The Triplet Alphas' Secret Mate-Chapter 22: Second Mate
Scarlett’s POV
I turned sharply, my eyes darting through the dimly lit hallway. The scent was stronger now—earthy yet rich, like aged whiskey and fresh rain. It wrapped around me, tugging at me just as Liam’s scent had, but this... this was different. This was new. I swallowed hard, my pulse racing. I took a step forward, drawn toward the scent. My body moved on its own, guided by instinct.
I rounded the corner, my breath hitching as my gaze locked onto a tall figure standing at the other end of the hallway. His broad shoulders, his body structure, his physique—everything about him looked so familiar, so intoxicating.
With a racing heart, I moved closer to the shadow while my thoughts became a whirlwind of emotions. I couldn’t understand why my wolf was reacting to this person as if he were my mate. A wolf was supposed to have only one mate. And if you were lucky, after a rejection, you might get a second-chance mate. But that couldn’t be my case. Liam and I hadn’t officially rejected each other yet.
So, who is this person?
I got closer. And then, he turned. Our eyes met. The world around me faded into a blur. I stood there, dumbfounded. Because standing before me, staring at me with the same cold look Liam had given me, was Leo—the second of the triplets.
"Leo... you are—"
"Keep your voice down," he ordered, his voice cutting through the silence like a knife.
Suddenly, he grabbed my arms and began pulling me toward his room. My wolf purred in delight at his touch, and the intoxicating scent of aged whiskey and raindrops made me feel lightheaded, as if I were drowning in his presence. My breath came in sharp gasps, my mind reeling with confusion. Leo. Not just Liam... but his brother, too? This wasn’t possible. It shouldn’t be possible. But then I remembered our late Luna Olivia was mated to all three brothers.
"Let go," I muttered, but my voice lacked any real conviction. My wolf whined in protest at my own words, wanting to stay close to him.
Leo ignored me, his grip firm and almost painful as he shoved me into the center of the gym and kicked the door shut. The loud bang echoed through the empty space, sealing me in with him—trapping me in that intoxicating scent. He finally let go, stepping back, his dark eyes burning into mine with a look of pure loathing.
"I believe you know now."
I swallowed hard, pressing a hand to my chest as if I could calm my racing heart. "So you... knew?" I asked in a trembling voice. Just like Liam, he had known we were mates all this time.
His frown deepened, and he glared at me. "So what if I knew? You think I would ever accept being with you?" His voice was sharp, filled with absolute disgust. "Being mated to you was a curse. I kept it to myself all these years, waiting for this moment so I could finally reject you!"
My wolf whined at his words, feeling the sting of his hatred. I blinked, struggling to process his cruelty. "You kept it to yourself? You didn’t tell anyone?"
His jaw clenched until the bone looked like it might snap. "Don’t you dare tell this to anyone," he warned. "Especially my brothers. I refuse to be a laughingstock—to be mated to the daughter of traitors."
My eyes widened. Did that mean Liam and Leo had no idea they were both my mates? The two brothers had kept the secret from each other, ashamed to let anyone know the Moon Goddess had tied them to me.
"Let’s get straight to it, Scarlett." His voice was cold. "I’m rejecting you, right here and now."
My wolf whimpered inside me, her pain making tears gather in my eyes. Not wanting to seem weak, I looked away and wiped them with the back of my hand. I forced myself to swallow the lump in my throat, blinking away the stinging tears before they could fall. My wolf howled inside me, clawing at my chest, her pain mirroring mine.
"So... you really hate me that much?" My voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. I lifted my chin, meeting his cold stare. "You knew all this time? You watched me suffer? Let me suffer? And you did nothing? And now, after everything, you just want to throw me away like I’m nothing?"
Leo’s expression darkened, his jaw tightening as he took a slow, measured breath. "You are nothing to me, Scarlett."
