The Triplet Alphas' Secret Mate

Chapter 16: Hiding His Concern

​Scarlett’s POV

​"Why?" The word left my lips before I could stop it—a small, broken sound that hung in the air of the grand study.

​The three Alphas exchanged a look, their faces unreadable. It was Alpha Levi who finally spoke, his voice softening just a little. "We are setting you free, Scarlett... for old time’s sake. Before the tragedy, your parents were our friends. We want you to have a chance at a life that isn’t defined by the walls of this packhouse. You should be happy."

​I nodded slowly, my throat tight. "Yes... I should be happy."

​But I wasn’t. Since I was six years old, these woods had been my world. I had known this pack as my home, even when it turned into my cage. I had never seen the world beyond the border, and now I was being told to vanish into it.

​I wouldn’t get to see Lana again. I wouldn’t see Jameson or Jane grow up. And the triplets... the boys who had been my best friends before they became my tormentors. Despite the marks on my neck and the cold way they had dismissed me this morning, the thought of never seeing them again made my heart ache in a way I couldn’t explain.

​I forced myself to hold back the tide of emotion, my nails digging into my palms. "Thank you, Alphas," I whispered, bowing my head.

​"One more thing," Alpha Lennox added, his voice regaining its steel. "You are to tell no one. Not the staff, and especially not our children. We want this transition to be quiet. No scenes, no goodbyes. Do you understand?"

I said, my voice barely audible. I was being exiled in secret. I was leaving without a single goodbye, as if I had

Lennox commanded. "Prepare

time, and retreated from the room. The moment the heavy mahogany doors clicked shut behind me, the first sob broke through. Tears rolled down my cheeks, hot and fast.

quarters, I couldn’t explain why I kept crying. It felt less like I was being set free and more like I was

against the stone pillar at the end of the hall. I walked straight into a solid,

hands gripped my shoulders to steady me. I looked up, my vision blurred, into the piercing,

tear-stained face, his nostrils flaring as he caught the scent of my distress. His gaze dropped to my trembling lips, then back to my eyes, his grip on my shoulders tightening just enough to let me know he wasn’t

vibration. "And why did you just come out of my father’s study

speak, the lie already on my tongue, but the sound of heavy, rhythmic footsteps echoing down the hallway cut me

​Liam.

cedar collided with Leo’s mountain air. Leo’s hands, which had been surprisingly steadying on my shoulders, dropped instantly as if my skin had turned to hot coal. The tenderness I’d seen in his dark eyes vanished, replaced by a shuttered,

two of us, his green eyes narrowing with a dangerous, suspicious glint. He looked tired, his jaw set in a hard line

sharp, mocking huff and stepped back, crossing his

attention as usual. I caught her lurking