REJECTED BY THE ALPHA TRIPLETS

CHAPTER 3

Today was the day

The mating ball was finally here. Evelyn woke up, a big smile on her face. Today was the day she would get her mate, her one true love, destined to be hers. Today was the day that marked her freedom from the cruelties fate so kindly bestowed upon her. It was finally here.

She rose out of bed, a happy tone in her step as she went about her morning routine. There was no one banging on her door, no one outside screaming at her to get out, there was no noise at all. She stared at the dress she'd made and felt pride fill her soul.

The dress was pale pink in color, reaching down to the floor. It wasn't made of the best material, as she'd used scraps her step mother had lying around. But it was beautiful. She'd made roses and butterflies and stuck to it. The gown looked like a fairytale come alive, and Evelyn felt proud of herself for it.

The ball was at midnight, when the moon was high in the sky. It was only a few hours ago and Evelyn had all the time to prepare. Just as she was about to dress her sisters, she heard Jennifer's signature screech at the front door.

"Couldn't they just shut up for one day?" Alice sighed.

"After today, it's finally over." Evelyn said with a big smile. She waltzed up to the front door and threw it open. "What do you want?" She asked, a sharp tone in her voice.

Jennifer raised an arched eyebrow. "Excuse me what?!"

"What do you want, her highness?"

"You're needed at the pack house immediately."

"But I have to attend the ball as well." Evelyn groaned in frustration. "Everyone has to be present!"

Jennifer waved her off like she was a pest. "Oh do shut up! What even makes you think you'd get a mate?! People like you will die alone."

Evelyn rolled her eyes. She was too excited to let anyone ruin her mood. "I'll be there soon."

"Better make it quick!"

"At least let me get dressed first,"

Jennifer who'd tried to leave paused and turned back to Evelyn. "What did you just say?"

"I said, let me get dressed and I'll come."

Jennifer laughed. "Wait, you don't mean to tell me that you actually plan on attending the mating ball, and you actually have a gown?"

Evelyn realized she'd walked into a trap. "No no no, what I was trying to say is...." Jennifer pushed her aside roughly and stormed into the house. Evelyn ran after her screaming at her to leave her alone. Jennifer walked into Evelyn's room and stopped in front of the gown.

"Would you look at that, the little mutt made herself a ball gown."

"Jennifer, just leave me alone. I'm not bothering anyone, I'm just...."

"Oh," Jennifer cooed and laid a hand casually on the gown. "But you did bother me, what is this?" She ripped a sleeve off. Evelyn screamed.

"Just leave me alone!"

"You are an embarrassment, a stain on the noble crystal groove pack. We cannot have the likes of you bearing pups and further tainting our image!"

"And who are you to decide that?!" Evelyn screamed and stormed up to Jennifer, facing her nose to nose. "Who are you?! Am I not a member of this pack?! Wasn't I born into this pack just like you?! What makes you feel so entitled that you...."

Jennifer slapped her across the face. Evelyn's face whipped to the side. Then she raised her head up and slapped Jennifer back.

"You little...." Another slap, louder than the last. Jennifer lunged at her but she stepped aside casually, making her fall into the dress. Jennifer whipped her head to her, fuming and breathing fire. "You'll pay for this you mutt! You think you've suffered enough? You'll suffer even more when I'm done with you."

Evelyn watched with cold eyes and Jennifer ripped the gown into shreds. "I'll kill you, Jennifer. Mark my words."

"You would do anything! You're a worthless piece of s**t! I hope you die in a ditch somewhere all alone and rejected. "

"After you,"

Jennifer screamed in frustration and stormed out of the room. Evelyn's composure broke and she began to cry. She rushed to the remains of her gown, nights of hardwork, reduced to pink shreds. She cradled them close to her chest, her sobs ringing throughout the night sky.

Her night was already looking shitty.

***

The mating ball was bubbling with life. All the unmated members looked lovely in their attires, chatting with one another and making merry until the main event started. Evelyn stood in a corner, in her usual tee and jeans, hoping to not get picked on, hoping to blend into the shadows.

But as always, she had to have the worst luck.

