The Triplet Alphas's Christmas Gift

Chapter 19 - To tell or not to tell

Matt's POV

I looked at th,e certificate then back at Ryan a few times, stunned. Teira was David's daughter with his fated mate! Kyle was her half-brother, but why did David treat her that was

Ryan's fists clenched, and he was trembling with rage, "We need to talk to David." he growled as I carefully gathered the photos and letters and placed them in a manila envelope that was lying to the side. "No, we need to go check on Teira. We'll deal with David later." I stated firmly, and Ryan nodded.

We had managed to suppress our concern a bit by looking for answers, but the reminder that Teira was in the hospital, possibly fighting for her life, spurred us into action. We walked out of the room quickly, placing the envelope into a bag one of the warriors handed us, then he,aded for the door.

Ryan stopped at and looked at one of the warriors standing by, "When my father gets here, tell him about what we've found here. We'll be at the pack hospital if he needs us, but make sure he sees the secret office." he ordered. The warrior bowed, "Yes, Alpha." he said, but we didn't give him time to straighten before we ran out the door. Ryan shifted and took off while I placed the bag between my teeth and shifted following.

She had to be ok, Teira couldn't die on us. We had just found her. She was our light, our salvation, the missing piece of our soul, and we wouldn't give her up without a fight.

When we got to the hospital and started to shift, a shrieking voice filled our minds, causing Ryan and I to wince. Boys! How DARE you leave poor Whitley to go and see another girl! She came here on good terms and you made an excuse about studying only for your father to inform me there was a situation at a friend's house and that's why you left?! The poor girl is in tears thinking you hate her! I will NOT have it! You are to apologize to her in person! Then, to make up for it, you are to take her to dinner tomorrow night! Mom's voice splintered through the link like glass shards.

I growled angrily, Dad must've told Mom about the situation while she was hosting but dialed it back to keep the investigation private. He didn't like to announce things until the investigation was concluded. And Mom must've thrown a fit when he didn't tell her everything.

Mom, a friend of ours, was in trouble. Kyle linked us for help right after we left Whitley to go study. We didn't intentionally leave Whitley to go see her. We left to go study - I tried to link back, but she cut the link before I could finish.

My fists clenched at the memory, then looked at Tyler, who was pacing the waiting room fuming. He was still shirtless, which was a bit better than Ryan and I, we were still wearing the shirts stained with Teira's blood, and the smell was making us more agitated.

I placed my hands on Tyler's shoulders, making him look at me, "We're only giving you the message. We weren't saying we were going to do what Mom said. Let her throw her tantrum, Teira's more important. Dad will handle her." I said calmly. Tyler huffed and nodded, still pacing while Kyle kept trying to see through the window in the door. Ryan was at the other one, but he was just as agitated. He kept growling, trying to hold his wolf back from running head first through the door.

An older man in scrubs came out a few minutes later, and we gathered around him anxiously, "Alphas, I'm Dr. Patton. You are the ones who brought the young lady in?" he asked. We nodded nervously. "How is she?" Kyle asked. The doctor looked at him sympathetically, "She's in critical condition, the scars on her back have become infected due to the silver that got into her system and while she's fighting it, because she doesn't have her wolf it's difficult for her system to completely stop the infection from spreading. We're giving her doses of antidote, and we've cleaned the silver out as much as possible, but it's up to her to finish the job." he said, and Kyle glanced at the room anxiously.

Tyler growled angrily, "So that's it?! You have to save her!" he yelled hotly, and Ryan and I placed our hands on each of his shoulders, sharing his pain but also trying to calm him down. Dr. Patton raised his hands in a placating gesture, "We are doing whatever we can, Alpha. That's not the only issue. She's far too underweight and malnourished for her age. Obvious signs of abuse were under her clothes as well, old bruises as well as a broken rib that didn't properly heal. We're giving her nutrients through IV and hope to feed her more when she wakes up. That would go a great deal in healing her. Has she found her mate yet?" he asked.

My brothers and I looked at each other, then at Kyle. We were certain she was our mate, but being certain and telling Kyle, who was our best friend as well as her older brother, were two different things. Kyle rolled his eyes, "Yes, she has, but she's only 16, so she doesn't know it yet. The Alphas are her mates." he said firmly. Dr. Patton looked stunned for a moment and then bowed to us, "My apologies, Alphas, I didn't realize. She'll be awake in a few hours, but to help speed up the process, it would be best if you stayed near her. The bond will help her to heal faster, and it might be the boost she needs to fight the infection." he said, stepping aside and letting us through.

