The Triplet Alphas' Secret Mate-Chapter 61: Why Not You

The triplets turned at the same time, their breaths catching as the back doors of the hall swung open. For a moment, everything seemed to slow down.

​A woman walked in, and she looked nothing like the broken girl they once knew.

​Scarlett walked in with her head held high, her hand resting confidently on Alpha Ethan’s arm. She wore a deep red fitted dress that hugged her body perfectly. Her chocolate brown hair, usually tied in a messy knot, was now loose, falling in soft waves over her shoulders.

​She was, simply, the most beautiful woman in the room.

​Scarlett did not look at them. She did not even glance at the dais where they stood in their golden robes. Calm and steady, she let Ethan lead her to the front row and sat down directly in their line of sight.

​Inside the brothers, their wolves went wild.

​Seeing her on another man’s arm, looking like royalty while they stood trapped in their fathers’ plans, made their blood boil. A deep, possessive growl echoed in their minds. Mine. Mine. Mine. They had to fight to keep the sound from escaping their throats.

​The ceremony began, but the triplets were barely aware of it.

​The High Seer spoke about legacy and strength, but Leon’s eyes stayed on the curve of Scarlett’s neck. The pack elders brought out the ceremonial oils, but Liam could only focus on Scarlett’s hand brushing against Ethan’s knee. Even Leo, who was usually calm, found himself staring at her lips.

​"The time has come," Alpha Levi’s voice rang out, pulling them back. "By the power of the Great Wolf, we name Leon, Liam, and Leo as the Alphas of this territory!"

​The crowd exploded into cheers. Loud howls and applause filled the hall, shaking the walls. The triplets stood tall as heavy silver crowns were placed on their heads.

​They were finally Alphas.

​But they felt nothing.

​Their joy was missing something. It felt empty... incomplete.

​"And now," Alpha Levi continued, his voice firm as he looked at the Silver Lake sisters, "to secure our future and strengthen our bloodline, we proudly announce the formal engagement of our new Alphas."

​The guests cheered even louder. The excitement in the room grew wild. Camila, Bianca, and Talia stepped forward, their faces glowing with pride as they looked at the brothers.

​In the front row, Scarlett felt like her heart was being torn apart.

​She could feel the triplets’ heavy, desperate stares on her, but she refused to look at them. She stayed still, her face completely emotionless.

​The engagement was sealed, and the ceremony slowly turned into a celebration.

​Music filled the hall. Laughter and cheers rose as servants moved around with trays of food and wine. The atmosphere shifted from formal to lively in seconds.

​Each of the Silver Lake sisters stepped forward and stood beside the brothers, smiling proudly as if they had already claimed their place.

​But the brothers were not paying attention to them.

​Their eyes kept drifting back to Scarlett.

​Again and again.

​They could not stop looking at her.

​Camila was the first to notice. Her smile stiffened as she followed Leon’s gaze. Bianca’s brows pulled together, and Talia’s lips pressed into a thin line. One by one, they realized the same thing.

​The brothers were not looking at them.

​They were looking at another woman.

​"Who is she?" Bianca muttered under her breath, her eyes narrowing as she studied Scarlett.

​"I don’t know," Talia replied quietly, but there was clear annoyance in her voice.

​Camila said nothing, but her gaze hardened as she watched Scarlett closely.

​Across the hall, Ethan leaned slightly toward Scarlett.

​"Do you want to get out of here?" he asked softly, already sensing her discomfort.

​Scarlett didn’t hesitate.

​"Yes," she replied.

​Without another word, Ethan stood and offered his hand. Scarlett took it and, together, they rose from their seats.

​The moment they started walking toward the exit, all three brothers felt it.

​A sharp pull.

​Like something inside them was being dragged away.

​Their attention snapped fully to her now, their bodies going tense.

​They watched as Ethan led Scarlett toward the doors, and they couldn’t do anything about it.

​Ethan led Scarlett out through the tall glass doors and into the quiet garden. The cool night air hit her skin, but it couldn’t stop the burning in her chest. Behind them, the noise of the celebration became muffled.

​He stopped near a stone fountain, the sound of trickling water the only thing filling the silence. Scarlett stood there, her back to him, staring into the dark trees.

​"How are you feeling?" Ethan asked softly.

​Scarlett let out a dry laugh that was full of pain. She turned to face him, her eyes bright with unshed tears. "How am I feeling? I just watched my mates get engaged to other women in front of the entire world. So yeah, I feel great. I feel wonderful, Ethan."

​A single stream of tears finally escaped, rolling down her cheek. Ethan felt a sharp pang of guilt and anger. His cousins were fools. They were standing in that hall with silver crowns on their heads, but they had just thrown away the rarest treasure in the world. To him, Scarlett was perfection.

​He stepped closer, reaching out to turn her toward him. "They don’t deserve your tears, Scarlett," he said, his voice dropping to a low, steady hum. "One day, you will meet someone better. Someone who isn’t your fated mate, but someone who will choose you. Someone who will love you every single day without needing a bond to tell him to."

​Scarlett swallowed hard, her heart racing. She looked up at him, her gaze searching his green eyes. "And that someone... it isn’t you, right?"

​Ethan’s breath hitched. He wished more than anything he could say yes. He wished he could promise her the world right then and there, but things were complicated. He was an Alpha with his own secrets.

​"I promised to protect you, Scarlett," he whispered, his thumb brushing the tear from her cheek. His touch was warm, lingering a second too long to be just friendly.

​Scarlett stepped into his space, her emotions raw and messy. She was tired of being the "traitor’s daughter," tired of being the "secret mate," and tired of being strong. She reached up, her fingers trembling as she touched the lapel of his black suit.

​"Then protect me from this," she breathed, her voice cracking. "Make me forget for just one minute."

​Ethan knew he should pull away. He knew this was wrong, not just because she was mated to his cousins, but because of his own secrets, but he couldn’t.

​"I told myself I wouldn’t do this again," Ethan murmured, his gaze dropping to her lips. "I told myself I’d stay away."

​"Just this once," Scarlett whispered.

​Ethan didn’t need another word. He leaned down, his hand sliding into her loose hair to cup the back of her head, and pressed his lips to hers. This kiss wasn’t like the first one. This was deep, hungry, and full of the frustration he had been hiding all night.

​For Scarlett, the world finally went quiet. The pain of the bond faded into the background as Ethan pulled her closer, his arms wrapping around her waist as if he were trying to shield her from the rest of the world. In his arms, she wasn’t a rejected mate. She was just a woman being wanted.