Rejected By One, Claimed By Three

FOUR

SKYLA POV

My eyelids flutter open, but the brightness of the light forces them shut again. The light seeps through my blanket, forcing me to wake up.

Where was I? I wondered. The last I remembered was being taken away in a black van, and suddenly, I was in an elegant white-themed room. I couldn’t recognize anything and everywhere looked very strange.

I got down from the extremely comfortable fluffy bed and took careful steps towards the window beside the bed. I felt even more lost looking out the window. The whole place was strange, but one thing I was sure of was that this had to be a different pack.

It was a much bigger pack than my home, Bounty Pack. The Bounty pack was not nearly as developed as this pack.

‘Home,’ my wolf Kyi repeated in mockery.

‘That is no home,’ she continued.

‘Yeah,’ I smiled sadly.

‘I’m sorry for yelling at you earlier, I should have listened to you’ I apologized.

‘It’s fine, sorry I blocked you out’ Kyi apologized.

‘It’s okay, Kyi, ’ I replied.

My wolf had always been the strong one, but Richard’s betrayal had broken her in ways I never imagined was possible. I was hurt too, but it hurt me even more when she blocked me out—refusing to make an appearance.

It was all my fault, though. I was glad she was no longer mad at me. Ever since I first shifted when I turned eighteen, we immediately bonded. I quickly fell in love with her beautiful personality, soft white furs with beautiful silver eyes. Kyi was a healing wolf and was the only reason I survived the fatal accident that took my parents when I turned nineteen.

Now I’m twenty, it’s safe to say we have become best of friends.

My train of thought was interrupted by the sound of the bedroom door opening. I quickly turned in an alert; I had no idea what to expect. What if they had sold me to some slimy older man? I shivered at the thought.

“You’re awake!” A calming voice exclaimed pleasantly.

I watched in confusion as an elderly, kind-looking woman walked in. She looked frail, dressed in a cotton blue sweater and flowing white skirt. Her brown hair was packed in a small bun, and her black eyes looked at me warmly.

“Are you okay, dear? You looked hurt when I found you at the pack’s border,” she asked, watching me with concern.

I unconsciously let out a sigh of relief and eased my tension. It didn’t seem like I was in danger or she saw me as a prisoner.

“I-“ I began but immediately broke into a coughing fit. My mouth was parched, and my voice cracked.

“Oh dear! Take a seat, hun. Let me get you something to drink,” she said softly. I gave a weak smile of appreciation.

“Do you want something to eat too?” She offered. The sound of my stomach growling at the mention of the word ‘eat’ was enough answer.

“Of course you do,” she said. I smiled sheepishly at her and sat at the edge of the bed.

Minutes later, she returned with a lukewarm glass of water and a delicious-looking food. My mouth immediately watered at the sight; it was like I hadn’t eaten for years.

She placed the food beside me and sat on the chair near the bed. I immediately started eating like my meal would be taken away from me. From the corner of my eyes, I saw her watching me in amusement as I ate.

After I was done eating, the older woman, who had introduced herself as Veronica, requested that I tell her my story. I didn’t hesitate to tell her what had happened from beginning to end. When I was done, she pulled me into a tight, motherly hug not minding my dirty state. That was when my waterworks started.

She also told me her side of the story. Apparently, she was on her early morning run when she saw me lying unconscious at the edge of the border of their pack, Redwoods pack. I had no idea how I got there. I guess whoever ever said they were trying to help me before I blacked out must have been the one to have taken me there.

Oh well…

“Do you have a plan? What could I do to help you get back on your feet?” Veronica asked kindly.

It felt like the moon goddess had sent her specifically as my angel.

“Could you do me a favor, maybe-“ I muttered shyly.

“It’s kind of a big one,” I said, bowing my head in embarrassment.

“Tell me, darling, what favor?” She urged gently.

“I wish to return to school… I had just one year left to be a graduate. If I could be transferred to school here, it’d help a lot,” I pleaded, looking at her hopefully.

“I’ll do my best to make that wish possible,” she smiled brightly.

“Thank you so much!” I exclaimed in delight, hugging her so tightly.

I was convinced she was an angel.

***

Just as promised, I was able to get admission into the most remarkable college in the pack; Grayson’s College. I had no idea how Veronica managed to pull that off, but I was glad she did.

I would finally get the chance to complete my major.

Today was my first day of resumption, and I was beyond excited. I skipped excitedly into the college dormitory, paying no mind to the questioning glances I received.

My agenda for today was to get my dorm room keys and get settled before my classes officially begin.

Grayson College was the epitome of luxury. From the school magazines I had seen, I discovered their dormitory was much bigger than my previous college dormitory. There were three rooms in each dorm, and roommates only shared a sitting area and a bathroom. That was extremely cool since I’d get a whole room to myself! I stifled a giggle at the thought.

“Hi, how can I help you?” A middle-aged lady greeted me once I reached the front desk.

“Hello, I’m here to collect my dorm keys,” I responded politely.

“Name?” She inquired.

“Skyla Rain,” I answered immediately.

She looked through her computer screen for some minutes, searching for what I assumed was my name. Finally, she looked up at me with a small smile.

“Here,” she said, handing over two sets of keys.

“Dorm 45. It’s on the 3rd floor,” she instructed.

I thanked her and quickly made my way towards the elevator. I was really excited to be back at school and was ready to put all my past drama behind me and focus on things that mattered. I had only one rule: STAY AWAY FROM ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS.

Luckily, I had no problem finding my dorm and could quickly figure out which bedroom was mine since it was the only one unlocked and devoid of decorations.

Deciding to arrange my bedroom later, I got rid of my tight clothes and flopped on the bed, slipping into dreamland.

I woke up to the most alluring scent. A mix of earthy pine, warm amber, and sweetness, like wild honey. My head turned, searching for its source, my heart pounding furiously.

I grabbed a small pink robe from my bag and draped it around my petite body. Kyi screamed at me to follow the scent and find out what that was.

I pushed my room door open, and the sight before me left me star-struck.

Three almost identical-looking men stood in the sitting room; they seemed almost unreal, like figures from a dream. My mouth dropped in awe.

The first guy was tall and lean, with an athletic build. He had tanned skin and his brown hair fell in loose, unruly curls around his face.

He had attractive gray eyes, and a sharp jawline that made him look like models you’d see on the front page of a high end magazine. He was wearing a simple white T-shirt and jeans.

The other guy beside him had broad shoulders and was slightly more muscular than the rest. His brown hair was styled shaggy in an attractive way. His black eyes shone with mischief.

He wore a dark green sweater that hugged his torso, and his jeans were shiny black. His lips stretched into an attractive grin when he noticed my presence.

The third guy’s hair was equally brown, slicked back in a way that accentuated his sharp features. His eyes were a deep brown. He wore a tailored black shirt and dark trousers that fit his lean yet muscular frame perfectly.

They were unrealistically attractive! It felt like a dream.

‘Mates!’ Kyi exclaimed.