Olivia's POV

"Wake up, Olivia," Mom's voice echoed in my sleep.

I groaned, pulling the blanket over my head. "Five more minutes, Mom."

"We don't have any more minutes," she snapped, shaking my leg with a force that made it impossible to ignore. "Get up now, or we'll be late."

"Mom," I groaned in frustration, slowly forcing my eyes open.

"Don't tell me you still want to sleep," she said, standing at the foot of my bed, her hands placed firmly on her hips as she tapped her foot impatiently on the tiled floor. "Other servants are already up doing their duties, but you are still sleeping? Do you want us relieved of our duties?" Mother snapped angrily at me.

I sighed heavily, tossing the blanket aside as I dragged myself out of bed. "I'm up, I'm up," I muttered, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.

"Anita is staying in the pack house for the weekend, and she has asked that you be the one to attend to her until she leaves," Mother announced, and my frown deepened. "Why me? Out of all the servants, why do I have to be her personal maid?"

"Don't start," Mom said firmly, shoving me toward the bathroom. "Get moving. There's no time for complaining."

I stomped to the bathroom, muttering under my breath as I turned on the tap.

The thought of spending the day attending to Anita made my stomach churn.

Anita and I were born on the same day, which was why we were close in the first place. Once, she had been my best friend. We'd grown up together, running through the forest, sharing secrets, and dreaming of our future.

That was before everything fell apart.

My father was one of the pack's strongest warriors, and my mother worked in the pack hospital. Our family may not have been the wealthiest, but we had respect.

But everything changed the night of the setup.

I stared into the mirror as the memories replayed in my head. My father had been framed for stealing from the Alpha, a crime punishable by death. Despite his pleas of innocence, no one believed him. The evidence gotten was all pointed at him, planted carefully by someone who wanted to see him fall. We were stripped of everything. My father was imprisoned for life, my mother was demoted to an omega, and I was forced to share her fate.

Anita was there that night. She hadn't comforted me, hadn't spoken up for the family she once called her own. Instead, she stayed silent, her gaze avoiding mine as we were being mocked.

Now, years later, our former Beta had died from an incurable illness, and her father was appointed the new Beta. Anita was now the Beta's daughter. And I? I was nothing more than a servant. An omega.

What made it worse was how effortlessly she fit into her new role. The triplets, our Alpha sons, Louis, Levi, and Lennox, loved her. Their attention, their admiration, it all belonged to her now. They literally worshiped the ground she walked on, and everyone believed she would turn out to be their mate once she turned eighteen, which was only a few days away. The brothers were actually competing among themselves for her attention and love, and it was so annoying to watch. Or perhaps I was just jealous of her life.

I finished washing up, dressed quickly into the maid's uniform, and stepped into the kitchen, where my mother was preparing breakfast.

"Olivia," my mother called, "I know this isn't easy, but... we've already lost so much. Don't give them a reason to take more."

I nodded, biting back the urge to argue. She didn't understand. How could she? I was once the daughter of a respected Gamma, but now? I was a mere Omega.

"Here," my mother said, handing me a tray with a steaming cup of coffee. "She asked for this."

I frowned but took the tray and headed toward the guest room where she was staying.

"We'll find our mate and all this will be over," my wolf whispered, trying to comfort me.

I let out a dry laugh. Yeah, right. The only mate I would get was another omega, another nobody just like me. This life? It wasn't ending.

Reaching Anita's room, I sighed heavily and knocked on her door, bracing myself for another day of being reminded of how far I'd fallen, and how far she'd risen.

I sucked a deep breath before knocking again.

"Come in," Anita's voice called.

I pushed the door open carefully, keeping my head down. "Your coffee," I said quietly, stepping inside the room.

The first thing I noticed was the sound. A soft giggle, followed by the low murmur of a man's voice. My eyes moved up for just a second, and what I saw stopped me in my tracks.

