Trap of the King Alpha Triplet
Chapter 37 The Moon Daughter

Emily's POV.

The dining room of Alpha King's manor was a scene straight out of a fairytale - if fairytales involved werewolves, shifters, and enough tension to cut with a knife. As I took my seat between Leo and Logan, with Luca across from me, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was in way over my head.

"So, Emily," Luna Queen's melodious voice drew my attention. "I understand this is your first time in Lunaris. How are you finding our fair city?"

I swallowed hard, acutely aware of all eyes on me. "It's... overwhelming," I admitted. "But beautiful. I've never seen anything like it."

Prince Alaric leaned forward, his piercing blue eyes locked on mine. "Perhaps I could give you a personal tour tomorrow? There are some hidden gems that tourists never get to see."

A low growl rumbled from Leo beside me, so quiet I almost missed it. But Prince Alaric's smirk told me he'd heard it loud and clear.

"That's very kind of you," I said carefully, "but I wouldn't want to impose."

"Nonsense," Prince Alaric waved dismissively. "It would be my pleasure. Unless, of course, your... companions have other plans for you?"

The way he said "companions" made it clear what he thought of the triplets. I felt Leo tense beside me, and across the table, Luca's knuckles were white around his fork.

"I'm sure Emily can make her own decisions," Logan said, his voice deceptively calm. "Right, Em?"

Before I could respond, a server appeared at my elbow, presenting a plate of what looked like... moving sushi?

"Ah, the Lunar Eel," Alpha King said, noticing my bewildered expression. "A delicacy here in Lunaris. The eels are caught only during the full moon, when their flesh is said to grant heightened senses to werewolves."

I stared at the wiggling bits of flesh on my plate, trying not to let my horror show on my face. "That's... fascinating," I managed.

Luca caught my eye from across the table, his lips twitching with suppressed laughter. He mouthed "Nemo" at me, and I had to bite my lip to keep from giggling. Trust Luca to make a Disney reference at a time like this.

As the first course was served, I couldn't help but sneak glances at Garrett. He was engaged in quiet conversation with Prince Alaric, his brow furrowed in concentration. There was something so achingly familiar about the way he gestured as he spoke, the cadence of his voice. But every time I thought I saw a flash of recognition in his eyes, it vanished, leaving me more confused than ever.

"You seem distracted, my dear," Luna Queen's voice cut through my thoughts. "Is everything alright?"

I started, nearly knocking over my water glass. Leo's hand shot out, steadying it before it could spill. "I'm fine," I said quickly. "Just... taking it all in."

Luna Queen's eyes narrowed slightly, and I was reminded of the conversation I'd overheard earlier. What did she know about me? About this mysterious prophecy?

"Indeed," she said softly. "There's much to... take in."

The weight of her gaze made me squirm in my seat. I cast about for a change of subject, my eyes landing on a ornate tapestry hanging on the far wall. It depicted a group of wolves howling at a blood-red moon. "That tapestry is beautiful," I said, gesturing towards it. "Is it very old?"

Alpha King followed my gaze, a small smile playing at his lips. "Ah, yes. That piece dates back to the founding of Lunaris. It's said to depict the first Great Howl, when all the werewolf packs came together under one Alpha." "The Great Howl?" I echoed, genuinely curious despite my nerves.

Prince Alaric leaned in, his eyes gleaming with interest. "It's an old werewolf tradition," he explained. "When a new Alpha rises to power, all the packs gather to howl together, strengthening the bonds between us. It's quite a sight... and sound." "Wow," I breathed. "That must be incredible to experience."

"Oh, it is," Luca chimed in, a hint of pride in his voice. "We participated in the last one when Alpha King renewed his vows to the pack. It was like... like..."

"Like being part of something bigger than yourself," Logan finished. "Like the entire world was singing in harmony."

I felt a pang in my chest. It sounded beautiful, magical even. But it was a world I'd never truly be part of, not fully. Not with my hybrid nature.

As if sensing my thoughts, Leo's hand found mine under the table, giving it a gentle squeeze. The warmth of his touch sent a shiver up my arm, and for a moment, I forgot about everything else - the overheard conversation, the mysterious Garrett, even the wiggling eel on my plate.

"Perhaps Emily could participate in the next Great Howl," Prince Alaric suggested, his voice cutting through the moment like a knife. "It would be... interesting to see how a hybrid's voice meshes with pure werewolves."

