TRIPLED: THE KINGS & THEIR MOON

CHAPTER 8: COURTROOM

9:00AM. Court Day.

The courthouse was packed.

News vans. Protesters. TEAM NOEL signs and VOSS LEGACY signs.

Kael squeezed my hand. "Breathe."

Riven was on my other side. "We’ve got you. Both of us."

Alpha Darius Drayven and Alpha Marcus Cole were behind us.

Luna Selene and Luna Ivy were in the front row.

Serena’s seat was empty.

"Where is she?" I whispered.

"House arrest," Riven said. "Ankle monitor."

The judge walked in. "Case: Voss Industries vs Drayven, Cole, and Crescent Peak Academy."

Serena’s dad’s lawyer: "Your honor, this bond is coercion. A wolfless boy manipulating two heirs. We demand the bond be severed and damages paid."

Our lawyer: "Your honor, the Alpha Council has already recognized this bond. It was done willingly, witnessed, and blood-sealed. There is no law against it."

The judge looked at me. "Noel Hart. Stand."

My legs shook.

Kael stood with me. Riven too.

"Did anyone force you?" the judge asked.

"No," I said. "I chose them. They chose me."

"Even though you have no wolf?"

"Even though," I said. "I’m normal. But I’m not worthless."

Gasps.

Luna Selene cried. Luna Ivy clapped.

.

The doors slammed open.

Serena.

No ankle monitor. Hair different. Sunglasses.

"Daddy, I’m here to testify," she said.

Security moved. But Marcus Voss held up a hand. "Let her speak."

Serena walked to the stand. Smiled at me.

"You think you won?" she said. "You’re nothing. You’re just a—"

"Serena," the judge warned.

"I have proof," she said. Pulled out a folder. "Proof he’s using them."

She threw photos on the table. Us. In bed. The live. The bath.

"See? He seduced them!"

The courtroom went silent.

Kael stepped forward. "Yes. He did. And we let him. Because we love him."

Riven took my hand. Lifted it. Showed the bond mark on my wrist.

Now glowing gold. "See this? That’s not manipulation. That’s choice."

The judge banged his gavel. "Enough!"

The judge was about to rule.

Serena screamed. "You can’t do this! He’s a nobody!"

That’s when I snapped.

Strength. Confidence.

I stepped in front of Kael and Riven. Faced the whole court.

Faced Serena. Faced cameras.

"You want to know what I am?" I said. Voice clear.

"I’m the boy who got whipped for them and didn’t cry.

I’m the boy who took two Alphas into his head and didn’t break.

I’m the boy who chose love over fear."

I turned. Looked at Kael. At Riven.

"And I’m theirs."

Kael pulled me to him. Kissed me. Right there. In court.

Riven kissed me after. Deep. Claiming.

The bond flared. Gold light filled the room.

People started crying. Filming.

Even the judge looked away for a second.

When we pulled apart, Serena was gone. Ran out.

CASE DISMISSED

BOND RECOGNIZED AND PROTECTED BY LAW

MARCUS VOSS UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR FRAUD

We won.

Outside, reporters swarmed.

"How does it feel?"

"Are you scared?"

"What’s next?"

Kael answered: "He’s safe. That’s all that matters."

Riven: "And we’re not hiding anymore."

I just held their hands.

Back at the guest house. Safe.

Both moms made dinner. Both dads were quiet. But they stayed.

After dinner, it was just us three.

I was exhausted. But wired.

"That was insane," Riven said. He pulled me into his lap. "You claiming us in court. God."

Kael was behind me. Arms around both of us. "You were incredible."

"I was scared," I whispered.

"And you did it anyway," Kael said. He kissed my neck. "That’s my brave boy."

Riven’s hands slid under my shirt. "Can we?"

I nodded.

It was slow. Careful. Healing.

No cameras. No Serena. No Council.

Just us.

After, Kael traced the bond mark on my wrist. Now permanent. Gold.

"It’s really real," I whispered.

"Really real," Riven said. He kissed it. "Forever."

I fell asleep between them.

