Trap of the King Alpha Triplet
Chapter 8 Claiming His Mate

Emily. No.

It can't be. It's impossible.

They can't be my mates. Not them, not the cruel, arrogant monsters who have tormented me at every turn.

But even as the thought crosses my mind, I know it's true. The pull is too strong, the connection too deep to deny. It's like a string tying us together, a bond that can never be broken.

I let out a howl, long and mournful, as the reality of the situation crashes down on me. I'm a hybrid, a freak, an outcast. And now, I'm mated to the three most ruthless, cruel boys in the pack.

Jasmine's jaw drops, her eyes wide with horror."No," her voice was trembling. "This can't be happening. You can't be their mate. You're nothing, a nobody. I'm the one who's supposed to be Luna, not you." But even as she speaks, I can see the truth dawning in the triplets' eyes.

I was sure they felt it too, the undeniable pull of the mate bond.

I take a step back, my heart pounding in my chest like a war drum. I can't deal with this, not now. Not ever.

So I do the only thing I can think of.

I run.

As I race through the woods, the wind whipping through my fur, I feel a sense of freedom I've never known before. Out here, in the wild, I'm not a freak or an outcast. I'm just a wolf, running with the wind, chasing the moon. But even as I revel in the rush of my newfound power, I can't shake the feeling of dread that settles in the pit of my stomach. Because I know that no matter how far I run, no matter how fast I go, I can't outrun the truth. I'm mated to the King Triplets.

And my life will never be the same again.

As I run deeper into the forest, the trees blurring into a sea of green and brown, I try to make sense of the chaos swirling inside my head. How could this happen? How could the moon goddess be so cruel, so twisted, as to tie me to the three boys who have made my life a living hell?

It's like some kind of cosmic joke, a sick punchline to a story I never wanted to be a part of. I'm the outcast, the freak, the girl who never quite fit in. And now, I'm supposed to be the mate of the most powerful, influential wolves in the pack? But even as I try to deny it, even as I try to push away the truth, I can feel the bond tugging at my heart, pulling me back towards the triplets like a magnet. It's a force I can't fight, a destiny I can't escape.

And deep down, in a part of myself I've never dared to acknowledge, I know that this is what I've always wanted. To belong, to be chosen, to be loved.

But not like this. Not with them.

I don't know how long I run, my lungs burning. But eventually, I find myself back at the edge of the woods, the lights of the school twinkling in the distance like a beacon of hope.

I shift back into my human form, my bones cracking and realigning as I stand on shaky legs. I'm naked, my clothes shredded by the transformation, but I don't care. All I can think about is getting as far away from this place, from the triplets, as possible.

But as I take a step towards the school, towards the safety of Arya's arms and the comfort of my own bed, I hear a twig snap behind me.

I whirl around, my heart leaping into my throat as I come face to face with the last person I want to see.

Leo.

He's standing there, his golden eyes glowing in the moonlight, his expression unreadable. For a moment, we just stare at each other, the tension crackling between us like electricity.

And then he speaks, his voice low and rough, like gravel over silk. "You can't run from this, Emily," he says, his eyes boring into mine with an intensity that makes my knees weak. "You can't run from us. We're your mates, whether you like it or not."

I swallow hard, my mouth suddenly dry as the Sahara. "I don't want this," I whisper. "I don't want you."

He takes a step closer, his body heat rolling off him in waves. "Liar," he murmurs, his breath hot against my ear. "I can feel it, the pull between us. You want this just as much as we do."

I shake my head, tears stinging my eyes. "No," I choke out. "I can't. I won't."

I step back, I look up at Leo, "No," I say, the tremors wracking my body. "I won't accept this. I don't want to be your mate, any of you. We should reject each other, break the bond before it's too late."

His eyes darken, a dangerous edge creeping into his expression. "Reject us?" he repeats. "You think you can just reject us?"

He steps closer, his hand gripping my arm with a bruising force. "You are ours, Emily. You belong to us. And I will not allow you to reject me."

Before I can react, he lowers his head, his mouth grazing the sensitive skin of my neck. I feel his teeth graze my skin, and I freeze in shock. Is he trying to claim me as his?

Just as I'm about to push him away, I hear a commotion behind us, the sound of pounding feet and angry voices. Luca and Logan burst through the trees, their eyes wide with shock as they take in the scene before them. "Leo, what the hell are you doing?" Luca demands.

Logan growls, his eyes flashing with anger as he takes in the bite mark on my neck. "She's not ready. You can't just claim her like that, brother. She has to accept the bond willingly."

Leo's eyes are wild with anger and something else, something raw and primal. "She belongs to us," he snarls, his gaze locked on mine. "She needs to understand that."

I back away, my heart pounding in my chest. "You can't force me," I whisper. "You can't make me want this."

Luca and Logan exchange a glance, a silent communication passing between them. Then, in a blur of motion, they're on either side of Leo, their hands gripping his arms and pulling him back. "Let her go, Leo," Luca says. "This isn't the way."

Logan steps between us, his expression calm but firm. "Emily, go. We'll handle Leo."

I turn and run, leaving the triplets behind. I can hear Leo's enraged howl echoing through the trees, the sound of it sending shivers down my spine.

But I don't look back. I have to get away, have to put as much distance between myself and the triplets as possible.

Because even though the bond is pulling at me, even though every instinct in my body is screaming at me to go back, to submit to my mates and take my place at their side...

I know that I can't.