The next morning, I woke up to an empty apartment and twenty missed calls from my mother.

Shit! What the hell happened last night? Did I pass out? Why am I in just my underwear?

My head was spinning but I knew I had to get home this instant. I couldn't find Daren anywhere, so I just grabbed my things and dashed out of the building.

I took a cab home and on getting there, I met my mother's scolding but worried expression.

“Where did you sleep last night? I have been trying to call you all night!” She exclaimed.

“I'm sorry, Mom. I went to hang out with some friends and lost track of time,” I lied. I knew she would kill me if she found out I slept out with a boy. Plus, she always wanted me to have friends so it was easy to convince her. “Please let me come in, I'm already late for school.”

“Fine,” she sighed. “I'll let you off the hook this time, but don't ever do that again.”

I hugged her, “Thanks, Mom, you're the best.”

I tried to run in when she stopped me, “Rochelle, wait!”

My heart skipped. Goddess, what is it this time? Am I about to get into trouble?

“My fiancée will be coming over with his family this weekend. I just wanted to make sure you're okay with it,” she said and a smile formed on my lips.

“Of course, Mom. I can't wait to see the man who brought back your beautiful smile,” I said. “I also need to thank him for getting me into my dream school.”

She gave a beautiful smile. “Of course, thank you, honey.”

I blew her a kiss and dashed to my room to get dressed. I didn't eat breakfast because I had already missed first period.

However, on getting to school, everything changed. The funny looks everyone was giving me, the pointing of hands, the laughter…

I mean, it was part of my daily life here but there was just something different about today. Every single soul was staring at me.

I clung tightly to my backpack, feeling my throat go dry. I was nervous and worried, and I even had to check what I was wearing, just in case.

Then I noticed something. They were all looking at something on their phones and pointing at me. I slowly took out my phone, just in case and checked the school blog.

That was when my worst nightmare came true.

There were screenshots and screen records of me from a live stream, touching myself and begging Darren to take me already.

Cold sweat broke out on my forehead as my body temperature fluctuated between hot and cold.

“This… this cannot be real…” My body swayed as my knees went weak. I was confused and horrified.

I didn’t have any memories of this. When the hell did this happen?

How could Darren do this to me?

A FEW HOURS LATER

“You should be thanking me, Rochelle. No one even looked at you before that video.”

The words hit my skull like a slap.

“What did you just say?” I whispered, every ounce of air in my lungs evaporating. I had gone through five hours of hell, slut-shaming and embarrassment, hoping that there was some sort of explanation for this and this was all he could say?

Darren let out a lazy laugh, like he was the one being inconvenienced. Resting on him was Sophia who seemed very amused by the situation. Baxi and Liam were present too. They were all watching.

“I made you relevant, sweetheart. Before me, you were just the pathetic omega everyone stepped over. Now? You’re the girl everyone’s talking about. You’re welcome.”

“Are you being serious right now?” I raised my voice, letting all the anger I felt seep through it. “You think this is funny? How could you film me without my knowledge? You started a freaking live stream while I was drunk and…”

“Hold on,” he cut me short. “Don’t act like some innocent victim now. You practically begged me to watch you. You wanted to prove you were worth it, remember? You said ‘anything.’ Anything, Rochelle.”

My heart thundered. I couldn't believe my ears.

“I didn't know what I was doing. I don't remember…”

“You said yes. You smiled for the freaking camera,” he accused. “This is your mess, Rochelle. You stripped. Moaned my name like a pornstar. You put on a show. What did you think was going to happen? You wanted to prove you're better than all the other girls, right? So why the hell are you yelling now?”

“I didn't ask for any of that?!” I screamed at him. “You know that!”

“Maybe next time, don’t act like a cheap toy if you can’t handle being played with,” he hissed. “Now get lost, I was busy before you came.”

The boys laughed as the words pierced through my heart.

“You heard him, little whore. Move!” Baxi snapped.

“You have to take down that video and tell everyone the truth!” I demanded. He was silent for a couple of seconds before bursting into laughter.

