Chapter 16
Gina.
“You are almost there,” Devon cooed as I gently made my way to the top of the mountain.
The mountain climbing was not as difficult as I had heard people talk about it. The only thing that was giving me some sort of discomfort were the mountain boots that were a little smaller than my size.
Finally, I got to the top of the mountain, panting and sweating, but above all, pleased with the fact that I made it.
Derrick happily pulled me into his arms to k**s me, but I stylishly avoided him doing so, with the guise that I was loosening the rope around my waist.
I have decided that I will no longer have any sort of intimacy with any of the triplets.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.
Since they just want me to be around them for now as their friend, I hope to be their friend in the best possible way I can without compromising myself.
They had promised that they wouldn’t make me do what I didn’t want to, so I have decided that fooling with them is not what I want.
Yes, I know it will be very difficult for me, especially since I feel so attracted to them, but I must do my best to resist them. That way, I hope I won’t get affected when they give Gwen who happens to be their rightful mate the attention she receives.
Even though Derrick felt a bit slighted by my refusal to k**s him, he didn’t make any fuss about it.
We stayed up in the mountains, listing, playing, and snacking on light refreshments.
“So, what are your plans after you get your freedom?” Devon asks some questions after some time.
“Hopefully finding my mate and starting my catering business somewhere I can make good money,” I said, pretending not to notice the sudden gloom on their faces when I mentioned the word “mate.”
Deep within me, I was hurt by the fact that I was going to get someone else aside from the triplets. I have without a doubt come to like them very much.
But fate had already decided for us all, and there is no use crying over something we have no power over.
Even if a miracle were to happen, my alpha, their father would never accept the union between alpha and omega.
“What if you don’t like your mate?” Derrick questioned while circling the tip of the water bottle he was holding.
His question took me a little surprised as I have often asked myself that question, especially since I started having this attraction towards the triplets.
“Can you hear yourself, like who wouldn’t like their mate? We are all supposed to fall helplessly in love with our mates, irrespective of who they are. Just the same way, you guys will be drooling after your future Luna when she clocks twenty-one,” I said lightheartedly, intending to cheer them up.
Somehow, my words were not affecting the boys the way I would have expected. They were calm and reflective.
“Would you reject your mate to be with someone you love?” Devon asked me while holding my eyes in his as if trying to ascertain whether I was going to lie or not.
“Why would I regret my mate? I mean, I can never do it. It may not be love at first sight, but we work something out.” I said, stocking my mouth full of chips so I can have an excuse not to answer their questions which were making me very uncomfortable.
“We wish we were your mate,” Derrick said, and his words struck me differently as I found myself staring into his eyes.
“It’s true,” Devon concurred with his brother.
It’s one thing to think that they just want me for their selfish reasons, but it hits differently to hear them openly wish to be my mate.
“Well, wishes aren’t horses,” I said with a deep sigh while mildly closing my eyes to shut out the tons of emotions going through my body.
“What if these beggars can afford the horses,” he questions.
“Then, I guess it’s up to the seller to decide what she wants, and as it seems you all already have a very beautiful horse that was made only for you. It is only fair that you guys cherish it while you still can,” I said, shifting my attention from one brother to the other.
“Would you come and visit us?” Devon asked, after some awkward silence.
“Why not? Of course, I would come if I was invited, but I am very certain that when the mate bond hits you guys, you won’t even remember me,” I said with a weak smile that didn’t come from my heart.
I didn’t understand why I was hurting so much from the things I was saying, and the fact that Derrick and Devon were keeping gloomy faces made it even worse for me.
“So, what are your plans for your birthday?” Derrick questioned, attempting to cheer up our moods.
“Nothing much. I know I will be very busy trying to make sure your mate looks like the future Luna that she is meant to be,” I said, while honestly wishing that I could spend the day with my parents.
That was one of the reasons I had come back home—to spend some time with them before finding my future mate.
But all those plans have been disorganized, but hopefully, I will still get to spend some time with them before I find my mate.
And again, I didn’t honestly think I could stand by and watch the triplets being mated to Gwen. My heart was already shedding itself at the mere thought of it.
Hopefully, she can permit me to take that day off to go and visit my parents.
“We should probably be back to join Denver and Gwen,” Derrick said, standing up from where he had sat.
It was at the point of climbing down the mountain that I understood what a mess I had gotten myself into. It was three times harder than it was on the way up. But luckily, I didn’t sustain any injuries, which I was applauded for by Derrick and Devon.
They said most first-time climbers tend to have injuries on their way down the mountains, and that they even got their fair share of injuries.
We were laughing and talking, with Devon’s hand casually wrapped around my waist, when we saw Gwen and Denver walking towards us.
Devon quickly takes his hand off me, but not before Gwen sees him. Her mood and face immediately change.
“It appeared you guys had lots of fun,” she said, trying so hard to hide her anger.
Denver, on the other hand, didn’t say anything as he kept his eyes on me.
“Yeah, Gina did great; she didn’t even get a scratch on her,” Derrick said, walking over to where Gwen was standing and attempting to hold her, but she pushed his hand off.
“I can see that; it almost appears as if this vacation was planned for you guys and her,” she said.
“What are you talking about?” You said you didn’t want to go mountain climbing.
“Exactly my point, what about last night?” Why did she have to join us in our games? “Because I didn’t want to go mountain climbing, you chose to go with my maid, and not only that, but you are coming back with your hands wrapped around her like newlyweds,” she said angrily.
“It’s nothing; we were cracking a joke,” Devon said in a calm voice, while still trying to pacify the enraged Gwen.
“I’m sorry if I didn’t find it funny; please, I need to go back home,” she said and walked off, with Derrick running after her.
“I knew this was going to happen eventually,” I said, unable to bear the amount of pain and shame I was going through.
Despite always having issues with Gwen, for once, I couldn’t help but admit that she was right. Anyone would be angry if someone tried to take away their mate’s attention from them.
“It’s not your fault; we will speak with her,” Denver assured me, but his words were like medicine after death.
All through that evening, there was this intense atmosphere, and I could tell the triplets were doing their best to placate the angry Gwen.
Knowing that I was the reason for Gwen’s pain tore my heart, and I felt like I was a traitor. I noticed she didn’t call me to her room, nor did she come down for dinner.
Honestly, I was getting scared of what would happen to me or my parents when the alpha or her father get to know about this.
Maybe I should have thought about that, before letting my heart get me into serious trouble.
Very early the next morning, we traveled back to the pack. The ride was long and boring, and despite the triplet’s effort to bring me out of my bad mood, I just couldn’t get over it.
We arrived at the palace, and Gwen angrily went to her room, not bothering to answer Luna, who had come out to welcome her.
I brought out her luggage and took them to her. I was still trying to help her arrange her clothes back in her wardrobe when I felt a powerful slap on my face.
For once, I couldn’t retaliate; I didn’t have the urge to because I felt I was wrong and deserved everything I was getting from her.
“I think I have given you so much freedom that now you think you can have a taste of what’s mine. From now on, you will tend to my needs and answer me only. If I ever get you or hear anyone tell me that you were seen even ten feet from any of my mates, I will have you executed,” she threatened.