MATED TO THE STORM TRIPLETS

VALERIE



It was the morning of my eighteenth birthday – the most important day in the life of any werewolf. It was the day I was expected to find my fated mate. I had not been able to sleep all through the night, as all my thoughts had been centered on him – my knight in shining armor, the handsome gentleman, who was finally going to save me from the hellhole I had been living in for a few years.

“Valerie!”

The sound of my name from downstairs jolted me back to the harsh reality of my life now – I was a slave, and worse still, a slave for the pack’s royal family that included the most annoying male triplets in the world – Chris, Kyle and Evans. There was not a single day that they failed to remind me of my status as a lowly slave who had to depend on their father, the Alpha for my survival, and it didn’t make matters any better that we all had to attend the same school.

“Valerie!”

I knew it was Kyle calling and I grumbled as I got down from my bed and trudged down the stairs that led to the living room. Kyle was the second of the triplets and he was by far, the most annoying. He was the tallest by a few inches, and he also had long black hair that curled across his forehead. Kyle had a sharp tongue that could get him out of trouble with anyone and I knew very well that he had only one goal today – to make my life miserable on my birthday.

“What took you so long?” He queried, as soon as I got to the living room.

I stared him down for a few seconds, as I thought of the best reply I could give to avoid an early morning quarrel, but my silence seemed to anger him even more.

He walked up to me - so close that I could feel his warm and minty breath on my face.

“You answer me when I speak to you, four eyes,” He snarled.

I removed my glasses at that exact moment, not because he had called me four eyes, but because my eyes itched. Kyle however, took it as an act of impudence and all hell would have broken loose if not that Alpha Marion walked in.

The Alpha walked up to where I stood with his son and patted me across the back.

“Happy birthday, Valerie,” He said with a sincere smile on his face.

The whole world seemed to pause at that moment. Kyle’s jaws drooped open in shock. Chris and Evans who were munching away on burgers at the dining spun around to take a glance at me, and even their mother, Luna Beatrice who barely acknowledged my presence in the pack house managed to spare me a look.

“Wow – " Chris broke the silence.

“It’s her birthday?” Evans asked no one in particular.

“She even has a birthday?” Kyle murmured.

“So you’re like fourteen now?” Luna Beatrice turned to face me.

"Yes, she has a birthday, Kyle," Alpha Marion frowned. "Everyone has a birthday."

And turning to face Luna Beatrice, he added: "She's eighteen today, and that's why I've prepared the best surprise in the world for her."

I adjusted my glasses as Alpha Marion spoke. What surprise did he have planned out for me?

"Unfortunately, I have a meeting with the council of Alphas today so I won't be available," He grunted. "The triplets would make sure you have a fun day."

He slipped his hand into his breast pocket and brought out a credit card which he handed over to Chris, the first of the triplets.

"I want you three with Valerie at Central mall today," He ordered. "Make sure she gets whatever she wants and - "

"But I've got hockey practice after school," Kyle cut in.

"Guess you'll have to skip today's practice for Valerie," Alpha Marion shrugged.

From the corner of my eyes, I could see that Kyle was fuming and I knew that things were going to get worse for me if he missed that practice.

"It's fine," I muttered. "I could get my stuff from a regular store, so there's no need for anyone to miss anything just to follow me to the mall."

"Nonsense," Alpha Marion growled. "The triplets would take good care of you today and that's final. Enjoy the rest of your day."

He spun around and after pecking Luna Beatrice across her cheek, walked out of the pack house.

I knew Alpha Marion had a good heart, but I wished he could see how much trouble he was putting me in.

Surprisingly, not one of the triplets said a word about what had transpired throughout breakfast that morning. We ate in uncomfortable silence, and for the first time in my life, I was dying to hear a word from one of them - something to calm my nerves at least, and assure me that I was not in trouble.

The drive to school was relatively silent as well. Chris was behind the wheel while Kyle who was just beside him, stole a few glances at me through the rear mirror. My heart skipped a beat as I saw the look in his eyes. I knew Kyle all too well. He was waiting for the right time to get his revenge.

