The Warrior House hummed with a celebratory energy, a low murmur of conversation punctuated by bursts of laughter and the throbbing beat of music that permeated every corner. It wasn't a house designed for ostentatious display, yet its rugged charm and muted, neutral tones spoke of a quiet, undeniable wealth. Rich, dark wood accented the walls, and the scent of expensive leather mingled with the enticing aroma of the sprawling buffet.
At the heart of the main living area, a plush, oversized sectional sofa in a deep charcoal gray offered ample seating, its soft cushions inviting guests to sink in. Beneath it, a thick, hand-knotted wool rug, in shades of cream and stone, provided a luxurious anchor to the room. Platters laden with an array of food—golden-brown mac and cheese, glistening racks of ribs, crispy fried chicken, vibrant salads, and an assortment of decadent desserts—were constantly being replenished. Drinks of every kind, from sparkling water to top-shelf liquor, flowed freely.
Trinity, oblivious to the buzzing atmosphere around her, scooped a generous portion of mac and cheese onto her plate. "Has anyone ever told you that you're exceptionally annoying?" she remarked, not even bothering to turn and look at the persistent pest behind her. She hoped her biting words would send him packing.
Luca's deep chuckle was his only response. He remained utterly undeterred. He knew, with an unshakeable certainty, that Trinity would eventually be his. Reaching out, he playfully twisted a few strands of her raven hair around his finger before giving a light tug.
"I'm still the Alpha's son," he reminded her, his voice a dark, threatening rumble. "I would watch my words if I were you."
Trinity peered at him over her shoulder, her gaze fixed on his hand still clutching her hair. Threats from Luca held no sway over her. He might be the Alpha's son, but she was the Beta's daughter, and she knew Boris would ensure no harm ever came to her. This knowledge granted her the freedom to act as she pleased, at least when the Alpha wasn't around.
"Yes, all your flirting and touching is making me so scared," she retorted, a smirk playing on her plump pink lips as she slapped his hand away. She didn't want him touching her, let alone tangling her hair. She actually liked how it looked today, finally down after what felt like an eternity of training buns.
Feeling emboldened, Luca moved with a speed imperceptible to the human eye, gripping the back of her neck, his thumb brushing her jawline. He pulled her a few steps closer until she was almost pressed against his chest.
She's so petite, Luca thought, his gaze sweeping over her. So small, but with those bright blue eyes and that pale skin. And God, those curves… she has good size breast be wanted to bite, delicately proportioned. I just want to touch her, to feel that skin. A primal urge, hot and insistent, began to simmer within him. I'm going to have her. I need to feel her against me.
"I bet you could take every inch of my instructions" he offered, his voice a low, seductive murmur.
Trinity's eyebrow shot up at his sudden movement and audacious words. She couldn't fathom what about her made him think she was interested, but he was sorely mistaken. Yet, deciding to mess with him for his sheer annoyingness, she looked up through her lashes, an inviting smile gracing her lips. She set her plate down and closed the distance between them, her chest brushing his as she rose onto her tiptoes. Her hands crept up his chest, her nails lightly scratching his scalp.
Just as he began to lean down, convinced she was enamored by his absolute idiocy, she gripped handfuls of his hair tightly and pulled forcefully, arching his back. This brought him closer to her height, allowing her lips to brush his ear.
"I don't know who gave you the confidence to think you could ever talk to me like that," she whispered, a laugh bubbling up as she released him and retrieved her plate. She giggled at the sheer absurdity of Luca. He'd been sheltered his entire life, surrounded by sycophants who'd undoubtedly told him he the perfect living specimen—all the things a woman could want. He'd forgotten that she'd actually met handsome, strong, brave, talented, kind men, and he certainly didn't make that list.
"You will like what happens when I'm in charge," he said, completely undeterred by her brush-offs.
"There's only one way I'm going to ride you, Luca," she grinned, recalling how she'd mounted him in the forest. He was like her oversized puppy.
As the fog of Luca cleared from Trinity's mind, she was catapulted back into the present. She could feel the disdain and irritation of those few wolves she had personally taken out of the training field, their sharp looks and harsh words a dull hum in the background. Ignoring them all, she made her way to the living room. Jess sat perched on the arm of the sofa with Mona beside her on the cushions. Ryan lounged on the floor, while Timothy stood nearby.
