Chapter 7

LAYLA'S POV

I refuse to break.

No matter what they do to me, no matter how cruel their words are, how sharp their glares, how dismissive they are to me—I will not give them the satisfaction. The triplets think they can shatter me, but they underestimate me. They think I'll fall to my knees and beg for their mercy, but they don't know what I'm made of. They don't know the fire that burns inside me.

But my wolf does.

And she still calls for them.

It's pathetic, really. After everything, after the rejection, after their coldness in every interaction with me—my wolf still longs for them. The bond is a cruel thing. I feel it every time they're near.

But then there's him.

Kieran isn't like the others. He doesn't sneer when I walk past. He doesn't throw cruel words at me. He simply exists, apart from them, and maybe that's why I find myself seeking him out when I know I shouldn't.

I see him in the hallway with his head bent over a book as he walks, completely absorbed in whatever world the pages have pulled him into. He's handsome in a way that makes my heart race - not just physically, but in the quiet way he carries himself.

I can't stop staring.

Lost in my thoughts, I don't realize I'm still moving. By the time I do, it's too late. My shoulder collides with his chest, sending the book tumbling from his hands as we both stumble back. My breath catches when his hands grip my arms to steady me.

A shock runs through me like wildfire.

The mate bond comes to life between us. The feeling is electric and undeniable, and I know—he feels it too. His fingers tighten for just a second before he lets go, but it's enough. It's enough to make my wolf whimper, enough to make me yearn. I don't want him to let go. I want to step closer, to press against him and feel his body heat against mine.

But I don't.

Instead, I bow my head and murmur, "I'm sorry."

My heart pounds as I risk a glance up. He looks at me with curiosity and... Something else. I don't know what he sees when he looks at me, but for once, it doesn't feel like a weakling.

"The pup," he says "What happened to it?"

I blink at him, caught off guard by the question.

I can't help but smile "I adopted him"

Something shifts in his expression. He smiles but it disappears fast. He nods once. "Good."

And then he turns, walking past me like the moment meant nothing.

I exhale slowly, feeling my pulse in my throat. The warmth of his touch lingers on my skin. The bond comes to life between us even as he moves away. I force myself to walk, to step away before my stupid love struck wolf does something reckless.

"Layla."

His voice stops me in my tracks. My breath catches as I turn around to face him. His lips part slightly as if he's about to say something else, then he simply smirks.

"You look beautiful with your hair down."

And then he's gone.

I stand there, frozen. I can't help the heat rushing to my cheeks. My heart pounds so hard I can hear it. I raise a trembling hand to my hair, letting his words sink in.

I blush. And for the first time in a long time, I don't feel broken.

-

The moment Kaiden gives the order, I know tonight will be another test. Another cruel game he and his brothers play to break me.

"You will serve us tonight," he says to me "Our personal attendant for the evening. You don't leave until we say so."

I nod stiffly, keeping my face neutral. He wants me to react—to fight, to plead—but I won't give him the satisfaction.

The private chamber is a bit dark. The scent of wine and perfume is thick in the air. The gathering is intimate, exclusive. Noblewomen in silk and lace are all over the triplets. Their laughter echoes throughout the room.

I take my place by the drinks, pouring it into crystal glasses. My hands are steady. Well, as steady as I can manage them. The sight of these women with my mates makes my heart ache but I force myself to act unbothered.

Kieran barely pays attention to the women circling him. His focus drifts. I can tell his body is there but his mind is somewhere else. Killian, however, welcomes their attention. He smirks as a red-haired beauty leans into him, whispering something in his ear. Kaiden is the worst—always testing boundaries, always watching me.

One woman, a brunette slides into Kaiden's lap.

"Mmm, your Highness," she purrs, trailing her fingers along his chest, "I was beginning to think you didn't want me."

He chuckles while looking at me. I keep my eyes trained on the glass in my hand, but I feel his eyes on me. He wants me to react. He wants me to break.

I won't.

Across the room, Killian pulls a woman into a deep kiss with his hand gripping the back of her neck. She moans loudly. .

"You look so tense, little Omega," someone says.

I turn slightly to see who it is and that's when I see the brunette on Kaiden's lap. She smiles.

"This must be torture for you." She says.

I say nothing. My fingers tighten around the neck of the bottle, but I don't let my expression slip. I will not give her or them the reaction they crave.

Kaiden speaks to me "Not even a little jealousy, Layla?"

I pour his drink "Why would I be jealous?"

His silver eyes darken with something unreadable.

Killian laughs, amused. "She's cold, brother. Colder than you thought."

The brunette pouts dramatically, rolling her eyes. "Shame. I thought Omegas were supposed to be... emotional. Maybe you're just defective."

The words cut, but I do not flinch. I won't let them see how deep they hurt. I finish pouring, setting the bottle down.

The night drags on, filled with heated touches and the boys doing all sorts of things. But I remain unmoved or at least, that's how I act.

When the gathering ends, the women leave. I turn to leave, eager to escape, but Kaiden moves first. He steps into my path, close enough that I can feel his warmth.

His voice is low "Why didn't you break?"

I lift my chin, meeting his gaze without fear. "Because you don't matter to me."

A muscle ticks in his jaw. The air crackles between us. It's charged with something dark and electric. His eyes are usually so unreadable, but now they are filled with something raw. Anger. Frustration. Maybe even something else.

He doesn't say another word, but I know I've struck a nerve.

And for the first time tonight, I feel like I've won.