Alphas Three

|c.4|

The group walked briskly through the palace grounds, the crunch of frost underfoot echoing in the stillness of the afternoon. The air was crisp, the kind of cold that stung the lungs with each breath. The sun hung low, casting long shadows across the landscape, the leafless trees around them standing like silent sentinels. None of them were dressed for the chill, their hurried departure leaving no time for coats or cloaks. But Lord Cedric, Amaris's father, was determined to put as much distance as possible between his daughter and the prying eyes of the palace.

Lady Helena clung to her husband's arm, her brow furrowed as she tried to calm him. “Cedric, do not glower so fiercely,” she said gently, her tone tinged with amusement. “Young men rarely know what to do in such moments. You certainly didn’t.”

He scoffed, though a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “There was only one of me, Helena. But Amaris has three. Three Moon-Kissed mates, and she is suffering so terribly. They should have known. She should never be alone in her pain.”

The triplets, who had been trailing silently behind, exchanged glances before Klaus, the eldest, spoke up, his tone thick with remorse. “Lord Cedric, you are entirely right. We failed her. We were not taught...not about what happens after a lady meets her Moon-Kissed mates. We knew her shift would come, but we were not told when or how to prepare her.”

Lady Helena tilted her head, a knowing smile curling her lips. “See, my dear? They do not teach you men such things.”

Her husband grunted but said no more.

Amaris, struggling to keep pace as heat and pain radiated through her body, fixed her mother with a sharp stare. “I wish someone would have thought to warn me,” she bit out, her voice strained.

Lady Helena raised her brows at her daughter, her tone almost chiding. “And how was I to know you would be Moon-Kissed to three Alphas? The change does not normally come so swiftly.”

Amaris turned her accusing gaze to her mates, who looked down in unison, shame written across their features. “So, it’s your fault, then,” she said, her voice edged with irritation despite the pain wracking her body.

“Amaris,” her mother scolded, her tone light but firm.

Amaris couldn’t believe her ears. Her mother seemed more concerned about the feelings of her mates than the agony clawing through her. She opened her mouth to retort, but Lord Cedric's voice cut through the tension.

“Enough,” he commanded, his tone brooking no argument. “All of you, calm yourselves.”

They continued their hurried march through the grounds, the chill biting deeper as they left the palace far behind. The snow-dappled fields seemed endless, bordered by dense woods whose skeletal trees swayed gently in the winter breeze. Amaris stumbled, her legs trembling as the heat inside her intensified. Her father’s arm steadied her, his expression one of reluctant worry.

When they reached a small clearing, flanked on one side by a frozen stream, Lord Cedric stopped. He turned to the triplets, his face stern. “Take her,” he said reluctantly, passing his daughter into Klaus’s arms.

Amaris had barely been settled when the pain erupted into something unbearable. Her scream pierced the air, raw and unrelenting, echoing through the quiet woods.

“It hurts!” she cried, clutching at Klaus’s arms as her body twisted against him.

The triplets huddled around her, their faces etched with panic. They shielded her from the bitter wind and each other’s helpless stares. Kade turned to Lady Helena, his voice trembling with desperation. “What are we supposed to do?”

Lady Helena hesitated, her own anguish visible as she watched her daughter writhe in pain. “She must endure this,” she said finally, her voice trembling. “Her body is preparing for the wolf...making room for the souls that tether her to you all. There is no avoiding it.”

Amaris screamed again, the sound raw and primal, and the sound of her agony brought guards running. They arrived with swords drawn, scanning for threats, but were quickly waved back by Lord Cedric.

“Stay back!” he barked. “She is shifting!”

The guards obeyed, though they lingered at the edges of the clearing, their concern evident.

Amaris fell to her knees, clutching at her sides as a sickening crack reverberated through her body. Her bones began to break and reknit themselves, the process relentless and agonizing. She could feel her muscles stretching, reshaping, her skin growing unbearably hot as it tore, only to be replaced with something tougher, something stronger.

Through the haze of pain, she became aware of her mates—Klaus’s steady hands holding her, Kade’s whispered reassurances, Khal’s fierce gaze as he scanned their surroundings for any threat. Their emotions bled through the burgeoning tethers that bound them, and despite her agony, she felt their fear, their helplessness, their unwavering determination to protect her.

And then, amidst the storm of pain, she felt it—a presence, wild and powerful, reaching out to her. Her wolf.

Amaris gasped, her screams momentarily silenced as she focused on the connection. She reached out mentally, her soul brushing against the raw, untamed energy of her wolf. The moment their connection solidified, her body seemed to give in to the change entirely.

Her bones shifted more violently now, her skin splitting and peeling away as thick, pristine white fur sprouted in its place. Her fingers elongated, claws sprouting from the tips as her legs reshaped, her spine curving and snapping into its new form.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the pain began to subside. Amaris stood shakily on four legs, her fur glowing like freshly fallen snow, so bright it seemed to reflect the moonlight even in the fading afternoon sun.

“She’s magnificent,” Lady Helena whispered, her voice filled with awe.

