The Triplet Alphas' Forbidden Temptation

Nothing happened.

A heavy, uncomfortable silence settled over the temple as the onlookers began exchanging confused glances. A slow, triumphant smile curled up Eloise’s lips. She had been right all along. The bond was fake.

Yuki’s fists curled tightly at her sides. The weight of every judgmental gaze pressed down on her like a physical force, making it hard to breathe. The whispers started quietly at first, then grew bolder and sharper with every passing second.

”So she is not their mate after all...”

”She was a seductress, reaching for what was far above her station,” another voice chuckled mockingly.

”I cannot believe she really used witchcraft. She looked so innocent. You can never judge a book by its cover.”

”But does this mean Aevia might also be involved in witchcraft?”

Alexander’s fingers tightened around the armrest of his seat until the polished wood creaked under the pressure.

Aevia heard the accusation clearly. Her nails dug deep into her palms as she kept her head lowered, trying to hide the storm of emotions swirling inside her. She had not wanted Yuki to be mated to the triplets and risk her own marriage, but the public proof that the bond was false now threatened to damage her reputation as well.

Estelle’s lips curled into a cold, satisfied smile. Her eyes locked onto her sons, who remained quietly watching the bowl that had shown no reaction. Their blood had not even merged. She did not bother lowering her voice. ”Who knows? Birds of a feather do flock together,” she sneered, her gaze filled with open condescension.

Eloise’s smile grew wider and more confident with every passing second. After a full five minutes had passed with no reaction from the bowl, the priestess finally glanced at Yuki. By then, Yuki could no longer stand the weight of the stares or the cutting remarks. Her wolf had retreated into the smallest, darkest corner of her soul, leaving her feeling painfully alone.

Yuki did not wait for the priestess to speak. She met Alexander’s gaze for one brief, painful moment, then turned around and began walking toward the exit. She tried desperately to keep her steps steady and dignified, but the embarrassment and shame pressed in on her from all sides. It felt as though the walls of the temple were closing in, squeezing the air from her lungs.

She broke into a run before her mind could fully register what she was doing. Her body moved on pure instinct and overwhelming emotion. Kieran spun around instinctively, sensing her distress. His eyes locked onto her trembling figure as she fled. An unexplainable pain bloomed deep in his chest, but he quickly shoved it aside.

The other two did not turn around at all.

Yuki continued running toward the grand doors. She hated this. She hated the pack. She had never asked for any of this nightmare. The guards standing by the entrance looked at her with visible confusion, unsure whether they should let her pass or stop her.

Halfway to the door, the blood in the bowl that had stubbornly refused to merge suddenly began to swirl and mix. Killian’s breath hitched sharply. Then it happened. A brilliant, radiant light shot upward from the bowl, and the air in the entire temple stilled completely.

A whip made of pure, glowing light lashed out from the bowl. It curled tightly around all three brothers’ wrists. The final cord shot straight toward Yuki with unstoppable force. Eloise stumbled back from her seat in horror, watching in real time as the cord of fate whipped toward Yuki and wrapped itself tightly around her wrist. The impact felt as though she had been slammed into an invisible wall.

Like a nail drawn to a powerful magnet, Yuki was violently yanked backwards across the room. She crashed straight into Kieran, who stood closest to her path. The glowing cord burned against their skin with undeniable proof of the sacred bond.

The priestess, in all her many years of performing this ritual, had never witnessed anything like it. ”I have never seen a bond this strong...” Her voice trembled with both awe and disbelief.

”No... no... no...” Eloise completely lost her composure. Her sharp, broken voice filled every corner of the temple. ”Impossible! She cannot possibly be their mate. I refuse to accept this!” She pointed a shaking finger directly at Yuki.

Yvonne stood up quickly, trying to reach her daughter. She was visibly shaken by the result but still attempted to maintain control. Her hand fell gently onto Eloise’s shoulder. ”Eloise, not here,” she said softly, her voice strained.

Eloise shrugged off her mother’s hand with a violent motion. Her head snapped toward Yvonne. ”Then where, Mother?” she cried out. Tears streamed down her face in hot, uncontrollable rivers. These were not calculated tears. Her entire world was truly crumbling around her, and this time she had no excuses left. ”Where should I speak, Mum? For eighteen years I have known them. We have been so close, and now a random girl appears from nowhere and becomes their mate!” Her voice rang through the temple like a shattered bell.

”They love me, not her. Me! Eloise!” she sobbed, tears falling faster and faster. Maddox could no longer sit still. He stood up immediately, placing a heavy, restraining hand on Eloise’s shoulder.

”Enough,” he said in a serious, commanding tone.

Murmurs and shocked whispers erupted across the room. Everyone looked frantically between both parties, the tension in the air almost suffocating.

Xavier, seated beside his father, had gone completely pale. His fists clenched so tightly they trembled. There was no denying it now.

But why her?

Kaden’s teeth gritted so hard it felt as though his jaw might crack. He had heard every single word of Eloise’s painful outburst. His eyes were bloodshot with rage as he locked onto Yuki, whose head was still spinning from the sudden, violent pull. The glowing cords remained wrapped tightly around her wrist, pulsing with undeniable energy.

Her heart slammed hard against her ribs as she stared down at the three threads of fate now buzzing on her skin. She jolted backwards, pushing away from Kieran in pure panic. Something flickered across Kieran’s expression for a brief moment before he glanced away. Kaden’s hateful gaze pierced straight into her heart like a dagger, while Killian simply stared ahead with a blank, hollow expression.

The last shred of hope he had been clinging to quietly died.

”Enough!” Alexander’s voice boomed through the temple like thunder. His powerful alpha aura washed over the room, instantly restoring order. Eloise was forced back into her seat. Her eyes remained red and furious as she stared daggers at Yuki.

”The results are undeniable,” Alexander stated, his Adam’s apple bobbing visibly. ”Yuki is unquestionably the fated mate of all three heirs. This proves she never used witchcraft.”

The room fell into a stunned, heavy silence. Everyone present understood the massive repercussions of those words. The future of the entire pack now rested on her shoulders. Without a fated mate, the Ravencourt line was as good as dead.

A soft, bitter laugh suddenly rang out. It was not loud, but in the deathly silent temple, it echoed clearly off the walls. A slow, mocking smile curled up Kaden’s lips as he stared directly at Yuki with cold eyes.

”Even the Moon Goddess is a horrible comedian,” he stated, his voice dripping with bitterness. His fists clenched tightly at his sides. Without wasting another word, he marched out of the temple. The heavy doors swung open with a loud creak and slammed shut behind him.