Helen's POV
My eyes slid open, adjusting to the dimly lit path. I looked down. I was dressed in my nightwear. I was standing in the middle of a forest I didn't recognize.
What was I doing here? How did I get here?
The trees were tall and dark, their leaves whispering secrets I couldn't understand. A chilling wind brushed across my skin, and then I saw her.
A massive white wolf stood across from me. She…
My heart leapt to my throat. I stumbled back in fear, instinct screaming at me to run.
But I didn't.
Because something about her felt familiar. Her eyes…
And then it hit me.
This was my wolf.
I don't know how I knew—just that I did. Her fur shimmered beneath the moonlight like snow, and her eyes were like silver blades, cutting through my thoughts. I thought they were golden?
"W-why are you looking at me like that?" I asked, barely a whisper.
Her voice echoed directly into my head, strong and ancient.
"Because you need to remember who you are, Helen. I am Wolfrainia Lunaris. I am your wolf. And we are not weak."
There was something ominous about her name. The way it rang with a familiar tone.
My jaw fell. "Wolfrainia? You have a beautiful and ancient name."
I knew wolves bear different names from their human counterparts and I also knew that how strange this encounter was.
Do wolves appear like this to their humans? From what they had taught us back into school, this was never mentioned.
She dipped her head. "Yes. We all do. We choose names that reflect our true essence. And no, wolves don't normally appear to their human counterparts like this. But your path… is not normal. Neither am I too."
"Why? Why can I see you as though we are different people? What's happening to me? Why is everything so messed up?"
Her gaze softened.
"There is more to your story than you've been told. More than you know. But you mustn't speak of me yet—not even to Nara, your best friend. Not even to your aunt. They're watching. Listening."
How did she know Nara was my best friend? And her aunt…?
"Who—"
"There is no much time to discuss more with you right now because you need to wake up. Your aunt is coming and the look on her doesn't scream happy at all." She warned me.
How did she know all of these if she was a—
"Wake up." Her voice thundered in my head.
"WAKE UP, HELEN!"
SMACK!
I gasped as I jolted awake, my head whipping to the side from the force of the slap. A sharp sting bloomed across my cheek. My vision blurred as I blinked rapidly—and then I saw her.
Laura. Standing over me like a dark cloud, fury written all over her face.
"Why did you leave the party early last night?" she snapped, pure hatred dripping with every word she spoke.
I touched my stinging cheek, still shaken from the dream—or was it a vision?
I wanted to tell her that it was because it was my birthday and I had shifted. Wolfrainia's warning rang in my head. Laura didn't even know my birth date.
"I… I was tired," I muttered quickly. "The work… it was a long day."
Her glare intensified. "You ungrateful little rat! You think you can disrespect the hand that feeds you? Everyone was looking for you last night!"
I stiffened. So they had noticed. Why were they looking for me?
I thought I was some nobody in the pack?
"They asked the triplets if they saw you," she continued. "And you know what they said? They said they didn't. Not a word. Not even a flicker of recognition."
My throat went dry.
So that was it.
I was mated to them… and they were going to pretend it never happened. I was their dirty little secret. A mate they were ashamed of? Someone they wanted to hide away?
Maybe I should try to reject them. That would be better, right?
Laura clicked her tongue and crossed her arms. "I'm telling you now, stay away from them. You're nothing. Do you hear me? They are Alphas. You're a burden I took in for my dead sister's sake. And the only reason you were in school is because Alpha Rowan pays for it!"
I clenched my fists beneath the blanket. Rage burned under my skin like wildfire. But I bit my tongue. I couldn't say anything. Not yet.
With one final sneer, she turned and slammed the door behind her.
I let out a trembling breath. I was shaking. My heart felt like it would explode from my chest.
I sat up—and immediately collapsed back onto the bed.
Oh no…
My whole body felt heavy. My limbs ached. My head throbbed. The shift from last night must've taken more out of me than I realized.
But I had work.
I couldn't afford to get into more trouble with Veronica.
Somehow, I dragged myself to the bathroom. My movements were slow, sluggish, like I was wading through muddy water. I washed up, dressed, and stepped out… only to find that Laura hadn't left anything for me to eat.
No surprise there.
My stomach growled loudly, reminding me that I hadn't eaten properly since yesterday morning.
Still, I forced myself toward the packhouse, willing my feet forward even as I trembled with exhaustion.
As I approached the kitchen, I caught the scent of something warm and sweet—pancakes.
My stomach twisted with longing.
I paused at the doorway, watching from the shadows.
The smell reminded me of a memory I had buried for years.
⸻
I was ten.
I hadn't been given food again that day— Laura had punished me for something I didn't do. I was very sure Veronica had lied to her that I had resumed work late again. My belly had ached so bad, I'd crept into the Luna's kitchen, hoping to maybe beg a scrap from one of the kitchen cooks.
But as I stepped inside, I saw someone already there.
Kael.
He was reaching for an apple from the fruit basket, appearing to be so careful not to be noticed.
Was he stealing?
Our eyes met.
He looked at me, annoyed. "Say nothing." He snapped.
And then he left.
I stood frozen, unsure what to do.
Moments later, Veronica stormed in, demanding to know who had been in the kitchen without permission. Some of the other maids pointed at me. "She was here. We saw her."
"I didn't take anything!" I'd cried. "It was Kael! I saw him!"
A sharp slap silenced me.
"You dare lie against the Alpha's son?" Veronica hissed. "Lashes. Twenty. On her legs. She needs to learn her place."
Tears streamed down my face. I looked around, hoping—begging—that someone would defend me.
Then a shadow loomed.
Kael had returned.
For one foolish second, I thought… maybe…
But he leaned down, his voice a cold whisper.
"No one will ever believe a nobody like you. Get used to it."
⸻
That was the moment I realized I hated him. I loathed him. I hated him for his lies. For his cruelty. For letting me suffer when he could've stopped it with just one word.
And now?
Now he was one of my mates?
I nearly choked on the bile in my throat. I stepped into the kitchen, ignoring the hunger gnawing at my stomach.
Veronica glanced at me, her lips curled into a sharp sneer but said nothing, too busy barking orders. Since the Alphas' welcome home party last night, the kitchen has been busy. Nara caught sight of me and offered a small, tired smile.
But I didn't return it.
I had no energy left to pretend. I had no more energy to pretend that I was fine and okay with what was happening to me. She didn't know half of what I was going throughat the moment. And even if I tell her, she still wouldn't understand.
I was mated to the triplet Alphas. Alphas who loathed my existence and we shared mutual feelings on that.
And they were going to pretend I didn't exist. They were going to pretend I was not their mate.
But deep down, I knew something they didn't. I had something that they didn't think I could have.
I had a wolf.
And she wasn't just any wolf. She was Wolfrainia Lunaris.
And we were going to survive. Even if it killed me.