The car screeched to a halt at the parking lot and the four of us came down with our bags.

"So I guess we'll see you after school?" Chris turned to me.

"I don't think there's any need," I muttered. "I don't want you guys missing out on your practice."

"It's nothing we can't sacrifice for you," Kyle said.

The sarcasm was all over his voice, and I knew he was still angry at me.

"So don't worry about our practice," He added. "We'll miss it for you, and be rest assured that you would never forget your eighteenth birthday."

He adjusted my glasses carefully, with an evil grin on his face before making a beeline for the classroom.

VALERIE

It was hard for me to concentrate at school, with the knowledge of the fate that was going to befall me later on, and it was not until I failed an Algebra word problem that my best friend, Lily finally decided to find out what was wrong.

The bell had just rung for a break and as all the students filed out of the classroom in pairs, she sauntered over to my seat at the front and sat on the table, directly in front of me.

“You’ve been acting weird all day,” She said. “What's bothering you?”

“Nothing really,” I lied. “I’ve just been stressed out lately with – you know who.”

“Yeah, yeah, the school’s most handsome bachelor triplets,” Lily rolled her eyes. “Sometimes, I find it difficult to believe that they’re so mean to you. I mean, you’re literally their caretaker.”

“I know,” I sighed. “It kind of makes matters worse. Alpha Marion sulks all day about how irresponsible they are, and they take out their anger on me.”

“He literally got them a slave,” Lily shrugged. “What was he expecting?”

“Not helping, Lily,” I grunted in displeasure.

She muttered an apology and I ranted on.

“And this morning, heaven knows how he remembered my birthday.” I grunted.

“He wants the triplets to take me shopping at the mall.”

I sighed and grabbed my friend by her shoulders, my claws momentarily digging into her flesh.

“It’s going to be a disaster, Lily,” I wailed. “Kyle promised to make sure I never forget today.”

She didn’t say a word in response. She just stared at me, probably wondering how I managed to attract all the bad luck in the world. Just like me, she had been an Omega and a slave, right until she found her mate on her eighteenth birthday last year.

“I’ll go with you,” She offered. “Surely, they wouldn’t be a nuisance in my presence – “

“This is why I love you,” I cried, as I leaned over on her.

Lily had been my friend for just a year now, but I knew I could count on her. She was the little ray of sunshine in my world that seemed to be full of darkness.

“So when would we be going?” She asked. “I have a movie to catch later on.”

“Probably after we’re done with classes for the day,” I shrugged.

“Which is now,” a familiar voice cut in.

I spun around, alarmed and I came face to face with Kyle. My cheeks flushed as I realized he had been standing there for a while and I willed the ground to swallow me at that moment.

“K – K – Kyle.” The words struggled to form in my mouth.

“I promised you’ll have a memorable day, Valerie,” Kyle smiled. “And I plan to keep that promise. I even made sure all other classes for the day got canceled so we could spend more time together, and when I say we – "

He paused and turned his attention to Lily for a second.

“- I don’t mean you and your nerd friend. I mean just the four of us. No additions.”

I blinked hard to fight back the tears that had etched in the corner of my eyes and I balled my fists so hard that I felt my claws begin to tear through my flesh. This could not be happening to me. There was no way on earth I could spend the rest of my day with the triplets.

“I – I – I have a test,” I stammered. “History. I’ve got to go now.”

But Kyle would not hear of it. He grabbed me by the arm and pulled me close to himself.

“You’re not going anywhere, Valerie.”

Just then, the school’s alarm sounded, and the familiar voice of Principal Johnson blared from the speakers above.

“Attention students of Crestview High. We are facing some technical difficulties and as a result, all classes for the rest of the day have been canceled. All students are advised to go home with immediate effect…"

His voice trailed off and I felt the first drop of hot tears roll down my cheeks. The reality of my predicament was starting to dawn on me – there was no escaping it anymore.

