TRIPLE STEPBROTHERS INFERNO

Chapter 3

Harper’s POV

“You look beautiful, dear.” My mother smiled, watching me as I twirled around in the long black dress she gifted me for my birthday.

I liked it, but I still didn’t feel the excitement of finally turning eighteen and having the freedom I have always dreamt of having.

Instead, I had trepidation coursing through my veins. How would I contain the pain in my chest when I get rejected by my mate?

On a normal basis, Omegas are usually mated to Alphas or people from a higher rank. Some of them get rejected if they are not up to their mate’s tastes. It rarely happens but I know with me, it would.

“Thanks, mum.” I sighed, sitting down at the edge of the bed.

She noticed the tense look on my face and the erratic beating of my heart, so she leaned down and placed an assuring hand on my shoulder.

“Baby, you don’t need to worry. The day would go perfectly for you.” She patted me, then leaned forward and placed a lingering kiss on my forehead.

“No, mum. It is not going to. They all hate me. Don’t you know what they call me?” I stifled down the tears that were in my eyes.

“Yes, but,” she started, but I cut her off.

“And do you know what they would call me when they find out that I am not a full werewolf?” I yelled this time, turning my head to face her.

“You need to lower your voice.” She snapped.

I scoffed and shook my head, then looked away.

“How do you think my mate would react when he finds out that I don’t shift? I am literally an adult with no hope of knowing if I am ever going to have a wolf. What creature is my father, even?” I let the tears slip out of my eyes this time.

My mother kept shut. She didn’t even know what he was, so I didn’t know half of my identity. I have always dreaded this day.

We have always kept this a secret but we knew it was going to come out one day or the other. I couldn’t hide the fact that I didn’t have a wolf any longer, especially now that I am eighteen and would have to be attending the pack’s combat.

Somehow, I made it seem far in my life. I didn’t want to think of it as something that was happening soon just to have peace of mind.

Now, I had to face it. It was my life, and I couldn’t run away from it. I wiped the tears away before I stood up and headed out of the room.

I headed to the pack hall where the mating ceremony was going to happen. The entire pack was seated, and music was blaring through the speakers.

I sighted a lot of people seated in the crowd that I knew were going to make my life a living hell if I got rejected. I saw my school bullies, the triple inferno, and even some of the random pack members that disliked me because I was an abomination.

My hands were sweaty as I locked eyes with one of the triplets. I looked closer to see which one it was. It didn’t take long to recognize who it was, with the evil glint and smirk on his face.

Damon Meadows.

I didn’t know why he was looking at me like that and I didn’t want to know why. I tore my gaze away from him and sat down in the corner as I awaited to hear my fate. The Epsilon’s in the pack, who were basically the oldest wolves, were the ones that got the information from their dreams.

Every year, the packs Beta announces it and then the mated wolves take a blood oath.

Food was being served out to the pack members, and those that already knew their mates were trying to know each other more before the blood oath.

I could see some with tears in their eyes and some happy like they had won a lottery. Whereas I was just sitting in the corner, watching with dread because I didn’t even know who I was mated to here.

I didn’t even know if I was eligible to mate since my wolf hadn’t shown up yet. If I didn’t have a mate, then my life was going to turn worse than it already was because I would officially be the bastard girl with no mate, as if being a bastard wasn’t painful enough.

“Harper.” Someone called my name out from behind me, and I turned my neck to face him.

It was Damon. I was too lost in my thoughts that I didn’t even notice that he had left his seat and was now standing beside me. He crouched down, then sat down on the ground next to me.

“Sweet little Harper.” He whispered near my ears, which made the hairs on my skin rise.

Goodness, he even sounded like the devil. The way he spoke and behaved was scary. Everyone knew that he was a psychopath yet his actions still seemed to scare me. Damon was not a person. He was the damn devil.

“What do you want?” I snarled.

“Don’t use that tone on me. You don’t talk to your mate that way.” He whispered in my ears again.

