The Triplet Alphas' Secret Mate

Chapter 236: The Picks

​Scarlett’s POV

​"No," I gasped, instantly shaking my head and pulling away from his touch. Tears stung my eyes, and a sudden wave of panic tightened my throat. "No, please... don’t do this to me. I can’t. I can’t look at two of you and send you to a battlefield. I can’t choose between you."

​My wolf whimpered in agreement inside my head, completely terrified by the thought. Choosing one meant sending the other two into danger. It was an impossible choice, a heavy weight I wasn’t ready to carry.

​The triplets looked at my trembling lips and the deep fear in my eyes, and they all understood at once. They realized they had pushed too hard, trying to give me control when what I really needed was comfort. Leo’s face softened with deep regret, Liam squeezed my waist tighter from behind, and Leonard stepped in, his brown eyes filled with a sorry warmth.

​"Alright, love. Easy now," Leonard murmured, his voice dropping into a comforting, deep rumble. "We won’t put that on you. We’ll settle it another way."

​He turned and walked over to the wooden writing desk in the corner of the room. Pulling out a small sheet of paper, he tore it into three identical, neat strips. On two of them, he drew a sharp, dark’X’ with a pen. He left the third one completely blank.

​My heart beat against my ribs like a trapped bird as I watched him fold each piece tightly into tiny squares, making them look exactly the same.

​"X marks mean the battlefield," Liam explained against my ear, keeping his tight grip around my waist, as if he were already preparing to be torn away from me. "The blank means staying behind to guard the pack. And guarding you."

​Leonard placed the three folded papers into an empty silver cup on the nightstand. He shook it once, the quiet rustle of the paper sounding like a death sentence in the otherwise silent bedroom.

​The three brothers looked at each other, their powerful Alpha presence completely taking over now. The air grew thick, filled with tension as their wolves braced for whatever fate had in store.

on the cup, his jaw clenching with a mix of worry

muttered, stepping toward the

let’s all grab one and open them together," Leonard

by the nightstand. My heart beat wildly against my ribs, a heavy lump forming in my throat as I watched

pulled out a tiny folded square, holding it tightly in their fists. They exchanged a long,

Liam whispered.

papers at

said immediately,

leaving his chest as he stared

brown eyes locked onto

out, Leo let out a low, dark growl, his knuckles turning white as he clenched his fists. He wasn’t mad about going to war—his wolf was always ready for a fight—but the

my mate," Leo snarled, the air

ached with the thought of losing them, and before I could stop myself, I spoke

had just said the stupidest thing on earth. They didn’t even hesitate. Both of them spoke

hadn’t seen me fight in a real battle yet, so in their minds, they still

tear through opponents and fight for my life in that arena. But as our eyes met, I saw the tight warning in his gaze. He couldn’t say a word. If he stood up for me and

"I’m serious; I am really good now," I insisted, crossing my arms and looking between them. "You could test me right here. Let me

completely dark and unyielding. "It is