The Triplet Alphas' Secret Mate

Chapter 25: Hit

​Scarlett’s POV

​Lana’s smile didn’t fade, but her eyes turned sharp, a flash of something hard and cold flickering beneath the surface. She stepped closer, placing her hands on my shoulders.

​"My mother loved life, Scarlett," she said quietly. "She wouldn’t want us sitting in the dark crying for the rest of our lives. We’ve mourned for two years. Tonight, we celebrate you. And tonight, we finally breathe."

​I looked at the red dress, then at the door. I could almost feel Liam, Leo, and Leon lurking in the hallways, their hatred and rejections still fresh. Going to a club on the night of their mother’s memorial? If they caught us, there wouldn’t be enough of me left to reject in three months.

​"Lana, please," I whispered. "If the triplets find out..."

​"They won’t," Lana said with a wink. "They’ll be too busy brooding in the study. Now, put the phone in your pocket. We have a long day ahead of us."

​I swallowed the lump in my throat and whispered a shaky thank you. Jane and Jameson stepped forward next, their faces beaming as they handed me their own wrapped presents. Lana then reached for a smaller, elegantly decorated box from the vanity. "And this one," she said, "is from Lyra. She insisted you have it today."

​I took the gifts, my fingers trembling. A sharp, stinging pain flared in my chest—not from the bond this time, but from the guilt of what I was about to do. Lana was talking about dancing and partying, planning a future for us that would never happen. She didn’t know that tonight, when she went looking for me to put on that red gown, I would be gone.

​I was leaving tonight.

hadn’t turned cruel, and the realization that

I were simply overwhelmed by their kindness. "Don’t

nod, offering a tight, watery smile that felt like a lie. After a few more minutes of forced cheer, I excused myself, claiming I needed to get

start packing the few things I actually needed, but I couldn’t do it now. The memorial preparations were in full swing, and if I went missing for too long, someone would come looking. I shoved the

higher, and the air was getting warmer. I was struggling with a heavy stack of folding chairs, my muscles straining under the

Silas who had always looked at me with hungry eyes. He pinned me against the rough wooden wall, his heavy

"A grown woman. No more playing the little orphan. Be my mistress, and I’ll make sure the rest of the staff

Silas!" I spat, my

mouth when his hand flew out, his palm connecting with my cheek in a stinging slap. My head snapped to the side. Inside me, Zoe howled, her fur bristling with a fury that matched my own. Before I could think, my hand moved on instinct. I slapped him back, the sound echoing like a gunshot

eyes turned a dark, murderous red. "You little

back against the wall. A sharp, white-hot pain exploded behind my

he barked, raising his fist