The Triplet Alphas' Secret Mate

Chapter 209: Romantic Dinner

Scarlett’s POV

​When I turned the handle and pulled the door open, my breath caught completely in my throat.

​Liam was standing in the hallway, and Goddess, he looked breathtaking. He had traded his usual rugged training gear for a crisp, tailored black button-down shirt with the top two buttons left casually undone, paired with dark trousers that emphasized his broad shoulders and towering height. His dark hair was neatly pushed back, and his intoxicating scent of winter frost, cedar, and sharp mint rolled off him in powerful waves.

​The moment his eyes landed on me, he froze.

​His intense, dark gaze started at my face, swept slowly down the low neckline of the dress, traced the tight curve of my waist and hips, and traveled back up. I watched his throat bob as he swallowed hard, his jaw clenching so tightly that a sharp muscle ticked in his cheek. For a split second, the raw, possessive flare of his inner wolf flashed bright gold in his eyes. He looked like a predator fighting every single instinct to not just pin me against the wall and claim me right there.

​"Scarlett," Liam murmured, his voice incredibly deep, rough, and thick with a sudden heat. "You look... absolutely breathtaking."

​"Thank you," I said, forcing my voice to remain calm and indifferent, though my pulse was hammering wildly against my ribs. "You don’t look too bad yourself, Alpha."

​A slow, dangerously handsome smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. He bent his arm, offering it to me with perfect, gentlemanly grace. "Shall we?"

​I hesitated for a second, my mind screaming reminders of the secrets I was hiding from him, before I gently wrapped my hand around his forearm. The muscle beneath his sleeve was rock-hard, and the simple contact sent a jolt of electricity straight up my arm.

​As we walked down the grand staircase of the pack house, the hallway was completely silent, but I could feel the heavy, suffocating weight of two pairs of eyes burning into my back from the upper balcony. I didn’t need to look up to know that Leonard and Leo were standing there, watching us leave. The thick wave of jealousy radiating from upstairs was enough to make the hairs on my neck stand up, but true to my rules, neither of them moved or made a sound to interrupt.

​Liam led me out the front doors, where a sleek, black luxury sedan was waiting. He stepped ahead, opening the passenger door for me and placing a protective hand over my head as I slid into the leather seat.

the engine, the smooth car glided down the long, winding driveway of the pack estate. For the first

going?" I asked, looking out the window as the dense trees of the pack territory began to give way to the bright

at me, his large hand resting casually on the steering wheel. "A private place outside the pack borders," he said smoothly. "Somewhere we can just be Scarlett and Liam. No Alphas, no responsibilities. I want to know

at his words. The guilt and anxiety from earlier came rushing back like a tidal wave. If only you knew, I thought bitterly to

on the passing city lights. "I just did what

grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly, his sharp eyes catching the subtle tension in my shoulders. "We have all night, Scarlett," he murmured, his voice rich and patient. "I’m not going to rush you. But tonight, I’m going to prove to you that you can trust me

district. He parked the car in front of a private elevator entrance tucked behind a luxury building. When the elevator doors opened at

closed off to the public. There were no other guests,

another wave of heat straight to my core.

out the whole place?" I asked, raising an eyebrow to hide how touched I

onto mine with total focus. "Just

silently pouring us two glasses of red wine before disappearing back into the shadows. Liam picked up his glass, tilting it

my glass against his, taking a slow sip. The rich wine helped calm the

past. Instead, he talked about himself. He told me how hard it was to manage the pack’s massive business empire, how much

time we finished eating, the tension between us had

his hand. "Come look at the

led me over to the glass railing at the edge of the rooftop. The cool night breeze swept through my chocolate-brown hair, but I didn’t feel cold at all because Liam stepped up right

I made a lot of mistakes, Scarlett," Liam whispered, his deep baritone vibrating against my shoulder blade. He placed his hands on the railing on either side of me, effectively trapping me against his body without actually touching me aggressively. "I let

ribs. The fated mate bond was roaring to life, begging me to turn around and throw my arms around his neck. My wolf was scratching at

I turned around to

the tight space, my chest was almost touching his. I had to tilt my head up significantly just to meet his dark, intense gaze. His eyes