Trap of the King Alpha Triplet
Chapter 32 Closer to You

Emily's POV.

As we stepped out of Luca's hospital room, the gravity of the situation hit me like a ton of bricks. My legs felt weak, and I couldn't stop the sob that escaped my lips. Leo and Logan were immediately at my side, their strong arms supporting

me.

"Aren't you supposed to be the unbeatable badass trio?" I choked out, my voice wavering. "How did this happen?"

Logan's hand came up to gently wipe away my tears. "Hey now, even badasses have their off days," he said, trying to inject some levity into the situation.

Leo pulled me into a tight hug, his familiar scent of pine and musk enveloping me. "Don't worry too much, little witch," he murmured into my hair. "Luca's tough. He'll pull through this."

I looked up into Leo's vibrant eyes, seeing the determination and strength there. Despite everything, I found myself wanting to believe him, to trust in the bond that tied us together.

"You're right," I said, taking a deep breath. "Luca's too stubborn to let something like this keep him down."

Leo's arms tightened around my waist, and I allowed myself to relax against his firm, warm chest. But even as I tried to calm myself, my mind kept drifting back to the image of Luca's leg - bloody and mangled, with white bone visible through the torn flesh.

"I know my little brother," Leo's low voice rumbled through his chest, vibrating against my cheek. "He doesn't admit defeat easily. Never has, never will."

I found myself breathing in sync with Leo, the steady rise and fall of his chest helping to quell the fear and urge to scream that had been building inside me.

"Why don't you come home with me?" Leo suggested, his hand running soothingly up and down my arm. "You can shower, get some sleep. We can come back in the morning and swap out with Logan."

Logan moved closer, his hand coming up to stroke my cheek and temple. "Leo's right, baby," he said softly. "You should go home and rest. Luca will be out for a while with the pain meds."

I tilted my head back, looking at both of them. Their gentle smiles and concerned eyes melted away the last of my resistance. "Okay," I agreed. "But promise you'll call if anything changes?"

"Scout's honor," Logan said, holding up three fingers in a mock salute.

I couldn't help but snort. "Were you ever even a scout?"

"Nah," he grinned. "But I've seen enough movies to know the gesture."

The brief moment of levity helped ease some of the tension, and I found myself able to breathe a little easier as Leo and I headed home.

During the drive, I couldn't help but study Leo. In the harsh fluorescent lights of the hospital, I hadn't fully registered the extent of his injuries. Now, in the soft glow of the dashboard lights, I could see the cuts and bruises that marred his skin. Some were already scabbing over, but others still looked angry and raw.

As soon as we got home, I made a decision. Grabbing Leo's hand, I pulled him towards the master bathroom.

"Emily, what-" he started, but I cut him off.

"Mom left me some healing potions," I explained, turning on the faucet and watching as steaming water began to fill the large tub. "I think they'll help you recover faster."

Leo's eyebrows shot up, a mischievous glint entering his eyes. "You know what would help me recover even faster? If you joined me in that tub."

I felt my cheeks heat up at his suggestive tone, but I tried to keep my focus on the task at hand. "Nice try," I said, pouring the potion into the water. The liquid shimmered as it mixed with the bathwater, filling the air with the scent of herbs and magic.

I steadfastly avoided looking at Leo as he stripped down to his shorts, but I couldn't help the way my body temperature seemed to rise a few degrees. Stirring the water to make sure the potion was well-mixed, I mumbled something about letting him soak in peace and made a hasty retreat to my room.

Once alone, I found myself sinking to the floor, my back against the closed door. I closed my eyes, sending up a silent prayer to the Moon Goddess for Luca's recovery. As I sat there, I realized how much had changed in the past few months. The Emily who had been terrified of the bully triplets was gone, replaced by someone who genuinely cared for them - worried for them, even.

I thought back over our time together - the triplets' concern when I was injured, our dates, the skating adventure. With a start, I realized just how much I had come to like them. Not just tolerate, not just accept as mates, but genuinely like. Was this the power of the mate bond? This connection that seemed to be ingrained into our very beings, both mentally and physically? The way I could sense their emotions, feel their pain and pleasure as if it were my own?

My musings were interrupted by the sound of the bathroom door opening. Before I could move, I felt strong arms wrap around me from behind. I stiffened for a moment, acutely aware that Leo was very much naked, his body still damp from the bath.

"Feeling better?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady as I felt his... everything pressed against me. Especially his hard thing against my butt.

Leo hummed, burying his nose in my hair and inhaling deeply. The action was so canine that I couldn't help but giggle. "What's so funny?" he murmured, his breath hot against my ear.

"Nothing," I said, still fighting back laughter. "Just thinking about how you're basically a big dog sometimes."

Leo growled playfully, nipping at my earlobe. "I'll show you 'big dog'," he threatened, but there was no real heat behind it.

I turned in his arms, ready with another quip, but the words died in my throat as I took in the sight of him. The potion had done its job - most of his cuts were completely healed, leaving behind only faint pink lines. "We should get some sleep," he said, his voice rough. "It's been a long day."

