CLAIMED BY THE ROGUE, BOUND TO THE WARLOCK, MATED TO THE WEREWOLF

As soon as my gaze met Ryker's, a wicked smile spread across his face, sending chills racing down my spine. “Who is she?” Ryker inquired, and I felt a lump form in my throat, deliberately steering clear of his piercing stare. I couldn't fathom why he would pose such a question to Aaron when he was already aware of my identity. “She's nobody, Alpha—just my little toy,” Aaron replied, and my heart plummeted. I never imagined I would hear Aaron utter those words. I had put up with his behavior because of my love for him, despite the daily torment he inflicted, but I could never forget the support he had given me, which is why I remained by his side. “Your little toy, huh? How long has she been with you, and why is her wolf scent so faint?” Ryker pressed, his jaw tightening with fury as I struggled to rise, but my bandaged arm made it impossible. “She’s been with me for two years now, Alpha, and as for her wolf scent, she has a dormant wolf, Alpha Ryker,” Aaron replied, and I noticed a flicker of fear in his eyes, which was unusual because the Aaron I knew never showed fear towards anyone. "Get up!" Alpha Ryker shouted, and I hurriedly pushed myself to my feet, wincing in pain as I did so. Neither of them offered assistance; they simply stood by, watching my struggle with a sense of satisfaction. "So, this is where you've been hiding? I hope you received my message," he said, and I nervously fidgeted with my fingers, my breath coming in heavy gasps as I averted my gaze. "I d...don't know what you mean," I stammered, lowering my head, but he swiftly grasped my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. In that moment, our eyes locked, and my wolf stirred within me, causing me to scream in agony as he released me. "So this is your game? You're just a cheap whore? You sell yourself to men? You've been nothing but a plaything for my brother for two years, and you have the audacity to be shameless!" he shouted, his voice laced with fury and disgust. I glanced around, confused about who he meant by his brother. The last I knew, Alpha Ryker was a wolf and Aaron was a warlock. How could they possibly be related? "W...what are you saying?" I asked, and Alpha Ryker let out a dark chuckle before responding. "You've been sleeping with two brothers, you little slut!" he roared, slamming his fist on the table, and my eyes widened in disbelief. How could this be true? "Whatever happened between us was a mistake, Alpha Ryker! I was in heat, and I didn't know what I was doing!" I begged, tears streaming down my face as I glanced between the two men, desperately searching for a way out. “What’s happening here? You’ve been having an affair with my brother, and you call it a mistake? How dare you! How did you even meet?” Aaron shouted furiously, unbuckling his belt as if to strike me. I began to cry out, but he silenced me with a finger pressed to his lips. He turned to Ryker, his anger boiling over. “You’ve only been in town for three months, keeping a low profile. How did you two end up together?” he yelled, the veins in his neck bulging. “It was completely unexpected. I started going to the club where she works because my wolf was restless, and then I saw her. I realized she’s my mate, and we’ve been together a few times. Three nights ago, I marked her,” Ryker explained. “You did what?” Aaron shouted, his fists clenching and unclenching in rage. “You heard me, Aaron. I marked her because it’s my right. I’ve been searching for my mate for ages, and besides, you have no right to be angry. You said she was just your plaything, right?” Ryker shot back, matching Aaron’s intensity while I watched the chaos unfold. Seeing their focus shift away from me, I took the opportunity to make a break for the door, desperate to escape this nightmare. I wasn’t ready to face death, especially knowing I couldn’t outrun their fury. Just as I was about to take my first step, I felt myself yanked off the ground, and Aaron slammed me to the floor, hitting and slapping me mercilessly, hurling vile insults without a care for my well-being. Just when I thought I couldn’t endure any more, I noticed Aaron’s body suddenly weakened. His eyes rolled back, blood spilling from his mouth as he collapsed beside me. I gasped in horror, covering my mouth to stifle the scream that threatened to escape as tears streamed down my cheeks. Ryker had just killed his brother Aaron because of me! “Get up and come with me now!” Ryker commanded, and I crawled backward against the wall, shaking my head and pleading with him not to touch me. I shouted, "You killed him!" He merely laughed, licking the blood from his fingers as he replied, "He's not dead. He's a warlock; he can handle himself. Come with me now or I won't hesitate to make you!”

