Mate

Barbara's Pov 

Tristan's grip tightened around my throat but not enough to choke me, just enough to remind me he could.

The cold brick wall pressed against my back as his gray eyes burned into me. Up close, they were even more terrifying like storm clouds about to break.

“Barbara BlueMoon,” he repeated slowly.

Who the hell is Barbara BlueMoon? My name is Barbara Wilson.

Before I could correct him, Geoffrey barked out a laugh. “Well, that's interesting.”

Jeremiah leaned casually against the wall beside us, his golden hair shining under the sunlight. Unlike Tristan, his expression was rather than murderous. 

“Looks like our brother finally lost it,” Jeremiah said lazily. “Her name's not BlueMoon, Tristan.”

Tristan didn't even glance at him. His eyes never left mine. Something strange flickered across his face. Confusion? Anger? Recognition? I couldn't tell.

“You smell different,” he murmured.

My heart slammed violently in my chest.

I smell different. Of course, he could tell. He was a werewolf. 

I swallowed nervously. “I… think you have the wrong person.”

The moment those words left my lips, something strange happened. A sudden heat spread through my chest. It felt like an invisible thread had snapped right inside me. 

My breath hitched, not just because of what it meant. But because Tristan felt it too. 

I saw it in his eyes.

His pupils dilated sharply and for one second, his grip loosened. 

“What the hell…” he muttered under his breath, his expression turned furious.

Geoffrey straightened immediately. “What is it?”

Tristan stepped closer to me. The heat between us intensified and became almost painful. My heart was racing so fat I thought I might pass out. 

“Mate,” Tristan whispered.

Geoffrey's smirk vanished. Jeremiah stopped leaning against the wall. Both of them stared at me.

“No,” Geoffrey said flatly.

Jeremiah shook his head slowly. “That's impossible.”

My brain struggled to catch up with the conversation.

Mate? 

But mate meant…

Oh no. 

“Yes,” I said quickly. “You're right. That's impossible.”

I was a human. There was no way on earth I'd be mated to a werewolf. The Moon Goddess isn't that funny.

Tristan's jaw tightened. He leaned forward again, his voice dropping into a dangerous growl. “You don't think I know my mate?”

The word echoed loudly in my head. 

My chest burned again. The strange invisible pull between us grew stronger and then Jeremiah stepped forward. His golden eyes met mine. And suddenly, the same heat exploded in my chest again. 

Jeremiah froze. His expression changed instantly. His expression changed instantly. “... no way.” 

Geoffrey frowned. “What?”

Jeremiah slowly turned towards him. “You might want to come closer.”

Geoffrey rolled his eyes but stepped forward anyways. The moment he got close enough, it happened again. The bond snapped in place. His entire body went still. For several seconds none of them spoke. 

Then Geoffrey whispered the only word that made sense. “We don't share mates.”

Jeremiah rubbed his face slowly. “Triplets almost never do.”

Geoffrey stared at me like I had personally insulted his bloodline. “We never do.”

“I'm not who you're looking for. Let me go.” I struggled against Tristan's grip. 

Tristan's lips curled into a mischievous grin. “Really?”

“Yes!” 

When he leaned in, I shrugged. This time, his grip loosened so I used it as an opportunity to escape. I gave him a shove and when he leaned back, I bolted.

After a minute of full-speed running, my heart’s palpitations skyrocketed into an irregular rhythm.

I stopped at the corner of the third tower to catch my breath. My palm clutched my chest as sweat broke over my brows.

Breathe in. Blow out.

Inhale. Exhale.

My nails dug into my chest over SMA’s logo as I exited the building and headed.to the back garden.

With every step I took into the cut grass, a sliver of panic lodged deep within. 

Who were those triplets and why did they call me their mate? That's impossible. Humans and werewolves can't be mates, much less three at a time.

The pain in my chest was like tiny needles, tirelessly prickling my heart, even when I walked as slow as possible. My heart condition couldn’t relapse.

It simply couldn’t.

Being able to run again didn’t come easily after the surgery. There were only rehabilitations and a complete change in my lifestyle.

I reached into my jacket pocket in hopes of looking for medicine.

I couldn't find it.

My panic worsened as I frantically searched for it. It wasn't there at all.

A gentle breeze whooshed past me and I froze. 

There was something in my pocket now. 

Slowly, I reached my hand into my pocket and that's where I found a piece of paper that said : 

“Come to the SilverMoon Dorm tonight if you still want to live — Tristan.”

