Mated to the Triplet Alphas-Chapter 46: Morning Light

"The Dark Hour?" Liam’s brow furrowed. "What’s that?"

Levi looked equally confused, but something about the name tickled my memory. I’d heard it before, but where?

"Wait," I said slowly. "That’s what Luna Evelyn mentioned when she was talking about my parents."

Lucas nodded, his expression grim. "I overheard your conversation with Mother that day. I’ve been researching it ever since."

"How come you never mentioned it?" Levi asked, looking slightly betrayed.

"I wanted to gather more information first," Lucas explained. "It wasn’t easy. The Dark Hour operates in shadows, deliberately keeping a low profile."

I shifted to sit up straighter. "What exactly is it?"

"On the surface, it’s an illegal fighting ring where people bet on werewolf matches," Lucas said. "But it’s much more than that. It’s a nexus for all kinds of underground activities—trafficking, black market trading, information brokering."

A chill ran down my spine. "And my parents were involved with them?"

"I don’t know the extent," Lucas admitted. "But Mother seemed to imply there was some connection."

My stomach twisted into knots. The thought that my parents might have been mixed up with something so sinister made me feel sick. No wonder they had to drop me off at Luna Evelyn and Alpha Henry’s place. There was no way they could keep me safe with enemies like that.

I could still remember Luna Evelyn’s expression when she had let slip the name. Now I understand why.

"Hey," Liam squeezed my hand, sensing my distress. "This is just a theory. We don’t know anything for certain yet."

Levi moved closer, draping an arm around my shoulders. "And even if it is this Dark Hour thing, we’ll handle it. No one’s getting near you again."

I leaned into his touch, drawing comfort from his warmth. "How would they even know about me? Or care?"

"That’s what we need to find out," Lucas said. "But Hazel, I promise you—we will get to the bottom of this. And we will keep you safe."

I looked at each of them—Lucas with his intense, determined gaze; Liam with his steady, reassuring smile; Levi with his protective arm around me. For years, these same boys had been the source of my pain. Now they were my sanctuary.

"I need you to know something," I said, my voice stronger than I expected. "No matter what your mother says, I’m not leaving. Not now, not ever. If I disappear, it’s not by choice."

"We know," Liam said softly.

“Even if they leave clues that said I did,” I pressed, shuffling around. “I didn’t. I would never leave you guys.”

“We know, Hazel,” Lucas said, repeating his brother’s words. “We know you wouldn’t.”

"Do you promise you’ll always look for me?" The question slipped out before I could stop it, betraying my deepest fear.

"Always," Lucas said firmly. "There’s nowhere in this world you could go that we wouldn’t find you."

"You’re stuck with us, sweetheart," Levi added with a wink, though his eyes remained serious. "Forever."

I felt tears prick my eyes, overwhelmed by the certainty in their voices. The mate bond hummed between us, warm and reassuring.

Exhaustion suddenly hit me like a wave. The adrenaline crash from the attack combined with the emotional roller coaster of the day left me barely able to keep my eyes open.

"Sleep," Lucas murmured, noticing my drooping eyelids. "We’ll be right here."

I felt myself being gently arranged on the bed, covers pulled up to my chin. The last thing I remembered was the weight of three bodies settling around me.

---

Sunlight streamed through the curtains when I opened my eyes. For a moment, I was disoriented, surprised to find myself alone in the bed. The sheets beside me were still warm, suggesting the triplets hadn’t been gone long.

I sat up slowly, taking stock of how I felt. My head was clear, though my muscles ached from my desperate run through the forest. The memory of the masked man sent a shiver down my spine, but the fear felt more distant now in the bright light of morning.

The bathroom door clicked open, releasing a cloud of steam. Levi emerged with a towel wrapped low around his hips, his hair dripping wet and his bronze skin glistening with moisture. Under different circumstances, the sight would have made my mouth go dry.

"Morning, beautiful," he said, his face lighting up when he saw me awake. "How are you feeling?"

"Better," I said, offering a small smile. "Where are Lucas and Liam?"

Levi crossed to the dresser, pulling out clothes. "Lucas left at dawn to check the perimeter with the warriors. He wanted to see if there were any signs of other intruders."

"And Liam?"

"Meeting with the security team. He’s revamping the entire system." Levi pulled a shirt over his head, then sat on the edge of the bed. "Everyone’s taking this very seriously, Hazel."

"Is all of this really necessary?" I asked. "It was just one guy, and he’s... dead now."

Levi’s expression turned unusually serious. "One guy who managed to get onto heavily guarded Sullivan property without triggering any alarms. One guy who was willing to die rather than give information. This wasn’t some random attack, sunshine."

When he put it that way, my stomach twisted with renewed anxiety. I reached for his hand, needing the contact.

"I’m sorry," he said, softening. "I didn’t mean to scare you. But I need you to understand why we’re being so cautious."

"I understand," I said quietly.

He brushed a strand of hair from my face. "Good. Now, what do you want for breakfast? I’ll have the kitchen send something up. I’m thinking pancakes. Lots of them, with blueberries—"

A shrill ring cut through his words. I glanced over at my bedside table where my phone was vibrating furiously, the screen lit up with my alarm.

“Is someone calling?” Levi asked, raising an eyebrow.

I matched his frown.

“Not that I know of,” I said.

Reaching for the bedside table, I grabbed my phone before my eyes landed on the reminder that occupied the entire screen.

"Oh no," I groaned, the realization hitting me. "Shit, I completely forgot. I have work today."