The Wrong Room
Elara's eighteenth birthday was supposed to be her wolf ceremony.
Instead, her father dragged her to the slave market.
"You are wolfless. You are useless. The Moon Goddess made a mistake with you," he spat, shoving her forward. "The Royal Palace needs servants. Your price will pay for your sister's dowry."
Elara didn't cry. She had stopped crying two years ago when they started beating her for not shifting.
The Palace was massive. White stone, golden gates, and the smell of wolves everywhere. Strong, powerful wolves.
"Listen, Omega," the head maid hissed. "You will clean the Alpha Chamber. Never look at the Alphas in the eye. Never speak unless spoken to. The triplet Alphas will kill you if you annoy them.
"Elara nodded, carrying the heavy tray of wine and fruits. Her hands shook.
The Alpha Chamber was empty. Three thrones. Three massive beds.
She was placing the wine down when the doors slammed open.
Three scents hit her like a storm.
Pine. Smoke. And rain on a stormy night.
Three men walked in. Identical, but not the same. All over 6'5", broad, scarred, wearing only black pants and royal capes. Their eyes glowed.
Kael, the eldest — cold, ruthless, eyes like ice.
Jace, the middle — golden hair, smirk, a predator.
Rowan, the youngest — silent, dark, staring straight through her.
Elara froze. She was in the wrong room. This was the bath chamber.
"You," Kael growled, his voice shaking the walls. "Who let you in here?"
The tray crashed. Elara fell to her knees, head down. "F-forgive me, Alpha. I am new —"
Jace was in front of her in a second. He grabbed her chin, forced her to look up. He inhaled deeply, and his pupils blew wide.
"Mate," he whispered.
What?
Rowan moved so fast she didn't see him. He knelt, grabbed her wrist, sniffed her neck. His whole body trembled. "She's ours."
Kael laughed, but it was dark and disbelieving. He stormed over, yanked her up by her hair and pressed his nose to her throat. Elara whimpered from the pain.
"Impossible," he snarled. "She has no wolf. She is wolfless. How can a wolfless girl be our mate?"
Jace's eyes flashed gold. "I don't care. Do you smell her? f**k, she smells like."
"Mine." Rowan's voice was quiet, but final. He looked at his brothers. "The Moon Goddess finally gave us our Luna."
Kael's grip tightened on Elara's hair. "If she is ours, she never leaves this palace again."
Elara's heart was beating out of her chest. Mate? Luna? Three Alphas? No. No, this was a mistake. She was cursed.