Chapter 2:

A dress

Rhea's POV

Lyra’s arm stayed firm around me as I leaned into her for support.

“It’s okay, Rhea. Let’s just get to my room,” she said softly.

The moment we stepped inside, she guided me toward the bed and helped me sit. The familiar lavender scent of her chambers wrapped around me, but her eyes stayed on me with worry.

“Should I call the doctor or something?” she asked.

I shook my head quickly and waved my hand. “I’m fine,” I managed to say, though my voice was still weak.

And then, just like that, it was gone. The heat, the strange pull, all faded as if it had never happened. The air felt lighter again and my breathing was no longer ragged.

“I’m fine,” I repeated, meeting her gaze. “It’s gone.”

Lyra studied me with furrowed brows. “What was that?”

I let out a long sigh. “I don’t know. I’ve never felt anything like it before… soft heat, and so many—”

Her eyes widened suddenly. “Heat?”

I blinked at her. “Yes… why?”

Lyra leaned closer, almost whispering. “Rhea, I think… maybe it’s the mate bond. It’s your  birthday tomorrow, so maybe it’s a sign you’ll find your mate tomorrow.”

My heart raced. “Really?”

She grinned so wide her eyes seemed to sparkle. “Oh my gosh, Rhea, I can’t believe it! I can’t wait! If you find your mate tomorrow, maybe he’ll take you away from here and give you the life you deserve.”

I hadn’t thought about it before. Finding a mate? Being with someone? It had never felt like an option for me. But now… the thought crept in. Maybe it was possible. Maybe tomorrow will change everything.

Without meaning to, I smiled.

Lyra gasped and pointed at me playfully. “Oh, look who’s smiling! That settles it, you have to come to my birthday party tomorrow.”

I shook my head. “Lyra, I can’t. I’m a servant. I won’t even be allowed near the main table.”

“Rubbish,” she said with a little wave of her hand. “Tomorrow, you’re not a servant. You’re my special guest. Okay?”

I hesitated. “I don’t have any nice dresses, Lyra. All my clothes are worn-out rags. Please… I don’t have to go.”

Her lips curved into a mischievous smile, the kind that meant she had already decided my fate.

“Oh, don’t worry about that,” she said, standing and moving toward her wardrobe. “I have something for you.”

I watched as Lyra strolled excitedly to her wardrobe, humming under her breath. She threw open the polished wooden doors and reached inside.

When she turned back to me, she was holding something on a hanger…a long, flowing dress in the richest shade of sapphire blue I had ever seen. 

The fabric shimmered under the light, catching glimmers of silver in its silk folds. It looked impossibly soft, like water running between fingers, the kind of gown meant for royalty, not for someone like me.

“Lyra… what’s this?” I asked, my voice small.

Her smile was bright. “It’s the dress you’re going to wear tomorrow for the birthday party.”

I shook my head quickly, my eyes darting back to the gown. “I can’t wear something like that.” My fingers tightened in my lap. “It’s so expensive, Lyra. What will they say?”

She stepped closer, her expression soft but unyielding. “Hey, it’s your birthday too. You have to dress nicely. Do it for me.”

My gaze lingered on the dress. I had never, not once in my life, worn anything so pretty. Every stitch whispered of a world I didn’t belong to, yet Lyra was placing it in my hands as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

She had a way of doing that, making my darkness a little less heavy, giving me a hand to hold and a shoulder to cry on when no one else would.

I reached out slowly, my fingers brushing against the cool silk before taking the hanger from her.

Lyra’s grin widened. “I can’t wait to see you in this tomorrow. You’re going to look like a princess.”

Her words made something flutter in my chest, a strange mix of hope and fear.

I rose from the bed slowly, my eyes drifting to the door that stood slightly ajar. If Mira or any of the other maids spotted me here, in Lyra’s bedroom, they would make sure I paid for it with extra work.

 The kind of work that left my fingers raw and my knees aching.

“I should go to my room now,” I said quietly.

Lyra gave me a look of reluctant acceptance. “Okay… but try not to do any more work, alright? Just get some rest.”

I nodded. “Okay… and thank you.”

We hugged briefly, her warmth seeping into me for a moment before I stepped away. With the dress clutched tightly to my chest, I slipped out into the hallway.

My steps were cautious, my ears straining for the sound of approaching footsteps. I kept my head low, my pace quickening. 