Everyone seemed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves. After the hellishness of the challenge, most people were injured and needed treatment from the pack doctors, herself included. Luca had carried her because her back was too sore to get up. Luckily, the pack doctor had given her an ointment and a shot that immediately alleviated the pain. Thomas, deciding to be an actual living, breathing person with compassion, had given everyone the rest of the day off, though he reminded them that tomorrow would be another grueling day.
Trinity settled down next to Ryan, her plate balanced on her lap. Ryan had already managed to completely decimate the food on his plate and instantly tried to pick at Trinity's, forcing her to slap his hand away.
"I haven't even had a bite, stop!" she grumbled in irritation.
Ryan laughed, deftly snatching one of her ribs. He was starving. With all their training, his appetite had become insatiable. Most of the time, he felt like he was perpetually hungry.
"I'm telling you, Mona could be a spy!" Timothy announced boisterously, his outgoing nature far more pronounced after today's challenge. "I mean, I didn't even get a chance to defend myself, and she shot me like eight times!" He lifted his shirt, revealing a line of bruising across his defined abs from Mona's wild shooting.
"Okay, I am sorry, you know..." she made a gesture, as if she was using a machine gun. "letting it rip," Mona laughed, pushing her hair back from her face as she tried not to look like she'd had a great time hurting him. "I only shot one other person before. I had to make sure I got you."
"I was watching, she was literally extremely convincing. I was going to go and help her too," Ryan chimed in, smirking. "Better watch your back." He joked with her playfully.
"Please, from what I heard, Jess took out half the class," Mona responded, bumping Jess's shoulder playfully. "I mean, what assassin's school has she been training at?"
"The four of us would go to a shooting range every weekend," Jess confessed.
"Four?" Timothy quickly noticed the number, his curiosity piqued.
Jess looked at Ryan, feeling bad for bringing up his brother, knowing it was a sore spot for him. Trinity, too, felt a pang of worry at the mention of Grayson, knowing Ryan definitely missed him.
"Ah, um, it's nothing—" Jess began, only to be cut off by Ryan.
"My brother, he would take us. Grayson brought us on hunting trips so we knew what it would be like to take the shot."
Trinity could tell Ryan was lost in his head, thinking about his brother. He hadn't mentioned Grayson in a while, but she knew he never stopped thinking about him, worrying. She knew she wasn't the best at comforting others, even those closest to her. Holding her plate in front of his face, she offered him a smile. "Take what you want."
"Eat your food," Ryan said, pushing her plate away. He knew she was trying to make him feel better. She was truly terrible at comforting others, but her effort still made him smile because it was so bad, so comical in its own way.
Mona felt bad for Ryan. She knew that unlike the rest of them, who had thought they were orphans, Ryan actually was one. She remembered when he'd stood up at the welcome dinner, announcing that his parents were dead and he only had a brother. She hadn't thought much of it at the time, but knowing his brother wasn't here clearly meant he had to be a wolf. If his brother had been defective, they both would be here together.
Timothy noticed the way the mood had dipped with the mention of Ryan's brother. He wasn't sure why, but he wanted them to celebrate. Today had been a good day. Even though he was eliminated rather quickly, every defective made it to the end. They had shown the wolves that they weren't pushovers, stupid, slow, or irrelevant. They could actually compete. They weren't worthless. It was a nice feeling, and Timothy didn't want to let it go so soon.
"Okay, we're all going to take a shot because the fact is, we fucking killed it today! And we're going to celebrate. With shots!"
"No!" Trinity was the first to protest.
"We have to get up early," Mona added, not thinking it was a good idea.
"Fine, but it has to be tequila!" Jess was in the mood to celebrate; she wanted to have some fun, to let loose for once.
"It tastes like shit though " Ryan grimaced, thinking about the number of times he'd had to do tequila shots because of Jess. It was like her brand of torture.
"I'm not having any shots!" Trinity reiterated, as Mona went to secure the shot glasses and Timothy went to grab the tequila.
"Come on, everyone is drinking! It's not that big of a deal," Jess tried to convince Trinity.
Leaning closer to her ear, Ryan began to beg in the most annoying fashion he knew would piss her off. He just kept repeating "please" in her ear, over and over, at a grating volume.
Jess chuckled as she noticed what Ryan was doing. Back when they were teenagers, Trinity was far more reserved than they were. They'd practically have to twist her arm to do anything that wasn't by the book. On the rare occasions they'd get her to drink, Ryan would employ this annoying "please" until she caved.
