Trap of the King Alpha Triplet

Emily's

POV.

The silence in the house was deafening. I paced back and forth in the living room, my nerves frayed to the breaking point. The sensing spell I'd cast on the triplets hummed in the back of my mind, a constant reminder of the danger they were

in. "Come on, guys," I muttered, wringing my hands. "Give me something. Anything."

As if in response to my plea, a sharp pain lanced through my body. I gasped, doubling over as the sensation radiated from my core outwards. It wasn't my pain - I knew that instinctively. This was something else, something tied to the spell I'd cast.

One of the triplets was hurt.

The realization hit me like a physical blow. Without thinking, I bolted for the door, my heart pounding in my chest. I had to find them, had to help somehow.

But as I stood on the porch, the cool night air biting at my skin, I hesitated. Where would I even start looking? The pack territories were vast, and I had no idea where the fighting was taking place.

Just as despair began to creep in, a howl cut through the air. It was distant, but I'd know that voice anywhere.

Luca.

I took off running, my feet pounding against the earth as I sprinted in the direction of the howl. My lungs burned, muscles screaming in protest, but I pushed through it. Nothing mattered except getting to them, to him. Branches whipped at my face as I tore through the forest, leaving stinging scratches in their wake. I stumbled over roots and rocks, my coordination shot to hell in my panic. But I didn't slow down. I couldn't.

Halfway through my mad dash, my phone rang. I nearly ignored it, but a nagging voice in the back of my head told me to answer.

"Hello?" I panted, not breaking stride.

"Emily." Leo's voice came through, tight with tension. "Where are you?"

"I'm-" I gasped for air, my lungs on fire. "I'm coming to find you. I felt- I knew something was wrong."

There was a pause, and I could almost see Leo pinching the bridge of his nose in that way he did when he was stressed.

"The intruders have been repelled," he said finally. "For now, at least. But Emily... Luca's hurt. Bad. His right leg-"

My blood ran cold. "What about his leg, Leo?"

Another pause, this one longer and heavier. "It was bitten. Pretty severely. We're at the hospital now."

I skidded to a halt, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might burst from my chest. "I'm on my way," I said, already changing direction.

Leo gave me the details, and I took off again, this time with a clear destination in mind. As I ran, I couldn't help but berate myself. Why hadn't I practiced more teleportation spells? Sure, they were advanced magic, but in moments like these, they'd be invaluable.

By the time I reached the hospital, I was a mess. My hair was tangled with leaves and twigs, my clothes were torn and dirty, and I was pretty sure I had about a dozen scratches on my face and arms. But none of that mattered.

I burst through the emergency room doors, wild-eyed and panting. "Luca King," I gasped out to the startled receptionist. "Where is he?"

Before she could answer, a heart-wrenching cry echoed through the halls. It was a sound of pure agony, one that cut straight to my soul.

Luca.

I took off down the hallway, following the sound. I rounded a corner and there they were - Leo and Logan, standing outside what I assumed was the operating room. They both looked worse for wear, with dried blood matting their fur and various cuts and bruises visible even through their clothes.

"Emily," Logan said, relief evident in his voice. "You made it."

I nodded, too out of breath to speak. My eyes darted between them and the closed door, behind which I could still hear Luca's pained whimpers.

"What happened?" I finally managed to choke out.

Leo's face darkened. "RiverFang," he spat the name like a curse. "They attacked our borders. But they weren't alone - they had Lynx with them."

My eyes widened. I'd read about Lynx shifters, but I'd never encountered one. They were notorious for being aggressive and territorial, rarely allying themselves with other shifter species.

"Luca was fighting one of the Lynx," Logan continued, his voice tight. "He took it down, but... one of the RiverFang wolves got him from behind. Bit clean through his leg."

I felt like I might be sick. "But he'll heal, right?" I asked, grasping at straws. "I mean, werewolves heal fast, especially Alphas."

The brothers exchanged a look that made my stomach drop.

"We're not sure," Leo admitted. "Joe's in there now, trying to figure it out. But Lynx bites... they're different. Their saliva can be toxic to werewolves."

A whimper escaped my throat before I could stop it. Logan immediately wrapped an arm around my shoulders, pulling me close.

"Hey, hey," he murmured. "Luca's tough. He'll pull through this."

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. We lapsed into an uneasy silence, the only sound the muffled cries coming from behind the closed door. Each one felt like a knife to my heart. After what felt like an eternity, the door swung open. Joe stepped out, her scrubs splattered with blood. My breath caught in my throat at the sight.

"Well?" Leo demanded, his alpha authority bleeding into his voice.

Joe sighed, pulling off her surgical cap. "I've done what I can for now," she said. "Cleaned the wound, set the broken bones. But..."

"But what?" Logan pressed.

"The Lynx saliva is interfering with his healing," Joe explained. "I've given him some medication for the pain, but ultimately, his recovery will depend on his own strength." "What are you saying?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "Will he... will he lose the leg?"

Joe's eyes softened as she looked at me. "I don't think so," she said gently. "But there's a small chance he could be left with permanent damage. We'll just have to wait and see."

A sob bubbled up in my throat. Logan's arm tightened around me, and I felt Leo's hand come to rest on my back.

"Even if-" Logan's voice cracked, and he cleared his throat before continuing. "Even if he does have lasting damage, Luca's still one of the strongest wolves I know. He'll adapt. We'll help him." Joe nodded. "The best thing for him now is to be surrounded by a pack. By his mates," she added, giving me a significant look. "Your presence will help ease his pain, both physical and emotional." "Can we see him?" Leo asked.

"Yes, but only for a short while. He needs rest."

As we filed into the room, I had to bite back another sob. Luca lay on the hospital bed, looking smaller and more vulnerable than I'd ever seen him. His right leg was heavily bandaged, elevated on a pillow. His face was pale, lined with pain even in sleep.

Without thinking, I moved to his side, taking his hand in mine. His skin was hot to the touch, fever bright.

"Oh, Luca," I whispered, brushing a lock of hair from his forehead.

His eyes fluttered open at my touch, hazy with pain and medication. "Em?" he croaked.

"I'm here," I said, squeezing his hand. "We're all here."

Leo and Logan moved to the other side of the bed, each placing a hand on their brother. I could feel the bond between them, almost tangible in its intensity. "Did we win?" Luca asked, his words slightly slurred.

Leo chuckled, though it sounded a bit forced. "Yeah, little brother. We won. Those mutts won't be back anytime soon."

Luca's lips twitched in a weak smile. "Good," he mumbled. Then his eyes found mine again, a flicker of worry crossing his face. "You okay, Em? Didn't get hurt?"

I shook my head, marveling at his concern for me even in this state. "I'm fine," I assured him. "Just worried about you, you big dummy."

He huffed out a laugh that quickly turned into a grimace of pain. "M'okay," he insisted, though the tightness around his eyes belied his words. "Just a scratch." "Sure," Logan rolled his eyes. "Because 'just a scratch' usually requires surgery and has Joe looking like she went ten rounds with a meat grinder." Luca's eyes were starting to droop, the medication clearly taking effect. "Don't make me laugh," he whined. "Hurts."

"Sleep, Luca," Leo said softly. "We'll be here when you wake up."