I couldn’t risk anyone seeing me, especially with this dress in my hands. Jealousy in this mansion was a dangerous thing.

I was almost to the narrow hallway that led to my tiny, cramped room when a shadow moved in front of me.

Mira crossed her arms, her eyes sweeping over me with open disdain. “Oh… it’s you again.”

My stomach tightened. Why now?

Her gaze drifted to the bundle in my hands, and her brow arched. “What’s this? Did you just steal?”

I instinctively stepped back. “No, I didn’t steal this, I swear. Lyra gave it to me herself.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Lyra gave you this?”

I nodded, my grip tightening on the hanger. “Yes. She said I could wear it tomorrow.”

A short, disbelieving laugh escaped her. “You? In something this expensive? Even I’ve never even gotten a dress like this. Why would she give it to you?”

I swallowed. “She just wanted to,” I muttered, holding the dress closer.

For a moment she studied me in silence, twirling the ends of her hair around her fingers. Then she gave a little shrug. “Hmm, you may go. Go to your room.”

I didn’t argue. I hurried past her, my heart pounding, and I slipped into the safety of my small room.

The door clicked shut, and I finally exhaled. Setting the dress gently on my narrow bed, I allowed myself a moment to just… look at it.

 The sapphire silk seemed to glow in the dim light, almost too beautiful to touch.

I needed to freshen up. The day’s grime clung to my skin and hair, and no matter how hard I scrubbed, I never felt clean enough.

In the tiny bathroom, I washed quickly, the single bar of soap slipping against my skin. I wrapped my old towel around myself and stepped back into the room.

I reached for the small bottle of oil I used for my skin. But then, my eyes snapped to the dress.

The silk… was torn.

It wasn't a little snag. It was a full rip from the waist all the way down to the hem.

The breath left my lungs. My heart stopped, then slammed back to life in my chest.

No… no, no, no.

Chapter 3:

Midnight

Cassian's POV

I was feeling unusually excited that night. Tomorrow would be Lyra’s twentieth birthday, and I wanted everything to be perfect. 

Lyra had been such a beautiful part of my life for as long as I could remember. She was like the sun, bright and impossible to ignore.

 I could never forget the day she saved me from drowning when we were kids. After that, everyone in the pack had whispered that she was destined to be my mate and Luna, and I had accepted it wholeheartedly. 

I strode down the hall toward her room, holding the gift box securely in my hands. It was the present I had chosen for her birthday ceremony tomorrow, something I knew she’d love. 

When I reached her bedroom door, I knocked lightly.

Moments later, the door swung open, and her face lit up the instant she saw me. I smiled, taking in the way her blonde hair framed her face, how it made her beautiful brown eyes seem to glow.

“Cassian,” she said with a blush creeping to her cheeks. “You’re here? So late?”

I grinned. “I’ve got a surprise for you.”

She stepped aside, making room for me to enter. I walked into her room, and she shut the door behind us.

“A surprise for me? But it’s not my birthday yet,” she said, her voice teasing but curious.

“Well,” I said slowly, “it’s not…but who says I can’t give my girl a surprise before her birthday?”

Her blush deepened. “Okay… what is it?”

I held the box out to her.

Her eyes widened. “Really? It looks huge. What’s in it?”

“Why don’t you open it?” I said with a smirk.

Lyra’s smile grew as she settled onto the bed, her fingers working delicately at the ribbons on the box. 

There was something about the way her lips curved with each tug at the ribbon, the way her eyes lit up in anticipation and it made my chest feel full.

Tomorrow, she would turn twenty and I’d finally feel the mate bond with her. We would be mates, officially. That thought alone sent a thrill through me. 

Among my triplet brothers, the first to find his mate would become Alpha. If none of us found ours, Dorian would take the throne. 

But I had no doubt. Tomorrow, Lyra would be mine in every sense.

“Oh my goodness,” she breathed, pulling the lid away.

I leaned forward as she lifted the dress from the box, it was a silver gown that shimmered even under the dim light of her room.

“Cassian… it’s so beautiful,” she said, her voice full of awe.

I allowed myself a proud smile. I’d searched for weeks to find the most exquisite and expensive dress I could for her.

“I got it for you,” I said softly.

Lyra moved toward me in a quick, graceful motion, the silver dress still in her hands, and pressed her lips to mine. 

I kissed her back, savoring the warmth of her mouth and the sparkle of joy in her eyes.

“Thank you,” she murmured softly.

