Mated to Triplet Alphas After Rejected by One

Chapter 4: Destined Complications

As the door to Seraphina's room closed behind us, I couldn't shake the lingering warmth that seemed to pulse through my entire being. It was as if a part of me that I never knew was missing had suddenly clicked into place.

"Asher?" Lucian's deep voice cut through my reverie. "What's wrong?"

I blinked, realizing I had been standing there, staring at the closed door like some lovestruck pup. Heat crept up my neck as I turned to face my brothers.

Kael, ever the jokester, nudged me with his elbow. "Yeah, little brother. You're looking a bit... dazed. Not like you at all. Did our mysterious guest cast a spell on you or something?"

I opened my mouth to deliver a retort, but the words died on my lips. How could I explain what I'd felt? The instant connection, the surge of protectiveness, the overwhelming urge to comfort and care for this girl we'd only just met?

"I..." I hesitated, searching for the right words. "When I touched her hand, I felt... something. A bond. Stronger than anything I've ever experienced before."

Lucian's eyebrows shot up, his usual stoic expression giving way to surprise. "A bond? You mean...?"

I nodded, the reality of it settling over me like a warm blanket. "I think... no, I know she's my destined mate."

For a moment, silence reigned in the hallway. Then Kael let out a low whistle.

"Well, damn," he said, a mixture of awe and amusement in his voice. "Leave it to you to find your mate in the most dramatic way possible. Rescuing a damsel in distress on a stormy cliff? That's straight out of one of those romance novels Mom pretends she doesn't read."

"This is serious, Kael," Lucian admonished, but I could see the hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Asher, are you sure? This isn't something to be taken lightly."

I met my eldest brother's gaze, unflinching. "I'm sure, Luc. I can't explain it, but... I just know. It's like everything in my life has been leading up to this moment."

Lucian nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Well, this certainly complicates things. We'll need to-"

His words were cut off by the sound of approaching footsteps. We turned to see one of our pack's messengers, a young wolf named Ethan, racing towards us.

"My lords," Ethan panted, skidding to a halt before us. "Your parents request your presence in the study immediately. They say it's urgent."

The three of us exchanged glances. For our parents to summon us so abruptly, something serious must have happened.

"We're on our way," Lucian said, his Alpha-in-training voice brooking no argument. "Thank you, Ethan."

As we made our way through the winding corridors of the pack house, my mind raced. What could be so urgent? Had there been an attack on our borders? A challenge from a rival pack?

And what about Seraphina? The thought of leaving her alone, even for a short time, made my wolf restless. I pushed the feeling down, reminding myself that she was safe here. No one would harm her under our roof.

We arrived at the study, Lucian knocking once before pushing open the heavy oak door. Our parents stood by the fireplace, their faces grave.

Our father, Alpha Nathaniel Shadow, was an imposing figure even in repose. Tall and broad-shouldered, with salt-and-pepper hair and eyes the same piercing dark as Lucian's, he radiated an aura of power and authority that commanded respect.

Beside him stood our mother, Luna Evelyn. Where our father was all hard edges and stern countenance, our mother was grace and warmth personified. Her long, chestnut hair fell in soft waves around a face that seemed eternally youthful, despite the wisdom in her warm brown eyes.

"Boys," our father greeted us, his voice tight with tension. "We have a situation."

"What's going on?" Lucian asked, immediately alert. "Is it the Northern Pack again?"

Our mother shook her head, her brow furrowed with concern. "No, it's not that. We've received word from the Crimson Moon Pack. They've issued a notice and a substantial reward of 10 million for information on the whereabouts of one of their pack members. A girl named Seraphina Moon."

My heart leapt into my throat. Seraphina. My Seraphina.

"The girl you rescued," our father continued, his gaze sweeping over each of us in turn. "Is she the one they're looking for?"

For a moment, none of us spoke. I could feel the weight of my brothers' gazes on me, waiting to see how I would respond.

"Yes," I said finally, my voice steadier than I felt. "She is."

