My Possessive Triplets

Macey

I pushed through the last set of double doors with my headphones still hanging around my neck, half-listening to a lecture replay and half-thinking about dinner. The late afternoon sun had dipped low enough to stretch long shadows across the pavement, and for a moment, everything felt... normal.

That was the last normal moment I would ever have.

Something was off the second I turned into our street. People were gathered in clusters, whispering. A few stood too still, eyes fixed in one direction. Others were already leaving, quick steps, heads down, as if they didn't want to be involved.

My heart stuttered. I slowed, confusion prickling at the back of my neck.

"What happened?" I asked no one in particular, but no one answered.

A woman glanced at me, her face pale, then looked away like she couldn't bear to meet my eyes. That's when I saw the police tape. Bright yellow, cutting across our yard.

My stomach dropped so fast it felt like the ground had disappeared beneath me.

No. No, no, no...

My feet started moving before my brain caught up. I pushed past a man trying to block the path. "Hey... miss, you can't..."

"I live here!" My voice cracked, sharp and panicked. "That's my house!"

Everything blurred after that; faces, voices, the way hands reached out but didn't quite grab me. I ducked under the tape and then I saw it.

Blood. So much blood.

It stained the grass a deep, ugly red, soaked into the earth like it had been poured there. My breath hitched violently in my chest, refusing to come out properly. For a second, I thought I might pass out.

Then I saw them. My parents lay just behind the house, near the back steps. Too still. Too wrong.

"Mom?" The word came out small and weak. Like it didn't belong in a world like this.

I took a step forward. Then another.

"Dad?" No response. Their bodies were... broken.

I couldn't process it all at once. My eyes kept catching on pieces, the unnatural angle of my father's back, my mother's hand curled toward him like she'd been reaching for him at the end and the wounds...

God.

The wounds didn't make sense. There were deep gashes, like something had torn into them. Their necks... I couldn't look too long. I couldn't breathe when I did.

"It was an animal attack."

The voice came from behind me, calm but strained. I turned slowly. A police officer stood there, watching me like he didn't know what to do.

"An animal?" I echoed, my voice hollow.

He nodded once. "That's what it looks like. Possibly a large dog or... something from the zoo. We're still investigating."

"A zoo animal?" I repeated, shaking my head.

He didn't answer because he didn't believe it either.

The days that followed passed in fragments. Voices murmuring condolences I couldn't hear. Hands squeezing my shoulder. Paperwork shoved in front of me. Questions I couldn't answer and then the funeral.

I stood between two polished wooden coffins, dressed in black that felt too heavy for my skin. People came and left.

I didn't notice anything.

All I felt was empty. Like someone had scooped everything out of my chest and left nothing behind.

"Macey."

A woman stood a few feet away, watching me with an expression I couldn't quite read. She was elegant, composed, dressed in a way that didn't quite match the quiet grief around us. Her eyes, though, they were sharp. Observant. Like she was seeing more than everyone else.

"I'm Fiona Summers," she said gently. "Your father's sister."

I blinked.

"My... aunt?"

She nodded. "We haven't met. Your father and I..." She hesitated, then sighed softly. "We weren't close."

That was an understatement. I had never even heard of her.

"I'm sorry for your loss," she continued, stepping closer. "I know this must be overwhelming."

Overwhelming? That felt like a small word for something this big.

"I came as soon as I heard," she added. "You shouldn't be alone right now."

I almost laughed. Alone was all I had left.

"I'm fine," I said automatically, though my voice sounded distant, even to me.

Her gaze lingered on me for a moment longer, like she didn't believe me. I didn't believe it either.

"You can't stay here," she said after a pause.

My head snapped up. "What?"

"This house," she said quietly. "This city. It's not safe for you anymore."

Something in the way she said it made my skin prickle.

"Not safe?" I repeated. "What does that even mean? The police said it was an animal..."

"The police are wrong."

Her words cut through the air like a blade and I stared at her.

"How would you know that?"

She didn't answer right away. Instead, she glanced around, as if making sure no one else was listening.

"Because I know things they don't," she said finally. "Things your parents never told you."

A chill ran down my spine.

"What things?"

Her expression softened slightly. "Not here. Not now."

That wasn't good enough.

"I'm not going anywhere with someone I just met," I said, my voice firmer now. "You show up out of nowhere, tell me I'm not safe, and expect me to just... what? Pack my bags and follow you?"

Her lips pressed into a thin line.

