Mated to the Triplet Alphas-Chapter 75: Connections

Before I could process what was happening, Lucas scooped me up and bundled me in his arms. The shirt I wore barely covered anything, and I tucked myself against his chest as he carried me swiftly down the hallway toward my bedroom.

Levi followed closely behind, gathering our scattered clothing as we made our hasty retreat. My heart hammered against my ribs as we slipped into my bedroom, Lucas kicking the door shut behind us.

For a moment, we all froze, listening for footsteps on the stairs. When none came, the tension broke, and we dissolved into nervous laughter.

“That was close,” Levi whispered, dropping our clothes in a pile by the bed. “Too close.”

“Your face,” Liam snickered, pointing at me. “You looked absolutely terrified.”

I swatted at him playfully. “Because I was! Can you imagine if Jessie had caught us all naked in the hallway?”

Lucas set me down on the bed, his eyes dancing with amusement. “Maybe she would get the hint after that?”

“Pretty sure she’d be scarred for life,” Levi added, flopping down beside me.

Our laughter gradually subsided, and I pulled the covers up over my still-naked body. The adrenaline from our near-miss was fading, leaving me suddenly exhausted. Lucas noticed my drooping eyelids and sat beside me, his hand stroking my hair.

“Tired, little mate?” he asked softly.

I nodded, leaning into his touch. “It’s been an... eventful day.”

Liam settled on my other side, his expression growing serious. “Before you rest, there’s something I wanted to tell you. I found some information today that might interest you.”

My fatigue instantly vanished. “About what?”

“Your parents,” he said simply.

I sat up straighter, clutching the blanket to my chest. “What about them?”

Liam exchanged glances with his brothers before continuing. “I was visiting Matilda’s office today when I found a book that was supposedly written by Esther Perez, a friend of your mother’s.”

“And?” I urged when he paused.

“There were some photos of her from her book and some other conventions,” Liam said. He leaned forward, his voice dropping. “She has the same symbol on her arm as the kidnapper who attacked you.”

My blood ran cold.

Lucas frowned. “The wolf howling at the sun?”

Levi’s expression turned grim as well.

“What does it mean?” I whispered.

Lucas shrugged. “We don’t know. I’ve never seen that symbol before in any pack documentation.”

“Neither have I,” Liam added. “And I’ve been through most of the archives since becoming Alpha.”

I wrapped my arms around myself, suddenly feeling vulnerable. “Do you think she’s connected to whoever tried to take me?”

“It’s possible,” Lucas said carefully. “But we don’t want to jump to conclusions. She might just be part of the same... whatever this is. Doesn’t mean she was directly involved.”

Levi cleared his throat. “There’s more. The border patrols reported increased rogue activity lately. Far more than usual.”

“Around our territory?” I asked.

He nodded. “Specifically around our borders. They’re not attacking, just... watching. Whenever our warriors approached them, they would back off immediately.”

A shiver ran down my spine. “You think it’s all connected? Esther, the symbol, the rogues, the attack on me?”

“It seems too coincidental not to be,” Lucas confirmed. “But don’t worry.” He took my hand, squeezing it gently. “We’re not going to let anything happen to you. We’re increasing patrols, and one of us will always be near you.”

“We’ll figure this out,” Liam promised, his thumb brushing across my cheek. “But for now, you need to rest.”

Despite the troubling news, exhaustion was quickly overtaking me again. I nestled back against the pillows, and the triplets arranged themselves around me protectively. Levi spooned me from behind while Lucas lay facing me, and Liam draped his arm over us all.

“Sleep, mate,” Lucas murmured. “You’re safe with us.” freewёbnoνel.com

I drifted off surrounded by their warmth, their heartbeats a comforting rhythm against the uneasy thoughts swirling in my mind.

+++

I returned to Greta’s diner the next day, trying to focus on work despite the lingering questions about Esther and the mysterious symbol. The morning rush had come and gone, leaving the place relatively quiet for the afternoon lull.

I was wiping down the counter when the bell above the door jingled. Looking up, I nearly dropped my cloth at the sight of Cassandra entering the diner. She was dressed strangely, covered from head to toe despite the mild weather, with large sunglasses and an oversized sun hat that shadowed her face.

Once inside, she removed the accessories, revealing her ethereal features. Her platinum blonde hair gleamed under the diner lights as she spotted me and waved enthusiastically.

“Hazel! Hi!” she called, making her way toward the counter.

“Cassandra,” I greeted, genuinely surprised. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

She smiled, sliding onto one of the counter stools. “I was in the area and thought I’d stop by. Callum mentioned you work here.”

I nodded toward one of the empty booths by the windows. “Would you prefer to sit over there? More comfortable than these stools.”

Cassandra glanced at the booths, then quickly shook her head. “No, this is perfect. I don’t need so much space when I’m alone. Plus, I can chat with you this way.”

“Fair enough,” I said, grabbing a menu and placing it before her. “What can I get you?”

She barely glanced at it. “Just a strawberry milkshake, please.”

I nodded and set about preparing her order. As I worked, I felt her watching me intently.

“So how are things with Callum?” I asked, breaking the slightly uncomfortable silence.

Her face lit up. “Wonderful! He’s... everything I could have hoped for in a mate.”

Something about her enthusiasm seemed forced, but I pushed the thought aside. Who was I to judge someone else’s relationship?

“That’s great,” I said, placing her completed milkshake in front of her.

She took a small sip. “Mm, delicious. You know, I hope you don’t mind, but I am really curious about how you grew up with the Sullivan triplets. Callum said you worked for them?” Her voice turned a little softer. “Was that why you said that you had a complicated history with them before finding out they are your mates?”

The sudden change in topic caught me off guard. “Well, yes. My parents died when I was young. The Sullivans took me in after that.”

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that,” she said, offering a comforting smile. “My family is pretty small too.”

I nodded politely as I began cleaning glasses that had been left to dry.

“It must have been hard growing up without your parents,” Cassandra continued, her ice-blue eyes tracking my movements. “Did you ever wonder about them? Who they were, what happened?”

I hesitated, uncomfortable with how personal the conversation had become. “Sometimes.”

“I can’t imagine not knowing my family history,” she mused, tracing a finger around the rim of her glass. “Family is so important, don’t you think? The connections, the bloodlines...”

Her intensity was starting to unnerve me. I focused on polishing the milkshake glasses, trying to appear casual.

“I suppose so,” I replied cautiously.

Cassandra leaned forward slightly, her voice dropping. “Do you have any siblings, Hazel?”