The Triplet Alphas' Secret Mate

Chapter 6: Strange

​Liam’s POV

​I placed Scarlett onto my bed, my frown deepening as I stepped back, forcing my hands away from her burning skin. My wolf was restless, pacing in my head and snapping at me for letting this happen. "She’s ours. We should have protected her."

​"Shut up," I snapped at him internally, shoving the bond deep down.

​The door burst open. I expected my brothers, but it was Lana, our younger sister, who hurried in first. Leon and Leo stalked in behind her, their expressions hard and unreadable.

​Lana gasped, rushing to the side of the bed. "What happened to her? Why is she covered in blood and... is that orange juice?" She looked up at us, her eyes wide with shock. "Liam? Leon? Someone answer me!"

​"She was disciplined for theft," Leo said coldly, crossing his arms. "It’s none of your concern, Lana."

​"Disciplined?" Lana’s voice rose in disbelief. "She looks like she’s dying! You three were her best friends. How could you let the guards do this?"

​None of us answered. We couldn’t.

A sudden knock on my door made me turn. "Come in," I called. My brow furrowed when the pack healer stepped inside. I hadn’t called for her. "Who sent for you?" I asked.

​"I did," Leo responded, and I narrowed my eyes at him. I thought he didn’t care, so why did he call the healer so quickly? I wanted to challenge him, but I held back and watched the healer attend to Scarlett. She placed her hands on Scarlett’s forehead, whispering words of healing incantations as she released her energy.

​We all stood there in a heavy, suffocating silence.

I glared at my brothers.. something dosent seem right.. I knew my brothers better than anyone. Something about the way Leo’s fists were still clenched, and the way Leon’s eyes lingered on her with a strange intensity, made my stomach churn. They were angry, but not for the reason they should be. It wasn’t because I had saved her—it was because they hadn’t.

​I swallowed hard, my nails digging into my palms. No. That couldn’t be right. She was my mate. She couldn’t be theirs, too. If she were, one of them would have said something.

Right?

Moments later, the healer stood and stared at us with a blank look. "She will be awake soon, but I advise that she doesn’t go through such strain for now. Remember, she doesn’t have her wolf yet; her vitals are weak, like those of an ordinary human."

Healer." She turned to my personal guard standing by the door.

reached for her. For a split second, my vision sparked red. I had to shove my hands into

the guard carried her out, Lana turned on us, her face pale with

hissed, her gaze darting between the three of us. "Stop punishing her for deeds she didn’t commit. You men are making the exact same mistake

"How? This situation is

"Remember how they made life miserable for Mother for years? All because of a ’misunderstanding’ they refused to see through? You are doing the exact same thing to

into defensive rage. "This is no misunderstanding, Lana. There are photos. Witnesses. Her parents are responsible for Mother’s death. How do you expect us to treat the

at me with

"You men once loved

walked out, leaving the three of us standing

was staring at the spot on the bed

a bottle of whiskey, and poured a heavy glass. I took a slow sip, my gaze flicking to Leon and Leo,

Sir Leon, Sir Leo... your father,

shot a quick glance at my brothers. This wasn’t a casual summon. Father never called us together unless it was serious.

entered Father’s study to find him relaxing on

Father," we

began, gesturing for us to sit. "Next week is your coronation as Alphas. How prepared are

prepared for the coronation, Father," I

no humor in it. "An Alpha is only prepared when he has removed all vulnerabilities. That brings me to the matter of your mates. You are twenty-two. Most men are hunting

image of Scarlett’s pale face

no plan to find a fated mate, Father. I’ll select a high-ranking female when the time is right. A fated bond is a chain

slow, approving smirk spreading

though I noticed his hand was gripping the hilt of his dagger

our childhoods listening to the legends of the mate bond, but now they were tossing it away like trash. I felt

you, Liam?" Father asked,

brothers," I whispered, the lie tasting like ash. "I will choose my

weak. If you are to lead together, you cannot afford such

​Distractions?

his mate. He had loved her more than life itself. I had seen it in the way he looked at her, in the way his voice

why was he speaking as