Shattered Arrival

Rain poured down like the sky wanted me gone. I stood at the massive front doors of the Blackthorn mansion, soaked to the bone, my old duffel bag heavy in my hand. This was supposed to be my new home. It felt more like walking into a cage.

Water ran down my face and mixed with the tears I refused to cry. My clothes clung to my skin, cold and heavy. I had spent the last hour standing outside because my mother told me to wait while she went in first with her new husband. Typical. She always put herself first.

I raised my hand to knock, but the tall wooden doors swung open before I could touch them. A man in a crisp black suit looked me up and down like I was trash the rain had dragged in.

"You must be Avery," he said flatly. "Come inside. You're dripping everywhere."

I stepped into the grand hall, my wet shoes squeaking loudly on the shiny marble floor. The sound echoed around the huge space. Crystal chandeliers hung high above, throwing cold, sharp light in every direction. Everything looked expensive and perfect. Everything except me.

My mother, Lila, stood near the center of the hall next to a powerful-looking older man. She barely glanced at me. Her new dress and styled hair made her look like she belonged here. I looked like I had been pulled out of a dumpster.

"Victor, this is my daughter," she said quickly, her voice bright and fake. "Avery, meet your new stepfather."

Victor Blackthorn gave me a short nod. His face showed nothing. "Welcome. We will talk more tomorrow." He placed his hand on my mother's back and led her away without another word. Just like that, they disappeared down a long hallway, leaving me standing there alone and dripping.

I was alone.

Three men stood near the wide staircase, watching me like predators studying prey. They looked like they owned the world and everyone in it. Tall, handsome, and terrifying.

The tallest one stepped forward first. He had a sharp jaw, cold eyes, and wore an expensive black suit that fit him perfectly. He had to be Damien, the oldest.

"So you're the girl," he said. His voice was deep and smooth, but there was no warmth in it at all. "Avery Voss."

"Yes," I answered, trying hard to keep my voice steady even though I was shivering from the cold. "That's me."

One of the others, the muscular one with tattoos peeking from his collar, let out a low laugh. That had to be Jax. The third one, Ezra, stayed focused on his phone, but I could feel him studying every inch of me.

Damien walked closer. Water dripped from my hair onto the expensive marble floor. He stopped right in front of me, so close I could smell his clean, expensive cologne.

"Try not to drip all over my floors, little Omega," he said quietly.

He reached out and tilted my chin up with two fingers. His touch was firm and warm. It sent a strange, unwanted spark straight through my body even though I hated him for it. His eyes locked on mine for what felt like forever. My heart beat harder in my chest. For a second, neither of us moved. Then he dropped his hand like I had burned him.

"You will stay in the servants' wing," Damien continued, his tone flat. "Third door on the left. Do not wander around the main house unless you're told to."

I swallowed hard, trying to push down the anger rising in my throat. "The servants' wing? I'm your stepsister now. Not a maid."

Jax smirked and leaned against the railing of the staircase. His arms were crossed over his broad chest. "Stepsister? That's cute. You really think that means something here?"

Ezra finally looked up from his phone. His eyes were sharp and calculating. "We checked your records already. No wolf. No scent. No money. No power. You're basically nothing, Avery. Don't get comfortable."

My face burned with shame and anger. I gripped the handle of my duffel bag tighter. "I didn't ask to come here. My mother married your father. I had no choice in any of this."

Damien crossed his arms. His expression stayed cold and hard. "Exactly. You had no choice. That means you follow our rules. This is our house. Our world. You are a guest who might get to stay for a while. Understand?"

"I understand," I said through gritted teeth. "But I'm not going to hide in some servant room like I'm ashamed to be here. I have a right to exist in this house too."

Jax pushed off the railing and walked over slowly. He circled me once, looking me up and down like he was measuring how easy I would be to break. "You've got some fire in you. Good. It will be more fun to watch it die out."

"Enough," Damien said sharply. He turned back to me. "Go to your room. Dry off. Dinner is not required tonight. Stay out of sight."

I picked up my wet bag from the floor. Water continued to drip from my clothes. "This is ridiculous. You don't even know me."

"We know enough," Ezra replied with a cold smile. "And what we don't know, we'll find out soon. I already have most of your life on my screen."

I started walking toward the hallway they had pointed at. My clothes stuck uncomfortably to my skin and my shoes left wet footprints behind me on the perfect floor. I could feel all three of them watching me leave, their eyes burning into my back.

When I reached the corner of the hallway, I stopped and pressed my back against the wall. I needed a second to breathe and calm my racing heart. Their voices carried clearly from the main hall.

"She's weaker than I thought," Damien said.

Jax laughed softly. "Pretty though. In a fragile kind of way. Might be fun to play with."

"Doesn't matter," Damien replied. His voice turned sharp and final. "Break her quickly. Make sure the little scentless Omega knows she doesn't belong here."

My stomach dropped. I stood frozen against the wall, heart hammering so hard in my chest I thought it might burst. They wanted to break me. They had already decided.

And I had just walked straight into their world with no way out.

I clutched my bag tighter and hurried down the dark hallway toward my new room. The sound of rain still pounded against the tall windows like a warning I should have listened to long ago.