Ours.

Nyra's pov.

My breath caught as his grip tightened on my wrist. I tried to wriggle out, fear gnawing at my chest, and his breath growing heavier like he was trying to hold back. 

“Please..” I muttered, letting my drag drop and placing my palm on top of his hairy hand. “I didn't know this room was occupied.” 

He moved closer, his sandalwood scent growing more intense, and leaving me with a sensation of heat that travelled down to the space between my thighs. My cheeks burned, my body went rigid and I struggled harder. 

“You walked into the one place you shouldn't be.” Ronan, the one holding me, grunted, making me shiver. I could feel all their eyes on me, watching carefully, but I could barely see a thing. 

However, something in me decided that it was time to push back, tired of being punished, of being treated like a mere object. 

“Then maybe…” I started, forcing the words out despite the way my heart was slamming against my chest. 

“You should keep your doors locked if you don't want anyone walking in.” 

Silence followed, as if they just couldn't comprehend the fact that I talked back. My breath hung, waiting and wondering if I had crossed a line. The air was thick and suffocating, and after what seemed like forever, I heard a low, dry chuckle.

“Mouthy…” 

“Hmm.” Ronan slowly loosened his grip. “Interesting indeed.” 

I didn't wait for anything else to happen. I reached for by bag in the dark and darted out of the room like my life depended on it. I ran into another room, directly opposite, my brain only thinking of ways to escape their presence. 

While trying to calm my nerves, I noticed that the room I was in was much brighter, with the curtains drawn and the soft rays of the moon leaking in through the tall, glass windows. The room looked like it had not been inhabited for years, so I decided to settle in.

As I unpacked my wet clothes from my soaked bag, I thought about the triplets and everything that happened that night. If I was going to survive here with them, then I had to stay away from them. 

I just had to do my job, get paid and find somewhere else to live before the end of the semester. It shouldn't be that hard, right?

****

The next morning, as sun sipped into the mansion, I ran around to finish my tasks for the day. I cleaned, made breakfast and did some laundry before getting ready for my first day in school. 

Locating the business administration block wasn't difficult, and luckily, I got there before the professor did, and found my way to the empty roll of seats at the back where no one would see me. The hall was noisy, so I brought out the only notebook I owned and started to scribble hearts on it. 

It wasn't long before someone else settled beside me, her rosy scent filling my lungs. I didn't bother to look up at her until she tapped my arm.

“Hey…” 

I offered her a short smile. “Hi.”

“Do you know if the first class is already over? I lost my calendar, it was a hassle finding this place.” She rolled her eyes, panting. 

“I actually just got here too but I don't think the first class has even started.” I answered and she seemed relieved. 

“Thanks. I'm Julie Hayes by the way.”

“Nyra Meyers.” 

“Are you coming to the mate dance tonight?” 

I raised a brow at her, wondering what she was saying and also growing tired of the conversation. I simply wanted to be left alone. 

“Tonight is a full moon, and from what I heard, the students usually throw a party in the woods to celebrate finding their mates. Well, most wolves have already found their mates, so this is mostly for fun.”

My chest twisted at the word, ‘mate’. It made me think of Damian and they way he tore me to shreds by ruining my reputation and rejecting me in front of the whole pack. I blinked back my tears and feigned a smile.

“Why are you inviting me?” 

“You look stressed, it'll be good for you.” 

I shook my head immediately.

“I don't think I will come. I'll be too busy.” I turned my attention to my book.

“But it'll be fun..” 

“I'm not interested.” I cut her off harshly and she went silent. She did not say a word until the professor entered and started the class. 

The class was unbearable, mostly because I kept thinking about my cruel fate. Wolfless and without a mate, I was destined to die alone, a fate dreaded by every wolf. 

Even after the class, it was all I could think about. I would be coiled up in my room all night that night, listened to other wolves howl as they bond with their mates. Perhaps, the moon goddess really did have favorites. 

When I got back to the mansion that evening, something felt off. My body was restless, and no matter how hard I cleaned to distract myself, I couldn't shake the feeling of dread buried deep in my stomach. 

My head spun, my vision blurred occasionally, causing me to lean over the kitchen counters to catch by breath. 

As the moon slowly peeked out from behind the clouds, my symptoms worsened. A feeling that felt too familiar and too deadly settled in my gut, and the air around me stirred to life, whispering in my ear, causing chills to run up and down my spine. It was overwhelming, and I was more confused than I ever been.

“Was it the full moon?” I wondered as I sauntered out of the kitchen, staring at the bright, pulsing full moon through the glass. It wasn't normal.

But then, the front doors burst open, slamming against the wall behind it, and the triplets emerged at once, their eyes burning with fiery passion and savage intent.

With widened eyes, I took two steps back, afraid. 

“The scent..” Ronan sniffed. “It's her.” 

Their gazes ravaged me.

“It can't be..” Dante folded his fists and Kael's eyes darkened as he stepped closer. 

“She's ours.”