CHAPTER SIX: STRIP!

Aria'S POV 

“Strip!” The command cracked like a whip through the silence.

One of the brothers ordered, stepping closer to me. His voice was rich, smooth, almost warm—yet his silver eyes gleamed with something merciless. His long golden brown hair was packed and tied neatly in a bun at the crown of his head.

He was the eldest among them, you could easily tell by his cold stance and dominating aura, which was superior to the others.

I had been standing in the common room of Riverwind pack house—sorry, penthouse— for close to thirty minutes now, waiting.

“Let's see what we got in exchange for the treaties your father owed,” the one I’d met first in the pack woods drawled. His golden eyes slid down my body, slow, deliberate, then dragged back up with infuriating calm.

A low chuckle rumbled from the third. He had messy blond hair like mine, but his was short and full lips that curved into a cruel smirk.

“She looks fragile,” he sneered, circling me like a predator. His hand brushed my arm without asking, causing heat to sear up my body. “I wonder if she’ll break easily… or if the goddess made her durable enough.

My stomach twisted violently at his touch. His confidence terrified me, more than the command had.

Everything still felt unreal. A nightmare I couldn’t wake from. And the worst part? For a heartbeat, I had actually felt a ray of hope when I realized they were my mates.

Fool. I should have known better than to think the moon goddess would make anything easy for me. After all, I was cursed.

Oh goddess. My father. My own blood had handed me over to these men. And he hadn’t even flinched.

One mate was already enough to shake a person’s world apart, but three? And not just any three—them, the ruthless Lycan Kings? That was a death sentence.

Every story I’d ever heard about them slammed into me. How they meted out gruesome punishments to people— non offenders, even —fod sport. How no one who entered this penthouse ever left whole—let alone sane.

Mate bond or not, I should’ve had a choice. I could have rejected them. But no. I wasn't given any option.

My chest heaved as fragments of memory shoved their way forward, unbidden.

Father’s study door swinging open immediately he was alerted of their arrival. His face lit orange in the firelight. His eyes weren't on me, but on the triplets. Relief flooding his features as if I were already gone.

“She’s yours,” he’d said, with a steadiness that cut deeper than if he’d screamed. ‘She’s useless without her wolf. Better you take her than waste space here.’

Those exact words he'd used when he’d spoken of Alpha Damien of Blue Moon Pack. What would he say if Damien came for me now?

I pressed my hands to my stomach, trying to hold myself together— only for another flash to slice through. 

Lyra. The bitch 

Standing at Father’s side, her lips curved in triumph as though she’d finally won. She hadn’t needed to lift a claw to destroy me; she’d just watched while Father bartered me away like I was cattle.

I had begged—oh goddess, I remembered begging. My knees pressed on the cold tiled floors, the . “Father, please—”

His voice had been steel. “Enough. You are not Luna material, Aria. You never were.”

“I bet you heard me clearly or did I stutter?” the eldest of the triplets asked, snapping me to present.

I blinked. “What?” My voice was barely a whisper.

“I’m sure you heard him.” The blonde — Ryker, though he didn't tell me his name yet — stared at me like I was a quick meal he wanted to devour, said. 

I searched their faces to see if they were joking, but nothing about them suggested they ever joked.

My voice broke free, sharp with desperation. “How is all of this my fault? I never asked to be born Wolfless nor did I ask to be mated to any of you. So why… why are you doing this?” 

The eldest moved so suddenly I flinched. His breath was hot against my ear as he growled, low and final.

“One thing you need to learn right now.” His words coiled like chains. “Never question a command from us,” he said , pointing among them. “Disobedience to this will attract punishment. Do you understand?” 

I nodded fast, my breath short. The marble beneath my toes was freezing, biting into my skin, forcing me to the reality I wanted to escape.

He straightened, towering. “Good. You will remember my name. Caden.” His silver eyes gleamed in the candlelight as though he enjoyed the way my shame tasted.

Oh heavens. This was it. This was the price of being an outcast. And I had no fucking idea what they were going to do with me.

“Ryker,” the blonde chimed in, leaning back lazily into one of the leather armchairs that sat in their common room. “You’ll learn mine the hard way.” 

The golden eyed one, his tone quiet but sharp. “Aiden.” 

The names hit me like blows. Caden. Ryker. Aiden. My mates and captors.

“Now,” Caden ordered, his voice like steel dragging across stone. “Do it.”

With shaking hands, I reached for the hem of my blouse and pulled it over my head. Then my tight leggings came next.

The cold night air swept over me, raising goosebumps across my skin. I stood there in my lacy bra and panties, trembling. They were the last scraps of dignity I had left.

None of them blinked. Gods, I felt every inch of my skin pickle as their eyes were trained on me like hunters on a prey.

I let the blouse fall to the floor. My heart slammed so hard against my ribs that I thought it might break through.

Caden’s voice dropped, cruel. “Unclasp your bra. Lose the panties. We want to see all of you.”

My blood ran cold.

I bit down on my lips so hard I tasted blood, contemplating. But I knew refusing wasn't an option. Especially not after the warning I'd just been given.

Gently, carefully, I fumbled at the clasp of my bra. The straps slipped off my shoulders and the fabric slid down, pooling at my feet.

My arms shot up instinctively to cover my breasts, heat rising to my cheeks as shame crawled up my skin like fire ants.

Caden’s Adam’s apple bobbed, a flicker of movement in his throat before his expression hardened again. 

“Damn…” Aiden groaned, the sound deep and guttural, rumbling from his chest. His golden eyes flared, flecks of light sparking like fire in them as he stared at my breast.

The air in the room thickened instantly, heavy and charged, crackling like a storm about to break.

““King Caden,” a soft, feminine voice called from the doorway. “The dark room is ready.”

Dark room… as in wow, these men were truly something.

“Good.” His reply was clipped, dismissive. Footsteps retreated beyond the door.

When his gaze returned to me, his lips curled in a smile that made my chest clench.

“Before we leave…” His tone was almost amused now. “Tell me, Aria. Have you ever been fucked by a man?”

“What do you mean…?” My breath hitched the moment I registered the question. It felt like a bucket of ice water was poured on me.