Chapter 1

ARIELLE

The air here smelled different. It was crisp and clean, like pine and earth, not surprising for a small town nestled deep here in the woods. It wasn't like the city where everything was loud and rushed. My heels clicked against the pavement as I dragged my suitcase up the narrow rocky incline that led to the house that was now to become my home.

My name is Arielle and I am the product of an abusive marriage, it was only untill two years ago that my mum decided to take the bold step, divorce my father and return to her birth place, a place she never let me visit untill now. 

In those two years my mum was away, I had stayed on my own, working and fending for myself. Things weren't so easy for me and I decided to return to be with my mum after she gave me the sudden invitation to move in with her and now I couldn't wait to see her expression when she finally saw me.

I smiled and imagined her excitement but when I reached the door, something about it felt... off. I had noticed the black SUV in the driveway earlier which caught my eye. I didn't think my mum had enough money saved up to afford such a car but the car was far from what had stirred within me. My pulse quickened when I stepped onto the doormat and knocked, but when nobody answered, I rang the bell. 

"Mom. Mom?!" I called out. I was surprised when nobody still answered. With a gentle, hesitant push, I opened the door and walked in cautiously. 

Why was it so silent, eerily silent? Inside, in here felt different, and for some reason, it was unsettling. 

"Arielle?" I whirled around the moment I heard the familiar soft voice call from behind. My mom was rushing down the stairs, beaming with joy as she pulled me into a tight hug. 

The fear vanished instantly. "Mom!" 

I laughed, wrapping my arms around her so tightly, I feared I'd crush her. 

"I'm so glad you're finally here." She said as fluid formed slightly in here eyes. She better not tear up now, I didn't want things feeling awkward. Actually, I didn't want to be moved to tears myself. "I missed you so much." She said and pulled me back in for a hug.

"I missed you so much mum." I said hugging her back but suddenly the sound of footsteps descending from the stairs drew my attention then a deep voice boomed from the foot of the staircase, chillingly close. I froze when I saw the godly-looking man then we broke the hug turning towards the man. 

"Mum, who is he?" I asked, turning to my mother who let out a nervous chuckle. She looked in the man's direction and stood between us.

"Honey, this is Arielle, my daughter," She said turning to meet my shocked gaze. Honey? What the heck did she even mean by that?

She wore an apologetic look before gesturing to me.

"Arielle, this is Thomas. My... husband." 

My jaw dropped. "Your what?" 

She held out her hand, the way she always did when she knew she messed up. "I know, honey. I wanted to tell you but I didn't want to hurt your feelings. Please don't be mad. You were always so busy and bothering you was the last thing I wanted. We got married last month." She said softly, avoiding my eyes. 

"Didn't want to bother me? You're married, Mom! I am your daughter, and you thought that wasn't worth mentioning? Mom... come on." I groaned, feeling the anger stir. 

 Her face had taken a sullen, penitent dive. "I was going to tell you, I swear it, but everything happened so fast, and-" 

“Uhm….” Mom’s husband coughed, obviously to alert us that he was there. "I'm sorry this came as a surprise to you Ariel but your mum and I have been seeing each other for a while now and decided to get married. We didn't want to tell you this over the phone." He explained but that didn't ease the disappointment I felt. 

I scoffed then glare at him. "How fucking generous of you." 

"Arielle!" My mom snapped reaching out for my hand. 

I sharply took my hand off her and glared at her. "No, Mom. This is insane! You remarried before informing me about it!" I was shouting at the top of my lungs now. This wasn't what I had envisioned. "You married some stranger and didn’t even tell me. I guess I don't matter to you anymore." 

Before she could respond, another series of footfalls began to approach. What in heavens name was going on here? I hissed inwardly, knowing I was in for yet another surprise. Three tall boys, each more intimidating than the other, walked into the living room. For a moment, I was dump struck, my jaw fallen not just in surprise but in shock of how unearthly they looked. Were they even real? 

They were huge, with broad shoulders and a clean-cut, sharp face, like they belonged on the cover of a men’s fitness magazine, not in our little home.

 They took slow, tentative steps down the staircase, making the floor creak under their weight. 

They turned to me and I felt like I was under some sort of supervision with how privy their eyes were.

I turned to my mother who couldn't return my gaze now.