There they were, Anita and Louis. She was tangled in his arms on the bed, her silky robe slipping off one shoulder. His shirt was open, his muscular chest on full display as he leaned into her, his lips brushing her neck.

I swallowed hard. My eyes darted back to the floor, and I placed the coffee on the table. Without another word, I turned, desperate to leave.

"Wait," Anita said sharply.

I froze, turning back to her reluctantly.

She kissed Louis deeply and even moaned in between the kisses before pulling away.

My wolf growled in spite, but I put on a blank expression. Anita stepped out of the bed in just in her matching set of red underwear. I watched her sway her hips seductively at Louis, and I noticed how he hungrily gawked at her. Anita has a sexy body, and I have to give her credit for that.

She picked up the cup of coffee, her lips curling into a smug smile as she swirled the liquid inside. Her eyes scanned me from head to toe. Louis remained silent on the bed, leaning back against the headboard.

She took a slow sip, her nose wrinkling in exaggerated displeasure. "What is this?" she asked, her voice sharp and filled with annoyance.

"It's the coffee you requested," I replied respectfully, keeping my tone polite despite the way my wolf growled in the back of my mind.

"This?" she scoffed, holding the cup out as if it were something filthy. "You call this coffee?"

My jaw clenched, but I forced myself to remain calm. "It was made in the way you like it," I said.

Anita's eyes narrowed in anger, and suddenly, she threw the hot coffee over my chest and arms, soaking through my dress. The sharp sting of the heat made me gasp, but I bit my lip to keep from crying out.

"Next time you serve me garbage like this, I swear I'll dump it on your face."

Behind her, Louis remained silent, not wanting to interfere.

I stood frozen, my frown deepening as the coffee dripped down my skin. My wolf stirred, angry. I could almost hear her urging me to act. But what could I do?

"I'm sorry if the coffee wasn't to your liking," I said quietly, forcing the words out despite the lump in my throat. "I'll remake it."

Anita laughed, a light, annoying sound that grated on my nerves. "Don't bother," she said, waving a dismissive hand. "Just try to be less useless next time."

Turning her back to me, She turned away, moving toward Louis. She slid onto his lap like I wasn't even in the room. He pulled her close, barely sparing me a glance before his lips found her neck.

"You're dismissed," he said, though his voice lacked the sharpness it usually carried.

I swallowed hard, nodded, and turned to leave, my heart racing in my chest.

As I stepped out of the room, I let out a shaky breath. The humiliation burned as much as the coffee had, but I sucked in a deep breath and gathered my emotions.

Making my way back to the kitchen, I met with Bala, Lennox's personal guard. "There you are. Lennox calls for you,"

I frowned. "Did he say why?" I asked, my stomach tightening. Lennox, the eldest of the triplets, rarely summoned me unless it was important. And rarely for anything good.

Bala shrugged. "Not exactly, but he seemed really furious."

A lump formed in my throat, but I forced myself to stay composed. Without another word, I turned and made my way to Lennox's room.

When I reached his door, I hesitated for a moment before knocking. Instantly, His authoritative voice ordered me in.

...****************...

...Werewolf Hierarchy & Key Terms...

Alpha:

The highest-ranking wolf in a pack. Strong, authoritative, and the leader.

Beta:

Second-in-command to the Alpha. Assists with managing the pack.

Gamma:

Third in rank (in some stories). Often the head of security or warriors.

Omega:

The lowest rank in the pack. Usually treated poorly or seen as weak.

Mate:

A wolf’s fated partner chosen by instinct or the moon goddess.

Inner Wolf / Wolf Spirit:

The wolf side of a werewolf. Often communicates thoughts or emotions internally.

Pack House

The central residence where high-ranking members of the pack live.

Olivia's POV

Pushing the door open, I met a furious-looking Lennox waiting for me. His room was a mess. Clothes littered the floor, shoes thrown to each corner of the room. I was confused to see it in such a state because Lennox is a top-notch man when it comes to cleanliness; he loves everything tidy.