"You don't have another option, Macey."

The bluntness of it hit harder than I expected.

"Your parents are gone," she continued, her tone gentler but no less serious. "You're nineteen. Alone. And whatever killed them..." She stopped herself but it was too late.

"Whatever killed them what?" I demanded.

Her eyes locked onto mine.

"It's not finished."

Silence fell between us.

A part of me wanted to argue. To refuse. To stay in the only place I had ever known, even if it now felt like a grave. But another part, the same part that had looked at my parents' bodies and known something wasn't right, whispered something else.

Go.

I swallowed hard.

"...Where would we even go?"

A flicker of something unreadable passed through her eyes.

"Amawi Kingdom."

The drive lasted hours. At least ten... maybe more.

Time blurred into an endless stretch of road, the scenery shifting from city lights to open highways, then to winding roads that cut deeper and deeper into the mountains.

At some point, my phone lost signal. At another, the radio turned to static.

"You don't get reception out here?" I asked, more to fill the silence than anything else.

"We do, back at home," Fiona replied simply, her eyes fixed on the road.

The further we drove, the quieter it became. The forest closed in around us, trees growing taller, thicker, their branches intertwining overhead like they were trying to block out the sky. Mist began to creep along the ground.

I shifted in my seat, unease settling into my bones.

"Where exactly is this place?" I asked.

"You'll see."

I exhaled sharply. "You keep saying that."

"And you keep asking questions I can't answer yet."

At some point, even the road seemed to change. It narrowed and twisted like it didn't want us there. A shiver ran down my spine.

"Fiona..." I started, my voice quieter now. "This place... it's not on any map, is it?"

Her grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly.

"No," she admitted.

That should have scared me more than it did but by then, I think I was too numb to fully react.

We drove on and then, the forest opened. Just like that.

One moment, it was dense, suffocating the next, it parted like a curtain and beyond it...

My breath caught: A city.

Hidden in the heart of the mountains. Lights glowed softly against the dark, illuminating buildings that rose in sleek lines of glass and stone. It looked modern, beautiful, even, but there was something else woven into it. Something older: darker.

I leaned forward slightly, my eyes scanning everything I could see.

"How is this even possible?" I whispered.

Fiona didn't answer right away. When she did, her voice was quiet.

"This," she said, "is Amawi."

We drove closer and the closer we got, the more details emerged.

A strange sensation crept over me like I was being watched. Not just by people but by the place itself. I swallowed, my fingers curling slightly in my lap.

"What is this place?" I asked again, my voice barely above a whisper now.

Fiona finally looked at me. Really looked at me and for the first time since I met her, I saw something like certainty in her eyes.

"Amawi Kingdom," she said, "is where you'll learn the truth about who you are."

Macey

Today is my first day at college and I'm excited about it partly because I want to make new friends and forget the trauma of losing my parents.

My aunt had taken me through the admission process and now, I was ready to hop into class.

It's been a week since I arrived here and honestly, the place isn't as I expected. They say, don't judge a book by its cover, what is inside might blow your mind.

I had thought that the kingdom would be as boring as shit after stepping here for the first time. Now, I share a different opinion about the place.

It's everything different from what a city could offer. It's relaxing here and filled with serenity as my aunt said. Oh, and don't forget, the people here are very friendly and accomodating.

They didn't make me feel like a stranger. They treat me as if they've known me all my life.

I do find their friendly nature odd but that doesn't mean I'm not enjoying it.

With the last touch of my makeup, I walk downstairs.

My aunt, Fiona, and her husband Leonardo have not been blessed with children even after trying for so long.

Life can be cruel, especially to such sweet people. They have been treating me as their own, reminding me about how life was when my parents were still alive.

"I thought you would never leave your room," my aunt joked and I smiled.

I admit, I did take a little long to get ready.

"You are looking absolutely beautiful," uncle Leo commented.

"But my wife will always be the most beautiful in my eyes," he added, moving to place a kiss on her cheeks.

Aunt Fiona blushed.

"Stop it," she giggled yet I could tell she loved his PDA.

After breakfast, which was made of my favourite pancakes sprinkled with jam, I headed out to school.

The college wasn't far from our house and although I would have preferred to walk, my aunt insisted on driving me there.

"They would kill me if they saw you walking to college even if it was two steps away from here," aunt Fiona had said as she pushed me into the car and I didn't have time to ask her who or why.

"Have fun," she said, winking at me after dropping me at the school gate.

