Bound to the Triplet Alphas-Chapter 77: The Alpha’s Burden

ARIA POV

I threw the vase against the wall, watching it break into a thousand pieces.

"Tell me again," I ordered, my voice shaking with rage. "Tell me exactly what happened."

The young scout shook before me, his eyes fixed on the floor. "They attacked us at dawn, Luna. Twenty warriors from River Creek pack. We lost... we lost everyone except me."

Another border patrol taken out. Fifteen more of our wolves dead. Just hours after we’d fought off Elira and Elder Malin at the tomb.

"Why were you spared?" Lucien asked quietly from the corner of the room.

The scout’s eyes filled with tears. "They told me to send a message. They said, ’Tell your pregnant Luna she can save her pack by surrendering herself. One life for hundreds.’"

My hand moved protectively to my swollen belly. The twins kicked as if they felt my distress.

"Get out," I whispered.

When the scout had gone, I collapsed into a chair, the weight of authority crushing me. I’d thought awakening the first queen from her tomb would change everything. But Queen Lysandra had been weak after centuries of sleep. She needed time to regain her strength—time we didn’t have.

"We can’t keep losing wolves like this," I said to no one in particular.

Jaxon paced the room like a caged animal. "We should attack River Creek directly. Hit them before they can hit us again."

"With what army?" Lucien countered. "We’ve lost thirty wolves in three days."

The door opened and Kael entered, his face grim. He’d been monitoring the burial preparations for our fallen packmates.

"The families want answers," he said, his eyes meeting mine. "They want to know why their mates and children are dying."

"What did you tell them?" I asked.

"The truth. That we’re fighting for our life." Kael’s voice was steady, but I could feel his pain through our bond. "But they’re asking if the price is too high."

I closed my eyes, remembering the faces of those we’d lost. Beta Marcus, who had opposed training omegas but had died defending two of them. Young Talia, barely eighteen, who had been training as a nurse. Old Gregor, who had managed the pack’s horses for forty years.

"Maybe they’re right," I whispered. "Maybe I should surrender."

"No!" all three of my friends shouted at once.

"You heard the scout," I argued. "One life for hundreds."

"They’re lying," Kael said simply. "If you surrender, they’ll kill you and your kids. Then they’ll slaughter our pack anyway to ensure no one faithful to you remains."

Deep down, I knew he was right.

"Then what do we do?" I asked desperately. "How do we stop this?"

"We make the hard decisions," Kael replied. "That’s the Alpha’s burden."

Later that day, I walked among the injured in the healing den. So many broken bodies. So much pain. And all because of me—because of what I was.

Mira sat beside a young omega girl whose leg had been badly mauled. "She’ll live," Mira told me. "But she’ll never run the same way again."

I knelt by the girl’s bed. "I’m sorry," I said, my voice breaking. "This should never have happened to you."

The girl—I thought her name was Lena—looked at me with fever-bright eyes. "Is it true what they’re saying? That you’re a female Alpha?"

I nodded.

"Then it’s worth it," she said simply. "My grandma used to tell stories about female Alphas. She said they ruled with both strength and kindness."

"I don’t feel very strong right now," I revealed.

"You will," she said with surprising confidence. "The Moon Goddess wouldn’t have chosen you otherwise."

I continued through the healing room, offering what comfort I could. Each wounded wolf had a story. Each had family who depended on them. And all looked to me for hope I wasn’t sure I could provide.

That evening, Kael found me sitting alone on the roof of the pack house, watching the sunset.

"The pack is asking for you," he said. "They need to hear from their Luna."

"What can I possibly say to them?" I asked. "That more of them will die? That I don’t know how to stop this war?"

Kael sat beside me, his shoulder touching mine. "Tell them the truth. That’s what a good Alpha does."

"I never wanted to be an Alpha," I whispered. "I just wanted to belong somewhere."

"None of us choose our fate," Kael said. "My father didn’t prepare me for sharing power with my brothers, let alone with a female Alpha mate. But here we are."

I leaned against him, drawing strength from his strong presence. "How do you do it? Make decisions knowing dogs might die because of them?"

"I think of the alternative," he answered. "What happens if I don’t act? What happens to those who count on me for protection?"

"And that makes it easier?" I asked skeptically.

"No," he admitted. "It never gets easier. You just learn to carry the weight."

We sat in silence for a moment.

"When I became Alpha after my father," Kael continued, "I thought power meant never showing doubt. Never admitting weakness."

"And now?"

"Now I know true strength is going even when you’re terrified. Leading even when you don’t have all the answers."

I thought about Queen Lysandra, now resting in Lucien’s private rooms. She had told me about the early days, when female and male Alphas ruled together. How that balance had brought peace and wealth. And how greed and fear had ruined it.

"What would you do?" I asked Kael. "If you were me?"

"I would remember what we’re fighting for," he said. "Not just our lives, but a better way of living. A pack where strength isn’t determined by gender or birth, but by character."

His words gave me clarity. I stood up, choice made.

"Gather the pack," I told him. "All of them. I know what we need to do."

An hour later, I stood before nearly three hundred wolves—our pack, plus friends from Silver Lake and Dawn Circle. Young and old, fighters and healers, Alphas, Betas, and Omegas.

"Many of you have lost loved ones," I began, my voice carrying across the room. "All of you are afraid of losing more."

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the crowd.

"Our enemies think our weakness is our kindness. Our willingness to see worth in every wolf, regardless of rank." I put my hand on my belly. "They think we will break under pressure."

I let my gaze move over the faces watching me. Some hopeful, others wary.

"They’re wrong," I said strongly. "Our compassion is our power. Our unity is our power."

I explained my plan—not a defensive strategy of waiting for attacks, but a coordinated effort targeting the leaders of the traditional packs. Not their soldiers, not their innocents, but those giving the orders.

"This won’t be without risk," I allowed. "But it’s time we stop reacting and start acting."

The pack was silent when I finished, weighing my words. Then Mira stepped forward.

"I follow Luna Aria," she stated loudly. Other omegas joined her, then betas, then fighters.

Kael, Jaxon, and Lucien moved to stand beside me, united in purpose.

"When do we start?" someone called.

"Tonight," I answered. "Our foes think they know us. They think we’re broken by loss, paralyzed by fear. Let’s show them how wrong they are."

The group broke up as wolves hurried to prepare. My three mates and I returned to the map room to settle details.

"Are you sure about this?" Lucien asked. "There’s no going back once we cross this line."

"I’m sure," I said, more confident than I’d felt in days. "It’s time we stop playing by their rules."

A commotion outside stopped us. Shouting, and then the door burst open. A fighter I didn’t recognize stumbled in, blood pouring from a wound in his side.

"What is this?" Kael ordered, moving to intercept the intruder.

The unknown wolf dropped to his knees. "Luna Aria," he gasped. "I bring word from Alpha Thorn of Timber Ridge pack."

My heart skipped. Timber Ridge was the one allied pack that hadn’t sent warriors to our help.

"Speak," I ordered.

"Our pack was attacked three days ago," he said, his voice weak from blood loss. "Alpha Thorn and most of our warriors were killed."

"Who attacked you?" Jaxon asked.

The messenger looked up, his eyes locking with mine. "That’s why I had to reach you. It wasn’t the usual packs."

"Then who?" I pressed.

"The attacker looked exactly like you, Luna. She controlled water and fire, just like the stories say you can. But her eyes..." He shuddered. "Her eyes were wrong."

Ice filled my veins as I remembered what Queen Lysandra had told me about the ancient days.

"What else?" I whispered, already knowing the answer.

"She said to tell you that the seventh queen has woken on her own. And she’s coming for her girls."