The Triplet Alphas' Secret Mate

Chapter 171: Can’t See Each Other

Scarlett’s POV

​"Leo, I mean it. We can’t see each other again until I return," I said, my voice trembling as I clutched the sheets to my chest. "We can talk on the phone, but I need you to respect my decision. It’s just two years."

​"No," Leo snapped, his jaw tight. "Two years is a lifetime, Scarlett. I just found you. I’m not letting you vanish again."

​"You have to!" I cried, the frustration bubbling over. Did he think this was easy for me? Every time I looked at him, I felt a crushing weight of guilt. I was seeing him behind his brothers’ backs, keeping a secret that would shatter Leonard and Liam if they ever found out. "This is my decision, Leo. You said you could get your brothers to start families—fine. Work on that. But we are not meeting like this. Not until the time is right."

​"You’re asking me to go back to a life of pretending you’re dead," he growled, pacing the small space of the hotel room.

​"And you’re being selfish!" I yelled back. "You’re only thinking about what you want, not the war this will start if we’re caught."

​"Yes, I’m selfish!" he roared, turning to face me with a feral intensity in his eyes. "I’m your mate, Scarlett. I’ve spent three years in hell. I’m not going back."

​"We are no longer mates, Leo," I whispered, the words tasting like poison. "You marked someone else. You have a wife. I can only imagine the pain she’s in right now, feeling what we just did through your bond."

his eyes, a look of pure coldness crossing his face. "Bianca means nothing to me. That mark

doesn’t matter!" I stood up, wrapping the robe tightly around me. "This has to stop. We are not seeing each other again until the two years are over. I won’t be looking over my shoulder every second, waiting for Leonard to walk in on

said, his voice dropping to a frustrated, low pitch. "I’m not

stepped into his space, defying the Alpha aura he was throwing off. "This is my life. My choice. If

felt like hours, the air thick with tension and the lingering scent of our tryst. We went back and forth until finally, the fire

face with his hands. "I’m sorry

didn’t answer. I couldn’t. My heart was

no meetings, but I need to hear your

phone yet," I said softly. "But I’ll

lingering against mine. "Scar, I’m respecting your decision. I’ll

I whispered. "I’ll

Then, without a word, he reached out and pulled me into a hard, desperate hug. He buried his face in my hair, inhaling deeply, before kissing the top of my head. He pulled back just enough to press a lingering kiss

love you," he breathed. "Call

at the door, looking back one last time with a look of pure agony before he finally turned and

back onto the bed the moment the door clicked shut. My body was still humming with the pleasure he had given me, but my mind was a wreck. What had I done? Having sex with Leo behind his brothers’ backs once was a mistake, but twice? It wasn’t just a mistake anymore;