CHAPTER 5: Complicated

Kiara sat cross-legged on her bed, the dim glow of her laptop illuminating her face. She slipped on her Cherry costume a vibrant red wig and glittery mask that hid her identity perfectly. Logging onto her social media account, she clicked the button to go live, and within seconds, the screen filled with messages and hearts.

"Cherry! You're glowing as usual!"

"We love you, Cherry!"

"Sing something for us!"

Her lips curved into a smile as the adoration poured in. It was moments like this that made her feel alive, even if only behind the facade of Cherry.

Among the flood of comments, the username "GoldenAlpha01" popped up again. The message was simple but caught her attention: "You're incredible. I hope to meet you someday."

Kiara hesitated, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. Who was this person? And why did their name send an inexplicable shiver down her spine?

Her heart skipped a beat when she noticed Britney, Layla, and Shirley had also joined her live stream. They showered Cherry with praise, oblivious to the fact that the girl they mocked at school was the same Cherry they idolized.

A small, satisfied smile played on her lips. Even if they didn’t respect her as Kiara, they adored her as Cherry. That was enough, for now.

After the stream ended, she leaned back, pulling off the wig and mask. As she stared at her reflection in the mirror, her smile faded. The memory of her mother’s slurred voice and the blaring club music haunted her. Why was her mother so distant? Why had she married the Alpha?

Shaking her head, Kiara climbed into bed, her mind swirling with unanswered questions as sleep claimed her.

---

The next morning, the family gathered for breakfast. The dining table was filled with the aroma of pancakes and eggs, but tension lingered in the air.

Sarah, ever the picture of composure, cleared her throat. "There’s a party coming up for the pack," she announced.

Dylan snorted. "We already know, Mom. You’ve been too busy lately to notice."

Kiara glanced up in surprise, her eyes darting to Dylan, who smirked at her. John, sitting across from her, didn’t say anything but kept his gaze fixed on her. When their eyes met, her heart raced, and in her flustered state, she accidentally choked on her food.

Grabbing her glass of water, she gulped it down, feeling her cheeks flush. John’s lips twitched as if he wanted to smile but didn’t.

Sarah ignored the exchange, her tone sharp. "I’ve handled everything, as I always do. And speaking of responsibilities, your father and I have made a decision."

Everyone froze, their attention shifting to Richard, who leaned back in his chair with a serious expression.

"In six months," Richard began, "all of you should have found your mates."

The announcement was met with stunned silence, followed by the sound of food being spat out.

"Excuse me?" Dylan blurted, his face contorted in disbelief.

John frowned. "That’s absurd, Dad."

Kiara’s mouth hung open, her fork frozen mid-air. She glanced between the triplets and their father, unsure of what to say.

Richard’s gaze was unwavering. "It’s final. As the future leaders of this pack, it’s your responsibility to ensure its stability. Mates bring strength, unity, and purpose."

"But six months?" Alex protested. "That’s not enough time!"

"Figure it out," Richard said, rising from his seat. His tone left no room for argument. Without another word, he walked out, leaving a stunned silence in his wake.

Kiara stared at her plate, her appetite gone. She could feel the weight of the triplets’ frustration radiating across the table. Sarah looked like she wanted to say something but decided against it, her gaze flickering to Kiara briefly before she excused herself.

The triplets exchanged glances, each of them wearing varying degrees of annoyance. Kiara quickly excused herself, retreating to the sanctuary of her room before she could get caught in their storm.

---

Kiara sat on her bed, hugging her knees to her chest. Her thoughts raced as she replayed the events of the morning. The pressure her stepbrothers were under was palpable, but she couldn’t ignore how her own world seemed to be unraveling.

She pulled out her phone and scrolled through her messages. Among them was one from "GoldenAlpha01."

"You were amazing last night, Cherry. You’re a star."

She stared at the message, a small smile creeping onto her face. Whoever this was, they seemed genuine. But why did they feel so familiar?

Kiara sighed, setting her phone aside. She didn’t have the energy to dwell on it. The only thing she was certain of was that her life was growing more complicated by the day.

Kiara paced the hallway, her thoughts a whirlwind of frustration. Finally, she stopped in front of her mother’s door, hesitating for a moment before knocking softly. Without waiting for a response, she pushed the door open.

Sarah was seated at the vanity, applying her makeup. She glanced at Kiara through the mirror, her expression neutral. "What is it, Kiara?"

Kiara stepped inside, her hands clenched into fists. "Mom, we need to talk."

Sarah sighed, setting down her lipstick. "This sounds serious. Go on."

Kiara took a deep breath. "The guys are always picking on me, and now people at school are doing the same because you married Richard. They say it’s all about money and status. I can’t take it anymore, Mom. I don’t even know why you married him!"

Sarah turned to face her, her expression unreadable. "Kiara, you need to try harder to get along with them. They’re your stepbrothers now, and we’re a family. As for school, just ignore them. People will always talk, but their words don’t define you."

Kiara’s frustration boiled over. "Ignore them? It’s not that easy, Mom! Do you know what it’s like to be mocked everywhere you go? To feel like you don’t belong in your own home?"

Her voice had risen to a shout, and she was trembling with anger. Sarah’s face hardened, and she stood abruptly.

Before she could respond, the door opened, and Richard stepped in. His sharp gaze moved between them. "What’s going on here?"

Sarah’s expression softened instantly. "Oh, it’s nothing, Richard. Just girl talk." She moved toward him with a forced smile, gently guiding him back toward the door. "We’ll handle it. Don’t worry."

Richard hesitated but eventually nodded and left the room, closing the door behind him.

Sarah turned back to Kiara, her smile gone. Her voice dropped to a sharp whisper. "You listen to me, Kiara. You will mind yourself in this house. I’ve worked too hard to secure this life for us, and I won’t let you ruin it. If you can’t keep your mouth shut, you might just end up the same way your father did."

The words hit Kiara like a slap. Her heart stopped, her body frozen as she stared at her mother in disbelief.

Seeing Kiara’s pale face, Sarah’s expression softened, and she quickly waved her hand as if to dismiss what she’d just said. "I’m joking, Kiara. Don’t take everything so seriously."

She stepped closer, cupping Kiara’s face in her hands. "You’re my daughter, and I could never harm you. You know that, right?"

Kiara nodded slowly, her voice barely a whisper. "Right."

Sarah smiled and kissed her cheek before letting her go. "Good. Now, get some rest. You have school tomorrow."

Kiara left the room in a daze, her mother’s words replaying in her mind. It was a joke, she told herself. Just a joke.

But the cold weight in her chest refused to believe it.