THREE| On my terms

EIGHT YEARS LATER

SOPHIA

"It was safe to say a lot of things could change in eight years. I mean, when I took the bold step of running for my life - not that I had a choice - I did not think I would be standing here, today, in the midst of beautiful and strong minds, sharing my story." The crowd applauded and cheered. I could hear tiny bits of laughter erupting from different ends of the hall.

They must have thought I was making a joke by saying I had to run for my life. If only they truly knew.

"When I came into Crescent Heart, I came as an orphan, with nothing except from the triplets residing in the womb, and at that point, I had not even know they were three." The audience - mainly consisting of steadfast, young, intelligent and resilient young women like myself, bursted into laughter again.

I chuckled along with them, but the memories of all those dark days threatened to bring tears to me. I couldn't cry, not on this auspicious day.

"I had to get a job as a waitress in a coffee shop. Once more, I was bullied for my size. It seemed to be the worst punishment the moon goddess could have blessed me with. But, you want to know what I didn't do?"

"Yes ma'am!"

"Let us know, please!"

I smiled, and stepped away from the pulpit. I stood still and smiled at the crowd. I could feel the anticipation in the room, hear the rapid sounds of their heartbeats as they waited.

"I didn't give up!" I said aloud, and the room erupted into cheers. They rose from their seats and clapped, screamed my name and other adorable words along with it.

"I fought! that's what I did! I fought against all odds. I didn't let my size stop me, no! I didn't let my loneliness stop me, no! I didn't let my financial impediment stop me, no! I didn't make my children an excuse. Having triplets as a young nineteen year old interested in getting into medical school was war. I thought about quitting every single day I got a side glare from the girls in my class, or harsh remarks from the boys about being a whore, but guess who that didn't stop?!"

At this point, I was sweating profusely, despite the air conditioning in the room. It was always so hard for me to share this part of myself. Anyone who knew the name "Phia Bailey" was quick to attribute it to "successful doctor and single mother of stunning triplet boys", but it wasn't always like that.

There was a time I was a rejected omega, abandoned by the only person I had truly loved. There was a time I had to sleep on the street, underneath the tables in the restaurant. There was a time I deprived myself of any kind of food for days, just to be able to take care of my children. But I fought. I studied, I persevered, and instead of using my children as an excuse, I made them my motivation.

It was the same thing I wanted for all the women present around me.

"And that is the reason why when life serves you bitter lemons..."

"Turn it into a fucking lemonade!" The entire audience of over five hundred women and men combined, screamed aloud.

At last, I was done with my session. I thanked my audience for listening, and made some necessary announcements, before exiting the stage and moving backstage.

I made my way to the women's restroom, pushed the door open and locked it behind me, pressing my back against the wall.

Even though I loved sharing my story with people to motivate them, and to give them hope, I had not yet gotten used to the pain in my chest that often came with it.

I could no longer hold back the tears in my eyes. No matter how far I tried to run, Asher thoughts and memories always found a way back into my mind.

It was worse on nights when David, the most inquisitive of all my sons, would ask numerous questions about his father. Then his brothers would want to know and I would be stuck having to lie to them, telling them how much I know their father cares about them, but he has had to be away for a while.

I had to look into their hope filled eyes while I fed them with all sorts of lies, while knowing fully well that their father only wanted them dead. He wanted nothing to do with them, and I was ready to give my life to protect them.

The knock on the door caused me to jerk up from my reverie.

"Someone's in!" I screamed aloud, turning on the faucet and placing my hands under. I looked up at the image in the mirror in front of me and forced a bright smile. My "Phia Bailey" signature smile.

I headed to the door and opened it, and found a pregnant woman smiling up at me.

"Thank you so much for your speech, doctor Phia. You have no idea how much you have empowered me."

I stared down at her belly bump and I could see myself eight years ago, in that same position.

"The father left me a few months ago, for a richer and older woman. He denied the baby and said he wants nothing to do with it. I have been very scared about the future for months, but after listening to you..." She rubbed her belly gently.

"I feel like I'm ready to take the world by storm."

"And I bet you are. It was very nice speaking to you, but I must run now." I flashed her my signature smile, placed two hands on her shoulders and gave her a courtesy kiss on both her cheeks.

As I walked down the corridor, I took a glance at my wristwatch and found that I was ten minutes late from picking up my kids.

I rushed to the parking lot and got into my car. It took me another thirty minutes to navigate through Crescent Heart's traffic, before I arrived at their elementary school.

My boys were already asleep by the time I got there, and a very nice teacher helped me carry Darwin in his arms, while I held David and my last boy.

They were awake before we got home, and very jovial as well. I had always found it strange how quickly they were able to snap out of their sleep state. But what else could I expect from my darling alpha boys?

Alpha boys...

The phrase was another harsh reminder of who their father was. I brushed the thought away and sang along with my kids until we got home, and I drove into the parking lot.

As usual, Darwin pushed the car door open and rushed out, while his brothers stayed back and helped me take my bag and briefcase to the front door. I was behind them, making sure the car was locked and the garage was secured. By the time I arrived at the front door, Daniel held out an envelope to me.

"Mummy, look what we found at the front door."

I narrowed my eyes on the white envelope as I took it from his hands. Once I flipped it and my eyes landed on a very familiar image, my heart skipped a million beats at once.

It was the royal seal of Dark Moon pack! How on Earth could this have gotten here?

With shaky hands, I reached for the key in my bag and opened the door.

"Go inside boys, I'll join your shortly." I said in a grave tone, trying very hard to mask the fear eating at me.

They opened the door and rushed in, but Darwin stayed back and turned to me.

"Is everything alright, mummy?"

I looked up at him and smiled.

"Of course baby, everything is fine."

Another lie.

He nodded and closed the door behind him after entering into the house.

I tore the envelope open immediately and unwrapped the note with the message. I clutched the paper firmly as my keen eyes skimmed through the words in print.

"Dear Doctor Phia Ross Bailey,"

Ross? That was a name I had added to mine to mask my true identity. It was also the reason I had shortened my name from Sophia to Phia. Did they truly not know who I really was?

"This message is from the royalty of Dark Moon pack, and we seek your assistance and medical expertise on a plague that has threatened to wipe our kind out of existence. We would need you to come to Dark Moon pack and offer whatever assistance you can. We have heard a lot about you, and we assure you that as long as you are with us, all your needs would be catered for, and you would be paid handsomely for your services during your time. We look forward to hearing from you soon, thank you."

I frowned and squeezed the letter into a ball before tossing it into the garden.

He needed my help now, didn't he?

Well, one thing was for sure, it wasn't going to come easy. That is - of course - if it was going to come at all.

"Mummy! we're hungry!" I heard my boys call out. My frown dissolved into a smile, and I pushed my door open and walked into the house.

No amount of money was worth the risk of losing my children, so if he was going to get my help, it would have to be on my terms.