The Triplet Alphas' Secret Mate-Chapter 58: Stolen

Scarlett POV

​Leon’s head snapped up, his eyes flashing an alerting, glowing gold. Even though we were both completely exposed, his first instinct was to shield me with his body. He glared into the shadows of the trees, his finger still inside me, his voice dropping into an authoritative, booming command.

​"Who is there?" he roared, the Alpha power in his voice making the leaves tremble. "I command you to come out!"

​Silence followed, heavy and suffocating. No one emerged, but the feeling of being watched didn’t fade. The intimacy was gone, replaced by a cold, sharp dread.

​I pushed against his chest, reaching down to pull his hand away. I scrambled to my feet, my skin prickling from the cold air and the shame of being caught. I didn’t care about the red wolf or the bond right now; I just felt like prey again.

​"Leon, stop," I whispered, looking around frantically for my clothes. "We have to go."

​"Wait here," Leon commanded, his voice tight. He stepped in front of me, his naked body a wall of tense muscle as he scanned the area. "Stay behind me, Scarlett. I’ll get your clothes."

​"No," I whispered, my skin crawling with the sensation of invisible eyes. I couldn’t just stand there, exposed and helpless, while he played protector. I pushed past him, my bare feet stumbling over damp leaves and sharp twigs. "I’m not staying anywhere. I’m getting my things and we’re leaving."

​I moved toward the clearing where we had first faced off. I knew exactly where I had dropped my clothes and my lace panties. I remembered the spot by the old, gnarled oak where I had let my bra fall.

​Leon growled, a low warning meant to keep me back, but I ignored him. I reached the spot, but I stopped dead.

​My breath hitched in my throat.

​The patch of grass was empty. The moss was flattened where I had stood, but my clothes—my shirt, my pants, even my shoes—were gone.

​"They’re not here," I breathed, my voice trembling with a new kind of terror. "Leon, they’re gone."

​I looked around frantically, my gaze searching the nearby bushes. Maybe a gust of wind? No, the air was still. Maybe a scavenger? Unlikely.

​"Wear my shirt," Leon groaned, his voice rough with frustration. He reached for his discarded shirt on the forest floor and held it out to me.

​"No," I whispered, pulling my arms tighter across my chest. The idea of wearing his scent, of being marked by his clothes after what we just did, felt like a decision I wasn’t ready to make. I was already vulnerable enough; I didn’t want his brand on me too.

​He sighed, a heavy, impatient sound that vibrated in the quiet woods. He stared at the empty patch of grass where my clothes should have been, his jaw working as he scanned the treeline one last time. Finally, he let out a breath and looked at me. "Someone is bringing clothes for you."

​I blinked, the fear in my chest sharpening into suspicion. "Who? Who are you calling, Leon? We’re not supposed to be seen together."

​"My personal guard," he said simply. He didn’t look at me, his eyes fixed on the path leading back toward the packhouse. "He’s on his way."

​I let out a bitter, painful laugh. "Your personal guard? Aren’t you worried? Aren’t you afraid he’ll find his future Alpha standing naked in the woods with the traitor’s daughter?" I mocked, "What will the pack say when they find out you’ve been rolling in the leaves with a servant?"

​Leon ignored me. He didn’t flinch, didn’t argue, and didn’t even look angry. He just stood there like a wall of bronze, his silence more infuriating than any shout. He was back to being the disciplined Alpha-to-be, his emotions locked behind a mask of stone.

​I fell quiet, the cold morning air biting into my skin. My mind was spinning, retracing the last few minutes. Someone had been close enough to hear us, to see us, and to steal my things without either of us noticing. Leon was a powerful Alpha—his senses should have picked them up. The fact that he hadn’t meant the person was skilled in hiding their scent.

​Leon remained motionless, his head tilted slightly as if listening to something I couldn’t hear.

​"He’s here," Leon muttered.

​The sound of footsteps broke the silence. Someone was approaching us.

​"Stay here," Leon muttered, his voice dropping into that low, protective frequency that made my skin prickle. "I’ll get the clothes."

​He stepped away, his bare feet silent against the forest floor. He returned almost instantly, carrying a neatly folded bundle of clothes. When he handed it to me, my stomach dropped. It was a maid’s uniform—the same stiff, grey fabric I had spent the last two years wearing. The irony wasn’t lost on me. One moment I was a legendary red wolf being worshipped by a future Alpha, and the next, I was being handed my chains again.

​I frowned, the resentment bubbling in my chest, but I didn’t have a choice. I was naked and cold. I pulled the dress on, the fabric feeling rough and abrasive against skin that was still humming from his touch. I quickly gathered my hair into a tight ponytail, trying to wipe the evidence of the forest from my face.

​I turned to leave without a word, but Leon’s hand shot out, his fingers circling my wrist.

​"Can we see each other later tonight?" he asked, his eyes searching mine with an intensity that made it difficult to breathe. "I have something to say. Something important."

​I didn’t respond. I didn’t even look at him. I just jerked my hand away and walked into the trees, leaving him standing there in the clearing.

​I made it back to the packhouse, which was practically vibrating with chaotic energy. Banners were being hung, silver platters were being polished, and the scent of roasting meat filled the halls. To anyone else, it was a celebration. To me, it felt like a countdown. I managed to slip through the mansion, keeping my head down until I reached my room.

​I bathed quickly, scrubbing the scent of pine, sweat, and Leon from my skin. My wolf, Zoe, was ridiculously silent—pouting in the back of my mind, furious that we had been interrupted just when things were getting good. She didn’t care about the trauma or the secrets; she just wanted her mate.

​Once I was dressed in clean clothes, I headed downstairs. My stomach was growling, a reminder that I hadn’t eaten since yesterday. As I entered the kitchen, the usual wall of heat and noise hit me. The staff were huddled near the large prep tables, their heads bent together as they scrubbed pots and chopped vegetables.

​They were gossiping, their voices hushed but excited.

​"I heard they will announce the engagement right after the coronation," one of the older omegas whispered, leaning in close. "A double celebration to solidify the alliance."

​My brow furrowed, and I felt a cold knot form in my stomach.

​"Whose engagement?" I asked, my voice coming out raspy.

​The kitchen went silent for a second as they realized I was standing there. Then, a younger girl looked at me with wide, pitying eyes.

​"The triplets, Scarlett," she said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "The Alphas have finalized the contracts. They aren’t just becoming Alphas today—they’re getting their Lunas, too. They’re announcing the matches for all three of them tonight."