Three

Vespa 

My jaw practically hit the floor as the guys descended from the bus. Like moths to a flame, a swarm of girls gathered around them, and all their faces were plastered with googly-eyed adoration.

What in the name of all that is holy and sane was going on here?! It was like watching k-pop artists and their teenage fangirls.

It didn't help that the guys looked like they were straight out of a magazine. Each muscle looked meticulously sculpted, and they moved with an air of self-importance that bordered on smug.

 Every step they took sent the girls into a frenzy, shrieks and giggles.

Alright, this was no fun. I swiped at the bead of sweat clinging to my forehead, hating the way the girls couldn't compose themselves. Where was their feminine grace and energy? Why were they acting like lovestruck fools?

These weren't just men; they were walking, breathing werewolves. Donovan's public humiliation was a sure masterclass for me, and I wasn't about to be dragged back into the mess of being with werewolves.

"Vespa, those guys are smokin' hot!" Ria vibrated with excitement. "I almost hyperventilated at the airport when they were helping you. You totally owe them big time!"

I frowned in confusion and she explained that I fainted in one's arm. I was slightly mortified that they witnessed my embarrassing rejection.  

"Oh, absolutely," I deadpanned. "Maybe I should wash their feet and personally fan them dry with my hair. Don't you think so?”

Ria snorted with laughter. I felt a surge of pity for the girls already tangled in their web.

"Check out the one in the white shirt with the blonde man-bun," Ria nudged me, twisting my head to get a better look. He was undeniably gorgeous, the kind of beautiful that almost hurt to look at directly.

This one seemed less uptight than his brothers. A playful smile twisted his lips as he slipped his arm around the waist of a giggling girl. 

“Typical man whore, " I said with an exaggerated yawn."Definitely a player.”

"Fine, fine. But look at the one behind him," Ria persisted. Her finger pointed towards a guy in a black leather jacket. His dark hair stood out, contrasting sharply with the white of his shirt. He oozed an an aura of power, but his handsome face was ruined by a permanent scowl.

"Looks like he'd beat the shit out of a chick every chance he got. Red flag."

"That's harsh," Ria laughed, enjoying herself and leaning against me. "He's giving hot, powerful,all-girls-must-bow-at-my-feet vibes. Gosh, can you imagine his lips teasing your nipple, possessing you, and sliding his finger across…"

"Are you ovulating?" I shot her a side glance. "Because I remember you loud and clear, criticizing me for sleeping with a werewolf."

"There are exceptions. Donovan isn't as handsome as these stinking hot and sexy male specimens."

"Okay, I've heard enough. Hand out the forms and badges to the new students."

"You're no fun," she blew me a raspberry. "Let's analyze the third one."

"No," I said firmly, blocking my ears. 

The crowd of girls squealed and shoved around the hot newcomers. It was chaos. I slammed my fist on the table. "Alright, ladies! Let's calm down over there! This ain't a meet-and-greet, it's registration.”

The three guys all looked at me at once, their eyes sharp. A weird feeling fluttered in my stomach. I looked away, trying to act cool.

 But then one of them, the one I stopped Ria from analyzing, walked over. He grinned, showing off a cute dimple, and his eyes sparkled. He wasn't as tall as his brothers, and his hair was a mess of light brown curls. I could barely look at him. This guy was seriously good-looking. "Hey, it's you," he said casually, "glad you're okay…”

 His steel-gray eyes twinkled with amusement. Flustered, I looked away, pretending nonchalance. But something about him drew me in.  

"Name?" I blurted, my tone clipped.

He hesitated, surprised by my bluntness. "Zeke."  

"And the last name?" I pressed.

"Wolfe."  

"How predictable," I muttered, processing the information. Our hands brushed when I handed him his paperwork, and a jolt of electricity shot through me. His gaze lingered on me, sending shockwaves down my spine.

 "Shouldn't you be thanking us for helping you at the airport?" he asked, his voice laced with amusement. "Your attitude is a little cold, don't you think?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," I lied unconvincingly. Just then, his brothers gathered beside him, all three sporting the same steely eyes. The one with the permanent scowl took me in with a slow, predatory stare that made me squirm. Heat rose to my cheeks as I looked away.

"Meet my brothers, Kai and Ziah," Zeke said. I forced myself to meet his gaze. 

"There are free registration desks. Kindly spread out."

The one with the man bun, a chronic flirt by the looks of it, flashed a charming smile. "Over your dizzy spell, are we?" 

Ignoring their attempts to get a reaction out of me, I focused on Zeke since he had arrived first. But the overwhelming presence of his brothers was hard to ignore. 

A fiery energy crackled around them, setting my nerves on edge. The last thing I needed was to be entangled with werewolves again.

