After my father's death, when everything was in a mess, we were grateful for them to take me in. My mother, who was the current Luna of our pack, was tortured and banished. They killed me too if not for hiding my identity as a common wolf, Rivara aunty took me out of hell. After all these years, I was used to stay under their care and nurturing myself to become stronger until the Braid Moon Pack approached my mother four years ago when their Alpha heir just turned eighteen and needed to be with his fated mate, me. Despite the deal being the best for our current state, my mother left the decision to me.

“Madi, what you say, I will listen to you.” She patted my head, “There's no such thing nowadays that you need to be with a fated mate, alright?”

“Yes.” Hearing my mother's words, I was content and told her how I loved the twins.

The tint on my cheeks were the proof and the glittery eyes made me drift into their dream.

But soon they made me realise I was nothing but a plaything for them.

“Madison, we told everything on whims.” Eirel’s frustrated tone buzzed my ears till now, “You are not a child. Can't you distinguish between playing around and seriousness?”

Yes, after all years of enduring and waiting turned me to be their plaything.

Since I chose to live my life once again, I wouldn't be someone's bootlicker anymore.

“Mom, I want to choose what’s best for me.” I smiled, the dim light of the basement resembled the unknown hope I had now, “Moreover, didn't you say that the Alpha of Braid Moon Pack is pretty good?”

“Yes,” My mother sighed, “Since you decided, I have nothing to say. But before leaving, remember to meet Rivara Aunty.”

“Okay.” As soon as I hung up, my head touched the cold floor again, my pain stringed. When I checked, my wound was wide open and bleeding.

My phone vibrated again revealing Seth’s social post: [Find someone who can cook for you.]

In the picture, Eirel and Aron was cooking while she was flaunting the rose bouquet and ring they gave her. Looking at the ring, I recalled the hell day and quickly get rid of the picture, by blocking three of them.

Out of sight, out of mind!

I weakly got up and carried my body on the car before driving in dizziness. I could barely drag my body before flopping on the bed. I took care of my wound, bandaging in again. I shut my eyes and took a long sleep before I woke in a daze and found a message on my phone.

[Madison, where are you? Remember you still owe us an apology.]

[Fuck you and your apology…ಠ⁠_⁠ಠ]

_ _

The day passed since I drifted into work. Recently one of my books became a best seller and was selected for movie adaptation. But when I was looking for my documents, I recalled how I left them in the Clascliar mansion.

“Shit!” I grunted under my breath and decided to go there.

When I entered the mansion, I encountered Seth who threw some rotten tomatoes on my direction. Instantly, my white dress was dirty and smelly.

“Oh, you are here.” She feigned her innocence as usual, “Sorry I didn't notice. You are not angry right?”

Even after saying so, she still managed to throw some tomatoes again.

“Oops! I should have been careful enough.” I would have believed her playing dumb if it were not for the smirk on her lips which could not be covered by her gracious acting skill. I crunched my nose, feeling disgusted because of her acting and the foul smell.

Meanwhile, Eirel and Aron came here. If it were before I would have complained to them but now it was no use. Aron laughed looking at my dreadful state, “Madison, you finally got to know your place.”

Holding my chin tightly, he cursed, “You bitch, told me to fuck myself right?”

Feeling painful, I used my full force to move him away when his guava scent stringed on my nostrils.

When we were shooting daggers, Eirel held Seth’s hand, that green tea bitch, very carefully. As soon as he turned to me, his gentleness evaporated like morning mist, “Madison, you can't escape without apologising to us, you know?”

I knew very well what they were capable of. Because of them, no one approached me. When a boy dared to bully me, the twins beat the shit out of him. So, there was noone better than me, when it came to knowing them.

“Eirel, I am here to get some documents.” I said in an indifferent tone, “Can you please spare me now?”

“Some documents?” Aron mocked, “You are telling like you will leave after getting them.”

He threw a suitcase to me and chuckled, “Madison, it has your belongings but guess what? You don't have any place to go. Even your apartment is given to us.”

“Madison, your own mother doesn't want you.” He scoffed, “Think how jinxed you are.”

“Even when Seth is younger than you, she is always sensible.” Eirel ran his hand through his hair, “Can’t you just be like her and not cause trouble?”

I stared at them in disbelief. The more I didn't recall the old days, they made me do it.

When I first came here, Eirel and Aron held my both hands and dragged me into the large room of this mansion.

“Madi, you will stay here from now on.” Eirel blushed.

“Madi, you will be our queen when we grow up, alright?” Aron was straightforward as always.

But all that time, I saw the sincerity in their eyes which made me stay with them till now.

“It's time to leave.” I finally gave the last explanation to my wolf, who was sad and whimpering, not ready to let go of them even after everything.

I couldn't stay with someone who thought me a freeloader and bratty.

Aron kicked the suitcase again and shouted, releasing his strong guava scent, “Madison, listen, from now on you will stay in the basement.”

“I also removed you from the Assembly Member’s position in the pack.” Eirel’s voice was frosty, “Miss Madison, since you are my mother's dear, I let you go with this small punishment.”

“There's no need for these things.” I sighed, tired of all this drama, “I will leave soon.”

