Chapter 11

HANNAH POV

Meanwhile, Elias wouldn’t leave me alone. My phone vibrated endlessly on the bedside table, I didn’t even need to look at the screen to know it was him. With what he did to me, I never expected him to text me back. If he thinks he can win me back, then he’s joking. I reached for it anyway.

Missed calls, Too many to count. The text messages were too much. His name popped up on my screen and it was starting to piss me off. I had blocked about 5 of his numbers, but he still keeps on texting me with different numbers. Elias had always been persistent. Obsessive, and also a narcissist. Ending things with him didn’t feel like closure. It felt like opening a door he refused to walk away from.

I didn’t read most of the messages. I didn’t need to. I already knew what they would say.

Hannah, please talk to me.

You’re overreacting.

We can fix this.

I know you still love me.

My jaw clenched. Whatever we had was over. I had made that clear. I had ended it, but Elias had never been good at accepting things that didn’t go his way. Blocking him had only slowed him down. Each time I did, a new number appeared. A new attempt, and I was already getting tired of it. I thought about telling the triplets about it, but I wasn’t fully convinced that they were good people.

I sighed in frustration and exhaustion. A lot has happened within the few days I have been here. I rubbed my temples, noy sure of what exactly to do about Elias. I decided to text Valerie and just let her know I’ll be going off for a while At Least, that might make Elias give up.

Valerie, Elias keeps calling and texting. I’ve blocked him so many times but he won’t stop. I’m switching my phone off for now. Just wanted you to know. I love you so much my girl❤️

I sent the message before I could overthink it, Then I powered my phone off.

The silence that followed felt strange and unsettling, but I felt relieved. I placed the phone back on the table and lay down on the bed, staring at the ceiling. For the first time since arriving at the palace, there was nothing buzzing, nothing pulling at me from the outside world. No Elias, no alphas. It was just me and I couldn’t be more grateful.

Hours passed, and before I knew it, it was time for dinner. I joined the triplets in the dining hall, sitting across from them as usual. I noticed Selene still didn’t come out for dinner but I didn’t care. I ate slowly, barely tasting the food, aware of their presence in a way I couldn’t ignore. They didn’t push conversation, and for that, I was grateful.

Still, I could feel their eyes on me, watching and observing me like I was a piece of art. It gave me goosebumps .

When I was done, I pushed my chair back and stood. “I’m heading back to my room,” I said, keeping my voice normal.

No one stopped me.

I walked away before they could say anything else. I didn’t want to talk, not yet. I wasn’t comfortable around them. Being around them felt like standing on unstable ground, fine one moment, dangerous the next.

Back in my room, I locked the door and leaned against it, exhaling slowly. My heart was beating faster than it should have been, and I hated that. I hated how easily my body reacted to them, how my nerves stayed on edge even when nothing was happening.

I spent most of the morning pacing, then sitting, then pacing again. My thoughts kept circling back to Elias, to my mother, to the reality of where I was. The palace was beautiful, yes, but it still didn’t feel like a place I belonged and I didn’t feel safe here.

I slept off early that night. The stress and over thinking was already weighing me down.

By the next morning , I woke up early, showered and got dressed. I decided to arrange my room since I didn’t have anything to do and the only places I’ve been allowed to go to since I came here were the dining room and my bedroom.

By the time I was done arranging, Tianna came to inform me that breakfast was ready and she was surprised to see my room clean.

“My lady, you didn’t have to bother yourself to arrange your room. You could have called for me and I would have arranged it. “ Tianna said, still looking at me in shock.

“Ohh Tianna, it’s fine. Besides I’m used to cleaning my house back home so this isn’t a big deal. And I’ve told you to call me Hannah. My lady is too formal for a friend like you.” I replied, smiling at her. Me and Tianna had gotten close, and she was the only person that made me feel alive in the palace.

“My lady__ sorry Hannah, you’re really unique. Come on, let's go downstairs, before the Alphas would think you had a concussion and kill me.” She replied laughing. And we went downstairs.

Looking at the Alphas sitting and Selene beside them, all form of comfortability I felt with Tianna left my body and I stiffened. They haven’t brought my mum yet and it’s already getting on my nerves.

I sat down on the dining table, and all forms of communication they had going on ended and all eyes were on me. I could feel the burning stares from selene and I knew she didn’t like the attention I got from the Alphas, and I couldn’t care less. I didn’t even like the attention.

“You freshened up nicely today Hannah.” I looked up at Riven as he smirked at his comment.

“Oh uhhm thank you. I woke up early and just decided to get dressed up since I had nothing to do.”

