The Triplet Alphas' Secret Mate

Chapter 54: Reject His Offer

Scarlett’s POV

​I expected him to yell. I expected the full force of his Alpha rage, but instead, the fire in his eyes just... went out. He looked smaller, his shoulders sagging as he stared at me with raw, broken pain.

​"I want to accept you," he whispered, the word dropping like a bomb. "I want to accept this bond, Scarlett."

​I froze. My heart, which had been hammering against my ribs, felt like it stopped beating entirely. I was confused. After two years of cold shoulders and averted eyes, he was saying the words I used to cry myself to sleep wishing for.

​"Scarlett... I will be made Alpha tomorrow," he continued, stepping closer until I could feel the warmth of his breath. "Just give me a few days. Once the coronation is over, I’ll tell everyone. I’ll stand in front of the pack and say it... that you are my mate. That you are my Luna."

​I looked at him, and for the first time, I didn’t know what to feel. Days ago—even hours ago—I would have done anything to hear him say this. I would have crawled through broken glass for this moment. But right now, standing here with the ghost of Ethan’s kiss on my lips and the bruises of the last two years on my soul, I felt... hollow.

​"Say something," he begged, his voice trembling. "Please, Scarlett."

​I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat painful... then slowly shook my head. "Leo... don’t."

​His eyes blinked, wide and wounded. "Why? Scarlett, I’m giving you everything. I’m telling you I’m choosing you."

​"What am I saying?" I repeated, my voice rising as a sudden anger rose up in my chest. "I’m saying don’t do it. Let’s just keep things the way they are. I don’t want to accept this bond. I don’t want to be your Luna."

desperation. "I know you’re angry. I know I hurt you. I know I was a coward, but I will make up for it. I swear on my life, I’ll make it

my hands back as if disgusted by his touch. "Make up

bitter laugh left my lips. I stepped into his space, forcing him to see the tears

make up for that? Will you bring them back?

​His face went pale.

lips parted, but no

silence of the room. "You can’t. You can’t fix it,

at the dark trees. I wanted him gone. I wanted the scent of him out of my

the door open, I felt a

around my waist from behind. He pulled me back against his chest, burying his face in the crook of my

against my skin, his voice muffled

her legs at the

afraid I would vanish if he let go. "You may not believe it, but you

a single tear finally escaping and rolling down my cheek. The words I

his breath shaky against my back. "I will fight. I don’t care about the coronation or the pack anymore.

back turned, my eyes fixed on the window. I heard his heavy footsteps move toward the door. I heard the click of the latch as he opened it, and then the soft thud

curled up in my bed, pulling the thin blanket over my shoulders. My wolf, Zoe, was whimpering and whining inside me, mourning the touch of our mate, but I ignored her, forcing my

a rough, restless sleep filled with dreams of gallows and eyes, I finally woke up. I glanced at the small clock on my bedside table and

there, staring at nothing. My chest felt tight, like something

wouldn’t leave my