The Triplet Alphas' Forbidden Temptation

”They were never mine to begin with.”

The statement hung in the air. It was a simple fact, yet something about how easily Yuki said it, as though the bond was not worth fighting for, unsettled the brothers.

Yuki continued before anyone could misunderstand her. ”The bond might have chosen us, but they can get a second-chance mate if this ends. So do not worry about me.”

Eloise’s eyes widened slightly. Yuki offered her a small smile. ”When everything is settled and you eventually marry them, we will be sisters-in-law anyway. After Alexander adopted me, you are practically family.”

The words ”sisters-in-law” struck something in them. Kieran’s fist clenched subconsciously. For a fraction of a second, something strange flashed across Eloise’s face before it vanished.

A weak smile appeared on Eloise’s lips. ”You are right,” she replied. Yuki smiled back. ”Now, please get up,” she urged gently.

This time, Eloise allowed Yuki to help her. Kieran immediately moved in, supporting her other side. ”I told you that you should not be kneeling,” he muttered. His voice carried genuine worry, yet a faint tremble lingered beneath it.

”I am sorry,” Eloise whispered pitifully. Kieran interrupted her. ”Do not apologise. Just stop doing things that make me worry.”

Kieran guided her back towards her chair with careful hands.

Yuki watched them go. A strange hollowness settled inside her chest. She ignored it. She had done the right thing. She had given Eloise exactly what she wanted. The three brothers would reject her. They would be together. Everyone would be happy.

So why did it feel like she had just handed something precious away?

Yuki pushed the thought aside and returned to her seat. She picked up her fork, determined not to ruin her breakfast over this.

Across the table, Kieran settled Eloise back into her chair before immediately fussing over her again. ”You should eat,” he coaxed, trying to feed her a spoonful. Eloise clamped her mouth shut, acting spoiled. ”I am not hungry,” she said, glaring at the food she hated.

The vegetable soup had been made specially for her recovery, but she loathed the taste. ”Just try a bit, Eloise...” Kieran asked softly. She shook her head. ”I do not like this.”

Kieran glanced down at her plate. ”You are talking about the vegetables?” She nodded. Kieran smiled. ”I specifically asked the kitchen to prepare them differently. They steamed them to get rid of the sharp taste and added more seasoning. It tastes great now,” he explained patiently.

Eloise looked at him in surprise. ”What?” she blinked.

Kieran smiled at her. ”I also told them to avoid garlic since you hate it. They used seasoning alternatives instead.”

Eloise’s eyes lit up, clearly impressed. ”You did that?”

”Of course.” Kieran’s brows lifted as though the answer were obvious. ”You need to eat properly. Your body is still recovering.”

Eloise stared at him for a moment before reluctantly taking the bite. Kieran watched until she swallowed. ”See? Not terrible,” he chimed.

Her face changed for a second. ”It is still terrible but bearable now,” she admitted.

Kaden chuckled at her reaction. ”You have been complaining about vegetables since you were five,” he chimed in.

”And you still force them on me,” Eloise added bitterly. Their easy exchanges made it hard for Yuki to enjoy her own breakfast. Killian, who had been quietly eating, let his eyes flicker towards Yuki with an amused smile.

The way she was chewing her pancakes as though they were rocks was almost comical. She could not even hide her irritation. Killian reached for his coffee and took a slow sip.

Kieran replied to Eloise, ”Because you are still five years old when it comes to food.”

Kaden reached over and added another piece of fresh fruit to her plate. ”Have the vegetables. I got your favourite mangoes to help with the taste. These were flown in this morning from the south.” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. ”I remembered you loved them fresh from the trees.”

Eloise sighed but obeyed. She really loved mangoes.

Yuki’s pancakes suddenly tasted bland in her mouth. She tried to focus on her plate, but her gaze kept drifting across the table. She watched Kieran feed Eloise the vegetable soup while Kaden offered her neatly cut mango pieces after each spoonful. Eloise’s gaze met hers for a moment, and the smugness in her eyes was impossible to miss.

