Chapter 5

ZANA’S POV

I should have known they’d set a trap for me.

The moment the guards stepped from the shadows, my heart sank—but my wolf rose.

We fight, she growled. We fight until we fall.

And so I did.

I lunged at the first guard before he could blink. My fists and claws struck his jaw with a loud crack. He went down hard. Another swung at me, but I ducked low, drove my elbow into his gut, and slammed my knee into his face. He dropped too. The third tried to grab me from behind—I turnedm snarled, and headbutted him so hard his nose exploded with blood.

For a moment, I thought—maybe. Maybe I could make it.

But there were too many.

Hands grabbed my arms, my waist, my hair. My legs kicked, teeth snapped, but they kept coming, five, six, ten against one. They pinned me down in no time.

“LET GO!” I roared. “I’ll kill you all!”

They ignored me. they dragged me back inside. My heels scraped over polished stone floors. My  body strained against their hold. My chest heaved. I could feel the fury boiling in my veins.

Finally, they shoved me into a room. I stumbled forward, landing hard on the floor. The impact knocked the breath from me, but I lifted my head instantly, refusing to let them see weakness.

And that’s when I saw them. Three figures stood before me.

These guys were tall, broad and muscular. They were dominant wolves in their prime.

I froze. My chest constricted. For some reason, my lungs refused to work.

The guards bowed their heads. .

 “Alphas,” one said. “As you predicted, she tried to escape.”

The tallest of the three stepped forward. Their dominant aura was suffocating. It rolled off them in waves, making the hugs room seem too small for me.

I could feel this particular one’s aura spreading through the room like a physical force.

 “Leave us,” he commanded. His voice was deep. It sent shivers through me.

The guards obeyed instantly. They stepped back until the door shut.

And then it was just me. And them. I looked up fully—and gasped.

The feeling of a bond slammed into me like lightning. The feeling was hot and raw, spreading through every nerve in my body. My wolf howled so loud in my head it drowned everything else out. It felt like there was lightning in my veins.

My wolf screamed “Mate. Mates”.

My heart stopped. No. Not possible.

Not three.

They were gorgeous. Terrifyingly so.

The tallest – he had broad shoulders, a sharp jaw, hair dark as midnight. His eyes were dark green, burning with dominance. Every inch of him screamed Alpha.

The second was leaner but no less powerful. His muscles were cut. His smirk looked cruel. His hair was a shade lighter. His eyes were silver-blue like ice over steel. He looked dangerous and arrogant.

And the last— he looked slightly younger in appearance, though just as tall. He had softer features, dark tousled hair, and beautiful brown eyes. He carried strength, yes, but also something the others didn’t. He looked…kind.

Three brothers. Three Alphas. These were the Alphas I was sent for. At the sight of them alone, my wolf was clawing at me to submit.

No. No, no, no.

I staggered back, horrified. “This—this isn’t real. It can’t be.”

The first guy’s eyes narrowed. His nose flared as he inhaled. His aura hit me full force. I could feel his dominance rolling in waves. His lips parted in shock. “The bond—”

The second one laughed. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Her?”

The youngest’s brows furrowed. “It’s real. I feel it too.”

“I won’t,” I gasped, shaking my head. “I won’t accept this!”

The second one sneered, stepping closer. “A rogue. Our mate is a filthy, wild rogue? The Moon Goddess must be mocking us.”

Something inside me snapped. I straightened. I lifted my chin high. I could feel my rage burn hotter than the bond.

 “Better a wild rogue than a spoiled prince,” I spat. “At least I’ve earned my scars. You’ve done nothing but live in silk and bark orders.”

The room went silent.

The eldest’s jaw tightened. The second’s smirk faltered. Even the youngest blinked.

No one expected me to bite back.

“Careful,” the second one hissed. “You’ll regret speaking to me like that.”

“Try me,” I growled. “I’m not afraid of you.”

I was lying. Every nerve screamed that I should kneel, submit, bare my throat. But I wouldn’t. I couldn’t.

A guard twitched, raising his taser. “Alpha, shall we—?”

“Stop.”

The single word came from the youngest. The guard froze instantly, lowering the weapon.

I pushed myself up from the floor, standing tall even though my knees trembled.

The youngest stepped forward. He smiled at me. the sight of his smile was so beautiful that it melted my heart. He looked at me in a different way from everyone else, like I was someone worth his time. Like I was something more than just a rogue.

“I’m Percy,” he said gently. “This is Ken, our eldest brother. And Darren, our second.”

His voice was different. Not cruel. Not mocking. Almost… kind.

Against my will, my chest loosened. His smile was small, careful, but it disarmed me more than any threat could.

“I’m Zana,” I muttered.

“Nice to meet you, Zana.”

Darren scoffed. “Percy, don’t waste your time. She’s a rogue, not a guest.”

“She’s our mate,” Percy countered.

Ken’s voice cut in. “And yet she’s nothing like what we deserve. A rogue cannot stand at our side.”

I laughed bitterly. “Trust me, I don’t want to.”

Percy glanced between us “We don’t have to decide now. The bond is undeniable—we can’t ignore it. But—”

“But nothing,” Darren snapped. “She’ll be broken. Tamed. Or she’ll be nothing.”

Ken’s eyes locked on mine. “The academy will grind the wildness out of her. If she survives, perhaps she’ll be worth considering. Until then, she’s just another student.”

My blood boiled. “I’ll never submit,” I hissed. “Not to this academy. Not to you. Not to anyone.”

The room vibrated with tension and I could feel my wolf snarling in my chest.

Ken stepped closer. I swallowed hard. His presence alone was suffocating. He leaned down till his lips brushed my ear. “I’m curious how long your fire will last.”

A shiver ran through me, one I hated.

Darren smirked. He came closer and his finger brushed my chin mockingly.  The contact sent shivers down my spine “I’ll enjoy watching you burn out.”

Percy lingered a moment longer. His eyes caught mine. I could see something in his eyes—regret? Hope? I couldn’t tell.

My body seemed alert just by the presence of them. I had never felt this way about anyone else before. My wolf wanted to submit in a way I hated.

What the hell was wrong with me? The bond was strong, I’d admit but I would never bow my heads to them. Their father killed my family. They burned my home to the ground without reason.

Percy looked at me one last time with those soft eyes of his then he turned and followed his brothers out.

The door shut. And I trembled. Not from fear.

But from the pull. The unbearable, unwanted pull of the mate bond tying me to three men I despised.