'Chapter 5: A Sudden

Skylar's POV

A sudden chill rippled down my spine even through my mounting rage. My hands wouldn't stop shaking.

I didn't say a word after that. None of them did either.

Throughout the fifteen-minute drive, my hands kept shaking on the steering wheel as I felt their eyes on me.

Then, we finally pulled into the student parking lot.

It wasn't until then that they tucked the guns away, grinning at me like they won the lottery.

"See you around, sis," Myron said, his tone dripping with false sweetness.

But Ross? He didn't even throw a second glance at me as he got out of the car like I was his driver.

Fucking bastard!

Myron got out after him too, waving like he hadn't just threatened my life over some flattened tires.

I sat in my car for a full minute, trying to get my breathing under control. My hands were still shaking.

Everything in me was shaking.

So, this was my life now. Blackmail, guns, and stepbrothers who apparently had zero moral compass and a personal vendetta against me.

Fantastic. Just fantastic.

I grabbed my bag and got out of the car, keeping my head down as I walked through the hallways.

But trouble always finds its way to me.

"Skylar!"

A voice called behind me.

Glenda!

I started to walk faster. But I wasn't fast enough as she caught up with me and blocked my way

Two girls were behind her— Maya and Tiara.

I arched my eyebrow.. Those two were in trouble. They used to bully me in junior year for not having a wolf.

But then I became Glenda's friend and they backed off.

But now, she was friends with...

Not friends! They were her minions.

Of course, they were.

Glenda would never get her hands dirty. She had her image as the perfect cheerleading queen to protect.

An image that I badly wanted to destroy.

I knew that revealing to the school that she slept with her best friend's boyfriend was going to do the job perfectly.

But knowing Glenda and her dirty tricks now, I doubt that would work now.

Most people didn't even like me at school. To them, a wolfless alpha was the same as an omega.

But when you're the daughter of the richest gamma in pack like Glenda, people would do anything to stay on your good side.

I gave her the best death glare. "How can I fucking help you?" I just couldn't hold in the cuss.

She smiled, all teeth and venom.

I swear I ached badly to slap the smile off her face.

"We're having an engagement party next weekend. You should come." She finished, shoving an invitation— tacky as hell by the way— at my face.

My body heated with anger. Hellfire is nothing compared to.

You've got to be kidding me!

A chuckled in disbelief. "You're inviting me to your engagement with my ex-boyfriend?"

She shrugged. "Yes, because I'm a good person."

Her smile widened. "Also, when you're coming, maybe don't do that weird make-up you always do. It always makes you look pathetic."

Maya and Tiara giggled derisively behind her.

I couldn't even control my guts as I ripped the invitation apart and threw the pieces against Glenda's face.

"Fuck you and fuck your engagement!"

I shoved past them, bumping my shoulder with Glenda's.

But I'd barely taken five steps when a cup hit my head, liquid splattering over my head and soaking through my clothes.

I looked down at the mess then looked behind me to see Maya and Tiara.

"Oops, sorry. I'm so clumsy." Tiara said, but she didn't sound sorry at all.

Everyone in the hallway was now staring.

Of course, Glenda didn't interfere. She just stood at a distance, a satisfied smirk on her face.

I was ready to beat Tiara and Maya up when my neck suddenly started to itch. Then the scent hit me, sharp and unmistakable.

Garlic.

"Who the hell puts garlic in a milkshake?" I muttered with irritation.

From the smirk on Tiara's face, it was clear she knew I was allergic to garlic. I shoved my middle finger at their faces as I ran out of the hallway.

Oh, no!

I needed to wash the garlic off my clothes immediately before it seeped into my system and turned me into a blotchy, swollen mess.

Thankfully, I reached the nearest bathroom and it was empty.

I locked myself in the largest stall and stripped off my hoodie and my jeans, standing only in my bra and panties.

The garlic smell was everywhere, clinging to my skin.

I turned on the sink full blast and started splashing water on my neck and chest, scrubbing until my skin turned red.

