Not Edited. Read at your own Risk.

Juliette had the best sleep of her entire life. Sleeping in fluffy quilts and a thick comforter had been a dream come true. But, not even comfortable beds and quiet rooms could help her sleeping habits. Her life had always revolved around a clock with a strict time schedule and lots of chores. Everything was on the table, from when she had to wake up, bath, make breakfast and serve her father. It was called discipline training.

At sharp four in the morning her eyes opened automatically. The habit ingrained deeply in her brain. Her heart beat rapidly fearing the repercussions of making a late breakfast.

'Am I late again? Oh no, I don't want to be punished early in the morning'

Jumping out of the bed, she rushed outside the door. Just as she reached the stairs, her hazy brain caught up with the rest of the senses. Flashes of her brothers' faces and memories from the day before shot up in her brain, as she let out a slow relaxed sigh.

Her feet were automatically moving back and forth, as her nerves hadn't completely died down. Her brothers were completely different from the people she grew up with. Though her cautiousness hadn't completely died down, she had started to already let her guard down. Their caring gazes and playful banter, unknowingly put a smile on her face.

'Wait a minute...I should make breakfast for them. Perfect!' a sudden burst of excitement burst through her as she imagined their smiling face.

'Umm what do I make though?' pondering over the options she slowly walked down the stairs dragging her bruised ankle carefully down the stairs. The house was extremely silent.

'Ouch! I definitely need some painkillers to get past tomorrow', internally wincing at the sharp jab that shot through her leg, she reminded herself to ask for painkillers from one of her brothers.

Reaching the end of the stairs, her wide eyes looked around, confused.

'Oh no, where do I go from here? To the left or right?'

Internally screaming over not memorizing the routes yesterday, her feet slowly wobbled towards the right hoping she didn't take the wrong route.

'I'm officially lost'

Seeing the green maze-like garden in front of her eyes, she knew for sure that she took the wrong route. Surrounded by the green bushes and tall neatly trimmed hedges, a large black wolf, sat regally amidst the bushes. The wolf was holding his head high and looked lethal with his ferocious appearance.

Sensing the rustling of the grass, he snapped to look at the small girl with a loud growl. Dogs have always been her abode of peace. Even back with her mother, she felt solace only when she could play with the puppies in her backyard... at least until they killed them. The huge wolf resembled a wild dog, hence catching her attention. Her bright eyes shone in excitement wishing to pet him.

Dragging her broken ankle, she cautiously walked closer to the dog. His beady eyes looked intelligent as he sat obediently waiting for Julie to reach him. The soothing aura from the girl calmed the usually violent wolf.

Reaching near the wolf, Julie took cautious steps so as to not startle him.

"I'm Juliette, who are you? Can I touch you?"

She slowly reached her hand towards his furry head. Her small hands trembled with nervousness, while her eyes were glittering with utmost excitement.

"Are you planning to get your hand bitten off?" a loud screechy female voice was heard.

Looking to the left, Julie saw a tall woman dressed in a scanty looking dress, which almost resembled a maid's uniform.

"Hello!" The little girl waved her hand hesitantly , feeling a tad bit uncomfortable at the unknown presence.

" Are you new here? Get out of that garden field. You look too naïve and cute to die young," the woman commented as she stood on the edge of the garden.

The wolf snarled warningly towards the maid, and nuzzled closer to Julie bending his huge furry head. The sharp glares from the wolf bore through the maid's skull, as she wittingly took a step back.

Julie's eyes were solely trained on the wolf that was closely attached to her side. With a wide smile and a small pep talk, she slowly started to pet the dog. His dark black fur shined in grandiose with its every movement.

"Are you deaf? Answer me," her loud voice caught the girl in surprise.

Remembering her presence, Julie gave an apologetic smile and answered, "It's ok..ay. I'm alr..ight with this cu..tie. Yes, I'm new he..re"

"You are not alright. How dare you step on that garden," the tall woman strode forward while grabbing Julie's hand and yanked her strongly, pulling her away from the garden.

"Le..ave my ha..nd. Please.." Julie struggled as she tried maintaining her ground.

"The stuttering bitch dares to order me around. Shut yer trap, and follow me to the guards. You awfully smell like a rat."

The loud threatening growls of the wolf penetrated the silent atmosphere of the garden. The distress on Julie's face alerted him, as he chased after the culprit tackling her to the ground. His sharp white canines close to her jugular, almost ready to be bitten off.

"Doggy, shh," the soft whispers of the young girl along with her soothing touches along his dense mane calmed the rabid wolf.

"Did you entice the wolf with a poison," the woman had a bewildered look in her eyes, as she accusingly looked at the same girl.

"Wolf? Po..ison? No."

"Liar," with a harsh remark, she tried to slither away, as the dog was too entranced under Julie's attention.

Immediately noticing her slip away, loud threatening growls echoed along the silent garden. The threatening growls were soon accompanied by similar howls, as three more humongous wolves came running towards them.

