Chapter 4: The Pull of the Bond

The first scent hit her like a lightning strike - warm, musky, and intoxicatingly familiar. Her wolf stirred, a low growl rumbling in the back of her mind, waking from its deep slumber. The connection was immediate, like a spark that ignited something ancient and primal within her. It was him - them.

Her fingers slipped, the glass of punch she had been holding tumbling from her hand and shattering on the floor with a loud crack. Her breath caught, the sound of the glass breaking drowned out by the sudden rush of blood pounding in her ears.

“Nic?” Chloe’s voice was distant, a blur against the ringing in her head.

Nicola turned slowly, her body stiff, her mind fighting against the instinct to flee - -or worse, to run towards them. Her gaze moved across the room, drawn as if by an invisible force, until her eyes landed on the three figures standing at the edge of the party, barely visible through the crowd.

Damien. Dylan. Dean.

The Blackstone triplets.

They stood as one, their bodies exuding power, their presence enough to part the crowd around them. Each one was striking in his own right - Damien, the quarterback, tall and imposing with the intensity of a leader; Dylan, the wide receiver, lean and fast, with a grin that could melt hearts and spark flames; and Dean, the linebacker, broad-shouldered, a force of nature who commanded attention the moment he entered any room. But together, they were something else entirely. They were a unit, a force of nature, a storm that threatened to tear through her carefully built walls.

Her heart began to race, pounding in her chest like a wild thing desperate to escape. She felt the pull, a magnetic force tugging at her very soul. Their eyes, glowing faintly under the dim lights, locked onto hers, and the heat in their gaze burned straight through her. It was as if they were reaching into her, claiming her piece by piece, and there was nothing she could do to stop it.

And then, as if her world had suddenly narrowed to just the three of them, they spoke in unison, their voices deep, low and commanding.

“Mate.”

The room seemed to dissolve around her, the voices of the partygoers muffling into nothingness. Time seemed to stretch, stretching to an unbearable length, as though the entire world was suspended in that single moment. Her body froze, every instinct telling her to either flee or surrender. The triplets’ words echoed in her mind, their weight heavy on her chest. The bond snapped into place, a tether between them that tightened with every breath she took. She wanted to run, to escape from it, but her wolf fought against her, rising, desperate to submit, to be claimed, to accept what was happening.

But her mind, still trapped in fear, screamed otherwise. No. Not them. Not now.

The partygoers around her moved in slow motion, their faces blurring as Nicola backed away, her heart hammering in her throat. The triplets took a step forward, their eyes locked on hers, their hunger so palpable it almost made her dizzy. There was no escaping them - not anymore.

Her mind screamed to turn, to run - but her feet were already moving.

Without a single word, she turned and bolted, her legs pushing her forward with desperate speed. She shoved past the stunned partygoers, who stared at her in confusion, too stunned to react. The music, the laughter, the chatter - it all faded into the background. All that existed now was the bond, the pull, and the triplets.

Out the door. Into the night.

The cool air hit her like a slap to the face, a shock that cleared the haze for just a moment. Her breath came out in sharp bursts, visible in the moonlight as she descended the mansion’s stairs. The scent of the triplets still clung to the air, thick and musky, wrapping around her like a vine. She didn’t dare glance back.

Her heart was a wild thing in her chest, its frantic thudding so loud she thought it would tear her apart. The pull of the bond was a weight in her chest, an invisible chain that wrapped tightly around her. She had to get away  - had to escape.

But the woods ahead called to her. She could feel the earth beneath her feet, the soft, familiar rustle of the trees. The forest had always been her refuge, a place where she could breathe and forget about the world, about everything. She pushed herself forward, her feet moving faster as she sprinted toward the trees, the world of the party fading into the distance.

As she entered the forest, the shadows swallowed her whole. The cool night air carried the scent of pine, damp earth, and the faintest trace of something wild and untamed. She was safe here - or at least, she could pretend to be.

But even as she ran, she knew. Deep in her gut, she knew she couldn’t outrun the bond. She couldn’t outrun them. It was like a tether that stretched across the miles, keeping her tied to them no matter how far she went. The triplets were her mates - the ones fate had chosen for her. And no matter how much she tried to deny it, she couldn’t change that truth.

The bond hummed deep within her, each step she took sending a pulse of energy through her veins. It wasn’t just desire - it was a need, a hunger she had never felt before.

Her wolf was practically clawing to get out now, its instincts roaring louder than her human hesitation. Claim them. Let them claim you. The words filled her mind, a constant chant she couldn’t silence.

Her breath came in ragged gasps as she pushed further into the forest, deeper and deeper. The night swallowed her whole, the trees towering above her like ancient guardians, silent witnesses to the battle raging inside her.

She stumbled, her foot catching on a root, but she caught herself quickly, hands pressed against the rough bark of a nearby tree to steady herself. The stillness of the forest was broken only by her rapid breathing and the occasional rustle of leaves.

And then, in the distance, she heard them.

The snap of twigs underfoot. The sound of leaves being crushed. They were following her.

Her heart leapt in her chest, the bond pulling her back with each passing second. They were coming.

She knew they wouldn’t stop until they found her. Wouldn’t stop until she surrendered.

Her wolf wanted them. Needed them. And a small, terrified part of her wanted to give in, to fall to her knees and let them claim her.

But the rest of her... that was a battle she hadn’t won yet.

The moonlight filtered through the canopy of trees above, bathing the forest in an eerie glow. The forest was alive around her - silent, watching. And deep inside, she could feel the pull of the triplets, stronger than ever.

It’s only a matter of time, Nicola thought, and for the first time, she wasn’t sure if she wanted to run anymore.