Chapter 7

The impact of my words seemed to reverberate throughout the room, silencing any response from them. It was clear they weren't used to being spoken to in such a way, but if they wanted me as their mate, then that would need to change.

I wasn't some doormat for them to walk all over. If they believed I was their mate—if they wanted to make me their mate—they would need to learn. My body tensed and I pulled the towel tighter around me, a reminder of why I deserved respect.

"You broke into my bedroom while I was bathing. You touched me without my permission. You destroyed my room!" I said through clenched teeth, gesturing to the surrounding chaos, my voice rising with every sentence. "You obviously want something, so let's hear it."

They stared at me, momentarily speechless, before disbelief and irritation clouded their faces. Nicholas recovered first, his features icy. He stepped forward, towering over me. “You’re singing stupid songs? You’re bothering us,” he accused harshly. “We require quiet after eight o’clock in the evening—do you understand?”

His words were like a clenched fist around my throat. Realization slowly dawned on me. If they had heard me singing in my bathroom, then that meant... "You mean...your rooms are next to mine?" I finished faintly.

"Didn't Elaine tell you? This is our wing. You're among your mates, as it should be."

Thick emotion overwhelmed me as I thought of how music had been my everything. It was my dream to be a singer and a music teacher—it always had been. Singing was how I relaxed.

I'd hummed melodies before class and swayed to instrumental harmonies during free time. Singing was how I relaxed—it was how I expressed every joy and sorrow. But now, that world felt so far away.

Of course, they would take this away too.

“I’m sorry." I whispered, unable to meet their gaze. "I won’t sing again.”

Armand stepped into the room, a wave of authority radiating around him that silenced whatever it was his sons were about to say. His eyebrows knitted together as he took stock of the situation, and before I could even blink, he had removed his suit coat and draped it gently over my shoulders.

"Leave us,” he growled in a tone that left no room for argument. His deep voice filled the room like thunder, carrying a power that none of us could ignore.

As grateful as I was for Armand's protection, I couldn't help but think his actions had only widened the rift between me and his sons.

The promises in their eyes as they obeyed his order only further illustrate my worry. I had already been worrying about staying here. Knowing I was surrounded my the triplets? I didn't think I could do it.

"I will speak with them. For now, let's move you to another room on the wing. You need a good night's sleep if you're to start at Werewolf Noble Academy tomorrow.

A heavy dread weighed me down as I lay in bed, my head filled with images of the triplets’ wolf-like faces and the possibility that they would return. Every time I drifted off to sleep, I was jolted awake by a new thought.

I eventually managed to drift off into a fitful sleep, only to be jolted awake in the morning by my alarm clock.

I dragged myself out of bed the next morning and got ready for school. My limbs felt like lead as I dragged myself out of bed and got ready for school.

Even though Armand had requested that Nicholas, Brian, and Cheney take me to Werewolf Noble Academy with them, I had no hope that they would actually show up.

I huffed and stomped my way through the winding corridor, frustration mounting as I paced through the seemingly endless maze of hallways. Every second counted, and I had no time to lose.

Sweat beaded along my forehead and upper lip as panic bubbled within me, knowing how close I was to failure. Just when I was about to give up hope, Elaine rounded the corner and noticed my distress.

Her gaze softened in sympathy as she beckoned me with a wave of her hand. She led me down another hallway, which seemed just as confusing as the others. After a few more twists and turns, the hallway opened up into a large garage filled with expensive cars in every color of the rainbow.

My eyes widened in surprise as I took in the impressive sight. "Wow," I breathed out, impressed by the luxury surrounding me.

I had grown up with wealth, but nothing I had seen before came close to this level of luxury. Before my father had squandered away his fortune, he had been a billionaire. But, even he hadn't reached this level of grandeur.

"Armand wanted to make sure you were taken care of today. One of the boys will take you to the school with them."

I felt a twinge of embarrassment wash over me at the thought of being coddled like a child, but I quickly pushed it aside. If this was what it took for me to survive this new life, I would accept it with gratitude.

Standing at the center of the garage was the triplets, wearing their navy blue uniforms. I couldn't help but notice how different they looked. They seemed more human. Still, there were hints of their wolf heritage—the sharpness of their gazes, their upright posture, and their wild manes of hair—that were impossible to hide. It was just softened by the navy blue and gray of their uniforms.

"I will remind you again not to test their patience. They are Alphas, expected to take over for their father when the time comes. You do not want to cross them." Her voice was crisp and authoritative as she spoke, and her gaze was cold and disapproving.

The tight, condescending look she gave me let me know she'd seen the damage they'd done to my room. He clearly blamed me for what had happened, and it made my heart sink with heavy disappointment. I stared down at the floor, feeling a wave of hopelessness wash over me; even she was siding with them.

She didn't spare me another glance as she left me at the mercy of the triplets. Alone in the garage with the triplets, I could feel my heart racing with fear and anxiety. I had no idea what to expect from them, and my mind raced with all kinds of possibilities.

The one thing I was sure of was that they wouldn't show me any mercy. I knew that whatever happened, it would be on their terms.

The triplets stopped in front of me, their faces impassive as they stared down at me. Nicholas stepped forward and spoke in a deep voice, full of authority. "Let's go." He gestured towards their cars, waiting for me to follow him.

My body filled with dread as I reluctantly followed them out of the garage and toward their waiting vehicles. As I lifted my foot to enter Nicholas’s car, it suddenly started.