Mated to Triplet Alphas After Rejected by One

Chapter 7: Hidden Surprises

The cool morning air nipped at my skin as I moved through the familiar motions of my training routine. The open space in the yard outside my room had become my sanctuary over the past few weeks, a place where I could push my body to its limits and, hopefully, coax my wolf out of hiding.

Sweat beaded on my forehead as I finished another set of push-ups, my arms trembling with exertion. I sat back on my heels, breathing heavily, and closed my eyes. Reaching deep within myself, I searched for that familiar presence, that wild energy that had been a part of me for so long.

Nothing. Just the same hollow emptiness that had plagued me since that fateful night.

Frustration welled up inside me, threatening to spill over into tears. How long would this go on? How long would I be trapped in this half-existence, neither fully human nor wolf?

A sudden rustling sound snapped me out of my brooding. My eyes flew open just in time to see a figure vault over the low wall surrounding the yard.

"Kael?" I gasped, recognizing the middle Shadow brother as he landed gracefully on the grass.

He flashed me his trademark roguish grin, but there was a hint of desperation in his eyes that immediately put me on alert.

"Morning, Sera!" he said, his voice a forced whisper. "Listen, I need a favor. A big one."

I raised an eyebrow, curious despite myself. In the weeks I'd been here, Kael had always been kind to me, his easy humor often lifting my spirits when the weight of everything threatened to drag me down.

"What kind of favor?" I asked cautiously.

Kael's eyes darted around the yard, as if expecting someone to jump out at any moment. "I need you to hide me. Just for a little while. And if anyone asks, you haven't seen me, okay?"

I frowned, confusion and concern warring within me. "Kael, what's going on? Are you in some kind of trouble?"

He waved a hand dismissively, though the tension in his shoulders belied his casual tone. "Nothing serious. Just... a little situation I'd rather avoid right now. Please, Sera? I promise I'll explain later."

I hesitated. Part of me wanted to press for more information, to understand what could have one of the most powerful wolves in the pack looking so rattled.

But a larger part remembered the kindness Kael had shown me, the way he and his brothers had taken me in when I had nowhere else to go.

"Alright," I sighed. "But you owe me an explanation."

Relief washed over Kael's face. "You're a lifesaver, Sera. I knew I could count on you."

Before I could respond, a sharp knock echoed through the room. Kael's eyes widened.

"That's my cue," he whispered, already backing towards my bedroom. "Remember, you haven't seen me!"

With that, he disappeared into my room, leaving me standing in the yard, bewildered and more than a little curious.

The knocking came again, more insistent this time. I hurried to the door, plastering what I hoped was a neutral expression on my face.

As I swung the door open, I found myself face to face with one of the most beautiful women I'd ever seen. She was tall and willowy, with flowing golden hair and piercing green eyes.

Everything about her screamed 'high maintenance,' from her perfectly manicured nails to her designer clothes.

"Can I help you?" I asked, trying to keep the confusion out of my voice.

The woman's eyes raked over me, taking in my sweaty workout clothes and disheveled appearance. Her perfectly sculpted eyebrows arched in barely concealed disdain.

"So," she said, her voice dripping with false sweetness, "you're the girl Kael and his brothers rescued. I must say, I expected something... more."

I bristled at her tone but forced myself to remain calm. "I'm sorry, but who are you?"

"Oh, how rude of me," she said, though her tone suggested she was anything but sorry. "I'm Natalie. Kael's girlfriend."

The possessive way she said 'girlfriend' made it clear she was staking her claim. I felt a flicker of annoyance, both at her attitude and at Kael for dragging me into whatever drama was playing out.

"I see," I said coolly. "Well, Natalie, what can I do for you?"

Natalie's saccharine smile never wavered. "I'm looking for Kael. Have you seen him?"

I thought of Kael, hiding in my bedroom, and of the panic in his eyes when he'd asked for my help. Whatever was going on between him and this woman, it was clear he wanted no part of it.

"I'm afraid not," I lied smoothly. "I haven't seen Kael since yesterday."

Natalie's eyes narrowed slightly, as if trying to detect any deception. "Are you sure? He often comes this way on his morning runs."

I shrugged, doing my best to appear nonchalant. "Sorry, I can't help you. Maybe try the main house?"

For a moment, I thought she might push further. But then she stepped back, her fake smile firmly back in place. "Well, thank you for your time. I'm sure I'll find him eventually. He can never stay away for long."

With a final, assessing look, she turned and sauntered away, her heels clicking against the stone pathway.

I waited until she was out of sight before closing the door, letting out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. When I turned around, I nearly jumped out of my skin.

Kael was leaning against one of the pillars in the main room, a wry smile on his face. "Nicely done, Sera. I knew I could count on you."

"Kael!" I hissed, my heart racing. "How long have you been standing there?"

He shrugged, his usual carefree demeanor firmly back in place. "Long enough. Thanks for not ratting me out."

I crossed my arms, fixing him with a stern look. "Alright, spill. What was that all about? And why did you let me lie to your girlfriend?"

Kael's smile faltered slightly. "Ah, yeah. About that. Natalie's not my girlfriend. She's my ex. A very persistent ex who doesn't quite understand the concept of 'it's over.'"

'It's Over.' Memories of Marcus, of the pain of rejection, flashed through my mind.

I felt a twinge of discomfort at his cavalier tone. I wanted to be angry, to lecture him on the pain of betrayal and the importance of being loyal. But who was I to judge? My own love life was a disaster of epic proportions.

"Fine," I sighed. "But you should really find a better way to handle this. Running and hiding isn't a long-term solution."

Kael nodded, his expression unusually serious. "You're right. I promise I'll figure something out. I know I can come off as a bit of a player, but I never mean to hurt anyone."

"You're welcome," I said softly.

I didn't want to say anymore, I took a step forward and wanted to go back to the main room. But promptly tripped over the slight rise where the floor transitioned from the main room to the bedroom.

I let out an undignified yelp as I pitched forward. In a flash, Kael was there, his strong arms wrapping around me and stopping my fall.

"Whoa there," he chuckled, his breath warm against my ear. "Are you that shocked by my charm that you can't stand steadily?"

I opened my mouth to deliver a scathing retort, but the words died in my throat. The moment Kael's skin had made contact with mine, a jolt of electricity had shot through me. It was like nothing I'd ever felt before – not the slow burn of my connection with Marcus, nor the gentle warmth I'd experienced with Asher.

This was wild, untamed energy, crackling between us like lightning. I could feel my heart racing, my breath coming in short gasps. And from the wide-eyed look on Kael's face, I knew he felt it too.

Kael swallowed hard, his usual cocky demeanor nowhere to be seen. His voice was rough, " I think... I think we need to talk to my brothers."