A Love Forbidden By Blood

I scrub the wooden floor of the grand dining hall, my knees aching from hours of work. The smell of bleach stings my nose, but I dare not stop. Mrs. Turner, the Walkers' housekeeper, stands nearby with her arms crossed, her sharp eyes fixed on me like a hawk.

"Faster, Emily. You’re not being paid to daydream," she snaps, though she knows full well I’m not being paid at all.

"Yes, Mrs. Turner," I mumble, keeping my head down.

The sound of footsteps echoing down the hallway sends a shiver up my spine. My heart races as the heavy oak door creaks open. I don’t need to look up to know who it is. The Walkers’ triplets.

Ethan’s voice, smooth and mocking, fills the room. "Well, well. Look who’s hard at work."

I grit my teeth and focus on the floor, scrubbing harder. "Ignore them," I whisper to myself, though my hands tremble.

Lucas chuckles. "She’s like a little mouse, isn’t she? Always scurrying around."

Liam, the quietest of the three, doesn’t say anything, but I can feel his gaze on me. Unlike his brothers, Liam doesn’t mock me outright, but his silence speaks volumes.

Ethan crouches down in front of me, his piercing green eyes locking onto mine. "You missed a spot, Omega," he says, pointing to an imaginary stain.

I bite my tongue to keep from snapping back. "Yes, Alpha Ethan," I reply, my voice barely above a whisper.

Ethan smirks and leans closer, his breath warm against my cheek. "You’re such a good little slave. Always obedient. But don’t forget, Emily—" He grabs my chin, forcing me to look at him. "You’ll never be more than this. You’re nothing."

My chest tightens, but I refuse to let him see me cry. Not again.

"Leave her alone, Ethan," Liam says suddenly, his voice low but firm.

Ethan releases me and stands up, laughing. "What’s the matter, Liam? Feeling sorry for her?"

Lucas joins in. "Don’t tell me you’re going soft."

Liam doesn’t respond, and the tension in the room thickens. Ethan shrugs and steps back. "Whatever. She’s not worth it anyway."

As they leave, I finally exhale, my hands trembling as I grip the scrub brush.

Mrs. Turner clears her throat. "You’re not done, Emily."

I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. "Yes, ma’am."

---

That night, I collapse onto the thin mattress in the tiny room they’ve given me. It’s barely big enough to fit a bed and a small dresser, but it’s the only place where I can be alone.

The moonlight streams through the cracked window, and I stare at it, wishing for an escape. Tomorrow is my 18th birthday, and while most girls would be excited, I dread it. The Walkers won’t care. To them, I’m just the unwanted stepdaughter, the Omega they keep around to do their dirty work.

Still, I have a plan. Tomorrow, during the school ball, I’ll finally leave this place. I’ve saved up scraps of food and a little money over the years. It’s not much, but it’s enough to get me far away from here.

A soft knock on the door startles me. I sit up, my heart pounding. "Who is it?"

"It’s Mia," comes the whisper from the other side.

Relief washes over me as I open the door. My best friend slips inside, her curly brown hair bouncing as she moves.

"You look awful," she says, frowning.

"Thanks," I reply dryly, closing the door behind her.

Mia sits on the edge of my bed, her eyes filled with concern. "Are you okay? Did they do something to you again?"

I shake my head. "No more than usual."

She sighs. "I don’t know how you put up with them, Emily. You deserve so much better."

"I won’t have to put up with them for much longer," I say, my voice firm.

Mia’s eyes widen. "You’re really going through with it? You’re leaving?"

I nod. "Tomorrow night, during the ball. While everyone’s distracted, I’ll slip away."

"Emily..." Mia grabs my hands, her voice trembling. "Are you sure it’s safe? What if they catch you?"

"I don’t have a choice," I whisper. "I can’t stay here anymore, Mia. I have to go."

She pulls me into a tight hug. "I’ll miss you."

"I’ll miss you too," I reply, my throat tightening.

---

The next evening, the school’s grand hall is decorated with twinkling lights and elegant banners. Students in fancy dresses and suits laugh and chat, the air buzzing with excitement.

I stand near the edge of the room, wearing a simple blue dress Mia lent me. It’s nothing compared to the glamorous gowns the other girls are wearing, but it’s enough to blend in.

Mia joins me, her smile bright despite the sadness in her eyes. "You look beautiful," she says.

"Thanks," I reply, my voice shaky.

As the music starts, I glance around, searching for an opportunity to slip away. But before I can move, a scent hits me. It’s warm and intoxicating, like a mix of cedarwood and fresh rain. My heart skips a beat, and my wolf stirs for the first time.

My mate.

I turn, scanning the crowd desperately. Who is it? Where are they?

The scent grows stronger, and my eyes land on Ethan, Lucas, and Liam standing near the dance floor. My heart sinks as realization dawns.

No. It can’t be.

The triplets turn to look at me simultaneously, their eyes glowing with the same realization. Ethan smirks, Lucas looks stunned, and Liam... Liam’s expression is unreadable.

I take a step back, my breathing quickening. This can’t be happening. Not them. Anyone but them.

Ethan strides toward me, his confidence oozing from every step. "Well, isn’t this interesting," he says, his voice dripping with amusement.

I shake my head, backing away. "No. This isn’t possible."

"Oh, it’s very possible," he replies, his smirk widening.

Lucas approaches more cautiously. "Emily, we didn’t know—"

"Don’t," I snap, cutting him off. "I don’t want to hear it."

Liam stays back, his eyes filled with something that looks like regret.

Ethan grabs my wrist, his grip firm but not painful. "You’re not going anywhere, little mate."

"I wasn’t planning to," I lie, trying to keep my voice steady.

His eyes narrow. "Good. Because if you even think about running, I’ll find you. And trust me, Emily, you won’t like what happens if I do."

I swallow hard, nodding. "I understand."

"Good," he says, releasing me. "Now, let’s dance."

Before I can protest, he pulls me onto the dance floor. The room spins around me as I try to process what just happened. My escape plan is ruined, and my worst nightmare has come true.

I’m mated to the Walker triplets.