Chapter 3

"I’m so sorry, miss. It was a mistake. I apologize," he replied, attempting to defuse the situation.

"Save that for yourself! You almost killed me, you..." I began, my anger spilling out.

"I said... I’m sorry. By the way, do you work at the Gold Pack? I could drive you back," he offered, trying to make amends.

"I don’t need your help, okay? Just go to hell!" I shouted as I ran off, not looking back.

I was on the brink of hanging myself when a sudden change of heart propelled me to abandon my plans and head back to the palace. 

There was one thing I needed to do – uncover the truth about my parents' death.

"I can't go down like this. I need more power like Elsa, and I must attain the position of the Luna of the Gold pack. It's a dream I will fulfill," I affirmed to myself, determination reigniting within me as I made my way back to the palace.

Upon my return, I was taken aback by what I encountered.

"You again?" I exclaimed, pointing to the stranger I had seen earlier.

A sharp slap landed on my cheek from the head of maids, sending me to my knees. "You will show some respect to the young master!"

"Young master? Is he?" I whispered, my eyes widening in realization, stunned by the revelation.

“You smelly thing.” she retorted.

“ I apologize for her rude behavior," I heard her speak, attempting to placate the situation.

“Oh, who is she? Can I see her face?” I heard him ask.

“Yes, your grace. Sure, you can,” she replied, roughly lifting my head by my hair.

“You? You were the lady I met a couple of hours ago?” He asked as I struggled to respond.

“Yes… I’m…” I couldn't finish my statement when Alpha Alex cut in.

“Ethan? Ethan is that you?” He asked, and I heard his footsteps approaching.

“Yes, father. I’m back,” he replied, motioning towards Alpha Alex.

Ethan? His name sounded familiar—Goddess! He’s the renowned third son of Alpha—

“Are we dying?” Nolly, my wolf, interrupted my thoughts as I tried to ignore her.

“And why haven't you changed your outfit, Naomi?” Alpha Alex asked, bringing my attention back to the situation.

“Naomi? That’s her name?” Ethan asked his father as his eyes met mine.

“And why is this filthy thing still here?” I heard Gabriel speak from behind.

“Does she look filthy to you, bro? She’s human!” Hunter defended.

I didn’t know much about Beta Hunter, but he seemed pretty defensive.

“I won’t have my sons fight over petty things like this,” Alpha Alex intervened, his voice firm and authoritative.

“And why did you come back?” Beta Gabriel turned to his brother, anger evident as his hands remained in his pockets.

“You are in no position to ask me that,” Beta Ethan shot back defiantly.

“Silence! Enough, both of you! I won’t stand here and allow you to exchange unpleasant words in my presence. You are blood brothers,” Alpha Alex cautioned.

“By the way, it’s nice to have you here, Ethan. I want to celebrate my 55th birthday, and I’m glad you are here to witness it. The three of you. Is that not beautiful?” Alpha Alex asked his three sons, creating a moment of awkward silence as they struggled to respond.

“Hey, you are dismissed,” Alpha Alex ordered the heads of the maid, who gave me a weird look before departing.

“Naomi, go in and get yourself all changed,” he said as he led his three sons away.

On my way to my chamber, Nolly spoke. “I thought there were four of them? Where’s the last one?” Nolly, my wolf, asked.

“Just shut it, Nolly. Now’s not the time!” I replied as I walked back to my room, closing the door behind me.

I dashed into the bathroom, washing myself quickly and donning a suitable outfit.

“Naomi! You are needed in the kitchen!” Malia knocked on the door.

“Naomi!” she shouted again.

“Just a minute! Goddess!” I shot back. Finally, I emerged, and Malia greeted me with a tight hug.

“I'm sorry I can't do much,” she sulked.

“It's okay, Malia. I'm the cursed one,” I added.

“No, you are not,” she replied as we both headed towards the kitchen.

“Did you know Beta Logan is back?” Malia whispered.

“When? I mean, I just left Alpha Alex, and all I saw was his three sons,” I replied, puzzled by what she had just said.

“Well, he just arrived, and he’s with them. We have a full house now. That’s why we both were summoned,” Malia replied, and we entered the kitchen.

‘What took you so long?” The head of maids asked.

“I was... I...” I stuttered as the rest of my mates laughed mockingly.

“Just shut up! Idiot!” The head of maids lashed.

“Now, listen. Naomi, you will be the one to serve the four young masters and the Alpha. Is that understood?!” she ordered.

“Yes, ma’am,” I replied, as she signaled to me to start. The weight of this new responsibility pressed upon me.

"Oh my, I'm scared!" Nolly spoke in my head, almost causing me to trip as I approached the four handsome, distinguished quadruplets in front of me.

"Meet Naomi. She is the daughter of a very good friend of mine," Alpha Alex introduced me to the rest of his sons, Logan and Ethan.

"Oh... how energetic of her to speak…" I didn’t allow Ethan to finish his statement when I almost choked on my saliva.

“I... I’m sorry, Your Highness," I quickly apologized.

"She’s so stupid!" Beta Gabriel added.

He wasn’t done with his speech when Elsa came in majestically in her off-shoulder red velvety gown, paired with her black heels that adorned it.

"Here comes my beautiful damsel," he replied, walking past me to bring Elsa to the table.

