Bound to the Triplet Alphas-Chapter 41: The Ultimatum

ARIA POV

"Drop your weapon or the healer dies first," Alpha Darius growled, pushing the Blade of Severing against Lucien’s throat.

I froze. My fingers tightened around the Moon Chamber key. Every part of me wanted to fight, but Lucien’s eyes met mine with quiet warning. Behind Darius, Elira and the guards blocked the only route.

"You wouldn’t kill your own son," I said, trying to sound brave despite my racing heart.

Alpha Darius laughed, a cold sound that sent shivers down my spine. "To save our bloodline? To protect our pack from the evil you’ve awakened? I would sacrifice much more."

Kael stepped forward, his face stone-cold. "Father, this has gone too far."

"Silence!" Darius roared. "You’ve been charmed by her. All of you. The Blackwood line has stood strong for centuries because we’ve made the hard decisions."

The guards moved closer. I glanced at Mira, who stood quietly in the corner. She gave me the tiniest nod. We had practiced emergency signs during our childhood—this one meant she had a plan.

"What do you want?" I asked, buying time.

"The key. And you," Darius said simply. "The Moon Chamber must be shut forever, and you must be... contained. The curse ends tonight."

Jaxon laughed bitterly. "By killing our mate? That’s your solution?"

"She is not your true mate!" Darius shouted, his face going red. "The bond you feel is twisted magic, caused by the curse. Elena’s daughter was never meant to find her way back to our pack."

My mother’s name on his lips made my blood boil. "You knew her. You knew who I was all along."

Something flashed in his eyes—was it guilt? "I did what was necessary."

"You murdered her," I whispered as the truth suddenly became clear. "My mother died because of you."

The room fell silent. Even Elira looked shocked.

"Your mother threatened everything," Darius finally said. "The forecast was clear—a daughter of moon and shadow would bring down the Alpha line. I couldn’t let that happen."

Kael’s hands clenched at his sides. "You told us she died in childbirth."

"A necessary lie," Darius answered coldly. "Just as necessary as what must happen now." He pressed the blade harder against Lucien’s throat. A small line of blood appeared.

My mind raced. I couldn’t let him hurt Lucien or the others. But I also couldn’t let him get the key to the Moon Chamber. According to Kael’s vision, that’s where he planned to pass the curse to me permanently.

"Wait," I said, raising my hands. "I have a deal for you."

Darius narrowed his eyes. "I’m not interested in deals."

"You should be," I replied. "Kill me, and the curse will only get worse. The Moon Goddess picked me for a reason. But I’m willing to go with you quietly."

"Aria, no!" Jaxon shouted, but I hushed him with a look.

"What’s your deal?" Darius asked suspiciously.

I took a deep breath. "Let the brothers go unhurt. All three of them. Give me until the next full moon to find another way to break the curse. If I can’t, I’ll surrender to whatever routine you have planned."

"That’s only five days away," Mira gasped.

"Five days," I repeated firmly, looking Darius in the eye. "On the full moon, we meet at the Moon Chamber. If I haven’t found another answer by then, I’ll do whatever you ask."

Darius considered me for a long moment. "And the key?"

"I’ll keep it," I said boldly. "Insurance that you’ll keep your word about the brothers."

He laughed. "You think I’d agree to that?"

"I think you’re desperate," I replied. "The curse is getting worse. I can feel it, and so can you. You need me cooperative for your process to work."

His silence told me I was right.

"Fine," he finally said. "Five days. But you come with me now, where I can watch you. The brothers stay free, but they cannot leave pack territory."

"And Mira stays with me," I added quickly.

Darius paused, then nodded. "The omega can accompany you."

Kael stepped forward. "Father, this is crazy. The prophecy—" "The prophecy will be broken," Darius snapped. "One way or another."

I walked toward Mira, my heart racing. As I passed Kael, our fingers brushed. The touch sent electricity through our link.

"Don’t do anything stupid," he whispered so softly only I could hear.

I reached Mira and pulled her into a hug. During our hug, I slipped the Moon Chamber key into her pocket.

"Find Elder Malin," I whispered against her ear. "The book discusses blood magic. Three drops from each son..."

She squeezed my hand to show she understood.

I turned back to Darius. "I’m ready."

"Aria, don’t!" Lucien called out, fighting against his father’s grip.

"It’s okay," I told him, trying to sound confident. "Five days is all I need."

As Darius released Lucien and grabbed my arm instead, I felt our bond stretch uncomfortably. The link with all three brothers pulled tight, like rubber bands about to snap.

"Remember your promise," I told Darius as he led me toward the door. "They stay safe."

"As long as they don’t interfere," he replied coldly.

I looked back at the brothers one last time. Kael’s face was a mask of rage, Jaxon looked ready to attack, and Lucien’s eyes were filled with pain. Our bond hummed between us, stronger than ever despite the distance growing.

"Five days," I said to them. "Trust me."

As the guards circled me and we left the shed, I heard Elira whisper to Darius.

"You know the ritual won’t work if she’s unwilling," she said. "The Moon Chamber requires a true sacrifice."

Darius’s grip tightened painfully on my arm. "Then we’ll make sure she’s willing by the full moon."

A chill ran down my spine as I caught the meaning behind his words. He wasn’t going to wait five days at all. Whatever he had planned would happen much sooner.

And as we walked away from the brothers, I felt something strange happening to our bond. Instead of fading with distance, it was changing—becoming something new. The power inside me stirred, reacting to the danger.

The Moon Alpha was waking, and not even Alpha Darius knew what that really meant.

What he didn’t know was that I had already seen inside his mind when our hands touched. I knew exactly what ritual he planned. And I knew something he didn’t: The chamber wouldn’t just pass the curse to me.

It would open something much worse.