Elowen's POV The night had fallen silent, yet my heart was anything but. I sat on my bed, the moonlight spilling through the large windows of Alaric’s mansion. I had locked the door behind me as soon as we arrived, desperate for solitude.I didn’t want Alaric to see the turmoil in my eyes, nor did I want him to question the exhaustion etched into my face. The weight of my thoughts was unbearable, suffocating even.I leaned against the headboard, hugging my knees to my chest as my mind betrayed me, conjuring the faces of the three Alpha brothers.Theron was the first to invade my thoughts. His intensity, his raw, untamed energy—he was like wildfire, impossible to control yet equally impossible to ignore.I remembered the way his eyes had burned with anger and longing at the restaurant, the way his presence made my wolf stir restlessly."Don’t trust Alaric," his voice replayed in my head, low and commanding. There had been something behind his words, something desperate and sincere.Bu
Elowen’s POVThe day had started out like any other—Alaric’s presence felt like a steady weight beside me, comforting yet smothering. But despite his closeness, I couldn’t shake the nagging feeling deep in my chest.The warnings from Ranon and Theron continued to echo in my mind. Don’t trust him, Elowen. They’d been so insistent, so adamant. And I couldn’t deny that a small part of me was starting to believe them.As we walked through the garden, Alaric’s hand was firmly around my waist, guiding me along like I was his prized possession. It was almost like he couldn’t bear to be away from me for a moment, and yet I was still left with this uneasy feeling—the question I couldn’t ignore: Is he truly the man he seems to be?Alaric, sensing my distraction, stopped and gently turned me toward him, lifting my chin with his fingers. “You’re quiet today,” he murmured, his voice a mix of concern and something darker, something I wasn’t sure I wanted to decipher.I forced a smile. “Just thinkin
Theron’s POV I slammed the car door shut and stormed into the mansion, my anger boiling over. The moment I walked into the living room, I spotted Alaric sitting in his usual chair, sipping coffee like he didn’t have a care in the world. “You’ve got some nerve,” I growled, my fists clenched as I approached him. Alaric looked up, his expression calm and composed as always. “Theron,” he greeted, setting his mug down on the table. “To what do I owe the pleasure?” “Cut the act,” I snapped, stopping a few feet away from him. “You know why I’m here.” He raised an eyebrow, leaning back in his chair. “Enlighten me.” “Elowen,” I spat, the name tasting bitter on my tongue. “You’ve been keeping her close, haven’t you? Playing the doting mate, whispering sweet lies in her ear.” Alaric’s lips curled into a smirk, and he stood, his posture relaxed yet somehow threatening. “And what of it? She’s my mate, after all. Or have you forgotten how this works?” I took a step closer, my wolf g
Theron’s POV I stood there, chest heaving, my fists still clenched at my sides as Alaric disappeared down the hall, his smug laughter reverberating like a taunt I couldn’t ignore. My wolf was howling in fury, demanding we go after him and finish what we started. But I couldn’t. Not now. Instead, I turned on my heel and stormed out of the room, needing to get away before I lost complete control. My wolf’s anger burned through me, and I could feel the sting of Alaric’s words lingering like an open wound. "A weak, pathetic omega," he’d called her. Elowen. I slammed my fist against the wall as I reached the hallway, the plaster cracking under the force. How could he say such things about her? About our mate? Mine. She’s mine! my wolf growled. I ran a hand through my hair, pacing back and forth. My wolf was restless, clawing at the surface, and for once, I didn’t try to stop him. “She’s more than he’ll ever understand,” I muttered under my breath, trying to calm myself
Elowen’s POV The academy was unusually quiet that day, the whispers of students muted as I made my way through the halls. My mind was still reeling from the conversation with Lisa and the cryptic warnings from Ranon and Theron. The tension between the triplets was palpable, and I was stuck in the middle, unsure of who to trust. As I walked into the library, the faint scent of aged books and ink calmed my nerves. This was one of the few places I could think without interruption. I made my way to the farthest corner, hoping to lose myself in a book, if only for a little while. But instead, I found someone waiting for me. Amara. She was sitting at a table, her long, elegant fingers tracing patterns on an open book. Her auburn hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her piercing green eyes locked onto mine the moment I stepped closer. “Elowen,” she greeted, her voice warm and inviting. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you.” I hesitated. “You have?” She nodded, gesturing to the
Theron’s POV The drive was agonizingly silent, except for the soft hum of the car engine. Elowen sat beside me, her face turned toward the window, but her distant gaze told me she wasn’t looking at anything. It was as if she’d completely shut herself off from the world—and from me. I gripped the steering wheel tighter, my knuckles turning white. My wolf was restless, pacing in my mind, urging me to do something—anything—to ease her pain. But every time I reached out, I seemed to push her further away. Finally, unable to bear the silence any longer, I broke it. “Elowen, talk to me. Please.” Her head shifted slightly, but she didn’t meet my eyes. “What’s there to talk about, Theron?” “Everything,” I said firmly. “What’s going on in your head? What’s hurting you? Let me help.” She shook her head, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. “Help? You can’t help me. No one can.” Her words stung, but I pressed on. “Don’t shut me out, Elowen. You think I don’t care, but you’re wrong. I