Ryker swiftly opened the car door for me, and I climbed in, feeling a mix of dread and confusion as he drove us to an unknown destination. My mind was consumed by the haunting image of Aaron's lifeless face, making it impossible to focus on the road ahead. What have I gotten myself into? “Who’s the father of the child you’re carrying, me or him?” Ryker asked, his gaze fixed on the road, his grip on the steering wheel tightening. I glanced around, wishing I could somehow escape through the window rather than confront that question. The truth was, I didn’t even know who the father of my child was. “I don’t know,” I murmured, barely audible. He hissed in frustration, thumping the steering wheel a few times before accelerating recklessly, seemingly unafraid of the consequences. I silently prayed to the moon goddess, hoping she would accept my soul and grant me a chance to make things right. The tires screeched as we came to a sudden halt. When I finally opened my eyes, relief washed over me, only to be replaced by panic as I realized we were parked in front of Vincent Farrah’s mansion. My breath caught in my throat. What on earth are we doing here? Vincent had kidnapped me one night after work, holding me captive for two days of torment before letting me go. “Get out,” Ryker commanded. I hesitated, but the sight of his crimson eyes in the rearview mirror spurred me into action. I quickly exited the car and followed him inside the mansion. There, lounging on the couch with a cigar in one hand and a glass of liquor in the other, was Vincent Farrah. As soon as our eyes locked, he broke into a wide grin, sending a chill down my spine. I felt as if I had forgotten how to breathe; the room suddenly felt stifling, and I began to sweat. “I see you’ve brought the little toy,” Vincent chuckled, exchanging a handshake with Ryker. What in the name of the moon goddess is happening here? “Welcome home, little wolf,” Vincent purred, and I struggled to find my voice, my eyes darting around in a panic. “What do you mean? How do you two know each other? I thought wolves and rogues were supposed to be enemies?” I stammered, my gaze locked onto their icy stares. “We are enemies. We keep business separate from pleasure, but we are also brothers, born of different mothers to the same father,” Vincent Farrah finally revealed, and my breath caught in my throat. Aaron, Ryker, and Vincent are blood brothers? “You're joking… this has to be a prank… please tell me it’s a prank,” I pleaded. “No, sweetheart, this is your reality. You’re our mate, and we’re prepared to claim our father’s throne. He passed away a few months ago, and the pack needs us, just as we need you,” Ryker replied, shaking my resolve. “No… I can’t marry you! Especially not you, Vincent! You’ve brought me nothing but heartache these past few months, and you expect me to run back to you? Over my dead body!” I shouted, my body trembling with tears as he moved closer. “You don’t have a choice, little wolf. You belong to us, and you must follow our lead. You brought this upon yourself! If you hadn’t rejected me, you wouldn’t have seen my darker side!” “I rejected you because you’re a rogue! I can’t be a rogue; the world out there is merciless! I’m weak and can’t protect myself!” “Well, the good news is, you can’t reject us, and you really have no idea who you are, do you?” Ryker said, a smirk playing on his lips. I didn’t respond; instead, I turned and bolted for the front door. Just then, I crashed into a solid chest, sending me sprawling to the ground and twisting my leg. I looked up in pain to see Aaron, looking as vibrant as ever, as if he hadn’t been lifeless just an hour ago. I stared at him, mouth agape like a fish out of water, and he extended his hand toward me. “I’m not dead, Sharon. Warlocks never die. I’m sure you’ve met my brother, and he’s told you the truth. Welcome home.” He said and caressed my cheeks tenderly and I closed my eyes and I felt oddly satisfied. He was my mate after all and it wouldn't hurt forgiving him. I almost believed him, but then I recalled all the times I had endured his biting remarks. A piercing scream tore from my lips as I felt my bones crack, and in that moment, I transformed into my wolf for the very first time.

