The Triplet Alphas' Forbidden Temptation

Kaden sped away from the Beta residence, his tyres scraping against the road as he took the first turn harder than necessary. His hands remained locked around the steering wheel, knuckles pale against the leather as the engine growled beneath him.

He was beyond pissed. It wasn’t the usual irritation that came from Xavier provoking him or someone getting in his way during training. This felt different. Every nerve in his body seemed stretched thin. Even the sound of another vehicle passing too close grated against him. He needed somewhere quiet.

Unfortunately, the moment he arrived at the Alpha’s residence, his already terrible mood plummeted. His car came to a sharp halt near the entrance, and Kaden remained behind the wheel, staring through the windscreen. The entire residence was buzzing with activity. Servants moved between the entrance and the gardens while decorators carried boxes, flowers and rolls of fabric inside. Alexander’s wedding was this weekend. Of course it was.

Kaden leaned back against his seat and exhaled through his nose, already regretting stopping here. He had barely managed to escape one conversation about Yuki, and now the entire residence seemed determined to remind him of her dear sister. His sharp hearing caught the voices of two workers passing near the car.

”Careful with those,” one man warned, his voice strained as he adjusted his grip on a large flowerpot. ”The Alpha specifically instructed that they be placed in the eastern hall.”

”The moon lilies?” the other worker asked curiously. ”He really went all out for Lady Aevia.”

”He spent a fortune importing them,” the first man replied with an impressed whistle. ”They’re native to Lunaria, aren’t they?”

Kaden’s attention snapped towards the van parked near the entrance. Lunaria. His gaze settled on the flowers being carried inside. The moon lilies were breathtaking. Their petals were snow-white, catching the afternoon sunlight until their edges shimmered like crystal prisms. Their leaves were a deep emerald green, glossy beneath the light. They were beautiful and very dangerous.

The flowers grew in the wild regions of Lunaria, the abandoned Lycan kingdom that had fallen decades ago. Since the kingdom’s destruction, much of the surrounding territory had become dangerous. The forests had become home to creatures that thrived without civilisation, and reaching the places where moon lilies grew was considered risky even for experienced hunters. Kaden knew how difficult those flowers were to obtain. They were the sort of flowers people admired in old books because actually finding them was another matter entirely.

”Well, if I were getting married to someone as stunning as Lady Aevia, I wouldn’t mind spending the money,” another worker joked, his voice carrying across the driveway. ”Her looks alone are worth it.”

His companion immediately lowered his voice. ”Keep it down,” he hushed.

They continued towards the entrance, but Kaden’s enhanced hearing caught every word.

”By the way,” the first worker continued, sounding more interested now, ”I heard Lady Aevia has a sister who’s equally stunning.”

Kaden’s expression hardened. ”There are even rumours the Alpha King plans to adopt her.”

”Really?” the other man asked, sounding surprised.

”That’s what people are saying. Apparently, several influential Alpha families have already shown interest. There are even whispers about an arranged marriage. Several influential Alpha families outside the Ravencourt family have already shown interest, but the Alpha hasn’t made a decision yet.”

Their voices began to fade as they crossed into the residence. ”If she really looks like Lady Aevia, I suppose it’s believable.”

Kaden’s breath caught. Arranged marriage. It wasn’t the first time he was hearing of it, but the irritation remained the same. His jaw tightened. How convenient. Aevia was marrying Alexander, and now her sister was apparently going to benefit from the Ravencourt family’s influence too. There were only a handful of families powerful enough to offer Yuki the kind of marriage that would satisfy the expectations surrounding her.

He scoffed bitterly. ”Figures. Birds of a fucking feather flock together.”

His fingers tightened around the steering wheel. He didn’t even realise how hard he was gripping it until the leather creaked beneath his palms. He snorted. There were only a few families as influential as the Ravencourt.

He thought dismissively, oblivious to how he subconsciously compared himself to any potential match or how hard his hands gripped the steering wheel.

Kaden’s jaw worked. He couldn’t stand hearing about Aevia and Alexander’s marriage once more.

He started the engine and pulled away from the Alpha’s residence, the tyres crunching over the gravel before the car joined the main road.

He didn’t know which one pissed him off more. The fact that his father was going out of his way to plan his wedding to his mistress, or the fact that the gold digger was taking advantage of the Ravencourt name to get her sister a sugar daddy.

”So much for claiming she was different,” he muttered bitterly, his eyes fixed ahead. ”Yuki is probably just the same as her sister.” A humourless laugh escaped him. ”Why the hell did the Moon Goddess think my father’s mistress’s sister was the perfect mate for us? We don’t have the same horrible taste as him.”

His wolf remained silent for several seconds before answering. ’We rejected our fated mate too. You are your father’s son.’

Kaden’s fingers tightened around the steering wheel. He hated when his wolf pointed out things he was already trying to bury. They had condemned their father for abandoning his mate and choosing another woman. They had despised him for treating the bond as though it meant nothing. Yet Kaden and his brothers had done the exact same thing. The irony was almost laughable. ”It’s not the same thing...” he hissed.

He pushed the accelerator harder. His thoughts were still circling around the arranged marriage when another voice suddenly entered his mind.

’Lord Kaden, please, can you come over?’

Kaden’s brows pulled together. The panic in the voice immediately cut through his irritation.

’What happened?’ he demanded through the mind link, his voice sharp.

’I can’t say,’ the person replied hurriedly. ’Please hurry. Things are getting out of hand.’

Kaden’s grip tightened around the steering wheel.

’What do you mean you can’t say?’

’I tried contacting Lord Killian, but he isn’t reachable.’

Kaden’s eyes narrowed as he changed lanes.

’Where are you?’

The person gave him the location. Kaden’s jaw clenched. He had barely escaped one headache, and now another one was waiting for him.

’Fine. I’m coming,’ he answered curtly before ending the mind link.

His foot pressed down on the accelerator, and the engine roared as the car surged forward.

”Can this day get any more fucked up?” Kaden muttered, his eyes narrowing at the road ahead as he sped towards the location.