"T-these must be your stepsons," I said stuttering, already resigning listlessly to whatever was going on here. One smirked at me, he had raven-black wavy hair and an eye clad with mischief. "Are you Arielle? You've been mentioned once or twice. Didn't think you were real after all." 

"Fox," Thomas interrupted, jaw clenched. “Behave.”

I huffed, they might have exceptional looks but rotten characters. "Really?" I said, turning to look at Mom who looked quite indifferent now, like none of this bothered her. 

"Yes, these are your stepbrothers." She replied, pointing to each as she spoke. "Onyx, Dax, and Fox." 

"Great," I whispered still trying to get my mind around this surprise my mum had prepared before me.

"Let's talk as soon as we get back." She said, as if she had remembered something important. "Back? Where are you going?" 

She turned to smile at Thomas before looking back at me. "Our honeymoon. We had to postpone it so we could get settled. But we are leaving tonight." 

I was wordless. "You're leaving me here? With them?" 

"We don't bite," The one called Dax quipped before his Hazel eyes changed colors or maybe I was hallucinating. The other called Onyx seemed less interested in me and for that reason he caught my attention the most. He gave an air of cold and distant and I wondered why. 

Ugh, I groaned before turning back to my mom who gave me a reassuring smile. "They are good boys, Arielle, you will like them. We will talk as soon as we get back, I promise." 

She said, ignoring the way they were snickering at me. There was nothing seemingly good about these boys at face value. Despite being terrifically hot, the way they moved like wolves in a pack, scared me. 

My mum had stayed in untill I unpacked and got settled, she tried to act sorry for everything but I knew her guilt had faded now that she had revealed her secret. I guess she felt relieved now snd excited to be on her honeymoon. It didn't take long before I was left alone with my so called step-brothers.

——

I had stayed in my room intentionally avoiding my step-brothers but at night my tummy growled for something to eat so I had no choice but to head downstairs to make something to eat before I starved myself to death.

While I got some things I needed from the pantry, I got startled as I saw the boys walking into the kitchen. They had this domineering air around them, one that almost intimidated me but I wasn't going to let myself feel that way. 

"Didn't think you'd be so plain," I nearly choked as I looked up to see Dax walk in, before making his way to the counter with a swagger in his gait. He had raven black hair and blue eyes. 

"Excuse me?" 

He grabbed a soda from the fridge and ambled towards me. "Since you came from the city, I was thinking you'd be, I don't know, cooler." 

I rolled my eyes, making a disgusted face. "Well, sorry to disappoint." 

"She's just like her mom," Another voice chimed in from the doorway. That was Fox. His buzz cut, sharp jaw, and muscular features made him stand out. 

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" I said, dropping the mug, ready to teach him a lesson or two. At least that was what I felt like doing but I dare not.

"Your mom’s a gold digger, can't believe Dad married her."

"Take that back." My voice was dangerously low as I approached him, jaw clenched. 

"Oooh!" Fox said, pretending to be scared. "Now I'm scared." 

"TAKE. THAT. BACK." 

He snickered. "Why? Are you worried about me telling the truth? It's true. She married our dad for his money." 

"If you dare say one more word about my mom, I swear I will-" 

He surprisingly took a step forward and stopped right in front of me, his jaw clenched so hard the muscles were in full display. "You'll what? Cry? Fight my knees?" 

I didn't think before raising my hand, which moved on its own, and in a dash, I landed a slap across his cheek. I was furious that I had surprised myself doing that. 

"Go on, try me!" I challenged further, prepared to hit him again if he dared to say anything stupid again. 

That moment, Onyx walked in but from the surprised look on his face, I could tell he had been standing there for a while now and only came after he heard the slap.

"You're gonna regret that," Fox growled, before raising his hand to hit me. But the hand froze mid-air and something strange happened. I saw his eyes quickly flash to a different colour something dark and beastly but he quickly shut it. At this time, I was engulfed by fear. 

"What's happening?" My eyes were wide now as I backed away. Why were they acting so weird all of a sudden? Almost at the same time as Fox, their eyes changed, turning to a glowing bright, unnatural gold. Then their teeth suddenly elongated. 

"Stay away!" I screamed but they continued to advance towards me. 

My breath hitched as I walked back further, scared as hell. The hungry and primal looks on their faces terrified me. What in the world were these beings standing before me? I screamed having no where to escape to. They were close now, sniffing me then at the same time in the same beastly

 voice, I heard their voice whisper against my skin.

"Mate!"