Mated to the Triplet Alphas-Chapter 72: Between Evidence and Ecstasy

(Trigger Warning: This Chapter contains explicit content and is intended for mature readers.)

Third POV

Matilda leaned in closer, examining the mark in the photograph that Liam was pointing to. Her brows furrowed as she studied it intently.

“I’m not entirely sure,” she admitted, her voice hesitant. “But wait... I might have something that could help us understand.”

Matilda hurried to her filing cabinet and began rummaging through folders until she pulled out a thick manila envelope. She returned to the desk and carefully extracted several photographs.

“These are from medical conferences I attended years ago. Dr. Perez was often a keynote speaker before she disappeared from public life.”

Liam watched as Matilda spread the photos across her desk. They showed Esther Perez in various laboratories and clinics, always surrounded by admiring colleagues. The woman had a commanding presence, her dark hair streaked with gray, her eyes bright with intelligence.

“There,” Matilda pointed to one photo where Esther was leaning her head to the side, exposing her neck to the camera. “You can see the mark more clearly here.”

Liam leaned in, his heart suddenly pounding faster. The mark was unmistakable. ƒrēenovelkiss.com

“Oh shit,” Liam cursed under his breath.

“Yeah,” Matilda said, letting out a low whistle. “I knew I’d seen that mark before.”

The image might be slightly blurry, but there was no mistaking it. Esther Perez had the same brand as the man who tried to kidnap Hazel—the symbol of a wolf howling at the sun.

+++

Hazel’s POV

I dragged myself down the stairs after my shower, feeling like my limbs were made of lead. Ever since returning home from dinner, I’d felt unusually tired, my energy completely drained. All I wanted was a glass of cold water to combat the strange lethargy.

As I reached the kitchen, the front door opened. Levi walked in, his tall frame filling the doorway. When he saw me, his face broke into a heart-stopping smile.

“There’s my beautiful mate,” he said, crossing the room in a few long strides.

Before I could respond, his strong arms were around me, and his lips captured mine in a kiss that made my toes curl. He smelled like pine and midnight air, and despite my exhaustion, I melted against him.

“How was your day?” he asked when we finally broke apart, his green eyes bright with affection.

“Nothing special,” I said, reaching past him to grab a glass from the cabinet. “Just hung out with Callum and his new mate.”

“Oh? How are they doing?” Levi asked, shrugging off his jacket and draping it over a kitchen chair.

“They seem happy.” I filled my glass with water, deliberately leaving out how Cassandra gave me a weird feeling I couldn’t quite place. Something about her seemed off. But I didn’t want to rain on Callum’s parade based on just a feeling. “Callum’s completely smitten.”

Levi opened the refrigerator and surveyed its contents. “I’m starving. Want me to make you something too?”

I shook my head. “I’m not really hungry.”

“You sure? It’s no trouble,” he said, pulling out leftover pasta and some vegetables.

I nodded, smiling. “Maybe later.”

I settled on a stool at the kitchen island, content to watch Levi move around the kitchen. The way his muscles shifted beneath his t-shirt as he reached for pans and utensils was mesmerizing.

As he started heating oil in a pan, the smell suddenly hit me like a truck. My stomach lurched violently, and I slapped a hand over my mouth.

“Hazel?” Levi looked at me with concern, immediately turning off the stove.

I swallowed hard, fighting the wave of nausea. After a moment, it mercifully subsided.

“Sorry,” I said, breathing deeply through my mouth. “I don’t know what that was about.”

Levi was at my side instantly, his hand gently rubbing my back. “Are you feeling sick?”

“No, I’m fine now. It was just... the smell suddenly made me nauseous.”

His brows knitted together. “Maybe it’s anxiety, after everything that’s happened.”

That made sense. Between kidnapping attempts and pack drama, my nerves were probably shot.

“Yeah, probably,” I agreed. “Don’t worry about it. Go ahead and make your food.”

He looked uncertain but returned to the stove. This time, the smell didn’t affect me as strongly, though I still kept my distance.

When his food was ready, Levi joined me at the island. I watched as he dug into his meal with enthusiasm, admiring the strong line of his jaw as he chewed.

“You’re staring,” he said with a smirk, catching my eyes.

“Just appreciating the view,” I replied with a small smile.

A bit of sauce clung to the corner of his mouth. Without thinking, I leaned forward and, instead of wiping it away, licked it off slowly.

Levi froze, his fork halfway to his mouth. His eyes darkened instantly, pupils dilating as he stared at me.

“Hazel,” he growled, his voice dropping an octave. “You can’t do that and expect me to keep eating.”

Heat pooled in my lower belly at his tone. “Maybe I don’t want you to keep eating.”

In one fluid motion, Levi pushed his plate aside and pulled me onto his lap. I straddled him, feeling his hardness press against me through our clothes.

“What do you want me to do instead?” he asked, his hands gripping my hips.

I leaned in until my lips brushed his ear. “I want your mouth somewhere else.”

Levi’s growl vibrated through his chest as he stood, lifting me with him. In seconds, he had me sitting on the edge of the island, my legs dangling over the side.

“Here?” he asked, his voice rough with desire. “Where anyone could walk in?”

The thought sent a thrill through me. “Everyone’s out,” I reminded him, feeling breathless and bold. “And I don’t want to wait.”

His eyes flashed gold as he pulled my sweats and underwear down in one quick movement. I gasped as the cool air hit my heated center.

“Look at you,” he murmured, pushing my thighs apart. “Already so wet for me.”

I bit my lip as he knelt between my legs, his hot breath teasing my sensitive skin. When his tongue finally made contact, I had to grip the edge of the counter to keep from falling backward.

Levi was relentless, his mouth working magic as he alternated between long, slow licks and quick flicks against my most sensitive spot. My hips bucked involuntarily, but his strong hands held me firmly in place.

“Levi,” I gasped, one hand moving to tangle in his dark hair.

He hummed against me, the vibration sending shockwaves of pleasure through my body. I felt myself climbing higher, getting closer to the edge with each expert stroke of his tongue.

My breathing became erratic as the tension built. Levi seemed to sense my closeness, doubling his efforts until I was trembling beneath his touch.

“That’s it, baby,” he murmured against me. “Let go for me.”

Just as the first waves of my release began to crash over me, Levi slid two fingers inside me, curling them upward to hit that perfect spot. Stars exploded behind my eyelids as I cried out his name, my back arching off the counter.

Before I could fully come down from my high, Levi stood and captured my mouth in a searing kiss. I could taste myself on his lips as his hands worked to unbuckle his belt.

“I need to be inside you,” he growled against my mouth. “Right now.”