The moment he noticed my presence, he turned to me, and our eyes met. I could see anger and hatred for me in his eyes, and this baffled me because, among the triplets, Lennox was the closest to me when we were little. Back then, when my father was still a respectable warrior, he would bring me to the pack house to watch him train, and on various occasions, my path crossed with the triplets. I was just seven years old then, and they were twelve years old, but we turned out to be great friends. In fact, I visited the pack house more often, and while my father trained other warriors, I played with the triplets.

But that was before.

Before everything fell apart.

Just like Anita, they severed all ties, acting as though we had never been friends.

"Who cleaned my room yesterday?" Lennox suddenly asked, his voice filled with rage that made my wolf whimper in fear inside me.

I swallowed hard in fear and forced myself to speak. "I did."

Lennox's expression darkened, and he took another step towards me, but out of fear, I instinctively took a step backward.

"Then tell me, Omega," he sneered, his voice dripping with anger, "where is the diamond necklace I kept in my top drawer?"

I froze, my heart racing as Lennox's words sank in. A diamond necklace? I had no idea what he was talking about. My mind reeled, trying to recall if I had seen anything of the sort while cleaning his room. But all I could remember was organizing his scattered belongings, folding his clothes, and dusting the surfaces. There had been no necklace in the drawer.

"I... I didn't see any necklace," I stammered, my voice trembling as I met his accusing gaze.

Lennox's eyes narrowed. "Don't lie to me, Omega," he growled, his tone laced with anger. "The necklace didn't just grow legs and walk out of the drawer."

"I'm not lying!" I protested, panic creeping into my voice. "I cleaned the room, but I didn't take anything. I swear!"

He closed the distance between us instantly, towering over me with his imposing frame. "You expect me to believe that?" he snapped. "You and your kind are all the same. Thieves and liars."

His words hurt me, and I felt my wolf stir with anger, but I quickly suppressed her. Defending myself against Lennox in this state would only escalate things.

"I didn't take it," I repeated, my voice steadier this time. "You can search me if you don't believe me. Check my room. Check anywhere you want. I have nothing to hide."

Lennox studied me, his jaw clenched tight. For a moment, I thought he might strike me, but instead, he turned and began tearing through the room, pulling open drawers, throwing clothes onto the floor, and overturning furniture searching for the necklace.

I stood there, my lips pressed together as I fought to hold back my tears. The Lennox I had known as a child, the boy who had taught me to climb trees, The boy who used to teach me how to swim, who used to protect me from his brothers' pranks, was gone. In his place was a cold, bitter man who saw me as nothing more than a thief and a liar.

Minutes later Lennox stopped searching, his breathing heavy as he stood amidst the chaos he had created. The necklace was nowhere to be found. He turned to me, his eyes blazing with frustration.

"I can't find it, Olivia. It's gone. That was a gift I got for Anita, a gift I wanted to give her on her eighteenth birthday. Do you know how much that cost me?" he asked in anger.

I swallowed hard in fear but stood my ground. "I did not take it..."

"Lies!" he angrily cut me off.

Lennox exhaled sharply, rubbing his temple. "This doesn't make sense," he muttered. "You cleaned my room. You were the last one here." His gaze hardened. "Don't lie to me, Olivia. Where is it?"

When I remained silent, his eyes blazed.

"You are a thief, just like your father! A thief!" he cursed, and I pressed my lips together, holding myself back from answering him.

Lennox's words hit me like a blow to the chest. A thief. Just like my father. It didn't matter how hard I worked, how much I tried to keep my head down and stay out of trouble, this pack would always see me as the daughter of a disgraced warrior.

"Only two people came into this room yesterday," Lennox continued, his voice low and sharp, like the growl of his wolf ready to pounce. "You and Anita. So, tell me, Olivia, who else could have taken it?"

I stiffened at his words, the pieces clicking together in my mind. Anita. Of course. She had been in his room yesterday. I remembered seeing her standing by his dresser, pretending to admire a framed photograph.

