Trap of the King Alpha Triplet
Chapter 36 Prophecy

Emily's

POV

The gardens of Alpha King's manor faded into the background as we made our way back inside, my mind still reeling from what I thought I'd seen. Or rather, who I thought I'd seen. I can't help but still think about that man. Could he be my father? Though my father is a man I hadn't laid eyes on in over a decade.

"Em?" Leo's voice cut through my swirling thoughts. "You okay?"

I blinked, realizing we'd stopped in a grand hallway lined with portraits of stern-looking werewolves. The triplets were all staring at me with varying degrees of concern.

"Yeah, I'm... I'm fine," I said, not quite meeting their eyes. "Just a little overwhelmed, I guess."

Luca stepped closer, his hand coming to rest on my shoulder. "Hey, if you need a break-"

"No," I cut him off, perhaps a bit too sharply. Taking a deep breath, I softened my tone. "No, I'm okay. Really. Let's just... what's next on the agenda?"

The boys exchanged glances, having one of those silent conversations that still fascinated and frustrated me in equal measure.

"Well," Logan said finally, a mischievous glint in his eye, "we have about an hour before the formal dinner with Alpha King and Luna Queen. How do you feel about a little exploring?"

Despite the turmoil in my head, I felt a spark of excitement. "Exploring sounds good. Just... promise me we won't end up locked in a dungeon or something?"

Luca gasped dramatically, "Emily! When have we ever led you astray?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Do you want that list alphabetically or chronologically?"

Leo chuckled, slinging an arm around my shoulders. "Come on, little witch. We'll be on our best behavior. Scout's honor."

"You were never a scout," I pointed out, but I was smiling now, the tension from earlier starting to ease.

"Details, details," Leo waved dismissively.

As we bantered, I leaned against the wall, my hand brushing against an ornate sconce. To my surprise, it moved under my touch, and suddenly, the wall behind me swung open, revealing a dark passageway. "Whoa!" I yelped, stumbling backward. Leo caught me before I could fall, his arm wrapping securely around my waist.

"A secret passage?" Logan's eyes lit up with excitement. "How did we never find this before?"

"Must be our little witch's magical touch," Luca grinned, producing a flashlight from his pocket. "Ladies first?"

Before I could protest, curiosity got the better of me. I took the flashlight and stepped into the passage, the boys close behind.

"So," I said, trying to distract myself from the claustrophobic feeling creeping in, "any other deep, dark secrets of the Alpha King's manor I should know about?"

"Oh, tons," Luca said cheerfully. "There's the ghost in the east wing-"

"The cursed mirror in the attic-" Logan chimed in.

"The bottomless well in the old courtyard-" Leo added.

I stopped abruptly, causing a minor pile-up behind me. "Wait, seriously?"

The triplets burst into laughter. "Nah, we're just messing with you," Luca said, ruffling my hair. "Though the ghost thing is debatable. I swear I saw something weird in the library once."

I rolled my eyes, but I was grinning. "You guys are the worst. I can't believe I'm stuck with you as mates."

"Stuck with us, huh?" Leo's voice was low. "Is that really how you feel, little witch?"

I swallowed hard, my heart racing. "I... I didn't mean..."

Logan's hand came to rest on my waist, his touch burning even through my clothes. "Because we rather like being stuck with you, Em." "Yeah," Luca breathed, and I could feel him right behind me, his chest almost touching my back. "In fact, I'd say we're pretty damn lucky."

"Which way do you think we should go?" Luca asked, peering down both corridors.

"Let us three go left first. if it is safe, we can come back ang take Emily." Logan suggested.

Leo nodded. "Good idea. Emily, stay here? We'll check out the left and circle back in a few minutes."

I hesitated for a moment, but my curiosity won out. "Okay, but be careful. We don't want to get lost in here."

As the boys disappeared down the left passage, I stayed here and looked around. Suddenly, I heard voices drifting through the wall to my right.

I leaned closer, straining to make out the words.

"...can't ignore the signs any longer, Arthur," a woman's voice was saying, sounding frustrated. "The balance is shifting. We need to act now, before it's too late."

"And what would you have me do, Vivian?" A deep male voice. That is Alpha King. "Start a war based on rumors and speculation?"

My heart racing, I pressed my ear against the wall.

"They're more than rumors, and you know it," the woman - Luna Queen, I assumed - shot back. "The Rogue Alliance is growing stronger by the day. If we don't make a move soon, we'll be overrun." There was a heavy sigh, then the sound of footsteps pacing. "We can't afford to be hasty. One wrong move could plunge the entire supernatural world into chaos."

"And doing nothing could lead to the same result," Luna Queen countered. "What about the girl? The hybrid? Could she be the key we've been looking for?"

My breath caught in my throat. Hybrid girl? Were they talking about me?

"The hybrid is an unknown factor," Alpha King said slowly. "Her power is... unprecedented. But she's young, untrained. To put that kind of pressure on her now would be-"

"Necessary," Luna Queen finished firmly. "Arthur, we're running out of time. The prophecy-"

Prophecy? My mind reeled. What prophecy? And what did I have to do with any of this?

In my shock, I stumbled back, bumping into an old suit of armor. It wobbled precariously, and before I could steady it, it crashed to the ground with a deafening clang. "What was that?" Alpha King's voice sharpened.

Panic seized me. I turned and ran back the way I'd come, my heart pounding in my ears. I nearly collided with the triplets as they rounded the corner from the other passage. "Whoa, Em!" Luca steadied me. "What's the rush?"

"Did you find something?" Logan asked eagerly.