During the days when Seth entered in the Clascliar mansion for training to wake up her wolf, I never opposed her and even treated her as my own sister. But the day didn't last long when she showed her true colour, trying to snatch away the person I had been loving since I regained my sense. She first took the small things I wanted, like my favourite chocolates, toys or my hobby later she coveted for something big.

I still remembered when I struggled hard to get into the Assembly Member's position for one year and finally got selected. But to ditch me, Seth didn't even hesitate to sleep with the higher ups. But I still let go of her thinking she was naive and young. Since I was loved by everyone even when I was from another pack and moreover the rare female Alpha of this pack, she somehow felt jealous when everyone avoided her.

“Seth, take your time to succeed.” I gave her some hints to understand, “But never hurt others in the process. Do you get me?”

That day, I only recognised hostility on her face.

Later I finally confronted her, when she deliberately burnt an important paper from my previous pack which was passed by my father.

“Seth! Are you crazy?” Trembling in anger, I couldn't control myself and slapped her hard.

Seth cried loudly until everyone ran there including Eirel and Aron. She even managed to bite her lips hard until it bled.

When the twins saw blood on her face, they didn't listen to my explanation and shouted on me.

For the first time, they reprimanded me like that for an outside when I was not at fault, “Madi, can’t you be more generous? Seth is weak and alone. So what if she accidentally burnt it, you can always get another.”

Aron's words were harsh.

“Madi, be mature.” Eirel’s stern expression shook my heart, “You disappointed me.”

Before leaving with Seth mouthed to me, “I’m gonna snatch everything.”

Till then I struggled hard until I had the faith on Eirel and Aron. Now it was all useless.

_ _

Previously, I thought I had to make much effort for packing but looking at the packed up suitcase, I let out a sigh of relief. Taking the certificates and important documents I needed, I left everything else. This mansion already gave me a lot and I didn't want anymore. When I looked at the closet full of my dress, I recalled how Eirel and Aron always took me shopping on every Saturday.

“Why do you take me out every week?” I whined, trying to save for the future, “I have enough clothes already.”

“A girl should dress prettily.” Eirel pinched my cheek, “Moreover, we have a lot of money, spending this won't make us bankrupt.”

When we were being chatty, Aron was ready to rob the whole shopping mall.

I laughed unknowingly for a moment before the dark emotions clouded my mind. They were like this for everyone, be it me or Seth.

I recalled how Seth wore this dress and felt nauseous.

Leaving them in the trash can, I burnt my favourites. Later when my eyes fell on my picture with Eirel and Aron hanging on the wall. I took them out too, dropping them on trash can, I felt better. I left all the memories behind, clearing my mind fresh.

When I was about to come out of the room, I heard Seth's giggle. She was cheering loudly and excitement flashed on her face when she leaned on Eirel’s shoulder and expressed, “Brother Eirel, I can't wait to go to that special place.”

“Why didn't you take me there before?” She looked at him in doe eyes, “We could have more fun.”

Pinching her nose softly, Eirel dropped his soft words, “Silly girl, don't you know how busy I am. If you like the place, we can go in the future.”

When they talked about the special place, I could easily guess what they were talking about.

This place was nothing but a meadow full of lilies, which Eirel and I made with our earnest effort. It took us almost ten years before everywhere in the horizon one could only find lilies there.

Laying on the meadow, Eirel held my hand once, kissing my knuckles, then my ear, his whisper was more like a promise, “Madi babe, like this meadow, these lilies, my heart is and will always belong to you.”

I blushed that day, feeling for his sweet nothings. Naive me believed that promises were meant to be fulfilled.

Huh! I chuckled and was about to leave when my wound acted up. Wobbling, I lost my balance. While holding the table in front of me, I accidentally broke the flower vase. With the scattering sound, Eirel and Seth drew their attention to me.

Eirel was furious when he stormed inside, “Madison, why do you always make trouble? Do you think money comes easily so you can waste it?”

My body was trembling in anger, when my wolf wanted to tear everything apart. But I calmed myself down, my tone was flat, “I will pay you back.”

“You don't need to pay us back, just don't make things difficult for Seth.” Eirel pointed his finger at me, “Do you think we are short of money?”

“Okay.” I shrugged, attempting to clear the mess I caused. But Seth tried to pick the broken pieces of the vase.

But Seth approached to clear the broken pieces. Thinking they would cause me trouble, I tried to stop her but she acted harder and swiftly pierced a broken piece on his finger, crying out for help, telling how I wanted to harm her.

“Ahh! Madison, I know you don't like me.” She cried harder like a lost child, “But why do you have to be so rude to me?”

Aron, at that moment, came there and without knowing anything, he slapped me hard just because of Seth's crying.

The slap rang on my ear when my cheeks were hot from his force.

He suddenly turned melancholic and tried to say something but nothing came out.

Later Eirel approached, demanding an apology, “Madison, don't take Aron’s attitude in mind. But what you did is wrong too. So, apologise to Seth. She deserves so many apologies from you.”

I was disgusted by their shameless acting and pushed him hard, “Why will I apologise when I was wrong. The one who should apologise is you three, living bitch and bastard.”

I ran out of the mansion, never looking back. I only took some of my documents and the photoframe of my parents.

Since they had their rose now, this lily is abandoned and I wanted to move on.

Leaving a single note on group chat we three have. “I'm leaving for real. We are done.”

I ended seventeen years of enduring and longing.