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Brielle did not sleep. She paced her tiny apartment all night, the mate bonds a constant, pressing weight beneath her skin. The unwanted connection was both invasive and intimate. She could sense the triplets’ locations in the Haverford estate across town and feel their emotions bleeding through: confusion, anger, denial, and underneath it all, the instinctive pull of the bond demanding acknowledgment. Her wolf whimpered continuously, distressed by their mates’ rejection. Brielle had to physically restrain herself from running to them, from seeking a comfort she knew she would not receive. The bond was ancient magic, a force far more powerful than reason or pride.

She pulled out her old laptop and searched for information on bond rejection rituals. The results made her stomach sink. Rejection was a dangerous process, potentially fatal if done incorrectly. The longer a bond remained in place, the more perilous severing it became. Some wolves never recovered from a rejected bond, their own wolves going feral from the profound loss. Yet, she could not accept this. She would not be bound to her tormentors for life. There had to be a way out.

Dawn crept through her window as she stared at her reflection, noting the dark circles under her eyes. A sharp knock sounded on her door. She opened it to find a formal messenger in Haverford pack colors. “Miss Marwood, Alpha Matthias requests your presence at the estate immediately.” The messenger’s voice was carefully neutral, but his eyes held a hint of pity. Brielle had no choice. An Alpha's summons was a command. She changed into her least worn dress, brushed her hair, and followed the messenger through pack territory. The walk felt endless. Everyone stared and whispered. Some pack members looked sorry for her, while others sneered, clearly disgusted that someone of her low status would be connected to their future leaders.

The Haverford estate loomed before her, a monument of marble columns and pristine gardens that radiated wealth from every stone. The messenger led her through hallways decorated with portraits of distinguished Haverford ancestors, all of them staring down with silent judgment. Alpha Matthias’s office was exactly what she expected: massive, cold, and designed to intimidate. The Alpha sat behind an enormous desk of dark wood, his expression unreadable. The triplets stood rigidly behind him, three silent sentinels of misery. The bond pulled at Brielle the moment she entered. Her wolf surged, wanting to run to them, to touch them and confirm the connection. Brielle fought the urge with all her strength, remaining just inside the doorway. “Sit,” Matthias commanded, gesturing to a chair positioned deliberately far from his sons.

Brielle sat, keeping her spine straight and her hands folded in her lap, refusing to show any weakness. Matthias studied her for a long moment. “This situation is unprecedented and deeply inconvenient.” “I did not ask for this,” Brielle said quietly. “No one is suggesting you did.” Matthias leaned back in his chair. “However, the facts remain. You are bonded to my sons, the future leaders of this pack. A debt slave as the mate to an Alpha is problematic.” The words stung, but Brielle had expected them. “Then let me reject the bond.”

“It is not that simple.” Matthias pulled out several old books and pushed them across the desk. “I have been consulting with our Elders. Rejecting a fresh mate bond is dangerous. Rejecting a triple bond could be fatal to all involved, and my sons’ safety is my first priority.” Of course it was. Brielle bit back the angry response that threatened to escape.

“I am proposing a temporary solution,” Matthias continued. “You will live here on the estate in one of the guest cottages. This allows the bond time to settle and stabilize. In exchange, your debt repayment will be suspended during this trial period.” “How long?” Brielle asked. “Thirty days. Then we will reassess. If rejection is still the unanimous choice, we will attempt it with the proper precautions.” Thirty days living in their territory, feeling them through the bond every moment. But it also meant thirty days without crushing debt payments, without working double shifts at the diner.

Devereaux finally spoke, his voice cold and hard. “This changes nothing. You are still beneath us. Do not mistake proximity for acceptance.” His words should have hurt less after years of similar cruelty, but the bond amplified them. She felt his revulsion through their connection, and it made her wolf whimper. Thorne refused to even look at her, his jaw clenched so tightly it must have hurt. Through the bond, she felt his frustration, a storm barely contained. Only Montrose met her eyes. Something apologetic flickered in his gaze before he looked away. She felt his guilt through the bond, heavy and old, mixed with a deep resignation.

Brielle stood abruptly. “I will live in your cottage. I will give this thirty days. But do not mistake my compliance for acceptance either.” She looked at each triplet in turn. “I do not want this bond. I do not want any of you. The moment we can safely sever this connection, I will.” She turned and walked out before anyone could respond, her head held high despite the world crumbling inside her. She felt their shock through the bond, their surprise that she had stood up to them. Good. Let them be surprised. She might be trapped, but she was not defeated. Not yet.