Behind The Mask

Amara’s POV

The familiar scent of ink and paper filled the air as I pushed open the heavy doors of the school library. The quietness here was a reprieve from the chaos of the hallways, where girls swooned and giggled, whispering excitedly about the triplet brothers. Ryder, Jaxon, and Caden had enrolled in my high school a few days ago, and their arrival had turned my world upside down.

Despite everything we had been through together, I couldn’t shake the tension that followed me like a shadow. The triplets were used to being the center of attention, their powerful presence drawing people toward them like moths to a flame. The girls at school were no exception. They fawned over the brothers as if they were celebrities.

But I hated it. I hated the way the girls hung on their every word, and more than that, I hated the way they always seemed to find me, even when I tried to stay far away.

Today, I had a free period and all I wanted was to escape to the library, bury myself in books, and forget about the world outside. As I weaved through the crowded halls, I could feel eyes on me—jealous, curious, and scornful. It was always like this now. I didn’t ask for the triplets’ attention, but somehow, I ended up with it. And the girls? They resented me for it.

I turned a corner, the library doors just in sight, when I suddenly felt a wall of heat behind me. My skin prickled with awareness. I didn’t have to look to know who it was.

“Amara,” a voice called, low and teasing.

I clenched my jaw and kept walking, quickening my pace. I wasn’t going to deal with this today. Not with them.

But before I could reach the door, Ryder—of course it had to be Ryder—stepped in front of me, his tall frame blocking my path. His lips twisted into a smirk, and I could see Jaxon and Caden flanking him on either side, watching with a mix of amusement and something darker.

“Oh, come on, don’t act like you didn’t hear us,” Ryder drawled, crossing his arms over his chest. “We just wanted to talk.”

“I’m busy,” I muttered, trying to sidestep him, but Jaxon mirrored my movement, effectively trapping me between them. The hallway around us buzzed with whispers as the other students watched, especially the girls, their eyes shooting daggers in my direction.

“You’re always busy, aren’t you?” Jaxon said, leaning in, his voice dripping with mockery. “Too busy for us?”

“Yeah, what’s the rush?” Caden added, his tone light but his gaze piercing. “We’ve been looking for you all morning.”

I didn’t want to play their game. Not today. I kept my voice steady, though my heart pounded in my chest. “Just let me through, I don’t have time for this.”

“Oh, but you don’t mind making time for us in other ways, do you?” Ryder's voice had taken on a darker edge. His eyes gleamed with something cold, and my stomach twisted with unease. “What, tired of being our little pet?”

My breath hitched. His words struck like a blade. Pet. That’s what it felt like sometimes. That no matter what I did, I was just something they toyed with, something they controlled.

The hallway had gone deathly quiet now, the other students hanging on every word. I could hear soft murmurs behind me, the jealous whispers of the girls who hated me for always being in the triplets’ orbit, even though it was the last thing I wanted.

“She thinks she’s too good for them,” one girl muttered.

“Yeah, acting all high and mighty,” another sneered. “She’s just pretending.”

I bit my lip, trying to ignore them, but the weight of their judgment pressed down on me. I could feel the burn of tears threatening to spill over, but I refused to let them fall. I refused to give Ryder, or anyone else, the satisfaction of seeing me break.

“What’s wrong, Amara?” Ryder’s voice was soft now, mockingly gentle. “You were so brave a few days ago. Where’s all that fire? Or maybe…” He leaned closer, his breath hot against my ear. “Maybe you’re only strong when you’re hiding behind your wolf.”

The words hit harder than they should have. He was mocking me—mocking my power, my bond with my wolf, and all the progress I thought I’d made. The triplets had seen me at my most vulnerable, had fought by my side, but now, in this place, it felt like none of that mattered. They were different here—cruel in ways I hadn’t expected.

I could hear the girls giggling now, whispering among themselves. They were relishing this—watching me squirm under Ryder’s scrutiny. I felt my throat tighten, the sting of humiliation making it hard to breathe.

“Maybe she’s finally realizing she’s not special,” Jaxon said, his voice dripping with amusement. “Just another girl.”

Another round of laughter echoed around me. The humiliation was too much. My vision blurred with unshed tears, and I could feel my hands trembling. I tried to push past them again, but Ryder stepped in front of me, his hand catching my arm roughly.

“Don’t run away,” he said, his voice dark. “We’re not done yet.”

Something in me snapped. The anger, the frustration, the hurt—it all bubbled to the surface, and I yanked my arm away from him, my voice shaking as I glared at him. “I don’t care what you think of me. You can’t bully me anymore.”

Ryder’s smirk faltered for just a second, but then he laughed—a low, mocking sound that cut straight through me. “Bully? Is that what you think this is?”

The tears I’d been holding back spilled over, and I hated myself for it. I hated that they had made me cry. I hated that I felt so small under their gaze, and I hated that the entire school was watching, waiting for me to break.

“Look at that,” Ryder said, his voice soft with mock concern. “She’s crying. Poor little Amara.”

Jaxon chuckled darkly. “Maybe she’s not as tough as we thought.”

The girls in the hallway snickered, their laughter filling my ears like poison. “Of course she’s crying,” one of them said loudly. “She can’t handle it. She’s only tough when they’re protecting her.”

The words stung more than they should have, because they were true. Ryder, Jaxon, and Caden had always been there, always stepping in, always making sure I was safe. But now? Now I was alone.

“Just let her go,” Caden finally said, his voice quieter than the others. His eyes flicked to mine, something soft and almost regretful there, but it was too late. The damage had been done.

I pushed past them, my head down, not caring where I was going as long as it was away from them. Away from the whispers, the laughter, the pain. I felt my tears falling, hot and fast, and I couldn’t stop them.

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Ryder’s POV

I watched her go, my stomach twisting with something I couldn’t quite place. She had always been fiery, defiant, but today… Today, I had gone too far. I hadn’t meant to make her cry, not really. But seeing her break, seeing those tears—it made me feel something uncomfortable, something I didn’t like.

Jaxon nudged me, a smirk still plastered on his face. “That was brutal, man.”

I didn’t respond. Something inside me churned, something that felt dangerously close to guilt. I hadn’t wanted to hurt her, not like this.

The girls in the hallway were still giggling, but their eyes kept flicking to me, waiting for me to say something, to finish what I’d started. But I couldn’t. The image of Amara’s tear-streaked face haunted me, and for the first time, I wondered if maybe… maybe we had crossed a line.

“Let’s go,” I muttered, turning away, my chest tight with a feeling I couldn’t shake.

But as I walked down the hall, I knew one thing for sure—things between us were never going to be the same again.