The Triplet Alphas' Secret Mate-Chapter 35: Refused Bringing Her Back

Liam’s POV

​Lana let out a small scream, and suddenly we were all talking at once.

"Save her!" I shouted, my voice thick with desperation I could no longer hide. "Whatever it costs, we’ll pay double. Just don’t let anyone else take her."

​On the other end, Ethan sounded irritated. The roar of his engine grew louder, like he had already picked up speed.

"Fine. I’m going. Don’t call me again until I have news."

​He ended the call, leaving us standing helpless.

​The silence that followed the click of the phone was heavy. We stood in the center of my room, four people holding their breath, staring at the device as if it held the power of life and death.

​"He said he’s going," Leon whispered, his voice sounding hollow. "Ethan is actually going."

​"He sounded so annoyed," Leo muttered, pacing the length of the rug. His hands were shaking, and he shoved them into his pockets to hide it. "What if he gets there too late? What if the bidding is already over? You heard what he said—they’re auctioning her."

​The word "auctioning" hit me like a physical blow. My stomach turned. Our Scarlett, who used to hide in the library to read and who had looked at me with such broken eyes today... being sold like a piece of meat. Knight was snarling so loudly in my mind that I had to grip the edge of my dresser to stay upright.

​"He won’t be late," Lana said, though she was still wiping tears from her face. "Ethan is the most efficient person I know. If he says he’s going, he’s already calculating the fastest route."

​Minutes felt like hours. We didn’t speak. We just watched that tiny blue dot on the screen. Then, suddenly, it started to move. It wasn’t moving like someone on foot anymore. It was moving fast—too fast for a human or a wolf. It was on the road.

​"She’s in a vehicle," Leo shouted, hope finally breaking through his panic. "He got her! He must have gotten her!"

​I grabbed the phone and dialed Ethan’s number again. My heart was thumping against my ribs. It rang... and rang... and then he picked up.

​"I have her," Ethan’s voice was blank over the sound of a luxury engine purring. "She’s alive. But I’m not bringing her back to your pack tonight, Liam."

​"What?" I roared. "Why not? Bring her back here! We need to see her!"

​"No," Ethan said, his tone turning ice cold. "Your father sent her away. If I bring her back tonight, I’m handing her right back to the man who threw her to the wolves."

My jaw tightened.

"She’s staying at the Obsidian estate tonight," he continued. "I’ll bring her myself tomorrow morning. And I’ll speak to your fathers. If they still don’t want her there... I’ll take her back with me."

​"Ethan, wait—"

​"Don’t call me again tonight," he said. "She’s safe. Be grateful for that."

​The line went dead.

​I looked at my brothers... who looked confused as well.

​My wolf howled inside me, furious... our mate was now in the hands of a man who was stronger, older, and far more dangerous than any rogue. And worst of all? I remembered the way Ethan had looked at her three years ago.

​Leon was the first to break. He sank onto the edge of my bed and stared at the floor, his eyes hollow. "He’s not bringing her back tonight," he whispered. "We begged him to save her, and he did... but he’s keeping her."

​"He can’t do that," Leo growled. He began to pace again, but this time it was different. He looked like a wolf stalking prey. "She belongs to this pack. She’s our... she’s our responsibility. We can’t just let Ethan take her to the Obsidian estate. That place is a fortress."

​I stood by the window, staring out at the dark forest. My skin felt too tight for my body. Knight was pacing in my head, baring his teeth. Ethan’s words kept playing on a loop: "I’m not bringing her back tonight... I’ll bring her back tomorrow, and if your father refuses her staying, I am taking her back."

​It wasn’t just that she was safe. It was the way Ethan had said it—like she was a prize he had won, not a person he had rescued. And I knew Ethan. He didn’t do anything without a reason.

​"He remembered her," I said, my voice barely a murmur.

​Leon looked up. "What?"

​"Three years ago," I said, turning to face them. "At Father’s birthday. Remember how he watched her? With admiration... desire..."

​"You think he wants her?" Leo asked, his voice dropping to an angry, low pitch.

​"I think we just handed Scarlett to him. Ethan liked her... I saw it." I replied.

​The weight of our mistake settled over us. We had spent two years hurting her, pushing her away, and calling her a traitor’s daughter. We had made her feel so unwanted; now, when we finally realized we couldn’t live without her, she was behind the walls of a man who didn’t care about our pack laws—a man almost ten years older than her.

​Lana stood by the door, watching us. She looked between the three of us, her eyes narrowing as she saw the agony on our faces. "You three look like you’ve been gutted," she said softly. "I know she’s my friend... but why are you three acting like your souls just left your bodies?"

​None of us answered.

​"If by morning he is not here," I said, ignoring her question. I looked at Leo and Leon. "We go to Obsidian."

Lana let out a shaky breath, forcing herself to calm down.

"Calm down," she said, her voice softer now. "It’s already late. That’s why he didn’t bring her back tonight. Let’s just wait until tomorrow. The important thing is... she’s safe."

She turned toward the door, but then paused, her hand resting on the handle.

"If I didn’t know better," she said slowly, glancing back at us, "I would think she’s your mate... or is she?"

My heart slammed painfully against my ribs.

"That’s ridiculous," I said quickly, my voice harsh. "Stop it, Lana. Don’t be stupid. I’m just worried. Scarlett doesn’t deserve any of this."

"God forbid the Moon Goddess gives her to me as a mate," Leo muttered, shaking his head. "It’s just old friendship, that’s all."

Leon nodded, his expression tight. "We’re just worried, Lana. Scarlett was once our friend."

Lana didn’t look convinced.

She gave us a long, suspicious look... then turned and walked out.

​