"Skylar?"

I froze.

That voice. I knew that voice.

"Jace?" My voice came out strangled. "What are you doing in the girls' bathroom?"

"I saw you running like you were in trouble. I wanted to be sure you were okay."

Like it mattered!

I tried to bolt the door but it pushed open.

And Jace was standing right there, his expression unreadable. I grabbed my shirt, trying to cover myself, but it was soaked and useless.

"Don't bother." His eyes raked over me hungrily. "I've seen everything already."

"Get out!" I barked as I shoved him roughly and bolted out of the stall.

He followed me, whipping past me to the front door. A maniacal grin crept up his face as he locked the door with the key and threw it out the window.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" I yelled, apprehension kicking in.

"What do you think? We might have broken up, but I'm willing to keep you around. For fun."

My stomach turned. "You're disgusting!"

He snorted. "Oh, don't act all innocent now. You've always told me how much you wanted us to make love."

I made a move to hit him but he ducked, and then swiped at my face, pressing something against my nose.

A handkerchief, thick with the scent of garlic. I inhaled the smell, burning my nose and throat.

"Stop!" I tried to pull away, but I suddenly felt too weak.

Was it the garlic?

"Just relax," he murmured. "This'll be easier if you don't fight."

How could Jace stoop this low? How was I ever in love with a bastard like him?

My vision started to blur. My body convulsed, like every cell was screaming. I collapsed to the floor, gasping.

No! This wasn't an allergic reaction.

It was something else. Something was wrong.

My body felt like it was on fire. My bones started to ache badly, like they were trying to break apart and reform.

But Jace didn't care, he climbed over me, undoing his pants, a cheesy grin on his face.

"You shouldn't have slapped me yesterday!" He said menacingly. "Maybe I wouldn't have had to do this."

But I could barely hear him.

The pain was unbearable now.

My skin prickled with sweat. Every hair on my body stood on end. It was like something was trying to break free through me.

Panic gripped me.

Was I shifting right now? Like, I was wolfing out?

But why did it hurt so much?

"Argh!" I let out a shrill cry as another spasm of pain hit my chest.

I tried to push Jace off me, but I was too weak. I could just watch him helplessly as he widened my thighs.

"Stop, Please!" I cried. "Someone help!"

But he continued—

Then the bathroom door came crumbling down, hinges popping. Jace flew backwards, hitting the wall with a sickening crack.

Through the haze of pain, I saw Myron, his grey eyes blazing with fury. Ross was right behind him, his expression deadly.

Ross knocked Jace unconscious with one brutal punch.

Then both of them were beside me, their hands on my shoulders, their scents overwhelming my senses.

Musk and sandalwood.

A sudden calmness settled over my body and my breathing slowly returned to normal.

"Mate!!" The words rolled off my tongue, stunning me into a stupor.

"Mate!" They exclaimed in unison.

No! No! No! This couldn't be happening! I sat up fast and hard. I didn't just get a mate, but two?

And worse they were my stepbrothers. My arch-enemies.

I'd rather remain mateless forever than be mated to them.

"This is a joke!" My throat ached from the mere effort of speaking. "Let's just get the rejection over and done with."

Myron's laugh was dark, laced with something that sounded like anger.

"Rejection? What makes you think we would reject you?" He gritted out.

My eyes widen with horror. He had this possessive look on his face that scared me senseless.

"We hate each other," I swallowed hard. "We're stepsiblings. This is wrong. This is—"

"Sorry," Ross interrupted, his brown eyes gleaming with amusement.

"Rejection will only be easy suffering for you. And that's very boring,"

I shook my head. "No! We can't be mates! I, Skylar Hawkins, reject you Ross and Myron Archer!"

Myron laughed again. "The more you want it, the more we'll never do it."

Then, together they whispered against my ears,

"Welcome to your doom, mate."

"You fucking—"

Another wave of pain crashed over me, and everything went black.