Draven's eyes locked on her and his beast growled. So did the others.
None of them had wanted to be here. This whole party, this celebration in their honor, was nothing more than a charade. A distraction. A show put together by Tia.
The Keep had work to do. Real work. They had only just returned after months away.
But here they were, dressed like grooms for a wedding they'd never agreed to. As if their bond to her was something to be celebrated.
Their eyes moved over her slowly. The gown Tia had chosen hugged her body, lifting the curves she usually kept hidden. Her breasts, those same ones that haunted their thoughts since the first time they saw them, were on full display.
She was breathtaking. And it pained them to admit it.
Her eyes didn't hold just one emotion, they held many. Fear. Pain. Uncertainty. They could feel her wolf fighting to surface beneath her skin.
Even when the entire hall stopped to acknowledge their presence, their attention never left her. All heads bowed in respect, except hers. She was staring too, locked in place, caught in her own storm.
"My lords, may we proceed?" Lucia asked softly at their side. Her hands stayed looped around Kael and Laziel's arms. She felt the connection pulling tight between them and Blue, and she hated it. The jealous little wench just had to interrupt.
Blue cursed under her breath as her three mates walked further into the hall. She watched them take their seats, with Lucia beside them, of course.
The bitch even had the nerve to wave.
"I'm glad you made it," Tia said lazily, her voice smooth and empty. The triplets didn't respond with smiles, when did they ever?
"Do not be glad, Aunt," Laziel replied flatly.
"Whatever reason you have to celebrate, I promise, it's not worth it," Kael muttered.
Draven said nothing. He only watched his mate, who stood beside Dasia, both women whispering.
"She is your mate. And your wife," Tia snapped. "Whether you like it or not. Now, you cold-hearted beasts may not care for parties, but look around. Your warriors deserve this. A bit of warmth and of gratitude."
And she wasn't wrong. For five long seasons, the Winter soldiers had been far from home, risking everything. They deserved this night. Even if the brothers didn't.
Then—
"Who the fuck gave her that dress?" Draven's voice sliced through the air like ice.
"I did," Tia answered, smirking. "She looks magnificent, doesn't she?"
All three of them growled.
"No, she doesn't," Draven snapped, his eyes locked on his aunt. He'd seen the way the other males looked at Blue. Some were downright staring at her chest, and his beast wanted to rip their throats out.
"She looks like a damn slut in that thing," Kael muttered.
"Her breasts are too out," Laziel added through clenched teeth.
"Well," Tia fired back, "she looks more decent than that whore beside you."
Lucia flinched but said nothing. Instead, she followed the gaze of her lords, and found it on Blue. Again.
Swallowing her hurt, she leaned in with a sultry smile and said, "I desire a dance, my lords."
Draven didn't even answer. He was too furious. But Laziel, ever the gentler one, stood and took her hand. Together, they moved to the dance floor.
Blue stood frozen, watching them sway as if they were made for each other. Laziel didn't look at her. Not once. But she could feel another set of eyes burning into her from across the room, Draven. He was watching. Always watching.
"I hate her," Blue muttered without thinking.
"I hate her even more," Dasia replied, lips tight "She's always been this way," Dasia continued. "From cook's daughter to the lord's bed."
"They seem to care for her," she added, eyes still on the dancing pair. The weight of being ignored, it stung more than she thought it would.
"The lords haven't cared for anyone in a long time," Dasia said softly. "Their warmth died with Gillian. Now they live only for the Pack. For the empire. Their hearts turned to ice."
Dasia's words hit hard.
They lived for Winter. And they hated her.
They would never accept her. She knew it now.
"I need air," she said suddenly, then turned and left. Dasia called after her, but she didn't stop.
The cold wind slapped her skin as she ran. She didn't know where she was going until she stopped, breathless, on a balcony that overlooked the kingdom. Ice as far as the eye could see.
No light. No life. Just like her world now.
"Glad to know I'm not the only one hiding from the crowd," a voice said behind her.
She jumped. "Who's there?"
"Just me, princess." He stepped into the moonlight.
"Dax..." she breathed. The triplets' Beta. Their second in command.
"I'm sorry," she said quickly, folding her arms. "I just needed some air."
Dax chuckled, leaning on the rail. "Nothing to be sorry for. I'm here too."
His calmness eased her.
At least he didn't hate her. Or if he did, he was better at hiding it than his alphas. For now, she'd take that.
"Do you always sneak out of parties?" she asked, trying to lighten the mood.
"Not always," he smirked. "But most."
She smiled, "Same difference."
For the first time all night, she felt okay. She let herself enjoy the quiet, the wind, the presence of someone who wasn't out to hurt her.
But the peace didn't last. The air shifted.
She felt it before she saw them. Her wolf did too.
Dax stiffened.
"My lords," he said, bowing.
She still had her back to the door, but she didn't need to turn. Their scent rolled through the air, heavy and dangerous.
"I see you're enjoying yourself," Laziel said coldly.
"Out here. With the traitor bride," Kael added, his voice like a blade.
Her breath caught. Heart hammering.
"My lords, I... we—" Dax try to explain,
"Leave. Now." Draven's voice cracked through the night.
Dax didn't argue. He bowed again, one last look of pity cast at Blue before he disappeared inside.
Blue turned to follow, but a hand grabbed her.
She froze. She knew the touch.
Draven.
"Not so fast," he growled.
"You think you can just run from us?" Laziel's voice was a whisper, but his beast was close to the surface.
Kael's was too.
"I... I just needed air," she stammered.
"We smell your fear," Draven snapped. "And I fucking hate it."
Then she was against the wall. Hands above her head, wrists locked tight in his grip. Draven pressed close, his face buried in her neck. He inhaled, and growled.
"I hate how good you smell," he snarled. "I fucking hate this dress. I fucking hate you."
She whimpered and her body trembled.
"Please..." she whispered, not even sure what she was begging for.
Kael stepped in close, his mouth near the other side of her neck.
"We should tear it off her," he said. "So no one else sees her in it."
"I agree," Laziel muttered darkly.
Then the sound of fabric tearing filled the night air.
And everything else fell away.