They compelled me to revert to my wolf form after administering a liquid that left me numb and weak for days. “I can never be with you,” I told Aaron, who was sitting beside me. Each day I opened my eyes to see him, and my irritation grew. Without hesitation, I placed the bracelet he had given me on the table. “This is your bracelet. Give it to someone who can handle your excesses. I’m exhausted; I can’t be a mate to you and your brothers.” He shot me a skeptical glance before picking up the bracelet and spinning it around his fingers. “So, you’re really throwing away our love just when I was trying to protect you? What did you expect me to do? You wanted me to share a truth you clearly weren’t ready to hear?” “Forget whether I wanted to hear the truth or not; you should have told me anyway. You and your brothers turned me into a punching bag and toyed with my emotions, especially you, Aaron,” I replied, tears streaming down my face. He reacted as if my words were foreign to him, which was typical. He always believed he was right, that he was doing me a favor, expecting my gratitude in return. “Have you forgotten how I saved you in the woods? Do you think you’re doing us a favor by being our mate? We’re the ones doing you a favor; trust me, you’d be dead if we rejected you!” I met his gaze, recalling the times he had struck me repeatedly, treating me like a slave. I had spent years trying to please him, but not anymore. For the first time, I was prioritizing myself. “I’ve been a walking corpse all these years with you. Even if you all killed me now, it wouldn’t matter; I’d welcome death. You’ve always said I’m unworthy of you. Let me go and find another woman.” He remained silent after that, simply reclining in his chair and observing me. I couldn't care less if I was replaced or even harmed; all I wanted was to distance myself from him and his malevolent brothers. “You're completely in the dark about this, Sharon. Instead of seeking clarity, you're contemplating rejecting the bond and fleeing. Do you really think that's the answer to our dilemma?” He questioned, tightening his grip on the bracelet. When I failed to reply, he tore it apart, and just as I anticipated, he raised his hand to strike me. But Ryker intervened, stepping in and shooting him a fierce glare that made him lower his hand. “There’s an issue,” Ryker stated, handing a letter to Aaron. As Aaron read the letter, his expression grew increasingly grim with each passing moment. “That fool Marcelo is overstepping his bounds. How dare he demand our woman in exchange for the deal?” “And that’s not all. He’s threatening to infiltrate our packs, which poses a serious risk for us. We need to devise a plan to counter him. Since he desires Sharon, why not use her as leverage against him?” After hearing Ryker out, Aaron slammed his fists on the table, his composure shattering. “I don’t care what you think; I refuse to yield to Marcelo’s demands. Our father owns the pack and we must stand our ground!” Ryker nodded in agreement, issued a few commands to his men, and exited, leaving me alone with Aaron once more. For some reason, I felt a strange sense of safety with Ryker around. “You should stay,” he said, his tone softening. “It’s an order.” I shook my head defiantly. “No, you don’t have the right to control me anymore, Aaron. I’m exhausted. I want nothing to do with you or your brothers. Just leave me be.” “You think I don’t notice the way you look at him?” he said, halting me in my tracks as I turned to face him. “What on earth are you talking about?” “You know exactly what I mean, Sharon, so don’t even think about playing innocent! You really believe you can just walk away from me and chase after my brothers? That’ll only happen over my dead body!” My heart races when I heard him label me a hybrid. I've always been intrigued by my origins, desperate to understand why I couldn't shift like other wolves. Aaron never provided answers; instead, he just kept feeding me more of those strange portions. “Why did you just call me a hybrid?” I asked, bewildered, and he chuckled darkly. “Because that’s what you are. You’re a monster, Sharon, and I’ve been using my secret portions to keep your demons in check! You’re the offspring of two hybrids, which means you have powers that your body can’t handle.” “And is that why you’ve been punishing me?” “You see it as punishment, but I see it as control. I can’t let my mate dominate me, no matter her abilities. In time, your powers will be mine, and you’ll be reduced to the weak wolf you were meant to be.”