The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees. I felt Leo's hand tighten around mine, saw Logan's jaw clench out of the corner of my eye.

"I'm sure Emily's voice would be a welcome addition," Alpha King said smoothly, defusing the tension with practiced ease. "After all, diversity is the strength of any pack."

Luna Queen nodded, but there was a calculating look in her eye that made me uneasy. "Indeed. And speaking of diversity, Emily, I'd love to hear more about your magical abilities. It's not often we have a witch-werewolf hybrid in our midst." I swallowed hard, feeling like a butterfly pinned to a board under her scrutiny. "Oh, I'm... I'm still learning, really. Nothing too impressive."

"Nonsense," Luca interjected, his voice warm with pride. "Em's amazing. You should see the way she can manipulate elements. There was this one time at school when she accidentally set the chemistry lab on fire-" "Luca!" I hissed, mortified.

He grinned unrepentantly. "What? It was badass. And hilarious. Mr. Wilkins' eyebrows didn't grow back for weeks."

Despite my embarrassment, I couldn't help but laugh at the memory. The triplets joined in, and for a moment, it felt like we were back home, just us against the world.

But the moment was shattered by Prince Alaric's silky voice. "Impressive indeed. Tell me, Emily, have you ever considered further magical training? The Royal Academy here in Lunaris has an excellent program for gifted individuals." I blinked, taken aback by the offer. "I... I hadn't really thought about it," I admitted.

"You should," he pressed. "With your unique abilities, you could go far. Perhaps even help bridge the gap between werewolves and the wider supernatural community."

The triplets exchanged glances, a silent conversation passing between them. I could practically feel the tension radiating off them.

"Emily's training is already well taken care of," Leo said, his voice low and authoritative. "Our pack has some of the best magical tutors in the country."

Prince Alaric raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? And tell me, how many hybrid witch-werewolves have they trained before?"

Before Leo could retort, I cut in. "I appreciate the offer, Prince Alaric, but I'm happy with my current arrangement. Maybe we could discuss magical theory sometime, though? I'd love to learn more about the differences between werewolf and witch magic."

His eyes lit up, and I saw Luna Queen and Alpha King exchange a loaded glance. "I'd be delighted," Prince Alaric said. "Perhaps during our tour tomorrow?"

I felt Leo stiffen beside me, but before he could say anything, a commotion from the kitchens drew everyone's attention.

There was a crash, followed by a string of colorful curses that would have made a sailor blush. Suddenly, the kitchen doors burst open, and a blur of fur and fangs came barreling into the dining room.

"What in the moon's name-" Alpha King started, but his words were cut off as the creature - a wolf, I realized with a start - leaped onto the table, sending dishes flying.

It was chaos. Luna Queen let out a very un-queenly shriek as a bowl of soup landed in her lap. Prince Alaric jumped to his feet, his chair toppling backward. And the triplets... well, they looked like they were having the time of their lives. "Ten bucks says it's heading for the Lunar Eel," Logan said, grinning from ear to ear.

Sure enough, the wolf made a beeline for my still-wiggling plate, gobbling down the eel in one swift motion before anyone could stop it.

"Someone catch that mutt!" one of the servers yelled, brandishing a soup ladle like a weapon.

Without thinking, I stood up, holding out my hand towards the wolf. "Hey there," I said softly, channeling every bit of calm I could muster. "It's okay. No one's going to hurt you."

To my amazement and to everyone else's shock, the wolf stopped, turning its head to look at me. Its eyes were a startling shade of amber, intelligence shining in their depths.

Slowly, carefully, I approached the wolf, my hand still outstretched. "That's it," I murmured. "Good boy... or girl. Sorry, I'm not great at wolf gender identification."

A snort that sounded suspiciously like laughter came from Luca's direction, but I ignored it, focusing on the wolf. As I got closer, I could see that its fur was matted and dirty, ribs visible beneath the tangled coat. This wasn't some pampered pet - it was a stray, probably desperate for food.

Just as my fingertips were about to brush its fur, the wolf's ears pricked up. It turned its head towards the open window, letting out a low whine.

And then, in a move that defied everything I thought I knew about wolves, it spoke.

"She's coming," it said, its voice rough and gravelly. "The moon's daughter approaches. Beware the false alpha."