Mated to the Triplet Alphas-Chapter 86: Missing Mate

Third POV

“I don’t think we handled that well,” Liam admitted, running a hand through his dark hair. “She seemed really upset.”

Lucas led the way back to the packhouse as the festival music faded into the background. They were careful to walk a little slower to give Hazel the space she requested and to discuss what just happened.

Levi kicked a stone along the path, sulking. “She overreacted. Callum was too close to her.”

“No, she didn’t,” Lucas countered firmly. “Think about it. Hazel hasn’t had normal relationships her entire life. Her only experience with male attention has been our bullying and then suddenly finding out we’re her mates. She’s more sensitive to threats because of it.”

“We weren’t even flirting with those girls,” Liam protested. “Bethany just came over asking if we’d seen you, Lucas. Then Olivia and Amber spotted us and decided to join in.”

“Yeah, we were just catching up,” Levi added.

Lucas sighed. “Were they flirting with you?”

Liam hesitated. “Maybe a little. But we made it clear we weren’t interested.”

“While simultaneously ripping a hair clip out of Callum’s hands when he was just helping her,” Lucas deadpanned.

Liam and Levi instantly fell silent.

“I think we’re all missing the bigger picture here,” Lucas said. “Hazel is overwhelmed. Between the festival planning, Mom’s attitude, and trying to adapt to the pack, she’s hardly had time to breathe.”

Liam nodded slowly. “You’re right. We’ve been pushing her too hard.”

“So what do we do?” Levi asked, his usual playful demeanor replaced by genuine concern.

“We ease off,” Lucas decided. “No more Luna training until after the wedding and honeymoon. Let her breathe.”

The brothers shared a look of agreement as they approached the packhouse.

“I say we draw her a bubble bath, bring her some soothing tea, and just let her relax tonight,” Liam suggested with a small smile. “Show her we’re sorry.”

“And mean it,” Lucas added firmly.

Levi’s face brightened. “I just bought some new fancy bath salts are. The ones that smell like vanilla and lavender. Think she might like them?”

They entered the packhouse with renewed determination, climbing the stairs to Hazel’s room. Lucas knocked gently on her door.

“Hazel? Sweetheart, can we talk?”

Silence greeted them.

Liam frowned and knocked again, louder this time. “Hazel? Are you in there?”

When there was still no response, Levi turned the handle. The door swung open to reveal an empty room.

“Maybe she’s in one of our rooms?” Liam suggested, but his voice was already tinged with worry.

The brothers split up, each checking their own rooms and bathrooms. They met back in the hallway minutes later, all wearing the same expression of growing panic.

“She’s not in my room,” Lucas said.

“Not in mine either,” Liam added.

“Or mine,” Levi finished.

Liam ran a hand through his hair. “I’ll check her old servant quarters. Maybe she wanted to be alone.”

He disappeared down the hallway while Lucas and Levi continued searching the upper floor. When Liam returned, his face had paled considerably.

“She’s not there.”

Levi’s jaw clenched. “I don’t like this.”

“Hazel!” Liam shouted, his voice echoing through the packhouse.

Servants and pack members looked up in surprise as the triplets began frantically searching every room.

“She said she was coming back to the packhouse,” Levi said, panic rising in his voice. “That’s what she said before she walked away.”

Lucas stopped suddenly, lifting his head. He stepped outside and took a deep breath in. Then, he narrowed his eyes.

“This way,” Lucas said before shifting. Liam and Levi followed suit.

The brothers moved deeper into the woods, following Hazel’s scent until they reached a small clearing. Lucas froze, his nostrils flaring. They shifted back.

“Blood,” he whispered.

Liam crouched down, touching a dark spot on the forest floor. His fingers came away red. “It’s fresh.”

Levi growled, his eyes flashing gold. “There are other scents here. It’s almost chemical.”

Lucas bent down, inhaling carefully. “Chloroform.”

The word hung in the air like a death sentence.

“Shit. She’s been taken,” Liam said, his voice hollow with shock. “I smell some others, but they’re not from Emberfang.”

Lucas stood up, his entire body rigid with fury. “Spread out. Try to find which way they went.”

Liam and Levi didn’t need to be told twice. Shifting smoothly into their wolves, they disappeared into the trees. However, they returned not long after.

“Nothing,” Liam said with a growl, shifting back. “The trail just... disappears.”

“They must have used something to mask their scent,” Lucas reasoned, though his voice trembled with barely contained rage.

Levi let out a roar of frustration, slamming his fist into a nearby tree with such force that it splintered. “How could this happen?!”

His outburst echoed through the forest, causing birds to take flight in alarm. Lucas grabbed his younger brother by the shoulders.

“Get it together! We need to think clearly if we’re going to find her.”

Levi’s eyes were wild, tears of rage threatening to spill over. “Someone took her, Lucas. They took our mate!”

The commotion had drawn attention. Several pack members who had been taking a break from the festival came running, including Callum and Sophia.

“What’s happening?” Callum asked, his eyes wide as he took in the triplets’ distress.

“Hazel’s been kidnapped,” Liam said, his voice cracking.

Gasps rippled through the small crowd. Sophia covered her mouth in horror.

“Send out the warriors,” Lucas ordered. “I want the entire border secured. No one gets in or out without being questioned.”

More pack members arrived, including Henry and Evelyn.

“What’s all this about?” Henry demanded.

“Hazel’s been taken,” Lucas replied curtly. “There’s blood and chloroform, and foreign scents in our territory.”

Evelyn raised an eyebrow. “Taken? By whom?”

Levi whirled on her, his eyes flashing dangerously. “Why don’t you tell us, Mom? You’ve never exactly hidden your hatred for her.”

“Levi!” Henry barked in shock.

Lucas moved between them. “This isn’t helping, Levi.”

Jessie pushed her way through the gathering crowd, her eyes scanning the scene. A flicker of satisfaction spread across her face before she stamped the rising corners of her lips down.

“Maybe she just ran off,” she said, shrugging. “I mean, it can’t be easy realizing you’re in way over your head as Luna.”

The words had barely left her mouth before Levi lunged. His hand wrapped around Jessie’s throat, lifting her off the ground. Jessie let out a choked gasp.

“Say that again,” he growled, his voice barely human.

Jessie clawed at his hand, her eyes bulging as she struggled for air.

“LEVI!” Liam yelled, grabbing his brother’s arm. “Let her go! This won’t help Hazel!”

For a terrifying moment, it seemed Levi wouldn’t listen. Then, slowly, he released his grip. Jessie collapsed to the ground, coughing and gasping, shock written across her face.

“Get the warriors organized,” Lucas ordered, his voice cutting through the tension. “I want every inch of our territory searched. Check security cameras, question anyone who was near this section of the forest in the last hour.”

“Yes, Alpha!”

The warriors immediately sprinted into action. They shifted and headed straight for the borders. Lucas watched with a hardened expression as their figures disappeared one by one. freewebnσvel.cѳm

However, one suddenly returned.

“Alpha,” the warrior called, “I found him sneaking around the eastern border.”

Lucas’s eyes narrowed dangerously as Samuel Williams was thrown over. The older man huffed as he slid on the grass, stopping only right in front of Lucas’s feet. His limbs were secured tightly with silver cuffs, his skin already turning red around the metal.

“What’s the meaning of this?” Lucas demanded.

The warrior straightened. “He was acting suspicious, Alpha. Circling the border like he was waiting for someone.”

The triplets exchanged a dark look. Annie.

“Well, well,” Levi growled, stepping forward. “Looks like we need to have a little chat, Samuel.”