It’s been three days since Aaron left, and his words have been echoing in my mind nonstop. How did he uncover the truth about my family? I had a multitude of questions swirling in my head, yet no one seemed willing to provide answers. For starters, everyone in my pack insisted I was orphaned, claiming I had a dormant wolf, and they nearly handed me over to the old vampire king before I managed to escape. My parents were a complete mystery to me; I didn’t even know their names. Lost in my thoughts, the door creaked open, and the three of them stepped into the room, their expressions unreadable, as if I had committed some unforgivable act. “What do you want?” I snapped, and Vincent’s gaze darkened as he began to circle me. Out of the trio, he was the one I feared the most. Every time our eyes met, I was haunted by memories of how he had taken advantage of me. What kind of person does that to their mate just because they can’t handle rejection? “Sharon, time is running out, and our patience is wearing thin. Your presence in our lives was meant to simplify things, but it’s done the opposite. Your wolf is aggressive and prevents us from connecting with you! You’re not a mate to us; we need your powers for our pack’s expansion!” I hissed, fury evident on my face. “You can try all you want, but I will never give in to your demands. Why can’t you just reject me?” Ryker, who had been silently observing, stepped forward. “I’ll be straightforward, and I hope you understand this quickly. You’re a hybrid, born of a werewolf and vampire father and a witch and warlock mother. We are Lycans, and we’ve existed long before you were even born.” I shifted nervously in my seat, fear creeping in as I searched for any sign of a joke, but their faces were devoid of humor. “Are you serious?” “Sharon, this is more than just serious. Your parents were the Alpha and Luna of the very pack that cast you out, and their powers have been wreaking havoc across all realms from beyond the grave. You are our only hope to break free from their wrath. If you refuse, the existence of all realms could be at stake” “Wait a minute, are you really suggesting that I should marry you to placate my parents and stop their revenge? I couldn't care less if everyone perishes; if that's what they desire, then so be it!” I declared firmly, watching as they ran their hands through their hair in exasperation. “You don’t grasp the extent of our sacrifices to reach you. Our lives have been unbearable without you. Even if you don’t want to do this for yourself, do it for your parents. Seek vengeance against those who took their lives and made you suffer!” Vincent pleaded, and I turned to him, surprised by his vulnerability. Could they genuinely be serious, or was this all a manipulation to force me into their bond? “Who was responsible for my parents' deaths?” I inquired, noticing the three of them exchange knowing looks before facing me. “We won’t reveal that unless you agree to our bond,” they replied in unison. She and I shared a humorless laugh. “I knew it! You all think I’m foolish, don’t you? Just because I’m weak and can’t defend myself doesn’t mean I’m naive. I will not accept your bond willingly, and if you try to force me, I’ll unleash my wolf!” I asserted, wiping away the tears that had formed in my eyes. “Why do you have your bags packed?” Aaron suddenly asked, drawing my attention back to them. “It took you long enough to catch on, but I’m leaving. I’m taking my child and going far away. I took your money, Aaron, and I’m heading to a place you’ll never find me!” I shouted, and they exchanged bewildered looks. My phone buzzed, signaling that my Uber had arrived. I grabbed my suitcase, and just as I reached the door, Aaron lunged to stop me, but Ryker held him back. “Let her do what she needs to do for once. Give her the space to think. When she’s ready, she’ll come back to us. But don’t make us come looking for you, Sharon; the fallout won’t be pretty.” I didn’t respond. I simply went downstairs and hopped into the taxi that whisked me straight to the airport. As I stepped out, the chilly air hit me, and I began to second-guess my choice, unsure of where I was even going. My flight was delayed by two hours, and with no other options, I searched for a place to sit. But I couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched; it wasn’t Aaron or his brothers—I would have sensed them. I quickened my pace, dragging my suitcase behind me, and spotted a black tinted car parked at the curb. It reminded me of the day I first met Vincent, prompting me to move even faster. Just before I could enter the terminal, two men in black stepped in my way. “Sharon,” one of them said my name with an unsettling politeness. “Who are you?” I asked, gripping my suitcase handle tightly. The other man took a step forward and gestured toward the car. “We’re here to take you home.”