Trap of the King Alpha Triplet
Chapter 38 A Wolf Projection

Emily's

POV.

With that cryptic message, the wolf leaped off the table and out the window, disappearing into the night.

For a long moment, nobody moved. Nobody spoke. We all just stared at the open window, trying to process what had just happened. The cool night air wafted in, carrying with it the scent of jasmine and something wild, untamed. Finally, it was Garrett who broke the silence. "Well," he said, a hint of amusement in his voice, "I don't recall that being on the dinner menu."

His words seemed to break the spell. Suddenly, everyone was talking at once, their voices overlapping in a cacophony of confusion and excitement.

"Did that wolf just talk?" Logan asked, his eyes wide with disbelief. "I mean, I know we're werewolves, but that's... that's not normal, right?"

Luca leaned back in his chair, a grin spreading across his face despite the chaos. "Dude, nothing about this dinner has been normal. But a talking wolf? That's some serious Narnia-level stuff right there."

"What did it mean, 'the moon's daughter'?" Leo muttered, his brow furrowed in concentration. His eyes flickered to me for a moment.

I stood there, my mind reeling. Talking wolves, cryptic prophecies, mysterious father figures... It was all too much. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of madness, each revelation pulling me further from the shore of normalcy I'd once known. "Emily?" Prince Alaric's voice cut through the chaos, smooth as silk but with an undercurrent of urgency. "Are you alright? You look pale."

I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out. The room started to spin, black spots dancing at the edges of my vision. I felt like I was underwater, everyone's voices muffled and distant.

"Em?" Leo's voice, tinged with panic, seemed to come from far away. "Emily!"

I saw him reach for me, but it was too late. The darkness rushed in, and I felt myself falling, falling, falling...

When I came to, I was lying on something soft, the distant murmur of voices reaching my ears. I blinked, trying to focus on my surroundings. The world slowly came into focus, like a camera lens adjusting.

I was in a dimly lit room, lying on a plush velvet couch that probably cost more than my entire wardrobe. A fire crackled in a massive stone fireplace, casting dancing shadows on the walls. Bookshelves lined every available space, filled with ancient tomes and curious artifacts.

The triplets were huddled nearby, talking in hushed tones. I could hardly hear them.

Alpha King and Luna Queen stood by the fireplace, their faces grave as they conferred in low voices. And there, lurking in the shadows like some gothic novel character, was Garrett. His eyes were fixed on me with an intensity that made my skin prickle, like static electricity in the air before a storm.

"She's awake," Logan said suddenly, noticing my open eyes. In an instant, the triplets were by my side, their faces a mix of relief and concern.

"How are you feeling?" Leo asked, his hand coming to rest on my forehead. His touch was cool against my skin, grounding me in the moment.

"Like I just went ten rounds with a troll," I groaned, trying to sit up. My head throbbed with each movement, like a marching band had taken up residence in my skull. "What happened?"

"You fainted," Luca explained, helping me into a sitting position. His usual joking demeanor was subdued, worry clear in his eyes. "Right after that wolf did its whole 'Lassie meets Shakespeare' routine."

Despite everything, I couldn't help but snort at his description. Trust Luca to find humor even in the weirdest situations. "Right. That... that really happened, didn't it? I didn't hallucinate a talking wolf?"

"I'm afraid not, my dear," Luna Queen said, stepping closer. Her silver gown shimmered in the firelight, making her look more ethereal than ever. "Though I must say, in all my years, I've never seen anything quite like it."

Alpha King nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Indeed. It seems we have more mysteries on our hands than we realized." His eyes met mine, and I saw a flicker of something there. Maybe concern? Curiosity? It was gone before I could place it. I caught Garrett shifting in the corner of my eye. Before I could see him clearly, Prince Alaric burst into the room, looking windswept and slightly manic.

"The wolf," he panted, bracing himself against the doorframe. "It's gone. We've searched the entire grounds, but there's no trace of it. No paw prints, no scent trail, nothing. It's like it vanished into thin air."

"Of course it did," Garrett muttered, speaking for the first time since I'd woken up. His voice was low, almost a growl, and it sent a shiver down my spine. "It was never really here to begin with."

All eyes turned to him, confusion evident on every face. The room fell silent, the only sound the crackling of the fire and the pounding of my own heart.

"What do you mean?" Alpha King asked, his voice sharp as a blade. The air in the room seemed to thicken, charged with tension.

Garrett sighed, running a hand through his curly hair in a gesture so familiar it made my heart ache. For a moment, I saw my father in him so clearly it took my breath away. But then he spoke, and the illusion shattered.

"It was a projection," he explained, his voice weary. "A magical construct, created to deliver a message. An impressive bit of spellwork, I must admit. Whoever created it has considerable power."

"But who would do such a thing?" Luna Queen demanded. "And why? To what purpose?"

Garrett's eyes met mine, and for a split second, I saw a flash of recognition there. But it was gone so quickly I was sure I'd imagined it. "That," he said softly, "is the real question, isn't it?"

As the adults launched into a heated discussion about magical security and potential threats, I found myself drifting. The events of the day swirled in my mind like a tornado of confusion. Each new piece of information only seemed to raise more questions, leaving me feeling more lost than ever.

