Chapter 3: Alpha’s Banquet

Bailey's Pov:

Bailey stepped into the packhouse. Her clothes were still damp from the rain. The foyer was empty. The rest of the pack was busy preparing for the Alpha’s banquet.

She hurried toward the servant staircase. She just needed to change her clothes before the head maid found her.

"Hey, stray."

Bailey froze. The voice came from the second-floor landing.

Zayn leaned over the banister. His shirt was completely unbuttoned. His dark hair was a messy, chaotic halo around his face. He held a half-empty glass of amber liquor.

"Come up here," Zayn commanded. His voice was thick and raspy.

Bailey’s wolf whimpered. "I have chores, Zayn."

"I said come here." The Alpha tone slipped into his words. It left her no choice. Her feet moved against her will. She climbed the stairs slowly. Her heart hammered a frantic rhythm in her chest.

She reached the landing. Zayn did not move back. He stood blocking the hallway.

A high-pitched giggle echoed from his open bedroom door.

Bailey glanced past his shoulder. A gorgeous blonde girl was sitting on Zayn’s unmade bed. She was wearing nothing but one of Zayn's oversized flannel shirts. Lexi, a high-ranking warrior's daughter.

Lexi glared at Bailey. "Zayn, why is the Omega here? Tell it to leave."

Zayn did not look at Lexi. His dark, predatory eyes stayed locked on Bailey. He took a slow sip of his drink.

"Get out, Lexi," Zayn said softly.

"What?" Lexi gasped. She stood up. "But we were just..."

"I told you to get out." Zayn’s voice dropped.

Lexi paled. She scrambled off the bed. She gathered her clothes in her arms and practically ran down the hallway. She shoved her shoulder hard into Bailey’s chest as she passed.

Bailey stumbled. Her back hit the wall.

Zayn stepped forward. He closed the distance between them in two long strides. He slammed his hand against the wall right next to Bailey’s head.

Her breath hitched. She pressed herself flat against the wallpaper.

Zayn leaned in close. His chest brushed against hers. The heat radiating off his body was burning through her damp clothes.

"You look like trash," Zayn murmured. His eyes dropped to her lips.

"Let me go to my room," Bailey whispered. Her voice trembled.

"You challenged Chloe today." Zayn tilted his head. His nose grazed her cheek. He took a deep, dragging breath of her scent. "You told her she could have Hudson. You acted so brave."

"It was the truth."

"Liar." Zayn moved his hand. His thumb brushed against her lower lip. A terrifying spark of electricity shot through Bailey’s veins. Her wolf howled inside her chest. She wanted to lean into his touch. The mate bond was waking up early.

Zayn leaned closer. His lips were millimeters from hers. She could feel his hot breath on her mouth. Her eyes fluttered shut. She anticipated the kiss. She wanted it.

A cruel, mocking laugh erupted from Zayn’s chest.

He shoved her away. Bailey stumbled and fell hard onto the hardwood floor.

"Look at you," Zayn sneered. His eyes flashed with cold amusement and deep disgust. "Trembling for an Alpha. Begging for a touch. You really are a pathetic, desperate Omega. Did you honestly think I would put my mouth on dirty trash?"

Tears burned Bailey’s eyes. She scrambled to her feet. She did not say a word. She turned and ran down the servant stairs as fast as her legs could carry her.

Zayn’s laughter echoed off the walls. It followed her all the way to the basement.

Bailey slammed the door to her tiny, windowless room. She slid down the wood and pulled her knees to her chest. Her whole body was shaking. Her hands trembled so much she could barely wipe the tears from her face.

A sharp knock rattled her door.

"Bailey!" Martha, the head maid screamed. "Get up. Your little friend is waiting by the kitchen entrance. And put on a clean uniform. The Alpha guests are arriving."

Bailey forced herself to stand. She splashed cold water on her face. She changed into her worn-out black uniform and tied her apron tight.

She walked into the chaotic kitchen. Rhea was standing by the back door. She held a small, poorly wrapped square box.