"Not even a thank you for saving your damsel in distress the other day?" Ziah, the flirty one, teased.  

The grumpy one, Kai, leaned closer. Ria was right. He had lips to die for.

"Don't scare her, Kai," Zeke warned, his gaze fixed on me. "You and Ziah are acting like you want to get into her panties and shove…”

"Shut up," Kai snapped.

“Stop scaring the girl,” Zeke snapped back.

In seconds, an argument arose among the brothers. Zeke and his brothers bickered amongst themselves, their voices rising in a heated argument. I gaped at them, completely bewildered by the sudden turn of events.

My mouth gaped open in shock. Ria exchanged glances with me, silently mouthing "What's going on?”

Seeing this as my golden opportunity to escape, I slipped away unnoticed. Just as I thought I was in the clear, Kai, the grumpy one, appeared beside me, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Respectfully fuck off," I spat, hoping to throw him off guard.  

"Have lunch with me." His words were delivered in a tone that brooked no argument.

Furious, I spun around to face him. "Why in the world would I want to have lunch with a half-man?"  

He took a step closer, forcing me to take several steps back.

"I can assure you," he countered, his voice a low growl, "I'm more man than any male you've ever fucked. Now, have lunch with me."  

 His brothers stood several steps away, their frowning gazes locked on us. The audacity of this guy.

"You'll have to drag me by my hair. I advise that you and your brothers stay away from me. I've had enough drama to last a lifetime.”

"We'll see about that," he said with a final smirk before walking away and rejoining his brothers. He acted so superior to them, reminding me of my cousin, Sibyl, a lethal demon who made my childhood a living hell. 

Shuddering with annoyance, I headed to my dorm room, seeking solace from the chaos that seemed to follow me everywhere. 

I collapsed on my bed. I hadn't even gotten over Donovan yet and didn't need any more complications.

Ria rushed in and perched on my reading chair beside my bed while holding her hair up with a pin

"For someone trying to keep her head up, you sure got a truckload of attention from three hot triplet brothers. You should hire a bodyguard just in case"

 "And why is that?"I asked in a dry tone.

"Girls are gonna hate you so bad."

"Whatever," I grumbled, getting up. "I'm headed to the radio station for my slot."

"Maybe share some tips for attracting hot, sexy dudes because you seem to have the knack for it."

I flipped her the middle finger and headed out.

All night, I couldn't sleep because my thoughts were filled with Donovan and the disgrace he brought upon me. If only I could cry and vent out my pain. Crying used to help ease my pain, but I swore to never shed a tear, no matter the circumstance. 

After a quick shower the next morning, I dressed in a simple green tunic that matched my eyes and cowboy boots. While waiting for the Multimedia Journalism Ethics lecture in class, my eyes almost popped out of their socket.

 Donovan's pregnant girlfriend walked in, with her arm wrapped around one of the triplets; the flirty one, Ziah if I'm not mistaken.

When they approached my row, I ducked my head, pretending to be very interested in my newly-drafted chapter for my final thesis.

But their sharp werewolf vision spotted me and stopped moving. Donovan's girl looked smug and rubbed her stomach. She seemed to have a covenant with the colors yellow and green.

Ziah's gaze met mine and held. I looked away immediately, hating that I was reacting to him. They occupied the seats behind me and Ziah tried to get my attention, but I ignored him. 

After the boring lecture, he tried to talk to me."Vespa. Lovely name."

The way he tasted my name with his tongue made me shiver with pleasure. But I kept on with the pretense and greeted him with silence. Just because he was handsome didn't mean he could win my heart.

"Sorry about yesterday," he continued. "My brothers might have come off too strong on you. That's how they are. Meet my cousin Nebula."

My mouth widened in shock. Donovan's new girlfriend was the triplets' cousin? This sudden attention must be planned work.

"Close your mouth before flies land on it," the silly girl smirked. "You're the hoodlum who thought you had a shot with my man. Unfortunately, he picked me and it will remain that way."

Ziah rebuked his cousin, warning her to stop acting stupid. I packed my stuff to leave. He rushed after me but I ignored him and his fucking cologne messing with my head. 

 "What attracted you to that fool?"

The question brought me to a halt. He tried to touch my arm but I swatted his hand away. "Stay away from me. You and your brothers should get a hobby. I'm not your plaything."

A sincere apologetic look appeared on his face. "I have no hand in whatever that weakling Donovan did to you. But I'm sorry and I want us to be friends."

"Keep your apology to yourself. I have a handful of friends."

"Come on," he grinned, batting his lashes, which were ridiculously long for a guy's. "I mean no harm at all. How about us going for lunch to grab a bite? I don't take no for an answer."

"Do I look hungry to you?"

He kept pestering me and even promised to tell me what went down between Donovan and his cousin. Because I needed closure, I agreed.