I knew Anita better than anyone else. She was cunning, always looking for ways to get what she wanted. I remembered the time she stole a pack warrior's silver bracelet, only to cry her way out of trouble. Or the time she framed a servant for breaking the Alpha's Favorite vase, earning the poor girl a week in the dungeons.

And now, she had done it again. But this time, I was her scapegoat.

Who would dare enter Lennox's room and steal something so valuable?

No one.

No one except Anita.

But the words were heavy on my tongue. I couldn't say it. Not to Lennox. If I accused Anita, I'd only make things worse for myself. No one would believe me. Lennox would defend her, just like everyone else did.

"I didn't take it," I said again.

Lennox let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "You think I'm stupid, don't you?"

I bit back a retort, my wolf growling in frustration. I wanted to scream the truth at him, to tell him that Anita was far from the innocent, perfect girl he thought she was. But I couldn't. Not without proof. And even if I had proof, it wouldn't matter. Anita had the triplets wrapped around her finger.

"You know what, Olivia?" Lennox sneered, taking another step toward me. "I'm done wasting my time with you. If that necklace doesn't turn up by the end of the day, I'll make sure you and your mother are punished. Severely."

His words sent a chill down my spine, but I stood my ground, meeting his gaze. "I didn't take it," I repeated one last time, my voice steady despite the fear coursing through me.

Lennox glared at me for a moment longer before turning away, his shoulders tense with rage. "I give you until the end of today to return that necklace. Get out," he growled.

I didn't need to be told twice. I turned and left the room, my heart pounding as I walked down the hallway. Once I was far enough away, I leaned against the wall, my legs trembling beneath me.

Anita. She had to be the one who took the necklace. I knew it in my gut. But how could I prove it without putting myself in even more danger? The triplets wouldn't believe me, and Anita would just deny it, twisting the situation to make me look like the villain.

"Here you are, Olivia," a guard said as he walked over to me. "Levi is looking for you, and he doesn't seem happy."

The guard's announcement made my heart sink in fear.

"Why? What happened?" I asked, terrified.

Joshua, the guard, shook his head. "I don't know, Olivia, but he is really furious and demanding for you."

Shit! What could it be this time?

Olivia's POV

"Start talking, Olivia... before I lose my patience," Levi demanded, his voice laced with anger.

I stood frozen, unable to form words as I struggled to process the accusation. Again. I was being accused of stealing—again.

"Olivia!" His voice thundered through the room. "Don't make me lose my patience! Where is the bundle of dollar notes I kept in my drawer? Speak, you thief!"

My eyes widened in shock. But Before I could respond, the door to Levi's room burst open, and Louis stormed in, seething with rage.

"Olivia, where is the money I kept in my drawer?" Louis demanded.

I took a step back, my breath hitching as both Levi and Louis glared at me with fiery rage. My heart pounded in my chest—not out of guilt, but out of sheer disbelief. This wasn't happening. Not again.

"I didn't take anything," I managed to say, my voice trembling.

Levi scoffed, running a frustrated hand through his hair. "Really? Then tell us who else could have taken it. Who else enters our room if not you?"

Louis folded his arms, his frown deepening. "Don't play innocent, Olivia. Just return the money and save us all the drama."

Tears gathered in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. At least not now.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I forced myself to speak. "I didn't take your money," I repeated, louder this time, my voice shaking with suppressed emotion. "I would never steal from any of you."

"Liar!"

I flinched at the new voice and turned to see Lennox standing at the doorway. His eyes, filled with cold hatred, locked onto mine.

"The necklace I bought for Anita is missing too," he announced, turning to his brothers.

All three of them—Levi, Louis, and Lennox—looked at me as if I were the worst kind of filth.

Levi was the first to walk toward me, and out of panic, I tried to run away, but it was useless. I was surrounded by the triplets.