"Hey," Leo's voice was soft in my ear, pulling me back to the present. "You okay?"

I looked up at him, seeing the genuine concern in his eyes. In that moment, I wanted nothing more than to spill everything - my fears, my suspicions, the weight of secrets pressing down on me. But something held me back. A nagging voice in the back of my mind warned me that the less people knew, the safer I'd be. But safer from what?

"I'm fine," I lied, forcing a smile that felt brittle even to me.

He nodded, but I could tell he wasn't convinced. His hand found mine, intertwining our fingers in a gesture that felt both comforting in its intimacy. "You know you can talk to us, right?

I swallowed hard, guilt gnawing at my insides. "I know," I whispered, squeezing his hand. "Thank you."

Before he could press further, Alpha King's voice cut through the room like a whip crack. "I think it's best if we all retire for the night," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "We'll reconvene in the morning to discuss our next steps. For now, I want guards posted at every entrance. No one enters or leaves without my express permission."

As everyone began to file out of the room, I caught snippets of hushed conversations.

"...need to increase security..."

"...what if it's connected to the Rogue Alliance?"

"... the prophecy, could it be..."

My head was spinning again, but this time, I forced myself to stay upright. As I made my way to the door, leaning heavily on Leo for support, I felt a hand on my arm. Turning, I found myself face to face with Garrett.

"Emily," he said, his voice low and urgent. His eyes darted around the room, as if checking for eavesdroppers. "Be careful. Things are not always what they seem in Lunaris. Trust your instincts, and remember - the moon sees all."

Before I could respond, he was gone, melting into the shadows like he'd never been there at all. I stood there for a moment, staring at the spot where he'd been, trying to make sense of his cryptic warning.

"What was that about?" Logan asked, frowning as he watched Garrett's retreating form.

I shook my head, still reeling. "I... I'm not sure. He told me to be careful, that things aren't what they seem here."

Luca snorted, some of his usual humor returning. "Well, that's not ominous at all. Next thing you know, he'll be telling us to beware the Ides of March."

"This isn't funny, Luca," Leo growled, his arm tightening protectively around my waist. "Something weird is going on, and I don't like it. We need to be on our guard."

As we made our way back to our rooms, flanked by a pair of stone-faced guards, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was caught in the middle of something much bigger and more dangerous than I could have ever imagined. The corridors of the manor seemed to stretch on forever, the shadows deeper and more menacing than before.

"Try to get some rest," Leo said as we reached my door. His eyes searched mine, worry clear in their depths. "We'll figure this out in the morning, okay?"

I nodded, mustering up a weak smile. "Okay. Goodnight, guys. And... thanks. For everything."

They each hugged me in turn, their embraces warm and comforting. As I watched them disappear down the hallway, I felt a pang of longing. How easy it would be to let myself fall into their arms, to let them shoulder some of the weight that was threatening to crush me.

But as I closed my door and leaned against it, I knew I couldn't. Whatever was happening, whatever I was mixed up in, I couldn't drag them into it. I had to figure this out on my own.

I changed into my pajamas mechanically, my mind whirling with questions. What did the wolf's message mean? Who was the "moon's daughter"? And what did Garrett know that he wasn't telling us?

As I crawled into bed, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was missing something important. Some crucial piece of the puzzle that would make everything clear. I tossed and turned, unable to quiet my racing thoughts.

Just as I was finally starting to drift off, a soft scratching sound caught my attention. I sat up, my heart pounding in my chest, straining my ears in the darkness.

There it was again. Coming from... the window?

Slowly, cautiously, I crept out of bed and towards the sound. The curtains were drawn, but I could see a faint silhouette against the fabric, illuminated by the moonlight outside.

With trembling hands, I reached for the curtain. Taking a deep breath, I yanked it open.

There, perched on my windowsill as casually as if it belonged there, was a wolf. But not just any wolf. It was the same one from dinner, its amber eyes glowing with an otherworldly light.

I stumbled back, a scream caught in my throat. This couldn't be happening. It wasn't real. It was a dream, a hallucination brought on by stress and too much magical weirdness.

But then it spoke, its voice a low growl that sent shivers down my spine.

"The time has come, moon's daughter," it said, its eyes fixed on mine. "The false alpha rises, and with it, the tide of darkness. You must be ready."

"Ready for what?" I managed to choke out, my voice barely above a whisper. "Who are you? What do you want from me?"

The wolf tilted its head, regarding me with an almost human-like expression of curiosity. "I am but a messenger," it said. "The answers you seek lie within you, Emily Blackwood. Look to the moon, and remember who you are." With that, it turned and leaped from the windowsill, disappearing into the night. I rushed to the window, leaning out to catch a glimpse of it, but it was gone. Vanished as suddenly as it had appeared.

I sank to the floor, my legs no longer able to support me. My mind was reeling, trying to make sense of what had just happened. The wolf had known my name. It had called me "moon's daughter."

Okay. But what the hell did it all mean?

I definitely needed to talk to my mom.

Right, where is mom and Alpha Christ tonight?