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?"

Chapter 5:

A servant Omega

Rhea's POV

"What did you say, Rhea?" Lyra's voice came sharper this time as she pushed me slightly.

I flinched, my eyes snapping to hers. "Lyra, I..." Words just tangled up and died in my throat. How could I possibly be mated to the Alpha triplets? How? Why?

"You're their mate?" Her voice cracked, and for the first time, her elegant mask slipped. 

"You're Cassian's mate?" She looked at me like she didn't even know who I was anymore. "Rhea, how could you?"

"Lyra, I don't know." My voice was pleading. "I'm as confused as you are."

"This has to be some sort of prank." She whirled toward them, her silver gown swaying with the motion. "Four of you

...you're pranking me for my birthday, right? Okay, stop. It's not funny."

Cassian's voice finally broke through the buzzing in my ears. 

"Lyra, we're not pranking you. We're as confused as you are. The three of us are feeling the bond coming from her." His gaze turned to me. "How could she be mated to the three of us?"

Lyra's eyes swung back to me, colder now. "Rhea you know I love Cassian. How could you be his mate?"

"Everybody go home. The party is cancelled." Lucian's voice boomed through the hall, making my heart jolt. 

The chatter stopped instantly, like he'd sucked the air out of the room. People began shuffling toward the exits murmuring low.

 I caught flashes of wide eyes, furrowed brows, and people glancing between me and the triplets as they slipped out. 

No one dared to ask what was going on, but I could feel the questions burning in every look.

Then Lucian's gaze snapped to me. He moved toward me, and before I could even think to step back, his hand shot out and clamped around my wrist harshly. 

"You!" His voice was ice and fire all at once. 

"What sort of game is this, huh? Firstly, how can I be mated to an Omega like you? And then why would me and my brothers be mated to you?"

"I-" The words stuck in my throat.

"What sort of game have you played?" His steel grip tightened and pain flared up my arm. I winced, trying not to show it, but my pulse was racing so fast I thought it might burst out of my skin.

"Please... please, you're hurting me," I whimpered, trying to twist free, but his hold only tightened

Before I could cry out, Dorian moved in a blur, yanking me out of Lucian's grasp.

"Lucian, what is this?" His voice was cold but laced with something protective. "You're clearly hurting her. It's not her fault, she's as shocked as we are."

Lucian's eyes snapped to his brother, blazing. "How can the three of us be mated to her?" His glare locked on me. I flinched, every muscle in my body tightening under that look.

Cassian's voice broke in, low and furious. "This is bullshit. Lyra is supposed to be my mate."

Before anyone could say another word, a thunderous voice boomed through the hall.

"Silence!"

 All heads lifted, only to bow again instantly. Alpha Magnus was here.

He stepped into the space, his royal attire gleaming under the lights, the weight of authority clinging to him. Two massive guards stood behind him, their eyes scanning the room like hawks.

"What is the commotion about?"

Cassian's jaw clenched, but he lifted his head just enough to speak. "Father, the three of us are mated to this-"

"I've heard," Alpha Magnus cut him off, his tone brooking no argument. "The news has already spread."

Alpha Magnus's voice was steady, almost too calm for the storm in the room.

"The three of you are mated to her. You can't change that. The Moon Goddess is not a fool. She knows what she's doing. And so... we will deal with it this way."

Lucian's head snapped toward him, disbelief sharp in his eyes. "But how? How can the three of us be mated to one person? Who will become Alpha? How can we even handle this?"

Alpha Magnus didn't blink. "The full moon is in three months. During that time, she will live among the three of you. And on the night of the full moon... she will choose who she wants. That man will succeed me."

The words barely settled before Lucian's voice rose. "You're putting the fate of this pack in the hands of a stupid servant Omega?"

The Alpha's eyes narrowed, a dangerous stillness in his tone. "This 'servant Omega' is your mate. And you will do as I say."

Lucian's jaw tightened, but he looked away silently.

My pulse was still slamming against my ribs when Lyra moved. She'd been silent this whole time, her wide eyes glossy with tears.

Her trembling fingers wrapped around my hand.

"Alpha," she said quietly, "I would like to speak to Rhea in private. Just for a minute, please."

Alpha Magnus studied her, then gave a single nod.

Before I could process, Lyra pulled me with her, weaving past a few stragglers until we reached the far corner of the open hall. 

It was just outside, where the cold air spilled in from the balcony. 

"Lyra, I'm so sorry," I whispered, my voice shaking. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I don't even know how I'm mated to them. I promise, I never wanted this."

Her eyes were red and her face pale.

"I loved Cassian. With all my heart. With everything. I've been looking forward to this day my whole life and you know it."

"Lyra, I-"

She cut me off, her voice rising. "I pulled you off the streets when you were nothing. A ruined Omega. I took you in as a little girl, brought you into our home. Gave you a roof over your head. And while everyone else treated you like dirt, I treated you like a sister. And this... this is what I get in return?"

I swallowed, my stomach twisting. "Lyra, this isn't my fault. I didn't know this would happen. I didn't want to take Cassian from you."

Her lips trembled, but then she wiped at her eyes with a quick, harsh motion. "Yes. You didn't want to do it intentionally. It's not your fault."

She stepped toward me. I stepped back, feeling the cold air brush my back as I inched closer to the balcony railing.

"It's not your fault, Rhea," she said again, almost softly.

Her tone made my skin crawl.

"Yeah," she continued, a bitter smile tugging at her lips, "you shouldn't have existed in the first place."

