Chapter 2

ICE-CREAM

“What's going on here?” Ayla asked, her voice laced with confusion and surprise.

“Don't you know what's happening?” a lady beside her replied, her eyes shining with excitement. “It's the young Alpha heir's coronation, and marriage to Sophia Harris, the former Beta's niece!”

Ayla's eyes widened in shock as she took in the scene before her. “Married?” She murmured, her face contorting in anger.

She stood in the midst of the bustling town square, surrounded by the vibrant parade ceremony. Drummers marched by, while colorful floats and decorations filled the streets. The crowd erupted in cheers and applause as the newlyweds made their way through the procession, their faces beaming with joy.

Ayla's gaze locked onto the scene which only served to fuel her outrage, as she felt used and betrayed by the ones she trusted. As her world came crashing down, the scene began to blur and morph. The street where they stood faded away, replaced by a cozy bedroom. The sound of parade music dissolved into the gentle chatter of children.

Her eyes fluttered open, and she found herself in her own bed, surrounded by her three little ones. They were jumping on her, their bright eyes and cheerful faces bringing a smile to hers.

“Mommy, Mommy! Wake up!” they chimed in unison. “It’s our birthday!” They screamed excitedly.

Ayla’s smile grew wider as she hugged her triplets tight. “Happy fifth birthday, my little munchkins! Today's going to be a special day, just for you three!” She cooed.

The triplets squealed with excitement, bouncing up and down on the bed. “Cake! Presents! Party!” they chanted in unison.

“Okay, slow down everyone. Of course, Mommy didn’t forget.” She grinned, giving each of them a knowing look. The first triplet picked on so fast that he screamed at his sisters,“Last one downstairs is a rotten egg!” He screamed.

“Orion, be nice to your sisters!” Ayla began to protest, but the triplets raced ahead, their little feet pattering down the hallway.

Ayla got out of bed and followed, she had spent the last two hours decorating the house for the kids. She had come a long way since that fateful night with Ethan. Her children had brought light into her life now, they were her world.

In the kitchen, a big banner read “Happy 5th Birthday!” and the table was set with a delicious breakfast spread. She laughed as she watched them dig in.

It was a weekend, and she had taken a day off from her housekeeping job to spend with them. After breakfast, they got ready, and once she was finally done getting ready herself, they headed out. They lived in a small, shabby apartment on the fourth floor of a New York City building, but despite the basic living, they were a happy family.

As they walked to the ice cream parlor, Ayla's thoughts drifted back to the coronation ceremony she had dreamed about, a memory from five years ago that still lingered in her mind. She remembered watching Ethan and Sophia pass by in a float, hailed as Alpha and Luna and how helpless and betrayed she felt. Quickly, she pushed the memory aside, focusing on the triplets’ laughter and excitement.

“Mommy!” Nova, the second triplet, called out, “can we get sprinkles?” Before Ayla had a chance to reply, Skye, the third triplet, chimed in,

“And can I get a cookie dough cone with extra chocolate chips, please?” She jumped.

Orion couldn’t be left out, “Can I get six scoops of all my favorite flavors?!”

Ayla laughed, “Slow down, babies! We're going to get one scoop each, and that's plenty. We’ll all enjoy the treat without overdoing it.”

Just as they approached the corner of the street, a van screeched to a halt beside them. The door forcefully opened, and three masked figures jumped out. Ayla felt a rush of fear as the men surrounded them, her heart pounding in her chest. The triplets gathered close to her, clutching her hands, trembling.

One of the men stepped forward, a gun in his hand, causing the onlookers to scramble to safety. “Don't move,” he told her in a low and threatening tone.

Ayla swallowed hard, trying to keep her voice steady and calmer than she felt. “What do you want?” she asked, her eyes fixed on the gun.

“We want the triplets,” one of the men said, his tone curt and hard. “Give them to us, and you can walk away.”

Ayla's eyes widened in horror. “No!” she exclaimed, clutching the three of them even tighter. “I'm not giving my kids to you. Whoever you are, you got the wrong triplets, who sent you?”

“You are in no position to ask questions!” the man snapped, his eyes narrowing. “You have no choice. We're not going to ask again, hand them over and you can sort this out later with our employer.”

“Employer?”Ayla shook her head, her grip on her children tightening. Her eyes flashed with bravado as she spoke. “No!” she repeated, her voice firm. “I won't let you take them.”

Before she could complete her statement, one of the men grabbed Nova's arms. Ayla struggled with all her might, but it was no use. Another one took Skye and the third one grabbed Orion. The men were too strong, and they easily pulled them away from her.

She screamed in rage and despair, but it was too late. The men were already dragging them into the van. “Let them go!”Ayla yelled, tugging at Orion's leg. In her desperation, she managed to pull of the man’s mask, but one of the men was faster, and he struck her hard on the head with the back of his gun.

She fell to the ground, her vision blurring. She could hear the triplets’ screams as the van zoomed off, but everything seemed to be happening in slow motion. Suddenly, she felt dizzy and disoriented, and her head throbbing in pain.

In the distance, Ayla could see people running towards her. The last thing she heard was a voice saying, “Miss, are you okay?” And then, everything went dark.