My hands trembled as they moved to the zipper at the back of my dress.
This was it.
No going back now.
The Rite had begun.
I found the zipper, my fingers clumsy with nerves. Started to pull it down.
"Slower," Nicholas said, and I froze.
"We have all night," Lucian added, his grin sharp. "Take your time. Make it good for us."
I swallowed hard and forced my hands to slow down. Pulled the zipper down inch by agonizing inch while three pairs of glowing eyes tracked every movement.
The dress loosened around my shoulders. I hesitated, my nerve faltering.
"Don't stop now," Sebastian growled. "Keep going."
I let the dress slide off my shoulders. It caught at my hips, and I had to shimmy slightly to get it past.
Lucian made a low sound of appreciation. "That's it. Just like that."
The dress pooled at my feet. I stood there in my plain cotton bra and panties....nothing sexy, nothing special. Just functional undergarments that suddenly felt like they weren't nearly enough coverage.
"All of it," Nicholas said, his silver eyes burning into me. "We want to see everything."
My hands shook as I reached behind my back to unhook my bra. The clasp gave way, and I pulled the straps down my arms, letting it fall to the floor.
I immediately wanted to cover myself. My breasts were small, barely filling the bra I'd just removed. Nothing like the full, perfect curves that Alphas usually preferred.
"Hands at your sides," Sebastian commanded, his voice leaving no room for disobedience.
I forced my arms down, exposing myself completely to their gaze.
They stared. All three of them, their eyes tracking over my bare breasts, my too-thin ribs, my stomach.
"Beautiful," Lucian murmured.
"Perfect," Sebastian agreed.
Nicholas said nothing, but his nostrils flared slightly, and his eyes darkened with something that looked like hunger.
"The panties," Nicholas said softly. "Take them off."
This was the last barrier. The last piece of clothing between me and complete vulnerability.
My hands trembled as I hooked my thumbs in the waistband. Pulled them down slowly, stepping out of them.
Naked.
Completely naked while they were fully clothed.
The power imbalance was overwhelming, crushing, intentional.
"Turn around," Sebastian ordered. "Let us see all of you."
I turned slowly, feeling their eyes on every inch of my bare skin. When I completed the circle and faced them again, they were closer than before.
Much closer.
"On the bed," Nicholas commanded, his voice brooking no argument. "On your back. And spread those legs for me."
This was it.
The moment everything changed.
I walked to the massive bed on shaking legs, climbed onto the silk sheets, lay back.
Spread my legs like he'd commanded.
Exposed. Vulnerable. Theirs.
They approached like wolves closing in on wounded prey....slow, deliberate, savoring the moment.
Nicholas reached the bed first. Started unbuttoning his shirt with methodical precision.
"I'll take her first," he said to his brothers, his tone casual, like they were discussing who got the first slice of cake. "Eldest's right."
Neither Lucian nor Sebastian argued. They just moved to either side of the bed, watching with hungry eyes as Nicholas stripped off his shirt.
His chest was a map of scars....some clean and surgical, others ragged and violent. He was all lean muscle and controlled power.
He began unbuttoning his pants.
My heart hammered so hard I thought it might break through my ribs.
"Scared or excited, little one?" Nicholas asked, his silver eyes meeting mine as he pushed his pants down.
"Both," I whispered, because it was true.
"Good." He kicked his pants aside and stood there, completely naked.
He was huge.
They were all huge, I realized, as Lucian and Sebastian stripped off their remaining clothes with casual efficiency.
Gods, what had I gotten myself into?
"Ready?" Nicholas asked, positioning himself between my spread thighs.
No. I wasn't ready. Would never be ready.
But I nodded anyway.
"Good girl," he said.
And then he slammed his cock inside me.