This time, not only did goosebumps rise on my skin but my heartbeat started to quicken. My hands started to visibly shake, and my throat was dry. I was speechless. This couldn’t be happening to me.

I turned to face him. His features looked unperturbed. I couldn’t get mated to him. He was never going to respect me as his mate. In fact, he was going to kill me.

There wasn’t an ounce of humanity in Damon. Not even a pinch of it.

“No, please,” I murmured.

“Exactly, Harper. I don’t want to be mated to a disgusting Omega like you too. So I have a deal.” He offered.

I was willing to do whatever it took to not get mated to him. I would do anything to save myself from being with a man that spoke about people that way.

Asshole.

“What is it?” I growled.

“I am going to reject you, but you will be on your way out of this pack before tomorrow. Join the rogues, die in the woods alone, or join another pack. I really don’t give a damn. Just be out before tomorrow.” He said.

I had that thought yesterday to leave the pack after I got rejected. Not even my mother could stop me this time. I was leaving.

“Deal.” I nodded.

“Good.” He said before he stood up and headed back to where his brothers were seated.

I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. My mother had to understand. I needed to start my life somewhere new.

The event soon started, and the Beta started to speak through the microphone.

“Good evening ladies and gentlemen of the pack. We are gathered today to witness the mating ceremony of this year’s pups that have developed into adults. As we all know, this year, we have the special sons of the Alpha who are getting mated today,” he spoke, his voice booming through the speakers at the four corners of the pack hall.

“The pack’s Epsilon is going to announce who their mates are. Please welcome him with a round of applause. Epsilon John Knight.”

The pack hall erupted into claps as they welcomed him to the stage. My hands were clammy, and I felt dizzy. But it was for the best. It was going to be the biggest embarrassment in my life but after today, it won’t matter.

I tried to calm my steady heart, but I couldn’t. When the Epsilon came to the stage, he greeted the audience before he started to speak.

“The Alpha’s triplets are fated to have the same mate. She is no one other than Omega Harper.” He announced.

The whole pack hall went silent, and the blood on my face drained.

What did I just hear?

I was mated to all of them?

No way. No freaking way.

My brain was frozen. I couldn’t move. Everyone’s eyes were on me. Just then, I started to hear the whispers get into my head.

“Isn’t that the bastard girl?”

“They’d better reject her.”

“What an unfortunate choice.”

“Harper?” The Epsilon called out again, making me regain my consciousness.

I stepped up to the stage. My mind was not with me. My brain was acting solo. When I got to the stage and felt everyone’s eyes blazing into me, I nearly peed my pants.

“Can the Alpha’s triplets also come to the stage for the blood oath?” He said, turning his neck to face the triplets who had a poker look on their faces.

“I would pass on that,” Adonis replied.

I didn’t know it was possible to feel the sound of my heart breaking, or at least my brain convinced me that I felt it.

“Me too. Rejected.” Atlas shook his head.

Damon stood up to his feet, “No one would want to have an abomination as their mate, Epsilon John. We would wait for our second chance mate.”

I felt like I was having a panic attack. There were giggles coming from the pack members. I had thought about what it would feel like all my life to get rejected. I thought it was going to be like the rest, getting sympathy and all.

But from what my ears could pick, everyone was glad that they didn’t pick me as their mate. I had never been humiliated his way. Rejected by three men on the same night was not what I expected, and there was nothing I could do.

There was laughter coming from one side of the pack. I knew it was my bullies from school. It made tears well in my eyes, but I didn’t let them fall. I heard my mother trying to console me through our mind link, but I blocked her out.

I was leaving this pack today anyways. I swallowed the bitterness in my throat before I headed out of the pack house, ignoring all the glances I was getting from people.

I wasn’t only an abomination in their eyes now, I was also the first lady to get rejected by three of her mates in the same night. I never thought of what it would be like to get rejected by three people.

It hurt so bad. Nothing has ever made me feel this way. There was nothing left for me in the pack again. I was going to pack my clothes and leave, and not even destiny was going to come in my way.