Yuki’s gaze shifted to Killian. He had barely spoken. He was eating while scrolling through something on his tablet, his expression unusually distant.

It was strange. He was not usually this distracted during breakfast. Had he and Eloise fought last night? She wondered.

Her eyes returned to Kieran. She noticed the exhaustion hidden beneath his soft smile for Eloise. The faint shadows beneath his eyes. The slight tension around his mouth. The way his shoulders seemed heavier than usual.

Her heart gave an unwanted little ache.

Yuki immediately looked away. It ached not because he had risked his life to save Eloise, or because he was still fussing over her in this condition. What truly bothered her was how much his worn-out state affected her. It annoyed her that she cared about the toll he had taken while caring for another woman.

She stabbed her fork into a piece of fruit. This had nothing to do with her. He had simply done what anyone would do for an injured person.

That was all.

”Where are Alexander and Aevia?” she asked, mostly to distract herself.

Killian finally looked up. ”They are at the Obsidian Palace,” he replied simply.

Yuki frowned. ”Why?” she questioned.

”An important foreign Alpha arrived this morning. They are hosting him,” Kaden answered this time.

”Oh.” Yuki nodded and returned to her meal. The conversation died again.

Something about the table felt different. There was a tension Yuki could not quite identify. Eloise suddenly pushed her plate away. ”I do not think I can eat anymore.”

Kaden looked at her. ”You barely touched anything.”

”I am full.”

”You have eaten half a piece of fruit.”

”That is still food.”

Kaden sighed, then his eyes lit up as something from his memories came to mind. ”You know, Killian used to make congee whenever one of us got sick.”

Yuki’s fork stopped mid-air. Her eyes slowly lifted. Killian’s fingers paused above his tablet.

Eloise looked at him in genuine surprise. ”He did?” She sounded as though she were discovering an entirely new side of him.

Kaden nodded. ”Whenever we were children. If one of us caught a cold, Killian would disappear into the kitchen and make congee.”

Kieran laughed softly. ”That was before he became unbearable.”

Killian gave him a flat look. ”You were the one who cried whenever the food was not soft enough.”

”I was six,” Kieran defended himself.

”You were thirteen,” Kaden retorted with a snort.

Kieran’s smile disappeared. ”That was one time.” Kaden laughed, enjoying the banter as the tension around the table eased slightly.

Eloise stared at Killian in disbelief. ”You can cook?” she blurted.

Killian slowly lowered his tablet. ”It was a long time ago. I barely step inside the kitchen nowadays,” he replied.

”How come you never cooked for me?” Eloise asked.

Killian opened his mouth, but Kaden immediately answered for him. ”Because he is a workaholic now.”

Eloise frowned. Kaden leaned back in his chair. ”Besides, Killian is the best cook among us. His congee was so good that Mum once faked being sick just so he would make it.”

Eloise looked genuinely surprised, as though she were discovering a new part of Killian.

Kieran nodded, joining the conversation. ”He learned because he wanted to perfect Mum’s favourite recipe for Mother’s Day.”

Killian’s eyes narrowed. ”Kaden,” he hissed, clearly finding the conversation embarrassing.

Kaden ignored him. ”He kept practising until he got it right. Eventually, his version became better than Mum’s.”

Eloise’s eyes widened with genuine awe. ”Really?”

Killian sighed. ”That was a long time ago.”

”Then you should make it for me,” she suggested eagerly. The words were innocent, but Yuki’s fingers slowly tightened around her fork.

Eloise smiled at Killian. ”Please? I want to try it.”

Killian paused. For the briefest moment, his gaze shifted towards Yuki. Then his eyes returned to Eloise. ”I have not cooked in years,” he said politely. ”I am not sure I remember the recipe anymore.”

Yuki’s stomach dropped. She did not know why the words affected her so much. It was only congee. A simple bowl of rice and chicken. Yet her jaw clenched tightly.

Why was he lying? He had remembered the recipe for her.