Alaric’s POVI stood there for a moment, watching Elowen retreat to the couch. Her arms wrapped around herself like she was trying to hold her emotions together. For a second, I almost felt something—guilt, maybe. But I pushed it aside. Weakness wasn’t an option.“Darling,” I said softly, stepping closer. “I know you’re upset, but don’t let Theron get to you. He thrives on chaos, on making you question everything.”She glanced up at me, her eyes glassy with unshed tears. “Why do you always have to fight? Why can’t any of you just let me breathe?”Her words stung more than I expected, but I forced my expression to stay soft, understanding. “I’m not here to fight, Elowen. I’m here for you.” I reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. “You know that, don’t you?”She hesitated, her gaze searching mine like she was looking for answers to questions she couldn’t even voice. “I don’t know what to believe anymore,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.“Then believe t
Alaric's POV I closed the door to my room, a satisfied smirk curling my lips as I leaned against the wall. The house was quiet now, Elowen likely already in bed, caught in the illusion I’d so carefully crafted for her. I pulled my phone out of my pocket, unlocking it with a quick swipe of my finger. My thumb hovered over the photo album, a special folder tucked away in the depths of my phone. I opened it, and there they were—pictures of her. Pictures of us. Innocent at first glance. Her resting against me, her laughter caught mid-action, her flushed cheeks after our "moments." But then there were the others—the ones I’d taken in secret, capturing her vulnerability, her naivety. She had no idea these existed. I scrolled through them slowly, savoring each one like it was a prize. Each image reminded me of how easy it had been to manipulate her, to wrap her around my finger with a few sweet words and well-timed gestures. And now, in just one week, it would all come crashing
Elowen’s POV Sleep had been a fickle, unwelcome guest, teasing the edges of my consciousness throughout the long, restless night without ever offering true respite. My mind had been a battlefield of conflicting emotions, replaying the charged moments of the previous day in an endless loop—Alaric’s possessive kiss, the raw, untamed fury that had blazed in his eyes when he’d finally turned away from Lysander, and the persistent, dull ache in my chest, a knot of anxiety that had stubbornly refused to loosen its grip. I sat on the edge of my bed now, the soft cotton of the sheets feeling strangely cold against my skin, watching the first tentative rays of sunlight tentatively paint the eastern sky in hues of pale rose and soft gold. The sprawling academy grounds outside my window, usually bustling with early morning activity, were still shrouded in a delicate, ethereal mist that clung to the shadowy edges of the ancient trees, lending the familiar landscape an almost dreamlike, otherwor
Alaric’s POV The sprawling halls of the academy, usually teeming with the restless energy of burgeoning shifters and the hushed whispers of arcane secrets, were quieter than usual, a deceptive stillness that belied the turbulent emotions churning within me. Distant echoes of lingering footsteps faded into the stone, the last of the students retreating into the relative sanctuary of their dormitories. I stood outside Elowen’s room, my fists clenched tightly at my sides, the rhythmic pounding of my heart a heavy drumbeat against my ribs. She hadn’t said much after I’d practically dragged her away from Lysander’s unsettling presence in the cafeteria. The words hadn’t been necessary. That look in her eyes—a complex tapestry woven with threads of confusion, a subtle hint of guilt, and an underlying current of frustration—haunted the edges of my vision. I knocked once. A soft, hesitant tap that felt strangely out of sync with the turmoil raging inside me. The heavy wooden door creaked i
Alaric’s POV My fists were still trembling, the residual adrenaline of the confrontation coursing through my veins. I could feel the dull throb of the scrape on my knuckles from where they’d connected with Lysander’s arrogant jaw—a sharp, satisfying impact that had barely scratched the surface of the consuming fury that still burned within me. How dare he touch her? How dare he look at her with that possessive glint in his eyes, as if she were some prize to be won, something to conquer? The possessive rage was a living thing inside me, a primal fire threatening to consume me whole. My wolf was clawing just beneath the surface, snarling and restless, demanding blood. Demanding retribution. Demanding justice for the blatant disrespect. But beneath the burning rage, a flicker of something colder, more unsettling, remained. She’d looked… scared. Not of him. Of me. I replayed the chaotic scene over and over in my mind as I stormed down the deserted corridor, the air around me prac