I took a deep breath, the air filling my lungs and making me smile.

The clean and pure air here wasn't something you would find in the city. Here, it felt like being close to nature which was refreshing.

I had not taken ten steps when someone called my attention from behind.

"Are you the new student?" The lady asked, smiling at me.

I frowned at her words but nodded regardless.

"How did you know?"

"The pack isn't large and it's not hard to know when someone new arrives. Besides, everyone is talking about the new girl being... sorry,I am speaking a lot,aren't I?" She snickered then clamped her mouth shut with her hand.

"Being what?" I asked her with cocked brows.

"I...err... beautiful, yea,beautiful. They say you are such a beauty," she explained, albeit awkwardly.

I could tell she did withhold some information from me but I didn't press on the matter.

"Oops, forgive my manners. I am Linda, Linda Wales and in my second year at the college," she introduced, extending her hand for a shake.

"Macey Summers," I said, taking her hand.

"I hope we can be friends, Macey," she said excitedly.

I could tell she was a bubbly person and very charming.

"Why not?" I replied with a smile.

Since she was the first person to propose friendship to me, I couldn't turn her down. Besides, I could tell we would make the best of friends. I already liked her.

We walked to the school premises chatting about nothing and everything.

I came to know that although we were taking different courses, we would be sharing some classes for the common units.

Linda and I parted ways, each going to their respective classes with the promise of meeting up at the canteen for lunch.

Walking down the pathway leading to my morning class, I had this weird feeling that someone was watching me.

Turning around, I caught no suspicious gaze. Everyone was on their business making me wonder if I was actually just Imagining it.

Shaking that feeling off, I made my way to the lecture hall.

The class went on smoothly and when it ended, I hopped to the next.

I could not wait for lunchtime to clock so that I could see Linda again.

"Hey, your hair looks so beautiful," a lady commented from behind me where I sat in class.

Turning back, I flashed her a smile, not forgetting to say thank you.

"Be careful though, don't land yourself into trouble or you might not get the chance to admire it in the mirror again," she said, her voice a shade darker and carrying a hint of a warning.

Is she threatening me? I wasn't stupid not to perceive her unfriendly tone. I was taken aback wondering why she would use that tone with me. I don't remember offending her or something.

Before I could ask her what her deal was, she walked away, followed by two other girls who seemed to be like her lackeys with how they glared at me as they walked away.

Her words set me in a bad mood and even throughout the lecture, my mind kept wandering back to her words.

I was among the first to leave when the class ended.

As agreed, Linda was waiting for me at the canteen.

"Over here!" She waved at me shouting.

I can't understand how the girl manages to wear a smile on her face all the time.I can't see myself doing that or I might suffer from facial paralysis from faking that shit. She is one real bitch with how genuine her smiles are.

Walking to the table, Linda had already served lunch for us.

With a simple thank you, I started to dig in. I was hungry as much as I was annoyed.

"Easy there!" Linda giggled. " Why does it feel like you have a grudge with the food?" She snickered.

I was about to rant when the murmurs erupted throughout the canteen as everyone's eyes fixed on the entrance.

Curious, I turned to look in the direction and my heart almost popped from my chest when I caught sight of three drop dead gorgeous specimens walking inside.

Wow!

Macey

As if planned, the three pairs of eyes connected with mine and time seemed to stop.

I stared at them with worship from how gorgeous they were.

I have always been a sucker for beautiful things and the men approaching were Greek gods coming straight out of my deepest fantasies.

"You are drooling," Linda whispered in my ears, pulling me harshly from my trance. My palm moved quickly to wipe my mouth only to have Linda burst to giggles.

" Gotcha!" She laughed, making me glare at her.

Damn! She fooled me.

Deciding to steer my eyes clear from them, I looked down, choosing to look at my food whose aesthetics paled compared to the three.

They must have been triplets since they looked so identical in everything that it was hard to tell them apart.

"Jariel, wait for me," someone shouted and that had me turning to look only to be welcomed by that annoying woman's face.

"Who is she?" I whispered to Linda and she snorted.

"Some self centred and annoying bitch who thinks the world revolves around her," she replied.

I could tell from her tone that she didn't like the woman.

Well, I didn't like her too, not after the disturbing words she vomited to me earlier.

The man didn't seem too pleased to see her and even shrugged her when she hooked her hands on his.

That had me smiling inwardly for some reason.