A muffled curse escaped me and in that moment I realized one thing : coming to SilverMoon Academy was the worst mistake of my life.

****

I don't usually act reckless but right now, life gives me no choice.

I'd sworn to stay away from werewolves and keep myself as invisible as possible. But that itself is impossible now because three Alpha's, triplets for that matter, think I'm their mate.

After settling in my dorm room, I couldn't wait to meet my roommate. I had to rush to the SilverMoon Dorm to find Tristan and get back my medicine. I would've ignored it if it weren't important but my life depended on it. Literally. 

I asked around for the Dorm's location and was told it was a single building east of the campus. How convenient.

I tried not to faint as I trekked to it.

I watched two tall boys wearing the school's football jersey. One of them mentioned Tristan as they walked towards the dormitory. And I was just curious about where they were headed. Probably his room.

“Do you think Tristan will join the team again?” The burly looking student on the left asked his friend.

The other guy gave a careless shrug. “I have no clue. I'm just here to remind him like you are.”

“Ugh! Making us do all the work. That SilverMoon son of a bitch!” the burly one cursed.

“SilverMoon… where have I heard that name?” I muttered to myself.

Curiosity got the best of me and the next thing I knew, I was following them. 

I couldn't get past the regal mahogany doors they walked through but I pressed my ears to it, hoping I'd listen to whatever it was they were saying. Despite my effort, it all came out muffled.

I tried peeking through the keyhole to see what was happening inside when I felt myself floating off the floor. The door in front of me clicked open and I was shoved inside.

A groan escaped me as I landed on the floor with a light thud. 

A hiss escaped me as I whipped around to see who had the nerve to toss me in here like a sack of potatoes. When our gazes locked, the rest of the words got stuck in my throat.

“T - Tristan?” 

“Who is this girl and what is she doing here, Alpha Tristan?” The burly guy I'd met from earlier asked, his eyes widened in surprise. Had I walked in on something important? Well, not walking. I was flung into the room.

I expected Tristan to lie but he smirked.

“Yes, I do.” He held my gaze, daring me to look away. “You came. I thought you'd cave and run away like a little mouse.” 

“I'm not a mouse. I'm a —” I stopped myself from saying ‘human’ just in time. 

That was close!

“You're a what?” Tristan arched a brow as he took a step closer.

I flinched and suddenly wished the ground would open and swallow me whole. What was I thinking following these guys here? There were literal werewolves. I could've easily lied to Aunt Kathy that I lost my medicine and had her refill it for me. Why didn't I think of that?! 

“I'm a wolf.” The lie easily leaves my lips the same way it has for the past 18 years.

Tristan narrowed his eyes then spine in a deep aristocratic voice I never thought he'd have. “You do know what you're here for, right?”  

I blinked twice before nodding softly.

“Then you know the repercussions of your actions then.” He declared in a low, commanding voice that shot a shiver down my spine. 

Repercussions? What repercussions?

I noticed the stern looks on the other student's faces and I realized I had fucked up. Big time.

Dear Goddess!

The students turned towards me, their faces pinched. 

The burly student with curly brown hair drizzling down his shoulders, observed me with interest. There was something peculiar about his green eyes that made me want to ask where he got his contacts. 

The guy standing next to him stared at me with concern.

Tristan's eyes darkened and so did his tone. “You've broken one of my unbreakable rules.”

I felt another shiver run down my spine. “I - I'm sorry.”

I didn't know what rule I broke. I only ran because he said I was his mate. Was I not supposed to run? 

“That's not a word I'm familiar with.” A grin appeared on his lips and I closed my eyes. No one needed to tell me that I was done for.

Silence fell over the room and for a moment I couldn't feel my heart beat anymore. 

“Leave us. All of you.” Tristan ordered, his eyes never leaving mine.

The team scattered, leaving just me and Tristan.

“Human.” Tristan drawled, his deep-plum eyes roaming my face in the most uncomfortable way. 

My heart sank to the bottom of my stomach and for a second, my vision blurred.

“W - what?” 

“You see… I thought I was wrong about your scent,” he stepped closer and my heart skipped a beat. “I thought I'd been mistaken but I wasn't. My wolf never lies when it picks up a scent. You might think you'd fooled everyone else but you can't fool me.” 

He fished his hands into his pocket and whipped out the lock of wolf fur I keep in my pocket.

I gasped. That was Aunt Kathy’s fur. I carried it everywhere with me so I'd smell like a wolf. Tristan found it? But how?

