Sacrificed To The Triplet Alpha Kings

Even if it meant losing everything.

She was worth it.

She had always been worth it.

”Nicholas.”

He looked up to find Sebastian watching him with an expression that said he knew exactly where Nicholas’s thoughts had gone.

”We’ll find her,” Sebastian said quietly. ”The witch. Mara will remember something. Callum will track her down. And we’ll get the answers we need.”

”And if the answers are the same as what Victoria said?” Nicholas asked. ”If there is no loophole? No other way?”

Sebastian’s jaw tightened. ”Then we make a choice. But we make it together. All three of us. And we make it knowing we did everything we could.”

Lucian spoke from the window without turning around. ”I already know what choice I’m making.”

”So do I,” Sebastian said.

Nicholas looked between his brothers and saw the same determination in both their faces. The same absolute certainty.

They would choose Lilith.

All three of them.

Even if it destroyed them.

”Then we’re agreed,” Nicholas said. ”If there’s no other way, if the curse really does require her death, we refuse to break it. We live with it. And we face whatever comes together.”

”Agreed,” Sebastian said.

”Agreed,” Lucian echoed.

Callum cleared his throat from where he stood by the bookshelves. ”For what it’s worth, Alpha....I think you’re making the right choice.”

Nicholas looked at him. ”Even if it means we go feral? Even if it means the pack loses its Alphas?”

”Even then,” Callum said firmly. ”Because a pack that sacrifices innocents to save itself is not a pack worth saving. And that girl upstairs, she’s not just your mate. She’s ours too now. Our Luna. And we protect our own.”

Finn nodded his agreement. ”The pack will understand. They might not like it. But they’ll understand.”

Nicholas felt something tight in his chest loosen slightly. His Betas....men who had served his family for years, who had every right to demand their Alphas choose the pack over one girl, were standing with them.

Were choosing Lilith too.

”Thank you,” Nicholas said quietly.

The door opened again and Eli returned with Mara behind him.

She moved into the office with that same silent efficiency she always had, her expression neutral, her posture perfect, her eyes taking in the chaos of books and papers and exhausted wolves without comment.

”You asked for me, Alpha,” she said.

”Yes.” Nicholas straightened and gestured to the chair across from his desk. ”Sit. Please.”

Mara sat without hesitation, her hands folded in her lap, her gaze steady on Nicholas’s face.

”seven years ago,” Nicholas began, ”when my father brought in a witch to consult. To examine us and provide information about what we were dealing with. You were there. You made the arrangements.”

”I remember,” Mara said.

”Do you remember the witch’s name?”

Mara was quiet for a moment, her expression thoughtful. ”Your father never used her name in my presence. He referred to her only as ’the seer.’ But I made the travel arrangements. Sent the payment. Corresponded with her through intermediaries.”

”Do you remember anything about those intermediaries?” Callum asked, moving closer. ”A location? A name? Anything we could use to track her down?”

Mara’s eyes shifted to Callum and something flickered across her face....recognition, perhaps, or respect for the question.

”The correspondence came through a third party,” she said slowly. ”A supernatural broker who operates out of the Eastern Territories. His name is Silas Greythorne. He specializes in connecting packs with magic users who prefer to remain anonymous.”

”And you think he would still have records?” Sebastian asked. ”After seven years?”

”Silas keeps meticulous records,” Mara said. ”It’s how he maintains his reputation. If anyone can tell you how to find the witch, it’s him.”

Nicholas felt hope flare in his chest for the first time in two days. ”Where is he?”

”Last I heard, he operates out of Ravenspire. A city about two hundred miles east of here.” Mara paused. ”But Alpha....you should know that Silas’s services are not cheap. And he does not respond well to demands. You’ll need leverage.”

”What kind of leverage?” Lucian asked.

”The kind that comes from either vast wealth or information he wants more than money,” Mara said. ”And given that every supernatural in the Northern Territories has heard about the Blackwood curse by now, I suspect he already knows why you’re looking for the witch. Which means he’ll charge accordingly.”

”I don’t care what it costs,” Nicholas said flatly. ”If he can connect us with the witch, I’ll pay whatever price he names.”

Mara nodded slowly. ”Then I suggest you leave immediately. Ravenspire is a six-hour drive. If you leave now, you can be there by nightfall. Meet with Silas. Get the information you need. And hopefully be back before Luna’s aunt deadline expires.”

Nicholas looked at his brothers. ”Sebastian, you’re with me. Lucian, you stay here with Lilith. Keep her safe. Keep her away from Victoria if she shows up early.”

”And if she tries to take Lilith by force?” Lucian asked.

”You stop her,” Nicholas said. ”Whatever it takes.”

Lucian’s smile was sharp and feral. ”Gladly.”

Nicholas turned to his Betas. ”Callum, you’re in charge of the pack while we’re gone. Finn, Eli....stay close to Lucian. If Victoria shows up, you’ll need all the backup you can get.”

”Understood,” all three said in unison.

Nicholas grabbed his jacket from the back of his chair and headed for the door. Sebastian was right behind him, and as they left the office Nicholas felt the weight of the countdown pressing down on him.

Thirty-six hours.

Six hours to Ravenspire. However long it took to negotiate with Silas. Six hours back.

They would be cutting it close.

But they had to try.

Because the alternative...giving up, accepting that Lilith had to die, letting Victoria take her...was not an option Nicholas was willing to consider.

He would find the witch.

He would get answers.

And he would find a way to save his mate even if it killed him.