“So, you are the renowned Naomi I’ve been hearing about since I stepped foot into the palace?” Beta Logan asked as I bowed my head.

“Yes, your grace,” I answered back.

‘She’s the late bloomer,” Elsa added as she laughed evilly, while Alpha Alex looked at her with disdain.

“Get me a glass of juice, I don’t want wine,” Elsa ordered, but unfortunately, I didn’t hear her well.

“Sorry, your grace, can you repeat…” I hadn't finished my statement when a hot slap landed on my cheek, causing the three brothers' jaws to drop except Beta Gabriel.

“You are stupid!” she shot back, pouring water on me from one of the cups on the table.

“Get yourself together and get me a cup of juice!” she snapped, and I scurried off shivering, the water she poured on me chilling me to the bone.

I was on my way to the kitchen to do as I was told when a voice halted me.

“Naomi!” I looked back and saw Beta Hunter.

“Wait up!” he ordered, but I didn’t listen.

“Please, your grace, don’t come after me. Just stay, please,” I cried.

“I’m not here to hurt you. I just want to make sure you are fine,” he added.

“Please don’t come any further. Please, I beg of you!” I shouted, causing him to stop in his tracks.

“Please…” I whispered, tears streaming down my face.

It wasn’t up to twenty minutes before I was returning with what Elsa had ordered me to bring when I heard arguments among the four brothers, their father, and Elsa.

“What right do you have to treat her that way?” Hunter asked, as I hid myself and looked at them all.

“But…” Elsa stuttered, bursting into tears.

“I won’t have you talk to my fiancée in such a tone!” Gabriel hurled back.

“Or what?” Ethan interfered.

“Just because she is a maid doesn’t mean you should treat her any less,” Ethan added, his eyes beaming with anger.

“Is that the more reason you should talk back to my fiancée like that?” Beta Gabriel replied, clenching his fist.

“I gotta go…” Elsa replied as she stood up and left, tears rolling down her cheeks.

“Elsa! Babe! I’m sorry. Damnit! Do you see what you’ve done?” Beta Gabriel shot back, banging the table with his fist.

“You will show some respect to me and your dad!” I heard Logan interfere.

“Respect? Look who's demanding respect. Do you even deserve it?” Beta Gabriel scoffed as he looked at him in the eye.

“I won’t have you talk down at me!” Logan defended.

“I’m still your brother and I have the authority to…” He didn’t finish his statement when Beta Gabriel cut in.

“Authority my foot! You lost that when you neglected your Pack and followed a woman!” he hurled back angrily.

“Enough.” I heard Alpha Alex who had been quiet all these while interfered.

“Why did you come back huh? You’ve suddenly…” he didn’t finish his statement when I heard a resounding slap land on his face which was imitated by their father. 

“I said, enough!” Alpha Alex shouted with his eyes glowing red causing silence to fall on every corner.

“Sit!” he ordered Beta Gabriel.

“I didn’t expect you all to come to my palace and fight! You are here now and I want nothing but peace. My birthday is coming up in a few days and I would want you to compose yourself. Is that understood?” he asked as none responded.

“I said…Is that understood?” he asked again this time more fiercely.

“Yes Dad!” they all chorused. And with this, I was able to enter with a jug of juice pretending not to know a thing.

“Her grace…” I stuttered.

“Just put the damn juice on the table and leave!” Beta Gabriel hurled at me.

“Stay Naomi!” Ethan commanded.

“I said leave! Are you slow?!” Beta Gabriel commanded, this time ignoring Ethan.

“Don’t you dare move an inch, Naomi!” Logan added.

“She’s staying!” Hunter shot back.

“What’s going on with you all?” Alpha Alex queried as he held his head feeling almost faint.

“Dad!” they all chorused rushing to him.

“Are you alright!” Logan asked pushing Beta Gabriel who was closer to him away.

“I will be fine! You all are dismissed,” he whispered.

“Now!” Alpha Alex shot back.

“Logan and Naomi should stay,” he added while the rest left on a good note except for Beta Gabriel who shot me a very mean stare.

“Get me the werewolf doctor,” he ordered as I quickly left and did as he said.

“What just happened back there?” Nolly my wolf broke the silence.

“I have no idea Nolly,” I answered back running faster.  

“Were they just fighting because of you? I feel this is so interesting.” Nolly jumped around in my mind.

“Nolly, just shut the hell up let me focus!” I shot back at her as she went silent.

“But you know I could sense the rest of the three brothers as your mate. Except for that wizard, Gabriel who rejected you.” Nolly added.

“Nolly, please. Do they look like someone who will go for a low class like me? A late bloomer? Stop dreaming already and face reality.” I hushed her and finally got the message delivered to the werewolf doctor.

On my way returning I had no idea who had set a trap for me. My colleagues are at it again.

“Damn! Fuck!” I shouted as my leg started to ooze blood out.

“Help! Somebody!” I shouted but there was no one to help. Where I am was the most isolated place in the palace. I wonder why a werewolf doctor would pick here of all places.

“Naomi!” A voice sounded from afar as it ran faster with his wolf powers picking me up from the ground.

“Young master—Ethan. How did you…” he hushed my mouth with his hands as I stared at him in shock