she took a deep breath of the white rose and vanilla scent.

“Smells good,” Kieran murmured in a low voice, before straightening up and walking towards her bedroom, leaving Lalisa frozen in place. Her heart was pounding as if it would leap out of her chest. Kieran’s action just now was a clear marking of territory, a branding with scent to let the Omega know who the owner was.

Throughout the day, Lalisa tried to act as normal as possible. She helped Kline organize the things the shipping company delivered in the late morning, which were mostly her books and personal belongings. Seeing familiar items helped her feel a little more at home, but the feeling didn’t last long.

In the afternoon, while Lalisa was arranging books on a shelf in the living room, Seren came and plopped down on the sofa next to her. She pretended to pick up a book to look at, but her eyes were fixed on Lalisa’s smooth white thighs, which were visible below the hem of her skirt as she squatted.

“You like to read?” Seren started a conversation.

“Hmm, well… I read from time to time,” Lalisa replied without turning to look.

“And… what else do you like to do?” Seren asked, her voice laced with innuendo.

Lalisa paused for a moment, then pretended not to hear and continued arranging the books. But she jumped when she felt a warm touch lightly stroking her inner thigh.

“Seren!” Lalisa whipped her head around in shock.

Seren just smirked. Her hand was still on Lalisa’s thigh, not moving any further, but not pulling away either. “What’s wrong? You’re surprised by just this?”

“Don’t do this,” Lalisa said in a firm voice, trying to push Seren’s hand away, but Seren grabbed her hand tightly.

“Why not?” Seren raised an eyebrow. “Don’t you like it?”

Her dark brown eyes stared deep into Lalisa’s, as if searching for an answer from the depths of her soul. Lalisa’s mouth fell open, speechless. A whirlwind of emotions churned inside her—anger, shame, and a disgusting excitement as her body responded to the Alpha’s touch uncontrollably.

“That’s enough, Seren,” Kieran’s voice came from the other side of the room. She was leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching them with a neutral expression that held an authority that made Seren finally release Lalisa’s hand.

Seren shrugged nonchalantly before getting up and walking away, leaving Lalisa alone with Kieran.

“There are some rules here that you need to learn, Liz,” Kieran said after Seren was gone. “Rules that aren’t written on a plaque.”

Lalisa looked up at Kieran, confused.

“Rule number one,” Kieran began to explain, slowly and clearly. “Everything in this house is shared… including you.”

Kieran’s words were like a sledgehammer to Lalisa’s heart. Even though she had been prepared for it, hearing it so clearly from the group’s leader left her speechless.

“Rule number two,” Kieran continued, ignoring Lalisa’s expression. “We will take care of you and protect you to the best of our ability. But at the same time, you must obey and do as we say without argument.”

“…”

“And the last rule… the most important one.” Kieran walked closer, stopping right in front of Lalisa and leaning down until their faces were inches apart. “Don’t try to hide your feelings from us. Not your happiness, your sadness, your anger, or even… your desires. Because we can see right through them anyway.”

Kieran’s grey eyes held Lalisa captive, as if under a spell. She felt as if she were naked before this Alpha, both body and soul.

“Do you understand what I’m saying?” Kieran asked for emphasis.

Lalisa could only nod slowly in surrender.

“Very good.” Kieran smiled for the first time. It was a cold smile, but it made Lalisa’s heart tremble violently. “Then be a good girl, and you will be very happy in this gilded cage.”

With that, Kieran straightened up and walked away, leaving Lalisa sitting there alone. Kieran’s words echoed in her head. “Gilded cage.” What a fitting description for her situation right now. This place was beautiful, luxurious, and safe, but at the same time, it was a prison that would confine her freedom forever.

These unseen rules had now been officially declared, and Lalisa had no choice but to accept and follow them unconditionally. Because this was the fate she had chosen, the path she had to walk as the sole, precious property of the three Alphas.