2. The Quadruplets

The pack house was always warm, thanks to the excellent heating that contrasted with the relentless cold outside. I finished getting ready, pulling on a pastel pink long-sleeved shirt and a pair of worn black jeans, then headed to the kitchen to make the quadruplets' breakfast.

It was the quadruplets' week, and ever since they were little, a week before their birthday they'd be pampered and spoiled with whatever they wanted. It was like a seven-day birthday, culminating in an extravagant celebration on the seventh day.

I prepared a spread of dishes -- fluffy waffles, golden pancakes, crispy bacon, scrambled eggs, and juicy sausages. I set out the butter and maple syrup and brewed the coffee. I quickly gulped down some sweet coffee with milk for a boost of energy and started setting the table. I wasn't allowed to eat with them, or even eat the same food they ate. I had to make their breakfast first, let them eat, and then make my own.

Luna Ivy, a woman with pale skin, green eyes, and golden curls, walked into the dining room to make sure everything was arranged to her liking. She looked at me with distaste.

"Have you washed the dishes? Make sure you do it properly before you eat. The quadruplets will be down soon," Luna Ivy said coldly.

Alpha Caspian strolled in, kissed his Luna with deep affection, and gave me a nod. He was neutral when it came to me -- not harsh, never demanding, but not kind either. It was as if my very existence meant nothing to him. Trailing behind him like an entourage came my tormentors: the quadruplets.

They stood six foot five, a full eight inches taller than me. They took after their father with their thick, glossy black hair that fell to their shoulders, chiseled faces, baby-blue eyes, dimples, and cleft chins. As Alphas, they all had broad, muscular shoulders, blessed with super speed and super strength beyond what was already considered extraordinary for a werewolf.

They were perfectly identical and perfectly awful -- at least to me. Their deep voices rang out as they shouted with excitement, shoving each other playfully. They'd be turning twenty-one tomorrow, but they still acted like they were twelve.

Alex was the oldest and most serious, the one who would likely rule with an iron fist. He was also the hardest to approach. I had deep respect for him; he never had girlfriends. Whenever anyone asked why, his answer was always the same: that title belonged only to his Luna.

Then came Samuel -- or Sam, as everyone in the pack called him. He was second in the birth order. While he was also serious, he was a little easier to approach, though when he got angry you'd better not be anywhere near him. He was the most explosive of the four. Unlike Alex, he always had some she-wolf hanging off his arm, but they never lasted long. His longest relationship had been three months.

After him was Axel, the classic playboy and bad boy. His girlfriends rotated every two months like clockwork. He'd never been with the same girl longer than that; sometimes they lasted even less. He was also the one who went out of his way to make my life miserable whenever he could -- which was always. He and Sam were the ones I feared most.

Then came Ian, the youngest of the four. He was the sweetest, most spoiled, and most charismatic. He'd never had a girlfriend. In my eyes, he was the best of the four.

He'd never been with a she-wolf. At first he'd wanted to experiment and tried seeing a few girls, but he always came back disappointed. One day, out of nowhere, he declared himself celibate. He said he was saving himself for his Luna. His exact words were: "No she-wolf has managed to light a spark in my heart. I'm not going to waste my time on empty relationships. I'll wait for my Luna, and when she comes, I'll love her with everything I have, making her feel like the shining jewel she is." I remember Luna Ivy was ecstatic when she heard that. After the Alpha, Ian was the one she guarded most jealously. There was something about Ian that drew me in. Maybe it was because he always tried to make me laugh or saved me from his brothers. I didn't really know. The only thing I did know was that without him, my life would be even worse than it already was.

"Did you make all this for me, Kattie?" Ian said with a gorgeous smile, pulling me out of my thoughts.

As he passed by me, he tried to pull the bun out of my hair and let it fall loose. I wasn't afraid of Ian; he always said he liked my hair down, and every chance he got, he'd steal my hair ties. But this was the last one I had -- I couldn't let him take it. I dodged him, stepping backward without looking, and bumped into something solid. I turned around, and there was Axel, watching me with a playful grin. I knew that meant nothing good. He gripped my shoulders and brought his face dangerously close to mine until our noses touched.

"Naughty Kitten," he said with a smile.

"If Ian wants that hair tie, you'd better give it to him. Got it?" Sam finished, positioning himself behind me and pulling out the tie himself.

He turned and tossed it to Alex, who caught it and slipped it into his pocket. With one of them on each side of me, they started pressing in, burying their faces in my neck and breathing in my scent. I felt trapped, nearly suffocating.

I started wondering what was going on -- they'd never acted like this before. My eyes welled up with tears at what felt like another attempt to humiliate me, but I refused to let them fall. I'd promised myself I wouldn't cry for them. I wasn't going to give them that satisfaction.

