A Breeder for the triplets

Trouble Brewing

Eden

I heard every word.

At first, I wasn’t sure what I was hearing. The kitchen wasn’t that far from my room, and it was one of the places in the house I had started to feel comfortable visiting. I hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, but their voices had carried, and I froze in the hall as their words pierced my chest like shards of glass.

I wanted to scream, to confront them, but my body betrayed me, trembling as if I were prey caught in a hunter’s trap. So instead, I fled, clutching my middle as though I could hold myself together somehow.

Back in my room, I locked the door and let the tears fall. Their words replayed in my mind over and over, each one cutting deeper than the last.

"Once she’s pregnant, we can have her cut off from us."

"Pretend she’s one of your betas in town."

"She’ll have to take us all together at one point anyway."

I pressed my hands over my ears, desperate to block out the echo of their cruelty, but it was no use. They didn’t see me as a person—just a tool, a means to an end. I don't know why I was shocked, I knew this going into this. I was a breeder after all, not their potential Luna. But over the time I've been here I had started to think we would all be friends at least, and maybe I could stay on after the pup or pups were born in some capacity. The Brandon I thought I’d known, the tender, playful man who’d teased me with his crooked grin and soft touches, was nothing more than a façade. Jaxon, the stoic leader, who I’d thought harbored a sense of duty and honor, had coldly laid out my future without hesitation. And Maddox… I should’ve known his mischievous charm was a mask.

The ache in my chest was unbearable.

I didn’t leave my room for days.

Mrs. Hobbs, the triplets’ beta, had knocked a few times, coaxing me to eat. I pretended to be asleep or too sick, only managing small amounts here and there, though I wasn’t sure if she believed me. I wouldn’t have believed me. I ignored the men when they tried to comfort me.

The world outside my door felt distant, and unimportant. I couldn’t bring myself to care about the pack’s affairs, the triplets, or anything else. My only solace was the journal I’d brought with me, where I scribbled out every hurtful thought, every ounce of anger, every tear-streaked plea to the Moon Goddess for answers.

When Mrs. Hobbs finally broke and confronted me, I didn’t have the energy to fight her. She stood in the doorway, arms crossed, her expression a blend of sternness and concern.

“Enough of this, Eden,” she said, her voice firm but not unkind. “I know you’ve been hurt, and I won’t pry into why. But the pack doesn’t stop moving because of heartbreak. You’re stronger than this, girl.”

I didn’t respond, staring at the wall like it might crack open and swallow me whole.

She sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed, placing a tray of food on the nightstand. “If you want to stay in here and sulk, fine. But at least eat something. You’re no use to anyone if you waste away.”

Her words stung, but she wasn’t wrong. I wasn’t helping anyone—not even myself—by hiding.

As if sensing the shift in my thoughts, Mrs. Hobbs softened. “There’s a ball coming up,” she said. “An important one. It’s a joint event with the neighboring pack to ease tensions.”

I glanced at her. “And what does that have to do with me?”

She shrugged. “You’ve got a choice. You can stay in here, feeling sorry for yourself, or you can help. We’ll need extra staff to serve, and it’s a chance to get out of this room, maybe even see the world beyond these walls.”

Her words struck a chord. I hadn’t considered what the triplets’ world looked like from the outside. The idea of being around them again made my stomach churn, but if I kept myself busy, I wouldn’t have to interact with them directly.

“Fine,” I said, my voice hoarse from disuse. “I’ll help.”

Mrs. Hobbs smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Good. The pack will appreciate it.”

The days leading up to the ball were a blur of preparation. I threw myself into work, determined to avoid the triplets as much as possible. It wasn’t difficult; they seemed to be avoiding me, too.

I spent most of my time in the kitchens, polishing silverware, folding napkins, and arranging floral centerpieces. The work was monotonous, but it kept my hands busy and my mind occupied.

Still, I couldn’t stop the occasional pang of anxiety whenever I thought about the ball itself. The neighboring pack wasn’t on good terms with ours, and tensions always ran high during these events. On top of that, I’d be in the same room as Brandon, Jaxon, and Maddox, pretending like I didn’t know their plans for me.

The night of the ball arrived all too quickly. Mrs. Hobbs handed me a uniform—a simple black dress and white apron—and gave me a quick rundown of my duties.

“Keep your head down, stay away from the Alphas from Shadow Pines, and for the love of the Goddess, don’t let the Alphas see you slacking off,” she said, her tone teasing but serious.

I nodded, trying to muster a smile. “Got it.”

As I stepped into the grand hall, the sight of the lavish decorations and glittering chandeliers took my breath away. The room was filled with wolves from both packs, dressed to the nines and mingling like old friends. It was hard to believe there was so much animosity beneath the surface.

I moved through the crowd, balancing trays of drinks and hors d’oeuvres, doing my best to remain invisible. But no matter how hard I tried, I could feel their eyes on me—the triplets.

Brandon’s gaze lingered the longest, his expression unreadable. Jaxon’s jaw was tight, and Maddox looked like he wanted to say something but didn’t dare approach. They looked gorgeous in their suits and I felt the familiar pull to them that ran through me each time, a jolt of lust hitting my core. I noticed Serena in an extravagant pink gown looking elegant next to them. She smirks at me and I shiver and turn away.

I forced myself to focus on my task, ignoring the knot in my stomach. I wasn’t here for them. I was here for me.

The night stretched on, and as I moved between the guests, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this ball was more than just a diplomatic event. Something was brewing beneath the surface, and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to find out what it was.