"What happened? Why does it smell like..." She couldn’t finish the sentence.

Eloise had burst into the moonlit clearing with a small group trailing closely behind her. Kaden walked at her side while her parents, Alexander, Aevia, and a few servants followed with hurried steps.

The heavy, sweet scent of sex and lingering arousal hung thick in the cool night air. Moonlight filtered through the trees, illuminating Yuki’s disheveled form. She sat curled up on the grass, wrapped only in Killian’s large jacket. Her torn dress peeked out beneath it and her flushed skin glistened with sweat.

"It’s not what you think." Killian replied calmly.

Eloise stopped short. Her eyes widened in what appeared to be genuine shock. She brought a hand to her mouth and rushed forward a few steps before pausing. " Oh goddess. Yuki. Are you alright?" She turned to the group with wide, worried eyes. "How could something like this happen at my party? We need to find whoever is responsible. This is terrible."

Her tone sounded sincere at first. The small group shifted uneasily. Aevia paled dramatically at the sight of her sister’s state. She tried to rush forward but Alexander’s firm hand on her arm held her back. Yuki remained under the strong influence of the charm. Her body trembled continuously as fresh waves of heat pulsed through her veins.

Killian stood tall and composed. His gaze fell on Eloise. "I should be asking you the same question, Eloise. She was drugged at your party." His eyes shifted sharply to Maddox, the Beta. "What kind of security do you have? A guest was almost assaulted on your property." He sneered slightly. "If I had not stopped it in time, who knows what might have happened."

His words silenced. Yuki was still deeply under the influence oblivious to the situation. Her head felt foggy.

Eloise started to tremble. She clasped her hands tightly. "What are you trying to say?" Her eyes turned red as she snapped. "All we know is she might have done this deliberately to throw herself at you."

Yuki’s head remained dazed. She could not hear Eloise clearly but she sensed the heavy tension in the atmosphere. Groggily she glanced up. Tears filled her eyes. "I don’t feel good," she whispered weakly.

The fragile tone tugged sharply at Aevia’s heartstrings. Kaden’s fists clenched hard at his sides. He tried to piece everything together. This was quickly becoming a major scandal. Yet what bothered him most was the thick, sweet scent of Yuki’s arousal still heavy in the air. It made his stomach twist uncomfortably. Yuki continued trembling, curled tightly into herself.

Eloise did not stop. "Killian, answer me. What happened here?" She asked once again, voice softer but insistent. "Why did you have to be the one to save her? She is your father’s mistress’s daughter." She said the last part in a careful whisper.

Aevia’s eyes went ice cold. It felt as if everyone held their breath. Killian froze for a moment. He had never met Yuki before and naturally did not care much about his father’s love life, but he had heard the rumors. While he was abroad handling the company expansion, his father had rejected and divorced their mother. His gaze moved across the crowd and landed on the woman standing beside Alexander. He glanced back at Yuki. The resemblance was unmistakable.

Something twisted uncomfortably in his chest but his expression stayed calm. Eloise was skilled at stirring public opinion. The moment she linked Yuki to Aevia, opinions began to ripple. Most people present were former Luna Estelle’s loyalists, making them extremely biased.

"She really went all that way to throw herself at him," someone gasped. Murmurs started spreading through the small crowd. Eloise’s birthday was turning truly dramatic, they thought.

"Her goal was not just to sabotage the celebration but to scheme her way into Eloise’s place." Another added

Hearing the growing whispers, Eloise grew smug. She looked at Killian with teary eyes. "You heard them. Not only did she destroy the presents you got for me but she did this." Her chest rose and fell quickly. "She deliberately drugged herself to play the victim. She wanted to score someone rich and looking vulnerable would help her cause."

Killian’s eyes narrowed. He remembered the genuine terror on Yuki’s face when he found her. It could not have been a plot.

Eloise noticed the hesitation in his gaze and doubled down. "Don’t tell me you don’t trust me." She glanced at Kaden and Kieran. "You all saw the evidence. If that was not true, why did she enter the maze alone?"

Kieran remained silent. Kaden stepped forward and whispered to Eloise, "Let us not blow this out of proportion." This matter affected the Ravencourt reputation. But Eloise broke free, enraged.

