Chapter 3 Chapter 3

Luceila’s POV

A moment passed as silence filled the room. They scrunched their noses in disgust and acted as if I didn’t deserve to breathe the same air as them. 

I held my fork hard as I tried to control my thoughts. I wanted to snap at them, to ask what their problem was, but something stopped me.

As I looked from one face to the next, I saw it. For a split second, their eyes turned different. A flash of something bright flickered in their eyes, making me stunned. I blinked hard but when I looked again, their eyes were normal, or at least as normal as three sets of cold, judging stares could be.

I glanced toward my mother, hoping for some kind of support, but she did not even notice. She was too busy leaning into Arthur, her hand resting on the back of his neck as they whispered to each other. They were in their own world and clearly didn’t want to be disturbed.

Arthur finally looked up, though he did not seem to sense the hostility. "Boys, eat something before the food gets cold."

Reis, the eldest, who was already sitting, got off his seat and took a slow step toward me. He leaned over the table and sniffed the air near my shoulder, then let out a soft huff.

I stiffened.

"The house smells different today," he murmured. "It is a bit... crowded, don't you think?"

Ruan, who had been chewing on a turkey wing, let out a laugh. He circled around to the other side of my chair and he didn't sit down either. He just loomed behind me, close enough that I could feel him behind me.

"Very true," Ruan agreed. He reached over my shoulder, his fingers brushing the fabric of my shirt as he grabbed an apple from the bowl in front of me. "I wonder how long it takes for a new scent to fade."

Silas stayed at the far end of the table, but his dark gaze never left mine. He didn't speak, but the way he watched me made me feel trapped.

“Come on boys, don’t be mean. How about you get to know each other?” I heard Arthur suggest.

“Fine,” Silas said, leaning forward in his seat. “Do you like to hunt or be hunted?”

I forced the food in my mouth down my throat at his words.

“Excuse me?” I asked, coughing slightly.

“He just wants to know if you like to hunt,” Ruan said from behind me.

“Oh no, I don’t,” I said.

For a few seconds, nothing else could be heard in the room except small laughs from my mom and I could tell she was having a good time. I, however, was as uncomfortable as ever. The food didn’t taste nice anymore.

“Excuse me,” I said quietly and got off my seat.

“Oh Luceila, you barely ate anything,” mother said, her voice dripping with fake concern. You would be amazed that this same woman didn’t give a shit about me for three years.

“I am full,” I said, giving her a small smile so that she would leave me alone. My stomach was actually twisting into knots and I suddenly felt pressed from all the tension. “Can I know my room, please?” I asked Arthur.

“Oh sure. First room by your right when you get upstairs. Ruan will show you the way,” Arthur said.

“Oh no, there won’t be any need for that,” I quickly said. “Thanks for the food.”

Without waiting for a response, I quickly stepped around Ruan who was still standing right behind my chair. Without looking back, I hurried through the stairs as I tried to calm my racing heart.

The room wasn’t hard to find. It was exactly how Arthur described it to be.

I got into the room and closed the door shut before finally taking a breath. My eyes widened slightly at the sight in front of me. The room was massive, almost three times the size of my old tiny bedroom. The walls were covered in a cream color, making the room look warm. In the center of the room was a king-sized bed that could easily accommodate four adults without them touching.

With my mouth hung open, I walked further inside. To the left laid an empty fireplace, and to the right stood a very large mirror. I dared to take a look at myself and immediately regretted it. My pale skin was a sickening contrast against the luxurious bedroom. I now fully understood why the three brothers hated me so much.

My train of thoughts was interrupted by a call on my phone. I took it out of my pocket and a frown appeared on my face.

Julian. My manager that left me for dead. Why is he calling now?

I took a deep breath and swiped to answer. "What do you want?" I snapped, not bothering with pleasantries.

"Luceila, finally," Julian’s greasy voice crackled through the speaker. I could almost hear him chewing on something. "I have been trying to reach you for so long. The morning shift started twenty minutes ago."

"I am done working for you," I spat, remembering how he treated me even when I begged for help.

"Don't even tell me that," he quickly said. "Those men are back here and they are looking for their ten thousand. They said if you don't show up today with the cash, they are coming for me next. You need to get down here and pay them. Use whatever your mother gave you. I heard she picked you up in a fancy car."

The audacity of his words made my head spin. He wanted me to pay for the debt he let them beat me for, using money I didn't even have.

"You have a lot of nerve," I hissed, clutching the phone hard. "You watched them beat me until I passed out and you couldn’t care less. Now it’s your turn. Why are you scared? Do not ever call this number again and if those men kill you, I hope it is slow."

"You little—"

I didn’t give him a chance to finish. I hung up and threw the phone on the bed in anger.

Suddenly, I heard a sound at my door and my head snapped up. What is that? Fear filled me at the thought of what I could find, but curiosity made me walk toward the door.

With careful hands, I pulled the door open and I was met with three solid walls of muscle.

Reis, Ruan, and Silas stood directly at my entrance and they didn’t even look surprised to be caught. They didn't look like they had just arrived. They looked like they had been standing there, listening to every word of my conversation on the phone.

"What are you doing here?” I dared to ask as I stumbled back.

Their eyes flashed with something I couldn’t recognize.

Ruan stepped foward. "Tell me, little wolf, don’t you feel it?"