The Triplet Alphas' Forbidden Mate (Book 1&2)

Now let me up, it is freezing out here!

Emily's POV

The packhouse felt suffocating, and I regretted coming the moment I stepped through the doors. Despite Tessa's efforts to cheer me up and make me look decent for once, I couldn't shake the gnawing anxiety that came with being here. The girls who lived and worked here—and the pack members who treated them like dirt—never let you forget your place.

Gina for example managed to ruin my confidence within the blink of an eye, but the real problem was finding out that Luna Celeste was on to me. That was not good.

Why could they not allow the boys pick whoever they wanted to be with? I found it absurd that they were matchmaking the boys with girls that they believed came from families that were doing well.

I tugged at the hem of my dress, the navy-blue fabric suddenly feeling too tight, too noticeable. My silver heels clicked against the polished floors as I walked past pack members lounging and chatting in the great hall. Some glanced at me briefly before dismissing me, as always.

Then I saw them.

Joey and Caleb Blackthorne.

They stood near the staircase, deep in conversation about something I couldn't make out. Even without trying, they commanded attention. Caleb leaned casually against the banister, his jet-black hair tousled, his golden eyes sharp and observant. Joey, ever the wild one, gestured animatedly, his dark-brown eyes sparkling with mischief.

My wolf stirred as I approached, and I had to remind myself to breathe. "Keep it together, Emily," I muttered under my breath.

When I got close enough, their attention shifted. Both of them froze mid-conversation, their gazes locking on me like I was the only person in the room.

"Alpha Joey, Alpha Caleb," I greeted softly, bowing my head respectfully, though the effort felt forced.

"Firecracker?" Caleb's voice was laced with surprise, his usual smirk faltering as his golden eyes swept over me. Joey, meanwhile, was visibly struggling to find words, something rare for the loudest of the triplets.

"Greenie..." Joey murmured, his tone unusually soft.

Heat rose to my cheeks under their scrutiny. Tessa had done an amazing job with the makeover, but I wasn't used to this kind of attention—especially not from them.

Before either of them could speak further, a high-pitched voice cut through the tension like a knife.

"Alpha Caleb! Alpha Joey!"

I turned to see a group of pack girls approaching, their confidence practically radiating off them. They wore expensive, form-fitting clothes that screamed wealth and privilege, and their perfectly styled hair bounced as they walked.

"Oh, look at you two," one of them cooed, twirling a strand of her hair around her finger. "You've been so busy lately, we've barely had time to catch up."

"Yeah," another chimed in, placing a hand lightly on Joey's arm. "We were just saying how much we missed you both at the bonfire last night."

Joey tensed slightly, his jaw tightening, but he didn't push her away. Caleb, on the other hand, gave a polite but distant smile.

I felt a pang in my chest, watching them surrounded by girls who looked like they belonged in their world. I turned on my heel and walked away before I could humiliate myself further.

The kitchen was loud with the clatter of dishes and the buzz of whispered conversations. I ducked my head as I entered, hoping to blend into the background.

"Did you hear?" one of the maids said in a hushed, excited tone. "Alpha Julian is coming back home for Christmas!"

My ears perked up at that, despite myself. Julian. The mysterious eldest of the triplets. It would be our first time meeting since the mate thing but his reputation preceded him. The girls' voices grew louder as they gushed over him.

"I heard he's even more handsome than Caleb and Joey," one of them said dreamily.

"Yeah, and he's so mature," another chimed in. "Not to mention, he's betrothed to Monica Radnor. Can you imagine? That woman is gorgeous. They'd make such a perfect couple."

My stomach twisted as I listened. The way they spoke about the triplets made me uncomfortable—not just because they were my mates, but because of how openly they fantasized about them.

"I wouldn't mind if any of them were my mate," one of the girls continued. "They're so perfect. Caleb with his smooth body, Joey with that chiseled muscles ... and Julian? Total dream."

My wolf growled low in my chest, a reaction I couldn't suppress. I pressed my hands against the counter, my breath quickening as heat flared inside me.

"Are you okay, Emily?" one of the older maids asked, glancing at me with concern.

I nodded quickly. "I'm fine. Just... feeling a little warm."

But I wasn't fine. My reflection in the glass cabinet door confirmed my worst fear. My eyes were glowing red.

"No, no, no," I whispered, backing away. My body trembled uncontrollably, my wolf clawing at the surface. Lila's voice cackled in my mind.

"Let them see," she taunted. "Show them what you really are."

I stumbled toward the door, my breath coming in shallow gasps. The girls in the kitchen barely noticed as I shoved it open and ran into the hallway.

"Emily!" someone called after me, but I didn't stop.

I needed air. I needed space. I needed to get away before anyone saw what was happening to me.

The cold air outside hit me like a slap, but it wasn't enough to calm the storm inside me. I collapsed against the side of the packhouse, clutching my chest as my vision blurred.