"Why should I stay silent?" She screamed. "Someone like her shouldn’t be near the Ravencourt family."

Aevia’s hand trembled in Alexander’s hold. She wanted to speak badly but knew her reputation made it useless. In the end she forced the words out. "It is not like that. Where would she even get the charm?" Her eyes moved to Yuki who was still curled up under the influence. She could smell the continuous arousal. It was only a matter of time before Yuki lost control again.

As soon as Aevia spoke, a cold laugh rang from the back. Everyone’s gaze fell on Estelle. She was laughing but her eyes remained dead. "Why don’t you tell us, Aevia? After all, you have enough capability to tear apart fated mates." She snickered.

Alexander retorted immediately. "That is enough, Estelle." He snapped, his jaw tight with annoyance.

Something flickered in Estelle’s eyes and she chuckled. "Oh really, Alex? Protecting your mistress?"

Aevia felt completely humiliated for herself and for Yuki. Worse, Yuki was not coherent enough to understand the situation unfolding around her.

"That is enough, Estelle. This is not the place." Alexander hissed. Estelle’s smile turned smug. She was about to retort when Killian’s voice cut through firmly.

"Disregarding if this was an accident or premeditated, we can investigate later. First we need to handle her." He looked at Kieran. "Please. I don’t think she is under a random drug. She needs medical help. Handle this."

Killian instructed calmly. Eloise spoke up quickly. "Why does Kieran have to personally attend to her?" She was clearly uncomfortable with the idea.

Killian remained composed. "He is skilled and this is an emergency. Yuki is technically part of the Ravencourt household so this is our problem." His explanation left everyone speechless. Killian was the leader of the triplets and the best at handling pressure.

His gaze fell on the small crowd. "Sorry for the drama. We would handle this." That was the cue for them to leave. Kieran did not wait for further words. He immediately gathered Yuki in his arms. She was trembling and clung to him like a lifeline. He walked out immediately as the crowd parted for them.

Kieran could tell the symptoms were spiking up again. His jaw clenched tightly. It was hard to ignore the thick scent of her arousal as he marched away. Memories of their drunk kiss flooded back. Protective rage and guilt twisted inside him. If Killian had arrived even a minute later... The thought terrified him. Aevia followed after, trying to hold back her tears.

Killian gave the crowd one last look and turned to leave when Eloise immediately caught his sleeve. "Are you leaving but you haven’t wished me a happy birthday?" She said. The crowd was already slowly clearing. Alexander and Estelle’s eyes locked before they parted like enemies giving a final glance.

Killian paused. He had not even reached the party when he sensed Yuki. He had travelled for hours returning from his trip just to attend but never made it inside. He felt genuinely exhausted. A subtle irritation toward Eloise had grown ever since she pointed her finger at Yuki.

A strange protective urge took over him. "Sorry but I am exhausted. Maybe later but happy birthday Eloise. Wish you the best." He said, ready to leave.

"Wait. You are really going to leave?" Killian paused, massaging the space between his brows.

"Eloise, I had a thirteen hour flight and Kaden is here. You are the future Luna and do not need to get all our attention at once." He snapped before realizing it. Eloise flinched, stunned by his tone.

"Killian..." she whispered. Kaden was even stunned. He gave Killian a sharp look. Killian had never raised his voice at her. It was like he had instantly changed.

Although Killian was not as close to Eloise as Kaden, he had always been one of the most protective of the triplets. He sighed. "Sorry. I did not mean it but I am truly exhausted." He said then walked away.

Eloise started crying but held back the sob pitifully. Kaden’s heart twisted. Out of habit he pulled her into a hug. "Do not think of it. He is just stressed."

"Does Killian not like me anymore? My party was ruined because of that vixen." She said, oblivious to how Kaden’s jaw tightened uncomfortably. The thick scent of Yuki’s arousal still affected him strongly.

"Sorry. Killian did not mean it. You know how much we care for you." He said softly. Eloise nodded, burying her face deeper to hide the scowl on her face while remaining completely unaware of how tense and uncomfortable Kaden felt.