Chapter 4

Lena stood, staring at her sinful reflection in the mirror. She was beautiful. Breathtaking. Her fingers trembling slightly as she adjusted the straps of her dress. The velvet emerald gown hugged her curves like it had been sewn specially for the occasion—for revenge. Elegant, decent enough, yet there was a provocative edge to it.

Her makeup was subtle, yet captivating. Her hair were a glossy ways, cascading down her shoulders. She applied a dark wine lipstick—a promise of chaos and blood.

"You look so beautiful....." Mia gasped behind her. "It's seems you're more prepared for the bash than we are."

Of course, she was. For three years she has been fucking preparing for this.

Quinn adjusted her glasses. "Seriously. You look .... Powerful."

Cameilla didn't say anything. Despite her revealing gown, she looked so tacky compared to Lena.

Lena turned around, giving them a small, grateful smile. "Thank you, ladies."

But inside her was a raging storm. She hadn't expected that she'd be meeting those men on her very first day here. And Moon Goddess knows, she wasn't mentally, and physically prepared for this. She said a mental prayer asking the Moon Goddess to help her not to jinx everything.

"Can we leave already?" Quinn said, grabbing her clutch. "We need to get back on time. I have to start reading for the first semester test."

"Quinn.... can you chill with the reading. Lectures haven't even started here," Lena said. The three of them burst into laughter as they made their way out of the room with Quinn explaining why she have to start reading ahead as a medical student whose dream is to graduate at the top of the class.

________

The Grand Atrium of the Blackthorne Academy was glistening with chandeliers and adorned with flowers. Music, chatters, wine glasses clinking and laughter echoed through the guests. Students dressed in the best attires, their eyes sharp with curiosity and silent competition.

That is how it is at Blackthorne Academy. The competition is high amongst the students, lecturers and even the non-teaching staffs. Here, only the bravest could survive. 

Lena walked in with her friends, her shoulders high despite that her knees were growing weak. It felt like all eyes were on her when in reality, no one even noticed her presence.

Suddenly the lights in the room dimmed and silence fell over the room. A tall, handsome moderator in a sleek grey suit took the mic. 

"Ladies and gentlemen," he began, his smooth voice echoed through the room. "It's an honour to present to you the Alphas of Blackthorne. The nightmares and fantasies of every girl in this hall tonight." Lena rolled her eyes to that. 'Not her.'

Then the moderator roared, "Let's welcome the Blackthorne Triplets." The door opened. The lights in the room came on. And they walked in.

Ronan. Kieran. Soren.

All dressed in black Italian suit. All tall, lethal, beautiful, dangerous. The room seemed to trembled at their feet, forcing the men to wish to be in their shoes and the ladies—except Lena of course, dreaming of a future with them.

Lena's breath caught as they passed by her table, but what ripped the air off her lungs completely was that damn scent. The scent hit her first—musk, forest and woodsmoke. Her knees buckled. It wrapped around her, sending shivers down her spine.

The bond. The fucking mate bond. 

No. No. No. 

Her wolf, Ellie whimpered and howled in recognition to the triplets wolf, but Lena gritted her teeth, standing up abruptly.

This isn't real. This can't be. It can be anyone, but not them. And it isn't even one of them, but all three. All three!? How can she be mated to three men at the same time. The Moon Goddess must have made some mistakes.

The mating bond surged through her body and she felt her pain all over again.

Her friends were shockedvat her sudden expression and asked her what was happening, but she turned and ran.

She can't stay here. Her heels hit the marble floor sharply as she walked out of the hall into the cold night air. She didn't know or care about where she was going. She just wanted to get away.

"Stop."

A hand wrapped around her wrist, turning her around.

It was the Triplets. They had felt the mate bond too and caught sight of her as she ran out of the hall.

Their eyes were cold—she doesn't seem familiar to them at all. All three were staring at her with a condescending glare like she was a filth. She was truly beautiful, but they knew she wasn't from a Royal or any of the powerful family around, which made her unqualified to be their mate.

"How can you be our mate?" Soren's voice was laced with barely contained rage.

"There's no way," Kieran roared, his eyes roaming her body like she wasn't worthy to even be human.

"She's beneath us," Ronan spat. "We can't accept her."

Kieran and Soren nodded in agreement. 

"What's your name?" Ronan growled, his eyes gleaming with anger.

Looking at them up close, Lena's heart sank—they look just as ruthless as ever. But she was able to control her emotions—forcing back the tears threatening to spill.

She wasn't about to blow her whistle about being a Whitmore. "Aurora Vargan."

"We, the Blackthorne triplets, reject you, Aurora Vargan, as our mate," Ronan spat.

Silence.

Then Lena smiled bitterly. "I accept your rejection." Her voice was quiet but firm. "Gladly."

They blinked, stunned. Every lady will die to be their mate, but here she was accepting their rejection without thinking twice. They had expected her to plead, or perhaps cajole them into accepting the mate bond.

The sting of the bond breaking clawed through their chests, ripping off the air in their throat. But Lena had it worse. She could almost feel her soul tearing apart. But she had known pain before, and this was nothing compared to that. She welcomed it.

After the pain had subsided, Kieran trying to cover the confusion blooming in his chest, asked, "You don't even want to know why? The reason we rejected you."

Lena met their eyes, one after the other. "Because I'd rather die than be mated to monsters like you."

She yanked her wrist free and ran. Away from these arrogant monsters. Away from the stupid trick that the Moon Goddess had played on her.

She didn't slow down or look back. She ran past the west wing, the garden, down the long hallway, until she reached her dorm room. She yanked the door open and leaned against it. Her breathing ragged, tears streaming down her face and silent sobs wracking her body.

This place isn't safe. This place isn't for her. She had come to destroy them but not like this. Never. There has to be another way. Ellie growled in grief beneath her.

Her hands trembled as she threw her box open, and packed up the very clothes she had just unpacked hours ago.

Tomorrow, she would leave. 

_____

Blackthorne palace.

The triplets sat in a heavy and suffocating silence. They had cancelled the party despite all the money and efforts that had been poured into it. The students had pouted, complaining. Music stopped. But they didn't care. 

Ronan laid in the king-size bed, staring at the sterile ceiling. His heart was clenching in subtle pain.

Soren paced. His wolf was restless, snapping at him for reasons he didn't understand.

Kieran layed in the bathtub, hoping to get a cold bath to ease the burning on his skin. But it was futile.

Eventually, they all fell asleep.

And then the dream came —vivid and terrifying.

Darkness. Claws. Screams. Blood spluttering. Madness. Then a voice howled from the full moon. It was the Moon Goddess.

"You've rejected your only chance at sanity."

"Accept her.... or you'll ran mad."

Their wolves screamed and the dream ended.

They all gasped awake, breathing heavily as fear clawed at their chest. They stared at eachother, their eyes wide with horror.

And together they echoed:

"We'll run mad.... If we don't accept our mate!"