Chapter 19

I found myself grappling with a mix of emotions. The regret in Nicholas’ voice after he had tasted the pie was obvious, but their continually awful treatment of me weighed heavily on my mind.

I couldn't help but wonder why they didn't show their remorse openly, especially when I knew that Nicholas had retrieved and enjoyed the pie.

Even though I’d heard him say it was the best thing he’d ever eaten, he refused to say as such to me. Such contradictions left me feeling perplexed and questioning their true intentions.

In the midst of these complexities, my twentieth birthday loomed closer. As the dreaded day approached I longed for a different fate, anything other than one where I wasn't bound to the triplets as their mate.

Despite Wynter’s persistence that we were meant to be together, doubts gnawed at my soul. All I longed for was for independence, for a life where I could shape my own destiny, free from the intricate web of emotions and expectations that entangled us all.

Nightfall brought its own set of troubles. Just as I drifted into a fitful sleep, the sound of a girl's cries pierced through the silence, jolting me awake. “But Nicholas, why?” I could hear her sobs clearly, as if she were in the room with me.

Curiosity mingled with concern as I followed the sound, opening my door to find Nicholas in the hallway, his face devoid of expression as the girl before him cried openly. “Why are you so cruel? You use me and then kick me out?”

It was known in the house he had no habit of keeping girls overnight, and this strict rule was known to all who shared his bed. This must have been someone new.

I didn’t recognize her from the parade of girls he usually brought home.The mere thought of someone breaking this unspoken code seemed to unnerve him deeply.

“Don’t grovel, it’s disgusting.” He snarled at her. “W-what?” She stammered back at him in shock. I could tell she wasn’t used to being abused like this. I couldn't stand idly by and watch as Nicholas caused this girl distress.

“Nicholas, stop being such a jerk. You could have at least asked her to leave nicely instead of kicking her out like she’s nothing. People deserve to be treated better than that.” I scolded him, and immediately his anger turned on me.

“How is it any of your business?” He shouted at me, showing an unexpected loss of control. “Who are you to tell me how to treat anyone? You’re nothing to me!”

Not caring if the whole house heard, I yelled back at him, “And who are you to treat everyone around you like they are pieces of garbage to be tossed aside? You act like a petulant child, breaking his toys because he’s cranky!”

He was so fast that I didn’t even see him move. He was in the middle of the hallway, and then he was on top of me, having shoved me to the ground with my throat in his hand.

As I fell, I heard a loud crack, and pain shot through my body, a physical manifestation of the turmoil that had long brewed between us.

During our tumultuous exchange, Nicholas uttered words that cut deep. “I hate you! Get out of my house! I never want to see you again!” He commanded, his was voice laced with a mixture of regret and frustration.

The tears welled up within me, threatening to overflow, more from anger than pain, but I held them in check. I refused to allow myself to crumble before him.

He moved away from me, slower this time, and I got to my feet, cradling my arm. I could see the discoloration and swelling already. He had probably broken my arm.

Nicholas, seeing the damage he had done to me, softened slightly and stepped back towards me reaching out to my injured limb.

“Are you…” He started to ask if I was alright, but in a sudden surge of defiance, I found the strength to challenge him. “Don’t touch me.” I growled at him icily.

The sound of the wolf within me coming to the surface surprised him and he froze, his arm outstretched but not touching me.

“None of you will ever touch me again without my permission.” I could feel Wynter inside me her hackles raised, echoing my words, even she was upset by the harm Nicholas’ had caused.

For the first time since I had been forced into this supernatural world, I refused to back down, to succumb to his will without question.

The air crackled with tension as my words hung between us, a tangible declaration of the shifting dynamics within our complicated relationship.

In that pivotal moment, I realized the power I held within me, and I leaned into it. No longer would I allow myself to be silenced or cowed into submission.

The fire within me burned bright, fueled by years of frustration and longing for a life of peace. Nicholas stood before me, his expression mirroring his astonishment at this newfound side of me.

As our confrontation subsided, a newfound sense of determination washed over me. I would not be silenced or discarded.

I would fight for my place, for my dreams, and for the respect I deserved. The tears that threatened to spill were now replaced with a fierce resolve, a commitment to forging my own path, regardless of the obstacles that lay ahead.

I realized in that moment that my wolf, who I had until then held as separate from me, just below the surface, was fully awake. She was me, and we were one.

Wynter and I were thinking the same things, saying the same things, wanting the same things now, and I felt complete for the very first time.

In this moment of defiance, I discovered a strength I hadn't known before. The journey ahead would undoubtedly be arduous, filled with challenges and confrontations, but I was ready to face them head-on.

I’d never been so ready for anything in my life. I refused to be defined by the limitations imposed upon me, breaking free from the restraints that had confined me for far too long.

As I stood my ground, the world around me seemed to shift.