Riley's POV
Rain taps against the guest room window as I sit on the bed, hugging my knees tight against my chest. The Hawthorn packhouse feels too big, too quiet after what the triplets said earlier, You're our mate. My fingers clutch the vial in my pocket, the cold glass pressing into my skin, a constant reminder of the secret I've kept my whole life. I can't stop thinking about Jasper's warning, the way he knew I'm a werewolf, and now the triplets claiming the same thing. It's all too much to handle. A soft knock makes me jump, and Ethan peeks in, his blue eyes warm and gentle. "Dinner's ready," he says, a small smile tugging at his lips. "You coming down?"I nod, even though my stomach feels like a tight knot, and follow him downstairs, my boots soft on the wooden steps. The living room buzzes with people, tall, strong men and women, their voices low and tense, filling the air with a nervous energy. Daniel stands by the fireplace, his jaw tight, his broad frame casting a shadow on the wall as he stares into the flames. Sarah hands out plates of grilled chicken and mashed potatoes, her hands steady despite the worry in her eyes. I slide into a seat at the edge of the long wooden table, Silas and Caleb sitting close on either side of me. Silas stays silent, his stare heavy, making my skin prickle with unease, while Caleb pushes a warm roll toward me, his fingers brushing mine for a brief moment. I pull back fast, my heart thumping loud in my chest, the touch sending a jolt through me.
"Eat something," Caleb says softly, his voice gentle but firm, his blue eyes watching me with concern. "You look like you haven't eaten in days."
I pick at the chicken, but it tastes like nothing, my mind too busy spinning, Jasper, the triplets, the word mate. It's all too much to swallow, just like this food. A sharp howl cuts through the rain outside, loud and angry, slicing through the chatter in the room like a knife. Everyone freezes, the air suddenly thick with tension. Daniel rushes to the window, peering into the dark, his hands gripping the frame so hard his knuckles turn white. "They're here," he growls, his voice low and dangerous, sending a shiver down my spine. Sarah grabs a phone, barking orders to someone on the other end, her voice sharp and urgent. I stand up, my chair scraping against the floor, my breath catching in my throat as fear grips me. Ethan grabs my arm, his grip firm but not painful, his fingers warm through my sleeve. "Stay with us," he whispers, his breath warm against my ear, his voice steady despite the chaos.
The door bursts open with a loud bang, and wolves charge in, big ones with black and gray fur, their eyes glowing yellow like lanterns in the dim light. Chaos erupts, the room filling with shouts and growls. Daniel shifts into a huge wolf, his clothes ripping as he slams into one intruder, knocking it back with a snarl. Sarah throws a chair, blocking another, the wood splintering as it hits the wolf's side. Silas pushes me behind him, his body tense, his muscles flexing under his shirt as he braces himself. "Get down!" he shouts, his voice sharp, cutting through the noise. Caleb and Ethan move to my sides, their eyes flashing blue as they turn into wolves, fur rippling over their skin like a wave, their forms massive and powerful. I stumble back, tripping over a rug, my own wolf stirring inside me, a burning feeling I've always pushed down deep. Pain shoots through my arms, my nails turning sharp, digging into my palms, but I clench my fists, fighting it, the vial digging into my leg through my jeans.
A wolf lunges at Silas, its jaws snapping close to his arm, its teeth gleaming in the firelight. I don't think, I grab a heavy book from the table and hurl it with all my strength, my arms shaking as it hits the wolf's side with a thud. It yelps and backs off, shaking its head, its yellow eyes glaring at me. Silas spins around, his eyes wide, his chest heaving as he breathes hard, sweat beading on his forehead. "You okay?" he asks, his voice rough, his blue eyes searching mine for any sign of hurt. I nod, my hands trembling, my breath coming in short, panicked gasps. The fight spills outside, wolves snarling in the rain, their growls echoing through the night like thunder. I peek out the window, my fingers gripping the sill, watching Ethan tackle a wolf, pinning it down with a fierce growl, while Caleb dodges a bite, his movements quick and graceful, his fur gleaming wet in the moonlight. A lean guy slips through the chaos, dark hair, sharp eyes, staring right at me through the glass, his face lit by the faint glow from inside. Jasper. He smirks, a cold, knowing look that sends a chill down my spine, then vanishes into the trees, leaving me frozen.
The fight ends fast, the enemy wolves running off into the dark, their howls fading into the distance. Daniel shifts back, blood staining his torn shirt, his face set in a hard line as he wipes a streak of blood from his cheek. "They're testing us," he says, his voice rough, his eyes scanning the room for any lingering threats. Sarah hugs Ethan, checking for cuts, her hands trembling now that the danger's passed, her face pale. Silas pulls me aside, his grip tight on my arm, his fingers warm through my sleeve, his touch grounding me. "You fought," he says, his voice low, his blue eyes searching mine, a mix of surprise and something else I can't name. "Why?"
"I don't know," I mumble, looking at the floor, my heart still racing, my hands still shaking. "I just did."
Silas stares at me for a long moment, his jaw tight, his expression unreadable, then lets go of my arm. "Stay close," he says, his tone leaving no room for argument, before walking off to join his brothers. I stand there, my hands still trembling, Jasper's smirk burned into my mind like a brand. He knows something, maybe everything. I glance at my bruised hand, the pain a dull ache, a reminder of Carl, of the life I'm trying to escape. The triplets, the wolves, the danger, it's all closing in, and I don't know how to keep my secrets safe anymore. The packhouse, which felt like a refuge for a moment, now feels like a cage, one I'm not sure I can escape from, no matter how hard I try.