Trap of the King Alpha Triplet

Emily's

POV.

I had to say, the Lunaris castle library was a treasure trove of ancient tomes and magical artifacts, but right now, it felt more like a prison. For the nights of the past week, the triplets and I had been spending every waking moment here. We were trying to pore over dusty volumes and decipher cryptic prophecies. The full moon ceremony was just three weeks away, and time was slipping through our fingers like sand.

"Ugh," I groaned, slamming shut another useless book. "If I have to read one more vague prediction about 'the chosen one' or 'a great power rising,' I'm going to scream."

Leo looked up from his own stack of books, his golden eyes softening as they met mine. "Take a break, little Emi. You're running yourself ragged."

I shook my head, stubbornly reaching for another tome. "We don't have time for breaks. In case you forgot, there's a group of power-hungry werewolves trying to bind my magic and possibly 'deal with' you guys." "Trust me, we haven't forgotten," Logan said dryly, not looking up from the scroll he was examining. "But Leo's right. You're no good to us if you work yourself into exhaustion."

Luca stretched, his shirt riding up to reveal a tantalizing strip of tanned skin. I quickly averted my eyes, cursing my hormones. Now was not the time to get distracted by abs, no matter how chiseled they might be. "Besides," Luca added with a yawn, "it's almost midnight. We should probably call it a night before we get caught."

I bit my lip, glancing at the mountain of books we still hadn't gone through. "You guys go ahead. I'm going to stay a bit longer."

The boys exchanged worried glances. "Em," Leo started, but I cut him off.

"I'll be fine. I've got my invisibility spell down pat now, remember? No one will even know I'm here."

It was true. After days of practice, I could now make myself completely invisible and undetectable, even masking my scent and the triplets'. It was a neat trick, even if the main reason I'd learned it was to sneak around the castle unnoticed. Leo still looked unconvinced, but Logan put a hand on his shoulder. "Let her be, Leo. Emily knows her limits."

"Yeah, and if she falls asleep, we'll just find her drooling on a book in the morning," Luca teased, dodging the crumpled piece of paper I threw at his head.

"Fine," Leo conceded. "But promise you won't stay too late?"

I nodded, trying not to melt under the intensity of his gaze. "Promise. Now go, before someone comes to check why the library lights are still on."

With final worried glances and whispered 'good nights,' the boys slipped out of the library, leaving me alone with the books and my thoughts.

I turned back to the tome in front of me, determined to find something, anything, that could help us understand the prophecy better. The words on the page swam before my eyes, and I blinked hard, trying to focus. "Come on, Emily," I muttered to myself. "Just a little longer."

I don't know when exactly I dozed off, but suddenly, I was dreaming. I was standing in a moonlit clearing, surrounded by towering trees. In the center of the clearing stood a massive white wolf, its fur shimmering with an otherworldly light. "Who are you?" I called out, my voice echoing strangely in the dream-space.

The wolf's eyes, a startling silver, fixed on me. When it spoke, its voice resonated in my mind, ancient and powerful. "You know who I am, daughter of the moon."

I gasped. "You're... the Moon Goddess?"

The wolf inclined its head. "I am. And you, Emily Blackwood, are at a crossroads."

"What do you mean?" I asked, taking a step closer.

"The prophecy speaks true. You have the power to unite or divide. But beware, for not all is as it seems. The false alpha hides in plain sight, and the true enemy lurks in the shadows."

I frowned, frustration building in my chest. "Why can't you just tell me what's going on? Why all the cryptic warnings?"

The wolf's eyes seemed to soften. "The path you walk is your own, moon daughter. I cannot choose for you. But know this: your power is greater than you realize, and your heart will be your greatest guide." "But-" I started, but the dream was already fading, the wolf disappearing into mist.

I jolted awake, my heart pounding. But instead of the hardwood of the library table, I found myself lying on something soft and warm. And moving.

My eyes flew open, and I found myself staring up at a sky full of stars. I was outside? But how...

"Welcome back to the land of the living, moon pie," Luca's voice rumbled beneath me, and I realized with a start that I was lying on his chest.

I sat up quickly, taking in my surroundings. We were in one of the castle's many gardens, lying on a soft patch of grass. Leo and Logan were on either side of us, their warm bodies bracketing mine. "What... how did I get here?" I asked, my voice rough with sleep.

"We found you passed out in the library," Logan explained, reaching out to tuck a stray curl behind my ear. "Decided you could use some fresh air."

"And a more comfortable pillow," Luca added with a wink.

I felt my cheeks heat up, remembering how I'd been sprawled across Luca's admittedly very comfortable chest. "I'm sorry," I mumbled. "I didn't mean to fall asleep."

