The Alpha Triplets' Secret Mate

Elena Vale was carrying a tray of wine when the entire courtyard went silent. She stopped so abruptly that one of the glasses nearly tipped over. “What happened?” Maya whispered beside her. Elena glanced toward the entrance. The pack members had stopped talking. Even the musicians had lowered their instruments. Every face was turned toward the stone gates, where three black SUVs had just come to a halt. Maya followed her gaze and groaned. “Oh, no.” Elena frowned. “What?” “The Blackthorn triplets.” Elena blinked. She had heard the name before, of course. Everyone had. Roman, Riven, and Rafael Blackthorn were the sons of the most powerful Alpha family in the northern territories. They were twenty-five, already trained as warriors, and expected to inherit the Blackthorn Kingdom together. They were also famous for being impossible to approach. Elena looked back at the tray in her hands. “Then I'll stay here.” Maya gave her a look. “You're serving drinks.” “Exactly. Very important work.” “You're hiding.” “I prefer the word surviving.” Maya laughed under her breath. Before Elena could answer, the first vehicle door opened. A tall man stepped out. Black hair. Broad shoulders. Dark formal clothes. He looked around the courtyard without saying a word. Someone nearby whispered, “Roman.” Another door opened. The second brother stepped out with a crooked smile and an expression that suggested he was already bored. “Riven,” Maya murmured. The third man emerged. He was taller than his brothers, with ice blue eyes and a scar near his lower lip. “Rafael.” Elena looked away. She had no reason to stare. She had even less reason to be interested. Men like that didn't notice women like her. Especially not women who had no rank, no family name worth mentioning, and no wolf. She turned toward the serving table. “I'm going inside,” she whispered. Maya caught her arm. “You can't.” “Why?” “Because Alpha Marcus specifically told us to serve the royal guests.” Elena sighed. Of course he had. She hated Blood Moon gatherings. Too many wolves. Too many questions. Too many opportunities for someone to notice that she was different. Or rather, that she wasn't different enough. At twenty-two, every wolf in the pack should have shifted. Elena hadn't. Not once. Her father had always called her stubborn. Her mother had called her patient. Neither had lived long enough to see what she became. Elena pushed the thought away. “Fine,” she muttered. “I'll serve them and disappear.” Maya smiled. “That's the spirit.” They returned to the courtyard. The music started again, but the atmosphere had changed. Everyone was watching the triplets. Elena kept her eyes down as she approached the royal table. “Wine?” Roman looked up. His eyes met hers. Elena froze. Something inside her chest pulled sharply. Not pain. Something stranger. Roman's expression changed. His fingers tightened around the edge of the table. Elena quickly looked away. “Wine?” she repeated. He didn't answer. She glanced at him again. He was still staring. Then his head turned slightly. His nostrils flared. Elena's stomach dropped. She knew that expression. Recognition. But recognition of what? Riven leaned toward Roman. “What is it?” Roman didn't answer. Rafael looked across the table. His eyes landed on Elena. His face went completely still. The tray suddenly felt too heavy. Elena stepped backward. “Excuse me.” She turned. “Wait.” Roman's voice stopped her. It wasn't loud. It didn't need to be. Elena slowly turned around. Roman was standing now. Riven and Rafael were staring at her too. The entire courtyard seemed to disappear. Elena could hear her own heartbeat. “What?” she asked. Roman walked toward her. One step. Then another. His brothers followed. Elena's instincts screamed at her to leave. She took a step backward. Rafael stopped several feet away. His jaw tightened. Riven's usual amusement had vanished. Roman looked at Elena as if he were trying to understand something impossible. “What is your name?” “Elena.” “Your full name.” She hesitated. “Vale.” Riven exchanged a glance with his brothers. Roman's eyes narrowed. “Who are your parents?” Elena's fingers tightened around the tray. “Why?” “Just answer.” She disliked his tone. “I don't answer personal questions from strangers.” Riven's mouth twitched. “She's got a point.” Roman ignored him. Rafael stepped closer. Elena instinctively backed away. He stopped immediately. That surprised her. His expression softened for half a second. “I'm not going to hurt you.” “You're blocking my way.” Rafael glanced behind him and stepped aside. “Sorry.” The simple apology caught Elena off guard. She had expected arrogance. Instead, he looked almost uncomfortable. Then something happened. A cold shiver moved across Elena's skin. Roman inhaled sharply. Riven's eyes widened. Rafael looked toward his brothers. “What the hell?” Elena's heart began pounding. She suddenly smelled something she couldn't explain. Pine. Rain. Warm cedar. And beneath it, something that made her chest ache. Three different scents. All strangely familiar. Roman moved closer. His eyes had changed. The amber in them seemed brighter. Riven's pupils narrowed. Rafael's breathing became heavier. Elena looked from one brother to another. “What is happening?” Nobody answered. Roman looked at her wrist. A faint silver glow had appeared beneath her skin. Elena's breath caught. She covered it with her other hand. “No.” Roman's gaze snapped back to her face. “You have a mark.” “I don't know what you're talking about.” “You do.” “I said I don't.” Her voice shook. She turned to leave. Rafael caught her wrist. The instant his fingers touched her skin, a violent jolt shot through her body. The tray crashed onto the stone floor. Glass shattered. Elena gasped. A wave of heat tore through her chest. She heard a growl. Not from Rafael. Not from Roman. Not from Riven. From inside her. For one impossible second, something silver flashed across her vision. Then a voice whispered inside her mind. Mate. Elena stared at Rafael. He was staring back at her in complete shock. Roman stepped closer. His voice was barely audible. “Did you hear that?” “Hear what?” Riven looked at his brothers. Then at Elena. His face had gone pale. “Tell me you both felt it.” Roman didn't answer. Rafael slowly released Elena's wrist. She immediately stepped away. “What is wrong with you people?” Roman's eyes never left hers. “Elena…” “What?” His expression changed. For the first time, the ruthless Alpha heir looked genuinely shaken. He glanced at his brothers. Then back at her. “All three of us recognized you.” Elena's stomach tightened. “Recognized me as what?” Roman opened his mouth. Before he could answer, Riven whispered the word first. “Mate.” Elena stopped breathing. Then Rafael said it. “Mate.” And finally Roman looked directly into her eyes. “You're ours.” Elena stared at the three men. The courtyard was silent. Somewhere behind her, a glass rolled across the stone and came to a stop. She had spent twenty-two years believing she would never have a mate. Now three of the most powerful wolves in the kingdom were claiming she was theirs. And the worst part wasn't the impossible bond. It was the fear rising inside her chest. Because deep down, Elena knew one thing with absolute certainty. She could never let these men discover what she really was.