“And why would I do that?” He raised a brow. “You know you are really pathetic, Roch. Even in an open relationship, you couldn't even get one boy here to look at you. I didn't even have to worry about you cheating because you couldn't bag the ugliest boy in Silverstone even if you tried.”

Tears pooled in my eyes. “So it's suddenly okay to talk about our relationship in front of your friends?”

“Why not?” He shrugged. “It was their idea after all.”

“I was so certain she wouldn't fall for it but fuck man, the bitch was completely head over heels,” Liam laughed and my heart squeezed so hard I couldn't breathe.

This was… this was all a game? He played with my feelings just so his friends could get a good laugh?

“Who knew you had such fire in you, Anderson?” Baxi mocked. “You should give us another show. I'd happily fuck you for free.”

“You know you're really shameless and desperate, Roch,” Sophia huffed. “Even after hearing all that, you haven't even said anything remotely close to break up.”

The boys burst into laughter.

“Break up with me?” Darren asked. “She’ll do anything for me if I just say the word. Trust me when I say, I will keep using her until I decide to discard her myself.”

A tear rolled down my cheeks. I didn't understand any of it. Why… why would he do this to me?

“Why…” my voice cracked. “Why would you hurt me this way… I did nothing to you…”

Darren sighed and got up. “You know what, Roch? Let's make a deal. I'll tell everyone the truth and take down the video on one condition.”

I wanted nothing to do with his stupid games. I just wanted to go home and cry and never step foot in this place ever again.

“Normally I would have said if you can get someone hotter than me to date you, but then I realised there are only three people in the whole of Silverstone who can get me jealous and they would never spare a lowly slut like you a second glance,” Darren snorted and they laughed.

I knew exactly who he was talking about. The Triplet Alphas. The ice kings of Silverstone who have never uttered a word or even spared anyone a glance since they joined Silverstone last month.

Rumors had it that they were from MoonCrest Pack, a werewolf pack that was three times superior to SilverStone in both resources and power. Which made it a serious wonder what they were doing in Silverstone.

They surpassed Darren in every way. Looks, brains and even talent. They were a league of their own and intimidated everyone, including Darren.

“Oh please! In her dreams!” Sophia snorted. “I couldn't even get them to look at me and I'm the hottest girl in Silverstone.”

“Listen Roch,” Darren called my attention once again. “If you can get anyone to date you. I mean even the ugliest wolf in Silverstone to look at you after this viral video, then I'll confess. Who knows, I might even consider letting you have a taste of me like you've always wanted.”

I didn’t respond. I didn’t scream. I didn’t cry. I just stared at him.

And in that moment, something inside me snapped. Since they wanted a show, I swore to give them one they would never forget. No matter what it took.

Chapter Three

ROCHELLE

This was insane. Suicidal, even.

But I wasn’t thinking straight. Not after what Darren did to me. Not after everyone’s stares, whispers, and laughter followed me like shadows.

I just wanted to disappear. Or burn this place down.

Instead, I climbed to the rooftop, the one place in all of Silverstone you didn’t dare go.

Because the rooftop belonged to them.

The Triplet Alphas.

They were my only hope.

Sucking in a deep breath, I opened the door to the roof and stepped forward. Three pairs of mesmerizing eyes snapped to me and I gulped hard.

Thinking about it now, I never got a close look at them because I was too busy proving my love to Darren.

The redhead leaned against the railing, tall and broad. His ocean-blue eyes narrowed at me with a mix of curiosity and amusement, like he was watching a rabbit walk into a wolf’s den.

The white-haired one sat on the edge of a concrete bench, phone in hand. His stunning emerald gaze, icy and unreadable, like frost layered over steel, dissected me like I was some annoying pest.

And the last, the raven-haired with turquoise eyes, was slouched in a low chair, a book in hand. He didn’t even bother to lift his gaze. Like I wasn’t even worth the effort.

My fingers trembled at my sides, but I took another step forward.

They didn’t say a word.

I cleared my throat. “I… I know I’m not supposed to be here, but I need your help.”

“You lost?” the redhead asked, raising a brow.

His voice was rough velvet, beautiful and mocking.