Pleased to see her look embarrassed, I went back to digging on my food when the chair next to me was pulled and a sweet scent of mint and Jasmine wafted into my nose making me almost moan.

It was so relaxing and cool.

Looking besides me, I almost choked on my food when two of the gorgeous men sat there, right next to me as if it was the most natural thing to do.

As if on cue, the other sat on my other side, sandwiching me between them.

The murmurs died down and I could feel countless pairs of eyes looking at me.

I also felt a malicious gaze directed my way and turning to look at the side, I wasn't mistaken.

The lady from earlier was glaring at me like I was her mortal enemy she wished she could strangle to death.

The air at the table turned awkward, well, except for Linda who had a big smile on her face making me wonder what was funny.

The guys didn't say a word and as much as I was itching to ask them why share our table when there were other unoccupied ones, I chose to keep my mouth shut.

After lunch, Linda and I headed to the next class which we shared.

When evening came, I bid Linda goodbye and walked to the gate where my aunt was waiting for me.

I caught sight of her looking behind me, prompting me to turn around and meet the faces of the triplets.

She smiled at them and they waved at her.

If I didn't know better, I swear I would have sworn that they were looking at me.

"How was your first day at school?" My aunt asked immediately we drove off.

I shrugged.

"It was fine,'' I replied honestly.

The lectures were fine and the people were friendly too, except for that annoying fly.

But I wasn't going to whine to my aunt about that.

"Just fine?" She asked and I nodded.

To me, it was fine. A normal school day.

"Oh yeah, I made a new friend. Her name is Linda," I added, a smile blooming on my face just thinking about that ball of energy.

"What about the triplets? They were watching you when I picked you up?" My aunt asked with this sly smirk making me frown.

"What?" I asked and she giggled.

"Seems like someone already captured three hearts on her first day at school," She teased, making me blush scarlet.

"What are you saying? I don't know those people. I didn't even talk to them.

You know what I think about them? They are pretty rude. They sat beside me during luch but didn't even say a word," I blurted out only to realise what I just blabbered out when my aunt turned to look at me.

"Rude? That's pretty new?" She mused but the smile on her face didn't escape my radar.

She also chose to ignore the fact that I said that they sat beside me at the cafeteria.

"Forget about it," I said, not wanting to talk about those gorgeous Adonis.

Yet my mind wandered to them.

They were so identical that I wonder how people tell them apart. Same hair style, same height, same eye colour and don't forget those abs sneaking from inside their shirts.

* * *

The following days went by very fast and before I realised it, it was Friday already.

I had managed to stay away from those three walking temptations lest I ended up being charged with sexual assault.

I have never been someone to get attracted to men easily but something about those guys was just drawing me to them like a moth to light.

It feels weird yet hard to fight. It's like they were sirens, enchanting me with their good looks and entrapping me.

It didn't escape me how we would coincidentally meet or find ourselves sitting near each other and as much as I want to ignore it, I had this feeling the triplets were trying to get my attention.

I might be wrong but... a girl can hope, right?

Today, I finally managed to convince my aunt to not pick me up and allow me to walk back home.

Although she seemed reluctant, she finally agreed after persuading her for eternity.

After saying goodbye to Linda, I left the school.

"Be careful, you don't know what surprise the forest has for you," Those were Linda's parting words.

I just laughed them off deeming them funny.

It's just a forest, what surprise could there be?

Plugging in my earphones and playing my favourite song 'Rewrite the Stars' I walked through the forest, making sure to steer clear from the main road.

Fifteen minutes to the walk, I heard a weird sound from the woods prompting me to halt in my steps.

Removing my earphones, I listened. Then I heard it, this time, it was very clear.

Three deep growls sounded making the hair on my skin rise.

My heart thumped loudly in my chest, threatening to pop out.

Then I watched in horror as three big black dogs, no wolves, (heck, what am I even saying? I couldn't tell whether they were dogs or wolves or hounds due to my fear) emerged from the woods.

Fight or flight kicked in but neither of them seemed possible for me.

Running away was not an option. I wouldn't be able to outrun the three beasts with my two legs.

Fight? Hah? As if I could land a blow on any one of them before I would be torn apart.

The three wild dogs stalked me while I kept retreating.

At that instant, I regretted asking my aunt not to pick me up.

If I didn't persuade her to let me experience nature, I wouldn't be saying my last prayer now.

"Come on, you don't need to scare me anymore at this point. If you want to maul me, get it done and over with already and don't make it too painful."

I closed my eyes waiting for the pain to come.