Chapter 1 Castle Griswold
Everleigh was exhausted, hungry, and drenched when they finally reached Griswold Castle. The relentless downpour nearly disoriented her, but she pressed on. Rujan had called her in the dead of night, his voice urgent, instructing her to pack and leave immediately. She had thrown their essentials together as quickly as possible and roused her sons.
Rafael, the eldest of her triplets, woke first, instantly sensing something was wrong. Without question, he followed her instructions and nudged his brothers awake. Radzim, groggy and confused, started to protest but obeyed when he heard the urgency in Rafael’s voice. Raiden, the heaviest sleeper, didn’t stir at all, so Everleigh carried him while the other two hauled their bags to the pickup truck. She had already stowed their luggage in the back.
The journey across the border took two days. Her five-year-old boys never once complained, only speaking when they needed to use the restroom. They were accustomed to sudden relocations. Rujan had once told her that she had lost her memories because dangerous people were after them. Now, he was sending her to his fraternal twin—the man he had always avoided. If Rujan was willing to go to him as a last resort, it meant their situation was dire.
The castle loomed atop the hills, its towering walls barely visible through the sheets of rain. The road was paved, but she still drove cautiously. Strangely, her hands seemed to know when to turn, as if she had been here before. At last, the massive gates stood before her. She honked, and two guards, armed and holding umbrellas, approached. She rolled down the window as they peered inside, their gazes landing on the children.
“I need to see Rufus Griswold,” she stated firmly. “My husband, Rujan, sent me.”
The guards exchanged wary looks. “Is he expecting you, ma’am? Alpha Rufus has given strict orders not to be disturbed.”
“Tell him his sister-in-law is here. His brother Rujan is my husband, and these boys are his nephews.”
One of the guards made a call. Moments later, the heavy gates groaned open, granting them passage. Everleigh drove inside, following the winding road until she reached the castle’s grand entrance.
Two more guards hurried to them, sheltering them with umbrellas. She handed over the keys before helping her sons out of the car. The enormous wooden doors swung open, revealing a brightly lit foyer. The sudden contrast made her squint.
As her vision adjusted, she noticed three people—two elderly men and a woman—staring at them in shock. Their audible gasps made her shift uneasily. Smiling awkwardly, she started, “I’m sorry for the inconvenience—” but the older woman cut her off, ushering her inside with surprising warmth.
“No need to apologize, dear. We’ve been waiting for you for so long. Alpha Rufus will be here soon,” she said gently, her gaze lingering on the boys with an expression of deep emotion.
They were led to a plush sitting area. Two maids quickly appeared, offering warm towels. Everleigh’s boys whispered their thanks, making the staff smile. The older woman excused herself abruptly, her eyes misty.
Soon, a feast was placed before them—tea, sandwiches, biscuits, hot chocolate, and even beef tacos, Everleigh’s favorite. One of the elderly men, likely the butler, urged her to eat. “You must be starving. In this weather, I doubt you had time to stop for a proper meal.”
“Thank you,” she murmured, taking a sandwich. The man frowned slightly but said nothing.
Rafael, ever the responsible one, reminded his brothers to eat. The boys, all taco lovers like their mother, eagerly dug in. Everleigh noticed how hungrily they ate, but none of them had ever complained. They hadn’t eaten properly because she had run out of money—saving only enough for gas.
Raiden hesitated before reaching for the last taco, looking at her for approval. She nodded with a soft smile. Rafael took the final sandwich, and they finished their meal in silence.
“Alpha Rufus will see you all tomorrow,” the butler informed them. “Your rooms are prepared, and your luggage has been brought up.”
Everleigh inclined her head. “Thank you. I should introduce myself—I’m Everleigh. My eldest is Rafael, the second is Radzim, and the youngest is Raiden.”
“I am Lerma,” the woman said warmly. “This is Whitton, our butler. And Sonya, my niece, will be assisting you.”
To everyone’s surprise, the boys chorused, “Nice to meet you all,” and even bowed. Their politeness made the staff chuckle.
They were led to a luxurious bedroom. “This is your room, Mistress. The adjoining room is the nursery,” Sonya said.
“Please, just call me Eve or Leigh,” Everleigh corrected, offering a tired smile. “And is it alright if my boys sleep with me tonight?”
Sonya’s expression softened. “Of course, Eve. If you need anything, just dial 1 on this phone.”
Everleigh nodded in appreciation. Her boys, ever independent, pulled out their toothbrushes and headed straight for the bathroom. While they freshened up, she unpacked their pajamas—identical yellow ones. When they returned, they changed quickly. Rafael, always responsible, collected their dirty clothes and placed them in the laundry basket.
She tucked them in and kissed each of them. “Mama, are we staying here long? They seem nice—unlike Mr. Barney,” Raiden mumbled sleepily.
“I don’t know yet, sweetheart. Let me meet the landlord first.”
“I hope he’s not like Mr. Barney,” Raiden murmured, referring to their grumpy old landlord.
“Good night, Mama,” Radzim sighed, his eyes closing.
Rafael took her hand in his small one. “Everything will be alright, Mama.”
She squeezed his fingers. “I love you.”
In perfect unison, the boys replied, “We love you too, Mama.”
Everleigh watched them sleep before heading to the bathroom. She frowned upon finding only men’s shampoo and bath products but decided to use them. The masculine scent lingered on her skin, unexpectedly pleasant. Drying her hair, she changed into her own pajamas—identical to her sons’—and slipped into bed beside Raiden. The mattress was enormous, comfortably fitting all four of them.
Even the pillows smelled of that same intoxicating scent. Too exhausted to dwell on it, she succumbed to sleep.
Unbeknownst to her, someone had been watching them through the castle’s security cameras since their arrival. And now, in the dim light, a shadowed figure stood at the threshold of their room, silently observing them as they slept.