I swallowed. “I know you don’t like people,” I rushed out, my voice trembling with fear, “and you probably hate it when someone like me comes up here uninvited but… I didn’t come for trouble. I came here to make a deal.”

That got a twitch of interest from the white-haired one. His eyes flicked briefly to the redhead, then back to me. “A deal?” he echoed. “With us?”

“I know it’s ridiculous,” I said quickly. “But I’m desperate. I need to ruin someone. And you three are the only ones powerful enough to help me do it.”

That earned me a chuckle from the redhead, low, dry, almost cruel. “Interesting.”

The raven-haired one flipped a page of his book with the softest scoff. “You have thirty seconds,” he said without looking up. “Use them wisely.”

The pressure was suffocating, but I pushed through. I had nothing left to lose.

“I need one of you to date me,” I blurted and there was silence.

A slow, heavy pause as those words hung in the air like a death sentence.

The redhead raised a brow, smirking as if he’d just heard the dumbest thing in the world. “You came all the way up here… to ask us out?”

“No… no, not like that,” I stammered. “I don’t want anything real. I actually want you to pretend to date me.”

Silence.

The wind blew through the rooftop, ruffling the raven-haired one’s page, but none of them spoke.

Then…

The redhead laughed. A full, entertained laugh. “This has to be the funniest thing I've heard in a while. Who are you again?”

“It doesn’t have to be all of you,” I rushed to explain. “Just one. Or… whoever agrees. It’s just that… someone recorded me. When I was drunk. He streamed it for everyone to see. He humiliated me. Lied. And now he’s saying he’ll only take the video down if I can get someone, anyone, to like me. Even the ugliest guy in school. But he specifically said none of you would ever look at me. And I just…”

“Wanted to prove him wrong? I like that,” the redhead finished for me with a snort. I hated that this was funny to him. My life was on the verge of collapsing and he was laughing. But I didn't dare complain.

I nodded, blinking back the sting in my eyes. “I know I’m nothing. I’m an omega. I have no status, no name. I shouldn’t even be speaking to you. But I’m not asking for pity. Just please... help me ruin him.”

“You’re talking about Darren,” the white-haired one said, cutting through my words like a knife. “You’re the girl from the live stream.”

I froze.

So they’d seen it too.

Of course they had. Everyone had.

The book snapped shut and I flinched. Beads of sweat broke out of my forehead as I wiped my sweaty palms against my jeans.

The raven-haired one finally looked up, and when he did, my stomach dropped. His gaze was piercing. Irritated. He didn't blink as he stared right through me, then slowly dragged his eyes over my frame like he was assessing whether I was even worth the breath it’d take to tell me to leave.

He stood slowly, slipping his book into the pocket of his coat. He walked toward me with slow majestic strides that made my throat go dry and stomach churn. When he stopped just in front of me, I realized just how tall he was. How small I really was. He tilted his head slightly, his intimidating aura infiltrating the air and subsequently cutting my airflow.

Something about the way he looked at me made my knees wobble. Like he was peeling back every layer of me and finding nothing worth keeping.

“You think letting one of us parade you around like a trophy will make the shame go away?” he asked and my stomach curled in embarrassment.

“I… I just thought….”

“No,” he cut short my stuttering. “I don't care for Darren and we are not obligated to help you either.”

Tears gathered in my eyes. I just wanted the ground to open up and swallow me. I had worked up all my courage to get here only to face another rejection.

I glanced at the redhead, hoping he would say something at least.

“Sorry, sweetheart, but I think I'll pass,” he shrugged, taking out his phone. “Go easy on her, Aidan,” he said, voice lazy but laced with dark amusement. “I kinda want to see what she does next.”

My hopes shattered and I felt completely dejected. That was two down, one more to decide my fate. My eyes flickered to the white-haired one and he simply looked away.

“Evander?” Aidan, the raven-haired one, asked.

“I don't do pity projects,” the white-haired triplet scoffed and my heart dropped.

“You heard them. Now get lost,” He snapped. I fought the tears threatening to spill down my cheeks.

What was I even thinking? Why would they help a girl like me?