Bound to the Triplet Alphas-Chapter 20: Buried Secrets

ARIA POV

The red circle of light burst into flames as I lunged at Alpha Darius, my newfound wolf strength propelling me forward. But instead of hitting him, I crashed through empty space.

An illusion. All of it.

I gasped awake, truly this time, my body soaked in sweat. The cabin walls around me were real—rough wood, a small window showing gray morning light. My heart hammered against my ribs as I tried to separate truth from dreams.

Kael and Lucien, Alpha Darius and Jaxon—none of them had been here. But the danger was still real.

"Aria?" A familiar voice called from outside. "Are you in there?"

Mira! My best friend.

I scrambled to my feet, checking that my mother’s journal was still tucked safely in my jacket. How had Mira found me? The last time I’d seen her was before all this started—before the triplets, before learning I was a True Alpha.

I cracked open the door cautiously. Mira stood alone, her normal bright smile replaced with worry.

"Thank the Moon Goddess!" She rushed forward, pulling me into a tight hug. "Everyone’s looking for you! The whole pack is in chaos."

"How did you find me?" I asked, pulling her inside and closed the door.

"I followed your scent," she said simply. "It’s... different now. Stronger."

"My wolf woke up," I explained.

Mira’s eyes widened. "But omegas don’t—"

"I’m not an omega," I cut her off. "I never was."

Quickly, I told her everything—my real heritage, the triplets, the Blood Curse, and the prophecy that would end tonight under the Blood Moon. Mira listened in stunned silence.

"So you’re saying you’re actually the daughter of the Silvercrest Alpha?" she finally asked. "A True Alpha?"

I nodded. "Alpha Darius killed my parents but kept me alive because he needs my blood for the ritual."

"This is..." Mira shook her head. "It’s hard to believe."

"I know. But it’s true. Look." I showed her my eyes, letting my wolf rise just enough that the silver glow appeared.

Mira gasped. "Your eyes!"

"Now do you believe me?"

She nodded slowly. "Actually, it makes sense. I found something yesterday—that’s why I’ve been looking for you."

"What did you find?"

"Records," she said happily. "I was cleaning the records room as punishment duty, and I found an old ledger. It mentioned your mother’s name—Aurora."

My heart jumped. "What did it say?"

"She wasn’t just any wolf," Mira explained. "She was apprenticed to our old pack healer, Greta."

"A healer?" This didn’t make sense. "But if she was Alpha of Silvercrest—"

"That’s just it," Mira interrupted. "The records show she was here in our pack years before she allegedly became Alpha of Silvercrest. She was learning healing magic."

My head spun with this new information. What was my mother doing in the Moonclaw Pack before leading Silvercrest? "Greta’s cabin is still standing," Mira continued. "At the edge of the northern woods. No one’s used it since she died ten years ago, but all her things should still be there."

"We need to go there," I decided instantly. "There might be information about my mother, about the curse."

"It’s dangerous," Mira warned. "Alpha Darius has trackers everywhere looking for you."

"I have to risk it," I urged. "The Blood Moon rises tonight. If I don’t find a way to break the curse without someone dying—"

I couldn’t finish the sentence. The picture of Lucien, the firstborn son who had to die, flashed in my mind.

"Okay," Mira agreed. "But we go together."

We slipped out of the shack and into the forest. I was surprised at how easily I moved now, my wolf senses leading me through the trees. We stuck to the densest parts of the woods, dodging pack patrol routes Mira knew by heart.

"Being invisible has its advantages," she whispered as we ducked behind a fallen log while two trackers passed nearby. "No one notices when omegas are listening."

After an hour of careful maneuvering, we reached a small clearing. A tiny cabin stood nestled among ancient pines, its roof partly collapsed, windows dark with dust.

"This is it," Mira said. "Greta’s place."

We approached carefully. The door creaked as I pushed it open, showing a single room filled with shelves of dried herbs, bottles, and books. Everything was covered in a thick layer of dust.

"Look for anything with my mother’s name," I instructed as we started searching.

Mira started with a trunk near the bed while I examined the bookcases. Most were medical texts or accounts of pack illnesses. Nothing about my mother.

"Aria!" Mira called suddenly. "I found something."

She held up a small wooden box with a moon carved on its lid—like the one I’d found my mother’s journal in.

My hands shook as I took it from her. Inside were stacks of folded papers—notes written in a cramped hand different from my mother’s flowing script.

