Under the Mistletoe with the Triplet Alphas

Lillian adjusted the straps of her red velvet dress, staring at her reflection in the mirror. She should be excited. The biggest event of the year—the High School Christmas Party—was finally here. But instead of happiness, all she felt was betrayal. "He's such an ass," her best friend, Mia, scoffed from the bed, arms crossed. "He didn't even have the guts to tell you himself. You had to hear it from the gossip squad!" Lillian forced a smile. "It's not his fault. I mean… she's his mate." "Still. You were supposed to go to the party with him!" The party was in full swing. Fairy lights twinkled, Christmas music played, and the air smelled like cinnamon and pine. Lillian tried to have fun, but watching Aaron with his mate felt like a punch to the gut. "Ugh, he’s not worth it," Mia whispered, dragging her toward the dance floor. "Come on, let’s—" Mia suddenly froze. Lillian turned, confused, only to realize she had stepped under a mistletoe. And right in front of her were three of the most dangerous guys in school. The Blackwood Triplets. Theo—the oldest, quiet and calculating. Ryker—the middle one, cocky and wild. Jace—the youngest, charming but deadly. Every girl in school swooned over them. But they weren’t just bad boys. They were Alphas. The future leaders of the most powerful werewolf pack. And now, all three were staring at her. "Theo," Ryker smirked, "we have a problem." Theo’s intense silver eyes locked onto hers. "We don’t have a problem," he said smoothly. "We have a mate." Lillian’s heart stopped. "What?" she whispered. Jace chuckled. "You heard him, sweetheart." Before she could protest, Ryker leaned in, his lips brushing hers in a sudden, electrifying kiss. A surge of warmth exploded inside her. Then Jace followed, his lips teasing, sending shivers down her spine. And finally, Theo—slow, deliberate, as if sealing fate itself. The second the last kiss ended, Lillian’s entire body trembled. What… just happened? Theo smirked. "Merry Christmas, mate." Yeah, she was. Until Aaron had looked at her with guilt-ridden eyes and said, "Lily, I'm sorry… but I found her." A mate bond was unbreakable. No matter how much she had liked Aaron, she couldn't fight destiny. "Forget him," Mia huffed. "Let’s dance, drink some punch, and enjoy the night. You look hot, and trust me—guys will be lining up to dance with you." Lillian sighed, knowing Mia wouldn’t let her sulk all night. "Fine. Let’s go." A Bond That Shouldn’t Exist Lillian stumbled back, shaking her head. "No. No, this isn’t possible. I’m not your mate!" "Then why do you feel it?" Jace whispered, brushing a strand of hair from her face. A tingling warmth still burned from their kisses. But this wasn’t right. Mates were fated to one person. Not three. Theo’s jaw tightened. "We don’t understand it either. But the bond is real." Ryker grinned, eyes flashing gold. "Guess you’re stuck with us now, sweetheart." Lillian’s pulse raced. This was insane. And yet… deep inside, something in her awoke. Something not quite human. Lillian’s head spun as the triplet Alphas stared at her, their gazes burning with something primal—something undeniable. This wasn’t supposed to happen. A werewolf could only have one mate. Not three. And definitely not a witch. She swallowed hard, stepping back. "No," she whispered. "I—I can’t be your mate. This is a mistake." Theo’s silver eyes darkened, his expression unreadable. "You felt it, Lillian." Jace smirked, brushing his fingers against her wrist. A shocking heat raced up her arm, sending her pulse into chaos. "Deny it all you want, sweetheart. But we all felt it too." Her heart pounded. She had always known there was something different about her. Strange things happened when she got too emotional. A flickering candle would flare out of control. The wind would whisper her name. And once… just once… she had made someone bleed without laying a hand on them. She never told anyone. Not even Mia. Because witches weren’t supposed to exist anymore. And now, three Alpha werewolves were calling her mate. "This isn’t possible," she murmured, shaking her head. Ryker’s golden eyes gleamed with mischief. "Oh, it’s possible, little witch." She froze. Theo’s gaze sharpened. "You didn’t think we wouldn’t notice, did you?" Lillian’s blood ran cold. "Notice what?" "That power," Jace whispered, his smirk fading. "It’s in your scent. Your touch." He tilted his head, as if studying her. "You’re not just some wealthy girl playing dress-up at a Christmas party. You’re something else entirely." Her heart hammered. They knew. She took a shaky step back, panic creeping in. "I don’t know what you’re talking about." Theo moved before she could react, caging her in against the wall. "You don’t have to lie to us, Lillian." His voice was low, commanding. "We won’t hurt you. But we need to know the truth." She looked up at him, heart slamming against her ribs. Lillian Carter had spent her whole life pretending to be normal. But tonight… everything was falling apart. And the worst part? A part of her didn’t want to run. A part of her wanted to believe them. To believe that fate had brought them together for a reason. But witches and werewolves weren’t meant to mix. And if the wrong people found out what she truly was… She wouldn’t just be hunted. She would be burned. Something that was always meant to be theirs. A Dance with the Devil The ballroom shimmered under the golden glow of the chandeliers, filled with the sound of music and laughter. Lillian stood at the edge of the dance floor, her arms crossed as she watched couples spin gracefully across the marble floor. She didn’t belong here. Not with werewolves, not with them. But fate had a cruel sense of humor. "Not dancing?" A smooth, too-familiar voice sent a shiver down her spine. Lillian turned, already annoyed, only to find Jace standing beside her. He looked effortlessly arrogant in his tailored black suit, dark hair slightly tousled, his smirk as insufferable as ever. She rolled her eyes. “Not interested.” Jace tsked, placing a hand over his heart dramatically. “Ouch, darling. You wound me.” “Good.” He chuckled, stepping closer. “Come on, Lil. One dance won’t kill you.” “I’d rather dance with a corpse,” she deadpanned. “Lucky for you, I’m very good at playing dead,” he winked. Then, before she could snap at him again, he leaned in, his breath warm against her ear. "Dance with me, or I might accidentally let slip a little secret about you. You know... about what you really are." Lillian's breath hitched. She froze, her fingers twitching at her side as fire threatened to spark at her fingertips. “You wouldn’t,” she whispered, voice dangerously low. Jace tilted his head playfully. “Wouldn’t I?” Her fists clenched. Theo was already watching from across the room, suspicion clear in his sharp gaze. Ryker, as usual, remained unreadable, but his interest in their exchange was obvious. If Jace said something now, there was no escaping it. Gritting her teeth, she grabbed his hand roughly. “One dance. That’s it.” Jace grinned. “Knew you couldn’t resist me.” He pulled her onto the dance floor, his grip firm but teasing. Lillian forced herself to relax, ignoring the smug expression on his face. And then, she felt it. A burning gaze locked onto her from across the ballroom. Aaron.