Candace
There was a question I had wanted to ask Deidre for three years now about that night.
3rd of February.
The date haunted me like a curse stitched into my skin, refusing to fade no matter how much time passed.
I ambled behind Deidre through the corridor leading to the dining hall, my eyes fixed on the silver bracelets jingling around her wrists while I tried to ignore the searing pain spreading across my back and the stinging cuts covering my arms and legs.
My swollen feet dragged weakly against the polished floor, and the burn Aunt Elena had pressed into my skin earlier felt raw beneath the thin fabric of my dress.
Now was not the right time to ask the question clawing at my throat. My hands were still red and scalded from preparing Deidre's bath.
She had insisted the water needed to be bubbling hot and had forced my hands into it over and over again until my skin blistered and peeled. No matter how many wounds they inflicted on me, it was never enough for them.
There was always another punishment waiting around the corner, another humiliation, another reminder that Candace Sinclair was no longer human in their eyes.
I was the cursed daughter of a traitor. A flea-ridden murderer. A disgrace to the Sinclair bloodline. At least, that was what they called me now.
But Deidre had been there that night. For three years I had wanted to ask why she did what she did, especially when I had just watched my father die.
"Hi, family!" Deidre called brightly as we stepped into the dining hall.
Golden lights glowed warmly from the enormous chandelier hanging overhead, casting soft light over the lavish room. My gaze drifted toward the giant portrait mounted against the far wall, and pain twisted viciously inside my chest.
That painting used to be of my family. My father had stood proudly in the middle with his hand resting on my mother's waist while Stephen and I smiled beside them in one of the rose gardens Mom used to care for herself.
I could still remember the scent of those roses drifting through the air while Father laughed about how Mother loved the flowers more than she loved him.
Now the portrait had been replaced.
Uncle Nathan stood where my father used to stand, with Aunt Elena at his side while Deidre and Dylan smiled beside them like the perfect family they pretended to be.
I limped quietly toward a corner where I would not attract too much attention while still remaining close enough to serve them. The long dining table was already occupied by Uncle Nathan, Aunt Elena, Alpha Milan, Luna Ashley, and the Pendragon triplets.
The rich sound of Reign Pendragon's laughter burst through the room, warm and deep, and my chest tightened painfully. A wistful smile almost tugged at my lips before sorrow swallowed it whole. I had not heard him laugh like that in three years.
Back then, his laughter had always sounded like safety to me. Reign laughed with his entire body, head tipped back slightly, eyes shining with reckless amusement, and every time he laughed, it pulled everyone around him in with him.
Now all it did was remind me of everything I had lost. He sat beside Deidre with one arm draped carelessly behind her chair, laughing at something Ryker had said.
His jet-black hair was slightly messy unlike Ragnor and Ryker's slicked-back styles, and his hazel eyes gleamed with mischief beneath the warm lighting. Reign had always been the wildest of the brothers, the least controlled, the easiest to love.
My heart grew heavier as I stared at the black studs in his ears. Four years ago, I had held his hands while he got them pierced because he insisted he was not scared, only to nearly crush my fingers when the needle pushed through his skin.
For a moment, the memory wrapped around me so tightly I almost forgot where I was.
Then his gaze landed on me just for a heartbeat.
His laughter faltered almost invisibly, and his hazel eyes swept over my bruised face, my swollen lip, and the trembling hand clutching my serving tray.
Heat crawled unexpectedly across my skin.
For one terrible second, I thought I saw recognition flicker across his face. Then he winked at Deidre instead. My lungs tightened painfully. Of course I imagined it.
Three years had passed without Reign truly looking at me, so why did my body still react to his heated glances?
"Come on, Reign, stop monopolizing all her attention," Ragnor's smooth baritone cut through my thoughts.
Warm shivers danced traitorously across my skin at the sound of his voice.
"Yeah, talk to me too, baby," Ryker added while chewing lazily. "Why does Reign get all the smiles?"
His citrus scent filled the room strongest of all, rich and intoxicating enough to make my head spin despite myself.
"Because you two already had your fun with her," Reign snickered before pulling Deidre into his lap.