No one spoke again until after breakfast. I stood up and excused myself and left them alone and headed back to my room. I sat on my bed and looked at the ceiling. I missed my old life, I was free to do anything and everything and I didn’t have anyone around to boss me around or watch me 24/7. I wondered how my life with my mum would have been if I didn’t come here.

My thinking was interrupted with a knock on the door and startled me. Tianna never said she would be free this afternoon, and she was the only one that came here apart from… Goodness it’s the Alphas again.

I moved closer, peering through the small opening before unlocking it. When I finally pulled the door open, all three of them stood there.

My shoulders stiffened instinctively. “What do you want?” I asked, unable to hide my irritation.

“We’re not here to argue,” Kael said calmly, his tone measured. “We want to show you around the palace.”

I frowned slightly. “Show me around? And you expect me to believe that?”

Lucien’s gaze stayed on my face as he spoke. “We don’t want you thinking you’re a prisoner here.”

“ Yet I’m always watched 24/7.”

Riven tilted his head. “You’ve barely seen anything. Just your room and the dining hall.”

“You don’t have to,” I said carefully.

“We want to,” Kael replied.

I hesitated. Staying in this room alone is getting boring for me and I’ve always wanted to explore the palace, but I never expected them to be the one to bring the issue up.

After a moment, I nodded. “Fine.” We walked through long corridors lined with tall pillars and old paintings, their eyes seeming to follow us as we passed. Sunlight poured in through massive windows, reflecting off polished floors that looked like they’d never known dust.

Servants bowed as we walked by. Some stared at me openly, curiosity written all over their faces. Others quickly looked away, like they weren’t sure they were allowed to acknowledge me at all.

Everywhere we went, the triplets were recognized, respected and feared . I felt it in the way conversations stopped when they entered a room. In the way people straightened, shoulders back, expressions careful. Walking between them made me painfully aware of how small I was in comparison, not just physically, but in importance.

We reached an open room which I’ve never seen before. The room was filled with antiques and relics, I was in awe, and the triplets looked proud and happy.

“These are most of our collections from wars we’ve fought.” Kael replied, answering my question without me asking.

“Wow, they're so pretty. How many wars have you guys fought?” I asked, still in awe. The collections were a lot and I couldn’t imagine how many wars they would have fought.

“Well Hannah, we’ve fought a lot and lost counts. And how we survived, it’s all thanks to selene.” Riven replied to me.

At the mention of selene name, I stiffened. My mind judt didn’t go well with her. And I guess my uneasiness was noticed by the alphas.

“Hannah are you alright?” Lucien asked, looking at me with a worried expression.

“Yeah I’m fine, can we go somewhere else maybe like the garden or anywhere.” I replied, not wanting to get them more worried.

They nodded and we left the room. Throughout the tour, Kael explained parts of the palace history, his voice steady and confident. Lucien stayed mostly quiet, but whenever I slowed down, he subtly adjusted his pace so I wouldn’t fall behind. Riven made occasional comments, some teasing, some sharp, watching my reactions closely. Against my better judgment, I found myself responding, and enjoying the tour. They were not as bad as they wanted to be. They acted like kids, and bickered about everything. I had never seen this side of them, and it scared me as my body let down my guard.

They showed me the gardens next. Wide, open spaces filled with flowers I couldn’t name, fountains sparkling under the sun. For a brief moment, standing there, the weight on my chest eased.I literally forgot where I was, and ran towards the fountain. I couldn’t stop smiling.

“Are you guys just going to stand there looking at me? Come on, let's have fun.” I said, forgetting they’re the ruthless alphas.

They looked at me and the look on their faces showed they weren’t interested. But I cared less. I walked up to them, and dragged each of them to the fountain side. They didn’t bother fighting.

We played at the fountain side, and I started to feel like myself again. We spoke about different things, and I got to know that Lucien is scared of spiders, and Kael doesn’t listen to music. Like literally who doesn’t. As much as Riven tried to act all high and mighty, he’s naturally shy, and uses his jokes and pranks to make people think otherwise.

I enjoyed my afternoon with the alphas, and I was glad we decided to walk around. I couldn’t stop smiling, and by the time we headed back inside, exhaustion crept into my bones.

I returned to my room alone, and couldn’t stop thinking about today. I couldn’t stop thinking about how cute and nice the triplets were. I missed lunch and dinner, because of how exhausted I was and just slept till the next day.

My feelings for the triplets had changed. I didn’t hate them, especially after today. They didn’t want me thinking I was a prisoner. I didn’t want to like them. I knew they would still bring up the issue of my coming here, and I wasn’t ready for that discussion.