"Greta’s records," I breathed, unfolding the top paper.

Project White Moon, Day 37, it read. Aurora’s blood continues to show unusual qualities. The mixture of Alpha and Healer bloodlines creates possibilities I never thought possible. The child she carries will be unique—dual blood, both destroyer and maker.

"Child?" I whispered. "She was pregnant while studying here?"

"With you?" Mira asked, reading over my shoulder.

I flipped to another page.

Day 103. Alpha Darius gets suspicious of our work. Aurora fears for the child’s safety. The binding spell is our only choice now—to hide the baby’s true nature until she comes of age.

"The binding spell," I realized. "That’s why I never felt my wolf."

Another page caught my eye—it had a diagram similar to one in my mother’s book. A circle with three points, linked to a central moon symbol.

The triplet joining is complete, it read. Morgana sacrificed much to protect her boys from their father’s curse. The eldest boy shows the best resistance—a natural healer despite his Alpha blood. If my theory is right, his blood combined with Aurora’s child might break the curse permanently. But the risk is great.

"Morgana," I whispered. "That must be the triplets’ mother."

"And the eldest boy," Mira added, "that’s—"

"Lucien," I confirmed, heart hurting. "He’s the eldest. A healer."

I flipped through more pages quickly. There had to be more, something that could save him from the prophecy’s desire for his death.

The last page made my blood run cold.

Final entry. Alpha Darius has found everything. Aurora has fled with her mate back to Silvercrest, taking the child with her. I’ve hidden the ritual directions where only the White Wolf will find them when the time comes. The Blood Moon will show all.

Remember: Only blood freely given can break the curse. Blood taken by force will strengthen it. The triplet who shares the dual blood is the key.

"Dual blood?" Mira frowned. "What does that mean?"

Before I could answer, the cabin door slammed open. We both spun around, papers scattering.

Beta Marcus—Elira’s father—stood in the doorway, his massive body blocking the exit. His eyes burned with anger.

"I knew if I followed the little omega, she’d lead me to you," he growled, looking at me. "Alpha Darius will be pleased."

He lunged forward, taking the papers from my hands. "These aren’t for your eyes."

"They’re about my mother!" I yelled, my wolf rising in anger. My fingernails grew into claws.

Beta Marcus froze, looking at my transformed eyes and hands. "Impossible," he whispered. "You’ve awakened."

"I know what I am," I growled, feeling my wolf’s power rush through me.

A strange look crossed his face—fear, but also something else. Recognition?

"You don’t know anything," he said quietly, putting the papers into his jacket. "Especially about your father."

"My father was Alpha of Silvercrest," I stated firmly.

Beta Marcus laughed, a harsh sound without laughter. "Is that what they told you? That’s not even close to the truth."

"Then what is the truth?" I asked.

He looked at the scattered papers, then back to me. "Ask yourself why a healer’s student would suddenly become Alpha of a rival pack. Ask yourself why Darius let you live when he killed your mother."

"Because he needed my blood for the ritual," I said.

"He needed your blood because of who your father is," Beta Marcus amended. "Blood calls to blood."

My mind raced. What was he saying?

"Who is my father?" I whispered.

Beta Marcus stepped backward toward the door. "The answer is in the triplet bond. One shares your blood. One shares your power. One shares your heart." His eyes hardened. "Only one can live through the night."

He turned to leave, then paused. "Elira has been looking for you too. Unlike me, she plans to kill you before the process can begin."

"Why are you warning me?" I asked, confused by his quick change.

"Because your mother saved my life once," he said simply. "And blood debts must be paid."

With those mysterious words, he vanished into the forest.

Mira and I stood frozen, trying to understand what had just happened.

"Aria," she said slowly, "I think he was saying..."

"One of the triplets is my half-brother," I whispered, fear washing over me. "But which one?"

The mate bond I’d felt, the link to all three brothers—had it been something else entirely? Blood recognizing blood?

And if one shared my blood, how could I possibly have a true mate among them?

As this terrible realization sank in, a howl echoed through the trees—Elira’s wolf, closing in fast.

"We need to go," Mira pushed, pulling me toward the back window.

But I couldn’t move, paralyzed by the implications of Beta Marcus’s confession.

If one of the triplets was my half-brother, then loving him was prohibited.

And if the eldest had to die to break the curse...

What if Lucien was both?