Then it hit me.

That time the wind brushed my arm. There wasn't any wind. It was Tristan.  

My thoughts vanished when he leaned in closer, his breath whispering against my ears. “You're already on thin ice, BlueMoon. I know what you are. What do you think will happen to you when I tell everyone?”

I shivered at the warning. If he tells everyone I'm human, I was going to die. 

“Please,” I grabbed his arm. “Don't tell anyone. I'm sorry.” 

“Don't worry. You won't die today,” Tristan flashed me a grin and I swallowed my non-existent saliva. “I will take good care of you for eternity.”

I nearly screamed. “Wait. What?”

His eyes gleamed, the sinister grin still plastered on his full pink lips. “You will serve me, BlueMoon. Body and Soul.”

“P - please.” My pulse quickened as I pleaded for mercy. 

“Shh,” Tristan whispered, his lips grazing my ears. “This is a fate worse than death I'm sure you'll very much enjoy.”

I swallowed hard again.

He whispered again this time, enunciating every word. “You. Will. Be. Mine.”  

The next few minutes flew by in a flash. One second, I was on my knees begging for forgiveness and the next, I was trudging behind Tristan.  

We arrived at our destination and my mouth fell open.

The room was something I had never seen. The white furniture looked like a mix of leather and glass, the black and white draperies looked so expensive that I bet they'll buy my entire generation. From the soft, mushy rug under my bare feet to the regal paintings on one side of the wall, this place screamed luxury and comfort. This room was ten times bigger than the one I had back at one. One thing was certain though. There was no way in hell that this room would be mine. 

“Umm, what am I doing here?” I palmed the back of my neck as I watched him peel off his jacket.

“You'll be staying here.” Tristan said in a firm voice.

“Wait. What?” Before I knew it, those words fell out of my mouth and I instantly regretted it.

“Are you saying ‘No’ to me, BlueMoon?” Tristan shifted his gaze to mine and my blood froze. 

I stuttered terribly. “N - No. I would never - -”

My objections were cut off when Geoffrey and Jeremiah walked in.

“She came back.” Geoffrey said, looking at me like I was some rat underneath his shoe.  

“She did. And now, she will be staying here.” Tristan snapped his finger at me and I rushed to his side unsure of what to do. 

“My shoes.” He said and I went on my knees to unlatch the buckle. Never in my life had I thought of doing this to a person.

“He's staying here?” The duo were shocked. I didn't need to look at their faces to know.

Jeremiah cut in. “Don’t tell me you forced her?” 

“What do you think?” Tristan said, fisting my hair as I took off one shoe. 

Asshole.

Geoffrey shrugged. “Fine. You can keep her. It's not like she's attractive or anything.”

Jeremiah added coldly. “You're right, Geoff. She's not my type either.”

“All the more reason to have her to myself then.” Tristan said.

“Don't tell me you still think she's BlueMoon?” Geoffrey asked.

Tristan paused for a moment before he answered. “No. The Blue Moons are long gone.”

The duo nodded curtly.

“Anyways, we have football practice. We'll see you later.” They said before leaving the room.

While they were gone, I could finally breathe.

I had succeeded in taking off both his boots and stood to my feet.

Tristan turned to me. “Ready my bath. I like it cold. I had breakfast on my way here so there'll be no need for that. My uniforms are in the walk-in-closet. Yours will be here in no time. Chop chop.”

Excuse me?

“What are you still standing there for?” He glared at me and I dropped the shoe in fear.

“Shit.” I picked them back up. Why was he sending me on an errand all of a sudden? Didn't he say he was going to take care of me for all eternity a few minutes ago or did I read too many dark romance novels?

“Go.” He snapped his finger and I ran to the first door I laid my eyes on. 

The bathroom was similar to the one on earth. I had expected some magical, fancy type of bathroom that would complicate the heck out of my dull brain but I didn't. 

I ran the bath in the jacuzzi making sure it was as cold as ice. When it was ready, I called out to that jerk to come take a bath. He didn't answer.

Are you freaking kidding me right now?

I walked into the living space and found him cross-legged on a cane chair, sipping some from a teacup while reading a book. What the hell!

“Alpha, the bath.” I tried not to sound annoyed but my voice betrayed me.

“Good.” He slapped the pages of the book shut and leapt to his feet. 

He walked past me to the bathroom door when I heard him echo. “From now on, you're my shadow, BlueMoon,” he smiled. “Where I go, you go. Try anything funny and I'll show you who I truly am.”