I touched her chin with my fingers, tilting her face up to mine. “Anything for you. Wear it tomorrow, okay?”

She nodded slowly, clutching the dress to her chest like it was something sacred.

That was when I heard a rising commotion from downstairs. My body tensed instantly.

“I’ll be back, okay?” I told her.

She gave me a quick nod, though her brow furrowed slightly in worry.

I walked out of the room, following the voices through the corridor until I reached the main hall.

“What do you mean? Are you saying you’re better than the rest of us to become Alpha?” Lucian’s voice was laced with barely controlled rage.

Dorian leaned back into the couch like the whole thing bored him. “Stop being so bitter every time. I never said I was better than the rest of you.”

Lucian stepped forward, his jaw tight. “You clearly did.”

I crossed the room, my gaze shifting between them. “What is this commotion? It’s almost midnight. Why are the both of you making such a scene?”

Lucian turned to me, his expression hardening. “Please, go back to your lovey-dovey. We are talking here.”

“More like yelling,” I shot back.

My eyes moved to Dorian. “What is this about?”

Dorian leaned back on the couch, his hands resting lazily on the armrest. 

“Basically, I was talking with Lucian,” he began, his tone casual. “And then I just casually said, ‘When I become Alpha, I’m going to get rid of that swamp and maybe build a more convenient school in that area.’”

Lucian’s jaw twitched.

Dorian went on, “And then, out of nowhere, Lucian gets upset just because I said when I become Alpha.”

Lucian turned sharply toward me. “Why would he say ‘when he becomes Alpha’? Like it’s already decided.” His voice dripped with accusation.

I exhaled slowly, keeping my tone even. “Come on, we all hope to become Alpha, don’t we? Doesn’t mean we’d kill the other person if one of us actually gets it.”

“He’s speaking for himself. You should do the same.” I said, glancing between them.

Dorian’s glare could have cut metal. 

“You’re talking this way because you have Lyra, huh? Tomorrow she’ll probably feel the mate bond, and you’ll get to have her as your mate. Then you become Alpha. So, of course, you’ve got nothing to worry about.”

I opened my mouth, ready to snap back, but my eyes flicked to the clock hanging over the far wall.

It was midnight. A small smile tugged at my lips. It was Lyra’s birthday already.

The rest of their arguing bled into background noise. I didn’t care about Dorian’s bitterness or Lucian’s glare anymore.

Without another word, I turned away from them and started walking.

“Cassian,” Dorian called after me, but I didn’t stop. I didn’t even look back.

I was going to her right now. At the exact moment she turned twenty. When the mate bond could spark to life between us.

It would be the perfect start to her birthday, and the perfect confirmation of what I already knew in my heart.

The moment I reached Lyra’s room, I pushed the door open gently and stepped inside. She was already in her nightwear, her hair fell over her shoulders, she was clearly moments away from climbing into bed.

I walked up to her, smiling softly. “Happy birthday, my love.”

Her lips curved into that familiar, warm smile. “Thank you.”

But then something tugged at my senses. My smile faltered, and my brows drew together. I wasn’t feeling the mate bond.

Her own brows furrowed, concern clouding her eyes. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s already your birthday,” I said slowly. “I can’t feel the mate bond.”

She froze, blinking rapidly, like she was trying to process my words. “I can’t feel it either.” She said in a quiet tone.

A flicker of unease passed between us. I saw it in her eyes, but before it could take root, I forced a casual shrug, waving it off. 

“Maybe it’s because it’s still midnight, don’t worry. During the ceremony, we’ll feel it.”

At least… I hoped we would.

Chapter 4:

Three directions

Rhea's POV

I clutched the dress in my trembling hands, my breath catching in my throat. The smooth silk was torn from the waist down.

“Oh no,” I whispered, my voice barely a sound in the cramped little room.

My mind spun in panic. Lyra had given me this dress to wear tomorrow for the birthday ceremony—her birthday, and mine. How was I supposed to face her now? What could I possibly say?

I glanced at the door and my stomach sank. I hadn’t locked it, I’d closed it, yes, but…

“Shit,” I breathed.

Someone had been in here. I didn’t need to guess who. It had to be Mira. She’d been eyeing the dress earlier, dripping evil with every word. She’d had the nerve to sneak in here and cut it.

I had no proof. No one would believe a servant Omega over her. Confronting her would be useless.