"Look brothers it's our little mouse!" Jacob announced loudly, his voice ringing throughout the arena. Evelyn avoided his eyes, trying to make herself look smaller and disappear into the wall.

"Hello, Alpha Jacob."

"Did you come to get mated as well?" Luke asked twirling a glass of wine in his hand.

Evelyn nodded. "Yes, I am still a member of the Crystal groove pack, and I am unmated."

"Wow," Henry said, giving a round of applause. "Hear the mouse speak! It's your confidence for me."

Evelyn laughed uneasily. "Yeah"

"Disgraceful little mutt!" Jennifer butted in from nowhere. "I hope you do alone. "

"Like you will." Evelyn shot back, making everyone gasp. Jennifer held a hand to her chest and turned to Jacob.

"You see that Alpha?! She's so proud, she actually thinks she's something!"

Jacob held Jennifer gently, trying to pacify her "calm down my dear, the moon goddess knows what is good for the pack, I'm sure she knows what to do with out friend here."

A wolf cry rang out through the night sky, crisp and clear, accompanied by the soft sound of bells. A hush came over the arena, Evelyn felt goosebumps cover her body. Everyone dropped what they were doing and gathered round the stage that had been set for the moon goddess.

Suddenly, a blanket of warmth descended over everyone, the feeling of being hugged by a loved one. Evelyn felt tears prick her eyes, it had been so long since she'd last felt like that. A soft gust of wind blew and the celestial silhouette of a blue wolf descended from the moon above and settled on the stage.

All pack members fell to their knees, chanting with one voice "we welcome you, o goddess of the moon, grace us with your blessing, we pray."

"My children," The moon goddess spoke in a soft motherly voice. All heads turned up. The wolf stood regally on the stage, her kind blue eyes raking round the crowd. Evelyn felt an electric shock when those eyes met hers and held her stare before smiling and looking away.

'She looked at me,' Evelyn squeaked internally. 'She has heard all my prayers!'

"I will now give you all my blessing," She said and let out a wolf cry. The pack members followed suit, the sound loud and powerful. The ethereal wolf rose from the stage and circled the crowd twice in a gust of warm wind and leaves, then raced up to the moon and vanished.

There was silence as everyone gradually rose to their feet and began to collect themselves.

Then the humming began. Which transitioned into low speaking, then followed by shouts of joy and jubilation. Evelyn couldn't breath properly. The image in her head made her want to puke and bury herself and do it all over again. Tears filled her eyes. She looked around her, the newly mated pack members each found their mates and rejoiced, some of them shifting instantly and going for a run happy with the gift of the moon goddess.

Evelyn wasn't.

She wanted to curse the beautiful wolf who'd given her her blessings. She wanted to shift and claw out her windpipe. She wanted to vanish, because this wasn't the plan. This wasn't her prayer. This wasn't what she wanted.

"There's no way I'd accept that retard as a mate." Jacob Sandler's voice screamed. All noise came to a halt as everyone turned to the commotion. Evelyn willed the ground to open up and swallow her as the triplets stormed up to her.

"You mean my mate," Luke said.

"What do you mean your mate?! She's my mate." Henry said.

There was confusion in the pack. Voices started to rise and murmur. Evelyn sobbed quietly, biting her lip so hard it bled. Her hands fiddled with the hem of her shirt, accidentally putting a few more holes in it.

"Wait, don't tell me she's mated to all three of us?!" Jacob said, eyes wide as he regarded his brothers.

"It would appear to be so," Henry said.

"Well it doesn't matter. We reject her as our mate." Luke said in a final tone and turned away.

"I reject you as my mate."

"I reject you as my mate."

Evelyn didn't wait, she turned and ran as fast as her legs could carry her. Halfway out of the pack house she shifted into her wolf form, a malnourished looking grey wolf. As she ran, her eyes didn't stop leaking.

It was all in vain

The moon goddess didn't answer any of her prayers, instead had given her up to the most ruthless men ever.

She didn't see the ditch in front of her, her body collided with the bottom before she could catch herself. The sound of cracking bones filled the night air, accompanied by her howl. Slowly she shifted back to her human form. Naked, alone, rejected, she cried her self to sleep and silently prayed for death.