My breath caught. "Lyra... what are you-"

"I'm fixing the mistake of your existence," she said, her voice like ice.

Before I could react, her hands shot down, gripping my legs with sudden, brutal strength.

"Lyra-!"

And then she shoved me over the balcony.

CHAPTER SIX: YOU FAILED HER!

LYRA'S POV

Oh no! Fuck no! I did not mean to do that! What did I just do?!

Moon goddess please, please, please, no. The tears filled my eyes, the regret riled in. I wished I could turn back the hands of time. I wished I could go back just a few seconds to stop myself. I shouldn't have done that!

She is my friend! The closest thing I have to a sister. Why did I push her?! 

My eyes felt heavy and puffy from crying, my throat felt like it was closing in on itself, my heart was beating really fast. The tears streamed down my eyes. Rhea is going to die and it will be all my fault! Oh moon goddess please save her, she is the only sister I have ever known!

"Help! Somebody help! Help please!" I cried as I cradled Rhea's head on my lap. Her body laid limply on the ground. Her eyes were closed. I checked to see if she was still breathing. I checked for a pulse, it was there but it was really weak.

I...I hadn't meant to do that. I...I did not mean to hurt her. Oh goddess, why did I let the jealousy take over? Now she's dead and it's all my fault!

"Help!" I yelled again. The wind blew against us, the blood at the side of Rhea face was a lot. I panicked. What if no one hears me? The balcony is really far from the bar area where everybody is right now.

"Help please," I said weakly. I did not expect anyone to hear that because of the loud music, however, within a few seconds, Cassian, Dorian and Lucian were there. 

Their faces held the same emotion; rage. 

"Who did this to her?!"Lucian yelled. I flinched in fear, I had never seen Lucian yell before. He id usually very quiet and composed. I have hardly even seen him talk and now he looked like he was ready to tear down the world for Rhea. I felt a ping of envy but I bit it down. 

It is my fault, she is unconscious, I don't even know if she is going to survive and it is all my fault.

"How dare they hurt our mate!" Dorian yelled. His rage was apparent on his face. His hands were balled in a fist, his lips were set in a thin grim line. His usual smily jovial face was set in the most murderous frown I have ever seen. 

I watched Cassian, my Cassian. I wanted his gaze to somehow wander to me. I wanted him to look at me but his gaze lingered on Rhea. He looked at her like she was a precious stone that some bastard had tried to take away from him. He looked like he was ready to murder everybody just to avenge what had happened to Rhea.

"I'm going to make whoever did this pay with their life," he said in his usual calm-controlled voice. The same calm- controlled voice that signaled his burning anger. His eyes studied Rhea. His fist looked white and bloodless as a result of how hard he was clenching it.

I panicked. Does he love her now? Does he even love me anymore?

"We have to take her to the hospital," Cassian said and without another word, Without even looking at me, he picked Rhea up from the ground. Her head rested on his shoulders, her hands laid clumsily at his back. The jealousy, the hurt and sadness that I had fought so hard to keep inside began to brew.

For the first time in my life, I hated someone. For the first time that evening I wished Rhea would die. I wished every bad thing on her and I did not feel bad about it. If she dies, everything will go back to normal. This weird obsession Cassian has for her will stop. If she dies, my Cassian will come back to me, we will get married and our life will go happily. Rhea is the only obstacle here.

As if noticing my presence for the first time, Cassian turned to me.

"My love," he started. I searched his eyes for the love and warmth it usually has when he is speaking to me but I saw nothing, only this insane fear for Rhea's life. His eyes held no love for me, it only held regret... Regret for letting this happen to Rhea. I know Cassian. I can read him like a book. I know that he is probably tormenting himself for not protecting his mate, Rhea. 

That bitch! I hope she fucking dies! I hope she dies so that Cassian's heart can return back to me.

"I'll call Andrew to drive you home. I have to make sure Rhea is alright," he said. Without waiting for my response he sprinted over to join his brothers. Dorian had taken Rhea from Cassian when he came to speak to me, he was now in the car with her and Lucian. Cassian joined them in the car and it drove off, leaving me standing there alone.

The tears ran freely from my eyes, I wiped them away furiously. I have to get my Cassian back. Wolf bound or not he is mine. I hope Rhea dies because if she doesn't I'll just have to kill her.

CASSIAN'S POV

Why do feel this way? I shouldn't care what happens to her! Fuck I don't even know her like that so why do I fucking care if she lives or dies?! Why is my heart racing so much? Why can't I get myself to calm down or sit down? I looked at my brothers, they looked as panicked as I do.

 Dorian is fiddling with his fingers, he only does that when his nervous and I haven't seen him do that in a long time. He is usually very childish and care-free. I have never seen him worry and now he looked very worried as he paced the length of the hospital waiting room muttering under his breath.

I looked at Lucian. Lucian is the only one amongst the three of us that is seated. He has his head bowed, facing the ground. Lucian is not one to show emotions so I cannot tell if he feels the fear that Dorian and I do. You can never tell with Lucian.

"Save her. We need her," I heard my wolf say to me. I almost jumped out of my skin in shock. I have never heard the sound of my wolf's voice before, this is probably only happening because of my mate -bond with Rhea.

We all looked up immediately we heard footsteps coming our way. The doctor stood in front of us, the look on his face was anything but encouraging. Before he even said the words I knew what he was about to say. My wolf roared violently inside of me, I could feel his pain.

"You failed her! You failed her!" He said over and over again. The sadness I felt was like nothing I had felt before.

"You failed our mate and now we will never be whole again," my wolf cried.