Chapter 2—Mate Bond

Lianne

We ran a few more laps around the forest. Lyriel caught a rabbit which we cleaned and roasted. I had changed into a set of cloth that Kai brought me.

We sat around a small fire, listening to the crackling sound of the burning wood and smelling the aroma of roasted rabbit.

Kai told me about school. His art classes, the popular alphas in the academy…

I couldn't wait to go to college, then we'll be neighbors. The Alpha academy was right next to the Luna academy.

Though they were named like this, beta bloods were also allowed in the alpha academy.

My adopted parents weren't sure what blood my sister and I had, but the fact that we were their daughters could get us literally anywhere in the pack.

After a few minutes of chatting and eating, we went back to Kai's house where I insisted he took a hot bath to dispel some of the cold.

Soon, we were in his car headed to the pack house.

My eyes followed the trees as they ran along the side of the road. The inside of the car was cold, I reached out and turned on the heater.

“Don't catch a cold” I said to Kai

He only nodded and smiled softly, he knew better than to not listen to me.

I noticed his fingers tightened on the steering wheel, the faint tremors in them. It always started like this.

Small things most people wouldn't notice. The coughs, the cold hands, the way he avoided the moon, the closer the full moon got.

My chest tightened.

“You're thinking again” Kai muttered.

“I'm always thinking”

“Yeah, but this is the guilty kind”

I turned to him, but didn't say a word. I couldn't.

The rest of the car ride was silent with only the occasional sound of kai's cough.

I glanced at him in worry. If I had my way, I would take all his pain, but I couldn't.

Aradia, the witch, still hadn't reached out to me and the full moon was in two days.

“I'll be fine.” Kai assured

I didn't respond, we both knew there was nothing fine here.

Soon the car came to a halt in front of the pack house. I didn't want to be here, but the rules were clear “No sleeping out”.

But after tomorrow, I'll be able to do whatever I want.

“Goodnight Kai, I'll see you tomorrow” I waved

He waved back and the car zoomed off.

I had barely walked a few steps when a scent— no, three scents came crashing into me at once. My throat tightened, heart filled with dread.

“Please no,” I prayed to no one in particular.

But when three figures burst out of the door, eyes fixed on me. I knew my prayers didn't reach anyone or rather it wasn't answered, like all of my prayers.

Three eyes stared at me, each face with a different expression, but trust me none of them felt good.

Their scents wrapped around me like invincible chains. My wolf stirred violently inside me.

“Mate” she growled

“No” I snapped back. Not after what they did.

“Mate” The triplets echoed, their eyes still fixed on me. I could see the excitement in them.

Hearing that word, my stomach flipped, my knees weakened from instinct fighting trauma.

Lyriel howled inside my head. “Mate. Ours”

“No,” I whispered again, shaking my head. At that point, I didn't know any other word.

The bond pulled at my chest like hooks dragging me towards them.

My body betrayed me leaning forward even as my my mind screamed not to.

The bond was too strong. A mate bond with an alpha was really strong, not to talk of three alphas.

I looked up at the sky. Was the moon goddess playing a trick on me?. Tears gathered in my eyes. Tears that I've sworn to never shed.

Suddenly the night disappeared, and all I could see was endless snow. I could feel the cold on my back, my wrists pinned. Hands crawling everywhere…

I could still hear them laughing. Those lewd words…

My stomach twisted violently. I remembered the cold, the blood, the growl, the wolf and how everything went red.

I swayed on my feet, my hand going to my chest and I did the only thing I knew to do at that moment. The only thing that could stop me from betraying myself.

“I Lianne Noctis reject you Alpha Darius, Cassius and Lucian Ravencrest as my mate and Alpha”

Three alpha auras crashed into me at once. My knees weakened, my heart trembled…I could literally taste iron on my tongue.

I had just rejected three Alphas. That was rash, I knew. I can't stand them being my mates for a second longer. But there was something I overlooked, and that's…

“We don't accept your rejection” Darius, the eldest boomed “ You don't get to reject us”

Blood dripped down my jaw as my eyes darkened. “You are ours, Lianne” Cassius added.

I could feel my vision blurring. I could see the hurt in Lucian's eyes. Or maybe my vision was going bad, the last triplet was indeed the most sensitive of them.

But why would he be hurt at my rejection. They were demons. They didn't feel hurt.

Before I reached the ground, I felt one grab my wrist and I collided with a hard chest. Another held my waist from behind, one held my hand and they nuzzled my neck.

Their noses brushed the collar of my coat. The scent of forest after rain filled the air.

Kai.

Three growls shook the ground. I knew they could smell him. Especially after that run.

“Because of him?” one of them said.

That tone…it was Lucian.

Their grip tightened around me instantly, before the world went black, someone whispered.

“Another male doesn't change anything” the voice was cold.

Darius, the cocky bast*rd.

Then the world went quiet.