The Triplet Alphas' Forbidden Temptation

Kaden stormed out of the temple without looking back. The heavy doors slammed shut behind him with enough force to make the ancient walls tremble.

His boots pounded against the empty corridor. Every step echoed through the silent halls until the sound became the only thing he could hear over the roar inside his head. His chest burned. His fists clenched so tightly that his nails dug into his palms.

Why?

The question echoed again and again.

’ Why her?’ He bitterly questioned himself. His wolf and the moon goddess. ’ Of all the wolves in existence, why did the Moon Goddess choose her?’

His wolf stirred restlessly inside him. ’ She is our mate. You can’t question fate.’ His wolf replied, sensing His emotions.

’ Shut up,’ Kaden growled under his breath.

His wolf refused to retreat. ’ It is fate, Kaden. The bond is sacred.’

’ What kind of cursed fate is this? I refuse to accept it. I refuse to be chained to her.’ he barked, slamming his fist into a stone pillar as he passed. Marble cracked beneath the force of the blow and fragments scattered across the polished floor.

His breathing became uneven. ’ Nyxoria is probably laughing from wherever she was.’

A flash of lightning split the dark sky beyond the palace windows. Seconds later thunder rolled across the mountains.

The cold night welcomed him the moment he shoved through the palace doors. The rain had not started yet, but the air carried its scent. He did not bother shifting. Instead, he crossed the courtyard with long strides and headed straight for the private garage.

Luxury cars lined both sides of the building, but his eyes settled on an older black sports car tucked away in the corner. It had been his old ride left at the palace. Without hesitation, he climbed inside.

Luckily the tank wasn’t empty. The engine roared to life. His foot slammed onto the accelerator.

The tyres screeched against the stone as the car shot through the palace gates and disappeared into the night.

Back inside the temple, silence lingered beneath the glass dome. Even after Kaden had left, Killian and Kieran could still feel every ounce of his fury through their siblings’ bond.

Killian slowly lifted his head until his sapphire eyes met Alexander’s across the chamber.

’ Why should we suffer for your sins, Father? ’ His voice travelled through the mind link like a blade.

Alexander’s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly, but he offered no reply. Instead, he turned towards the gathering.

”The purpose of today’s Trial has been fulfilled,” he announced, his voice steady despite the tension hanging over the room. ”Any decisions regarding what comes next remain in the hands of those directly involved.”

No one objected.

Alexander stepped down from the Alpha’s throne. Aevia quietly rose and followed him. As she passed Yuki, their eyes met briefly. Concern, apology and helplessness lingered there before Aevia lowered her gaze and continued after Alexander.

One by one the delegates left. The elders. The commanders. The noble families. Even the whispers slowly disappeared.

The temple emptied as the crowd dispersed.

Eloise was too emotional to even face the triplets. She had practically sprinted from the hall, tears still streaming down her face. In the past, they would have chased after her. But this time, Kieran and Killian stayed rooted in place. They did not come after her, and that hurt more than anything. She knew then that things might never be the same again.

Soon the enormous temple stood almost empty. Moonlight streamed through the glass dome and bathed the altar in silver. Only three figures remained beneath it.

The silence stretched until it almost became unbearable. ”You must be happy now.” Kieran’s voice finally broke it. A bitter smile touched his lips as he looked at Yuki.

”It must feel wonderful knowing the kind of power you have now.” He sarcastically added.

Yuki’s fingers curled into trembling fists. ”I am not happy,” she whispered.

Soft footsteps echoed behind her.

She recognised the scent before the voice reached her. Crisp pine, cedarwood and oakmoss wrapped around her senses.

Killian stopped beside her. His face had returned to its usual cold composure, as though the desperate man from the bathhouse had never existed.

”And you expect me to believe that?” he asked with a humourless chuckle. ”You want me to believe an orphan isn’t happy after discovering she’s the fated mate of the heirs to one of the largest packs and richest families in the werewolf world?”

His eyes remained fixed on hers. ”Save the pity for someone else, Yuki.”

She looked back at him, disbelief flickering across her face.

”You think I chose this?” she asked quietly. ”Isn’t today enough proof that I never chose any of this?”

Killian’s jaw flexed. ”At least we’re finally in agreement,” he replied. ”None of us chose this.”

He walked past her before stopping at the doorway. ”Pray Kaden is alright,” he said without looking back. ”I won’t stand by and watch you make my brothers suffer.”

With that, he left.

Only Kieran remained.

”What are you waiting for?” Yuki snapped, turning towards him. ”Shouldn’t you be chasing after your brother?”

Kieran studied her for several moments before answering. ”For the next few weeks, keep your head down. It’s for your own good.”

A bitter laugh escaped her. ”And why should I listen to you?” she asked. ”Because of a bond you still refuse to acknowledge?”

His expression never changed. ”Your life is in danger.” He casually replied

Her smile disappeared. ”What?” She blurted.

”The Ravenscourt curse makes it impossible for us to have children with anyone except our fated mate,” Kieran explained. ”Now imagine what happens if that mate dies.”

A chill crept through her body. ”The Ravencourt family has many enemies,” he continued quietly. ”Some outside the pack. Some within it.”

His gaze swept across the empty temple. ”If you’re gone... our bloodline might end.”

The implication settled over her like ice. A cruel smile tugged at her lips. ”So why tell me?” she asked bitterly. ”I thought you hated my guts.”

”I do.” The answer came without hesitation. It hurt far more than she expected even if she expected.

Her eyes stung. She tried to blink the tears away, but they slipped down her cheeks anyway. She was not made of stone. How much hatred could one person endure before it broke them? No werewolf could face such blatant hatred from their mate without feeling it

Across from her, something tightened painfully inside Kieran’s chest. His fingers twitched. For one reckless moment, he wanted to step forward and wipe away her tears.

His wolf urged him to but he stayed exactly where he was.

”Why?” she asked, her voice trembling. ”Why do you hate me so much, Kieran? I’ve never done anything to you.”

He held her gaze for several seconds before answering. ”I don’t hate you.”

She frowned.

”I hate what you represent.”

Confusion flickered across her face. ”You weren’t there,” he said quietly. ”You never saw what happened to our family.”

His gaze drifted towards the towering statue of the Moon Goddess. ”Kaden was closest to our mother. He worshipped our parents. He believed they were perfect.”

A long silence settled between them before he spoke again. ”Then he watched those same people destroy each other.”

Yuki swallowed hard. ”My parents weren’t only fated mates,” Kieran continued. ”They loved each other.”

”Aevia tore that apart.”

”But I’m not Aevia,” Yuki cut in, her voice shaking. ”I’m not my sister.”

Kieran looked directly into her eyes. ”How certain are you?” He retorted. She froze. A hollow laugh escaped him.

”Have you looked in a mirror lately?”

He turned and walked away, leaving Yuki standing alone beneath the silver light spilling through the glass dome. The temple suddenly felt far larger than before.