Chapter 2: The Three Alphas
1414 Words
Elena couldn't move.
The word mate seemed to hang in the air between them, heavier than the music, heavier than the hundreds of eyes watching from the courtyard.
Three men.
One mate.
Impossible.
She shook her head.
“No.”
Rafael's brows pulled together. “No?”
“No, you're mistaken.”
Riven gave a short, nervous laugh.
“We're not.”
“You are.”
Roman stepped closer, but Elena immediately raised a hand.
“Don't.”
He stopped.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Maya appeared beside Elena, looking between the four of them.
“What did I miss?”
Elena grabbed her arm.
“We're leaving.”
Maya blinked. “What?”
“Now.”
She turned, but Roman's voice followed her.
“Elena.”
She stopped despite herself.
“Why are you afraid?”
She looked over her shoulder.
“I am not afraid.”
Riven glanced at the broken glasses scattered across the ground.
“Your hands are shaking.”
Elena looked down.
He was right.
She curled her fingers into fists.
“I don't know you.”
“You know enough,” Roman said.
“I know you're the Blackthorn triplets.”
“And?”
“And that doesn't mean anything.”
Rafael stared at her as if she had said something absurd.
“It means everything.”
Elena swallowed.
Around them, whispers were spreading through the courtyard.
Everyone had heard.
Everyone knew.
The Alpha triplets had found their mate.
And that mate was Elena Vale.
The pack's nobody.
The girl without a wolf.
Elena felt the humiliation burning across her face.
“Can we talk somewhere private?” Roman asked.
“No.”
His expression tightened.
“Why?”
“Because there is nothing to discuss.”
“There is everything to discuss.”
“No.” Elena shook her head. “You three smelled someone and decided it was me. That doesn't make me your mate.”
Riven tilted his head.
“You don't believe in mates?”
“I believe people can make mistakes.”
Rafael's mouth twitched.
“Three wolves don't make the same mistake.”
Elena had no answer.
That was the problem.
She couldn't explain what had happened when Rafael touched her.
She couldn't explain the voice.
And she definitely couldn't explain the strange silver light beneath her skin.
She needed to leave before someone noticed.
“Elena.”
Maya's voice was quieter now.
“You should probably talk to them.”
Elena stared at her.
“Whose side are you on?”
“Yours.”
“Then help me escape.”
Maya glanced at the triplets.
Then back at Elena.
“I think you're going to have to run very fast.”
Despite herself, Elena almost laughed.
Almost.
Then a growl came from behind her.
Low.
Warning.
She turned.
Roman's expression had hardened.
“Someone is approaching.”
Elena looked toward the courtyard entrance.
Several guards were moving through the crowd.
At their center stood Alpha Marcus, the leader of Shadow Creek.
His face was red with anger.
“Elena.”
She felt her stomach drop.
He marched toward them.
“What did you do?”
“I didn't do anything.”
His eyes moved to the triplets.
Then back to Elena.
“You embarrassed this pack in front of our royal guests.”
“I dropped a tray.”
“You made the Alpha heirs stop the ceremony.”
Riven frowned.
“That wasn't her fault.”
Marcus immediately lowered his head.
“My apologies, Alpha.”
Elena looked at Riven.
He shrugged slightly.
She wasn't sure whether to be grateful or annoyed.
Marcus turned back to her.
“You will come with me.”
“No.”
The word left Elena before she could think.
The courtyard went silent again.
Marcus stared at her.
“What did you say?”
Elena's heart pounded.
“I said no.”
His expression darkened.
“You are still a pack member.”
“And you're not my owner.”
A few wolves nearby looked away.
Maya whispered, “Elena…”
Marcus stepped forward.
“You've always been difficult.”
Roman moved between them.
“That's enough.”
Marcus froze.
Roman's voice was calm, but something dangerous sat beneath it.
“She is under our protection.”
Marcus looked stunned.
“She belongs to Shadow Creek.”
Rafael's eyes hardened.
“Not anymore.”
Elena's stomach twisted.
She didn't like hearing anyone talk about her as if she were property.
“I'm standing right here,” she said.
The three brothers looked at her.
“So stop deciding where I belong.”
Silence.
Riven smiled faintly.
“She really doesn't like being told what to do.”
Elena glared at him.
“Is that funny?”
“A little.”
“Then you're not as intelligent as people say.”
His smile widened.
“Probably not.”
For the first time that evening, Elena saw something almost normal in him.
Not an Alpha heir.
Not a future ruler.
Just a man trying not to smile at the wrong moment.
Then Roman spoke.
“We should leave.”
Elena's attention snapped back to him.
“I'm not going anywhere with you.”
“You are.”
“No.”
His jaw tightened.
“Elena, there was an attack nearby less than an hour ago.”
“What attack?”
The three brothers exchanged looks.
Rafael answered.
“Two wolves were found dead outside the eastern border.”
A chill went through Elena.
“Who?”
“We don't know.”
“Then why are you telling me?”
“Because they were both royal warriors.”
Elena stared at him.
“What does that have to do with me?”
“We don't know yet.”
Roman looked toward the forest beyond the courtyard.
“But someone knew we were coming.”
A strange uneasiness settled over Elena.
She had spent years believing the safest thing she could do was remain unnoticed.
Now the most powerful wolves in the kingdom had identified her as their mate.
And dead royal warriors had appeared on the same night.
It couldn't be a coincidence.
Could it?
Maya touched Elena's arm.
“Maybe you should go with them.”
Elena looked at her.
“You too?”
Maya lowered her voice.
“I've known you since we were children. I've watched you avoid attention your entire life. If these three are really your mates, refusing to even hear them out might be more dangerous than going.”
Elena hated that Maya made sense.
She looked at Roman.
“What exactly are you offering?”
“Protection.”
“I don't need protection.”
“You may.”
Rafael stepped forward.
“And we're not asking you to become our Luna tonight.”
Elena blinked.
“You aren't?”
“No.”
Riven crossed his arms.
“Though I wouldn't complain.”
Roman gave him a look.
Riven raised both hands.
“I'm quiet.”
Elena almost smiled again.
Almost.
Then she noticed Roman watching her.
His expression was different now.
Less commanding.
More concerned.
“We'll take you somewhere safe,” he said. “You can decide what happens after that.”
Elena studied him.
She didn't trust him.
She didn't trust any of them.
But she trusted the feeling in her stomach even less.
Something was wrong.
She could feel it.
“Fine,” she whispered.
Rafael nodded.
Roman turned toward the gates.
Elena took one step after him.
Then stopped.
A sharp pain suddenly stabbed through her chest.
She grabbed the edge of the table.
Maya caught her.
“Elena?”
She couldn't answer.
The courtyard blurred.
That voice returned.
The one she'd heard when Rafael touched her.
But this time it wasn't whispering.
It was clear.
Cold.
And terrified.
Don't go with them.
Elena's eyes widened.
She looked toward the three brothers.
Roman had stopped.
Riven was staring at her.
Rafael looked ready to run back.
“What happened?” Roman asked.
Elena opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
The voice spoke again.
They will find you.
Her heart slammed against her ribs.
“Who?” Elena whispered.
The answer came immediately.
The ones who killed your parents.
Elena went completely still.
Because for twenty-two years, she had believed her parents died in an ordinary pack dispute.
No one had ever told her they were murdered.
And the voice inside her knew otherwise.
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