"Happy early birthday," Rhea whispered. She hugged Bailey tight. "I know midnight is hours away, but I wanted to give you this before the Alphas take over the house."

"Thank you, Rhea." Bailey held back a sob.

"Hey." Rhea pulled back and looked at Bailey's red eyes. "What did they do to you?"

"Nothing," Bailey lied. She shoved the box into her apron pocket. "I just need to get through tonight."

"Get out there with the appetizers, Omega." The head chef threw a heavy silver tray into Bailey’s hands.

Bailey pushed through the swinging kitchen doors. The grand ballroom was packed. Dozens of Alphas and Lunas from neighboring territories stood in clusters. The music was loud. The smell of expensive perfumes and roasted meats was overwhelming.

Bailey kept her eyes fixed on the floor. She moved like a ghost.

"Watch it, stray," a visiting Beta spat as Bailey walked past.

"Disgusting. Why do they let the Omegas serve the food?" a Luna whispered loudly to her mate.

Bailey ignored them. She prayed to the Moon Goddess for the night to end. She just needed to reach midnight. She just needed to turn eighteen and leave.

A loud gong sounded through the room. The music stopped abruptly.

The crowd parted. The Blood Moon Alpha stood at the top of the grand staircase. Behind him stood the triplets. Hudson, Zayn, and Beckett. They wore tailored black suits. They looked like dark, beautiful gods.

Bailey stood frozen near the main table. She clutched her silver tray.

The clock in the corner began to chime. It was midnight.

A massive, overwhelming wave of power hit the room.

Bailey gasped. The silver tray slipped from her hands. It crashed onto the marble floor. Glass shattered everywhere.

The scent of pine, cedar, and rain exploded in the air. It was a violent storm of Alpha pheromones. Bailey fell to her knees. Her wolf clawed at her ribs.

Mate. Mate. Mate.

She looked up.

At the top of the stairs, all three triplets froze.

Hudson gripped the railing so hard the wood splintered. Zayn dropped his glass. Beckett’s eyes flared bright, luminous gold.

They were all looking straight at her.

The entire ballroom went dead silent. The realization hit the crowd. The Alpha triplets shared a mate. And it was the lowest Omega in the pack.

"No." A shrill scream shattered the silence.

Chloe shoved her way through the crowd. Her face was twisted in pure, unhinged rage. She grabbed a heavy glass pitcher of ice water from the main table.

She hurled the water straight at Bailey. The heavy glass clipped Bailey’s forehead. The freezing water soaked her. Blood dripped down her temple.

"You filthy whore," Chloe shrieked. She pointed a manicured finger at Bailey.

"You cursed them. She is using dark magic. Look at her. She planned this. She is trying to steal our Alphas."

The crowd erupted in angry murmurs. People stepped closer, boxing Bailey in.

"I didn't," Bailey cried. She held her bleeding forehead. She looked up at the stairs. She looked at her mates.

Hudson stalked down the stairs. His face was a mask of absolute fury. His Alpha aura flooded the room. It forced several wolves to their knees. It crushed the air out of Bailey’s lungs.

He stopped right in front of her. He looked down at her bleeding face. There was no pity in his eyes. Only hatred.

"You really thought a cheap parlor trick would make me want you?" Hudson’s voice boomed through the ballroom.

"Hudson, please," Bailey choked out. The mate bond was screaming for him to comfort her.

Hudson sneered. He took a step back. He made sure every single wolf in the room could hear his next words.

"I, Alpha Hudson of the Blood Moon Pack, reject you, Bailey. I reject you as my fated mate. I reject you as a member of this pack. You are nothing to me."

The rejection tore through Bailey’s chest. She screamed. Blood spilled from her lips. The pain was unbearable.

She did not wait for Zayn or Beckett to finish the job. She scrambled to her feet. She pushed past a stunned Rhea. She shoved open the heavy ballroom doors and ran into the pitch-black, freezing woods.

Footsteps pounded the earth behind her. A massive, terrifying wolf howl ripped through the night sky.

They were coming for her.