The Triplet Alphas' Forbidden Temptation

Killian watched them disappear before pushing open Kieran’s door. Inside, Kieran sat propped against the hospital bed while Kaden occupied the chair beside him, animatedly talking about a military cooperation treaty he’d just concluded.

”...I’m telling you, if they think they can renegotiate after signing, they’re dreaming.”

Kaden stopped mid-sentence as the door opened. His sapphire eyes landed on Killian.

”Well...” he drawled with a crooked grin. ”Look who finally remembered he has brothers.”

Killian rolled his eyes. ”I’ve been cleaning up your mess,” he sneered.

Kaden placed a hand against his chest dramatically. ”Our mess,” he corrected shamelessly.

Killian gave him a flat look. His head ached with a phantom pain remembering all the things he had handled for Kaden’s messes, but this time it was the quiet, well-behaved son giving him a headache.

Estelle was emotional about Kieran. After all, he was always her favourite, although she claimed to love them the same. She was more affectionate towards Kieran because he was the delicate one. Despite being the second, as a child Kieran was pretty fragile, making Estelle very particular about him.

Kaden had the audacity to grin wider. ”Hardly the first time,” he said shamelessly.

Killian almost laughed. It wasn’t. Over the years he’d cleaned up enough of Kaden’s impulsive disasters to lose count. Although... none had ever come close to this one. Kieran cleared his throat softly.

”How did it go?” he asked, guilt evident in his tired voice. ”Sorry you had to deal with all of that.”

Killian’s attention shifted towards him. ”I settled everything.” He walked further into the room before stopping beside the bed. ”I compensated the family.”

Kieran frowned slightly.

”The accident wasn’t entirely your fault,” Killian explained evenly. ”The other driver changed lanes recklessly.” He paused. ”But dragging it through court benefits no one.” His eyes settled meaningfully on Kieran. ”Especially when the headlines would read that the Ravencourt heir nearly caused a fatal accident because he worked himself into cardiac failure.”

Kieran lowered his eyes. ”I’ll apologise to them personally,” he said, his tone carrying a bit of guilt.

”You don’t have to,” Killian said in a heavy tone.

Kieran glanced at the window. ”I want to,” he insisted. A part of him knew the accident wasn’t just because of a cardiac arrest. He remembered what Eloise said before it happened. The arranged marriage.

Killian nodded once, seeing he wasn’t letting it go. ”I won’t stop you,” he resigned.

Silence settled briefly. Then Killian spoke again. ”I’ve already arranged a leave of absence from the hospital.”

Kieran’s head snapped up. ”You what?”

”You’re not returning to work.” Killian’s tone left little room for negotiation. ”I’ve also assigned two Alpha Guards outside your room.”

Kieran blinked. ”...Why?” Kieran hissed.

”They’re under strict orders.” Killian folded his arms. ”If you attempt to sneak back into your laboratory...”

”...they’ll drag me back?” A dry laugh escaped his lips.

”They’ll carry you back.” Killian deadpanned, holding his gaze.

Kaden burst into laughter. ”Finally!” he said between chuckles, clapping Kieran lightly on the shoulder. ”Someone figured out how to deal with you.”

Kieran sighed dramatically. ”You two are impossible,” he clicked his tongue.

Kaden smirked, still standing beside the bed. Then... his smile faded. Almost imperceptibly. His nose twitched. Beneath the sharp scent of disinfectant, medicine and antiseptic... a faint fragrance drifted through the room. Rosewood. Vanilla.

It was so weak most wolves would’ve missed it entirely. He didn’t. His wolf stirred violently. The hollow ache that had lingered inside his chest ever since the rejection pulsed without warning. Before he could stop himself, the question escaped.

”...Is Yuki in this hospital?”

The room fell silent. Across the bed, Kieran’s fingers tightened around the sheets. His gaze shot towards Killian.

”You saw her?”

There was something sharp beneath his normally composed voice. Accusation. And something dangerously close to betrayal. Killian’s brows drew together almost imperceptibly. His attention shifted to Kaden. How...? The scent was barely there. Yet Kaden had picked it out instantly. Almost... as though he’d been unconsciously searching for it. The metal railing of the hospital bed creaked beneath Kaden’s tightening grip. Killian didn’t bother hiding the truth.

”Yes,” he answered simply. ”I ran into her in the healing garden after leaving the other victim’s room.” A brief pause followed. ”She’s awake.”

The words landed like a stone dropped into still water. Kaden’s heartbeat stumbled painfully inside his chest. For reasons he refused to examine... relief and bitterness crashed together, leaving an unpleasant taste in his mouth.

********

Yuki’s mind remained tangled in the nurses’ conversation as Olivine quietly pushed her wheelchair back towards her room. The polished corridor stretched endlessly ahead, yet she barely noticed the doctors hurrying past or the nurses wheeling medicine carts from one ward to another. The words refused to leave her head.

*Kieran Ravencourt was admitted...*

*A stress-induced cardiac event...*

*He worked himself into exhaustion because of the regenerative drug...*

Her fingers unconsciously tightened around the blanket covering her legs. Was that why Killian had been at the hospital? He had been here because Kieran was hospitalised. Then another thought surfaced, making her chest tighten. The regenerative drug... That was the same medicine flowing through her veins. Could Kieran really have created it?

”No...” she murmured beneath her breath, immediately shaking her head as if trying to throw the thought away. Whatever happened with the Ravencourt triplets was no longer any of her concern. She had finally severed every tie binding her to them. That should have been enough, yet the uncomfortable feeling refused to disappear. It lingered stubbornly, twisting deeper inside her chest the closer they got to her room.

Olivine glanced down at her. ”Snow?” she called softly after noticing the deep crease between Yuki’s brows. ”You’ve been quiet ever since we left the garden.”

Yuki blinked before forcing her expression to relax. ”It’s nothing.”

Olivine clearly didn’t believe her, but before she could question her further, they arrived outside the hospital room. The door had barely opened when an excited voice echoed from inside.

”Yuki!”

Before she could even react, warm arms wrapped tightly around her shoulders, pulling her into a fierce embrace. The familiar scent of jasmine instantly surrounded her, washing away the heaviness in her chest.