“For years I have tried to tell you I was innocent, and what did you do?”

“Briar, please,” Cassian tried to say. “It’s not like that―”

“Like what?” I spat. “Not like you’ve tormented me my whole life? Not like you’ve used me and tried to have me killed?”

“There was a reason for it,” Rowan tried to say. His eyebrows were furrowed together tightly as he took a step forward. He reached for my hand, and I quickly stepped back. Hurt flashed across his eyes. “We didn’t know―”

“Of course you didn’t,” I said with a humorless laugh. “All you did was listen to the lies Violet told you. Even though I am your fated mate, you’ve ignored all my pleas to just listen to what I had to say.”

“Briar, please listen to us,” Soren said. His eyes were red with desperation. “Please give us another chance.”

“No,” I said, shaking my head. “I’m done waiting. I’m done hurting.”

I met their gaze, mustering all the strength I had. I ignored the way their mark on my neck burned in protest.

“You’ve made your bed,” I said. “Now it’s time to lie in it.”

***

Briar Argyris was born into power, the youngest daughter of the revered Beta family of the Shadowclaw Pack―until the day she vanished.

Kidnapped as a child and presumed dead, Briar returned years later, broken and bloodied at the border of her homeland. But her family had already moved on. Her sister, Willow, had grown into a prodigal daughter. 

As such, there was no room for the forgotten daughter.

From the moment she came home, Briar was treated like a curse. Her presence seemed to poison Willow, and as such, Briar was forced to stay far away from her―in the omegas’ quarters. 

When Willow supposedly died, Briar's fate was sealed. The pack believed she was the murderer, and no one was willing to listen to her pleas.

Until the Moon Goddess intervened.

Right before her execution―her 18th birthday―Briar's destiny was revealed. She was the fated mate of not one, but three Alphas. Rowan. Soren. Cassian Hadeon.

Childhood friends of Willow. Heirs of the Shadowclaw Pack. And her greatest tormentors.

They wanted nothing to do with her―convinced she had destroyed the girl they loved, and fueled by the lies of Violet, Willow’s best friend. To them, Briar was nothing but a cruel joke of fate.

Trapped in a bond she didn’t choose, hated by the men fate bound her to, Briar is determined to survive―even if her heart shatters in the process.

Because the truth is still buried.

And when it finally surfaces, the Alphas will learn that the girl they rejected is not only their true mate―she’s the key to everything they thought they lost.

But will Briar still want them back after everything they've done? 

After all, the moon shines brighter outside the Shadowclaw Pack. Just because the triplets are dumb enough to let their fated mate go, doesn't mean that others will do the same...

***

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Violet's eyes were slightly hooded over and shimmery with tears. She sniffled, her nose moving and twitching slightly as she did.


To most people, she was a sight to behold. To be fair, Violet was an extremely beautiful woman, and she knew how to make herself appear even more so with the use of a few calculated tears and angles. 


Yes, I wasn't stupid enough to miss the fact that sometimes, she pretended to seem weak and fragile to get my attention. Part of me liked it. After all, who wouldn't like the fact that she would make the effort to pretend just to get my attention?


It was endearing, and a sight like this was sure to make my heart melt for her if this were any other day.


However, for some reason, now all I could feel was a rush of irritation whenever she spoke. Her voice sounded almost grating in my ear, especially when I compared it to Briar's voice. 


Chapter 142 - Fate's Poison