Still, my chest tightened, and my pulse pounded so hard I could feel it in my ears. What was I going to do now?

I wasn’t going to let this ruin the ceremony or Lyra’s mood, not for a second.

So I marched to my little drawer, praying for a miracle. By some stroke of luck, there was a spool of thread the same shade as the dress. 

My fingers worked slowly, carefully, stitching along the tear. It wasn’t perfect, but it would hold.

When you’re thrown into a pit full of snakes, you learn to make peace with the poison.

By the time I finished, my eyelids felt like lead. I collapsed onto the bed, with my belly, and drifted into a shallow, restless sleep.

When I woke, sunlight was already spilling through the window. The day went by in a blur with me scrubbing floors, wiping tables, dusting corners no one would even notice. 

The birthday ceremony was tonight, and every inch of the house had to be flawless.

Before I knew it, it was 9 p.m. The air seemed thicker somehow, charged with the hum of music and voices drifting from the main hall.

Fresh from my bath, I stood staring at the dress. It hugged my hips in a way that made my throat tighten. I didn’t know why Lyra had chosen something so… lavish for me.

I put my hair in a bun with a worn out rubber band then stepped out of my tiny room. The hallway lights caught on the silk, making it gleam.

Halfway to the ceremony, Mira appeared. Her eyes flicked over the dress, her glare sharp enough to send daggers at me. She didn’t say a word, but the anger on her face spoke volumes.

I kept walking, my feet sinking slightly into the plush velvet rug that led to the open space.

The hall was alive and filled with laughter, glasses clinking, murmurs of conversation under the swell of music. I paused, taking it in.

This wasn’t my world. I should have been among the servers, moving quietly with trays of drinks and food.

And yet… here I was, in a dress that shimmered under the light.

So as I looked around, suddenly I heard my name being called.

“Rhea! Rhea!”

I turned and saw Lyra excitedly walking towards me. The way she moved was so elegant and graceful, like she was born to be admired. 

Her silver dress was breathtaking, matching her skin perfectly and her hair was styled so beautifully it almost sparkled in the light.

“Oh my, Rhea, you look so good! You wore the dress,” Lyra said warmly.

I smiled, praying she didn’t notice that I had stitched the dress… or that it had been torn at all.

“You look so beautiful. This dress is so nice,” I said honestly.

Lyra’s face lit up even more. “Cassian got it for me,” she said excitedly.

I nodded, taking in the reminder. Cassian and Lyra had been the couple of the town for years, and today being her 20th birthday, they were going to feel the mate bond and finally be together for life.

 Lyra loved Cassian more than anything. That much I knew.

Then she suddenly grabbed my hand. “Come, let’s get some drinks or something. The bar is right over there.”

I wanted to protest, but she was already pulling me by the wrist. We made our way to the counter.

“Two drinks, please. No alcohol,” Lyra told the woman at the bar.

The woman nodded quickly, turning to prepare them.

But all of a sudden, pain shot through my chest. My wolf howled in my head…Mate.

My whole body reacted and I struggled to conceal the heat spreading through my body.

But… something was wrong. The tugging pain in my chest wasn’t from one direction, it wasn’t one scent.

It was three. Three different and scents.

My head spun as my breathing turned shallow. I couldn’t even think.

“Mate…” I mumbled again, dazed.

Lyra looked at me, holding the two drinks. “Huh? Are you okay?”

I was so confused. The pull was everywhere, twisting around me, wrapping into my chest, making my heartbeat pound so loud I could barely hear the music. 

And it was getting stronger and stronger. It felt like my head was going to split in three

I lifted my gaze in front of me and it landed directly on Cassian.

To my right stood Dorian and to my left was Lucian.

And the scent… was coming from all three of them.

What?

No…This couldn’t be right. That was impossible, the mate bond didn’t work this way. It had to be some kind of glitch in my system, my wolf playing a cruel trick on me.

Then, all at once, the three of them spoke in perfect unison.

“Mate.”

The sound of it slammed into me, stealing my breath.

Behind me, I heard a sharp crash. The two glasses Lyra had been holding lay shattered on the floor, red liquid pooling across the tiles. But Lyra’s hands… were still frozen in midair, like she still held them.

Her wide eyes were locked not on me, but on them.

The crowd turned, people gasping as whispers rippled like wildfire through the room.

Slowly, Lyra’s gaze shifted to me.

“Rhea…” she said, her voice tight and almost trembling. “What did you say?”