003 - 300 Days

“Little wolfless.”

Lyra's whole bones melted. Wolfless, that's what he had just Said.

Do they think she's a taboo too? Are they gonna want to kill her too?

“My name is Lyra,” she whimpered, trying to stand straight even though her whole body hurt.

One of the guys must be Erix - she was having a hard time remembering their names.

Erix - the one with the red eyes and red streaks in his hair.

Tyson - the one with the purple eyes.

Dyrion - the one with the blue eyes and curly long hair.

Erix walked over to her, and Lyra felt her heart beating so frantically against her chest as he wrapped his fingers around her neck, looking into her eyes with a blank expression that made it hard to guess what was on his mind.

His red eyes were gorgeous, very gorgeous but scary at the same time.

His fingers slightly tightened around her neck and she clenched her first.

“If you are going to kill me,” she whispered, closing her eyes, “just get it over with.”

His low chuckle made her open her eyes to see him smiling back at her.

“I guess it would be so easy -” he snarled and his thumb stroked her flesh making her shiver, “to just do it. Snap your neck right now, bury you by the hills where no one would ever find you.”

She swallowed,her whole body shaking and more tears flowed down her cheeks.

“Then what are you waiting for?”

She was tired. Of everything.

It wasn't her fault that the goddess decided to make her like this - but ever since she was young she has been teased, mocked. Hell her whole family had been kicked out of the pack even because of her nature.

She was tired of it all so if they wanted to end it, they should fucking do it!

Erix' hand dropped from her neck and he backed off, “we have no intention of killing you, little fire.”

Lyra released a breath she didn't know she had been holding.

A long breath of relief.

“Thank you. And for saving my life too.”

He tilted his head, giving her a quizzical look, “why do you allow yourself to be treated like that, little fire? Why allow others to walk all over you like you are nothing?”

She lifted her chin, “because that's what I am. Nothing. I do not stand a chance against them - I'm wolfless.”.

His brothers chuckled and Lyra turned to look at them. They were both leaning against the wall, with a smile as they watched the dialogue.

“You do know that's not an excuse right?”

Lyra raised her brow, “what do you mean?”

“Being wolfless doesn't justify being a coward.”

“Hey, I'm not —”

“But you are.” He interrupted, “What else would you call a person who just submits and allows others to treat her like shit?’

Lyra had nothing to say to that so she averted her gaze to avoid his stare. His quizzical yet mocking stare.

“You have a fire in you, Lyra. I see it, and I'm sure others do too - you are about the only one too scared to see or acknowledge it. Once you, do trust me, no one would dare to bully you.”

“I do not have a …”

“Werewolves are born with wolves naturally, yes. But what many people fail to realise is that the wolf is only the animal and other parts of us. A beautiful bonus, I can't deny. But we still have every advantage we could because the blood is in our veins wolf…or no wolf,” Erix's hand reached out and grabbed a strand of her hair, “the only reason you aren't strong enough is because you have never allowed yourself to be. The problem is from your mind,” he tapped her temple, “not your lack of a wolf.”

Lyra frowned, totally confused. Yes what he was saying made sense but it also didn't make sense at the same time.

Besides, why were the Salvatore brothers here, giving her life advice?

“I do not understand you,” she stated shifting uncomfortably as Erix moved closer to her, looming over her and his warmth

Goddess above, his warmth was beautiful.

And it was doing funny things to her head.

Funny things that she ignored when she noticed that Erix was speaking.

“It's fine if you don't. But do not worry, we are going to help you.”

Lyra raised a brow, “help me how?”

“You are weak. Or so you think but how would you love to work together with my brothers and I?”

“I don't understand.”

“These wolves in the school are ruthless,” Tyson chimed in and shrugged, “they have made you a target and they will not rest until they get rid of you - forever.”

Lyra shuddered.

“But,” This time it was Dyrion who spoke, his voice deeper than the rest, “we can help you in that. Not just in saving your life from their cruel hands - we can make you so powerful that they will all fear you.”

Lyra laughed at that, shaking her head. Surely they were just delusional.

“It is possible. You have all the strength you need - you just need to know how to let it out and who better to learn from - than the strongest? Think about it. Think about how it would feel to actually not be the weak one at bottom anymore. To actually come out at the top and stop being bullied.”

Lyra thought about it. Oh she really did and the feeling that came from the imagination alone was blissful.

All her life she had been nothing but a prey - a weakling.

How would it feel to just be in the spotlight, to be looked and seen as something more than just a wolfless Werewolf?

She straightened her spine and looked Erix dead in the eye, “what are you offering?”

“300 days.” He Said quickly as if he was waiting for or expecting the question, “Just 300 days where we will offer you ultimate protection - no one would dare come close to you - while building you to be strong enough to protect yourself. 300 days.”

300 days.

“Yes. In 300 days, we want to train you into winning the annual challenge next year.”

Lyra froze.

