The Triplet Alphas' Forbidden Temptation

Killian probably tried to hide it, but Yuki caught it. A crack. It lasted only a heartbeat before his usual composure returned, yet it was there. She didn’t give him the chance to recover.

”I know you can convince your brothers, Killian.”

A long sigh escaped him as he studied her in silence, his sharp eyes weighing every expression on her face.

”And what makes you think I can convince them?” he asked evenly. ”They know exactly what’s at stake. I don’t control them, Yuki. They’re adults with minds of their own.”

Yuki folded her arms across her chest.

”Kieran was right about you,” she said.

Killian’s eyes narrowed immediately.

”Right about what?” he asked, his voice dropping noticeably. There was something about that sentence that irritated him far more than it should have.

”About you being the most difficult one.” A small scoff escaped her. ”You’re talented with words. You always know how to twist a conversation.”

Something unreadable flickered across his face before disappearing.

”That’s interesting.” His lips curved into a faint smile that never reached his eyes. ”So you and Kieran talk about me.” The sarcasm in his voice was impossible to miss. ”But what I said still stands. I can’t control them. They’re Alphas.” He spread his hands slightly. ”They’re stubborn enough without me trying to dictate their choices.”

”Cut the crap, Killian,” she snapped.

The words sliced cleanly through his sentence. Silence settled between them.

Killian stared at her. Nobody interrupted him. Not during meetings. Not among the elders. Not even Alexander. Yet this tiny fox had done it without the slightest hesitation. It rubbed him the wrong way.

”We both know,” Yuki continued firmly, refusing to back down, ”if anyone can influence your brothers, it’s you. They respect Alexander...” She took another step closer. ”But they follow you.”

His expression remained unreadable.

”You’re the one they trust when emotions get in the way.” Her eyes never left his. ”If Kaden is the sword...” She pointed at him. ”...then you’re the hand holding it.”

A slow smile spread across Killian’s face.

”And Kieran?” he asked.

”The brain,” she replied.

Killian let out a quiet laugh.

”So that’s how you see us? Kaden would absolutely hate hearing you call him the muscles.”

Yuki’s lips twitched.

”He’ll survive. He already hates my guts anyway.” She shrugged.

He shook his head before his expression gradually became serious again.

”Let’s assume you’re right. Let’s assume I’m somehow capable of convincing those two impossible brats.” He leaned back comfortably, folding his arms. ”What reason would I possibly give them? They’re not fools. Even Kaden.”

His voice softened slightly.

”He has a terrible temper, but don’t mistake that for stupidity.”

Yuki almost laughed. Killian had just defended Kaden’s intelligence without even realising it.

”We know the consequences,” Killian continued. ”If rejecting you were truly that simple...” His eyes settled on hers. ”...Kaden would’ve done it during the trial without a second thought.”

The room became quiet.

”...But he didn’t.”

Yuki nodded slowly. She had already thought it through.

”I already have a reason, and it’s pretty obvious too,” she said confidently.

Killian waited.

”As long as the bond exists, all of your futures remain tied to mine.” She chose every word carefully. ”If the bond is broken, there’s still a chance the Moon Goddess grants each of you another mate. Someone you can actually choose to build a future with. Someone you don’t have to hold back your disgust while fucking. And who knows? It might even be Eloise.”

Killian didn’t answer. He knew about the possibility of a second-chance mate and had thought it through. The curse didn’t prevent them from having only one mate, and second-chance mates weren’t rare.

His silence told her she had finally struck something worth thinking about.

After a long moment, he spoke.

”It’s still a gamble.” His fingers tapped lightly against the sofa’s smooth leather. ”Second chance mates aren’t guaranteed.” His eyes met hers. ”And there’s another problem.”

Every trace of amusement disappeared from his face.

”You could die.”

The words landed heavily. He spoke as though he actually cared whether she lived or died.

”Three Alpha rejections.” He spoke each sentence slowly. ”Our bloodline carries Lycan ancestry.” He held her gaze. ”Do you honestly believe your body can survive that backlash?”

Yuki swallowed. She had considered it. More than once.

”You don’t have to worry about me.” She lifted her chin. ”Just speak to your brothers or, who knows, my lips might slip to them or Eloise about your rut.”

His silence stretched. She could see it now. He wasn’t rejecting the idea anymore. He was calculating it.

So she gave him one final push.

”And besides...” A sly smile crossed her lips. ”Kaden saw me leaving your quarters that day and is already suspicious.”

