Chapter 2

(Mia’s POV)

“Oh, Mia, that is a bad thing to say when you are meeting someone for the first time. This is Liam, Luis, and Leon.

Leon is the oldest of the triplets and Alpha David’s first son, while Luis is the second, and Liam is the last-born. They are triplets, popularly called ‘Triple L.’

Unfortunately, their mother, Luna Esther, died after their birth. So, they are our upcoming Alphas.” My mother smiled, introducing the triple bad boys to me as I glared at them.

Mom turned to face the Triple L and said, “Triplets L, meet my only daughter, Mia Anderson. She came back from London last month and recently joined our White Hills Academy. I’m sure you all must have seen her at the college. Please forgive my daughter’s mannerisms. She doesn’t understand what is going on here or how our pack functions.”

I watched my mother speaking to the first of the triplets, Leon Oscar.

“It’s fine, Chairwoman. Our father got busy with a meeting from the Dark Hills Pack Alpha. So, he sent us here to join you for dinner before he finishes his business. That way, it doesn’t look like he is declining your invitation to a family dinner,” Leon said, his magnetic voice making me scowl as I saw him flash his perfect white teeth at my mother.

Leon wore a radiant smile, but he was a bully—I had seen him intimidating other students at the academy.

Crossing my arms over my chest, I pouted and looked away from my mother to Leon. I clearly did not like him or his brothers, and I did not care who he was or what his business was with my mother.

I wouldn’t have joined this so-called family dinner if my mother had not insisted.

“That’s fine, Alpha Leon. Thank you for forgiving my little angel, Mia. Come on, apologize to the triplets. They are the same, and apologizing to one is the same as apologizing to all. They share the same mindset, views, love lives, and I know there’s a possibility the three of them will have one mate,” my mother said happily, her voice sweet as she blushed.

My frown deepened at the mention of their “love lives.”

“Mom, I am only apologizing out of respect for you—because you are my mother—but I do not feel the need to say sorry to these men,” I said, my voice sharp, my eyes glaring at the three bullies.

They looked innocent in front of my mother when I glanced at them.

“Mia, go on and say you’re sorry, and stop talking too much,” Mom scolded, her voice tinged with pleading as she eyed me to get along with these three.

“Fine.” I straightened my posture and dropped my arms.

“I’m sorry, Triple L,” I said, looking at Leon, the oldest of the triplets. They shared the same height, faces, and well-built bodies, but their smiles were different.

Leon smirked, while Liam and Luis glared at me—only to smile when my mother looked their way.

“It’s fine, Chairwoman. We’ll let it slide since Mia is going to be around and a part of our families. Besides, when you and my father marry, we will have Mia as our little sister,” Leon said, his lips curling into a sinister smile, his intense yellow eyes locking with mine.

“What!” I gasped, my eyes widening in shock.

“Mom, tell me the truth. You are not planning to marry their father, right?” I asked, knowing I could never tolerate living under the same roof as these three bullies.

“Mia…” Mom said, her frown deepening. “You need to get along with Triple L. I know I haven’t spoken to you about my affairs, but I’ve been single for so long—ever since your father left me for London. Excuse us, Triple L. Please have a seat. Let me speak privately with my daughter before your father arrives.”

“Alright, Chairwoman,” they replied, their eyes following me as Mom hastily grabbed my left hand and dragged me from the living room back toward the kitchen.

“Mom, what’s going on? You can’t marry those boys’ father. I don’t want them as my stepbrothers, and I don’t approve of their father! They’re pretending to be nice to you—those boys are big-time bullies!” I cried aloud, my body trembling at the thought of living under the same roof as those three rascals.

I can’t stand them for a minute. They bully students at the college, turn young women into servants, and do as they please.

Most of the students fear them. When I first arrived at the college a month ago, I was stunned when my best friend, Vivian Adams, warned me to stay away from the three Alphas. I thought it was a joke until I saw with my own eyes how they bullied people.

“Mia, you just got back to the White Hills area barely a month ago. How can you say that about Triple L? They are the nicest boys and protect our people. I understand you might not like them because they’re boys, but they are our Alphas—they cannot possibly bully you. Please, they will take care of you as their little sister from now on, especially once their father and I are married,” Mom said pleadingly, wanting me to see her side and accept those boys into our lives. But I yelled.

“No way, Mom! I will not accept them. They cannot be my stepbrothers, and you shouldn’t marry their father. There are other men out there—but not these boys’ father.”

“Mia,” my mother’s gaze dropped. “It’s fine. I’ll tell their father I can’t marry him, since you don’t want them as your stepbrothers.”

My mother looked dejected, heartbroken, and I felt so guilty for depriving her of happiness. My father had left her so long ago, always traveling for his research. I thought my mother deserved to be happy.

Her face reddened with unshed tears and disappointment, so I calmed down and asked, “Mom, do you love their father? What about Dad? What if I call Dad and ask him to return?”

My mother looked at my face and blinked away her tears.

“It’s been sixteen years since your father left the pack. He flew away with you and only brought you back. Why didn’t he return with you? He sent you back alone because he doesn’t want me. I can’t keep waiting for him, and I already rejected him—even if he wouldn’t accept my rejection. But…” My mother hesitated, walking up to me and taking my hands. “I love you more, Mia. You’re my only child, and your happiness matters most to me. I know you grew up away from the pack, so you might find it hard to get along with everyone here. But I want you to know the Triple L are not as bad as you think. And their father is a kind man, too.

“But if you don’t like them and don’t want us to be a family, I’ll explain it to their father. After all, you are my baby, and your happiness—and fitting in with the pack—is what’s important to me,” Mom said sadly, and I felt her pain.

“It’s fine, Mom. Maybe I overreacted, but I want you to be happy and to remarry. You can’t stay single forever—I’m not even sure Dad would listen to me and return. But I don’t like those boys, and I don’t know if their father is like them, I just… I can’t stand them,” I said, my frown deepening. My mother smiled.

“It’s fine. Let’s have dinner with them; besides, this is their first time visiting me. It wouldn’t be polite to send them away. After all, they didn’t approve of me as their stepmother, until their father proposed. So you’re not the only one with objections,” Mom said, laughing softly. “Just don’t insult them—they can discipline you as our Alphas. They’re like our superiors here. Alright?”

Mom opened the kitchen door for me to return to the living room and join those three bullies for dinner. It was already past 6 p.m. on a Friday evening.

My mother hadn’t gone to work—she’d ordered her driver to drop me at school in the morning while she stayed home preparing for our Alpha’s visit.

“Alright, Mom,” I agreed, walking out of the kitchen and into the dining room to meet the three bad boys, who sat in different chairs, gazing at me.

Surprisingly, they had already taken their seats around the dining table and were waiting for Mom and me to serve them dinner.