“You’ll be fine,” Lily whispered in my ears. “Happy birthday, Valerie.”

She hugged me for a brief second and eyed Kyle before walking out of the classroom. Deep down, I wished she could find an excuse to follow us. I was definitely going to feel safer if she was around.

As soon as she had left, Kyle led me to the car where Chris and Evans were waiting.

“What took you two so long?” Chris grunted as he sped down the highway.

“Her nerdy bestie wanted to tag along and get some of her groceries,” Kyle replied with a low chuckle.

All three of them laughed for a while and I stared on, glumly. Lily was not an opportunist, trying to go shopping with me. She was just trying to protect me from them.

After a few minutes of driving, we stopped at the driveway of Central mall. It was by far the grandest in the pack, and only the wealthy people could afford to do their shopping there.

“Go on in,” Kyle said. “We’ll be coming right behind you.”

I was reluctant to get in all by myself, but I figured it was better off than sitting with the triplets.

I walked into the mall, and as soon as I got in, a cheerful young lady on a red apron over a T-shirt and jeans walked up to me.

“Hi Valerie. I’ll be your shopping assistant,” She announced, and without waiting for a reply, picked up a trolley.

“Wait!” I tried to stop her, but she had already started down the jewelry aisle.

How did she even know my name? I thought to myself.

Had Kyle and his brothers planned this as well?

Many questions ran through my mind at that moment but I didn’t have an answer for any. All I knew was that a lady on a red apron was picking stuff on my behalf – really expensive stuff.

“Hey!” I called.

She spun around and flashed me a smile.

“What do you think about this diamond necklace?” She asked.

She peered at the price tag for a minute. “Just three thousand grand.”

My heart skipped a beat as I heard the figures. Three thousand dollars was a lot of money and I didn’t care if Alpha Marion had much more. I wasn’t going to spend that money.

“I appreciate your assistance really,” I muttered, trying to sound as polite as I could. “But I barely need any of these.”

By then, the trolley was already half filled with shiny jewelry, a few designer gowns and dozens of Muncho cereals.

“Oh yes you do,” She argued. “It’s your day, Valerie. Don’t be shy.”

She didn’t give me a chance to complain because the next second she was already down the next aisle, throwing everything she could lay her hands on, into the trolley.

She wheeled the trolley to a stop just before the counter where everyone paid for their goods and beckoned to me.

“I’ll be back in a few minutes,” She said. “Need to use the rest room.”

I nodded, momentarily relieved that she wasn’t going to be adding anything to my trolley, but what I didn’t realize was that I had been set up.

“Next?”

The cashier stared at my trolley for a while before running her eyes down my body.

“You realize you’re at Central Mall, right?” She asked.

I couldn’t even say a word in response. I spun around, my eyes scanning the whole perimeter of the mall in search of the triplets. If I couldn’t find them, I was so going to embarrass myself.

Luckily for me, Kyle showed up out of nowhere with his girlfriend, Alicia walking beside him.

“Valerie?” She stared at me like I was something out of a museum.

“What’s four eyes doing here?” She cackled. “Has she lost her way?”

“Beats me,” Kyle shrugged. “And with so many stuff. Maybe she’s been stealing someone’s money. Everyone, check for your purses.”

The tension in the atmosphere rose all of a sudden, as everyone made sure their purses were still in their possession. All eyes were fixed on me now, and I slowly began to realize that I had fallen for a very dumb trap.

“That would be nine thousand, two hundred and fifty dollars,” the cashier announced. “Credit card?”

I turned to face Kyle, dumbfounded. Was he really going to pretend like he didn’t know me, or why I was there?

“I – I – didn’t pick all these stuff,” I stammered. “The lady in the apron did.”

“Yeah, your imaginary friend helped you fill your trolley,” Alicia fired back.

Everyone laughed at her comment and I stared on, confused and utterly embarrassed. Alicia was the least of my problems however, as the cashier was already getting impatient.

“Pay up, young lady,” She barked. “I don’t have all day.”