Chapter 1

Sable

Hell is a mild word for it. I never thought I would ever return to the place that ruined my life—but here I am. Only this time, I came back prepared, ready to take my life back… from my brothers.

The mansion stood before me, just as pristine and elegant as I remembered. It looked like something torn from the pages of a luxury magazine, the kind you can only admire on your phone.

'We’re going to have so much fun,' my wolf sang in my head, her tone deceptively sweet.

“Shut up,” I muttered under my breath.

'What?' she replied.

I ignored her and glanced at Rhett. His golden-blonde hair was slightly tousled, as if on purpose, complementing his stormy gray eyes. He was already seated in a wheelchair, with the driver standing nearby.

I hadn’t noticed how he got into it—had he helped himself while I was distracted or had the driver assisted him? Knowing Rhett, he probably staged the whole thing.

And how does he explain his survival to the employees at his company? They witnessed him fall off a 10 to 15-foot tall glass bridge, covered in glass shards—yet he's alive and recovering in less than two weeks. Honestly, the man should be dead; a fall like that could have easily killed him. That’s exactly what many of his employees say when they visit him in the hospital. And let’s not forget the reporters and the press—everyone is buzzing about how Rhett Paxton, CEO of Paxton Limited, miraculously survived. With all eyes on him, he—

“... Sable.”

“I’m sorry, sir. Did you say something?” I asked.

“Why don’t we head inside…?” he suggested.

“Oh yeah,” I replied, dragging my luggage while he moved ahead in his electric chair, rolling toward the mansion. He entered, but I stayed outside. For some reason, my feet wouldn’t move—I couldn’t bring myself to cross the threshold. The last time I did, I was running for my life.

Rhett paused just past the doorway. I could feel his energy—he was reaching out to his brothers through the werewolf connection that bonded them.

Footsteps echoed from the staircase. They grew louder, closer, until a young man appeared. He had the same hair and eyes as Rhett, but his nose was slightly different, and a pair of glasses perched on it, giving him a charmingly nerdy Harry Potter vibe. I knew immediately—it was the third brother, Joss Paxton.

He grinned when he saw us. “You’re back! I was going to visit once I finished reviewing that report you gave me.”

“I got tired of the damn hospital,” Rhett replied flatly.

Joss’s gaze shifted to me. “And who’s this? Still outside? Please, come in.”

I forced my legs to move; each step felt like a battle against my memories. 'I can’t believe they really don't recognize us,' she whispered in my head. I kept a perfect smile plastered on my face.

“This is Sable,” Rhett introduced. “She’s my personal attendant.”

“A personal attendant?” Joss echoed, surprise creeping into his voice. His brow furrowed, questioning; he must have been wondering why Alpha Rhett needed one. But Rhett shot him a look—one that seemed to answer all his questions—well, almost everything.

They don’t know I’m one of them. Not even a powerful Alpha like Rhett can see through me. I’m a werewolf too—but I can mask my scent. That’s why none of them recognize me. And that’s exactly how I want it.

Joss and I helped Rhett to his bedroom—a pristine white master suite where everything gleamed like fresh snow, untouched and sterile. He had always been a clean freak, but I had no idea it had reached this level.

“I’ll be eating in my bedroom. I want you…” Rhett paused as his eyes shifted to the door, and a smile formed on his lips.

I turned to look and smiled too. I hadn't realized just how much I had missed her all these years—Dani.

She had changed a little. Her figure was fuller, her hair was now gray and cut short, brushing just above her neck. She looked older but still held that warmth I remembered.

“Dani…” Rhett said softly.

She walked in and went straight to him, gently taking his hand.

“I’m so glad you’re back, son,” she said, pressing a kiss to his forehead. Then she turned to me. Her innocent blue eyes met mine—the same ones that once calmed me when I had nightmares and when she told me stories to help me sleep. I wanted so badly to tell her who I really was, but I couldn’t—not yet.

“And you are?” she asked.

“She’s my personal attendant,” Rhett answered before I could speak. “The hospital assigned her. I want you to take care of her, just as she takes care of me, Dani.”

“Well, then why don’t I show you your room?” she offered with a kind smile. “You can freshen up while I finish dinner.” She turned back to Rhett. “Have you eaten lunch, son?”

“Yes, but it was tasteless. I missed your cooking.”

“I was just about to make your favorite,” she said, beaming. He gave her a smile that made him look like a child again.

Dani had that effect on people.

She showed me to my bedroom—just down the hall from his, upstairs. The last time I was here, this used to be my room. Now, it had been stripped of anything personal and transformed into a guest room. I dropped my luggage, stripped off my clothes, and headed into the bathroom. I turned on the warm water and let it run down my body, washing away the stains and memories that clung to me.

'How has no one recognized me? It hasn’t even been more than ten years.'

Mr. Paxton met my mother at one of his charity events. The moment he saw her, he fell in love at first sight—or maybe it was pity. She was a lone wolf, struggling with cubs. I’ll never know for sure. What I do remember is the day she told us she was getting married. She said we would finally be protected… that we’d have big brothers to shield us.