With a quick move, I broke free of their grip. It was my last hair tie -- I couldn't lose it. But the future Alphas weren't about to let me go that easily. Ian, seeing my attempt to resist, stood frozen, while Axel and Sam exchanged knowing glances, savoring the situation.

"Come on, Kitten. You don't want this to get more complicated, do you?" Axel said, stepping closer. His tone was playful, but there was an edge of threat in his voice.

"Don't touch me, Axel. Give me back my hair tie!" I shouted, trying to keep my voice steady even though I knew I was losing the battle.

Sam let out a laugh that rang through the air, and it made my cheeks burn with shame and rage. They enjoyed my struggle; they fed their egos on my small defeats. I tried to step back, but Sam's body blocked my way.

"Why don't you just give up?" Sam murmured, leaning toward me, his warm breath brushing my skin. "You can't win."

My heart was pounding, and a knot was forming in my throat. I'd never wanted to fall into their game, but the pressure of their bodies and their words was wearing down my resistance. I looked at Ian, who was still watching the scene with interest, making no move to help me. Disappointment took hold of me -- he was supposed to be the sweetest and most caring of them all, yet he just stood there watching like it was a show.

"Why are you like this?!" I screamed at them, feeling the tears starting to surface.

I knew I had to stay strong, but the helplessness was overwhelming.

"Because we can," Axel answered, flashing a mocking grin. I lifted my chin, trying to defy him, but deep down, my resolve was crumbling.

Then I felt them closing in even more, the air growing thick with the challenge they were throwing at me. Desperate, I shoved Axel to break free, but that only made him laugh harder.

"Hey, relax. We're just playing," Sam said, as if that justified everything.

My brave resistance crumbled slowly, and in the face of their mocking laughter, their cruelty, and the feeling of being trapped, I let the sobs escape. I couldn't fight anymore. The tears were inevitable, and I surrendered to their amusement, staring at the floor in defeat.

"Fine. You can have it, Alphas," I whispered through tears, my voice broken. "Just... leave me alone."

Axel and Sam exchanged surprised looks before grinning in unison.

"That's our Kitten," Sam said, reaching out to touch my arm with false gentleness.

Axel burst out laughing.

As they walked away, leaving me trembling with shame clinging to my chest, I understood that even though I'd lost this battle, the war wasn't over. I'd have to find a way to change the rules of the game.

"I'm hungry. Quit messing around," Ian said in a weak attempt to lighten the mood.

When I turned to try to escape, I caught Luna Ivy's gaze -- pure hatred. If looks could kill, I'd already be six feet under.

Before I could get away, Alex approached me. I always tried to avoid him, tried not to look him directly in the eye. I was terrified of making him angry. While he was one of the calmest of the four, when he snapped, he was the most ruthless. He leaned down to my height and lifted my chin, forcing me to meet his eyes.

"You will respect your Alphas, Kattie. Understood?" he asked, his gaze severe.

Looking into his eyes, I nodded, too drained to even answer.

"Words, Kattie," he said, not breaking eye contact.

"Yes, Alpha Alex," I said in barely a whisper, knowing he could hear me.

When Alex let me go, I bolted to the kitchen. My heart was racing so fast it felt like it might burst out of my chest.

I started washing and putting away all the dishes. I still hadn't eaten anything -- the only thing in my stomach was the coffee I'd managed to gulp down earlier, and I was starving. I felt a little dizzy. That was just how my body worked: when I went too long without solid food, I'd get lightheaded and my head would start throbbing. This morning I'd only had a few sips of coffee and nothing else.

When I came out to clean the dining room, I saw there was a waffle left with some bacon and egg. My mouth watered at the sight. Perfect, I won't have to cook for myself, I thought, since I didn't have time -- I was going to be late for school. I hurried to grab the plate when I heard a voice that made my blood run cold.

"What do you think you're doing, Kattie?" Axel asked, his tone calm but dripping with mockery. I froze, waffle in hand, remembering what had happened just minutes ago, unable to respond.

"Can't you wait until you finish your chores?" Sam said with a malicious grin.

"Let her eat," Ian stepped in, his voice softer. "She needs energy to work too."

They both looked at him but said nothing more. I met Ian's eyes and nodded quickly, grateful for his intervention. I took the waffle to the kitchen and ate it fast, barely tasting the food. Then I went back to the dining room to finish cleaning. While I wiped down the table, I could feel three of the quadruplets' eyes on me -- especially Sam's, always watching me with that smile that made me shudder.

Finally, I finished my chores and headed to school, trying to leave the weight of breakfast behind. I knew the day was only beginning and more challenges awaited, but I also knew I had to be strong.

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