Trap of the King Alpha Triplet
Chapter 35 Welcome To Lunaris

Emily's POV.

I stood on the tarmac, watching in awe as Alpha Christ addressed the small army of werewolves before us. The air thrummed with energy, a mix of excitement and tension that made my skin prickle. "Remember," Alpha Christ's voice boomed, carrying easily over the assembled wolves, "constant vigilance. No movement, no matter how small, escapes your notice. Our pack's safety depends on you." The wolves nodded in unison, their eyes glowing with determination.

"Ready to go, little witch?" Leo's voice startled me out of my thoughts. He stood beside me, a gentle smile on his face that contrasted sharply with the seriousness of the moment.

I nodded, hefting my overstuffed bag. "As ready as I'll ever be to fly across an ocean to a werewolf metropolis," I quipped, trying to hide my nervousness with humor.

Luca appeared on my other side, throwing an arm around my shoulders. "Aw, don't worry, Em. We'll protect you from all the big, scary city wolves."

I rolled my eyes, shrugging off his arm. "My hero," I deadpanned, but I couldn't quite hide my smile.

As we boarded Alpha Christ's private jet (because of course he had one), I couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement in my stomach. This was it - my first real adventure outside of Windridge.

The interior of the plane was more luxurious than anything I'd ever seen. Plush leather seats, gleaming wood paneling, even a mini-bar in the corner. I sank into one of the seats by the window, pressing my face against the glass like an excited kid.

"First time flying?" Logan asked, settling into the seat across from me.

I nodded, not taking my eyes off the view. "Is it that obvious?"

"Only extremely," he teased. "But don't worry, it's cute."

As the plane took off, I gripped the armrests tightly, my stomach doing somersaults. Leo, sitting beside me, gently pried one of my hands loose, intertwining our fingers.

"Relax," he murmured. "I've got you."

I turned to look at him, ready with a snarky comeback, but the words died in my throat. The sincerity in his eyes, the warmth of his hand in mine - it made my heart do a little flip that had nothing to do with the plane's ascent. Once we were in the air, the triplets took turns pointing out landmarks below, peppering me with trivia about Windridge that I'd never known.

"See that cluster of trees there?" Luca said, leaning across me to point out the window. "Legend has it that's where the first Alpha of Windridge made his den."

"And over there," Logan chimed in, "is where we had our first full moon run. Man, that was a wild night."

"Wild how?" I asked, genuinely curious.

The boys exchanged mischievous grins. "Let's just say it involved three young wolves, a very angry farmer, and about fifty startled sheep," Leo said with a wink.

I laughed, shaking my head. "Why am I not surprised?"

A stewardess approached, offering drinks. Before I could respond, Logan spoke up.

"She'll have the Lunar Eclipse," he said with a grin. At my questioning look, he added, "Trust me, it'll help with the flight nerves."

The drink, when it arrived, was a swirling mix of deep purple and midnight blue, with what looked like edible silver stars floating on top. It was beautiful - and strong. One sip had warmth spreading through my entire body. "Wow," I said, my eyes widening. "That's... potent."

"Told you," Logan said with a wink. "Werewolf metabolism, baby. We need the strong stuff."

Before I knew it, I'd drained the glass. A loud burp escaped me, making me clap a hand over my mouth in embarrassment. But the triplets just laughed.

"There's our classy Luna," Luca teased, reaching over to ruffle my hair.

I swatted his hand away, but I was grinning. The nerves from earlier had faded, replaced by a warm, fuzzy feeling that I wasn't entirely sure was just from the drink.

The rest of the flight passed in a blur of laughter, stories, and increasingly ridiculous in-flight games. By the time we began our descent into Lunaris, my sides hurt from laughing and I felt closer to the triplets than ever before. As we stepped off the plane, I was hit by a wall of unfamiliar scents and sounds. Lunaris was... overwhelming. Skyscrapers stretched towards the sky, their gleaming surfaces reflecting the setting sun. The air was thick with the scent of thousands of werewolves, mixed with something electric that I could only assume was magic.

"Wow," I breathed, trying to take it all in.

"Welcome to Lunaris, little witch," Leo said. "What do you think?"

"It's..." I struggled to find the words. "It's incredible."

A sleek black car was waiting for us on the tarmac, a distinguished-looking man standing beside it. As we approached, he bowed deeply.

