Chapter 5 Pregnant

Serena

The morning light waked me up from my sleep. My limbs felt heavy, and my body glowed with warmth, yet I was sore in places I never felt sore before.

I turned on my side, biting my bottom lip as memories of last night flooded me. Their hands. Their lips. Their marks. One by one, they'd claimed me, not just with words, but with everything they had. Rhys. Callum. Dominic. They made me theirs.

I touched the side of my neck, feeling the tender skin where each of them had marked me. My heart skipped. My cheeks flamed.

Oh God, did that really happen?

I hugged the blanket closer and giggled like a fool. I had slept with the triplets. I had been claimed by them. All of them. And not once did I say no. I wanted it. Craved it. I belonged to them.

But my smile quickly faded when I heard a knock on the door, followed by a sharp voice.

"Serena! Come eat breakfast! Or do you plan to disgrace me again today?" Vivian.

Panic surged through me. I scrambled out of bed and ran to my wardrobe, pulling out the thickest turtleneck sweater I owned and some jeans. The marks—they couldn’t see them. Especially not Marcus or Vivian.

By the time I reached the dining room, everyone was already seated. The triplets were there too, but none of them looked at me. Not even once. They were back to being cold, unreadable.

I sat down quietly, pretending to eat, but my mind was still trapped in last night. Their bodies pressed against mine, their breath in my ear, their voices calling me theirs.

I blushed.

Who would believe this? Me, Serena, living in a fairytale. Except now, my heart was torn in three directions.

All morning, my thoughts stayed scattered. I kept pressing my hand against my stomach. In the mirror, I thought I saw a faint glow on my belly, just a soft shade, like a symbol barely forming.

Signs of pregnancy. For wolves, it only takes three days to fully show. And sometimes, if the bond is strong, the mark starts appearing the very next day.

I brushed it off.

Maybe it was just... left from the bond?

But by evening, when I went to the bathroom and lifted my shirt again, I screamed.

The mark was clear. Not faint. Not imagined. Glowing softly in a symbol that only meant one thing.

Pregnant.

I stared at the glowing mark on my lower stomach, hands trembling.

“No, no… this can’t be,” I whispered.

But it was. The mark had formed fully. The final sign.

I was pregnant.

I sat on the floor, cold tiles against my skin, breathing hard. My mind raced. Should I tell them? Would they believe me? They had been so different today. Distant. Like yesterday didn’t even happen.

A soft knock on my door pulled me from my thoughts.

“Serena?” came a voice I didn’t want to hear.

Vivian.

She didn’t wait for permission. She opened the door and walked in, arms crossed.

“There you are. Hiding again. What is it now? Another headache?” she said with a sharp smile.

I quickly pulled my sweater down, trying to act normal.

“I… I’m fine,” I said, standing up. “Just tired.”

Vivian tilted her head, eyes narrowing. “You look pale. And sweaty. Are you sick?”

“No, really, I just need rest,” I replied, stepping away from her.

She walked in farther, her eyes scanning my face. “Or are you hiding something?”

I blinked. “What?”

Vivian looked around the room, then back at me with a fake-sweet smile. “I’m not stupid, Serena. Something’s going on. You’ve been acting strange all day. And you’ve been glowing. People notice, you know.”

My heart pounded. I crossed my arms tightly, feeling the mark burn under my skin.

“I’m just... it’s been a long week,” I said, trying to sound calm.

Vivian took a step closer. “You’re pregnant, aren’t you?”

I froze.

Her smile didn’t fade. “I know the signs. The mark doesn’t lie. And I saw the way you held your stomach this morning.”

I looked down. “Please, don’t…”

“Don’t what?” she asked, voice softer now. “Don’t tell anyone? Or don’t ask you who the father is?”

I didn’t answer.

She circled me slowly, like a predator watching its prey. “Was it someone from the pack? Someone powerful?” she said. Then, lowering her voice, she added, “Or maybe... one of the triplets?”

My heart skipped. “No. I—I don’t want to talk about it.”

Her fake smile dropped for a second. “You think they care about you?” she whispered. “Those boys? You’re nothing but a distraction to them. A game.”

“That’s not true,” I whispered back, throat tight.

Vivian chuckled darkly. “Oh? So tell me. Which one of them is the father?”

I shook my head. “I don’t know…”

“You don’t know?” Her eyebrows raised. “That’s shameful, Serena. Do you have any idea what this will do to the pack? To the triplets’ image? To yours?”

I swallowed hard. “Please… I just need time.”

“You need to leave,” she said coldly now. “Quietly. Before you embarrass me, them. And bfore you embarrass yourself.”

Tears pricked my eyes. I looked away. “They’re not like that…”

Vivian leaned closer. “Oh, sweet girl. You think they’ll protect you? You think they’ll claim you? Watch what happens when you tell them. You’ll see how quickly you become... invisible.”

I bit my lip, holding in the sob. I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction.

She stepped back, brushing imaginary lint off her coat. “If I were you, I’d pack my things. Disappear. Do everyone a favor.”

Then she walked to the door. Before leaving, she turned her head slightly.

“I’ll give you until tomorrow,” she said softly. “After that... I’ll make sure Marcus knows.”

The door shut behind her.

I collapsed onto the bed, shaking.

They had to know before Marcus did. I had to tell them. Now.

I pulled out my phone again and texted each of them.

"Please meet me. It's urgent. I need to talk to you. All of you."

To my surprise, all three replied.

Thirty minutes later, I stood in the woods behind the training grounds. The same place where everything happened last night. And then I saw them.

Rhys. Callum. Dominic.

But this time, their expressions were cold. Hard.

I stepped forward, hopeful. "I’ve been looking for you since after breakfast."

Callum crossed his arms. "We were busy. We don't sit around. We’re Alphas."

I nodded quickly. "Right. I just... It’s urgent."

Rhys raised a brow. "Make it quick."

I swallowed. My hands trembled. "I know it might sound sudden, but I confirmed it. I'm carrying your child."

Silence.

Then, all three laughed. Cold and hollow.

Dominic smirked. "It’s not ours."

"And you will not speak about what happened yesterday to anyone," Callum added. "It was a mistake."

My mouth fell open. "A mistake?"

"Forget it ever happened," Rhys said.

"I’m telling you the truth," I said louder. "I confirmed the pregnancy mark. I’m carrying your child."

Before anyone could respond, another voice spoke behind me.

"Carrying whose child?"

I turned.

Marcus.

Standing tall. Behind him, the Council Elders.

My heart dropped to my feet.

Oh no.

I’m doomed.