I nodded, trying to ignore the pang of disappointment in my chest. "Right. Sleep. Good idea."

As we settled into bed - me in my pajamas, Leo in a pair of sweatpants - I couldn't help but feel hyperaware of his presence. Even with the space between us on the mattress, I could feel the heat radiating off his body. "Goodnight, little witch," Leo murmured, his voice already heavy with sleep.

"Goodnight, Leo," I whispered back.

As I drifted off, my last coherent thought was a mix of worry for Luca and a growing warmth for the boys who had somehow become such an important part of my life.

The next morning dawned bright and early, much to my dismay. I groaned, burying my face in my pillow as the sunlight streamed through the window.

"Rise and shine, sleeping beauty," Leo's voice, far too chipper for this ungodly hour, cut through my haze of sleep.

I cracked one eye open to glare at him. "Has anyone ever told you that you're annoyingly perky in the morning?"

He grinned, looking unfairly attractive for someone who'd been in a life-or-death battle less than 24 hours ago. "It's been mentioned once or twice. Come on, we need to get to the hospital. Logan's probably going stir-crazy by now." The mention of the hospital and Logan brought everything rushing back. Luca. The attack. The injury. I sat up so fast my head spun.

"Whoa, easy there," Leo said, steadying me with a hand on my shoulder. "Bathroom's all yours. I'll get some breakfast ready."

Twenty minutes later, freshly showered and marginally more awake, I made my way downstairs. The smell of coffee and bacon greeted me, making my stomach growl appreciatively.

"I didn't know you could cook," I said, taking in the spread on the kitchen island.

Leo shrugged, sliding a plate of eggs and bacon towards me. "I'm full of surprises. Eat up, we've got a long day ahead of us."

As we ate, I couldn't help but marvel at how... domestic this all felt. If someone had told me a few months ago that I'd be sitting here, sharing a quiet breakfast with Leo King, I would have laughed in their face. Or possibly checked them for a concussion.

The drive to the hospital was quiet, both of us lost in our own thoughts. As we approached Luca's room, I felt my anxiety ramping up again. What if something had happened overnight? What if-

My spiraling thoughts were cut short as we entered the room. Luca was awake, propped up on pillows and looking significantly better than he had the night before. Logan was slumped in a chair beside the bed, snoring softly. "Look what the cat dragged in." Luca said, his voice still rough but much stronger than last night.

I rushed to his side, relief washing over me in waves. "Luca! How are you feeling? Does it hurt? Do you need anything?"

He chuckled, wincing slightly at the movement. "Easy there, Em. I'm fine. Well, as fine as a guy with a chewed-up leg can be."

Leo moved to wake Logan, who startled awake with a snort. "Wha- I'm awake, I'm awake!"

"Sure you are, Sleeping Beauty," Leo teased. "Go home, get some real sleep. We've got it from here."

Logan nodded gratefully, pausing to ruffle Luca's hair and give me a quick hug before heading out.

As the day wore on, we fell into a sort of routine. Leo and I took turns fetching ice chips for Luca, adjusting his pillows, and generally trying to keep his spirits up. We swapped stories and jokes, carefully avoiding any mention of the attack or Luca's prognosis.

It wasn't until late afternoon, when Luca had dozed off again, that I finally broached the subject with Leo.

"He seems better," I said quietly, not wanting to wake Luca. "But... his leg. Do you think...?"

Leo sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I don't know, Em. Joe says it's too early to tell. The Lynx venom is making things... complicated."

I nodded, chewing on my lower lip. "I wish there was something more I could do. Some spell or potion that could just... fix this."

Leo pulled me into a hug, his chin resting on top of my head. "You're here. That's enough for Luca. More than enough. Plus Dad and Olivia will come back tomorrow."

We stood like that for a while, drawing comfort from each other's presence. It was in that moment, surrounded by Leo's warmth and with Luca's steady breathing in the background, that I realized something.

"Emily," he said softly, one hand coming up to cup my cheek. "I-"

But whatever he was about to say was cut off by a groan from the bed. We both turned to see Luca stirring, his face scrunched up in pain.

The moment broken, we moved to Luca's side. As I helped him take a sip of water, I couldn't help but wonder what Leo had been about to say. And more importantly, why a part of me was disappointed that he hadn't gotten to finish. As night fell and visiting hours came to an end, I found myself reluctant to leave.

"Stay with me tonight?" Leo asked quietly as we walked to the car. "I... I don't really want to be alone either."

I nodded, relief flooding through me. "Yeah. Yeah, that sounds good."

That night, as we lay in bed - closer than we had been the night before, but still not touching - I found myself thinking about how much had changed. How these boys who I once couldn't stand had become so important to me. "Leo?" I whispered into the darkness.

"Hmm?"

"I'm glad you're here. That we're... that we're mates."

There was a moment of silence, and then I felt Leo's hand find mine under the covers, intertwining our fingers.

"Me too, little witch," he murmured. "Me too."