"You better start explaining."

Alexander’s angry voice pinned them down. He eluded a strong presence at that moment towards the brothers if not for their bloodline they would have collapsed unable to stand off with him.

Kaden was confused by the sudden turn of events. Why had they been summoned back so urgently? He was still processing when Kieran stopped abruptly in the doorway. The sound of their father’s voice faded into the background the moment Kaden saw Yuki on the bed.

She looked half dead. Her skin was deathly pale, her lips blue, and her breathing so faint he could barely hear her heartbeat. A healer worked urgently over her, pressing warming stones against her body and channelling energy into her fragile frame. That slow, weak rhythm twisted something inside Kaden in a way he did not understand. He glanced away sharply, unable to keep looking. His fists clenched at his sides without him realising.

"I am talking to you," Alexander barked.

Everyone in the room flinched at the raw power behind his voice. The brothers only tightened their fists, refusing to submit.

Kieran stood speechless. He tried to convince himself that the unease he had felt earlier had nothing to do with this girl. She was practically a stranger with no bond tying them together. It must have been their father returning early. Nothing more. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

While Kieran remained lost for words, Kaden spoke up. As the youngest, he had always been the most defiant. "What do you expect us to say? That we should babysit your mistress’s daughter?" His voice dripped with contempt. "She has nothing to do with us. Don’t tell me you expect Kieran to attend to her personally. If she dies from a simple cold, it is probably fate."

The brutal words landed heavily. Kaden kept his gaze fixed on Alexander because looking at Yuki stirred a twisted, foreign feeling he refused to acknowledge. He completely missed how Kieran stiffened at the mention of her dying before quickly masking it.

The room fell into heavy silence as Alexander’s alpha pressure surged through the air. The brothers did not back down. Instead, a strong wave of irritation rose in them, an emotion they did not want to associate with Yuki.

"What did you just say?" Alexander growled. "I leave her in your custody and return to find her half dead."

Aevia held Yuki’s hand tighter, her voice trembling. "Please, not here. Let the healer handle this. Take it elsewhere." she begged

Alexander reined in his temper with visible effort. "My study. Now." He had no intention of letting them off easily.

The brothers followed without argument. It felt strange seeing their father act so protectively toward a woman who was not their mother. The sight left a bitter taste in their throats.

Alexander’s study smelled of cedarwood, old paper, and faint traces of whiskey. Dark mahogany shelves stretched across the walls, filled with ancient pack records and leather-bound volumes. A large oak desk sat near the floor-to-ceiling windows, its polished surface spotless in a way that felt intimidating rather than neat. Wolf artefacts and ceremonial blades decorated the space. Even the room itself carried Alexander’s presence.

Alexander slammed the door behind them and turned, his sharp eyes pinning them in place. He was an imposing figure, exuding the presence of a true alpha. Most werewolves could not meet his gaze, yet these two brats stared back with open disgust.

"Are you going to pretend you have no idea what happened?" Alexander demanded.

Kaden remained silent for a moment before sneering. "You really care about her. You did not care this much when Mother was rejected and cast aside."

Alexander froze. He did not want to think about his ex-wife. "This is not about your mother. Stop using her as an excuse. This is about your incompetence." he evaded the accusation.

Kieran let out a bitter laugh, anger flashing in his eyes. "Sorry to disappoint you. We did not welcome your mistress’s sister with open arms. Before you point fingers, explain exactly how incompetent we were." he said mockingly. He couldn’t believe he felt sorry for Yuki’s condition.

She was related to the Vixen who ruined his family.

Alexander’s jaw tightened. He spat out the words slowly "We were gone for barely two days. If we had not rushed back, there would have been a cold body here because you cannot keep your girlfriend on a leash."

The brothers froze.. "Just because Eloise is the future Luna does not mean she can do whatever she wants," Alexander continued. "She was behind this."

The revelation hung heavily in the air. It did not sound like Eloise, yet Alexander had no reason to lie against Eloise knowing the leverage she held against them due to the curse.

"There must be a misunderstanding," Kaden muttered, even though he knew it was not.

Kieran’s mind connected the dots instantly. The sudden fever after accidentally sleeping in the bath. The way she had begged them to stay. The convenient timing. Suddenly the illness looked far less accidental. A chill ran down his spine.

"There is no misunderstanding," Alexander said coldly. "All I need is for you to keep her in line. Having a Luna who kills people on a whim will not look good for any of you."

He was furious, but despite his anger, he could not act directly against Eloise. There was still a chance she was the fated mate for the triplets, which made her untouchable because of the curse.

********

Yuki felt as though she was sinking into darkness until a gentle warmth wrapped around her. She slowly opened her eyes and recognised her familiar room. Her body felt incredibly sore. She had not died.

She shifted slightly and heard movement beside her. Her gaze moved to Aevia, who was carefully adjusting the blanket around her.

"A..." Yuki tried to call out, but her throat was so raw that only a weak wheeze escaped. Still, it caught Aevia’s attention.

"Yuki!" Aevia gasped and quickly poured warm water from a flask into a glass. "Please, have some water."

Yuki accepted the glass with trembling hands and took a small sip. The warmth soothed her raw throat almost instantly.

She cleared her throat painfully. The cold waa still marked in her memory. She never wanted to experience something like that again.

Aevia sat down beside her, taking her hand gently. "I am glad I came back on time. I do not want to imagine what could have happened." she sighed and Yuki understood what had happened.

Aevia had been the one who saved her. Yuki offered a weak smile. "Sorry. I caused trouble again." she said softly feeling guilty.

Aevia sighed and squeezed her hand. "It is fine. Besides, I had already planned to return later today."

Yuki’s eyes flickered with confusion. "Why?" she blurted out.

Aevia glanced away, her expression looked troubled. "I am facing opposition from the pack elders. They even want to petition me to the shifter council. It is a complicated pack business. You should not worry about it." she said with a heavy voice.

Yuki’s eyes narrowed. She knew that look. "What is it?" she asked.

Aevia sighed deeply. "I need the support of Alexander’s top officials."

Yuki’s confusion deepened. "Can he not just command them? They are his subordinates." she didn’t understand the politics.

Aevia shook her head. "A pack is not built on force alone but on respect. I need their genuine support, especially the Beta."

Yuki’s stomach twisted. She did not like where this was heading. "What are you trying to say?" her voice trembled with fear.

Aevia avoided her gaze, guilt clear on her face. "I know this is hard, but you should not get on Eloise’s bad side."

Yuki stared at her sister. For a moment, the cold room no longer felt like the cruellest thing that had happened to her today.

****** Bonus character description *******

2 KILLIAN RAVENCOURT: Age 24 years old

Male lead, He is the eldest of the Ravencourt triplets and the natural leader among them. As the future Alpha of one of the strongest werewolf packs, Killian is widely respected and feared for his commanding presence and strategic mind. He is the first triplet to build a genuine emotional connection with her despite their complicated history.

PERSONALITY: Killian is dominant, mature, and highly responsible. He carries the weight of leadership naturally and possesses a calm authority that makes others submit without question. He is protective, decisive, and intensely possessive once his feelings are engaged.

FEATURES: He is the triplet the bares the most resemblance to his mother. Killian has a powerful, well-built masculine frame honed by years of rigorous training. He stands at 6’6" with broad shoulders and defined muscles. He has striking golden blonde hair, usually kept slightly longer and swept back, and piercing blue eyes that seem to see through people. His face is sharp and aristocratic with high cheekbones and a strong jawline, giving him an intimidating yet undeniably attractive appearance.