"You're losing control," Lila said smugly. "You can't hide from me forever."

I slammed my fist against the wall, trying to force her back. "Shut up," I hissed through gritted teeth. “Stay the hell away from me!”

"Make me," she sneered. “We are tied at the hips, dummy.”

The sound of footsteps made me freeze. My red eyes faded just in time as Tessa appeared, her face filled with worry.

"Emily? What's wrong? You just ran out of the kitchen like you saw a ghost."

"I'm fine," I said quickly, though my shaking hands betrayed me.

Tessa didn't look convinced, but she didn't press. "Come on," she said softly, offering me her hand. "Let's go back inside before someone notices."

I hesitated before taking her hand, grateful for her support.

___

By the time I got back to my small, cozy attic room, exhaustion was threatening to overtake me. The day had been overwhelming—Tessa's makeover, the packhouse, the triplets, Gina, and, of course, Luna Celeste's cold cruelty. My thoughts swirled as I wiped off the makeup Tessa had carefully applied, revealing my pale skin beneath.

My birthday didn’t turn out to be as shitty as I thought. I got gifts and the people that mattered to me celebrated me, even though my father didn’t think of coming home for me today. My dead sister could not take a break for antagonizing me for a day. My other birthdays don’t hold a candle next to this. It was perfectly flawed and I loved every moment.

It was currently 11 pm, I had an hour left for my birthday to be over. I kind of wished I had a small cake to wish over but if only wishes were horses.

I slipped into my softest pair of pajamas, a fleece set with tiny snowflakes scattered across the fabric, and climbed into bed. My phone buzzed on the nightstand, but I ignored it for a moment, sinking into the comfort of my duvet. My eyes drifted to the pictures Tessa had taken earlier, still displayed on my phone screen.

I had to admit, she'd done an incredible job. For the first time in... maybe forever, I felt beautiful. The red waves of my hair framed my face perfectly, and my green eyes sparkled with the subtle makeup she'd applied.

Should I do it? The thought slipped into my mind uninvited.

Do what? Update my socials for the first time in years? It wasn't like I had many followers—just a few acquaintances from school who probably wouldn't care. Still, the idea tempted me.

Just as I was about to talk myself into it, my phone pinged with a new message. I unlocked it, expecting something boring or spammy, but my heart skipped a beat when I saw the name on the screen.

Caleb Blackthorne.

Caleb: "Missed you today, Firecracker. Why'd you ignore me at the packhouse? You looked... beautiful."

I stared at the words, my cheeks heating. Caleb Blackthorne—one of the infamous triplets, my mate—had texted me. He'd called me beautiful. And he missed me?

My fingers hovered over the keyboard, ready to reply, but Lila's snide voice cut through my giddy thoughts.

"Oh, don't get all mushy on me now," she sneered. "He's playing with you, Emily. You're just a novelty to him. A charity case, remember?"

"Shut up," I muttered aloud, placing the phone facedown on the nightstand.

"Why? Because I'm right?" she said mockingly. "Face it. They'll never really want you. Not when they find out what you are."

I pulled the duvet tighter around myself, trying to block her out. "You don't know anything."

Lila's laughter echoed in my mind, sharp and cruel. "Don't I? Just wait. Caleb, Joey, Julian—they'll all turn on you the moment the truth comes out. You're not their Firecracker. You're a ticking time bomb, Emily."

A shiver ran down my spine. My hand instinctively went to my bracelet, the cool silver reassuring against my skin. I checked the clasp to make sure it was secure before turning off the lamp.

"Not tonight, Lila," I whispered, settling back into my pillow. "Not tonight."

She didn't respond, but the cold silence she left behind felt even worse.

The sound came again just as I was drifting off to sleep.

Clink.

My eyes shot open. At first, I thought I'd imagined it. Maybe it was just the wind or a stray branch brushing against the attic window. But then it came again.

Clink.

Annoyed, I sat up, rubbing my eyes. "What the hell?" I muttered.

Clink.

Throwing off the covers, I stomped to the window, fully prepared to yell at whatever was causing the noise. But when I opened it, the words died in my throat.

There, standing below in the freezing winter air, was Joey Blackthorne.

"Greenie!" he called softly, waving at me like an overgrown kid. His breath came out in puffs of mist, and even in the dim light, I could see him shivering in his leather jacket.

I blinked, half-convinced I was dreaming. "Joey? What the hell are you doing here?"

He grinned up at me, his brown eyes twinkling with mischief. "Throwing rocks at your window, obviously. Now let me up. It's freezing out here."

"What?" I shook my head, trying to process the absurdity of the situation.

Before I could argue, Joey grabbed the drainpipe and began climbing. My mouth fell open in disbelief. "Are you insane?! You're going to break your neck!"

He winked at me. "Relax, Greenie. I've done this a million times."