Bound to the Triplet Alphas-Chapter 71: The Enemy’s Face

ARIA POV

I avoided the knife that flew past my ear and stuck into the tree behind me. Without pausing, I tackled the hooded attacker to the ground, pinning them with power I still wasn’t used to having.

"Who sent you?" I growled, pulling back their hood.

My heart stopped. The face that stared back at me was one I recognized – a Beta from the neighboring Silver Ridge Pack.

"Your time is running out, Luna," he spat. "No female should lead three Alphas. It’s against nature."

Kael emerged from the trees, his eyes glowing with fury. "Is he alone?"

I nodded, keeping the Beta pinned. "I think so, but he’s just a messenger."

Two weeks had passed since I’d made my choice at the ninth door. Two weeks since I’d decided to stay in this world with my mates. Two weeks of building something totally new – a pack with three equal Alphas and one Luna to unite them.

And apparently, two weeks was all it took for other packs to decide we needed to be killed.

"Let’s find out who sent him," Jaxon said, stepping from the shadows with a scary smile. His playful nature had taken a darker turn since the practice.

I pressed my wrist against the Beta’s throat. "Talk."

"Six packs," he choked out. "All the standard Alphas. They meet tonight at the Crescent Valley to plan your removal."

"Names," Lucien ordered, now standing beside me. The bond between us hummed with power – all four of us linked in a way no pack had been for generations. " Silver Ridge, Blood Moon, Stone Peak, Twin Rivers, Black Forest, and Storm Harbor," the Beta gasped. "They’ll never accept what you’ve created here."

I exchanged looks with my three friends. Six packs against one was suicide, even with our new skills.

"Lock him up," I told Kael, who dragged the Beta away.

Once he was gone, I slumped against a tree, my heart rushing. "They’re really going to attack us."

Lucien took my hand. "They fear what they don’t understand."

"They fear a female with more power than them," Jaxon amended with a snort.

I shook my head. "We need to know exactly what they’re planning."

"You’re not suggesting..." Lucien began.

"Yes," I said strongly. "I’m going to spy on their meeting tonight."

"Absolutely not," all three brothers said at once, their voices mixing in that eerie way that still gave me chills.

I crossed my arms. "I wasn’t asking permission."

Back at the pack house, things were finally getting back to normal. Well, a new normal. The training yard was filled with wolves of all ranks practicing together – something that would have been impossible under the old system.

Mira rushed up to me as we entered. "You’re not going to believe this. We just got a message from the Lunar Crest Pack. They want to meet with us."

"Lunar Crest?" Kael asked, frowning. "They’re one of the largest packs. They rarely get interested in outside conflicts."

"That’s not all," Mira continued, her eyes bright with joy. "The message specifically asks to meet with Luna Aria. They said they’ve heard about our new way and want to learn more."

Hope fluttered in my chest. "When?"

"Tomorrow at noon."

"Perfect," I said. "After we learn what we’re up against tonight."

Mira’s smile dropped. "What do you mean?"

I quickly described about the Beta’s attack and the meeting of the six packs. "If we can find out their plans, we can prepare."

"Or," said a voice from the doorway, "you could build a stronger alliance."

We all turned to see Elder Thea. She had recovered incredibly well from the ritual night, though she now walked with a cane.

"Lunar Crest isn’t the only progressive pack," she added. "There are others who have watched your rise with interest, not fear."

"Like who?" Jaxon asked.

"Silver Lake, Dawn Circle, and Timber Ridge, for starters," she answered. "All led by Alphas who value strength over tradition."

My mind raced with ideas. "Four packs against six..."

"Better odds than one against six," Kael pointed out.

"But first we need to know what we’re facing," I argued. "I’m still going tonight."

Despite hours of arguments, I wouldn’t move. As dusk fell, I prepared to leave, dressing in dark clothes that would help me blend into the night.

"At least take this," Lucien said, giving me a small vial of clear liquid. "It will hide your scent. They’ll have guards."

I tucked it into my pocket. "If I’m not back by midnight—"

"We’re coming after you," Jaxon finished. "No arguments."

I kissed each of my mates goodbye, pulling strength from our bond. Then I slipped into the night, going toward Crescent Valley.

The valley was quiet when I arrived, but my enhanced senses picked up movements in the big cave at its center. I drank Lucien’s liquid, shuddering at its bitter taste, then crept closer.

Guards patrolled the door – two from each pack by their scents. I circled around, looking for another way in. Near the back, I found a small hole that might lead inside. I squeezed through, careful not to make a sound.

The tunnel was tight and dark, but it opened into a small ledge viewing the main cave. Below me, Alphas and their top Betas sat in a circle. I recognized Alpha Xavier of Silver Ridge standing at the center.

"This abomination cannot stand," he was saying. "A female Luna ruling three Alphas? It weakens everything we believe in."

"Their pack is growing stronger each day," Alpha Elena of Blood Moon added. "My scouts report they’ve doubled their fighting force by training omegas alongside warriors."

Murmurs of disgust rippled through the crowd.

"The real risk," Alpha Damon of Stone Peak said, "is that other packs might follow their example. Already, Silver Lake is considering a similar method."

"Then we strike now, before they can form alliances," Xavier declared. "A unified attack from all six packs in three days’ time. We kill the Luna, and the bond will shatter."

My blood ran cold. Not just at the threat against me, but at how carefully they had planned this. They even knew about the nature of our bond.

"There’s more," Alpha Damon said softly. "My seer has found something about this Luna. She’s carrying."

The cave exploded in shocked voices.

My hand flew to my stomach. Carrying? I couldn’t be pregnant already. Could I?

"All the more reason to act quickly," Xavier snapped. "We cannot allow an heir of this unholy union to be born."

I’d heard enough. I began backing away slowly, but my foot released a small stone. It clattered down into the cave below.

Every head snapped toward the sound.

"Someone’s here!" Xavier roared. "Find them!"

I turned and scrambled back through the tunnel, emerging into the night just as wolves began pouring from the cave mouth. I ran faster than I ever had before, going not toward home but in the opposite direction. I wouldn’t lead them back to my pack.

The sounds of pursuit grew closer. Six packs meant dozens of wolves on my trail. And if what Alpha Damon said was true, I wasn’t just running for my life.

I reached the edge of a cliff and slid to a stop. Below, a rushing river cut through the rocks. Behind me, the dogs were closing in.

I put a protective hand on my stomach and made another life-changing choice.

I jumped.