Bound To The Holland Triplet

Chapter4.

Julian's words rang in the room, hitting me like a rock. I suffered from both physical and emotional pain and there was no relief in sight. Everywhere went drop-pin silent instantly and the awareness of their eyes on me made my skin crawl. I couldn't find my tongue or anything in me to react. All I knew was the shame that cloaked my body and the chill air washing down my skin.

I managed to drag my pooling eyes to them and the impatience on their faces urged me on. They were waiting, and I had to tell them what they wanted to hear.

"I, Natasha Rayes, accept the rejection of Holland's triplets."

My voice came out as a tiny whisper and a loud cheer of gloat erupted from the crowd, piercing through my air. I stood at the spot, drowned in a pool of shame. Someone sneak me out of here please. Or better still, the ground should open and swallow me up.

Every single mocking laughter rang in my head and I couldn't find the strength to move.

"Let's get out of here."

A husky voice I knew so well hissed behind me suddenly and my heartbeat stopped.

"Chris?"

I turned around, stunned. It was really him. How did he get here? Relief rushed through me and I didn't realize when I threw my arms around him, sobbing.

"Come on." He grabbed my wrist and pulled me behind him through the gawking crowd.

I walked in fast strides to catch up with Chris' pace in the garden. His temper was over the roof and I couldn't tell if part of it was for me.

"No one deserves this, absolutely no one!" he growled, kicking the grass.

I stopped behind him with more tears flowing down my face. I had expected him to be mad at me for not rejecting those bastards first, but here he was still as compassionate as ever.

"I'm sorry. I should have..."

"Hey shhhh... don't cry....." Chris' voice rang softly as he pulled me into a warm embrace against his chest. "You didn't do anything wrong, Pookie. Mate bond is nothing you can control. It leaves one wild and ecstatic. Those bastards are the losers here."

His fingers raked my hair calmly as he spoke, and I shut my eyes at the soothing feeling of his words. But the feeling was short-lived as my mind began to wander. He must have found his mate as well, considering his perfect description of the mate bond. Who was she? Slight pain stung my heart at the thought. He would go back to his true mate after now and I would be all alone, mateless and a subject of ridicule.

Fresh tears streamed down my face and I tightened my grip around him. "We should be together... The moon goddess did us dirty."

"We're together, Pookie. Nothing has changed. Her parents want her for the Silver nest Alpha. I mean my real mate. We still have each other."

His eyes glinted under the moonlight and goosebumps washed over me. I didn't deserve this man. No words could describe how I felt at that moment, but his warm smile when he met my gaze told me he saw my heart.

"There they are, seize him!"

Someone screamed from behind and my heart jumped. Turning around abruptly, I saw the triplets match up to us with guard tropes.

The guards gripped Chris, forcefully yanking him off me.

"What's going on? Leave him alone!"

I screamed, rushing to stop them. But my little strength was not enough to get close. Only one push from a guard had me crashing to the floor.

“You guys are so cruel!”

I yelled, and the triplets stopped. They turned to me with a scowl.

“Article 14, section 3a of the pack rule. "None pack members must not interfere, intrude or engage in the pack's activities without invitation.” Your stupid boyfriend should have known better."

“Wait. What?”

I scoffed. They were unbelievable.

“You guys rejected me already!”

“No one cares about you. This is a matter of the throne.”

Their eyes shot venom as Orion spoke, but beneath them, was something I was shocked to notice: Lust. For a moment they forgot how to look away, and my body forgot how to react. ”

I suddenly felt a wet warmth between my legs and I pressed my lips together, embarrassed. Traitor.

“Let’s get out of here guys.”

Julian finally spoke and they walked away.

My anxiety had shot above the roof by the time I got to the guards' quarters the next morning. They had locked me out the whole night, but not anymore.

Two guards walked past me with burning sticks and I followed them with my eyes till they disappeared behind a tall wall.

"Oh no.."

I cried at what I saw through the small hole in the gate. They were preparing an execution furnace.

A loud scream ripped through the air from the cell and, not too long after, two guards dragged Chris out onto the field.

"No... this can’t happen" I whispered in terror. They were going to kill him. It was difficult to think at that moment and I felt helpless.

I had stayed away from the triplet since that morning, but not anymore. Without thinking, I took off at that instant, racing as fast as my weak legs could carry.

"Please don't hurt him."

I fell to their feet as soon as I saw them emerging from the pack house. They took a moment to scan me and I could imagine the scorned look on their faces.

"You're making a fool of yourself right now."

Lucien scoffed, kicking my hand away from his feet. I dragged my eyes up to their faces, pain reeling through me. But butterflies took over my bellies when we made eye contact, the surrounding air suddenly hot from tension.

‘The s*x’ I shut my eyes, hating this feeling. The mate bond was gone, but the attraction wouldn’t stop.

A low growl ripped from their throat as they walked away. A sign of their own frustration.

I had little or no strength left inside me, but I limped after them, even though I had no idea of what to do next.

"Wait!"

I screamed, falling into the execution scene and everyone stopped. Chris was hanging on the death pole, unconscious and covered in his own blood. A terrible sight for my aching heart, but I had to be strong, this last time for him.

"How did she get in here?"

Julian barked, and the guards immediately turned to me. They were going to drag me away any moment, so the time was now or never.

"Kill me instead. I'm ready to die in his place."

"She must be crazy."

"No I'm not. You guys hate me after all. Here's a chance to never see my ugly face again."

I held their gaze as I spoke and the intensity in their eyes wouldn’t stop making my heart flutter.

“We don't need you dead, peasant. Your misery is enough.”

"Then make me even more miserable. Turn me into your slave or puppet....anything. But please do—not— kill him."

There was silence and cold air settled in the atmosphere, like a dark omen.

Their sinister smiles leaked and there on their faces was the verdict.