Chapter 3
/-Omari-/
I didn't dare step out of my room until I saw their car drive away. It felt like a burden was suddenly lifted off my shoulders.
Like I could finally breathe again.
My stomach grumbled from hunger. I haven't had anything to eat since yesterday afternoon. I didn't want to run into the brothers for any reason. Even when my mother tried to convince me to come down, I ignored her and continued staring at the clock, impatiently counting down.
I stepped out of my room wearing my brightest smile. Even the air around the house smelled different. They were really gone!
Rushing downstairs, I met my mother in the kitchen.
“What's for lunch, Mom?” I asked. The knife dropped on the island as she turned to me, her worry was very evident in her eyes.
“Omar! What the hell happened?” She rushed to me. “I was so worried about you. You didn't even come to see the triplets off.”
“I was feeling a bit under the weather, Mom. But I'm better now,” I told her. My stomach grumbled loudly. “And hungry too.”
She chuckled, “I'm making chicken, so sit back and relax, okay?”
The next couple of weeks were peaceful. Mom went on several dates with Pierce, and I didn't mind as long as his devilish sons were nowhere in sight.
At some point, I almost thought they were out of my life for good until my eighteenth birthday celebration.
Mom wanted to host a small party for family members and despite my protests, she invited the Astra Devils. Yes, it was a nickname I picked for them myself because they acted no different from demons.
The day of my birthday arrived, and I did everything I could to avoid looking at the clock. Every tick felt like a countdown to disaster. My stomach twisted at the thought of seeing the Astra Devils again.
“Omari, hurry up! Everyone’s arriving soon,” my mother called from downstairs.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. “I’ll be down in a minute,” I replied, forcing calm into my voice. But the truth was, my hands were trembling as I adjusted my dress for what felt like the hundredth time.
I peeked through the window, half-expecting to see a black Rolls-Royce pulling into the driveway. My chest sank when I saw three familiar figures stepping out. Paxton, Leighton, and Aston. They were all dressed casually, but the arrogance radiating off them was the same. My wolf growled low in warning.
I could feel it, the pull. Something deep inside me recognised them in a way I didn’t understand yet, but the memory of fear kept me rooted to the spot.
My mother greeted them warmly, oblivious to the tension as always. “I’m so glad you could make it, boys. Come on in!”
I tried to blend into the background as guests mingled, hoping they wouldn’t notice me. But of course, they did. It was like they had a sixth sense for finding me, because within minutes, all three of them were watching me from across the room.
Aston’s hazel eyes caught mine, and a shiver ran down my spine. He tilted his head slightly, the corner of his lips curling into a mischievous smirk. Leighton and Paxton flanked him, silent but no less intimidating.
I had to force myself to breathe. I had survived the weekend, they couldn't possibly do anything worse.
That is, until Leighton started making his way toward me under the guise of offering birthday congratulations. His grey eyes never left mine, and each step made my heart pound faster. His brothers followed behind him.
Aston’s cinnamon scent hit me first. Then Leighton’s soothing lavender scent caresses my nostrils, slow and intense. Paxton's woodsy scent was more prominent than the rest of them and his green eyes burned into me, piercing and deep.
I took a step back. My wolf whimpered inside me. My chest burned, and my heartbeat thumped wildly. Something about them felt… different. Stronger. Closer. Like they belonged to me, and I belonged to them.
Then it hit me.
The pull between us was sudden, fierce, and undeniable. My wolf roared in recognition. My body tingled from head to toe. They weren’t just my stepbrothers… they were my fucking mates.
I gasped, my hands shaking. My knees threatened to give out. I wanted to run, hide, or even scream, but I couldn’t. The bond called to me, whispering in my mind, pulling me toward them.
Leighton stepped forward first, a small, knowing smirk on his lips. “Happy birthday, Omari,” he said softly. His voice was low, smooth, and it felt like it was inside my head. “I think this is a birthday you’ll never forget.”
This couldn't be happening with me. Was the universe messing with me or something?
Of all the fucking wolves in Rein City, it had to be the very ones I was trying hard to avoid.
“It's only been a few weeks,” Aston's dangerously sweet tone followed. “But you've grown into quite the beauty…”
My grip on the glass tightened despite the tingles his voice left on my skin. Even now they were still messing with me.
“I'm not in the mood to play any of your games,” I said coldly and tried to leave but someone caught my arm. A wave of electricity shot through me and I immediately retracted my arm, glaring at Leighton.
“You feel it too, don't you?” he said. “The mate bond.”
“Yeah,” I laughed dryly. “Apparently the goddess has lost her touch.”
Their expressions turned puzzled but their eyes remained the same as when I first met them. Emotionless.
Which was why I knew keeping this bond was going to be the biggest mistake of my life. It was almost as if they could sense my thoughts because their eyes darkened.
“Omari…” Aston called in a warning, but I was already speaking.
“Don't worry, I'll save you the trouble,” I spat. “I, Omari Hengard, reject you…”
Paxton pushed through his brother, slamming his hands over my mouth before I could finish the words.
Our gazes locked and my heart slammed hard against my ribcage.
He was so close…
































