LAYLA'S POV
The palace has never looked so alive.
The chandeliers sparkle with golden light. Music plays from the orchestra. They play the violins and cellos in lovely tunes.
Nobles move across the ballroom in lovely dresses and jewels. Alphas walk with shoulders squared and pride radiating from them, and servants rushed to attend to them like shadows, balancing trays and wine goblets.
And me? I'm one of those shadows. A servant. An omega. I was always invisible in a sea of power and beauty.
I press the tray tight against my palms, forcing my hands not to shake as I move through the glittering crowd. My heart hammers because tonight feels different. There's a pull deep in my chest. I feel like something is going to happen and I have no idea why.
I suddenly feel a pull. I feel something stirring inside my chest, like a bond pulling me. It's magnetic and it makes my whole body feel alive.
I don't need to look to know what it means.
They're here. My mates.
When I finally dare to lift my eyes, I see them enter together. Kieran. Killian. Kaiden.
The triplets are impossible to miss. They are tall, broad-shouldered, dressed in midnight-black suits tailored to perfection. Each of them wears dominance like a second skin. Their presence commands the room instantly. Conversations stop as soon as they appear. Everyone stops what they are doing and bows their heads at them.
At the sight of them, the bond inside me goes crazy. It pulls me toward them no matter how much I try to resist. My chest tightens painfully. It's like my heart itself recognizes them before my mind does.
I bow my head and force my feet forward. My role is clear. Serve. Nothing more.
I approach them carefully, keeping my eyes low. They don't acknowledge me. Not at first. They keep talking among themselves like I'm not even there. It hurts me more than it should. The bond keeps pulling inside me.
I stop in front of them and lower the tray. "Refreshments, my lords," I whisper.
Killian laughs as he continues a story to Kaiden. Kieran doesn't even glance at me. My throat tightens. I feel humiliated but I keep myself composed. I must.
Then it happens.
Kieran reaches for a goblet, and my fingers brush his.
The spark is instant. Something like lightning races under my skin. My breath hitches. I know he feels it too because his hand stills against mine. His eyes finally lock onto me.
The world around us vanishes. The music, the crowd, even the voices of his brothers - all of it fades. All I can hear is the racing of my heart and the bond screaming at me.
Neither of us speaks. We don't need to.
In that moment, I feel it. I feel everything I'm not supposed to hope for. The pull. The belonging. The ache of wanting what I can never have.
Then his jaw tightens. He takes the goblet. His fingers slip away like he was severing the connection deliberately. The bond snaps back into place. My chest feels hollow.
Before I can steady myself, a smooth voice cuts through the space.
"Well, if it isn't the famed Alpha triplets."
Lucian.
He walks towards us. He looks tall and confident as ever. His auburn hair catches the light. He looks gorgeous in his dark suit.
"Hi Alphas" he said "The ball looks amazing"
"Thank you, Lucian" Killian says.
Then Lucian looks at me
And he smiles.
"You look beautiful as always, Layla," he says smoothly.
The words make me shocked. Why would he say that in front of them?
Killian's grip on his goblet tightens until the glass cracks in his hand. Red wine spills, dripping down his fingers and staining the floor. Kaiden's shoulders go rigid. His eyes narrow in anger. Kieran's aura lashes out to the point that I can feel his wolf struggling against his control.
Lucian only raises a brow, feigning innocence. "Something wrong?"
My chest constricts. I can feel their fury trembling beneath their skin. The bond inside me is filled with their anger.
I do the only thing I can. I bow my head quickly and step back.
"Excuse me," I whisper. "I'll fetch more drinks."
I retreat and walk away. I make my way back to the kitchen, holding my breath.
By the time I push through the kitchen doors, my hands are trembling so badly the tray nearly slips. Janet spots me instantly. Her eyes are filled with joy.
"Layla!" she hisses, grabbing my arm before I can escape. Her grin is wicked. "Do you know what you just did? Those men were about to tear each other apart over you!"
"Janet," I whisper harshly, shaking my head, but my face betrays me. My cheeks are hot, flushed, too obvious.
She smirks. "Don't deny it. I saw the way they looked at you. And Lord Lucian, stars above, if he gets any bolder, the triplets might actually fight him in the middle of the ballroom."
"Shut up," I mutter, pulling away. I try to act like I don't care but my heart betrays me with its frantic beats.
I load the tray with fresh goblets and return to the ballroom.
As soon as I enter the ballroom again, I feel it immediately – their eyes. My mates. Their eyes follow me with every step I take. I try to avoid them, keep my head down, but the bond makes every glance unbearable.
People whisper as I pass. The nobles sneer and look at me curiously. I know what they see - an omega servant walking too close to Alphas, too close to Lucian. I am unworthy. Out of place.
Then Allora steps in front of me.
She steps into my path gracefully. She's dressed in a lovely blue ball dress. She looks beautiful as always.. I bow my head instantly, clutching the tray tighter.
"What would you like to drink, my lady?" I ask quietly.
Her smile is cruel. She leans close. "You'll never be anything more than a servant carrying trays," she hisses. "Mates or not, you'll always be beneath them."
My throat closes. I swallow hard, blinking against the sting in my eyes.
I stay silent. I have to.
But she doesn't stop. Her voice continues to mock me. "Do you think they'll ever claim you? Look at you. Pathetic. Do you think nobles will forget what you are? An omega with dirt under her nails?"
The words sink deep and they hurt more than I want them too.. My chest feels hollow. I feel my heart shatter because they are true.
Then she smiles sweetly, picks a goblet from the tray…..and tilts it.
Cold wine spills down the front of my dress.
The crowd gasps.
I stand frozen, drenched. The humiliation burns inside me.
And Allora only smirks.