"Alpha Christ, Luna Olivia, welcome back to Lunaris," he said smoothly. "I am Beta Marcus. Alpha King sends his regards and looks forward to your arrival at the manor."

As we piled into the car, I couldn't stop staring out the window. Lunaris was a feast for the senses - werewolves of all shapes and sizes walked the streets, some in business suits, others in what looked like traditional pack clothing. I saw shops advertising everything from magical artifacts to the latest in lycanthrope fashion.

"Is that... a drive-thru butcher shop?" I asked, pointing at a building we passed.

Logan nodded. "Yep. For when you need a quick snack on full moon nights."

I shook my head in amazement. "This place is wild."

The car turned down a long, winding driveway, and suddenly we were face to face with the most impressive building I'd ever seen. The Alpha King's manor made our packhouse look like a quaint cottage in comparison.

As we stepped out of the car, I felt a wave of nervousness wash over me. This was the heart of werewolf society. What if I embarrassed myself? What if I embarrassed the pack?

As if sensing my anxiety, Leo placed a reassuring hand on my lower back. "You've got this," he murmured. "Just be yourself."

We were led through the manor by Beta Marcus, who pointed out various historical artifacts and pieces of art. I tried to pay attention, but my mind was reeling. Every room we passed seemed more opulent than the last, with vaulted ceilings, intricate tapestries, and furniture that looked older than Windridge itself.

Finally, we reached what I could only assume was the main parlor. And there, seated in a chair that could only be described as a throne, was Alpha King.

He was... impressive, to say the least. Tall and broad-shouldered, with salt-and-pepper hair and eyes that seemed to glow with power. When he stood to greet us, I felt the air shift, as if the very room was acknowledging his authority. "Christ, old friend," Alpha King boomed, clasping Alpha Christ's arm. "It's good to see you. And Olivia, radiant as ever."

His gaze fell on me, and I felt my breath catch in my throat. "And this must be young Emily. I've heard much about you, child."

I curtsied awkwardly, not entirely sure of the protocol. "It's an honor to meet you, Alpha King."

He chuckled, the sound warm and rich. "Please, call me Arthur. We're all friends here." His eyes twinkled with amusement. "Now, I'm sure you young ones are eager to explore. Why don't you show Emily the gardens while we old folks catch up?"

The triplets nodded eagerly, and before I knew it, I was being whisked away down another ornate hallway.

The gardens, when we reached them, were breathtaking. Flowers of every color imaginable bloomed in carefully tended beds, their scents mingling in the air to create a heady perfume. Fountains burbled merrily, and I could hear the distant sound of what might have been a waterfall.

"This place is amazing," I said, spinning in a slow circle to take it all in.

"Wait till you see the maze," Luca said with a grin. "We used to play hide and seek in there for hours."

As we wandered deeper into the gardens, the triplets regaled me with stories of their past visits - the trouble they'd gotten into, the secrets they'd discovered. It was nice, seeing this playful side of them. So different from the intimidating bullies they'd once been.

We rounded a corner, and I stopped dead in my tracks. There, in the distance - maybe fifty yards away, near a cluster of weeping willows - was a figure that made my heart skip a beat. The man was tall, with a head of curly hair that looked achingly familiar, even from this far away. He wore a leather jacket that tugged at the edges of my memory, like a half-forgotten dream.

"Dad?" I whispered, my voice barely audible, more of a breath than a word.

The triplets fell silent, following my gaze. I squinted, trying to make out more details, but the man was too far away, his features indistinct in the late afternoon light. Was I just seeing what I wanted to see? It had been so long - over ten years since he'd walked out of our lives. My memories of him were hazy at best, cobbled together from old photographs and the few clear recollections I had from childhood. "Em?" Leo said softly. "What is it?"

I shook my head, uncertainty gnawing at me. "I... I think I see... but it can't be..." I trailed off, unable to voice the hope and confusion swirling inside me.

Even if it was him, what would he be doing here? In the heart of werewolf society, so far from where he'd left us? It didn't make sense. And yet, something about the way the man stood, the set of his shoulders - it called to something deep inside me, a part of me that had been aching for over a decade.

"Dad?" I called out, a little louder this time, my voice trembling with a mix of hope and fear.

The figure turned slightly as if hearing my call. For a moment, I thought I saw him start to move towards us. But then a group of chattering werewolves passed between us, and when they cleared, the spot where the man had been standing was empty.

I blinked, rubbing my eyes. Had I imagined the whole thing?