The Triplet Alphas's Christmas Gift

Chapter 7 - Dinner

Teira's POV

I felt the hands ripping at my clothes, the laughing jeers of the unseen people around me. I struggled and cried, tried to yell, and beg them to stop. "This is what you get for thinking you are above your station." a voice said. "She says to make sure Teary knows her place." another murmured.

"Teary." That name echoed as the boy's hand headed towards my pants.

I jolted awake cold sweat pouring down my back. My hands were trembling, and I couldn't catch my breath. I looked around the room, confused for a moment before remembering that Kyle had me fall asleep next to him.

I sighed and took a few deep breaths, trying to calm my racing heart. Tears were streaming down my face, and I was shivering a bit.

After a few moments, I calmed down and looked at the clock, I had two hours to get dinner ready and have it waiting on my family. If I didn't, I'd be taken to the basement again.

I ran upstairs as fast as I could and went through my suitcase looking for something suitable to wear. I chose a dark blue t-shirt that had a few holes in it and my only other pair of jeans, they were a bit too loose but I tied an old worn out belt that had fake leather peeling off in places. The bottoms of the jeans were tattered and torn, but I could hide those in my old boots.

After checking my outfit over in the window reflection, I headed downstairs quickly. As I got to the kitchen, I could smell food. I glanced around curiously and then checked the microwave, a big bowl of mashed potatoes, and a smaller one of green beans sat, and I smiled. Kyle always watched out for me as best he could.

I began pulling out the ingredients for rice and fried chicken when Kyle's voice flitted through my head, Tei, make extra for dinner. The triplets are coming over. he said quickly before cutting the link. I stopped, the triplets were coming?! The Alpha triplets?!

I immediately took stock of what we had and added extra chicken and rice. I grabbed some tomatoes to chop up and add with the rice and began frying the chicken. When that was done, I grabbed some rolls from the bread box and began to season them with herbal butter before placing them in the oven to warm up.

Once everything was ready, I set the table with three extra plates and placed the remaining dishes in the center for easier access. I filled the glasses with tea, water, hot apple cider and had the ingredients to make your own hot chocolate on a side table near the back door, just in case the boys wanted to head outside afterwards.

I went back into the kitchen and began to clean the pots and pans listening for the door, Dad would expect me to take his coat and hang it up before heading to the office. Mom would expect the kitchen to be spotless, then for me to head up to my room to keep out of sight until the guests left.

I was curious as to why the triplets decided to come over, the Luna usually had them wrapped up in Alpha duties, training for when the Alpha retired or taking trips to the Moon Valley pack, the Luna's old pack, trying to get them interested in mating talks. It was common knowledge that the triplets would share a mate, but if they didn't find their fated, the Luna was trying to set up a different mate for each of them.

As I finished cleaning, the door opened, and I could hear my parents' footsteps as they walked down the hall. I rushed out of the kitchen, "Hello Mother, Father." I said, bowing and putting as bright a smile as I could on my face. Mom and Dad just nodded and tossed me their coats, which I hung up on the coat rack, Mom then handed me her purse, which I fumbled, "Careful with that! You useless girl, it's designer!" she barked. I apologized and picked it up, placing the ugly leather thing on the side table next to her coat.

"What's for dinner?" Dad asked, heading into the dining room. I rattled off the menu when Mom scoffed, "I hope you made a salad, at least. This is way too fatty. Are you trying to make me gain weight?!" she yelled. I flinched but shook my head. This was nothing new to me. Dad patted her hand calmly, "You look more beautiful every day, dear. Teira just wasn't thinking. It's nothing new." he said gently as he pulled out her chair and then sat down, "You heard her! Go make a salad! And bring it out quickly!" he barked at me, and I bowed and headed back to the kitchen, trying not to roll my eyes.

I quickly put together the ingredients for a Caesar salad and was just finishing adding the dressing when I heard the door open and more footsteps entered the dining room. "Kyle sweetheart, how was training?" Mom cooed at my brother before I heard a small gasp. "Welcome to our home, Alphas. It's wonderful for you to join us for dinner." Dad's voice rang out, and I stopped knowing that he wanted me to head to my room.

The sound of chairs scooting out and the boys sitting made me inch a bit closer to the door, "Thank you for having us. We're sorry it's such short notice." Ryan said, and my father scoffed. I didn't hear anything else as Mom's voice got closer to the door, "Please excuse me, I forgot the salad. It's in the kitchen." At that, I scurried as quickly and quietly as I could up the back stairs towards Kyle's room.

