The Triplet Alphas' Secret Mate

Chapter 140: Unexpected Guest

Scarlett’s POV

​I was lost in the strokes of my charcoal pencil, the lines forming the jagged peaks of a mountain range I had never actually seen, when the heavy door to the studio creaked open. Alpha Samuel walked in, his presence warm and comforting.

​"Good morning, Alpha," I said, offering a small, genuine smile.

​He wandered over, staring at the canvas with genuine admiration. "Your talent grows every day, Scarlett. There’s a soul in your work that most artists spend a lifetime trying to find." He paused, tapping the edge of the easel. "Listen, there is a massive gathering starting tomorrow: The Continental Warrior Festival. All the packs in Africa are sending their best, and this year it’s being hosted right here in Nigeria, at the Iron-Claw Pack."

​My heart gave a little flutter of interest. "A festival? It sounds... lively."

​"The prize is huge," he said, watching me closely. "And they are holding a combat tournament. I know you’ve been training hard. Do you want to go? It might be good for you to step outside these walls for a while.

​I bit my lip. The itch to test my strength was there, buried under layers of caution. "The triplets are far away... on another continent," I reasoned, more to myself than to him. "I suppose... yes. I’d like to go."

​"Good. It’s only a twenty-minute drive from our borders," he said, nodding before heading out.

​Hardly had the door shut when my phone buzzed. It was Alpha Ethan. I took a deep breath before answering.

triplets’ parents... they reached out again. They’re still asking if you’ve changed your mind. They want to know if you want to

I made—to save them from a war they couldn’t win—flashed through my mind. "Tell them no, Ethan," I said, my voice cold and firm. "As far

he sighed. "How are you

great," I said

he said, his voice dropping into that intimate, heavy tone that always made me feel guilty. "I’ll come see you next week. I love

words sticking in my throat. I couldn’t say it back. Not yet. Maybe not ever. "I... I’ll talk to you soon, Ethan. Thank you.

the cool glass of the window. Please, I prayed to the Moon Goddess, let me learn to love him. He’s perfect. He saved me.

meant to be together," a voice said in my mind, sharp

Zoe, I snapped at my wolf. You only want

low. "Ethan is a good man. A great Alpha. But he does not make us feel alive.

and refused to listen. The triplets had moved on. They

happy meant choosing the man who was actually there for me instead of the three who were thousands of miles away,

morning, the air was thick with the scent of dust, sweat, and anticipation. I dressed in my dark fighting gear and climbed into the transport truck with four other warriors

a sea of warriors from every corner of the continent. I was relieved to see I wasn’t

told the official. I had no intention of shifting; my wolf was