Amaris blinked, her new eyes sharper and more vivid than ever before. The world around her seemed alive with detail—the faint rustle of leaves, the distant heartbeat of a rabbit hidden in the underbrush, the steady, calming rhythm of her mates’ hearts.

But more than that, she could feel them—her mates—through the bond that had formed fully during her shift. Their emotions were a tangle of awe, pride, and fierce protectiveness.

Klaus stepped forward, his voice reverent. “You are extraordinary, my lady.”

Amaris huffed, the sound carrying a mixture of relief and weariness. She could feel her wolf’s pride swelling within her, but for now, all she wanted was run.

*

The clearing was quiet save for the faint rustle of leaves and the soft crunch of frost beneath Amaris’s paws. She stood tall, her pristine white fur glowing against the dimming light of the afternoon. Her tail wagged as she barked, the sound playful and filled with an unmistakable invitation.

Her glowing golden eyes fixed on her mates, and she lowered herself into a crouch, her wolf's excitement clear. She barked again, this time more urgently, before growling low in her throat as if to say, Come now. Shift and run with me.

Klaus, Kade, and Khal exchanged amused glances, their shared bond making her intentions abundantly clear. “Well, I suppose we’ve little choice, do we?” Klaus said with a wry smile, already reaching for the buttons of his coat.

Kade chuckled, stepping forward to join him. “She’s certainly not one to wait on ceremony, our Amaris.”

Khal merely grinned, his hands moving to his belt.

But before any of them could shed so much as a single layer, Lady Helena’s sharp voice rang out. “Stop! This instant!”

The three brothers froze, their hands dropping as they turned to face her. Lord Cedric stood at her side, his imposing figure a stark contrast to her petite frame, though her presence was no less commanding.

“What is it now?” Kade asked, his tone puzzled yet respectful.

Lady Helena stepped forward, her sharp eyes narrowing at the three young Alphas. “Do you not understand what will happen if you shift now?” she asked, her voice calm but laced with authority.

Klaus frowned, his brow furrowing. “We mean only to run with her, my lady. To ensure she’s safe.”

Lady Helena let out a soft laugh, though there was no humor in it. “If you shift and join her in this state, you will notmerely run with her. She is in heat, her instincts are heightened, and you, sirs, are her mates.”

Understanding dawned on their faces, followed by equal parts embarrassment and discomfort. Kade was the first to recover, clearing his throat and shifting his weight awkwardly. “Ah... well... that complicates matters.”

“It complicates everything,” Lady Helena said firmly, crossing her arms. “You would all mate her, right here and now, and the outcome would be inevitable—she would conceive. Do you wish to take such responsibility at this moment?”

Amaris, who had been listening with growing impatience, growled softly at her mother, her irritation clear.

Lady Helena turned slowly, fixing her daughter with a curt, no-nonsense stare. “I beg your pardon, young lady?”

Amaris’s growl died in her throat almost immediately, her ears flattening slightly as she averted her gaze.

Her mates couldn’t help themselves. Klaus coughed into his hand, his shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter, while Kade and Khal exchanged amused glances, their own chuckles barely disguised.

Amaris barked sharply at them, her indignation clear, before growling again and turning on her heels. She trotted a few steps before glancing back over her shoulder, her gaze saying plainly, Are you coming or not?

“Amaris,” Kade called, his tone light and teasing. “You cannot simply storm off in a huff.”

She ignored him entirely, her nose lifting in defiance as she started toward the woods.

Lady Helena shook her head, her laughter soft and knowing. “Let her go for now. She cannot get into trouble, but youthree most certainly can. You are her mates, after all. It would do you well to remember that.”

The triplets stood frozen, unsure whether to follow or remain.

Lord Cedric stepped forward then, his expression as stern as ever. “Follow her,” he commanded. “Ensure she tires herself out. She will shift back when she falls asleep.” He paused, his gaze scanning the crowd of onlookers that had gathered in the distance, their curiosity evident despite the respectful distance they kept. Lowering his voice, he added, “And it is time we informed the Supreme Alpha Dominus about Amaris.”

Lady Helena's face tightened, but she nodded. “There’s no avoiding it now.”

She turned back to the triplets, her voice brisk. “Go. See that she comes to no harm. We will manage the damage control at the palace.”

As she spoke, Lord Cedric pulled Khal aside, gripping his shoulder tightly. “You are the youngest, yet I sense you are the most cautious,” he said in a low tone. “Your lady will need your strength and your wisdom. Helena and I are counting on you to protect her—not just now, but always.”

Khal blinked, startled by the weight of the words. “I—I will, my lord. You have my word.”

Lord Cedric nodded firmly and released him, stepping back to rejoin his wife.

“Khal!” Kade’s voice rang out, calling from the edge of the clearing. “Do stop dawdling!”

Khal turned to see his brothers already sprinting after Amaris, who had disappeared into the trees. Without hesitation, he broke into a run, the cold air stinging his lungs as he followed.

Lady Helena watched them go, her expression a mixture of concern and resignation. “Let us hope they are ready for the challenges ahead,” she murmured.

Lord Cedric slipped an arm around her waist, his jaw set. “If they are not, they will be soon enough. The Supreme Alpha Dominus will ensure it.”