Looking at his new favorite person being treated harshly, the wolf pounced on the maid biting off a solid chunk from her thighs. Nobody expected this. His sudden intrusion was unexpected. Losing balance, she swayed wildly while grabbing Julie's hands dragging her along into the mud filled garden.

"What have you done, you stupid mutt?" the woman shrieked and wailed loudly as blood kept pouring out of her wound. Fat tears fell down her cheeks. Juliette, bit her lower lip. She absolutely hated this. Looking at the blood on the ground her heart tore to pieces. She never expected such an outcome, while entering the garden. Seeing the poor woman wailing in front of her, made her heart feel even more heavier.

Reaching forward she tore a small piece of her own dress, and moved closer to the thrashing woman. Despite the struggles, Julie managed to hold the woman's bite wound tightly preventing excess blood loss from the open wound.

"I don't want your dirty rags on my skin. Don't touch me. You filthy ray. Take me to the hospital. How dare you do this to me!" Her shrieks grew more and more louder with each passing sentence.

With an apologetic smile, Julie tried to stand up putting all her strength on the healthy ankle. Yet, she failed to stand and fell on the ground again with a loud thud.

"Useless rat." The woman hissed again, directing a hate filled glare towards Juliette. She noticed the wolf protectively standing next to the small girl. With a plan slowly forming in her mind, she slowly picked the sharp stone nearby, and threw it precisely at the clueless wolf who was sitting next to Julie carefully licking her wounds.

"DOGGY NOOO!" Rushing forward Julie pushed the wolf away from the attack. The stone sharply scraped her forehead, leaving a trail of blood in its place.

Soon the garden was filled with four loud growls from each wolf. They slowly closed in on the woman, who was lying helpless on the ground with her eyes wide-open in fear.

A soft whistle wafted through the air, as the wolves immediately stopped their barking and sat on the garden softly. Almost...as if they were tamed.

"This is what I have been saying to you Stef. I think we should take our time reminding people of their places and where they belong," he said, a voice resembling death itself. Blank and Dark.

A soft whimper was heard from the ground, breaking the cold atmosphere that surrounded the brothers. Julie closed her eyes, afraid of the aftermath that had triggered her brothers' unknown fury. She never wanted to be with someone who was angry. Anger always equaled out to being punished, and she couldn't bear it anymore.

"It's alright little one, we are here now." a soft voice whispered in her ears. Unknowingly tears fell from her eyes, as she looked at her brother with anxiety clouding her eyes.

Standing right in front of her was her second eldest brother with a soft smile on his face. A tender look can be seen from his face, as he examined the wound on her forehead while dabbing it with his pristine white pocket square. The whole serene scenario felt more like the calm before the storm, as his body was stiff, emitting a cold aura of authority.

"Master, please let me report this situation," the woman seethed, as she bowed down in front of the Ricci brothers. The lack of reaction on the brothers' faces bothered her.

"She must be freezing. Take her inside," Stefano ordered his brother, as he looked at his youngest sister with a hint of worry on his face.

Again ignoring the woman's presence Stefano went close to his sister, checking on her temperature and the wound on her forehead.

"Get this cleaned and patched up," he instructed Vincent, while his eyes trailed on the scratches present on her sister. "Don't wander away without waking us up," he instructed sternly to his younger sister trying to calm her nerves, at the same time trying to soothe his anxiety while memorizing the presence of his sister in front of him.

As the footsteps faded behind them. The three brothers directed their full attention to the woman in front of them. Her head was bowed and gazing directly to the ground, she did not dare to lift her head.

"So you were saying...?" the youngest brother drawled out as he slowly circled the woman.

"I meant..Master, she... I mean she- the girl-." her words jumbled and became incorrigible as she tried to explain. The looming sense of darkness around the brothers grew extremely intense that her whole body was quivering in fear.

The woman gulped, looking at the way the brothers treated the small girl, she realized her own mistake.

"I had a wonderful time with the young girl, we were playing in this very garden, " she tried adding on a smile, while working her hardest to dissuade the conversation.

"Oh really, so that's how you play," Leo mocked as he started twirling a sharp knife while circling her slowly. "Then let me introduce you to the ways that we Ricci play. We play hard, with no mercy," he offered with a wide smile and closed in on the woman, with his handy knife.

***************

(1900 words)

Hello guys!

I finally managed to update. WOO HOO!!! ＼(▽￣＼(￣▽￣)／￣▽)／. It's currently 1.30am here. I'm sitting way past my bed time in complete darkness with the only motive of finishing this chapter. But, it's all worth it. Reading your comments always make my day, and I love it! ＼(^。^ )

Show all your love and support. -'ღ'-

Comment down your thoughts about this chapter.

Thank you again to all of you, who have waited patiently for the story's update.

A random game for all of you guys, match these traits to the brothers based on what you think suits them the best. 1- Techie- good with hacking super smart 2- Slight bit Crazy and completely goes violent and blood thirsty at times 3-Has OCD and craves for the power play control over other. 4- Calmest in the much, a book nerd. Solves complex problems with a high IQ.