Saving My Triplet Alphas

Five

Frankie:

Ignited in a flame that felt like home, I stood with the dry grass of Pinnala sizzling beneath my feet.

Swirls of ancient whispers, whispers I could not understand, played through my mind like a song I couldn't get out of my head despite listening to it on repeat.

"Your majesty, I have other warriors much more suited to your needs than the orphan, Francesca." The alpha, who had given me a small, insignificant place in his pack since my birth, or rather my abandonment, reared back with the utmost confidence. His piercing gaze bore into mine as if daring me to challenge his decision. I felt a wave of doubt and uncertainty wash over me as the weight of his words settled in the air between us, casting a shadow over my place in the pack.

I didn't know this woman; I only knew that the alpha had called her Your Majesty. But, indeed, if an alpha were to question a queen, his power must be greater than hers... right?

My heart threatened to escape my chest again. Only this time, it was racing in fear instead of anger, and the flames on my legs burned brighter, a dark, soulless black that the night could never compare to. I knew then that if I were forced to run for my life tonight, those flames would somehow conceal me in the darkness, shielding me from anyone who sought to harm me.

So why were my feet rooted in their place, waiting for the strange flaming woman to speak on my behalf when she had no idea I was or what I had been through? She had no reason to free me from this place.

A man with hair as white as snow stepped before his queen, protecting her dignity and respect with a fierceness that the alpha could never match, making the alpha quiver in his expensive dress shoes.

"I meant no disrespect. I was implying that the queen and kings deserve the best of the best that Pinnala could offer." Despite his evident fears, he stayed as rooted in his spot as I was.

"The alpha concealed his vulnerability behind a mask, while the other man seemed confident in his rage and willingness to protect. He displayed the true attributes of a man, an alpha, a king – attributes that the alpha trying to fight for my death could never possess."

"She is the one. There is no mistaking that much, alpha." The other man who still stood behind the queen spoke.

"I must warn you, then. Francesca has a death sentence that is set to be carried out the moment she turns eighteen, which in Pinnala standards is at eight o'clock this evening. I can evoke Pinnala law and slay her for her crime against her alpha." "The alpha stood a little taller, clearly unaffected by the intense aura that overwhelmed me. This aura was so strong that it stole my breath, fueled my fire, and seemed to push me down into the cold earth like a potent toxin, slowly cutting off my air supply."

"I am the law. You don't have the power to evoke anything. You don't have the power to take a breathe in my presence without my permission. This warrior is the key to bringing my children home, and if you step in my way one more time, I will rip your head off and feed your entrails to your pup." The woman, sharp-tongued and angry, was as nose to nose as two with their height difference could be.

The alpha, finally feeling the weight of this creature's aura, took a knee, unable to defend himself or Tyner against this beast of a woman.

"Frankie will accompany me; she will not be harmed by you, your guards, your law, or anything in between. Do you understand?" she asked.

"Yes, Your Majesty." The alpha answered.

My eyes were glued to Tyner's as the queen spoke.

Thanks to my accepting his rejection, I felt no pull toward him. The reason I couldn't take my eyes off him was the way his flamed toward me. They were glued on me, watching my every move. He was angry, and I could see it burning in the hatred blazing in his eyes.

"Frankie, get inside the vehicle. You're safe now," said the white-haired man as he reached out and made contact. The sensation of his icy skin sent a shock wave through me. How could he, a being seemingly made of ice, touch another who was encased in flames?

"My mate wields your element," he whispered, still leading me to the truck. "I am used to the burn," he added, opening the door to the car.

I stood there, never having ridden in a vehicle naked, still covered by fire.

Even if I knew how to turn off the fire, I didn't want anyone else to see me naked. But I also didn't want to burn their vehicle.

As the queen spoke softly, her words carried a gentle warmth that seemed to wrap around me like a comforting embrace. "Think of the flames slowly going to sleep," she said, her voice lulling me into a sense of calm. "Imagine their smallest flickering magic until they burn out, leaving a wispy smoke behind them." With her comforting words, I envisioned the flames dwindling down, their golden tendrils gradually fading into darkness. I could almost see the tendrils of smoke rising and dissipating into the air, carrying with them the last remnants of the fire's energy. Finishing her thought, the queen reassured me, "Once you turn off the flame, we will get you something to cover up with." Her comforting presence and kind offer brought a sense of relief as she stepped around me and climbed into the backseat, where I was being offered a seat next to her.

As I stood there, I could sense the scornful glares of the townspeople who had gathered to watch my head roll from the blades of a guillotine. Their anger was palpable, mirroring the fury of their show for the evening, which was about to ride off into the night with royalty.

I climbed in without another thought, uncaring at this point about what anyone behind me would see or think. I just wanted to get the hell out of there, and this was my best shot.

As the door closed behind me, and the vehicle roared to life, the white haired man tossed me a blanket from the back.

I closed my eyes to the life I had been forced into the last eighteen years, knowing by the screeching gate that led outside of my territory that when I dared to open them again, a new life would wait for me, one that I prayed to the moon would be better than the one I was leaving behind because it wasn't I had no idea how I would escape from the royal family.

"That alpha will cause trouble." The dark-haired man driving the vehicle spoke into the mirror. His words were directed toward the woman, who nodded in agreement.

"Were you his mate?" She asked me.

"The alpha heir? Yes." I answered as politely as possible without making eye contact, as I was taught to do to show my respect toward my elders.

"You don't have to do that with me, Frankie. After all, I am getting ready to ask you for a favor that could cost you your life." her words ignited the burning feeling again, the feeling that had led to me being encased in flames only moments ago.

"My triplet sons were cut from my womb, they were stolen, and I was led to you because you are the only person who can track them." I burst out laughing, quickly correcting myself as my brain finally realized I had laughed at a woman who had just told me her children were taken from her body and then from her home.

"My apologies. I wasn't trying to be heartless or rude, but I am no tracker."

"We still don't know why you can track our sons, but we are certain that no mistake was made." The woman spoke again, but this time, her voice was different and sinister-sounding.

It was then that I realized I was trading one chaos for another. I think I am okay with giving myself over to this kind of insanity, okay with having the freedom to explore my own mess.

"Okay, I will do it then," I shrugged, trying to play off how my whole body shook. I couldn't help but wonder just how far we would make it before they realized the same thing I had: I am no tracker and no hunter. They would realize that soon enough, and I would be on the side of the road if I couldn't figure out how to ask them for a place among their pack when they do.

"Good. You had no choice, so I am thrilled you chose to do it on your own." The queen seemed so dull and lifeless now that her anger was gone, and I was reminded again of the reason they sought out a warrior in the first place.

"I'm sorry about your children and the torture you must be going through." I didn't quite know how to offer my sympathies in this situation, so instead, I settled back in the leather seats in search of a dream, in search of a plan that may lead me to a real home as they drove through the night, all three locked in a silence that seemed never-ending.