Uncle Nathan burst into loud laughter while Aunt Elena practically glowed with satisfaction.
"Ugh, can you all take your disgusting PDA somewhere else?" Dylan scoffed.
He rolled his brown eyes dramatically, though the permanent scowl on his face remained firmly in place. Dylan was not nearly as tall or broad as the triplets, but there was something cruel about him that had nothing to do with physical size.
Then his eyes found mine, my spine stiffening instantly.A slow grin spread across his lips as he deliberately licked sauce from his thumb while staring at me.
"Some of us are trying to eat."
Fear curled coldly through my stomach. I knew that look. Goddess, please let him leave me alone tonight.
My body already felt like it was splitting apart. I was bruised, bleeding, exhausted, and barely standing. I just wanted the night to end so I could curl up on the haystack and pretend, even briefly, that I no longer existed.
"Where is that stupid slave?" Aunt Elena snapped.
I hurried forward immediately, keeping my head bowed low while every stare in the room drilled into me. Tears burned behind my swollen eye, but I fought desperately to keep them from falling.
"Oh, you still keep the runt around?" Alpha Milan asked with a dark chuckle.
His cold grey eyes drifted slowly over the wounds scattered across my skin.
"What can we do?" Uncle Nathan sighed while swirling wine inside his glass. "She is family, even if she deserves death."
My father would have died for both of those men. Instead, they repaid his loyalty by turning me into less than an animal.
"Do not just stand there staring like an idiot," Aunt Elena hissed. "Serve the tea."
Shrinking further into myself, I reached for the kettle with trembling hands and carefully began pouring tea into each delicate white cup resting on the table.
My legs nearly buckled when I reached the triplets. Every single one of their scents wrapped around me at once, stirring memories I had spent years trying unsuccessfully to bury.
When I reached Reign, the scent of dark amber, vanilla bourbon, and coffee drifted into my lungs, carrying memories of late-night adventures and stolen kisses beneath the packhouse balcony.
Tears burned hotter behind my eyes.
Deidre sat comfortably in his lap while he rested one large hand possessively against her waist.
"Mine," he used to whisper against my neck whenever another boy looked at me too long.
Now his hand rested on her instead.
Deidre lifted her teacup toward me with an innocent smile. I leaned down carefully to pour her tea when suddenly her hand jerked against mine.
The kettle tilted violently and hot tea spilled across her skin.
"Oh my gosh!" Deidre cried dramatically.
"Careful, Candy!"
My eyes widened in horror, she had pushed me. The realization slammed into me so hard that for a second I simply stared at her.
Was she insane?
"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Ryker roared.
His chair slammed backward violently as he surged to his feet, fury blazing across his features.
I stumbled backward immediately as fear wrapped around my throat. Ryker crossed the room in seconds and grabbed Deidre's wrist carefully while glaring at me with such disgust that it felt like acid against my skin.
"Do you not have the common sense to be careful?" he snarled. "Why does everything around you have to be ruined?"
"Easy, baby girl," Ragnor murmured softly while lifting Deidre's hand toward his lips.
My heart splintered painfully.
He used to kiss my wounds like that.
Reign quickly grabbed cold water and poured it carefully over her hand while Ryker brushed her hair away from her face with terrifying gentleness.
"I… I did not mean to," I croaked weakly. "She-"
Aunt Elena slammed her spoon against the table loudly.
"The stupid pig did it on purpose!"
She rushed toward me so quickly that I barely had time to brace myself before her slap sent me crashing onto the floor. Pain exploded across my cheek.
"She pushed me," I whispered desperately.
"Are you calling my daughter a liar?" she screeched. "You bitter little bitch. You wanted to scar her."
"Oh no, Mom, please stop," Deidre whimpered softly.
Her lips trembled in a perfect imitation of innocence while she held her burned hand against her chest.
"Candy would never hurt me intentionally. It must have been an accident." She turned sad eyes toward me.
"Right, Candy? You would never want to hurt your cousin, would you?"
This was who Deidre truly was. She was sweet and gentle in public but rotten underneath.
