4. I'm trapped.

MIRANDA

I pulled away from him abruptly, wiping my lips with the back of my hand, knowing that should never have occurred.

How dare he?

"Well that was quite intense" Owen said, biting his lower lip. I looked at Orion, who didn’t seem interested. I think we are on the same page, we didn’t like each other at all and that’s how it was supposed to be.

“Don’t you ever think about rejecting us, Miranda? Do you think we’re excited about being mated to a weak omega? ” Oliver leaned closer, giving me a cold stare with his eyebrows narrowed. 

“You’re ours now, and there’s no escaping that. You dare not think of freeing yourself from this bond!”

That sent shivers down to my spine, there's know way he just said that. My heart raced with anger, my fists clenched as I glared at the three of them their smirks only deepening the hatred I have for them. I don't even know who to blame for this, they don't seem to regret what they did to me.

I walked quickly to the living room, putting on a fake smile so my mom wouldn't notice the change in my mood. She was sitting on his lap, with her face on his like they were about to kiss  but as soon as she caught sight of me, she stood up and sat closer to him.

Zephyr smiled and turned to me. "Here, take this,” he said.

There was an envelope on the table. He picked it up and handed it to me. I wondered what the context was.

"This is the surprise I’ve been keeping for you,” he said. “Open it and see what I’ve planned.” he announced.

I dropped the envelope into my lap, my hands trembling as I tore it open. The words blurred before my eyes as my heart raced. “Dear Miranda Cosgrove…” My breath caught, "You have been admitted to study Medical Lycanthropy Science at Elite Star Academy."

My eyes widened as I gasped and then gazed at him while they both chuckled. 

Elite Star Academy was one of the best and famous colleges in New York City! Known for training the best supernatural studies.  There's no way I'm going to the most prestigious college to study my dream course!

This wasn’t just any course, it was a rigorous curriculum designed to train future healers for the Lycan and werewolf communities, blending ancient remedies with modern medicine.

“Oh my God! Thank you Lycan Zephyr” I exclaimed as I rejoiced within me.

Zephyr nodded. "Though there will be a written exam that will test your knowledge first, before you join your step brothers at the university."

I was happy because I was sure I would pass my exams, but then slowly my smile faded when I realized that I will be going to the same college as them, my so-called stepbrothers.

First, there were my stepbrothers, then my mates, and now I'm going to the same college as them?

It just keeps getting worse each time. I wonder what will come next. What if they continue from where they had stopped in high school? Moon goddess please save me if possible because I just don't know what's on their minds.

There’s no way I’m going to allow that. I’m even thinking of getting back at them because they deserve to feel the pain I went through.

"Hey, Dad." I flinched the moment their deep masculine voice echoed in the parlor. 

Orion just stood there, waving at my mom, while Owen did the same. Oliver hugged my mom and looked at me with a wink. I rolled my eyes.

"So these are my sons. Miranda, that is Oliver," he said, pointing at him as he sat on the arm of the couch near my mom. "He's a real pain sometimes and was the first to come out, then Owen and Orion.”

Owen sat down on the couch, hands resting on his laps and his gaze roving over me like he hasn't seen me before. Orion was still standing.

Oliver always had a knack of pushing ones buttons, one could never tell if he was being genuinely annoying, he messes with people a lot, and he’s also not the type to be messed with. Can one imagine that?

He acts mysterious sometimes, and he doesn’t carry women like trophies as Owen, who’s literally a manwhore at times.

Owen was a playboy at high school then in fact, everyone labelled him as that. I can't even count how many girls this dude has disvirgined. Just looking at him disgusts me even though he is hot as hell.

Orion was literally the smartest among all of them. He has this innocent look even though they all look similar and easygoing.

He didn’t really bully me, but he acts like he doesn’t care. He enjoys watching me suffer and seems like a silent killer, a slow poisonous snake.

“Hey, wouldn’t you like to introduce yourself, Miss?”

Oliver raised an eyebrow which has a slit in the middle, a teasing grin spreading across his face.

"Didn't you already hear my name? It's Miranda, and I'm the only child of my parents,” I snapped.

As if they didn't already know this.  

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Dad, look at her! Is this the girl you think we can handle? She's rude as fuck!" Owen hissed in a voice and I knew he was deliberately trying to rile me up.  

"Exactly. And Dad, remember the girl who always troubled us in high school? I told you about her, remember? She is the one." Oliver pointed at me as I widened my eyes.

What?

"Miranda?" My mom looked at me, completely stunned, as I shook my head.

Jeez... How could he cook up that lie when the truth was completely reversed? Why are they doing this.

"That's not true"

I bellowed, my eyes moving to both mom and Zephyr as they glanced in confusion, I was about to say something to atleast convince them more but Oliver interrupted.

"Also, the fact that you kept hanging out with bad clan of friends. We were trying to save you, but..." 

Zephyr interrupted Oliver, cutting him off. "Ok fine but that doesn't matter anymore since it's in the past.”

"Exactly," Mom added. "Right now, you are all brothers and sisters. Let's put everything behind us and focus on a bright future ahead."

What bright future was she talking about? All I can see was darkness lurking around. How am I going to tell her that they were my tormentors back then, and she would believe me? I don't want her to have a misconception of the kind of girl I was in school.

Nothing hurts me more than the fact that we were mates, and I’m obliged not to reject them because they were Lycans, I might die in the process because I was an omega. We omegas are so weak that a single rejection might kill us, so just imagine the rejection of a Lycan and not one but three of them.

After I was done taking my bath, I checked the time on my phone, wrapping the towel around my body "11 a.m".

By now, Zephyr and Mom might be in bed sleeping, just like my so-called brothers, since the dinner meal was so good, along with the lemon juice served.

I will be leaving this city tomorrow morning, which is the only thing on my mind right now.  

I pushed open the bathroom door, stepping into my room as I glanced around in confusion expecting to see the glow of burb lights, but there was darkness everywhere. I squinted, trying to make sense of the shadowy shapes. 

“It must be a power outage,” I thought, my heart racing. The air was stick with their scents so intoxicating that It's undeniable, can't they just be a way out of this?. I readjusted my towel and I walked towards the wall then located the power switch and flicked it on.

"Hey, little wolf." My breath caught as I turned around with my eyes widened, locking eyes with a pair of ocean-blue eyes standing in so close to me without a shirt on. My heart thundered in my chest and for a second I couldn't breathe, his whole muscled body overtook mine then immediately he switched off the lights.

The air around us thickened, my breath hitching as I met his piercing gaze. 

"Oliver?”

I barely had time to react before his hands shot out, gripping the edge of my towel.

I inhaled sharply, my heart racing as the I felt the towel slipped from my grasp, I brought my hands up, crossed on my shoulders to cover my exposed body, my skin prickled under his gaze. 

Help! I'm naked!

I'm literally standing naked in front of him, his eyes are on my boobs as he bites his lips, I feel so embarrassed right now.

I hated him, I hated everything about him. And yet, standing there, my body was betraying me. I'm trying to fight the pull towards him. We are so close to each other, feeling our breaths and our marvelous scents.

"What do you want? Please...leave..." I stammered, my voice barely a whisper, panic rising as he immediately placed his hands over my mouth.

"Shhhh.”