The annual challenge? As in the Azura challenge?

That was a legendary challenge and surely she has no chance to -

“That's the best way to make a statement and trust us Lyra - by the time we are done with you, no one would hold a candle to you. That is the only way you can show everyone just what you are capable of - an opportunity for you to come out on the top.”

It sounded so ridiculous. Very ridiculous and absurd but Lyra had nothing to lose here.

Even if she thinks winning the annual contest was a little bit too delusional, at least she will have their protection in 300 days. A big win for her still.

But wait…

“Why are you doing this?” She asked suspiciously, “I do not know you. So why are you interested in helping me out?”

The three men exchanged glances between themselves before Dyrion walked over with a smile.

“Because - unlike you, we can see the grit and strength you have and would love to see you unleash it - which is why we want you to be our champion for the contest.”

This grit they were talking about, where on earth was it and where were they seeing it?

“Secondly, we want you to be our lover for the 300 days,” Erix said, “our fake lover.” he quickly added and Lyra laughed.

“What does that even mean?”

“Just like we said. We want you to pose as our girlfriend, our mate for 300 days and in return, you learn everything we know about being a formidable force.

This is ridiculous.

“Okay, I'm in.” She blurted out before she could stop herself, “BUT! I hope it doesn't involve anything uhm…sexual?”

Erix's smile dropped and he lifted her chin with his finger, ‘’would it be so bad, Lyra to be intimate with us?”

Lyra licked her lip which suddenly felt too dry under his intense gaze, “no not…uhm, I…”

He chuckled, “No. It doesn't involve anything sexual,” he dropped his finger, “unless you want it to.”

She rolled her eyes, “that's great uh…so how do we proceed.”

Tyson walked over digging out a piece of paper from his pocket, “you have to sign this.”

She took the paper and laughed when she opened it.

“A contract? Really? You already had the contract prepared with my name? Charming.” Tyson shrugged nonchalantly

.

“We were prepared for whatever response you give.” He gave her a pen which she took with shaky hands.

She had more questions to ask but - she decided to keep her mouth shut.

She really hoped that she wasn't about to make a grave mistake she'd regret later.

But honestly, what was the big deal and what would she lose?

They were right.

The werewolves would not let her go until she's dead and she's had enough of being at their mercy. Being their prey and the chase.

Being the Salvatore brothers girlfriend even if it was fake?

Forget training and the contest - she would be one of the most feared. Although no one would directly be scared of her, they'd all want to avoid her because of the brothers.

And for 300 whole days.

Hell - this was the deal of a lifetime.

So without reading the content of the paper, Lyra signed the contract and handed it back to Tyson who grinned at her.

“Amazing! We start counting from Monday!” Erix said and stepped away, making Lyra miss the warmth of his close presence.

“We know where to find you Lyra, and we will reach out to you. Till then, please try your best to stay alive.”

With an inhumane speed, they zoomed off leaving her alone in the hall.

Lyra shuddered.

Goddess above helps her but she hopes she hadn't just signed her soul away to the three hybrids.

༺༺♡♡༻༻

“Lyra baby! Welcome?” Lyra smiled, wrapping her arms around her mother tightly before she walked into the house.

Her jaw dropped - for the second time, when she took in the interiors of the house. The house was a goddamn mansion for real.

“Mum!” She whispered, “did you fucking marry a billionaire?”

Her mother laughed, “shush. Mind your language.”

She hummed in her throat looking around the large sitting room that was bigger than her whole apartment before she sat down on one of the sofas, her fingers wrapped in each other.

She was nervous. She had no idea why she was nervous.

When her mom called her earlier that morning to remind her about the ‘family’ dinner gathering she had been tempted to make an excuse but she knew how much this meant to her mum.

Besides, she would really love to see who her new step father was.

“Make yourself at home honey.” Her mother smiled and rushed upstairs.

Lyra looked around the house, her heart still beating wildly in her chest.

She really had no idea why she was so nervous- couldn't quite pin her hands on it.

She stood up when she heard footsteps descending the stairs.

“We'll look who we have here!”

Lyra's jaw dropped at the voice because she fucking knew that voice.

She swirled around and gasped when she saw none other than Mr Ray Salvatore, her principal standing beside her mum.

“Welcome to our humble abode, Lyra.” Mr Salvatore said with a huge grin and her mother looked genuinely pleased.

“Mum!” Lyra called, “YOU ARE MARRIED TO MY PRINCIPAL?”

“Do not yell, honey.”

Do not yell? She just found out that the principal is her step father and -

Holy shit!

Lyra froze as realisation quickly dawned on her.

If the principal is her step father then…

As if on cue, the door opened and Lyra turned to see them, Tyson, Dyrion and Erix walking into the house with huge smiles.

Lyra's heart jumped to her throat and they stopped when they saw her.

“Hello sissy,” Erix drawled and she groaned.

Her step brothers.

The triplets were her fucking step brothers!!