Ever since that night, she had played the role of my loving cousin perfectly while slowly destroying every remaining piece of my life behind closed doors.
And somehow everyone believed her, especially my mates. That part hurt worst of all. I understood that night broke them. It broke me too.
But how could they look at Deidre and not see what she truly was?
I sniffled quietly while clutching my aching face.
"I will be okay," Deidre whispered weakly. "She did not mean it."
"I swear she should be punished for this," Ryker growled.
His body visibly trembled with anger while he stroked Deidre's hair soothingly, and I genuinely feared he might cross the room and finish what Aunt Elena started.
Reign wrapped both arms around Deidre while pressing her tightly against his chest.
"I am sorry I ruined dinner," she whispered while batting her lashes.
"No, this is entirely her fault," Ryker hissed.
Then Ragnor suddenly straightened.
"I know what will make you feel better," he said quietly, reaching into his suit jacket and pulled out a velvet box.
My breath hitched in my throat.
No, no.
Pain ripped through me so violently that I could barely remain standing. Ragnor had been my first kiss, behind the old greenhouse during the summer I turned fifteen.
He had cradled my face so gently afterward, while his forehead rested against mine.
"I have wanted to do that since I was twelve," he whispered breathlessly.
Back then, his eyes used to soften whenever he looked at me. Now he could barely tolerate my existence.
The room suddenly felt suffocating. My chest constricted painfully as Reign exchanged knowing grins with Ryker while Ragnor slowly opened the box.
The ring glittered beneath the chandelier lights.
The future they used to whisper about beneath blankets and moonlight was supposed to be mine.
The promises, the stolen kisses, the love.
All of it.
"Oh my gosh!" Deidre squealed excitedly.
Ryker pulled her onto her feet while Reign rose beside her grinning broadly. The burn on her hand seemed completely forgotten now as all three brothers stood before her, Ragnor in the middle holding the ring.
Aunt Elena gasped dramatically while fanning herself.
"Nathan, it is finally happening!"
Tears blurred my vision as realization crashed fully into me. Deidre was getting the fairytale we used to dream about together as teenagers.
Only now she was getting it with my mates.
"These past few years have been dark as hell for us," Reign drawled while tugging Deidre closer against him.
His hazel eyes sparkled mischievously beneath the lights.
"And you were the one person who stayed beside us through everything," he murmured.
"You risked your own wolf for us. Who does that?"
It was a lie, every word was a lie. I wanted to scream it. My body froze completely.
A year ago, they had rejected me before forcing the suppressing collar around my neck because the idea of a cursed slave being mated to the Alpha triplets disgusted the entire pack.
Now they wanted to marry my cousin instead.
"We do not want to wait anymore, Didi," Ryker said with a grin that nearly shattered me. "We do not need a fated mate when the Moon Goddess already gave us an angel."
An angel.
How could they do this to me? They were supposed to be mine. They were supposed to love me.
"Would you do us the honor," Ragnor rasped softly while gazing at Deidre with unbearable tenderness, "of becoming our wife? Our mate?"
The room tilted violently around me.
I gripped the edge of the sideboard behind me while pain screamed through my scalded palms, but I barely felt it.
Even with my wolf suppressed, I could still feel what remained of her clawing desperately against the collar around my throat. The boys I loved were asking my cousin to become theirs.
"Yes!" Deidre screamed excitedly. "Yes, a million times!"
Luna Ashley and Alpha Milan immediately rose from their seats applauding while Aunt Elena shrieked happily.
The collar around my neck tightened painfully.
I could barely breathe. Then Ragnor's eyes lifted to mine and for one devastating moment, his grey gaze locked with mine across the room.
His expression faltered just slightly.
His jaw tightened almost imperceptibly as his eyes flicked over the tears sliding down my face.
Then his features hardened again like I was nothing. Pain lanced through my chest with every heartbeat. I would not cry here.
The kettle slipped from my fingers and shattered loudly against the floor as I turned and ran blindly from the dining hall, unable to stop the broken sounds tearing from my throat.
I ran toward the only place where I could fall apart completely, unaware of Dylan's hungry eyes fixed on my retreating figure.