Levi pinned me against the wall, lifting my hands above my head while his burning glare was staring right into my eyes.

"This is your last chance to confess and return what you stole, or you'll be dealt with accordingly," he threatened.

A tear slid down my cheek as I met his angry gaze. I knew, regardless of what I said, they would never believe that I didn't steal from them. They would never believe that their precious Anita was the one stealing from them.

"One... two..." Levi began counting, and all I could do was shed more tears.

I sobbed silently, knowing the punishment for stealing in this household was brutal. Some thieves were thrown into the dungeons, like my father. Others had their hands chopped off. Some faced even worse fates.

As Levi counted, my mind raced. Would I end up like my father, rotting in a dungeon? Or worse?

"Ten."

He released my wrists and took a step back.

"She's just like her father—a stubborn thief," Lennox sneered. More tears slipped down my cheeks.

"Guards! Bring some maids!" Louis ordered sharply.

As we waited for the arrival of the maids, my heart raced in my chest. What were these men going to do to me? Why were they sending for maids?

My gaze met Lennox's, and he glared at me with so much hate, which made me wonder—did he really hate me just because my father was accused of stealing? Was this all about it, or was there something else involved? How could a man who once cherished me now look at me with such disgust?

Three maids walked in and bowed their heads to the triplets.

Levi was the one to usher the punishment. "Take her to the mansion rooftop. Strip her and apply pepper to her naked body. Make sure she kneels under the sun."

A tear slid down my cheek, but I didn't say a word. Compared to what was done to anyone accused of stealing, this was a lesser punishment for me.

"Take her away," Lennox demanded coldly.

The maids took hold of my arms and led me out of the room. I didn't struggle. There was no point. As we walked through the mansion, I saw my mother. She was sobbing, her entire body trembling, but she didn't dare approach me. If she did, she'd share my punishment.

When we reached the rooftop, the maids let go of me.

"Please undress," one of them urged softly.

I hesitated, my entire body trembling, but there was no escape. Swallowing hard, I began removing my clothes, my tears falling freely.

One of the maids picked up a bowl of ground pepper and moved closer. My body tensed.

The moment the first handful of pepper touched my skin, an agonized scream tore from my lips. My body convulsed as the fiery sting spread across my skin. They rubbed it everywhere—every inch of my exposed flesh except for my face. The burning sensation was unbearable. My knees buckled, but I forced myself to stay upright.

"You have to kneel," one of the maids said.

I hesitated, but my body was already giving in. Slowly, I sank to my knees, my sobs wracking my entire being. The scorching sun hit down on me, intensifying the torment. My entire body felt like it was on fire.

How could anyone be so cruel?

I wanted to scream, to beg for the pain to stop, but I knew it would only make things worse.

It was as if the sun was against me because it began to heat even more. My whole body was burning with pain, and it felt like I would pass out soon. The pain was unbearable. I had never imagined I would go through such torture.

With tear-filled eyes, I looked at the maids who stood in a corner, staring at me with pity. Painful tears trickled down my cheeks while my entire body burned. As the excruciating pain enveloped me, my vision blurred, and my head spun.

Painful memories flashed through my mind. The triplets used to adore me. They used to fight over who got to spend more time with me. They used to playfully argue about which one of them would marry me when we grew up.

How did everything change so drastically?

How did men who once cherished me suddenly hate me so much?

I wished my father hadn't been framed. I wished he had been proven innocent. Then, maybe... maybe, the triplets wouldn't hate me this much.

The fiery sting of the pepper intensified, searing every inch of my exposed skin. I struggled to remain upright, my knees weakening beneath me. With each agonizing breath, the world seemed to tilt and sway until, finally, I could no longer fight the overwhelming sensation of nausea and torment.

My body gave way, and I crumpled to the ground. Distant voices called my name, but I was already slipping into darkness, into the past. Into the days when the triplets swore they'd protect me. Back when they fought over who would marry me, not who would break me. But those boys were gone. And so was I.