A Triple Bond from Mistletoe

Chapter 3

The weekend stretches out in front of me like a never-ending, suffocating fog, every minute crawling with uncertainty, every hour weighted with thoughts I can’t escape. I sit alone in my room, the four walls of my sanctuary, but today they feel more like a prison. My thoughts are consumed by the events of the party, the triplets, the kiss under the mistletoe—everything that happened feels too unreal to grasp, and yet, the imprint of their lips on mine remains.

I can still feel the touch of Axel’s lips, burning with intensity, the heat of Damon’s kiss lingering on my skin, the softness of Leo’s, the way each one seemed to leave a mark that I can't wash away. The connection between us... it's undeniable. But it's also confusing, maddening. I’ve spent my entire life avoiding anything that might pull me into a world of danger, a world that would only bring pain, and now, it seems that world has come crashing into my life whether I like it or not.

I sit cross-legged on my bed, my hands resting on my knees as I stare out the window at the overcast sky. The air outside feels heavy with unspoken promises, the clouds hanging low as if they, too, are burdened with the weight of everything I can’t control. A sigh escapes my lips, my chest tightening as I try to process everything. How am I supposed to deal with this? How can I face Axel, Damon, and Leo after what happened? They’re not just any guys—they’re alphas. Triplets. They come from a family with a name that holds power, a name that means something dangerous. They’re not supposed to be tangled up in my life.

But they are.

“Rose!” My mother’s voice cuts through the silence, her sharp tone dragging me out of my thoughts. “Are you just going to sit there all day, or are you going to help around here?”

I wince at her tone, the bitterness in her voice cutting like a knife. I don’t answer immediately, knowing that anything I say will just escalate things. Her moods are as unpredictable as the weather, and right now, it feels like a storm is brewing.

When I don’t respond, she huffs and stomps into my room, glaring at me with those cold, resentful eyes. “You know, you really ought to stop dreaming about things that aren’t going to happen. You’re not like those rich, powerful families. Don’t you dare think you can get involved with people like the Nightshades.”

I look up at her, my heart sinking at her words. The Nightshade family. The name alone sends a shiver down my spine. I know all about them. Their power. Their influence. And the rumors that follow them like a shadow. My mother’s warnings have been constant since I was a little girl—warnings about the danger of falling for men like that. Men who come from wealth and a world that’s far darker than I could ever imagine.

“Mom, please,” I mutter, trying to push past the unease her words bring. “You don’t even know them.”

“Ha!” Her laugh is bitter, sharp. “I know enough. You think they care about you, Rose? They’re not interested in someone like you. You’re just a passing amusement, a distraction. And if you let yourself get too close to them, you’ll end up broken, just like your father left us. You won’t survive in their world, Rose. You’ll be swallowed up, and then you’ll be nothing.”

Her words sting, each one laced with the venom of her own hurt and resentment. My mother’s bitterness has always been the cloud that looms over my life, her view of the world tainted by past betrayals and a long-standing bitterness that makes it hard for her to trust anyone. But still, I can’t shake the knot forming in my stomach as I think about what she said. She’s right about one thing—Axel, Damon, and Leo are dangerous. They come from a world I can’t understand, a world I don’t belong to. And yet, the thought of staying away from them feels impossible.

I try to shake off the unease and focus on something else—anything else—but my mind keeps returning to the triplets. They were so sure, so intense, their words echoing in my mind. You’re ours. All three of us.

I want to forget it. I want to pretend that it never happened, that I never felt that connection. But the more I try to push it away, the stronger it pulls me back in.

Later that evening, I leave my room to grab something to eat from the kitchen, my mind still reeling with everything that’s happened. As I step outside to take a quick walk to clear my head, the cool evening air bites at my skin, sharp and unforgiving. The wind picks up, swirling around me as I walk through the quiet streets. The neighborhood is still, the only sound the rustling of leaves in the trees.

I’m so lost in my thoughts that I don’t notice the figure that emerges from the shadows until it’s too late.

A growl rips through the air, low and threatening, just as something heavy slams into my side, knocking me to the ground. I gasp, my body scrambling to get away, but the rogue wolf is fast, its yellow eyes glowing in the dark as it lunges toward me. Its teeth are sharp, gleaming with malice, and I can feel its hot breath on my skin as I try to crawl backward, my heart racing with terror.

But just as the wolf is about to pounce, something huge and powerful crashes into it, sending it tumbling across the pavement. I scramble to my feet, my eyes wide in shock as I see three figures emerge from the shadows, moving with inhuman speed.

Axel, Damon, and Leo.

They’re here. They’re really here.

The rogue wolf is quickly subdued by the three of them, their strength overwhelming as they pin the creature to the ground, forcing it to submit. Axel’s eyes are dark, his jaw clenched in determination, while Damon’s usually calm demeanor is replaced with something more primal, more dangerous. Leo is the first to glance in my direction, his eyes softening when they meet mine, though the intensity of his gaze doesn’t fade.

“Rose,” Axel calls, his voice sharp with command. “Get behind us.”

I don’t think twice. My body reacts before my mind can process what’s happening, and I quickly move to stand behind them, the triplets forming a protective barrier around me as they continue to subdue the rogue wolf.

The fight doesn’t last long, and soon the wolf is no longer a threat, its body lying limp on the ground. Axel, Damon, and Leo step back, their eyes scanning the area to make sure no other threats are nearby.

“What the hell just happened?” I ask, my voice shaky as I look at the three of them, still trying to comprehend what I’ve just witnessed.

Axel steps toward me, his eyes dark with something fierce, something that makes my heart skip a beat. “We’ve been watching you, Rose. Ever since the mistletoe incident, we’ve been keeping an eye on you. You’re not safe out here. Not anymore.”

I swallow hard, my mind spinning with his words. “What are you talking about? Why? Why have you been watching me?”

Damon steps forward now, his face serious. “Because you’re a part of our world now, Rose. You’re bound to us in ways you don’t fully understand yet. And that means we have to protect you.”

Leo’s voice comes softly, though his gaze is no less intense. “It’s not just about the kiss, Rose. There’s more to this bond than you realize. It’s fate.”

I open my mouth to argue, to tell them they’re insane, but the words get stuck in my throat. I want to run, to escape from this, but every part of me knows I can’t. Not anymore. I’m tangled up in their world now, whether I want to be or not.

Axel grabs my arm gently, his touch firm but caring. “We’re taking you with us. It’s not safe for you here anymore.”

Before I can protest, the triplets lead me down the street, their presence surrounding me like a protective shield. We move quickly, their steps almost synchronized as they guide me toward their mansion—a mansion I’ve only ever seen in whispers and rumors. The Nightshade family’s home is as intimidating as the triplets themselves, towering above me as we approach.

I feel like a stranger in a foreign land, each step I take dragging me deeper into their world. But no matter how much I want to resist, I know deep down that I can’t escape.