Avenging The Triplet Alphas
Chapter 13

Arielle's

POV

"Good," Loki replied, pleased with Melissa's compliance. "I'm happy we could agree without creating any more fuss."

"This union won't last long," Melissa replied, her tone was cold as she stared daggers at me.

"Is that a threat?" Elijah asked, taking a step forward from his original position.

"Please," Melissa scoffed. "No one would be stupid enough to threaten the famous Van Tyson triplets."

"A warning then, perhaps?" He asked again.

"If you see it that way. All I know is, mixing with someone from the lower class like herself is a recipe for disaster and I'll be here to pick up the pieces when it blows over and maybe then, the three of you would realize how much I mean to you." "Rejection has made you delusional as well, hasn't it?" Loki replied, his voice held a mocking tone to it.

I was still clutching onto Jonathan's arm, afraid to move an inch lest everyone's eyes would fall on me. My decision to become their mate has thrown me in the spotlight and there was no going back this time. As much as I hated the attention, I had to embrace it. This was my life now.

Melissa tried to maintain her smile. "We'll see who comes running back at the end."

"If you didn't get the memo earlier, I'll be happy to remind you that we are done for good."

"I heard you the first time around, Loki." Melissa retorted. "Let's see how well you can protect your new mate."

Her eyes held the promises of something sinister, a revenge plan against me.

"If anyone touches even a hair on Arielle's head," Jonathan began, forcing everyone including myself to look at him.

"If anyone thinks she's still the same weak Arielle she was yesterday, then you've made a mistake. If you cross her, I will kill you myself."

The entire hallway was quiet, you could hear a pin drop.

"If there's nothing left to address anymore, I'd like to get out of here." Jonathan turned towards his brothers. "I hate it when too many eyes are fixed on me."

"I have nothing left to say," Loki answered while Elijah merely shrugged.

“Come on, Arielle. We're done with school for today." Jonathan said as he tugged me along, forcing me to follow as we made our way out of the hallway. The crowd behind us parted immediately.

"School hasn't started yet and we're already leaving?" I tugged on Jonathan's arm, urging him to stop.

"We're bored, besides there's not much to do here." He replied, taking long strides while I struggled to catch up.

"I can't afford to skip classes, it's been really difficult dividing my time between school and work that I'm several weeks behind everyone else in class." I pleaded, hoping it would change his mind but they continued walking, making their way to the parking lot. "Your chauffeur already left," I began after I noticed the limousine wasn't there. "Can we go back now?"

"We own most of the cars here," Jonathan eventually replied.

I palmed my face, groaning internally. "I can't do this. What part don't you understand? I can't afford to miss school, my grades are ranking and I can't fail high school."

"It's just one day." Elijah cut in as he made his way toward a Lamborghini parked to our left.

"We'll be back in time for recess, I promise." Loki walked up to me and rubbed my arm.

"One hour and we'll be back," I stated firmly.

"One hour." He replied, giving me a small smile.

***

When they said they wanted to catch a break, I never assumed it would mean taking a yacht out to sea. They had the wealth and luxury people like her couldn't afford to ever have. The gap in both classes would cause eyebrows to be raised if I were introduced into society as their mate.

I wasn't always from a poor background, my father had been a respected wolf with several connections to the higher-ups, and as a child, I often accompanied my parents to a couple of grand events hosted by the Van Tyson's but as I grew, these events became far less frequent.

My parents were having a hard time and even though they both did their best to keep it away from me, I was a rather inquisitive child growing up and I would often eavesdrop on their conversations late at night.

I could never fully make out the words they whispered to each other but often, my mother would break down in sobs.

It wasn't just my parents have a hard time, the pack itself began to wane in strength and numbers. We were having frequent attacks by rogue wolves, despite our pleas to the stronger wolves to help curb this menace, no one wanted to engage in a battle against the rogue for fear of losing good soldiers helping out a middle-class pack who had nothing to offer in return.

I was only ten years old and it was then I began to understand the world wasn't as I thought it was.

The gentle breeze of the sea caressed my face and I shut my eyes, taking it all in. It was a bright, sunny morning and despite my earlier reluctance to be here, it was one of the few moments I've felt relaxed and unburdened ever since the death of my parents eight years ago.

I could vividly remember that day. It didn't hurt as much as it used to but the memories were imprinted in my head forever.

It was raining, which was unusual. We were in the middle of June, it was meant to be summer but tonight was different.

It was pouring down in sheets accompanied by loud claps of thunder but that wasn't the worst part of it all, my father had gotten news of the rogue attack and he was already prepared to go out and unlike the previous time, my mother was going as well. "Can I come too? I've been taking fighting lessons and I'm sure I can help." I tugged at my father, hoping he would give in to my pleas. In truth, I didn't want to stay here alone. I was a lot more scared of the thunderclaps than I was of being in the middle of a fight. "You're too young to be out there. It's dangerous and I can't put a child in harm's way." He replied as he stood impatiently by the door, waiting for my mother to make her way downstairs.

"But-"

"No buts, child." He answered firmly but with a smile on his face. "Someone has to stay here and protect the house, can you do that?"

I nodded just as my mother came scampering down the stairs.

"Are you ready?" My father addressed her, taking his eyes away from me.

"Yes," she replied but she looked pensive. I had never seen her act so uncomfortable before, she was always strong and confident but this was different.

"Your father and I would be back in no time." She pulled me into a hug and kissed the top of my head.

That was the last time I ever saw my parents. They never returned that night and by morning, news of their deaths hit the headlines along with the rest of our pack. I was the only surviving member of the Red Moon pack.

"A penny for your thoughts?" I heard Jonathan's voice interrupt my train of thought. "You've been quiet ever since we left school."

I turned towards him, there was a look of concern on his face.

"I've been thinking about a couple of things." I offered him a small smile. "It's nothing to worry about."

"Me and the boys have been discussing a couple of things and we have decided to bring you in."

"What does that mean?" I furrowed my eyebrows at him.

"We're taking you home with us."

"Wait-"

"Before you interrupt me," Jonathan quickly added before I could complete my sentence. "It won't be today, we need a couple of days to speak to our father first before anything else happens."

I merely nodded. It was bound to happen eventually, I couldn't keep living at my old house after accepting their claim. The necessary adjustment was inevitable.

"What's your family like?" I asked, mentally preparing myself for whatever battles I would face.

"They aren't perfect, I'll admit but they can either be the best people to live with or the worst. There's usually no in-between when it comes to them."

"Did you have to put it that way, Jonathan?" Loki scowled, "Look at her, she's already frightened by the prospect."

"I had to be honest, Loki." Jonathan shrugged. "She has to know what she's getting into and I'm certain she wouldn't love being blindsided by sugar-coated words."

"It's fine really," I began. "I already have an inkling as to how they would respond to my presence in your home. I've seen glimpses of it in high school already, how the poor and weak are spat on and looked down on by the rich and powerful. It won't be any different when I get there."

"No one is going to harm you," Jonathan assured me.

"Now that we've gotten that out of the way, we go to the next step." I cleared my throat, it was too early to get lost in their promises.

"Which is?"

"How do I fall in love with the three of you?"