The Triplet Alphas' Secret Mate

Chapter 62: Drunk

Scarlett’s POV

​Ethan kissed me deeply, and I kissed him back. A soft moan escaped both of us, like we were trying to breathe through the same moment. My fingers tightened on his shirt as I leaned into him, needing something—anything—to hold on to. Then suddenly, he pulled away. His breathing was heavy, his eyes squeezed shut like he was fighting a war inside himself. I froze. For a second, I thought he was going to leave completely.

​I swallowed hard and forced myself to nod. "Thank you... for tonight," I whispered, my voice sounding distant even to my own ears. "I’ll see you tomorrow." I didn’t wait for him to respond. I couldn’t. If I stayed any longer, I would break. I turned and walked away, almost running back toward the mansion. I slipped through a side door, avoiding the noise of the party. The hallway felt too quiet. Too empty. Too cold.

​My heels clicked against the floor as I moved quickly. Then my eyes caught something: a tray with bottles of alcohol. I stopped. Without thinking, I grabbed three bottles of the strongest amber liquid I could find. I just needed something to numb this feeling. By the time I reached my room, I was shaking. I kicked off the expensive heels the second I stepped inside, letting them scatter across the floor. I struggled with the zipper of my red dress—the same dress that had made me feel powerful earlier—now feeling like it was suffocating me.

​I peeled it off and let it fall, standing there in nothing but my underwear.

Alone. I slid down to the cold floor, resting my back against the bed, and opened the first bottle with trembling hands. The smell hit me instantly—strong and sharp. I didn’t care. I lifted it to my lips and drank. The first gulp was brutal. It burned down my throat, making my eyes water and my chest tighten, but I didn’t stop. I welcomed the pain. I wanted it to burn everything away: the memory of Leon in the woods, and the sight of Liam and Leo standing on that stage.

​"To our new Lunas."

the back of my mind, restless and hurt. She hated the alcohol because it dulled her senses, but that was exactly what I wanted. I didn’t want to feel the bond. I didn’t want to feel that sharp pull in my chest that told me exactly where

I felt nothing. I was numb. I was the traitor’s daughter. I was the girl they hid. And tonight, I was the woman they replaced. I threw my head back, letting the liquid burn through me again. I just wanted to sleep. I just wanted to wake up somewhere else... far away from this place. Far away

body went still. The tiny hairs on my arms stood up. Even through the haze of alcohol, I felt it. Heavy.

still wearing his formal Alpha jacket. His eyes were dark, his chest heaving as he stared at

my voice thick and slurred. I lifted the second bottle to my lips, my hand shaking. "What are you doing here? Go back to your... your

flash, he was across the room. Before I could take another sip, he snatched the bottle from

He tossed the bottle across the

the room spun. I slumped back against the bed, glaring up

His expression darkened.

Scarlett, and you know it," Liam growled, stepping closer until he was looming