Episode 5

Liv narrating:

I wasn't going to be able to sleep...

That's what I told myself, but when I closed my eyes and opened them, the day was already brighter. It was then that I realized I really had slept. I didn't understand how I could trust Callum so much to fall asleep, knowing he was in heat.

I even felt relatively safe near him, and I slept like a baby.

When I woke up, I realized he wasn't next to me anymore. I got out of bed and the memories of what happened the night before started flooding my mind. My heart raced.

Everything came to mind: The three bullies had ended up being my mates.

The simple thought made me tremble visibly.

I know I can't hide in their house forever and I really need to face reality, even though I wasn't ready to accept it. What I planned to do was simply tell them that there was no way we could be mates after years of physical and psychological torture.

With that determination, I left the room. However, I wasn't going to confront them; I was going to wait until one of them showed up. If they tried what they did the day before, then I would drop the bomb.

Even with this boost of self-confidence, I still found myself peeking before entering any place, to make sure I wouldn't bump into any of them. It was so difficult, because wherever I went, their strong and dominant scent lingered everywhere.

After escaping the huge mansion, I returned to the staff quarters and only then was I able to breathe a sigh of relief. I went straight to my room and locked the door. Is this how I was going to spend the rest of my life? Living in apprehension?

Why did it have to be them? Of all people? I sat on my small bed, holding my hair with my hands.

I knew I couldn't stay in my room forever. I will have to face them if I want to tell them that I am not interested, but how the heck would I do that if I couldn't stand the idea of even facing them? One look from any of them and I would be shaking like a leaf.

While I was thinking about this, I heard a loud knock on the door. My heart jumped out of my chest, as my eyes widened. The only thing I could think of was the possibility of it being them.

My hands were shaking by my side, while my lips trembled.

"Open the door, Liv. I saw you go in," a familiar voice spoke, it was Yvonne.

Never in my life had I been happier to hear her voice. I ran to the door, my body relaxed, and then I opened it.

"Good morning," she raised her hand and made a gesture that seemed to reprimand me.

"You came in and locked the door? What is this? Disneyland? Don't you have any tasks this morning?"

It was then that I realized that I shouldn't even leave the mansion without finishing all my tasks first.

"Sorry, I'm going to start working now," I quickly passed by her, but before I could leave, she stopped me.

She looked me up and down, shaking her head in disdain.

"Anyway, the triplets want you to be responsible for their food today."

The moment she said that, my heart stopped beating for a few seconds.

"What?"

"Are you disrespecting orders?" I swallowed hard and shook my head.

"No, ma'am. I was confused because I'm not the maid responsible for their meals."

She shrugged.

"I'm not the one who makes the rules. They are the Alpha's sons. If they want you to be their maid, you will be. I have no power in that decision."

"Oh." My lips couldn't produce any more words. I could feel my heart beating hard inside my chest. If I wasn't careful, I would faint.

"And don't delay. They don't like to wait. So, go to work."

I passed by her quickly, knowing that, as soon as Mrs. Yvonne gave an order, she expected it to be fulfilled as soon as possible. As I ran towards the mansion, I almost cried knowing how doomed I was, but I had to hold on.

I thought I would have to prepare their food before delivering it, but arriving at the kitchen, the meal had already been prepared by one of the maids. The only thing I needed to do was take it to them. It seemed like a complete set-up.

With trembling hands, I grabbed the tray and went down to the indicated room, repeating to myself: relax, relax, relax.

I couldn't count how many times I did that. Arriving at the door, I took a while to compose myself and, finally, I knocked.

"Come in quickly, Liv," a deep voice called out, full of despair and impatience, which was Max's.

Undoubtedly, everyone was waiting for me.

My hand trembled as I struggled to open the door with the tray in my hands.

In the room, the three scents hit me all at once.

I swallowed hard, facing them, who already had a fixed look on me.

Max was sitting on the bed, with his hands resting on it. Callum was sitting in a chair, with his arms crossed, staring at me with a defiant smile. Ryder was at the table, a little far from Callum, looking at me as if I were a snack, a snack he was going to devour.

"Finally, there's the star of the show," Callum said.

I raised the tray.

"I was ordered to bring you the food." My voice came out soft and trembling.

"Throw the food away. You're here, that's enough," Ryder said, with a mischievous smile on his face.

Callum looked at him, grimacing.

"You guys scared her enough last night, didn't you?" Callum said.

"It wasn't my fault. My wolf was out of control. There's a whole drama going on in this body as we speak," Ryder said.

"It wasn't my fault either..." Max began, when Callum interrupted him.

He narrowed his eyes and turned to Callum.

"Do you think it's easy? My wolf wouldn't stop thinking about her; all night I had to endure smelling her and not having her," Max said.

Were they really going to talk about something like that, as if I wasn't there?

I tried to talk to him.

"I..." although my voice was trembling, I tried to do my part.

"I think we should tell our father about this," Max suggested, in an almost inaudible voice.

"Undoubtedly, we want that." Ryder agreed.

"Dad might even consider it, but what about mom? Have you forgotten that our mate is an omega?" Callum questioned, tilting his head to assess me.

"She has to accept it, damn it. I'm not going to leave my partner afraid of judgment," Max stated, with determination.

"How kind of you," Callum said sarcastically, fidgeting in the chair "After years of bullying."

"Not that you were a saint, anyway," Max retorted.

"At least, I wasn't a complete idiot," Callum said.

I knew I had to stop them before everything got out of control.

"Enough," I said firmly, throwing the tray on the table. A growing anger took over me when I heard Max suggest that they would introduce me to their father.

Do they think it's that easy? They hadn't even apologized for the mental torment and the fear they had caused me. Did they expect me to accept all this and that we would all live happily ever after?

I took a deep breath, facing them as if they were strangers after shouting so much for them to stop.

"I don't know what you want from me, but I need to make sure that, if you are worried about the soul bond, it won't last."

I saw all the colors disappear from their faces.

"What are you talking about, Liv?" Max asked, worried, after my outburst.

"For years, I was tortured by you, mentally and physically, and just because we suddenly became mates overnight, do you expect me to move on and accept everything you did to me?"

There was a brief silence. Ryder seemed the most devastated by my sudden refusal.

"But that's in the past, Liv," Ryder tried, with a calm voice, trying to make me understand.

I lost my patience.

"Past? It happened days ago!" I exploded. "And even if it had been longer ago, do you think I can move on after all that?!"

I was silent, facing them before declaring forcefully:

"I, Liv Anderson, reject you as my mates. I'm not interested."

"What?" Max spoke, surprised.

"You really need to think about this, Liv," Ryder said immediately.

Callum, who seemed indifferent, added:

"And what are we going to do with that information?"

I clenched my fist at my side.

"You will accept my rejection, and we will go our separate ways."