Chapter 2

A narrative spun from the viewpoint of Nora:

Trouble was brewing, I could sense it. Why else would they, out of nowhere, be eager to give me a tour of their turf?

Alpha Riley, our patriarch, applauded his sons' sudden enthusiasm, a change he'd been trying to instill in them recently. Vera, his wife, nodded in approval, her face gleaming with delight.

Lionel, one of the triplets, responded to his father's praise. Quentin, however, bore an expression far from jubilant. Meanwhile, Damien seemed to be directing his icy stare at me. Was it my imagination, or was he envisioning me as his next prey?

Unfazed by Damien's hostility, the triplets offered smiles to Alpha Riley and Vera before ushering me into the kitchen. The room quickly emptied at Damien's icy gaze. This was my first encounter with the triplets' influence over the household; it was clear that their mere presence could instill fear in the hearts of the household staff.

Their towering figures cornered me against the counter, leaving me feeling small and vulnerable. Damien, in an attempt to silence my brewing scream, swiftly placed his hand over my mouth.

Shaking his hand off, I blurted, "What the hell!"

Quentin's words, deep and resonating, sent a chill down my spine. "Don't get too comfortable here," he warned. Lionel joined the conversation, his tone laced with arrogance, "Our father's words shouldn't be taken literally. We tolerate you here out of respect for Vera's care for us in our childhood. But you're not one of us."

Damien's tone was harsher than his brothers. "You don't belong here with the Dark Sapphire pack. You're an omega of a minor pack, a nobody. You dare not compete with us for the Luna position. You won't survive the climb to our rank."

Quentin added, "Nora, know your boundaries before we have to teach them to you our way."

Defiantly, I retorted, "To hell with all of you."

Damien smirked at my retort, and warned, "Don't test our patience, Nora."

Lionel took the opportunity to tease, "We'd certainly oblige, darling, but our parents wouldn't appreciate it if we took you up on that offer." I was left speechless, my mind in a whirlwind at the scandalous thought he had suggested.

Lionel grinned, noticing my shock. He pulled me towards him and whispered, "Be careful what you wish for, or you might regret it." He traced his hand along my back. Quentin and Damien bore similar smirks on their faces, enjoying my discomfort.

Quentin intervened, prying Lionel's hand away and creating some distance between us. Damien just continued to glare, his gaze piercing through me. "Remember our warning, Nora. Don't get in our way," Damien threatened before he and his brothers retreated from the kitchen.

I sighed, a sense of relief washing over me. I hadn't realized I'd been holding my breath since Lionel had touched me. "Why was I silenced? Why didn't I rebuke him as I should have?" I scolded myself, groaning in frustration.

At that moment, Peter entered the kitchen. "What's wrong, sister?" he asked, confusion apparent in his voice. With a weak smile, I brushed off his concern and excused myself to head to my room. Peter followed, leading me to the room assigned to me.

Entering the room, I was taken aback by the sheer opulence. It was at least five times larger than my previous room, furnished with a luxurious king-size bed, antique furniture, a small living area, and a private bathroom.

Peter, pointing towards a door in the room, revealed a walk-in closet stocked with clothes of every style. He chuckled, explaining how he and his mother had tried to anticipate my fashion preferences but, unsure of my taste, had opted to buy a little of everything.

Having spent an exhausting day travelling, I gratefully retired to my room, despite having slept the entire day before the journey. Vera brought me dinner, seeing how exhausted I was. As we ate, she expressed her gratitude for my arrival and reassured me that I was now part of the family.

Later in the night, I was jolted awake by a loud knock on my door. On opening it, I found the triplets standing in front of me, shirtless. My sleep-addled brain took a moment to register their bare torsos, their muscular physiques highlighted by the dim lamp light. I couldn't help but admire their physical attributes, prompting Lionel to cheekily ask, "Like what you see, baby?"