Leo sat up, his expression serious. "Baby, you've been pushing yourself too hard. We're worried about you."

I sighed. "I know. It's just... There's so much at stake, and we're running out of time."

"We get it," Logan said softly. "But wearing yourself out isn't going to help anyone."

I nodded, knowing they were right. "Okay. I'll try to take it easier. But what about you guys? Have you found anything new?"

The boys exchanged glances, a silent conversation passing between them. Finally, Leo spoke. "We think we might have found something, but it's not good news."

My stomach clenched. "What is it?"

"We've been tracking some strange activity in the city," Logan explained. "Shipments of rare magical ingredients, mysterious meetings in the dead of night. We think... we think the Rogue Alliance might have a foothold in Lunaris." I felt the blood drain from my face. "What? How is that possible? This is supposed to be the safest place for werewolves in the world."

"That's just it," Luca said, his usual joking demeanor nowhere to be seen. "We think they might have help from someone on the inside. Someone with a lot of power and influence."

The implications of what he was saying hit me like a ton of bricks. "You mean... the royal family?"

Leo's jaw clenched. "We can't rule it out. The timing is too convenient. The Rogue Alliance shows up just as we discover this prophecy about you? It can't be a coincidence."

I felt like I was going to be sick. If the royal family was involved with the Rogue Alliance...

"We will keep digging," Logan said firmly. "We need concrete evidence before we can make any moves. And we need to figure out how to protect you and your powers."

I nodded, trying to push down the fear threatening to overwhelm me. "Okay. We can do this. We have to."

Luca reached out, taking my hand in his. "Hey, no need to look so gloomy. We've got your back, remember? Plus, now we've got insider info from the Moon Goddess herself. That's gotta count for something, right?" I blinked, surprised. "How did you know about that?"

"You talk in your sleep, babe," he said with a grin. "Something about cryptic wolves and crossroads. Care to share with the class?"

I told them about my dream, in detail.

"Well," Logan said finally, "at least we know we're on the right track. The false alpha has to be someone in a position of power." "But who?" I asked, frustration coloring my voice. "It could be anyone. Alpha King, Luna Queen, even Prince Alaric." "We'll figure it out," Leo said, his voice filled with a confidence I wished I felt. "We have to."

We lapsed into silence, each lost in our own thoughts. I leaned back, taking in the beauty of the night sky above us. The moon hung low and heavy, its silvery light bathing everything in an ethereal glow. "It's beautiful, isn't it?" I murmured, more to myself than anyone else.

"Yeah," Luca agreed, but when I glanced at him, I found him staring at me instead of the sky. "Beautiful."

I felt my cheeks heat up, but I couldn't look away. There was something in Luca's eyes, a heat that made my breath catch in my throat.

"Emily," he said softly, reaching out to cup my cheek. "Can I..."

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. Luca leaned in, his lips meeting mine in a kiss that was achingly gentle. I melted into it, my eyes fluttering closed as I lost myself in the sensation. When we finally pulled apart, I opened my eyes to find Leo and Logan watching us with identical expressions of hunger.

"Our turn?" Logan asked, his voice rough.

I barely had time to nod before Logan's mouth was on mine, his kiss more demanding than Luca's. His hand tangled in my hair, tilting my head back for better access. I gasped against his lips, heat flooding my body. When Logan finally released me, I was breathless and dizzy. But before I could catch my breath, Leo was there, his golden eyes blazing with an intensity that made me weak at the knees.

"Mine," he growled, before claiming my lips in a kiss that was pure fire. His hands roamed my body, leaving trails of heat in their wake. I arched into him, a soft moan escaping me.

We broke apart, all of us breathing heavily. I looked at each of them in turn, my heart swelling with an emotion I wasn't quite ready to name.

"Wow," I breathed, feeling dazed and giddy. "That was..."

"Long overdue," Luca finished, a satisfied grin on his face.

I laughed, feeling lighter than I had in weeks. "Yeah, I guess it was."

Leo pulled me close, nuzzling into my hair. "We should get you back to your room," he murmured. "It's late, and we've got more research to do tomorrow."

I nodded, even as part of me wanted to stay in this moment forever. "You're right. But... can we stay here just a little longer? It's so peaceful."

The boys exchanged glances before nodding. We settled back onto the grass, me nestled between them. As I lay there, surrounded by my mates, staring up at the star-studded sky, I felt a sense of peace wash over me. The last thing I heard before sleep claimed me was the soft chorus of "Goodnight, little witch" from my mates. And for the first time in weeks, I slept without nightmares.