Our father's frown deepened. "We must inform the Crimson Moon Pack that she's here. They offer a reward of 10 million. This girl must be really important to them! To do otherwise would be a breach of inter-pack etiquette and could lead to serious repercussions."

"No!" The word burst from me before I could stop it, louder and more forceful than I'd intended. Everyone in the room turned to stare at me, shock evident on their faces. I rarely raised my voice, especially not to our parents.

"Asher?" Our mother stepped forward, concern etched on her features. "What's wrong? Why don't you want us to contact her pack?"

I took a deep breath, trying to organize my thoughts. How could I make them understand?

"She can't go back there," I said, my voice low but intense. "You didn't see her, didn't hear what she told us. Her own pack, her own *family*, they've been neglecting and mistreating her for years. And now..."

I swallowed hard, remembering the pain in Seraphina's eyes as she recounted her story. "Now her mate has rejected her, choosing her sister instead. She's lost her wolf, Mom. If we send her back there, I don't know what will happen to her."

Silence fell over the study as my words sank in. Our mother's hand flew to her mouth, her eyes wide with shock and sympathy.

"Oh, that poor girl," she murmured. "To go through something like that... it's unthinkable."

Our father's expression had softened somewhat, but I could see the conflict in his eyes. "I understand your concern, Asher. But we can't simply ignore an official request from another pack. The political ramifications could be severe."

"There's more," I said, steeling myself for their reaction. "When I was with her, I felt... a connection. A bond. Stronger than anything I've ever experienced before."

Our mother's eyes widened even further. "Asher, are you saying...?"

I nodded, a small smile tugging at my lips despite the seriousness of the situation. "Yes. I believe Seraphina is my destined mate."

The room erupted into a flurry of exclamations and questions. Our mother rushed forward, enveloping me in a warm embrace.

"Oh, my darling boy," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "A mate! And to think, we almost sent her away!"

Our father remained more reserved, but I could see the pride in his eyes. "This changes things," he said thoughtfully. "If she truly is your mate, Asher, then she has a place here with us. The Crimson Moon Pack can't force her to return if she's bonded to a member of our pack."

Relief washed over me, so intense I felt my knees might give out. "Thank you," I said, looking between our parents. "I know this complicates things, but I promise I'll handle it. I'll protect her, help her heal."

Our mother pulled back, a mischievous glint in her eye that reminded me startlingly of Kael. "Well, now I simply mustmeet this girl who's captured our quiet Asher's heart so thoroughly. Once she's feeling better, of course."

I felt a blush creeping up my neck. "Mom..."

She laughed, patting my cheek affectionately. "Oh, hush. It's not every day a mother gets to meet her son's destined mate. I'm allowed to be excited."

Our father cleared his throat, drawing our attention back to the matter at hand. "We still need to respond to the Crimson Moon Pack's notice," he said. "We can't ignore it completely without raising suspicions."

"It's strange that they are willing to pay 10M for a girl who has been neglected since childhood. " Lucian stepped forward, ever the strategist. "What if we tell them we found an injured girl on our borders, but that she's still unconscious and we haven't been able to identify her yet?"

"It would buy us some time, at least wait until we find out why Crimson Moon Pack is willing to pay such a price and Seraphina is strong enough to make her own decisions about her future." Lucian continued.

Our father nodded approvingly. "Good thinking, Lucian. We'll draft a response immediately."

As our parents and Lucian began discussing the finer points of the message, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned to find Kael grinning at me.

"So, little brother," he said, his voice low enough that only I could hear. "Destined mates, huh? Looks like things around here are about to get a lot more interesting."

I couldn't help but smile back, even as butterflies danced in my stomach. "Yeah," I agreed. "I guess they are."

My thoughts drifted back to Seraphina, alone in that big room.

"Hey," Kael's voice broke through my thoughts. "You've got that dopey, lovestruck look on your face again. Come on, lover boy. Let's go check on your mate before you float away on cloud nine."