I headed up the rest of the stairs to my own room, quickly sitting on the bed and grabbing my notes. Mom would be up in a bit to lock my door and make sure I didn't leave the room until the triplets were gone. Might as well get some studying done.

An hour or two passed as I studied, not really paying attention to the time. I would be expected to clean the dinner dishes before I made breakfast, so I had time. I thought I heard the sound of Kyle leaving, probably taking the triplets home. I didn't think anything of it until I heard a plinking sound coming from my window.

I set my notebook down quietly, the sun had gone down awhile ago, and I was using an old desk lamp of Kyle's to study by. Who would be throwing things at my window? Another plink came from it, and I sighed, I walked over and looked out. The window didn't open, and it was already drafty, so I tried not to mess with it too much.

There was a lone figure standing in the frosty grass below, it was a bit difficult to see in the dark but the flashlight waving around meant the coast was clear, our parents were asleep and Kyle wanted to talk to me. I smiled, we had come up with that signal when we were little so that Kyle could take me outside for a moonlit walk. Werewolves love the night, and we get restless after a while if we haven't been out in it.

I grabbed my desk lamp and turned it on and off twice, signaling I'd be down in a moment before heading to the wall vent in my room. I had found it when I was younger and had managed to make a mental map of the duct work, so I knew which vents led outside. It had come in handy whenever I was locked in the basement for several days.

I climbed through, working my way slowly. It was a bit of a tighter fit than it was when I was five, but I could still get through. I made it down to the vent that led to the living room and quietly opened it so my parents wouldn't hear.

After I placed it back where it was, I tiptoed to the front door, grabbing the coat Kyle had given me this morning, and ran out the door, closing it behind me.

Kyle and I usually met in a large clearing in the woods behind the house. It gave us both a chance to run around and play without our parents finding out. As I walked, I thought about the triplets and what happened at school, in one day I had become the center of attention for the popular crowd by getting noticed by the Mason triplets and punished for it.

I resolved that being around them wouldn't help with trying to stay low-key before school let out for Christmas break. I just needed to get through two more weeks, and then I would be able to work at the rink more and earn some extra money.

Just two more weeks, and I could have a bit of peace.

I rounded the last few trees into the clearing, heading towards the small fire Kyle always had lit in the winter so I wouldn't freeze. He smiled as I approached, and I hugged him gently, "Are you feeling better?" he asked, glancing at the bruises that were slowly fading on my face. I didn't heal as fast as the other wolves, but unless it was a deep cut, it healed by the time I woke up the next morning.

I nodded, "Thanks for taking care of me." I said. He smiled, "Always." he said as he led me over to the fire, and we sat down. We talked for a bit, roasting marshmallows and laughing when a twig snapped in the trees, and I stiffened. Kyle placed his hand on my leg soothingly, "It's OK Tei, they wanted to come and talk to you, but since dinner wasn't a good time, they decided to meet me here." he said gently as three large gray wolves came closer to the fire.

They shifted, and I looked down, not wanting to see them naked, I heard clothes shifting, and a voice called out, "Geez, it's cold. Why'd we have to meet out here, Harris?" Tyler asked. Matt groaned and swatted Tyler, who ducked and ran behind me, "Think mushbrain, would you want to talk about what happened today in front of Mom and Dad?" he asked. Tyler stuck his tongue out at him, then cozied up to my back, "I'm not a mushbrain, am I Teira? I'm just curious." he said as he sniffed my hair, "Mmm, you are nice and warm."

Kyle growled and jerked him away from me to the other side of the fire, "If you're that cold, shift and sit over there. Leave my sister alone." he grumbled. Tyler pouted, then shuffled closer to the fire, subtly shifting as close to me as he could without Kyle noticing.

Matt sat on my right with Ryan behind me, I looked at them confused, "What are you doing here?" I asked as Matt began toasting a marshmallow in the fire. He shrugged, "We were worried about you." he said bluntly, and I stared at him in shock. What? "Since when?" I asked just as bluntly.

Ryan stiffened behind me, "What do you mean?" he asked quietly. I looked back at him perplexed. Did he really not know?

I sighed and looked at all three of them, "I mean, since when do the most popular guys in high school care about the school nobody?!"