Chapter Four: Rescued by the Bennett Triplets

LIANA.

The world around me was a blur of pain and terror, my body trembling as I lay helpless on the cold, blood-streaker ground. I could still feel the rough, callous hands that had pinned me down, the jeers and cruel laughter echoing in my mind like a sick melody I couldn’t shake. I wasn’t sure how much more I could take before I broke entirely.

Then, suddenly, that awful laughter stopped. Replaced by silence. Then… a low, feral growl. It rumbled through the clearing, filled with a menacing power that sent a chill down my spine. The wolves who’d been tormenting me stilled, their expressions turning from delight to unease. I could see them glance around, searching for the source, their confidence wavering.

“Who’s there?” one of them snarled, his voice a shaky attempt at bravado.

I heard another growl, this one even more menacing, as if it were taunting them. Then came a sound—a snarl so deep it felt like the forest itself was growing back. My heart raced as the wolves surrounding me squared up, trying to appear tougher than they felt.

I lay there, motionless, barely daring to breathe. My vision swam, but I forced my eyes to stay open, to bear witness to whatever was about to happen.

Suddenly, everything exploded into chaos.

It happened so quickly that I couldn’t process it. One moment, the wolves were standing over me, and the next… their screams filled the air. The sound was horrible, raw and desperate, a symphony of pain that made my stomach twist. I could hear them pleading, begging for mercy, but their voices were drowned out by the wet, sickening sounds of bodies being torn apart. The air was thick with the metallic scent of blood, and I couldn’t see what was happening, the sounds alone painted a grisly picture in my mind.

Bits of fur and flesh flew past me, smearing across the ground. I closed my eyes, wanting to shield myself from the horror, but I couldn’t escape it. Their terrified screams were everywhere, echoing off the trees and filling the clearing. I could hear the tearing of flesh, the crunch of bones, the final, choked-off cries of wolves who had once thought themselves untouchable.

Then, just as suddenly as it had started, the chaos ceased.

Silence settled over the clearing, heavy and unnatural. I forced my eyes open, breathing heavily, my entire body trembling as I tried to process what had just happened. The wolves who’d attacked me were gone—what remained of them was strewn across the ground, broken and bloodied. Limbs and blood littered the clearing, painting a picture of absolute carnage.

Slowly, I pushed myself up, wincing at the pain that flared through my body. My limbs felt like lead, but I managed to lift myself enough to look up. My breath caught in my throat as I saw three figures standing in the clearing, their forms shifting from that of wolves back into human shape.

As they transformed, I took in their features, my heart racing for an entirely different reason. The three men standing before me were unlike anyone I had ever seen. They were tall and broad-shouldered, their bare skin slick with the remnants of the battle, blood smearing across their arms and chests. Even in the dim lights, I could see the power that radiated off them, the confidence and authority in their stance. They all looked alike—more like three identical brothers.

One of them stepped forward, his dark hair falling in messy waves around his face, a devilish smirk playing at his lips. His piercing dark amber eyes glinted with something almost predatory as he looked down at me, his gaze lingering for a moment before he spoke.

“Sorry about the mess,” he said casually, his voice smooth and deep. “Those wolves didn’t know when to quit.”

I stared up at him, my heart pounding as I struggled to find my voice. Everything about him—about all of them—was overwhelming. They were devastatingly handsome, each in their own way, with an aura of strength and power that made it hard to breathe. I forced myself to look away, swallowing as I fought to regain my composure.

The second man stepped forward, his eyes an ice blue that seemed to pierce straight through me. His gaze was softer, more curious, but still intense enough to make me shiver. He gave me a small, almost reassuring smile.

“Are you alright?” he asked, his voice gentle, though there was a hint of something darker beneath the kindness.

I managed a shaky nod, though I wasn’t entirely sure if I was alright. I felt like I was standing on the edge of a cliff, teetering between relief and terror.

The third man, whose dark forest green eyes held a mysterious glint, crossed his arms over his chest, his expression unreadable. He looked at me with a mixture of intrigue and amusement, as if I were some puzzle he was trying to solve.

“You should be grateful,” he drawled, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “We don’t normally go out of our way to save strangers. Especially ones in such… unfortunate circumstances.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out. My voice seemed to have deserted me in the face of these three powerful, intimidating figures.

The first man spoke again, his smirk fading as his expression turned serious. “Allow me to introduce ourselves. I’m Reed Bennett. This is my brother, Asher,” he gestured to the icy blue eyed one, who gave me a small nod,” and that’s Callum.” He nodded toward the third man, who merely raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by my speechlessness.

The Bennett brothers. The name seemed familiar, though I couldn’t quite place it. But I knew enough to understand that they were no ordinary wolves. There was something about them, something that made even my instincts quiet in awe.

Reed’s gaze softened slightly as he looked at me, a flicker of sympathy crossing his face. “We saw what Raiden did to you,” he said, his voice laced with disgust. “Rejection is a cruel thing, but to go as far as he did… it’s despicable.”

My heart twisted at the mention of Raiden, the memory of his sneer, his contemptuous gaze, still fresh in my mind. I could feel my cheeks flush with shame, the sting of his rejection still raw.

“We’re not here to hurt you, Liana,” Asher said gently. “In fact, we’re here to offer you something… an opportunity.”

I looked between them, my confusion deepening, how the hell did they know my name? But that was the least of my worries now. “What opportunity?” I managed to whisper, my voice barely audible.

Callum’s smirk widened, a dangerous glint in his eyes. “A chance to reclaim your dignity. To get back at Raiden and everyone else who’s treated you like dirt.”

I felt my heart race at his words, a spark of hope flaring within me. Revenge. The idea of it was intoxicating, tempting me in ways I’d never imagined. But there was a catch—I could feel it lingering in the air, an unspoken condition.

Reed took a step closer, his gaze steady. “We want you to be our bride.”

I blinked, stunned into silence. “Your… bride?”

“Not permanently,” Asher clarified, his voice soft. “Just for a year. Enough to make a statement. Enough to show Raiden what he lost and what he’ll never have again.”

I could feel my heart hammering, the enormity of their offer sinking in. They wanted me to be their bride—to belong to them, even if it was just temporarily. The thought was both thrilling and terrifying, a wild gamble that could either destroy me or give me a chance at something I’d never had.

“We’ll protect you,” Reed added, his tone reassuring. “You’ll have our power, our influence. No one will dare to lay a hand on you again.”

I hesitated, a million thoughts racing through my mind. Could I trust them? Could I put my faith in these three men who had appeared out of nowhere, offering me a chance at revenge and security?

But what did I have left to lose? I had nowhere to go from here.

I looked into their eyes, each of them watching me with a mix of expectation and curiosity. I could feel the weight of their offer pressing down on me, the promise of something I’d longed for a—chance to belong, to be respected.

Slowly, I nodded, my voice barely a whisper as I spoke the words that would change everything.

“I accept.”