For the first time in my life, I felt safe.

My phone rang. Unknown number.

"Good morning, Noel," Serena’s voice. Sweet. Deadly.

"I took something of yours. Want it back? Come alone. Old greenhouse. Midnight."

Click.

My blood went cold. "She took Luna Ivy."

Kael was already on his feet. "No. We go together."

Riven was texting Alpha Marcus. "She’s got my mom."

Comedy? Gone.

Drama? FULL.

All Day. The Plan.

We couldn’t go to police. Serena would hurt her.

We couldn’t go alone. We’d be walking into a trap.

So we did what bonded people do. We made a plan. Together.

Kael: "I’ll go in front. Draw her out."

Riven: "I’ll come from behind. Cut power."

Me: "I’m coming too."

Both of them stopped.

"No," Kael said.

"Absolutely not," Riven said.

I looked at them. "She took her because of me. I’m ending this."

They stared at me. Then Riven sighed. "Fine. But you stay behind us."

Kael pulled me in. Forehead to forehead. "Promise me you’ll run if I say run."

"I promise," I lied. Kind of.

It was dark. Wet. Smelled like dirt and roses.

Luna Ivy was tied to a chair. Gagged. But okay.

Serena stood in front of her. Holding a letter.

"Look who came," she said. "The bonded trio."

"Dad would be so proud," Riven said. "Kidnapping your future mother-in-law."

Serena laughed. "She’s not my mother-in-law. She’s HIS." She pointed at me.

"And you stole my place."

Drama hit peak.

Kael stepped forward. "Let her go."

"Not until he reads this," Serena said. She threw the letter at my feet.

Envelope. No name. Old seal.

FOR NOEL HART. DO NOT OPEN UNTIL YOUR 18TH BIRTHDAY.

My birthday was last week.

The Bloodline Letter.

My hands shook as I opened it.

`Noel,

If you’re reading this, your parents are gone.

You are not wolfless. You are dormant.

You are the last of the Moonblood line.

The line that can bond to two Alphas without breaking.

Hide this. They will use you.

• Mom`

Silence.

Riven picked up the letter. Read it. "What the hell."

Kael’s eyes were gold. "That’s why the bond didn’t break you."

Serena screamed. "NO! He’s supposed to be NOTHING!"

Comedy timing: The lights cut out. Riven.

"Oops," he said in the dark. "Clumsy me."

Chaos.

Kael moved. Fast. Tackled Serena.

Riven untied Luna Ivy. "Mom, run."

Luna Ivy ran. But not before slapping Serena. "Don’t you ever touch my family again."

Security burst in. Alpha Darius. Alpha Marcus.

Serena was arrested. For real this time.

After, in the car, it was quiet.

Then Riven said it. "So... you’re not wolfless."

I nodded. "I didn’t know."

Kael was quiet. Too quiet.

Riven noticed. "Hey. You good?"

Kael looked at me. "I’m jealous."

"What?" I said.

"That you had this secret. That you’ve been carrying it alone." He sighed. "I’m jealous. But I’m also proud. And I’m not going anywhere."

Riven took my hand. "Same. Jealous that you’re special. But glad you’re ours."

Healthy jealousy. Honest.

It made the bond tighter.

Luna Ivy from the front: "Also you’re grounded. All three of you."

We all laughed.

Back home. Safe.

Luna Selene made hot chocolate. Four mugs.

"So," she said. "Moonblood."

"So," Kael said. He pulled me to his side. "Our Moonblood."

Riven was on my other side. "Does this mean you get powers?"

"No idea," I said. "I just know I’m not alone anymore."

Kael kissed my temple. "You never were."

Riven kissed my cheek. "And you never will be."

The s****l tension was there. Thick.

But tonight it wasn’t about that.

It was about holding on. About breathing.

Kael carried me to bed. Riven followed.

We didn’t do much. Just laid there.

Me between them. Bond warm. Safe.

"Jealousy makes sense now," Riven whispered. "Everyone will want you."

"Let them try," Kael said. His arm tightened around me.

I fell asleep smiling.