Mated to the Triplet Alphas Chapter 2: The Shift

Hazel’s POV

My cheeks burned with a stinging sensation.

I stared at Annie, stunned that she would dare to strike me. A surge of anger pulsed through me, and I stepped forward, intending to retaliate with a slap of my own.

However, Liam intercepted me. He seized her hand mid-swing, yanking it down forcefully. A sharp cry escaped her lips. "L-Liam, what are you doing?"

Fury contorted his face, his eyes darkening to an almost black hue. "Who gave you permission to touch her?" he growled.

I halted, taken aback by his words, my eyes widening in disbelief. Was he… was he actually defending me? It seemed impossible!

"I asked you a question!" he demanded, tightening his grip on her hand. She blinked, shocked. "You heard her! You heard what she said. How can a lowly maid like her call herself your mate."

"It’s true," Melanie chimed in, her gaze fixed on me with animosity. "That dirty little thing can never be your mate. She needed to be taught a lesson."

Levi, Melanie’s boyfriend, moved with such speed that she stumbled backward. I couldn't comprehend the scene unfolding. What were the triplets thinking?

I braced myself for them to turn, laugh, and mock me, saying, 'Oh, so you really thought we'd defend you? Silly girl!' Instead, their glares remained fixed on the girls.

Only Lucas had remained silent, his expression unreadable, which was typical for him. Kira entwined her arm with his, pouting. "Baby, Annie didn’t do anything wrong. Tell your brothers to stop," she cooed in a saccharine, whiny tone.

The sound was enough to make me feel nauseous. Her batting eyes at him, like a desperate moth, made it even worse.

I waited, expecting Lucas, as the eldest, to end this confrontation swiftly and side with the girls. Against such a move, I would have been powerless.

To my surprise, he yanked his arm free from Kira’s grasp. She staggered back, gasping.

"I’ll tell you this only once. Hazel is our maid. She belongs to us. We’re the only ones who can touch her. Understood?" he snapped.

The three girls visibly paled upon hearing his declaration.

"I can’t believe you’re choosing that stinky maid over us, your girlfriends!" Melanie wailed. Annie nodded, tears welling up, though I rolled my eyes at the theatrics. "We’re the ones who love you. We should be your mate. She will never measure up," Annie added.

Their words reignited my anger. "I don’t care about having your boyfriends as my mate!" I retorted. "You can have them for all I care."

"Are you trying to pretend that you don’t want them now because you’ve been caught?" Kira shot back.

"It’s your fault for believing Jessie’s stupid lie. I don’t want them. I’ve never wanted them. I don’t even want or need a mate at all!"

At my declaration, the triplets turned towards me sharply. Lucas’s eyes narrowed. "What do you mean by that?" he questioned.

I shrugged. "I mean exactly what I said. I have zero interest in finding a mate. As a matter of fact, I hope I don’t have one!"

"That’s crazy," Liam interjected. "Everybody cares about finding their mate."

"Not me," I countered immediately. "The only thing I want is to leave the Emberfang Pack as soon as possible!"

"Leave!?" Lucas exclaimed. "You can’t leave! You’re our maid. You have a debt to pay!"

I smirked faintly. "For your information, my debt will be officially paid off tomorrow, the day I turn eighteen years old."

"You’re turning eighteen tomorrow? I never knew we shared the same birthday," Lucas stated, surprised.

"Exactly! You never knew or bothered to know. Which is precisely why I do not want you guys to be my mates, whether you believe it or not."

I then turned to the girls, who were observing our exchange with wide eyes. "So you see? You have nothing to worry about, ladies. You can keep them as your mate. I don’t care."

From the corner of my eye, I noticed Lucas start to speak. I didn't wait to hear it. I had endured enough.

Without another word, I fled the room, fervently hoping they wouldn't pursue me. My tasks were complete; the decorations were arranged, the caterers were set, and the DJ was ready. Attending the party held no appeal for me.

What place would a girl like me have at a gathering of arrogant elites who would undoubtedly look down on me?

Fortunately, the triplets made no move to follow. The girls likely restrained them, preventing pursuit. Excellent!

I went directly home and secured myself in my room. As I collapsed onto my bed, the triplets' immediate defense of me echoed in my mind. It felt so peculiar; I couldn't fathom their motives.

I sighed, rolling over. Perhaps I shouldn't overanalyze it. They likely viewed me merely as one of their possessions—akin to a prized watch or one of the luxury cars they drove. They detested others touching their belongings, which probably explained their reaction. I could almost hear them thinking, "Nobody can hit her except us."

I rolled my eyes. At least I would soon escape this place permanently.

I heaved a sigh of relief, thinking I would finally be free from all their constant drama.

******

I must have drifted off to sleep, because the next sensation I registered was an agonizing, blinding pain.

A sharp cry escaped my lips as I arched violently on the bed.

My mind reeled with panic. Amidst the overwhelming pain and terror, a single, desperate thought echoed: 'What in the world is happening to me?'

A sickening crack resounded. My leg twisted at an unnatural angle, eliciting another scream. Before I could even process that agony, my hand shattered.

It was then the realization struck—this was my first shift.

Knowing what it was offered no solace from the excruciating torment. All I could do was squeeze my eyes shut, focusing on my breath, yearning for it to end.

At long last, the pain subsided. I found myself on the floor, trembling uncontrollably. How I’d gotten there from the bed, I had no clue.

As I cautiously pushed myself up, I discovered I was on all fours. My fingers were gone, replaced by needle-sharp claws. My skin had vanished, now covered in sleek, gray fur.

I was a wolf, in my full form.

Finally!

A distinct scent wafted towards me. Instinctively, I turned, drawn by its source, which I realized was coming from beyond the room. My body propelled me forward, out the door, in its pursuit.

The aroma was the most intoxicating thing I had ever encountered. My mind went completely blank. My sole focus was to reach that captivating scent!

I followed, my own clumsy legs tripping and sending me sprawling, but I pressed on relentlessly until I reached the origin of the smell.

It led me to the part of the house where the fragrance was most potent.

Before me stood a massive, unadorned black door. Etched onto its surface was an emblem of three intertwined golden crowns.

A sharp intake of breath escaped me.

The triplets' private wing!

This meant... this scent...

An unfamiliar sensation bloomed in my chest, a peculiar mix of lightness and weight, emptiness and completeness, all at once.

In that profound moment, the truth dawned on me—the Sullivan brothers were my fated mates.