Elowen’s POV Next morning the academy's cafeteria hummed with the chaotic symphony of midday: the incessant clatter of ceramic trays against metal surfaces, the low murmur of countless conversations weaving together, punctuated by the occasional burst of unrestrained laughter erupting from various clusters of students. I had sought refuge at a secluded table near the far wall, a steaming cup of lukewarm tea clutched in my hands, my thoughts adrift somewhere between the intricate strategies discussed in Professor Vance’s tactics lecture and the stolen, breathless intimacy of our rooftop rendezvous. The triplets were currently immersed in mandatory combat training, a rigorous session reserved for high-ranking shifters, and I had deliberately chosen this quieter hour to slip away, craving a moment of solitary contemplation. For once, the relentless demands of academy life seemed to recede, leaving a fragile semblance of peace in its wake. That fleeting tranquility shattered the moment
Elowen’s POV Before I could even form a coherent response, he captured my lips with a fierce, possessive hunger, his hands moving with a renewed urgency, exploring every inch of exposed skin with a desperate need. The lingering tension from our sparring match dissolved into a raw, primal desire that mirrored my own burgeoning need. His knee nudged my legs apart with a subtle command, and he settled his weight more fully against me, the hard ridge of his arousal pressing insistently against the slick heat gathering between my thighs. A sharp gasp escaped my lips, my body arching instinctively into his, a silent plea for connection. I needed him, wanted him, with a ferocity that eclipsed anything I had ever felt before. With a low, guttural groan that rumbled deep in his chest, he entered me, filling me completely. His pace was slow, deliberate, each thrust a measured exploration, the rhythm designed to stoke the already blazing fires within me until they burned hotter than the midda
Elowen's POV “I love this version of you, Ranon,” I whispered, my voice husky with desire. “The one that’s not afraid to want me, to claim me.” He looked down at me, his amber eyes blazing with a fierce, possessive light. “Then I’ll show you all of me, Elowen. Every single part.” His gaze dropped to my lips, lingering there for a breathless moment before returning to my eyes, filled with a raw intensity that made my heart pound. He shifted, his weight pressing more fully against me, the hard planes of his body a stark reminder of his strength, his possessiveness. “You feel it too, don’t you, Elowen?” he murmured, his voice thick with a desire that mirrored my own burgeoning need. “This… connection between us. It’s different. Fiercer.” I nodded, unable to articulate the complex emotions swirling within me. The bond I shared with all three of them was unique, a tapestry woven with different threads of affection, passion, and unwavering loyalty. But there was a raw, untamed in
Elowen’s POVThe sun, a molten orb sinking towards the horizon, cast long, dramatic shadows across the secluded sparring field nestled behind the ancient stone walls of the academy. Golden rays, thick and warm, bled across the soft, yielding grass, painting the familiar landscape in hues of amber and rose. The other students, their energy spent after the rigorous combat class, had long since scattered back to the relative comfort of their quarters, but I had lingered, my body still thrumming with the residual adrenaline of earlier matches, and my heart… still a tangled mess of conflicting emotions that the physical exertion hadn’t quite managed to unravel.“I knew you’d wait.”The deep, familiar timbre of his voice sent a shiver down my spine. I turned slowly.Ranon stepped out of the long shadows cast by the ancient oak trees bordering the training ground, his presence as always both silent and undeniably solid. His dark training shirt clung to the sculpted lines of his torso, damp w
Elowen’s POVThe echoing halls of the academy pulsed with the raw, untamed energy of morning, a palpable hum of anticipation and nervous excitement as students streamed towards their respective classrooms. Today was combat day, a stark reminder of the volatile world we inhabited, where grudges often manifested as bruises and the subtle dance of flirtation could ignite into something far more dangerous, far more real. The sharp, metallic scent of steel mingled with the faint, musky tang of sweat already permeating the air, a sensory cocktail that spoke of both discipline and potential violence.I walked with a deliberate stride between Alaric and Theron, their presence a comforting, possessive shield against the curious and often hostile gazes that followed me like persistent shadows. Ranon trailed a step behind, his movements fluid and silent, a dark, watchful presence that lingered even when he didn’t utter a single word. The other students parted as we moved through the crowded corr
Elowen’s POVSunlight, a gentle intruder, seeped through the delicate weave of the sheer curtains, painting intricate golden patterns across the rumpled expanse of the bed. I stirred slowly, my muscles pleasantly relaxed, the lingering warmth of three strong, possessive bodies anchoring me to the soft, yielding mattress like invisible tethers.I was cocooned in a comforting heat – Ranon’s muscular arm slung possessively across my waist, his fingers splayed against the curve of my stomach, a silent claim even in sleep. Behind me, I could hear the soft, even rhythm of Alaric’s breathing, a deep, reassuring sound that filled the quiet room. Theron, ever the early riser, wasn’t physically touching me at the moment, but his lingering scent, a heady blend of spice and something uniquely his own, still clung to the sheets and pillows, a potent reminder of the passionate hours we had shared. I could still feel the phantom warmth of his demanding kisses from the night before, the way his touch