Something finally cracked.

Killian’s composed mask slipped for the briefest instant. His eyes narrowed.

”You really are a sly little fox.” His voice carried reluctant amusement. ”Threatening an Alpha inside his own office.”

Yuki planted both palms on his desk and leaned forward just enough for him to understand she wasn’t bluffing.

”If I didn’t have the courage...” Her eyes gleamed. ”...the Moon Goddess wouldn’t have sent me to become your nightmare.”

A faint smile curved her lips.

”I may never be your dream girl, but I can certainly become the nightmare that keeps you awake.”

For several long seconds, neither of them spoke. The tension between them became almost tangible.

Finally, Killian exhaled.

”Fine.” His voice was calm again. ”I’ll think about it.” He straightened the cuff of his sleeve. ”But don’t expect certainty.”

A dry chuckle escaped him.

”Kaden might agree. He despises this bond the most.” His expression became thoughtful. ”But Kieran...” He clicked his tongue. ”...he may become the real obstacle. From the look of things, and with the way Kieran seems to be giving you valuable advice, he appears to have a soft spot for you.”

Yuki smiled knowingly.

”Then you’ll just have to figure something out. Otherwise, Kieran or Eloise might find out how much of a good boy you were when I was stroking your cock.” She stepped away from the desk. ”I believe in your talents, Alpha.”

Without waiting for another reply, she turned and walked toward the door.

Killian watched her until it closed behind her.

Silence reclaimed the office. Even after her footsteps disappeared down the corridor, her scent still lingered in the room.

He rubbed a hand over his face.

”She really is going to be the death of me.”

His wolf gave an amused snort.

’She’s dangerous.’

’I’ve noticed,’ Killian replied, stunned that he could say that about someone whose neck he could easily snap.

’And yet you’re turned on,’ the wolf chimed.

Killian closed his eyes with a tired groan. His body reacted in ways his mind refused to acknowledge. Arguing with her should have irritated him. Instead, it left him more restless than before. A mate bond was truly a terrifying thing if someone could become aroused from an argument.

”This is going to become a problem,” he admitted aloud.

*********

Yuki left the executive floor, trying very hard not to run. Every instinct screamed at her to put as much distance between herself and Killian as possible. She forced herself to maintain a steady pace until the elevator doors finally slid shut. Maverick wasn’t on the floor. He had probably already gone downstairs.

Only then did she release the breath she’d been holding.

”Oh, Moon Goddess...” She pressed a hand against her racing heart. ”He is terrifying.”

Her wolf snorted.

’Yet you still had the guts to argue with him.’

’I didn’t have a choice but to face the devil,’ she retorted to her wolf, still trembling from the confrontation.

’You enjoyed it.’

Her head snapped up. If her wolf had a physical form, she would be glaring at her now.

”I absolutely did not,” she snapped aloud, unable to hold back her irritation.

Yuki felt her wolf’s amusement. If it had a human body, it would be laughing at her as the elevator continued its slow descent.

**********

The sky had turned a deep shade of orange as the last rays of sunlight stretched across Ravencourt. The rhythmic thump of a basketball echoed through the private outdoor court beside the Alpha residence.

Thud.

Thud.

Thud.

Kaden dribbled the ball between his hands before driving towards the hoop. His tank top clung to his back with sweat, while his loose athletic shorts brushed against his knees. He jumped and released the ball.

Clang.

It struck the rim and bounced away.

Kaden’s brows pulled together in a frown. He rarely missed that shot.

His thoughts refused to stay on the game. Instead, they kept returning to the combat assessment.

How did she do it?

She hadn’t half shifted or even trained under him, and yet somehow she had borrowed his strength and fought exactly like him.

The ball bounced behind him.

Before he could turn, another hand caught it cleanly.

”When did the great General Ravencourt become this miserable at basketball?” a familiar voice teased. ”Playing alone seems quite depressing.”

Kaden looked over his shoulder.

Kieran stood a few metres away, casually spinning the ball on one finger. He had changed out of his white coat, leaving him in a neatly pressed light blue dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms and dark trousers. His tie had been loosened and hung around his neck, while the faint scent of antiseptic and disinfectant still clung to him after a long shift at the hospital.

Kaden smirked.

”That’s rich coming from Doctor Ravencourt.” He folded his arms. ”If memory serves me correctly...” His grin widened. ”...you’ve never beaten me.”