Scarlett's POV
As I got closer to the library, the sound of low, pleasurable moans filled my ears. I froze, my body going completely still in the middle of the hallway. Lana had told me the triplets were in there, and I had come to surprise them—only to be met with the raw, sinful sound of a woman's pleasure coming from inside.
My heart shattered. I couldn't bring myself to look through that door and see which of the three brothers was pinning a girl against the desk. I didn't want to know which of them was breaking my heart. I turned and ran, my vision blurred by hot, stinging tears.
I reached my bedroom and threw the door open, ready to collapse and sob.
"Surprise!"
I gasped, my breath catching in my throat. The triplets were there. All three of them.
Liam, Leon, and Leo were sprawled across my room, their massive, muscular bodies making my space feel tiny. Relief washed over me so hard I almost choked on my tears. It wasn't them. The moans I had heard in the library must have been a guard and a maid making out, taking advantage of the quiet night. The triplets had been here, waiting for me the whole time.
They looked up, their smiles fading the second they saw my tear-streaked face. Instantly, they were on their feet, moving toward me like protective predators. They were possessive, crowding into my personal space, their eyes searching mine for an enemy to kill.
"What happened? Who made you cry?" Leo growled, his voice low and protective.
"Nothing," I whispered, trying to wipe my eyes.
But they wouldn't let it go. Leon stepped forward, his large hands gripping my shoulders. "Don't lie to us, Scarlett. We smelled your distress before you even opened the door. Who was it?"
"I'm fine, really," I said, my voice trembling.
"You are not fine!" Liam snapped, his eyes flashing with a dark, wolfish amber. He stepped so close I could feel the heat radiating off his chest. "Tell us. Now. Did someone touch you? Did someone say something to you?"
They began to pace my room like caged animals, their growls vibrating in the air. "Was it one of the warriors?" Leo demanded, his jaw tight. They pressed in closer, surrounding me, their massive bodies blocking any way out. They urged me again and again, their voices getting louder and more demanding.
"Tell us, Scarlett! We won't ask again!"
The pressure was too much. The memory of the moans in the hallway and the secret love I felt for them clashed in my head.
"Please!" I finally sobbed, covering my face with my hands. "Please, just don't ask! I can't tell you. Just… Please leave it alone."
The room went dead silent. My plea seemed to hit them hard. They looked at each other, their faces tight with a mixture of frustration and pain. They hated that I was keeping a secret from them. They hated that I was hurting and they couldn't fix it.
Liam finally stepped forward, his jaw tight as he fought back his Alpha instincts. "Stop crying," he murmured, his fingers firm and possessive on my skin as he grabbed my face. "I hate seeing you like this."
His voice was deep, a vibration that I felt in my own bones. He stepped into my space, his broad chest brushing against mine. He grabbed my face, his fingers firm and possessive on my skin. He looked down at my lips for a heartbeat, his eyes dark with a raw, terrifying hunger.
"You'll need your strength for the shift tomorrow," he whispered. "And I have a special surprise for you at the ceremony."
"I have one too," Leo interjected, stepping closer, his eyes narrowing at his brother. "And you're going to love it, Scarlett."
"Me too," Leon added, his voice low and competitive. "Mine is better."
Liam's grip on my chin tightened slightly—not enough to hurt, but enough to show his dominance. "I said it first. I'm taking her to see my surprise first."
"No way," Leo countered, his chest puffing out. "She's seeing mine first."
The air in the room grew thick with their sudden, heavy competition. They were Alpha heirs, and none of them wanted to be second best in my eyes.
"Please," I whispered, looking between their heated faces. "Don't fight. Not today. Not on my birthday eve."
The tension broke, but only a little. They settled back, though I could still feel the electricity between them. They handed me my gift—a small, customized, leather-bound journal.
To the pack, they were royalty—the powerful heirs to the three Alphas. To me, they were my entire world.
One by one, they said their goodbyes. Leo kissed my forehead gently. Leon gave my shoulder a squeeze before kissing my temple. When it was Liam's turn, the oxygen left the room. He stepped so close our heartbeats merged. He pressed his lips to my forehead for a long, slow moment. It felt like a seal—a silent promise that no matter what happened, he would be there to protect me.
"See you at the party," Liam whispered against my skin.
Then, as quickly as they had arrived, they vanished back into the night. I crawled into bed, hugging my new journal to my chest, a silly, happy smile plastered on my face.
I woke up with that lingering smile. Today, I was eighteen. Today, I would finally get my wolf. I spent an hour in front of the mirror, carefully braiding my hair and smoothing out the skirt of the pale blue dress my mother had surprised me with.
But as I reached for the door handle, a sound shattered the morning peace. It wasn't the sound of celebration. It was the heavy thud of combat boots and the sickening crack of wood splintering downstairs.
"Get off me!" my father's voice boomed—a Beta's roar that shook the foundations of our home.
I raced down the stairs, my heart hammering. The birthday breakfast was scattered across the table. My parents were pinned by four warriors I had known my entire life. They were forcing my father into silver-laced shackles that hissed and smoked against his skin.
"Golden, what is this?" my father snarled.
Sir Golden didn't look him in the eye. "By order of Alphas Lennox, Levi, and Louis, you are under arrest for high treason and the murder of Luna Olivia."
My entire world tilted. Luna Olivia? Dead? Impossible!
"That's a lie!" I screamed, rushing forward, but a warrior's heavy arm caught me in the chest, shoving me back.
They dragged my parents out of the house. I followed, stumbling over my own feet, my blue birthday dress stained with mud. The pack bell rang, signaling that all pack members should assemble.
"Scarlett," my mother whispered as we approached the heavy doors of the pack hall. She turned her head, her eyes pleading. "If you get the chance… run."
"No! I'm not leaving you," I choked out. "The triplets will fix this… I promise."
The heavy oak doors groaned open. The air inside was cold, thick with the scent of fresh blood. In the center of the room, on a raised stretcher, lay Luna Olivia. Her skin was unnaturally pale, and her white silk nightgown was soaked in deep, dark blood.
I looked up and saw the triplets.
Liam, Leon, and Leo stood behind their fathers, their eyes red from crying, their faces tight with pain. For a moment, I forgot everything—my parents, the chains, the crowd. All I wanted was them. I wanted to run to them. To hold them. To cry in their arms like everything would somehow be okay.
I took a step forward—and froze.
Liam was staring at me. The warmth from last night was gone. Completely gone. His eyes were cold… empty… filled with something that made my chest tighten. Hate. Pure, terrifying hate.