The Triplet Alphas' Secret Mate

Chapter 47: Acceptance

​Scarlett’s POV

I ​froze. My mind refused to process what I had just heard. My eyes widened as I stared at Alpha Ethan, waiting, expecting him to laugh—to mock my expression or tell everyone he was just testing the triplets.

​But he didn’t laugh. The look on his face told me he was fucking serious.

​The sharp clatter of silverware hitting the floor echoed through the room like a gunshot. I didn’t need to look to know it was one of them. I could feel it: the raw agony and the possessive rage rolling off the three brothers like a storm about to break.

"To... Scarlett?" Sir Lennox’s voice came out low, strained with disbelief. "You’re marrying the traitor’s daughter? Ethan, have you lost your mind? The council will never—"

​"The council will do exactly what I tell them to do," Ethan cut in smoothly. His tone was calm. Too calm. "I thought you’d be pleased with this decision," he added, his voice filled with a quiet challenge.

​He didn’t look at anyone else but me. Then his hand moved slowly; he reached across the table and covered mine, his large palm swallowing my trembling fingers. His touch was warm. Possessive. Claiming. And he did it in front of everyone.

​"One month," Ethan continued, his thumb brushing lightly over my knuckles. "One month to settle her affairs here... and then she comes home with me." His gaze darkened slightly. "As my Luna."

wanted our fated mates, but she was afraid—afraid of the

collapse in front of them. And for the first time in two years, I saw something different in their eyes. Not hate. Not anger. But desperation. The kind of desperation that comes when a man realizes he’s

fucking serious," Liam spat,

didn’t seem moved by his outburst. He slowly retracted his hand from mine, but the heat of his touch remained on

This was the moment I had waited for. All they had to do was say the words. All they had to do was stand up and tell everyone that I was

looked at Leon, who was staring at his hands. I looked at Liam, who was vibrating with rage. Finally, Leo spoke up,

darting toward his father before landing on me. "We won’t allow this.

Not that our souls were

Ethan turned to me, his gray eyes piercing and unreadable. "Scarlett? Is this against your will? If you do not wish to marry me, then I

filled with a sudden, arrogant confidence. They were sure I would say it was against my will. They were sure I would choose to stay here, even as their secret, rather than leave with a man I barely knew.

then at Ethan’s composed gaze. A cold, hollow laugh bubbled up in my chest. If they weren’t going to claim me, why

voice sounding stronger than I felt. I looked Ethan straight in the eyes, ignoring the collective gasp that traveled around the table. "It isn’t against my will. I’d

seemed to vanish the moment the words left my lips. I didn’t look at the triplets. I couldn’t. I kept my eyes locked on

didn’t just nod. He reached out, took my hand again, and lifted it to his lips. He pressed a deep, lingering kiss