Chapter 2 The triplets

The first thing Eva noticed as she drifted back to consciousness was the warmth. It was heavy and all-encompassing, a stark contrast to the biting cold of the forest that lingered at the edges of her memory. She stirred slightly, her body sore and unresponsive, as if she had run for miles. The softness beneath her seemed foreign, not the hard ground of the woods where she'd last been. Slowly, the realization crept in-she wasn't outside anymore.

Eva opened her eyes, blinking against the dim glow of firelight that flickered across a spacious, rustic room. The air smelled of wood smoke, cedar, and something deeper, almost primal. Shadows danced across timber walls, and a fire crackled in a stone hearth that looked like it had been built centuries ago. The room felt alive with an unspoken energy, humming just below the surface. She wasn't sure whether it was comforting or unsettling.

She pushed herself up slightly, wincing as her muscles screamed in protest. A thick blanket slid down her shoulders, revealing an oversized black T-shirt she didn't recognize. She froze, her mind racing. Her clothes-her jacket, her jeans-were gone. In their place was this shirt, soft against her skin and imbued with the faint scent of musk and something wild, something that made her heart thrum in her chest for reasons she couldn't explain.

A faint creak pulled her attention to the shadows at the far end of the room. Eva's eyes darted toward the sound, and she stiffened when a figure emerged, stepping into the firelight.

"Awake, finally," the man said, his voice smooth but carrying a teasing lilt that immediately set her on edge.

He was tall and broad, his golden-brown hair falling in waves that looked too perfect to be unintentional. His green eyes sparkled with a kind of mischief, though his stance-a casual lean against the doorframe-seemed too calculated to be relaxed. He wore an open shirt, the firelight casting shadows over a body that could have been carved from stone.

Eva yanked the blanket closer to her chest, her pulse hammering. "Who are you?" she demanded, her voice rough from disuse. "Where am I?"

The man pushed off the doorframe, his movements fluid, predatory. "Easy, sweetheart," he said, a smirk playing on his lips. "You're safe. That's all you need to worry about."

"Safe?" she repeated, the word catching in her throat. "Safe from what? And why am I-" She glanced down at the unfamiliar shirt, her cheeks flushing with heat. "Why am I dressed like this?"

He chuckled, low and rich. "Relax. No one saw anything they shouldn't have. You were drenched, unconscious, and freezing when we found you. Letting you stay in those clothes wasn't exactly an option."

Eva's embarrassment quickly turned to anger. "I didn't ask for anyone to undress me."

The man's grin widened. "Believe me, sweetheart, I wasn't volunteering. Dominic insisted."

"Who the hell is Dominic?" she snapped, her frustration boiling over.

"Me."

The new voice was deep, commanding, and it filled the room like a physical presence. Eva whipped her head around to see another man entering, his dark eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her breath catch. His black sweater and jeans were simple, but they couldn't hide the sheer power in the way he carried himself. His gaze was unreadable, but it pierced through her all the same.

"Kael," he said sharply, addressing the golden-haired man. "Stop provoking her."

Kael raised his hands in mock surrender but didn't bother to hide his amusement. "Just trying to make her feel welcome, Dom."

Dominic ignored him, his focus remaining on Eva. "You shouldn't be out of bed," he said, his voice softening slightly.

Eva bristled. "I don't even know where I am, and no one's explaining anything to me. I think I deserve some answers."

Dominic's jaw tightened, his expression unreadable. For a moment, she thought he might refuse, but then he nodded. "You're in Crescent Fang territory. This is our packhouse."

"Packhouse?" she echoed, the word unfamiliar and foreboding.

"Yes," Dominic replied evenly. "You're in the heart of Lycan territory."

The word hit her like a punch to the gut. She blinked at him, her mind scrambling to process what he'd just said. "Lycan?" Her voice wavered. "You mean werewolves?"

Kael chuckled from behind her. "Not exactly," he said, his tone playful but edged with something sharper. "Werewolves are... diluted. More beast than man. Lycans are the real deal-stronger, faster, and far more dangerous."

Eva shook her head, her instincts warring with the impossible reality they were presenting. "This has to be a joke. A prank. None of this is real."

"It's real," Dominic said, his tone brooking no argument. "And you'd better start believing it. A rogue wolf doesn't just attack random people. It was after you."

Before she could argue, another voice interrupted.

"She's awake, I see."

The third brother had appeared, standing just inside the doorway. His silver eyes were cold, his expression unreadable. He leaned against the frame, his dark auburn hair falling across his forehead. There was a sharpness to him, a detachment that made Eva's skin prickle.

"You should've left her," he said flatly. "Now she's our responsibility."

"Lysander," Dominic said, his tone low with warning.

"She has no idea what she's walking into," Lysander continued, ignoring his brother. His gaze flicked to Eva, assessing her like she was an inconvenience. "If the rogues want her, they'll keep coming. And now they know she's here."

Eva's stomach turned. "Why would they want me? I'm nobody. Just... normal."

Kael snorted. "Sweetheart, you've got a big storm coming if you think you're normal."

Dominic shot him a glare before turning back to her. "We don't know why yet," he admitted, his voice softer. "But you're not just normal, Eva. There's something about you that made that rogue hunt you."

The weight of their words settled over her like a crushing force. Her mind rebelled against the idea, clinging to the notion that she was just an ordinary woman who had taken a wrong turn in the forest. But deep down, she couldn't deny the truth of what they were saying. She'd felt it in the rogue's eyes, in the way it had pursued her with singular intent.

"What happens now?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Dominic's expression softened, but his tone remained firm. "Now, we protect you. You stay here until we figure out what's going on."

"And what if I don't want to stay?" she challenged, though her voice lacked conviction.

"You don't have a choice," Lysander said bluntly. "If you leave, you'll die."

The words hung heavy in the air, silencing any protest she might have made. She glanced between the three of them, their stark differences striking. Dominic, with his commanding presence; Kael, whose charm was laced with danger; and Lysander, cold and distant but undeniably sharp. Together, they radiated power, a force she couldn't hope to match.

Her instincts screamed at her to run, but she knew the truth. There was no escaping this-not the danger, and certainly not them.

"You'll be safe here," Dominic said, his voice low but certain. "That's a promise."

Eva swallowed hard, her pulse quickening under his steady gaze. She didn't know if she could trust them, but for now, she didn't have a choice.