The Triplet Alphas's Christmas Gift

Chapter 42 - Distraction detail

Tyler's POV

"Oh, stop pouting. So you have to hang out with me today. It's not the end of the world." Sarah said from the front seat of Ryan's car. "Says you, you don't have a date with your girlfriend tomorrow after spending all day with a pain in the a**." I grumbled as I glanced out the window.

After we took Teira to our room, we'd left to find Val to give her a head's up about Matt's date and how she should be dressed. Ryan told us all about their date in a dreamy haze, and I smiled, I couldn't wait until it was my turn. We had gotten as much information about what Teira liked or had never done before from Kyle before planning the dates, so we hoped she would love each place we took her to.

I froze as I saw a figure talking to Val, Smoke growled angrily. Sarah Maddox, the Beta of Moon Valley's daughter and the girl who'd tried her best to challenge me at every turn. Whenever we went to Moon Valley, I always tried to escape into the forest. Despite my flirtatious ways, I hated having crowds of girls pawing at me. So, as soon as Mom wasn't looking, I took off. My brothers knew how I felt and usually covered for me when Mom would ask for my whereabouts.

Sarah, however, always found me. She would draw Mom right to me a lot of the time. Even after I asked her to stop and tried explaining myself, she refused. I had to practice hiding my scent and using Smoke's speed to keep away from her. It never mattered. She still found me. When I finally confronted her, she said she was told to keep an eye on me. Mom had promised her a reward if she could lead her to me. I started bribing her with candy to get her to mislead Mom so I could be alone.

So her being here at Mom's request didn't sit right with me. I just can't bring myself to fully trust her, knowing that all it takes is a reward to get her to betray someone. My brothers didn't have a problem with her as bribing her worked out well for both of them due to my experiences, but I couldn't stand being around her.

Sarah huffed, "This is the thanks I get for volunteering to come here as a potential chosen mate as a favor to you guys. Way to make a girl feel special." she grumbled as we headed to the training area. I growled, "Let's get one thing straight. You didn't do it as a favor to us but to Val. As she's the one who found out Mom was asking for a girl from Moon Valley to visit the pack as a potential future Luna." I said, and she waved me off, "Yeah, yeah. And now Mommy dearest can't keep throwing tantrums in the office about you guys ignoring the other candidates. Whatever happened to the last candidate, Whitney, something?" she asked curiously as we got out of the car and headed inside.

Ryan sighed, "Whitley Pierce, she kept bullying and harassing Teira to the point she broke pack law and is now in the cells. Her parents have already reached out to Mom to change Dad's mind, but he's adamant. Whitley will stay in the cells until after the holiday. Then, she will be forced to work as an Omega for six months until she either learns her lesson or her family will be banished from the pack. Her choice." Sarah whistled, "Wow, how'd your Mom take it?" she asked as we walked in. Kyle was standing in the middle of the gym floor sparring with another warrior. His opponent was trying his best, but it was obvious who was the better fighter.

I chuckled, "About as well as you can expect, there was screaming, yelling, sounds of crashing, but in the end, Mom left Dad's office in a fury. I'm pretty sure he's been sleeping in the library for a while now." I said, shrugging. It was normal for Mom and Dad to fight. He had told us a long time ago that their mating was arranged as a pack alliance. Dad had fought hard with his father over the arrangement to the point of him almost giving up the Alpha position, but our grandfather told him if he didn't, then he'd disband the pack.

Dad didn't care about going rogue himself, but he cared deeply for his pack. He wasn't strong enough at the time to take the role from his father, so he gave in and accepted the mating, trying his best to make things work with Mom. I'd always hoped Dad would find his fated mate one day, I would always love my Mom but it was plain to see that she hated our pack and had badly wanted to return to Moon Valley when we were younger.

Well, at least until the laws changed and the pack no longer arranged matings unless pack members requested it. Even then, they researched the couple thoroughly before going through with the arrangement. The Moon Valley pack had had too many pack members flee or killed because of bad pairings.

So now Mom was trying to arrange our mating, believing that it was the best way for us to find a mate worthy of being Luna. Which is why we were stuck with Sarah, in the training gym, practically drooling at the sight of a shirtless Kyle in the sparring ring.

I snapped my fingers in her face, causing her to jump, then scowl at me, "You're supposed to be clinging to me and Ryan, remember? Not drooling over our girlfriend's brother." I said, smirking. She looked at me a bit stunned, "That's Teira's brother? My goodness, I may need to be a bit nicer to that girl. Think she can put in a good word for me? I mean, I'll play my part like I'm supposed to and you guys are cute but him, he's-" she started to say but I shoved a canvas bag in her face, "I don't need to hear you drool story about how much you like Kyle. Go get changed, and we'll train for a while." I said, cutting her off.

Ryan chuckled as she growled and then stormed off towards the locker rooms, "She gets under your skin, doesn't she?" he asked as we headed that way too. I growled, "I know Val called her in as a favor, but I don't trust her. She can be bribed way too easily." I murmured. Ryan shrugged, "At least she's honest about it. We'll have someone keep an eye on her, just in case, but I'm fairly certain she won't betray Val. They have too much history for her to do that." he said as he stashed his bag in a locker and sat on the bench between them, putting his shoes on.

I sighed, "I hope you're right. I just get an uneasy feeling around her. Like, she's distracting us from something else." I said worriedly as I leaned against the locker. Ryan looked at me seriously, "You sure you aren't overreacting?" he asked. I shook my head, "No, I'm certain something's going on, and Sarah may be part of it." I said as we walked out of the locker room.

Ryan chuckled, and I followed his gaze sighing wearily, Sarah was standing outside the sparring ring, twirling her hair on her finger and offering a towel to a sweaty Kyle brushing her fingers against his chest. "Or maybe not." I stated, watching an obviously uncomfortable Kyle try to put some distance between him and Sarah to no avail as she closed the distance again, nearly falling into the sparring ring. "Should we rescue him?" I asked, and Ryan nodded, "Might as well, Sarah might get hurt otherwise." he said as he headed over to the ring.

I followed, keeping my face as straight as possible, Kyle's face was flushed red, and I was certain it wasn't from sparring. "Alright, Casanova, go put a shirt on and start drills." I said as Ryan pulled a protesting Sarah away and led her towards the rock climbing wall on the other side. Kyle looked at me sheepishly, "Who is that girl? She basically came out of the locker room and wouldn't leave me be. I even tried to go to the other side of the ring but she just followed." he asked as he pulled on his shirt and followed the warriors to the mats.

I rolled my eyes, "Sarah Maddox, the beta's daughter of Moon Valley and a near royal pain. She likes to follow people, so just be careful around her." I replied as I helped him start drills. Kyle glanced at Sarah as she climbed the rock wall, nearly losing her grip as she kept sneaking glances at him as she climbed. He shuddered, "Is there any way to set her focus in someone else?" he asked. I started to shake my head, then stopped and nodded, I knew someone who would definitely help her change her focus.

"Sure, tell princess and Val what's going on." I said, smirking as I watched Sarah nearly fall again. Kyle sighed, "I don't know if I want to get Tei involved. She gets kinda protective." he said, and I snorted, "You think I'd say that and allow my girl to be put in danger? No, but it might give Sarah enough of a push to let her know you are off limits." I explained, and he nodded seriously.

"Alright, I'll do it." he said quietly. "Do what?" A voice asked from behind us, I turned quickly and smiled.

Val had just strode into the gym and was glaring straight at Sarah as she tried to blow a kiss at Kyle.