Mated to the Triplet Alphas-Chapter 41: The Alpha’s Fury

The diner suddenly went dead quiet.

Joshua groaned on the floor, blood trailing from his split lip. Callum stepped back, hands up, face pale. The only sound was the heavy thud of Liam’s boots as he stepped between them, towering over everyone like a storm about to break.

Joshua struggled to sit up, his face twisted in anger. He growled, wanting to hop back up to his feet and attack, but Liam shot him a look.

"Enough," he said, voice low but packed with more force than a shout. He looked at Callum, then at Joshua, eyes gleaming with restraint. “Stand down. Now.”

Joshua scrambled to his feet with a snarl, blood on his teeth. “He started it!”

Callum bristled. “He burned her, Liam. He dumped a tray of food on Hazel’s arm.”

Liam’s attention snapped to me then. His grip on my hand slightly tightened as he looked at the injury in alarm. The burn on my arm had already begun to fade, but it was still a little flushed and sore.

His eyes scanned the wound before they flicked up to mine. “Are you okay?”

I nodded. “I will be.”

His jaw ticked. This time, he addressed the room.

“Is Callum telling the truth?” His eyes darkened. “You burned her?”

Joshua took a step forward. “It was an accident—she slipped. The tray—”

“Liar!” Callum snapped.

“She bumped into me!” Joshua insisted.

“I saw it,” Callum said. “He knocked it off on purpose.”

Liam turned slowly to Joshua, expression unreadable.

That’s when Annie stepped in.

“Oh, come on, Liam,” she purred, brushing her hair behind her shoulder as she smiled sweetly. “Surely, you know how clumsy Hazel is. I’m sure it wasn’t—”

Liam’s eyes cut to her like a blade. “Don’t.”

She blinked. “Don’t what?”

“Don’t insult my intelligence,” Liam growled. “Keep your mouth shut before I punish you along with your new pet. I’ve not even settled the score with you yet. I know you’re the one who destroyed Hazel’s bedroom.”

Her smugness slipped. She took a step back. “W-what?”

“It was you,” he said, his voice like frost. “You and your little posse. Hazel didn’t say anything, but the residual scent from the room...” he let go of my wrist for a second to tower over Annie, “...told me everything.”

Annie had never looked so shocked.

“Besides,” Liam reached for my wrist, which I gladly gave. “Callum confirmed it days ago.”

Annie looked at him as she pursed her lips. Callum nodded reluctantly. “I told him the truth. I was there that night. I didn’t help, but I didn’t stop it either. I was a coward.”

Liam’s chest rose and fell with restrained fury. “You broke her things. You trashed her space. And now this?”

Joshua rolled his eyes. “Dude, it’s not that serious—” frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

That was all it took.

Liam’s fist flew so fast I barely saw it. A resounding crack echoed. Joshua dropped like a stone, knocked out cold, his body slumping against a chair.

Annie gasped and stumbled back, her eyes wide in disbelief.

Callum exhaled sharply, stunned. “Damn.” He looked between Liam and Joshua. “Didn’t know you had that in you. You’re usually the nicest among your brothers.”

Liam didn’t take his eyes off Annie as he spoke. “As long as people know not to cross the line.”

Annie opened her mouth, but Liam stepped forward, towering over her now.

He said, “You go near her again, any of you, and you’ll wish it was just a punch you got.”

One of Annie’s friends muttered something and helped Joshua up, slinging his arm over his shoulder. They backed away fast, heads low.

“Come on,” Annie hissed, her voice trembling now. “Let’s go.”

Liam watched until they were out the door. Then he turned to Callum.

“Thanks for stepping in.”

I smiled weakly. “Yes,” I half-whispered, half-spoke. Suddenly, it felt like I had no energy left in me. “Thank you.”

Callum moved, rubbing the back of his neck, looking away. “I... yeah... Didn’t feel right what they were doing. She didn’t deserve it. None of it.” His eyes flicked to me. “I’m sorry, Hazel. For not speaking up sooner.”

“It’s alright,” I said quietly.

Liam nodded. “You’re good to go, Callum. I’ve got it from here.”

Callum nodded before he quickly left the diner. Some of the other diners got up and left as well, their heads bowed either in submission or regret. They didn’t dare to meet our eyes directly, in fear that Liam would target them next.

Greta appeared beside us with a bag of ice and a tight expression. “Take her home. She’s done for the day. I’ll handle the mess.”

“I’ll pay for everything,” Liam said.

She snorted. “Good. Those plates were expensive.” Then she gave me a surprisingly kind look. “Get some rest, kid.”

+++

The drive home was quiet, the tension thick in the space between us.

Liam parked outside the house and helped me out, his hand never leaving mine. Inside, he settled me on the couch and pulled out a first-aid kit.

“It’s fine,” I said. “It’s really not that bad!”

As if to prove my point, I lifted my arm and moved it around. Werewolves healed fast, and I had never been more thankful for that than now. My skin was barely even red now.

“Still,” Liam said, frowning. “It’s better safe than sorry.” He pulled out a salve from the first-aid kit before I could argue further. As he uncapped it, he said, “I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner.”

“I would say you came at the right time,” I said with a laugh. “I’m sure you taught them a lesson they wouldn’t forget anytime soon.”

“Well, they should be thankful Levi and Lucas didn’t come with,” Liam said with a dramatic exhale. A smile lifted the corner of his lips.

I laughed humorlessly. If the sweet and gentle Liam was already riled up enough to throw a punch, who knew what Levi and Lucas would do? I shuddered just imagining it. Greta would have a lot more than just spilled food to clean off the diner floor if that were the case.

“Right!” I exclaimed. “Speaking of which, where are Lucas and Levi?”