Wolves of Winter's Heart

Chapter One “Look what we have here.” Jessa sang as she dangled a sprig of mistletoe over my head, her grin mischievous. I rolled my eyes. “We don’t even believe in that.” It was true—kissing under the mistletoe was a human custom, one that most of us didn’t follow. Though werewolves had adopted a lot of human traditions, that one felt out of place. Or maybe it was just me—because once upon a time, I would’ve been dragging someone under every mistletoe in sight. “So I don’t get a kiss from my sweet Milli?” Jessa teased, her brown eyes glinting with humor as she flashed a bright, toothy smile. I chuckled, nudging her shoulder as we rounded the last corner toward our next class. But my laughter died the moment I saw them. “Oh, f*ck me.” “I would, but I don’t think—” Jessa started before catching sight of what had stopped me in my tracks. “Oh.” Yeah. Oh. There was Malcolm, wrapped around Chelsy like she was the last breath of air in his lungs. They stood by her locker, oblivious to the crowd bustling around them. His arms were secure around her waist, and their lips were locked in a kiss that made me look away. They had only been mates for two weeks, but the sight of them like that still burned. A year ago, I would have been in his arms. I’d have been the one steering him under mistletoe, stealing quick kisses between classes. Last year, I was sure he’d be my forever. Now, we were strangers who barely glanced at each other. He hadn’t even spoken to me since he’d come back from training and found Chelsy. Just one look, one “mate” declared in that deep voice, and everything we’d had vanished like it had never been. The ache of it sat heavy in my chest, but I bit down on my emotions and turned to leave. “Oh no, you don’t.” Jessa’s hand shot out, grabbing the strap of my tote bag and pulling me back. “There’s only one entrance to class, Milli. We’re going in.” I clenched my jaw, balling my hands into fists as she steered me forward. “I hate you for this,” I muttered. “No, you don’t.” She flashed me a small, reassuring smile as we slipped into our seats near the window. “See? That wasn’t so hard.” I slumped into my chair, the storm of emotions churning inside me. I glanced outside at the sunshine streaming through the window, a stark contrast to the knot of bitterness and disappointment tightening in my chest. “I can’t wait for this year to be over,” I muttered, tracing a finger along the edge of the desk. Jessa gave me a sympathetic look. “They’ll still be our pack mates next year, so you’re out of luck.” She leaned over, lowering her voice. “But, if you want to forget them, I know just the thing.” I raised an eyebrow, wary of her grin. “Oh no. What now?” “The alpha triplets are coming back from their training today, and they’re throwing a huge party tonight. You need this, Milli—a night to let loose, forget all this mess.” Just hearing the words "alpha triplets" sent a shiver down my spine. Orion, Evan, and Flint Thorn had been my tormentors for as long as I could remember. Where most people saw the tall, dark, and handsome sons of our pack’s Alpha and Luna, I saw something else—danger, cruelty, and unrestrained power. “No thanks. I’d rather avoid them.” I crossed my arms and shook my head, but Jessa wasn’t giving up. “Oh come on! You haven’t seen them in two years. Maybe they’ve matured. They had to go through intense alpha training, and you know what they say—absence makes the heart grow fonder.” She gave me a sly look. “Or at least makes the memories fade a little?” “They don’t deserve the courtesy of fading memories,” I said, my voice sharper than I intended. “Do you remember the time they hid a fake love note in my locker and then told the entire class it was from me? Or when they spread that rumor that I’d dyed my hair to ‘impress’ Malcolm?” Jessa’s face softened. “Milli, that was years ago. They’ve probably forgotten all about it. and besides, you did say Malcolm liked red heads and the following week you had red heads. It wasn't really a coincidence if we think about it. ” I was about to curse at her but Jessa held up her hands. She sighed. “Look, the chances of you running into them are slim. And if they do, I’ll be by your side all night. No one’s messing with you on my watch. We’ll go, have some drinks, maybe dance a little, and you’ll see—it won’t be so bad.” I hesitated, the thought of being near the triplets making my skin prickle with unease. But maybe Jessa was right. I needed to move on, find a way to fill the void left by Malcolm, and staying cooped up at home wasn’t going to help. “Fine,” I said, forcing a smile. “But I’m holding you to that promise. You’re staying with me all night.” Jessa grinned, clapping her hands. “I knew you’d come around! Now we just need to find the perfect outfit.” *** Back in my room, I stared at my reflection, my stomach in knots. Jessa had insisted on lending me one of her dresses—a black mini that clung to my curves and made me feel both exposed and powerful. It was a far cry from my usual jeans and sweater look, and I barely recognized the girl in the mirror with her dark curls brushing the nape of her neck and a swipe of red lipstick making her green eyes stand out. “You look hot,” Jessa said, bursting into my room without knocking. “Those alpha jerks won’t know what hit them.” I gave her a skeptical look, feeling like an imposter. “I’m not dressing up for them.” “Of course you’re not,” she said, with a knowing smirk. “But it doesn’t hurt to make a statement, does it?” With one last glance in the mirror, I took a deep breath. This was about me—moving forward, finding my confidence, and proving to myself that I could be okay. Even if seeing Malcolm was inevitable, tonight I was determined to keep my head high. *** The moment we walked in, the house was buzzing with energy. Music thrummed through the walls, and everywhere I looked, people were dancing, laughing, clinking glasses. The air was thick with excitement, and I felt the faintest thrill—an urge to blend in, to lose myself in the crowd. But the buzz wasn’t just for the party. Whispers circulated like wildfire. The alpha triplets were here, finally back after two years away. The power radiating from their presence felt almost tangible, an invisible pull that made everyone in the room turn their heads, even if they didn’t want to. Jessa leaned in close. “Let’s grab some drinks. First round’s on me.” “Sounds good.” I tried to ignore the sudden nervousness clawing its way up my spine. I quickly took the drink from Jessa. I focused on the feel of the cold drink in my hand, the burn of the alcohol on my tongue, hoping it would numb the anxiety bubbling within. But as I took a sip, I felt it—a prickle at the back of my neck, an awareness that came with sensing another wolf nearby. Or, in this case, three of them. Slowly, I turned, my eyes scanning the room. And then I saw them. Orion, Evan, and Flint Thorn, each more imposing than I remembered. They were taller, their bodies honed and muscled from training, dressed in dark clothes that only made them look more dangerous. The crowd seemed to part as they walked in, like the energy they exuded demanded space. Their eyes swept over the room, and when they landed on me, I felt a chill. Orion’s gaze lingered, a smirk tugging at his lips that was as infuriatingly familiar as it was terrifying. Evan’s eyes were darker, assessing, and Flint…well, he hadn’t lost that gleam that told me he found our history amusing. It was clear in the way his eyebrow arched slightly, as if daring me to come closer. “Well,” Jessa said softly, her grip tightening on my arm, “so much for avoiding them.” My pulse quickened, and I forced myself to stand taller, meeting Orion’s gaze with defiance. The air felt thick with unspoken words, old grudges, and a flicker of something that felt almost like anticipation. Tonight was supposed to be about leaving the past behind. But staring at the triplets, I knew one thing for certain—my past had just walked back into my life, and it wasn’t going to let me go easily.