The Triplet Alphas' Forbidden Temptation

He held her gaze and asked the million-dollar question. ”If that’s true...” His sapphire eyes narrowed slightly. ”...why are you so eager to get rid of us?”

”When I tried proving otherwise,” she asked quietly, ”did any of you believe me?”

The silence that followed was deafening. She could even hear his steady breathing. It was rare to see Killian speechless.

”So why keep arguing?” She smiled. ”If everyone’s already decided I’m a gold digger...” She spread her hands helplessly. ”...I might as well own the title.”

Killian studied her. Those emerald eyes held his without wavering. They were clear, steady, painfully honest and annoyingly beautiful.

”...Don’t worry,” Yuki continued. ”I might be a gold digger...” She smiled sweetly. ”...but I’m not an idiot.”

She tapped the armrest lightly. ”A smart gold digger knows better than to waste her time chasing men who can’t stand her.” Her grin widened.

”With the status of a Ravencourt daughter, I’ll have much better prospects.” She counted them on her fingers. ”Better attitudes, better personalities and hopefully better manners.”

A soft laugh escaped her. Killian slowly straightened. For several seconds, he simply looked at her. Then...

”I suppose congratulations are in order.” His smile returned. Elegant. Sharp. ”Once the adoption is complete... you’ll be promoted. Alexander and Aevia would legally become your parents.”

Yuki blinked. ”From the younger sister of a homewrecker...” He paused deliberately. ”...to the daughter of a mistress.”

Olivine sucked in a quiet breath. Yuki didn’t even flinch. Instead, she nodded thoughtfully.

”You mean...” she corrected cheerfully. ”...the mistress who successfully married a billionaire Alpha.” She smiled brightly. ”Yes. I’d say that’s a considerable promotion.”

She rested her cheek against one hand. ”Having a rich father certainly sounds convenient.” She waved him away lazily. ”So run along now.” A wicked smile spread across her face. ”Before my infamous seductive charms ensnare you too.”

She sighed dramatically. ”After all... the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” Yuki chimed.

Killian simply stared. Once again... the eldest Ravencourt heir had absolutely no response. He genuinely couldn’t decide whether the woman before him was shameless... or deliberately trying to provoke him. Either way... she was succeeding.

”You really are something,” he muttered, clicking his tongue. ”I remember a girl speaking passionately about becoming a doctor.” His eyes lingered on her. ”Don’t tell me that was another performance.”

Yuki’s smile never wavered.

”Not at all.” She leaned back comfortably. ”It’s called a strategic retreat.” She smiled with obvious satisfaction. ”Now the entire court remembers me as the girl who willingly walked away from power to chase her dreams... instead of the girl rejected by her mates.” She gave a small shrug. ”Smart, don’t you think?”

Killian stared at her for another long moment. She felt completely different. Not because she had changed. Because she had stopped trying to prove herself to them. For perhaps the first time in years... Killian found himself genuinely at a loss for words.

”...Very well.” He inclined his head politely. ”I won’t disturb your recovery any longer.”

He turned.

”And please stay gone...” Yuki called after him. ”My mood improves the moment your face disappears.”

His footsteps paused. Olivine looked at Yuki as though she’d suddenly grown a second head. Killian remained facing away from them. After a long silence... he spoke quietly.

”If you truly want your performance to be convincing...” He turned his head just enough for his profile to be visible. ”...learn to control your heartbeat. I can hear it.”

Yuki froze. A chill ran from the soles of her feet to the back of her neck. He knew. He had heard it. Without waiting for a response, Killian walked away, disappearing through the garden doors. Only after they closed behind him did Yuki finally release the breath she’d been holding. Her shoulders slumped.

”...Insufferable jerk,” she muttered through gritted teeth.

Beside her, Olivine slowly looked from the closed door... back to Yuki. ”...Snow,” she called hesitantly.

”What?” Yuki snapped, losing her temper because of that jerk.

”...Your heart is still racing,” Olivine whispered.

Yuki’s face stiffened, twisting into an ugly expression. ”It is not,” she denied, forgetting that Olivine was a werewolf with sharp hearing.

Olivine raised an eyebrow. ”The heart monitor attached to your wheelchair says otherwise,” she said with a smirk.

Yuki glanced down. The small portable monitor blinked innocently.

Heart Rate: 128 bpm.

”...”

”...”

She closed her eyes. ”I hate that man,” she hissed in defeat.

”...Snow,” Olivine called again.

Yuki didn’t look away from the path Killian had disappeared down. ”What?” Yuki hissed, irritated.

Olivine blinked. ”...Were the two of you flirting... or trying to kill each other?”

That left Yuki floored. ”...” She was speechless once again.

Her teeth gritted as she glared at Olivine, who gave her a helpless expression. Then a soft voice cut through her mind.

’Yuki, where are you? Your room is empty.’ Aevia’s voice rang in her mind.

Yuki reluctantly released her jaw, letting out a long, heavy breath. She felt as though she had lost a few years from her life confronting him.

’I went to the garden. I will return now,’ she replied.

’Alright, then. I will be waiting.’

The mind-link disconnected. She glanced at Olivine.

”Please, can you help me to my room? Aevia is waiting.”

”Of course.” She gently gripped the wheelchair handles before steering Yuki back towards the hospital building.

The automatic doors slid open with a quiet hiss. Cool air greeted them as they entered the corridor.

The hospital was considerably busier than earlier. Doctors hurried past carrying files, while nurses pushed medicine carts between wards.

The faint scent of disinfectant lingered in the air, blending with fresh coffee drifting from the staff lounge.

Neither of them noticed the pair of nurses approaching from the opposite direction until their conversation floated across the hallway.

”...I still can’t believe Lord Kieran collapsed behind the wheel.”

Yuki’s head lifted instantly. Olivine unconsciously slowed the wheelchair.

The two nurses were too engrossed in their conversation to notice them.

”I heard the Chief Physician said it wasn’t reckless driving at all.”

”It wasn’t,” the other nurse replied, lowering her voice despite the empty corridor. ”Apparently, he’d been working himself to exhaustion because of the regenerative drug?”

Yuki’s attention was immediately drawn.

What regenerative drug?