"You know he won't stop," Jess grinned.
"Okay, I'll do it! Stop, please, stop! Okay, I'm going to do it. Just one shot, though."
The last time Trinity was drunk was with the Hunt brothers, just before they were taken. Taking a shot reminded her of the night she had seen them again for the first time on her birthday. The kiss she had shared with Grayson, before everything went to hell. Or at least, she thought it had gone to hell. She tried not to think about that night much, a flush coming to her cheeks at the very thought of it—the kiss, the shift she felt. She had such a crush. Even though the word "crush" didn't feel right, and "obsession" was a bit too creepy, she just had a thing for Grayson for so long. For a while, it was just respect and comfortability, which then morphed into something more, something mature. She knew she didn't love him in the most romantic way, but she loved him in the way you love anyone who cares about you and has been in your life for so many years.
"What are you blushing about?" Jess asked, sliding off the couch to sit in front of Trinity.
Jess knew her well, and the look on Trinity's face said she was thinking about something that had happened, something spicy enough to make her blush.
"I'm not telling!"
"So I'm right! Did something happen between you and Luca?" she wondered.
"Are you kidding?!"
Jess held up her hands in defense. She wasn't crazy for thinking it. Luca was attractive, and he had been hanging around
her like a fly on… well, like a fly on something.
"He did carry you to the pack hospital, and he let you ride his wolf. Forgive me for thinking something happened." The mocking tone was not lost on Trinity.
Ryan hadn't initially thought anything had happened between Trinity and Luca. But Jess's words made his mind wander to why she had smelled weird. When the game had ended, Ryan had rushed over to Trinity to congratulate her, only to find her with the widest grin on her face while Luca held her in his arms. Not wanting to fight over who got to carry Trinity back, he'd simply followed her back to the pack hospital. When she was done being treated, he'd helped her up and noticed that she smelled strange. It was unpleasant and made his nose itch. He found himself stepping further away from her. Unlike himself, he practically demanded that she shower. Whatever the smell was, he couldn't stand it.
"Why did you smell weird?" Ryan decided to ask now that they were on the topic.
Thinking of how Simon had scented her, Trinity was not going to tell anyone what she had let him do. In the heat of the game, she hadn't thought about the intimacy of it all; she just wanted to win at all costs. And it was not the kind of story she was going to tell anyone about. She was actually shocked that Ryan had noticed she smelled different. Whatever wolf genes they all had, his seemed to be some of the strongest.
As if curious, Jess leaned in, sniffing Trinity, wondering if she could smell anything. Feeling less inclined to continue this line of questioning, Trinity got up to go help Mona find the shot glasses. It was taking her a while.
"Mona must be lost." Setting her plate on Ryan's lap, she got up to get away from the two. Hoisting herself up using Ryan's shoulder. Sure to leave grease marks behind.
Both Ryan and Jess looked at Trinity's escaping form before meeting each other's eyes. "I think she's hiding something!" Jess was the first to say, smiling brightly at him.
"Yeah, hope it's not Luca!"
"Why, would it make you jealous?" Jess asked, trying to keep the bitter tone out of her voice.
Digging his fingers into the plush carpet, hating the tension between them. Ryan gave her a tight smile, hating the resentment he felt she harbored against him. "No! Luca is the Alpha's son. Alphas are complicated. And she's not his mate. A wolf will only ever love their mate. Everything else is wasting time and heartbreak." It was as close as Ryan had ever gotten to telling her the truth: that he hadn't just fizzled, but that he was trying to save them both the heartache.
Trinity made her way towards the kitchen, but stopped abruptly at the threshold. She watched, frozen, as Mona was cornered by her three roommates. They were shoving her back and forth, their hands pushing at her shoulders. One of them yanked hard on a handful of Mona's hair, pulling her head back while another sneered in her face. "Still thinking you're so special, huh, Mona?" one of them spat. "The second-stager isn't here to protect his little slut anymore, is he?" Another chimed in, "Yeah, you think we forgot how you used your body to get him to threaten us? Whore." A third girl nudged Mona roughly with her elbow. "So much for your cunning human tricks, bitch. We heard you stopped hooking up with him, and now look! We're back, aren't we?" Trinity could hear the casual cruelty in their voices, the words sharp and pointed, making her stomach clench.