Claimed by the Beast Kings

Chapter3

The Next Morning

“Ahh!” A scream ripped through my mouth and my eyes shot open. The softness of the bed was a reminder of where I was. I could hear my heart pounding furiously, an effect of the nightmare.

Pushing myself off the bed, I noted the new additions: clothes laid out neatly and breakfast on a tray.

Did they decide to change tactics and poison me instead? I wondered.

“Grrrrrrrr.”

I clutched my stomach. Good thing I'm the only one here. That would have been embarrassing.

There were fresh fruits, bread, eggs—things I rarely got to eat. Throwing caution to the wind, I grabbed an apple and munched down on it. If I was going to die, it was better to die with a full stomach than an empty one.

After eating, I grabbed the clothes. They were soft and silky, nothing like the threadbare dresses I wore at my father's house. Putting them on was like accepting my fate, I shoved the guilt down.

Now was not the time to get guilty.

Knock. Knock.

“May I come in?” Thalion’s voice called.

I ignored him, hoping it would drive him away.

He entered anyway, dressed more casually than last night—dark pants and a simple shirt—but he still radiated power.

“Thought it was common courtesy to wait for a response before entering a lady's room?” I snarked, pulling a duvet up to my chest—I wasn't done putting on the clothes yet.

“Never claimed to be a gentleman,” he shrugged, his eyes fixed intently on me, something like lust glimmering in them.

“Finally, something we can agree on,” I snapped. “Now Turn around or get out.”

He folded his arms and leaned against a pillar.

“Now why would I do that when I've just been exposed to the prettiest view?” he said cheekily, with a smile that reached his eyes, though I could see the steel beneath them.

“Turn,” I gritted out, clutching the duvet tighter.

“Good morning to you too, little mate,” he greeted with that charming smile, ignoring my comment. “Hope you slept well?”

He finally turned.

“You locked me in.” I dressed quickly.

“For your safety.”

“Really? Thought all you guys cared about was having your mate pop out your pups to inherit the bloodline. After all, what more could you use your defective mate for?”

He held his heart dramatically. “You misunderstand us greatly, little mate. We would never.”

“Never what? Have kids?” I raised an eyebrow.

He smacked his lips. “Not that.”

“Oh, so you do want me to pop out your pups for you then,” I rolled my eyes.

Sigh.

“We would never do anything to hurt you, pretty,” he said, sitting next to me. My reflection showed in his eyes.

“Right.” I nodded, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “For my safety.”

Sigh.

“There are wolves here who wouldn't understand what you are yet. We need to ease them into it.”

“What am I? I'm nothing. I'm just a broken omega.”

Thalion sat on the edge of the bed, too close.

“You're not broken, Astraea. You've been suppressed. There's a difference.”

He reached for my collar. I flinched, but he was gentle, examining it closely.

“This needs to come off. It's poisoning you.”

His voice was quiet, his breath minty.

“My father said I need it. Without it, my wolf would hurt people,” I responded quietly.

“Your father lied.” Thalion’s voice hardened.

“This collar isn't controlling your wolf. It's suppressing something much more powerful.”

Before I could protest, he unclasped it.

The moment the collar came off, pain exploded through my body.

I screamed, doubling over. Something inside me was trying to claw its way out.

My screams grew louder. Windows broke. Glasses shattered. My bones felt like they were breaking and reforming. My insides were on fire. Something was tearing me apart inwardly without mercy.

Kaelith and Dravyn burst into the room.

“What did you do?” Kaelith demanded.

I could barely hear their voices through the pain, but I still did.

“I removed the collar. She needs to shift.”

“She's not ready,” Kaelith snapped, but it was too late.

My body convulsed. My bones cracked, trying to reshape. My skin burned. The bed frame cracked.

Hands pressed down on me—not harshly, more like they were trying to contain me. My voice cracked from the pain. My bones bent in the most unnatural way.

“What is she?” I heard them talking again.

“Hybrid.”

“That's impossible.”

“Look at her.”

The pain became unbearable. The world blurred and everything went dark.

My eyes blinked open. My entire body ached terribly.

I was on my bed now, still in my room. They must have carried me.

“You’re awake.”

The triplets surrounded my bed like guards.

“Water.”

Kaelith handed me a glass. I gulped it down without a second thought.

Sitting up, I allowed my eyes to roam the room. Furniture was everywhere. Claw marks were on the wall. Shattered glass lay around, and cracks spread beneath the bed frame.

“What happened to me?” My voice came out hoarse from the screaming.

Kaelith began, “Your powers—”

“I'm a defective omega,” I cut him off.

“No,” Thalion responded. “You're something else—part wolf and something more powerful. Something ancient.”

“You’re a hybrid,” Dravyn completed bluntly.

I burst into laughter. “That was so funny. Now tell me, really, what happened?” I asked between laughs.

Their faces tightened, their expressions serious, with no indication of a joke.

“The suppression drugs your father gave you kept the hybrid hidden. Now it's fighting to emerge,” Thalion explained.

I blinked twice, staring at them for even a hint that this was a prank. They couldn't be serious, right?

I stared at my hands. They were normal, but I could still feel it—the raw power, the thing crawling upward bit by bit.

“Hybrids are extinct,” I whispered.

“Apparently not,” Kaelith replied.

I stared blankly, processing this. Then it hit me. The hairs on my arm rose and beads of sweat formed on my forehead.

“The council…” My breathing quickened.

“They’ll kill me. Hybrids are illegal—”

“They'll have to go through us first,” Dravyn growled, cutting me off.

His declaration did nothing

to lessen the unease gnawing at my heart. I was truly going to die.

My body went cold.

“It all makes sense now.”

“What does?” they asked, looking at me questioningly.

“He knew…” Tears slid down my cheeks.

“Father knew. For twenty-two years. That's why he kept me hidden and suppressed. Kept me collared like a dog.”

The tears flowed even harder now.

“Why would he?”