04 Shaken

Lucian 

We were happy when the seer told Clay, Maxwell and me that we had the same mate. We knew that meant we could reach our full potential as Valkin Alphas, and we won't be apart. So we looked forward to meeting her and being with her. 

Valkin Alphas usually used seers to find and locate their fated mates. It wasn't easy to find a fated mate. Because it was important for a Valkin Alpha, unlike normal werewolves, we needed to go the extra mile to ensure we found her. That was why we visited the seer to be sure that we had a mate living and breathing on the earth's surface. But when the seer told us we were fated to the daughter of Nikolay Vladislav, we became angry and disappointed. Why would fate tie us to such a foul person? Nikolay was a monster. He was an evil incarnate. He had taken something precious from everyone, and we had sworn that we would make him pay when we come of age. Why would the goddess tie us to his spawn? I was angry, and I hated my life. Clay became depressed and angry. We would never reach our full potential because we could never accept or mate with a Vladislav. 

The bastard had killed the only family I had left. He had a problem with my sister's mate, and instead of settling his score with the man, he killed her entire family and left her to kill herself in his presence. No one knew they were dead until I visited her and found their rotten corpses. He had left a handkerchief with his initials at the scene so whoever found them would know who had done it. I later heard he had bragged about the details of the killing. That was why I knew he had made her kill herself. I promised I would avenge her death. The bastard had taken everything from Clay's cousin and drove the wolf mad. He took his land, his pack and his wealth. Unlike us, that decided to rule the north together as one, Nickolay killed the other two Valkin Alphas that owned the south and took over their lands. Those two Alphas were Clay and Maxwell's cousins and only living relatives. We did not have any living relatives in the world because of Nikolay. 

Soon we tried to look beyond his deeds and tried to meet her. He did not receive us well and kicked against the idea of his daughter being our mate. He couldn't mate with his fated mate and thus did not inherit the gift of magic. We believed he did not want us to have magic either. Before we left, he asked someone to bring his daughter briefly so we could see her. He did not let us speak to her and told us that he only showed her to us so we would know who to avoid in the future. I did not like the man's arrogance and was ready to let go, but Clay and Maxwell weren't. Because of that, we left a spy in the south to keep an eye on the girl he showed to us and give us reports on her activities. A year later, we started getting bad reports about her wayward behaviour. The men she gave herself to were countless, and it disgusted us. She was too young. Yet she was reckless. We were all angry that she didn't have the decency to wait for her mates. That was when we chose to forget about her.

We had forgotten what the seer said until the day David called us, begging for help and protection. He offered to send the bitch over without knowing she was fated to us. His plan was to make it seem like she was married to us so that we would rule the south and give them the protection they needed. That was why he forged a marriage certificate and documents to hand the girl's inheritance over to us. Knowing how dirty she was, we didn't want her anymore and were reluctant to get involved. Still, Clay and Maxwell were curious about the bond, so I reluctantly agreed. Her scent filled our senses when they brought her, but we fought it. We owed it to our blood and bond that she insulted by giving herself to other men not to show the Vladislav bitch any love, even though we were fated. We owed it to our family to make sure a part of that bastard paid for what he did to them. So we fought the mate bond. 

There was no way his spawn won't be just like him, and judging from her attitude, she was like her father. Loose and untrustworthy. Even though my wolf was drawn to her, I fought him, reminding myself what blood ran in her veins and that she did not keep herself for us. Under normal circumstances, we would have loved and cared for her, but the fact that she was his spawn and did not keep herself for us took 'love' off the table. We had saved ourselves for her until we heard the dirty reports about her adventures. We will take our strength from her, use her as we pleased, and make her pay for what her father did. It was a silent promise. 

If it was Nickolay that was treated the way he treated our families, the north would cease to exist. We were showing much mercy by not killing her, but she had to pay. She had to pay no matter how badly our bodies, wolves, and hearts called out to her. We promised ourselves we would do to her, the same thing her father did to our families. We will break her and drive her insane. Killing her was off the table because she was our mate. 

Scarlett looked disgusted and afraid when I told her we were fated, so I believe the feeling was mutual. She did not want us then, nor did she want us now. I looked at the dress she had stolen, and I was close to tearing it off her body, but I let her be. 

"Let this be the last time you will steal something from our people again," I said, but she did not respond. 

"Do you hear me?" I yelled at her, and she did not budge, so I raised my hands, but Clay stopped me. He held my hand and shook his head. He was the softest of us three, and I relaxed my hands. The girl stood firm and did not blink, and I knew we had our work cut out for us because she was the stubborn type. 

"You must ensure this place is cleaned always and take care of our stuff and needs. If we have to provide for you, you have to earn it. Nothing is free," Maxwell ordered her, and she walked past me quietly and went to make the beds in the rooms. We went to watch her make the bed in my room. She made it so well that I figured she might have been doing some chores when she was with her father. When she was done, I pointed to the dining area and went there. 

She served the food like an expert and stood when she was done. We made sure we ate everything so she wouldn't have any. I wanted her to beg for food. 

"Take the plates to the kitchen and return here," Maxwell ordered, and she began to pack the plates. This girl did not say a word. She did not open her mouth to speak; she was trying to act tough. I knew I would enjoy breaking her the way her father broke everything and everyone he touched. 

"You should be through and return here in fifteen minutes," I said, and she did not say anything. Not even a nod. She returned in twenty minutes, and I was mad, but Clay told me to take it easy. When she returned, I noticed her eyes were swollen, so I knew she had gone to find a corner to cry, but I did not care. We were nice compared to her father, and she should be grateful for our kindness. 

"You are to clean this room, do our laundry, arrange our wardrobe and serve our meals. You are to serve us. You are to remain where we are. If we go to different places, one of us will ask you to come along; if none of us does, you are to return to this room and wait for us. You are not allowed to socialise or talk to anybody. The next time you steal something you weren't given, you will be dealt with mercilessly. We will never claim you because you are tainted already." I said to her, and she just stood. 

"Are we clear?" I asked, and she nodded. 

"Answer me properly!" I yelled. 

And she paused and looked at me with fear in her eyes. She was shaken, which satisfied my anger towards her for not keeping herself. I knew the words were difficult for her, but she had no choice but to say them. 

"Yes ... Alpha," she said with fear and anger. I felt it but tried not to dismiss the feeling.

"Go to the living room," I ordered her, and as she left, I heard her sigh with relief. 

"Did you notice how well she made the beds and served the food?" Clay said, making an observation I had already made. 

"Yes, I did," I said and waited for him to say what he wanted. 

"I think we should take it easy on her..." Clay said, and Maxwell shook his head. 

"No!" Maxwell said, getting angry, and Clay raised his hands to let him know he was dropping it.