Bound to the Triplet Alphas-Chapter 22: Truth and Blood

ARIA POV

I put myself between Lucien and Jaxon’s dangerous attack and put out my hands. "Stop!"

A bright silver light shot out of my fingers and knocked Jaxon backwards. He hit a tree and for a split second, his red eyes went back to normal.

"What was that?" Kael whispered and looked at my hands as if they were snakes.

I looked at my hands. They were glowing with dim silver marks—marks that looked like tiny moons.

"It’s happening," Lucien said, grabbing my wrist to study the marks. "The true Alpha power is waking up in you."

Jaxon fought whatever dark force had taken over him as he tried to get up. A cut on his forehead was dripping blood. "Kill... me..." he managed to say through tightened teeth. "Before... I hurt... someone..."

"No," I said strongly. "Nobody’s dying today."

The moon peeked through the storm clouds overhead, soaking us in pale light. As it touched my skin, the marks on my hands grew brighter.

"We need to get him to the healer’s hut," I told Lucien. "Can you help me?"

Kael stepped forward. "I’ll carry him." Our eyes met, and I saw something new there—respect.

As we half-dragged Jaxon back to the cabin, I felt the weight of what Kael had just shared. He was my half-brother. The coldest, most alien triplet shared my blood.

"Why didn’t you tell me sooner?" I asked him as we walked.

Kael’s jaw clenched. "I didn’t know for sure until recently. Father confirmed it this morning, thinking I would help him get rid of you."

"Get rid of me?" My voice cracked.

"A female Alpha threatens everything he’s built," Kael stated. "Especially one born outside his marriage."

We reached the cabin and laid Jaxon on the floor. His body was burning hot, his skin going gray around the edges.

"The curse is killing him," Lucien said, taking herbs from shelves. "Firstborn must die—that’s what it demands."

"But Kael is the firstborn," I said, confused.

"By seven minutes," Lucien answered, crushing herbs into a bowl. "But Jaxon was conceived first. The curse knows the truth."

My head spun with questions, but there was no time. I knelt beside Jaxon and put my hands on his chest. Instantly, that silver light appeared again, flowing from my hands into his body.

"What are you doing?" Lucien asked, amazed.

"I don’t know," I admitted. "It just feels right."

Jaxon’s back raised as the light spread through him. The red disappeared from his eyes, replaced by his normal deep brown. His breathing stopped.

"How are you doing that?" Kael asked.

Before I could answer, the cabin door burst open. Alpha Darius stood there, his massive frame filling the opening. Behind him stood Elira, her smile cruel.

"I told you," she hissed at Darius. "She’s using moon magic."

Darius’s eyes narrowed as he watched the silver light pouring from my hands. "Impossible."

The light faded as Jaxon stabilized. I stood up, facing Alpha Darius—my father—for the first time knowing the truth.

"What did you do to my son?" he growled.

"I saved him," I replied, shocked by the strength in my voice. "From the curse you brought on this family."

Darius stepped into the room, power rolling off him in waves. "You know nothing."

"I know everything," I said. "I know you’re my father. I know about the forecast. I know one of your kids shares my blood."

His eyes flicked to Kael, who stood protectively at my side. "And now you think you can claim leadership? An omega nobody?"

"She’s not an omega," Lucien spoke up, moving to stand on my other side. "She’s a True Alpha. The marks prove it."

Darius lunged forward, grabbing my wrist and turning my hand up to see the moon marks. His face paled.

"Aurora’s bloodline," he whispered. "It can’t be."

A low growl came from behind him. Jaxon was sitting up, his eyes clear.

"The curse," Jaxon said, his voice raspy. "She stopped it. I can feel it—the darkness pulling back."

Darius released my wrist like it burned him. "This changes nothing. The pack follows strength, not fairy tales about lost genes."

"Then test her," came a new voice.

Elder Malin stood in the doorway, leaning on his twisted stick. His old eyes found mine. "Let her prove what she is."

Darius’s lip curled. "Fine. The Blood Moon rises tomorrow night. We’ll have a challenge—my kids against this... pretender." He looked at Kael. "All my sons."

Kael stiffened beside me.

"A challenge?" I asked. "You mean a fight?"

"To the death," Darius said coldly. "Unless you surrender your claim."

"Father, this is madness," Lucien argued. "She’s your daughter!"

"She is nothing to me!" Darius roared. "Tomorrow night, we end this."

He stormed out, pushing past Elder Malin. Elira followed, giving me one last angry look.

Elder Malin hobbled into the room, his wise eyes studying each of us. "The prophecy unfolds," he murmured. "One shares your blood. One shares your power. One shares your heart."

"Kael shares my blood," I said. "What about the others?"

The old man smiled strangely. "The moon will reveal all truths."

After he left, I sank to the floor, tired. Jaxon was healing quickly, color returning to his face.

"I won’t fight you," Kael said suddenly. "He can’t force me."

"He’ll cast you out," Lucien warned.

"Let him try," Kael answered, his eyes meeting mine with newfound warmth. "Blood is blood."

Jaxon sat up fully, wincing. "What happened to me? I remember feeling like something was taking over..."

"The curse," Lucien explained. "It almost claimed you."

"Until she saved me," Jaxon said, looking at me with wonder. "How?"

I stared at my hands. The marks were fading but still noticeable. "I don’t know. It just... happened."

Lucien took my hand, studying the marks. "These are Alpha marks. But different—stronger. I’ve never seen anything like it."

"What does this mean for us?" I asked quietly. "For the mate bond?"

Lucien’s eyes met mine, full of feeling. "It means we need to figure out who shares your power and who shares your heart."

"And fast," Kael added grimly. "Because tomorrow night, Father will try to kill you—us—all of us who stand with you."

As night fell, we planned our next move. Mira arrived with food and news from the pack—people were talking, taking sides. Many wouldn’t follow a female Alpha, no matter whose daughter I was.

Later, while the others slept, I slipped outside for fresh air. The nearly-full moon called to me, and I felt the marks on my hands tingle.

A twig snapped behind me. I whirled around to see a dark figure coming from the trees.

"Who’s there?" I called.

The figure stepped into the moonlight. It was my mother—Aurora—whom I’d thought dead for eighteen years.

"My daughter," she whispered, her eyes sparkling silver like mine. "I’ve been waiting for this day."

Before I could speak, an arrow whistled through the air and struck her shoulder. She fell forward with a cry.

Behind her stood Alpha Darius, another shot already nocked in his bow.

"Both of you die tomorrow," he promised, his voice like ice. "The true Alpha line continues only through my sons."

He disappeared into the darkness before I could move.

I knelt beside the woman I thought I’d lost forever, my hands automatically glowing silver as I touched her wound.

"Mother?" I whispered, tears filling my eyes. "Is it really you?"