Rejected and Claimed by her Alpha Triplets
Chapter 22- cool off

Chapter 22: 22- cool off

22

~Lisa’s POV

"Go on, then," Rowan finally said, his voice quieter than the others, but not kinder. "Get back to your dishes, servant girl."

I didn’t speak. I just nodded once, stiffly, and turned away. My cheeks were still burning where Kael’s kiss had landed. It didn’t feel like affection. It felt like ownership. It felt like power being shoved down my throat.

As I picked up the next plate, my hands trembled again. The water was warm, but my fingers felt cold.

I wanted to scream. I wanted to run. I wanted to vanish into thin air.

But I didn’t.

Because I had no choice.

Because this was my life now.

And even though they’d kissed me... even though they called me their mate...

I knew deep down that it didn’t mean they saw me as equal.

It meant I was trapped.

Just as the triplets finally walked out of the kitchen, I let out the breath I didn’t even know I was holding. My heart was still racing. My hands were shaking a little, but I went back to scrubbing the last few dishes, trying to pretend like nothing had happened.

The door creaked open behind me.

I didn’t even need to turn. I already knew who it was.

The maids were back.

Tessa led the way, arms folded, a smug smile playing on her lips. The others followed behind her, all eyes locked on me like I was a joke they couldn’t wait to laugh at.

"Well, well," Tessa said slowly, voice full of mockery. "Looks like our dear Luna-in-rags is too good to answer us now."

I stayed silent. I just wanted to leave. I picked up the last plate and dried it quickly, then turned to leave, my eyes on the floor.

"Hey!" one of the other maids snapped. "Didn’t you hear Tessa talking to you?"

I paused. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

My throat felt tight. I was tired. Exhausted. Every part of my body ached, from the scrubbing, from the hunger, from the embarrassment. From everything.

"I heard," I said quietly, still not looking at them.

"Oh? And yet you just walk away?" Tessa stepped in front of me. "Why? Too busy dreaming about being kissed by an Alpha?"

Laughter exploded behind her.

I flinched.

"I’m just tired," I mumbled. "Please."

Tessa leaned in closer. "Tired? From what? Washing two plates and kissing royalty? Don’t think that makes you special. You’ll always be the same useless thing you’ve always been."

Tears stung my eyes, but I blinked them away.

"I have work to do," I whispered, trying to walk past.

"Then walk faster, Luna," she sneered, stepping aside dramatically as the others laughed again.

I just wanted to walk past them and disappear into the hallway.

But as I took a step forward, Tessa suddenly moved.

Her foot stuck out, quick and sly.

I didn’t see it until it was too late.

My foot caught against hers, and I stumbled forward. Hard.

We both went down.

I hit the floor with a loud thud, pain shooting through my elbow and side as I landed. The tray I had balanced in my hand clattered loudly beside us.

Gasps echoed through the kitchen.

I turned quickly, trying to get up and check if Tessa was okay, even though I knew she had done it on purpose. But before I could say anything, she let out a loud cry, grabbing her ankle and glaring at me like I’d attacked her.

"She tripped me!" she shouted, her voice full of fake pain. "She did it on purpose!"

"What?" I whispered, stunned. "No...I didn’t..."

"She shoved me! You all saw it!"

The other maids rushed over. Some helped Tessa up, but most of them turned to me with disgust in their eyes.

"You’re unbelievable," one of the maids spat, crossing her arms with a glare. "You think just because the Alphas looked at you, you can act however you want?"

Her words hit me harder than the fall. My lips parted, but no words came out at first. My throat was tight, my heart pounding in my chest.

"I didn’t push her," I finally said, my voice barely above a whisper. It trembled as much as my hands did. "I would never..."

"She’s always been trouble," another maid snapped, rolling her eyes. "From the moment she got here. You should’ve stayed in the forest or wherever it is you came from."

That one hurt.

I lowered my head, blinking fast to hold back the tears threatening to spill.

I had done nothing wrong. Nothing. But that didn’t matter here. Nothing I did ever seemed good enough. I was always the outsider, the girl without a wolf, the servant with no name, the human in a house full of wolves.

And now they hated me even more because the Alphas had looked at me. Because fate had tied me to them without asking me or anyone else.

Like it was my fault.

Before I could explain, defend myself, or even stand fully, two of the maids grabbed my arms.

"Let go!" I cried out, struggling a little. "I didn’t do anything!"

But they didn’t listen. Their grips were tight and unforgiving.

They dragged me across the kitchen, past the pantry, toward the back of the kitchen where the old storage room was, a dark space where unused furniture and broken tools were kept. My feet scraped against the stone floor as I tried to resist, but it was no use. The other maids followed behind, laughing and whispering like this was a game.

One of them pulled open the heavy wooden door.

"She needs to cool off," someone muttered behind me.

The door creaked.

And then, without warning, they shoved me inside.

The door slammed shut.

Click.

Locked.

I stood there in the pitch dark, heart pounding, fists trembling at my sides.

Tears blurred my vision even in the darkness.

I backed up slowly until I felt the wall, then slid down to the floor.

It was cold.

Smelled like dust.

And for the hundredth time that week, I wondered what I had done to deserve all of this.