After the wedding, she gave herself completely to the Paxton family, loving the Paxton brothers like her own. She worked tirelessly, barely sleeping some nights. Kit was just a young cub back then—I wonder how much he’s grown now.

My world shattered the day Mr. Paxton—my dad—and my mother died in that accident. After that, everything changed.

And now I’m back. Back to claim what’s mine. Back to make them pay.

Especially Brant.

He was the worst of them all. The cruelest. He will be the first to fall.

I will destroy him before I leave this perfectly destructive mansion they call home.

I switched off the shower, dried myself, and slipped into a pair of sweatpants and a plain white shirt, then made my way downstairs and headed straight to the kitchen. I still remember every corner of this house. When I entered, I found Dani already busy with two other maids.

“Excuse me, ma’am,” I said.

Danny… I really wished I could call her that—hug her and cry into her shoulder. But I haven’t cried in a long time.

She turned to look at me. “Please, call me Dani. Dinner will be ready soon. Why don’t you sit down and wait? Or do you want something?”

“I just need some water,” I replied, walking straight to the fridge just as footsteps entered the kitchen.

“Welcome back, sir,” one of the maids said.

I turned and saw him—dark, midnight hair and hazel eyes, a backpack slung over one shoulder. The fourth brother, Kit Paxton.

“Well, who’s this sexy kitten we’ve got here, Danny?”

“Have some respect, Kit,” Dani scolded. “She’s Rhett’s personal attendant.”

“He’s back?” he asked, then walked right out of the kitchen without another word.

I stood by the fridge, opening a bottle of water and gulping it down. 'Why is fate toying with me like this? Of all the Paxton brothers, the one I truly craved to see was the one I hadn’t seen yet—Brant Paxton. I just hoped he still lived here. Otherwise, all my effort would be for nothing.'

Dani appeared in front of me, waving a hand in my face. “Can you hear me?”

“Sorry,” I said quickly.

“Rhett’s dinner is ready. Why don’t you take it to him?” Her eyes flicked to the tray on the kitchen island.

I set the bottle down, picked up the tray, and made my way to his room. He was wearing glasses now, which made him look even more like Joss. He looked up from his iPad and smiled.

“I was starting to wonder where my food was.”

“It’s here, sir,” I said, placing the tray on the nightstand.

I reached for his iPad, but he pulled it away. “Don’t worry about that. You can go—I can take care of myself.”

“Sir, I’m here to take care of you.”

“Sable, I can still take care of myself, okay? I’m fine. Why don’t you go and have dinner…”

I gave Rhett a nod and left. I joined the maids for dinner—and I must admit, it was the most fun I’d had in a long time. They had a way of making you forget your troubles, at least for a while, with their funny stories and warm laughter. I left when Dani announced it was bedtime.

Later, I took a quiet stroll around the mansion. My heart ached. Everywhere I looked, there were no pictures of us. Not even one of my mother, who had once been the lady of this house. It stoked the fire inside me—my hatred for the Paxton brothers only grew. But I had to be patient.

I stopped in front of an old portrait of Mr. Paxton and their mother. My stepdad looked so much like Rhett and Joss, while Kit clearly inherited her dark, beautiful hair and soulful eyes. And Brant… Brant had those unforgettable hazel eyes. The ones that still haunted me.

Brant Paxton… where are you?

I headed upstairs, deciding to grab my books. They didn’t know I was more than a personal attendant—I was a trainee nurse, and this was part of my hands-on training. Being assigned to Rhett Paxton wasn’t luck. I had to fight for it. He was a well-known figure in the city.

Just as I reached the last step, I heard it—a low groan from one of the bedrooms. I couldn’t tell if it was pain or pleasure, but either way, it might be my chance to get closer. If someone was hurt, I could help.

The sound got louder as I followed it through the dim hallway. It was nearly midnight—most of the house was likely asleep.

'This is so sexy,' Selene suddenly purred. She’d been quiet for hours.

“What’s sexy?” I whispered under my breath.

'I’m already feeling aroused,' she moaned, teasingly.

“Stop it,” I hissed, pushing open the door from where the sounds were coming.

The room was dimly lit. A man lay sprawled on the bed—his tattooed, glistening body still wet from a shower. A towel hung loosely off the edge of the mattress. His hand moved up and down his cock, his head tilted back in pleasure.

I gasped.

His eyes snapped toward me—hazel, glowing faintly in the dark.

I turned and bolted, heart racing, but I wasn’t fast enough. His footsteps came hard and fast behind me, and a second later, he grabbed my wrist and spun me around, pushing me up against the wall just outside the room.

I looked into his eyes—no longer glowing, but fierce, steady, burning straight through me.

'That’s him,' Selene breathed. 'The one. The second brother. Brant Paxton.'

His chest rose and fell, each breath brushing the space between us. He was too close—close enough that his heat seeped into my skin, curling down my spine like fire. Our faces hovered inches apart, his hazel eyes holding mine, his lips suspended just above my own. I should have moved, said something, anything. Reclaimed the space. But I didn’t. I couldn’t. My thoughts were a knot, words smothered beneath the thunder of my pulse.

'Help him. Touch him. Make him beg,' Selene urged.