The Triplet Alphas' Secret Mate

Chapter 24: Birthday Celebration

Scarlett’s POV

​It was 8:00 a.m., and the pack house was buzzing with activity. Servants were rushing back and forth, arranging the garden which would serve as the venue for our late Luna Olivia’s memorial.

​As I assisted in carrying the heavy flower vases, hot tears gathered in my eyes, blurring my vision. Today was my twentieth birthday, but to the pack, it was a day of mourning. To me, it was a day that never felt worth celebrating anymore. On this day years ago, I had lost everyone who mattered. I lost my parents; I lost Luna Olivia—who had been like a godmother to me—and I lost the triplets, who used to be my best friends before they turned into my tormentors.

​Lost in the suffocating weight of my memories, I didn’t look where I was going. My foot caught on a stone, and I tumbled forward, crashing into a large flower vase. The ceramic didn’t break, but the water and blossoms scattered across the cold ground in a messy heap.

​The servants nearby all stopped, shooting me dead glares filled with irritation. I ignored the sting of their judgment, kneeling quickly to gather the wet stems and rearrange them back into the vase.

​"Scarlett..."

​I heard the voice of Lucy, the personal maid to Lana. I turned, and she gave me a blank, unreadable look. "Miss Lana wants you in her room. Immediately."

​I nodded silently, finishing the flowers with trembling hands before standing up and making my way toward the high-ranking wing of the house.

​When I entered Lana’s room, I froze. My heart skipped a beat in pure confusion. Lana was seated at her vanity, leaning into her makeup mirror, carefully applying a bold shade of lipstick. I looked stunned. This was her mother’s memorial; she was supposed to be in mourning, draped in black and heavy with grief.

​Instead, she was dressed in expensive, vibrant clothes, her face perfectly done up. She caught my eye in the reflection, turned around, and beamed at me.

birthday, Scarlett!"

wave of confusion I couldn’t hide. "Lana? I... thank you,

door swung open. Jameson and Jane, the twins, entered the room carrying a beautifully decorated cake. They were singing "Happy Birthday" at the top of

the day their mother died. I expected them to be shattered, just like the triplets

Make a wish!" Jameson urged, holding the

was closing up. Jane stepped forward, nudging my shoulder playfully. "Come on, birthday girl!

to be happy, I whispered in my mind. Just truly happy. I blew out the

hands. "Now, don’t go anywhere. Lyra wants to talk to

Henry had attended as a guest. That was when they discovered they were fated. Although they weren’t officially married yet, she spent most of her time at his side, visiting home only once

A second later, Lyra’s face appeared on the screen, looking

speakers. "I’m so sorry I couldn’t be there to give you a hug in

smile finally touching my lips. Despite the darkness of the night before—the rejections from Liam, Leo, and Leon—this moment felt like a strange, warm dream in the

Lyra," I managed to say. "How

bit more serious. "Have you felt it yet? Did your

Jameson, and Jane, who were all watching me with curious, expectant eyes. None of them knew. None of them could ever know that their older brothers had all rejected

managed to whisper, my voice trembling. "Her name is

the lingering traces of the triplets that still seemed to haunt my skin. "I knew it!