"But we can’t just ignore him," Kieran muttered.

They were worried about Kaden’s behaviour. Kieran wanted to find him. Kaden was very hot-tempered and who knew what he was doing.

Killian and Kieran stood on the wide porch of the Alpha’s residence, the morning sun casting long shadows across the driveway. Killian’s forehead throbbed with irritation. He rubbed his temple slowly, trying to ease the tension building there. Kaden’s sudden disappearance weighed on him more than he wanted to admit.

Kieran paced a few steps, his fists clenching and unclenching at his sides. "We have to find him," he hissed in a low voice but edged with barely contained anger. "You know how he gets when he is mad. If he goes feral it will be a serious problem. Not to mention he is abandoning his duties. Of the three of us, Kaden has the most explosive strength and the shortest fuse." The frustration in his voice was evident.

He hoped this wasn’t worse than he imagined.

His brows twitched at the thought. Kieran tried reaching Kaden through their mind link again, but it bounced back empty. His jaw ticked with frustration; he pulled out his phone and dialled the number. The electronic tone rang coldly before a robotic voice answered.

"The number you are calling is currently unreachable."

The irritation Kieran had felt at breakfast vanished, replaced by sharp focus. Kaden’s cell phone was also switched off..

Kieran switched off the phone with a sharp motion. "We have to find him. You know how he is when he is this angry." he hissed barely holding his irritation.

Killian exhaled slowly, his expression calm but his jaw was tight with tension. "I know. But think about it. Kaden is not far away. Even if his link is blocked, we can still feel his presence. If he gets into real danger, we would know." he said as a matter of fact.

They could still sense Kaden through their wolves. As long as he had not deliberately hidden his tracks, they could track him. Killian continued, "Maybe he just needs space to cool down. If he is still missing by evening, we drag him back. We are not teenagers anymore. Kaden has to learn that too."

Killian had a point. The triplets had always balanced each other. Kaden’s temper was explosive, but that was why the three of them worked together. Yet this time it felt different. It seemed like they themselves were the reason for his outburst.

Killian started walking toward the main entrance. Kieran’s fists clenched once more before slowly unclenching. He quietly prayed Kaden was fine. The moment they stepped onto the porch, the low purr of an engine caught their attention. A sleek purple limited-edition sports car pulled up smoothly on the driveway, its custom plate reading "Our Queen."

They recognised the car immediately. It was one of the birthday gifts they had given Eloise.

Eloise hopped out gracefully and launched herself at Kieran, wrapping her arms tightly around him. "I missed you guys," she whined, pressing her face into his chest. She pulled back and pouted, her eyes searching for Kaden. "Why didn’t you call last night?"

Her gaze darted around again. "Kaden even blocked me." The words stunned both brothers. Kaden blocking them was already unusual, but blocking Eloise? That was super rare. He had always been the most protective of her and fought with them whenever they got on Eloise’s bad side.

Killian frowned, wondering if Kaden was still upset about the garden incident. Kieran sighed, his gaze flicking to Killian. He did not know how to explain the situation without upsetting her further.

"Sorry about Kaden," Killian said carefully. "He had something important to handle and did not want to be distracted."

Eloise’s expression soured instantly. "Something important?" She sneered. "Is it more important than me? Am I a distraction now?"

Killian chuckled softly and pulled her into a hug, playfully pinching her cheek. "Of course, you are of utmost importance. Just let this slide. How about we get you an apology gift later? You should not be upset."

Eloise was not fully convinced, but she softened slightly. Kieran added gently, "You should not frown, Eloise. It will give your pretty face wrinkles. Let Kaden handle his mess. You can scold him later."

She pouted but finally nodded. "Fine. You owe me one."

"Where are you heading?" she asked, brightening a little.

"Work," Killian replied. "I have a lot to handle and Kieran is helping."

Eloise’s eyes sparkled. "Can I come along? It has been ages since I was at your office," she asked sweetly.

Killian’s expression remained polite, but he turned her down firmly. "No, not today. We will be too busy to even have time for you. Besides, it is boring business matters, not worth your time."

His reply caught her off guard and stung a bit. "But we haven’t spent time together in forever, Killian. I wouldn’t cause any trouble," she whined.

He still refused. Placing a quick peck on her forehead, he said, "Try to behave, Eloise. We can visit your favourite place later." With that, both brothers headed toward their cars.

Eloise stood frozen as they drove off through the gates. Her fists clenched at her sides. A bad feeling twisted deep in her gut. She did not like the growing distance she sensed between them.

********

Yuki’s mind remained a chaotic mess long after breakfast. The dread of realising Killian was the man from the garden made her want to crawl into a hole and disappear. She wondered if the other brothers knew. The thought of facing them after what she had done made her stomach twist violently. Eloise already hated her, and now she had nearly been intimate with one of her mates.

Everything felt overwhelming. The setup from last night, Killian’s touch, and the looming Spring Festival. At least Alexander seemed to have handled the scandal well. His attitude toward her had not changed.

She needed fresh air. Slipping out of the mansion, Yuki jogged along a wooded path behind the residence. The trail wound gently through tall, ancient trees whose branches formed a natural canopy overhead. Sunlight dappled the ground in shifting golden patterns. The air smelled fresh and earthy, carrying the scent of pine needles, damp moss, and blooming wildflowers. A light breeze rustled the leaves, cooling her skin as her feet crunched softly over fallen twigs and dry leaves.

She had hoped the stroll would clear her head, but her thoughts refused to settle. She shut her eyes for a moment, cursing herself internally. Then she heard a sharp hiss.

Her eyes snapped open. A large snake lay coiled directly on the path ahead, its scales glinting in the sunlight. Panic surged through her. A scream tore out of her throat and she jumped sideways off the trail, losing her footing. She tumbled down a steep slope, rolling painfully through bushes and dirt until she slammed into a thick tree trunk and landed in a muddy puddle at the bottom.

Mud soaked her clothes and hair completely. Yuki wanted to cry at her terrible luck. She pushed herself up, wiping mud from her face. She looked like a complete mess. It would be humiliating to return to the mansion like this.

Her ears perked up. She heard the distant sound of flowing water. Curiosity pulled her forward. Following the noise, she emerged into a hidden clearing where a beautiful waterfall cascaded into a clear pool. The sight took her breath away. Crystal water sparkled as it fell, creating a misty spray that caught the light. A small cave seemed to sit behind the falling water.

No one appeared to be around. The mud on her clothes felt disgusting. She quickly pulled off her outer layers, folding them neatly on a dry rock and leaving herself in just her underwear. She stepped into the cold water, gasping at the refreshing shock. Swimming toward the waterfall, she noticed the cave more clearly.

Just as she reached a large boulder near the cascade, she froze. On the other side stood a figure, back turned to her. He was completely naked. Broad, powerful shoulders, his muscled back marked with faint scars that only added to his raw masculinity. Water streamed down the defined ridges of his spine, tracing every hard line of muscle before disappearing at his waist. His skin glistened under the sunlight filtering through the trees, highlighting the tension in his shoulders and the way his muscles flexed with each breath.

Yuki’s face burned with embarrassment. She immediately tried to turn away quietly, but a cold, familiar voice stopped her.

"I know you are there."

Her heart slammed against her ribs. Before she could retreat, the man slowly turned around. Their eyes met instantly. Kaden’s gaze locked onto hers with an intense look she couldn’t quite describe. Water continued to cascade over his bare chest and down the sharp lines of his abs. For a long, charged moment, neither of them moved. The air between them thickened with sudden, electric tension as recognition and shock flashed across both their faces.