Kyle walked beside us, huffing at our stunned looks, "It's not like you guys were very subtle about it. Wanting to be near her all the time, asking how she is, constantly wanting to help her. Tei hasn't noticed because she's never had anyone but me looking out for her, but I know you guys pretty well. I just have one demand." he stated before we walked into her room.

Tyler looked at him seriously, Ryan stood straight, and I was merely curious. "Do NOT hurt her. Tei doesn't need my protection physically but our parents messed her head up pretty bad, you hurt her, break her heart or spirit, and I will not rest until all three of you are in the ground." Kyle growled. We stiffened, our Alpha pride taking issue with a mere warrior threatening us, but we all nodded in understanding. Teira was a treasure, something to cherish and love. I would never harm her intentionally.

Looking at my brothers, they agreed. Kyle smiled at our nod, "Good, now let's go see my sister." he stated, opening the door and entering softly. Teira's small form was lying on the bed peacefully. She looked so helpless, and Snow stirred angrily at the sight. Her brown curls were lank and damp, the nurses had obviously given her a bath to wash out the blood from earlier, the bruises from her being slammed into the concrete slab by David showed ugly black and blue around her chest and a few on her chin where she had flinched when the whip came down.

She was lying on her back, an IV inserted into her left arm as the heart monitor beeped next to the bed. Kyle sat in the chair next to her, brushing her hair back from her forehead and holding her hand, "Hey Tei, I'm here. I'm so sorry I couldn't get to you, but you're safe now. The triplets got to you in time before he... Anyway, I'm sorry, Tei. I'll get stronger so you won't be left in the dark anymore." he whispered.

I sighed, and Ryan started to pull a chair up to the other side of her bed when Tyler stopped him, "You two really want to have her wake up to you wearing that?" he asked, gesturing to our shirts. I looked down and frowned. He was right. I didn't want my treasure to see this when she opened those beautiful eyes of hers.

Ryan huffed, then stood, "I'll be right back, strip off that shirt, Matt, and I'll have the nurses burn it later." he said, leaving the room. I glanced at the door curiously but just did as I was told stripping off my shirt and throwing it into the corner.

A creaking noise behind me made me turn around, and I frowned, Tyler had climbed into the bed next to Teira and was cuddling her gently, making sure not to jostle the IV "What are you doing?" I asked quietly, and he smirked, "Helping my princess heal. The doctor said the mate bond would help the process, so I'm making sure she feels it." he said, yawning.

I rolled my eyes, "And what will you do when she wakes up to see you in bed next to her?" I asked, looking at Kyle for help, who was just watching with a playful smile on his lips. Tyler shrugged, "I'll cross that bridge when I come to it." he said, snuggling closer. I huffed, a wave of unpleasant emotion swept through me. The bed was big enough for three people, but I didn't want to overwhelm Teira.

I glanced at the door, Ryan was going to come back soon. I sighed, giving in to the temptation, and climbed in on Teira's other side gently. Kyle laughed quietly, and I glared at him, but that only caused him to smile, then laugh again as the door opened, and Ryan walked through carrying three shirts in his hands.

"So this is why you wanted me to leave the room, no fair guys." he complained. Tyler just shrugged and snuggled closer to Teira, "You snooze, you lose, bro. Got a shirt for me?" he asked lazily. Ryan growled and chucked it at his head. Tyler caught it easily, "Now I'm glad they didn't have your size." Ryan said, then glared at me, "Et tu Matt?" he asked. I at least looked guilty, "I can trade with you in a bit if you want. I just wanted to hold her." I murmured.

Ryan grunted and then handed me a shirt, "It's fine, just don't jostle her too much. I need some sleep, we'll trade in the morning." he grumbled and changed into a black shirt with a teddy bear on it. Tyler put a white shirt on that was so short it only fell to his middle, leaving his stomach exposed. I put the gray shirt on and sighed when Ryan turned to Kyle, "The nurses will be in shortly with an extra bed for you if you want it. I'll stay by her side tonight." he said quietly.

Kyle smiled but shook his head, looking at Teira again, "I'll stay. She'll need someone familiar close by when she wakes up. And you three goofs might scare her. Tei's got her work cut out for her with you three as her mates." he said, laying his head down on the bed.

I frowned, wanting to protest, but Ryan chuckled and settled in a chair on Teira's other side, grabbing her hand gently. I heard his last reply as I started to drift off, "Probably. But she's worth it."