Loretta
Anna's eyes burned with hatred as they landed on me, then the triplets, who shifted uncomfortably.
"And what in heaven's name are you doing in my room without a knock or invitation?" Leo inquired, a frown displayed on his face.
Anna didn't reply. The way she stared at me sent a cold chill down my spine, but I forced the feeling away. I glanced instead at the triplets, who were clearly upset by her behavior.
"Dad seeks your presence in his chambers now," she stated firmly. The sound of the door closing followed.
I let out a sharp breath unknowingly, a sense of relief washing over me.
"Don't tell me you are afraid of her?" Leo inquired, his piercing eyes fixed on me, but I sucked in a breath, a sharp laugh escaping my lips.
"Not at all. But…" I held back my words. I feared what I was about to say would bring more harm than good to the triplets.
I knew they always had my back, but I wouldn't risk that for anything.
"How about we continue with whatever we were doing before the distraction?" Lucian suggested. His tongue found my neck again, but I slowly shifted a little from his touch.
"I think it's best you three go see Beta Louis. It could be an important issue regarding the pack," I advised, narrowing my gaze at all three, who dropped in frustration, groaning slightly.
"Alright. I'm always here, and you can call on me anytime you so desire."
They gave me a knowing look as the three all rolled out of the bed. I watched them sluggishly drag their legs toward the door and close it behind them.
Air caught in my lungs, my heart racing in my chest. The summons had to be about me, there was no other reason. But then, I couldn't bring myself to think otherwise, since Beta Louis had always had me as the subject of discussion ever since he noticed the closeness between me and the triplets.
I was never backing out; not now, not ever.
My eyes took in the scattered bookshelf in the corner of the room and the overloaded table piled with books beside it.
I scoffed, taking my gaze away.
I slowly stood up from the bed, my eyes settling on a portrait at the top end of the bed, slightly above it.
The picture of Alpha Ricardo and his Luna, Beatrice. All three triplets had these pictures in the same spot in each of their bedrooms.
I found my arms trailing over the portrait as grief settled in my heart. More likely, I could feel the pain in their hearts, having lost both parents at a tender age.
My heart grumbled. Those beautiful smiles of Luna Beatrice in the picture settled in my heart, my arms moving over her beautiful face, causing a sharp tear deep down.
She was such a good Luna, or so I heard. I cursed Alpha Enzo silently. I was told he was a cruel Alpha of the Moon Pack who created the chaos. He was the sole reason for the curse that had lingered on the triplets, one which everyone so dreaded, but was known only to the triplets and Beta Louis.
That had been one of my biggest fears: what could be the outcome or consequences of the curse? Rumor had it that Alpha Ricardo had died of the same curse.
I scoffed, still staring at the picture.
Did it mean the triplets would die at a certain age, or was there more to it?
My heart tugged, lost in the cold arms of dread, causing goosebumps on my skin.
I shrugged the feeling off my thoughts as quickly as it came, but that heaviness never left me. Mum had told me the story of the war, and it was such a heart-wrenching one that I wouldn't even wish it on the worst of my enemies.
Such a heavy price they had to pay.
Grief swallowed me whole, until a sudden, hard tug yanked me around. I stumbled, heart lurching, and there stood Anna, blazing with fury at the bedside.
"How dare you?" she barked, her arms lifted, but I caught them just in time, suspending them in the air as her teeth gritted.
Her eyes dropped over my arms, and she yanked hers free.
"It seems you still do not know your place as the daughter of a servant in this palace!" she yelled, moving closer. I stepped down off the bed, moving twice as close, covering the space between us.
"And you want to teach me that?" I shot back, arms folding across my chest.
For a moment, she simply stared, eyes blazing, chest heaving. Then her breath hitched, sharp and furious, as if the words had struck deeper than ever.
"I want you to stay away from the triplets! They are mine, and everyone knows just that, except…" she rolled her eyes.
"You silly daughter of a pathetic, lowlife servant," she scoffed, her eyes traveling down me disgustedly. "I think she didn't give you the right upbringing."
My chest heaved. I would have taken it if she had just mentioned me, but dragging my poor, hardworking mother into this conversation was going beyond her limits. A loud slap landed on her cheek, sending her crashing over and stumbling just by the wall.
"You dare…" she held back, grinding her set of white teeth, her eyes blazing, her arms clutched over the spot as she hurried out of the room.
My fists clenched at my sides, heat burning under my skin. But beneath the anger, a cold knot twisted in my stomach. I shouldn't have hit her, every instinct screamed I'd just made a mistake. But I couldn't hold back after her annoying words or watch her insult my poor mother.
Anna was just a thorn in my flesh, and I knew I was up for bigger trouble. I was still wrapping my head around the situation when the door creaked open and my heart jolted almost immediately, but then slowly dropped when I caught sight of the triplets standing by the door, their faces unreadable.