Bound to the Triplet Alphas-Chapter 57: Elira’s Redemption

ARIA POV

The silver knife stopped just inches from my throat. Elira held the blade in her shaking hand while her eyes were filled with hate.

"Do it," I told her in a whisper. "If you really think killing me will fix everything, then do it."

The pack clearing that was going on around us stopped. After the Blood Moon fight, my mom and Luna were taken away in chains. But Elira got past the guards and found me by the river by myself.

"You took everything from me," she hissed. "Everything I worked for my whole life."

I didn’t move. The moonlight bounced off the dagger’s edge, casting silver light across her tear-stained face.

"I didn’t take anything, Elira. "I was picked by the Moon Goddess."

Her hand shook harder. "You weren’t anything! A nobody omega while I trained every day to be Luna!"

Something in her voice made me look closer. Behind the anger, I saw something else. Pain. Raw, deep pain that went beyond just losing her job.

"What did he do to you?" I asked quietly.

Elira’s eyes widened, the knife lowering slightly.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about."

"Alpha Darius," I said. "What did he do to you all those years you were training to be Luna?"

The knife dropped to her side, her face crumpling. For the first time, I saw the real Elira beneath the perfect mask.

"How did you know?" she whispered.

"Because I see you now," I answered. "Really see you."

Elira sank to her knees, the knife falling to the ground. Her shoulders shook with quiet sobs.

"He said I had to be perfect," she choked out. "Every day since I was twelve, practicing until I bled. If I made mistakes, he would—" She stopped, unable to finish.

I knelt beside her, careful not to touch her. "That’s why you hated me so much. Because I got what you suffered for."

She nodded, wiping her tears furiously. "Do you know what it’s like? To have your whole life planned out, to suffer years of... of pain, only to watch some omega girl take it all away in one day?"

"No," I said honestly. "But I know what it’s like to be treated like nothing. To be told you’re stupid every day."

"Not the same," she mumbled.

"No, it’s not," I agreed. "Different kinds of pain. Both real."

A twig snapped, and Lucien appeared at the edge of the opening. His eyes narrowed when he saw the dagger on the ground.

"Aria? Are you okay?"

I nodded. "We’re just talking. It’s fine."

Elira laughed sadly. "Your mate rushing to save you. How sweet."

Lucien paused, then backed away. "I’ll be close if you need me."

When he was gone, I picked up the knife and held it out to Elira, handle first.

Her eyes widened. "What are you doing?"

"Making a choice," I said. "The old ways are broken, Elira. I’m not going to exile you like custom demands."

"Then what?" she asked, not taking the blade.

"I need people I can trust. Wolves who know how to fight, who understand both sides of the pack." ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

Elira stared at me. "You want me to be your guardian? After everything?"

"Because of everything," I corrected. "You know what darkness looks like. You survived it."

She laughed, the sound hollow. "You think the pack would ever accept that? Me protecting the girl who took my place?"

"I don’t care what they accept," I said strongly. "I’m Alpha now."

Elira’s eyes searched mine. "Why would you believe me? I just tried to kill you."

"But you didn’t," I pointed out. "You could have, but you didn’t."

I stood, offering my hand to help her up. After a long moment, she took it.

"There’s something else you should know," she said softly. "About your sister, Luna."

My body tensed. "What about her?"

"She’s not your real sister."

The world seemed to tilt beneath my feet. "What?"

"Your mother had a daughter with Alpha Darius years ago, before she left the pack. That’s Luna. You’re only half-sisters."

My mind raced. "That would make Luna—"

"Half-sister to the triplets too," Elira finished. "That’s why she was so desperate to take your place. She thinks she deserves to be Alpha by blood."

"How do you know this?" I asked.

"Darius told me everything. He thought I should know who I might be fighting for the job one day."

I sank back down, the information hitting me like a physical blow. Luna wasn’t just my rival—she was my half-sister and half-sister to my mate.

"There’s more," Elira said. "Your real father—"

A howl cut through the night, anxious and filled with warning. Seconds later, Kael burst through the trees in human form, breathing hard.

"Aria! The Shadow Fangs—they broke your mother and Luna out. They’re coming, at least thirty fighters."

Elira looked at me, then at the knife I still held out to her.

"If I take this," she said, "if I become your guardian, there’s no going back."

"I know."

She grabbed the knife, flipping it in her hand. "Then let me prove myself now."

Before I could reply, gunshots echoed through the forest.

"Hunters!" Jaxon yelled, running into the clearing. "The humans Tomas saw—they’re with the Shadow Fangs!"

Cold fear gripped my heart. Humans with guns who knew about werewolves meant only one thing—wolf hunters, the most dangerous enemies of our kind.

"Get everyone to the safe caves," I told Kael. "Jaxon, gather the fighters."

I turned to Elira, shocked to see her already shifting into her wolf form—a sleek brown wolf with amber eyes.

"Ready for your first job as guardian?" I asked.

She nodded, her wolf eyes determined.

As we ran toward the sounds of fighting, a dark figure stepped from the shadows, blocking our path. My blood ran cold.

It was Luna, but different—her eyes glowed an odd red, and black veins spread across her face. Around her neck hung not one but three rings.

"Hello, sister," she smiled, her voice echoing weirdly. "Or should I say, daughter of the Great Alpha?"

My heart stopped. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh," she laughed, the sound sending chills down my spine. "Elira didn’t get to that part, did she? Your father wasn’t just any wolf, little sister. He was the Great Alpha of legend—and with his blood in my veins now too, I’m going to finish what he started."

Behind her, humans with silver weapons appeared from the trees. At their middle stood my mother, smiling coldly.

"The prophecy never mentioned twins," Luna said, her eyes turning totally black. "But it should have. Because only one person survives tonight—and it won’t be you."