I shook my head, trying to catch my breath. "N-no, just... thought I heard something. We should probably head back."

Leo gave me a curious look but nodded. "Yeah, it's almost time for dinner anyway. We should get ready."

As we made our way back to the main hallway, my mind was reeling from what I'd overheard. But for some reason, I kept quiet. I just feel... I am not ready to share this information with the triplets just yet.

"Okay," Logan said, clapping his hands together. "We've got about twenty minutes to make ourselves presentable for dinner. Em, your room is right there. We'll meet you in the hall in fifteen?"

I nodded, grateful for the chance to be alone for a few minutes.

The room I'd been given was opulent, to say the least. A massive four-poster bed dominated the space, draped in silks that probably cost more than my entire wardrobe. The en-suite bathroom was bigger than my bedroom back home, with a tub that looked more like a small pool.

I quickly freshened up, splashing some water on my face and running a brush through my unruly curls. As I stared at my reflection, I couldn't help but wonder what Alpha King and Luna Queen saw when they looked at me. A key to some prophecy like they said? Come on! I am just a normal girl.

Shaking off those unsettling thoughts, I turned my attention to my suitcase. Mom had insisted on packing for me, which meant I had no idea what I'd find inside. To my relief (and slight suspicion), there was a beautiful midnight blue dress laid out on top, perfect for a formal dinner.

As I slipped it on, I couldn't help but admire the way it hugged my curves in all the right places. The neckline was lower than I was used to, and there was a daring slit up one leg, but overall, it was stunning. I had a sneaking suspicion that Mom had a little magical help in choosing this outfit.

A soft knock at the door startled me out of my admiration. "Em? You ready?" Luca's voice called out.

Taking a deep breath, I opened the door. The collective intake of breath from the triplets was almost comical.

"Wow," Logan breathed, his eyes wide.

"You look..." Leo started, seeming to struggle for words.

"Hot," Luca finished, earning him an elbow in the ribs from both his brothers. "Ow! What? She does!"

I felt my cheeks heat up, but I couldn't help the pleased smile that spread across my face. "Thanks. You guys clean up pretty well yourselves."

And they did. The boys were all wearing tailored suits that emphasized their broad shoulders and lean builds. Leo's was classic black, Logan's a deep charcoal, and Luca's a surprisingly daring navy. They looked like they'd stepped out of some magazine spread.

"Shall we?" Leo offered me his arm, ever the gentleman.

As we made our way to the dining room, I tried to quell the butterflies in my stomach. This wasn't just dinner - it was my official introduction to werewolf high society. One wrong move could embarrass not just me, but the entire Windridge Pack.

"Relax," Logan murmured, his hand coming to rest on the small of my back. "You've got this."

"Yeah," Luca added with a grin. "Just don't use the salad fork for your entree and you'll be fine."

I shot him a panicked look. "There are different forks?"

Before any of them could answer, we arrived at a set of massive double doors. Two attendants bowed deeply before pushing them open, revealing a dining room that took my breath away.

The ceiling seemed to stretch up forever, painted with intricate murals of wolves running beneath a full moon. A chandelier that looked like it was made of actual stars cast a warm glow over the room. The table itself was a work of art, carved from a single piece of wood that must have come from an ancient tree.

And at the head of the table, rising to greet us, were Alpha King and Luna Queen.

Alpha King was every bit as imposing as I remembered from our brief introduction earlier. His salt-and-pepper hair was neatly styled, and his tailored suit did nothing to hide the powerful build beneath. But it was his eyes that captured my attention - a swirling mix of gold and green that seemed to hold centuries of wisdom.

Luna Queen was, in a word, breathtaking. Her silver hair was piled atop her head in an elaborate style, and her gown seemed to shimmer with every movement, as if woven from moonlight itself. When she smiled, I felt an inexplicable urge to curtsy.

"Ah, our young guests," Alpha King's voice was warm and rich, filling the room effortlessly. "Welcome. Please, join us."

As we moved to take our seats, I caught sight of another figure rising from the table. He was young, probably only a few years older than the triplets, with dark hair and piercing blue eyes. When he smiled, I felt my breath catch in my throat. "Emily," Alpha King said, "allow me to introduce my son, Prince Alaric."

Prince Alaric took my hand, bringing it to his lips in a move that seemed both old-fashioned and thrilling. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Emily," he said, his voice smooth as silk. "I've heard so much about you."

As I fumbled for a response, I became acutely aware of the low growls emanating from the triplets beside me. The tension in the room ratcheted up several notches.

"And these must be the famous King triplets," Prince Alaric said smoothly, seemingly unperturbed by their hostile stares. "Your reputation precedes you."

Before anyone could respond, the doors burst open once more. A man strode in, his presence commanding immediate attention. He had curly hair, peppered with grey, and wore a leather jacket that tugged at the edges of my memory. For a heart-stopping moment, I thought it was my father.

But as he drew closer, I realized the details were off. His eyes were the wrong color, his jaw a different shape. It was like looking at a funhouse mirror version of the man who had walked out of my life a decade ago.

"Ah, Garrett," Prince Alaric said, smiling broadly. "I'm glad you could join us. Everyone, this is Professor Garrett, my most esteemed teacher and advisor."

He wasn't my father. He couldn't be. Could he?

The man - Garrett - swept his gaze over the room, his eyes landing on me for a brief moment before moving on. There was no recognition there, no hint that he knew me or my mother.

"A pleasure," he said, his voice achingly familiar yet subtly wrong. "I look forward to getting to know you all."