The Triplet Alphas' Secret Mate

Chapter 22: Second Mate

​Scarlett’s POV

​I turned sharply, my eyes darting through the dimly lit hallway. The scent was stronger now—earthy yet rich, like aged whiskey and fresh rain. It wrapped around me, tugging at me just as Liam’s scent had, but this... this was different. This was new. I swallowed hard, my pulse racing. I took a step forward, drawn toward the scent. My body moved on its own, guided by instinct.

​I rounded the corner, my breath hitching as my gaze locked onto a tall figure standing at the other end of the hallway. His broad shoulders, his body structure, his physique—everything about him looked so familiar, so intoxicating.

​With a racing heart, I moved closer to the shadow while my thoughts became a whirlwind of emotions. I couldn’t understand why my wolf was reacting to this person as if he were my mate. A wolf was supposed to have only one mate. And if you were lucky, after a rejection, you might get a second-chance mate. But that couldn’t be my case. Liam and I hadn’t officially rejected each other yet.

​So, who is this person?

​I got closer. And then, he turned. Our eyes met. The world around me faded into a blur. I stood there, dumbfounded. Because standing before me, staring at me with the same cold look Liam had given me, was Leo—the second of the triplets.

​"Leo... you are—"

​"Keep your voice down," he ordered, his voice cutting through the silence like a knife.

​Suddenly, he grabbed my arms and began pulling me toward his room. My wolf purred in delight at his touch, and the intoxicating scent of aged whiskey and raindrops made me feel lightheaded, as if I were drowning in his presence. My breath came in sharp gasps, my mind reeling with confusion. Leo. Not just Liam... but his brother, too? This wasn’t possible. It shouldn’t be possible. But then I remembered our late Luna Olivia was mated to all three brothers.

​"Let go," I muttered, but my voice lacked any real conviction. My wolf whined in protest at my own words, wanting to stay close to him.

​Leo ignored me, his grip firm and almost painful as he shoved me into the center of the gym and kicked the door shut. The loud bang echoed through the empty space, sealing me in with him—trapping me in that intoxicating scent. He finally let go, stepping back, his dark eyes burning into mine with a look of pure loathing.

​"I believe you know now."

my racing heart. "So you... knew?" I asked in a trembling voice. Just like Liam, he had known we were

at me. "So what if I knew? You think I would ever accept being with you?" His voice was sharp, filled with absolute disgust. "Being mated to you was a curse. I kept it to myself all these years, waiting for this moment so I could finally reject

at his words, feeling the sting of his hatred. I blinked, struggling to

until the bone looked like it might snap. "Don’t you dare tell this to anyone," he

brothers had kept the secret from each other, ashamed to let

to it, Scarlett." His voice was cold. "I’m rejecting you, right here and

me, her pain making tears gather in my eyes. Not wanting to seem weak, I looked away and wiped them with the back of my hand. I forced myself to swallow the lump in my throat, blinking away the stinging tears before they

my chin, meeting his cold stare. "You knew all this time? You watched me suffer? Let me

a slow, measured breath. "You are

think I cared?" he continued, his voice void of any emotion. "That I wanted to be tied to you? You’re the daughter of traitors. A stain on my name. I kept this secret for years, hoping I would never have to face this moment. But now that you’re here, I won’t waste any

his presence suffocating and

beg him to accept me? A mate who looks at me with nothing but pure hate will never love me the way a

​Inhaling deeply, I spoke.

Give

brow furrowed in

wolf," I managed to say, clutching my stomach. "I just got her today. If she goes through a rejection now, I might lose her. I might die.

me off angrily. "I’m rejecting you

as considerate as his brother. He was far more ruthless. So, I did what I had

voice gaining strength. "If

nearly left my body as his furious eyes met mine. His fingers tightened around my wrists, pinning them above my head. His body pressed against mine, his

growled, his voice dripping

My wolf whimpered, torn between submission and defiance, but I

voice steadier than I felt. "You don’t want