His words tore through my heart. "You think I cared?" he continued, his voice void of any emotion. "That I wanted to be tied to you? You’re the daughter of traitors. A stain on my name. I kept this secret for years, hoping I would never have to face this moment. But now that you’re here, I won’t waste any more time."
He took a step closer, towering over me, his presence suffocating and heavy. "I’m rejecting you, Scarlett," he said with finality.
That was when I realized—just like his brother, no amount of begging would change his mind. And besides... why should I beg him to accept me? A mate who looks at me with nothing but pure hate will never love me the way a mate should.
Inhaling deeply, I spoke.
"I need time... Give me three months."
His brow furrowed in confusion. "For what?"
"For my wolf," I managed to say, clutching my stomach. "I just got her today. If she goes through a rejection now, I might lose her. I might die. So..."
"I don’t fucking care!" he cut me off angrily. "I’m rejecting you now and here!"
I realized Leo wasn’t as considerate as his brother. He was far more ruthless. So, I did what I had to do.
"You have to give me three months, Leo," I said firmly, my voice gaining strength. "If you don’t, then I’ll tell your brothers—everyone—that I’m your mate."
The words had barely left my lips before Leo moved closer. In the blink of an eye, he pinned me against the wall. My soul nearly left my body as his furious eyes met mine. His fingers tightened around my wrists, pinning them above my head. His body pressed against mine, his breath hot against my cheek. My heart pounded in my chest, fear and something else—something raw and electric—coursing through my veins.
"Are you threatening me, Scarlett?" he growled, his voice dripping with dangerous anger.
I swallowed hard but refused to look away. My wolf whimpered, torn between submission and defiance, but I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to stay strong.
"I’m stating a fact," I whispered, my voice steadier than I felt. "You don’t want your brothers to know, do you? Then give me three months. That’s all I ask."
His grip on my wrists tightened for a moment, his nails digging into my skin. I bit my lip to keep from wincing, refusing to show him any weakness.
"You think you can manipulate me?" he sneered, his dark eyes flashing with anger. "You’re nothing, Scarlett. Nothing but a burden I never wanted." 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺
His words hurt me, but I didn’t let the pain show on my face. "Then what’s three months to you?" I shot back. "If I mean nothing, then this shouldn’t matter. It’s just ninety days."
Leo’s jaw clenched, his nostrils flaring. He was seething—but he was also trapped. He knew I had him cornered.
A heavy silence settled between us. I could hear my own heartbeat, feel the heat of his body against mine. His scent—whiskey and rain—was suffocating, intoxicating, making my thoughts hazy. Finally, he exhaled sharply, his grip loosening.
"Three months," he bit out. "Not a day more."
Relief flooded me, but I didn’t let it show. I nodded, keeping my expression neutral. He released me with a forceful shove, stepping back as if touching me had burned him. His gaze was cold and unreadable. "Stay out of my way," he warned. "Or you’ll regret it."
Joke’s on him... his request was already granted because I am leaving.
I didn’t need him to ask me to leave. I reached for the door and dashed out of the room. The moment I shut the door, I let out a shaky breath, and a single tear fell on my cheek. My wolf whined in deep sorrow. This time, barefoot and trembling, I slowly walked my way back to my room.
As I trudged down the dimly lit hallway, my body felt numb, my mind whirling with the weight of Leo’s rejection following Liam’s. My wolf whimpered softly, curling into herself, wounded by the cruelty of their words. I wiped my tears away hastily, refusing to let them break me.
I turned the corner toward my room when—my breath hitched.
Another scent.
It was different from Liam’s warm spice and Leo’s intoxicating whiskey and rain. This one was softer, calmer, yet just as consuming. A delicate blend of fresh vanilla and blooming jasmine, with the faintest hint of mint. It was gentle yet undeniably alluring, wrapping around me like a whisper of warmth, soothing the ache in my chest.
My wolf, who had been curled up in sorrow, suddenly lifted her head. And then she howled with a power I didn’t know she had.
Mate.
