#Chapter 6 You’re the first

"Yes," I said softly. "It...it makes me want things—" My eyes widened in horror as the words escaped my lips. I clamped a hand over my mouth. What had I done? Cheney's lips twisted into a smirk as he tilted his head, the light from the chandelier glinting off of his bright red hair. “Good. That’s good. You don’t want to push us away, do you? You’re just asking for it." A chill ran up my spine and goose bumps prickled along my arms. “No, no... I’m not... I just want to finish my studies well and return to the human world and my own home in the future!” I said, my voice shaking. My knees felt weak and I wanted to sit down before they buckled altogether, but Nicholas was still holding onto me with one hand on my bicep. Nicholas stepped closer until we were toe-to-toe, his ice-blue eyes glacial. “I’ll give you another chance." His voice was a low rumble full of rage and something else...determination? "Are you rejecting us as your mates?" Wintyr snarled, "He dares!" "What?" I could hardly process the implications of her words. "He uses his power on us, prying the truth from our tongue whether we want to give it or not." I turned wide eyes on Nicholas before looking away and refusing to meet his gaze. His fingers dug into my cheeks as he tried to force me to look at him, growling when I fought. His magic washed over me like a cold wave, numbing my lips, freezing my thoughts. “You fat fool!” Cheney snarled. “What right have you to refuse us?” His voice bounced off the walls as he advanced on me, his hands balled into fists. Ice crept through my veins, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. Cheney's menacing words bounced off the walls like volleys of artillery fire and I felt a shiver run down my spine as I shook my head in protest. I desperately searched Brian's face for support, but his expression remained unreadable. Desperately, I tried to free myself from Nicholas’ grip, but he held me firm, his fingers pressing painfully into my skin. Suddenly he released me and I stumbled backwards, tumbling to the ground. Then all hell broke loose. Cheney and Nicholas bellowed like bulls and stomped around my bedroom, punching holes in the walls and shattering furniture as they random chased each other. They scattered the contents of my room around, leaving behind trampled belongings and broken dreams and hopes. The air suddenly felt heavy, thick with tension and fear. I whipped my head around to Brian, hoping he’d put an end to this chaos. But he was just staring blankly at them, as if not seeing what was happening around him. What did they want from me? Did they truly expect me to just accept them? Especially when they treated me like I was an ugly duckling? My mind raced back to the information Elaine had offered about the triplets. Nicholas' facial paralysis, Brian's hearing impairment, Cheney's color blindness. Little obstacles that should have made them more considerate leaders yet only seemed to have fueled their imperiousness. I couldn't help but feel sorry for them; growing up without a mother in a cold home under the merciless Alpha King's rule could never have been easy. But pity was one thing, love another – and I had no intention of crossing the line. They were no strangers to being domineering figures, expecting everyone - including me - to bow down at their feet. While I felt for their plight, there was no chance I would ever be one of them; I had no intentions of falling in love. I longed for the kind of love my parents had. I wanted something real, something true, not whatever this was. I was surrounded by monsters. A wave of sadness washed over me as I surveyed the destruction they had caused. My bedroom, once fit for a princess, was now in ruins—clothes and furniture strewn across the floor like a tornado had just ripped through it. All because I didn't bow to their demands right away. Yeah, I wanted the kind of relationship my parents shared, something filled with respect and love. Instead, I got three selfish brutes who thought they could control me by punishing me for not bending to their will. Tears flooded my eyes. Goddess, they had no empathy or compassion. I needed some time after losing my father to his grief and my boyfriend to his slut-seeking dick. Their father had uprooted my life and forced my hand so I was forced to be under their roof, isolated and alone. And that was just today! Self-centered, unhinged brats, that's what they were. "Please, just go," I implored them. "Just leave. You're not even my type!" "You just said you wanted us," Cheney spat. I ran a hand through my hair. "I can't control what my body wants, but I can tell you my heart and my mind aren't interested. How could I be?" Their eyes flared with hurt before being replaced by raging anger and I realized how what I had said could easily have been misinterpreted. "You dare humiliate us!?" Cheney bellowed, his face contorted in rage. He stepped closer, his nostrils flaring. His companions glowered behind him, their faces a mixture of shock, excitement and anger. I struggled not to shrink away, my insides trembling. “I didn’t—” I started to reply but was quickly cut off. “No girl has ever dared to refuse us. And you—you!—think you will be the first?” He took another menacing step forward, his dark eyes narrowing. I gestured around my room and surveyed the wreckage they had caused, disbelief coursing through me. “Do you think this behavior is endearing? Must I satisfy your wishes? Is this what your goddess of the moon prescribes?” I clenched my fists tightly as I waited for their response.