The Omega Nasty Rebellion

Chapter 7: The Triplets’ Divide

Serena clutched the book from the library, its worn leather cover pressing against her chest as she hurried back to her room in the Sloan mansion. The words about fire witches burned in her mind, each sentence a reminder of the power—and danger—she carried. The shadowy figure in the library had unnerved her, but Hart’s threat loomed larger. She needed to understand her heritage before he could use it to destroy her.

The mansion was quiet, the late morning sun filtering through the gothic windows, casting long shadows across the stone floors. Serena’s footsteps echoed as she slipped into her room, locking the door behind her. She sank onto her bed, opening the book to reread the passage about embracing her truth. Could she control her fire without it consuming her? The thought was both exhilarating and terrifying.

A loud crash from downstairs shattered her focus. Raised voices followed—Hart’s sharp bark, Gary’s steady tone, and Jack’s measured calm. Serena’s stomach twisted. The triplets rarely argued openly, but when they did, it shook the mansion like a storm. She crept to her door, cracking it open to listen.

“You’ve gone too far, Hart!” Gary’s voice carried up the staircase, laced with anger. “Threatening Serena like that? She’s our mate, not your pawn!”

Serena’s breath caught. Gary knew about Hart’s blackmail? She pressed closer to the door, her heart pounding.

“Don’t act like you’re above this, Gary,” Hart snapped, his tone dripping with venom. “You think you’re her savior? She’s a liability—a fire witch. If the pack finds out, she’s dead, and we’ll be tainted by association. I’m protecting us.”

“Protecting us?” Jack cut in, his voice low but firm. “Or protecting your ego? You’re obsessed with control, Hart. You always have been. But Serena’s not some trophy for you to claim.”

Hart laughed, cold and mocking. “You’re both pathetic. You think she’ll choose you? She’s mine. The bond is strongest with me—she feels it, even if she denies it. And when I’m Alpha, she’ll be at my side, not yours.”

Serena’s fists clenched, her nails digging into her palms. The mate bond’s pull was undeniable, a warmth that stirred her wolf even now, but Hart’s arrogance made her skin crawl. She wanted to storm downstairs and confront him, but fear held her back. What if he revealed her secret to the pack?

“You’re not Alpha yet,” Gary said, his voice steady but edged with defiance. “And if you keep this up, you never will be. Serena deserves a choice, Hart. You can’t force her to reject us.”

“Choice?” Hart sneered. “She’s a slave, Gary. A freak. She doesn’t get choices. If she doesn’t reject you both, I’ll make sure everyone knows what she is. Let’s see how long she lasts then.”

A heavy silence followed, broken only by the creak of floorboards. Serena’s heart raced. Hart’s threat was no bluff—he’d expose her as a fire witch without hesitation. But Gary and Jack’s defense stirred something in her, a fragile hope she hadn’t dared to feel.

“We’re not letting you do this,” Jack said finally, his tone resolute. “Serena’s our mate too. We’ll protect her, even from you.”

“You’re choosing her over me?” Hart’s voice was dangerously low. “Over our family? Our legacy?”

“You’re the one tearing us apart,” Gary shot back. “If you’d stop acting like Father, maybe we could actually be brothers.”

The mention of Alpha Maveric sent a chill down Serena’s spine. She’d always sensed his cold indifference, but Hart’s behavior mirrored it too closely. Was he following in his father’s footsteps, or was something deeper driving him?

“You’ll regret this,” Hart said, his voice a growl. Footsteps stormed away, followed by the slam of a door.

Serena exhaled, her hands trembling. She closed her door quietly, sinking back onto her bed. Gary and Jack were standing up for her, but at what cost? The triplets’ bond was fracturing, and she was at the center of it. Guilt gnawed at her—she hadn’t asked for this mate bond, but it was tearing their family apart.

A soft knock startled her. She froze, expecting Hart, but Gary’s voice came through, gentle and hesitant. “Serena? Can I come in?”

She hesitated, then opened the door. Gary stood there, his dark eyes filled with concern. His usual warmth was tempered by tension, his shoulders tight from the argument.

“Are you okay?” he asked, stepping inside. “I know you probably heard that.”

Serena nodded, her throat tight. “I did. Why are you doing this, Gary? Standing up to Hart? You don’t even know me.”

He ran a hand through his hair, sighing. “Maybe not as well as I want to, but I know you’re not what Hart says. You’re not a freak, Serena. And you don’t deserve to be trapped by him—or anyone.”

His words hit her hard, stirring a warmth she wasn’t ready to acknowledge. “He knows about my… my powers,” she admitted, her voice barely audible. “If he tells the pack, I’m done.”

Gary’s jaw tightened. “He won’t. Jack and I won’t let him. But you need to be ready, Serena. Hart’s not just bullying you—he’s scared. Scared of you, of what you could become. That’s why he’s so desperate to control you.”

“Scared of me?” Serena scoffed, but the idea lingered. Could her powers threaten Hart’s ambitions?

“You’re stronger than you realize,” Gary said, his gaze steady. “And not just because of your magic. You’ve survived this place, this family, for years. That takes strength.”

Serena looked away, her eyes stinging. She wanted to believe him, but years of torment had worn her down. “What if I can’t fight him? What if he’s right, and I’m just… a liability?”

“You’re not,” Gary said firmly. He stepped closer, his hand hovering as if he wanted to touch her but thought better of it. “Jack and I are with you, Serena. We’ll figure this out together. But you need to trust us, even just a little.”

Trust. The word felt foreign, dangerous. But Gary’s sincerity, his willingness to defy Hart, chipped away at her walls. “I’ll try,” she said finally, her voice soft. “But Hart… he said I have to reject you and Jack. If I don’t—”

“Don’t,” Gary interrupted, his voice gentle but firm. “Don’t let him force you into anything. We’ll find a way to keep your secret safe. I promise.”

Before Serena could respond, a shout echoed from outside, followed by the screech of tires. She and Gary rushed to the window, peering out to see Hart peeling out of the driveway in his car, his face a mask of fury.

“Where’s he going?” Serena whispered, dread pooling in her stomach.

“I don’t know,” Gary said, his expression grim. “But whatever he’s planning, it’s not good. We need to be ready.”

As Gary left to find Jack, Serena sank back onto her bed, the book of fire witches heavy in her hands. Hart’s threat, the triplets’ divide, and the shadowy figure in the library swirled in her mind. She was caught in a web of secrets, and every move she made seemed to tighten the strands.

But Gary’s words echoed: *You’re stronger than you realize.* For the first time, she let herself believe it, just a little. She opened the book again, her resolve hardening. If Hart thought he could control her, he was wrong. She’d uncover the truth about her powers—and when she did, she’d make sure he regretted underestimating her.