Claimed By The Three Alpha Brothers

The scent hit Elena first—a heavy mix of rain-drenched earth and crushed pine needles. It felt completely out of place in the stuffy community hall. She was currently balancing a tray of empty cider glasses, her sneakers squeaking against the polished floor. It was the annual Autumn Equinox, the one night a year everyone was expected to be social. Elena, a twenty-two-year-old who preferred the quiet corners of the library, usually spent these events helping the catering staff just to avoid the dance floor. Just two more hours, she thought. Then I can go home to my book. "Elena, focus," Sarah, the head of the kitchen, hissed as she brushed past. "The Alphas are coming in. Look alive." Elena straightened her apron. "The Alphas? All of them?" "The triplets," Sarah whispered. "They just got back from the northern borders. Don’t just stand there, take those glasses back before you get in their way." Elena turned toward the hallway, but the air suddenly grew thick. The chatter of the pack died down to a sudden, jarring silence. The pressure in the room spiked—a physical weight that made it hard to draw a full breath. Why is it so quiet? A chill crawled up her spine. As she reached the kitchen doors, the scent intensified, feeling like a physical touch against her skin. "Hey," a deep voice rumbled. It wasn't loud, but the authority in it made her blood turn to ice. Elena stopped, her fingers tightening on the tray. Every instinct—the quiet part of her wolf that usually stayed dormant—was screaming at her to run, but her feet felt like they were sinking into the floorboards. "I’m talking to you. The one with the glasses." She slowly turned, her breath hitching. Standing by the entrance were three men who looked carved from the same jagged granite. They were intimidatingly tall, wearing tactical black jackets that stood out against the festive flannel of the pack. The one in the middle, Silas, the future Alpha of the region, took a step forward. His eyes were glowing a dangerous amber. "Look at me," Silas said. The command was undeniable. Elena swallowed hard. "I... I have to get these to the kitchen." The man to Silas’s left, Kael—the 'Wild Card'—let out a dry laugh. His hair was messy, and an unzipped jacket revealed a scar running up his neck. "She’s got spirit," Kael said, walking toward her with predatory grace. "Didn't you hear him? He wanted you to look at him." "I heard him," Elena said, facing them fully and holding the tray like a shield. "I’m just working." The third brother, Jax, stayed back a half-step. Usually the brother people felt safe around, his face was now set in a hard line, his gaze locked on Elena’s neck. Kael stopped inches away, his nose brushing the air near her temple. Elena shivered, the tray rattling. "Kael, back off," Silas said, his voice dropping an octave. "You smell it too, Silas," Kael whispered. "Don't act like you don't." "I smell it," Silas replied. He stepped forward, his heavy boots echoing. Standing directly in front of Elena, he forced her to look up. "What’s your name?" "Elena," she whispered. "Elena," Silas repeated, as if memorizing the sound. "You’re a member of the Crescent Moon line?" "My parents were. I’m just a worker here." Jax joined them, circling to her other side. Elena felt like a small bird trapped between three mountain lions. "She’s not just a worker," Jax said softly. "Look at her eyes, Silas. She’s terrified, but she isn't backing down." "Why are you staring at me?" Elena asked, her heart hammering. "I’m just doing my job." Kael reached out and took the tray from her hands, setting it on a nearby table without breaking eye contact. "The glasses can wait." He stepped into her personal space, rolling a stray lock of her hair between his fingers. "How long have you been in this pack, Elena?" "Since I was born." "And you never felt anything? No pull?" Jax asked, his tone intense. Elena shook her head. "You guys are always at the borders. I’ve never been this close to you." Silas reached out, his hand cupping her jaw. His skin was incredibly hot. He tilted her head back gently, forcing her to meet his gaze. The amber in his eyes was swirling. "You’re shaking," Silas noted. "You’re being very intimidating," Elena countered. A smirk tugged at Silas’s mouth. "Is that so?" "You're making a scene," she whispered. "Everyone is watching." "Let them watch," Kael said, moving behind her. She could feel the heat of his chest against her back. He leaned down, his breath hot against her ear. "They’ll have to know eventually." "Know what?" Silas leaned in, his face inches from hers. "There’s a reason we came back early. We felt it fifty miles away. A pull. Like a tether snapping into place." Elena tried to pull away, but his grip was firm. "I don't know what you're talking about. I’m nobody." "You're a mate," Jax said, his voice surprisingly gentle. "Our mate." Elena’s heart stopped. "That’s not how it works. You can't have three. The law is one-to-one." Kael laughed, a sound like a growl. "We’ve never been good at following rules, Elena. Especially not when it comes to something that belongs to us." "I don't belong to anyone," Elena said with a spark of defiance. Silas’s thumb traced her lower lip, sending a jolt through her that made her knees feel like jelly. "You do now. To all three of us." "No," Elena said, finally pulling away. She took a step back, but bumped straight into Kael’s chest. His hands came up to rest firmly on her waist. "Where are you going, Little Wolf?" Kael asked. "I’m going home. This is a mistake. It’s a fluke." Silas stepped toward her, his presence filling her vision. "It’s not a fluke." He looked at his brothers, a silent communication passing between them. Jax took Elena’s hand and pressed a lingering kiss to her knuckles. "We’re not letting you go back to that apartment tonight. It's not safe for you to be alone." "You can't just decide that for me," Elena argued. "We just did," Kael said from behind. Silas looked over at the crowd. His father, the Pack Alpha, was watching with a grim expression. Silas gave a sharp nod. "We're taking her to the estate," Silas announced, his voice carrying to the rafters. Elena looked around for help, but the pack members just lowered their heads. No one challenged the triplets. Silas tucked her under his arm, his hand resting on her shoulder. It wasn't forceful, but the weight was a clear reminder he wasn't letting go. "Let’s go." "Wait, my purse—!" "We'll send someone for it," Kael said, walking on her other side as they led her toward the exit. They stepped into the cool autumn air where a black SUV was idling. Silas opened the back door and waited. Elena looked back at the hall where her quiet life used to be, then at the three men whose eyes all glowed with the same possessive light. The library assistant she had been five minutes ago was gone. With a shaky breath, she climbed into the car.