Bound to the Triplet Alphas-Chapter 45: Power of Three

ARIA POV

I slammed the silver dagger down between Elira and me, making everyone jump.

"Don’t move," I told my newly-discovered half-sister, my voice shaking with anger and fear. "I saw what you’re planning."

Elira’s eyes widened. "What are you talking about?"

"I saw you with my blood on your hands," I said, the picture still fresh in my mind.

The triplets moved instantly. Kael and Jaxon positioned themselves between us, while Lucien pulled me back protectively.

"She’s lying," Elira insisted, fear crossing her face. "I came here to help!"

Elder Malin raised his hand for silence. "The Moon Alpha can see truth in touch," he stated. "If Aria saw betrayal, then betrayal is intended."

"Get her out," Kael told Jaxon, who grabbed Elira’s arm.

"Wait!" she cried as Jaxon dragged her toward the door. "Aria, please! You need me to break the curse. We both know it!"

The door slammed behind them, leaving an uneasy quiet.

"She’s right about one thing," Lucien said softly. "According to your mother’s journal, you need both Moon Alpha daughters."

I sank back onto the bed, my head spinning. "But if she’s planning to kill me..."

Lucien sat beside me, his gentle blue eyes meeting mine. "There must be another way. The journal talks of bonds, not just bloodlines."

He took my hand, and a warm current flowed through our joined fingers.

"What do you feel?" he asked.

I closed my eyes, focused on the sensation. "Calm. Healing. Like cool water over a burn."

"That’s my bond with you," Lucien explained. "Each of us connects to you differently."

Elder Malin nodded. "The triplets were born under three different stages of the moon. Strength, cunning, and healing—split between three sons to keep any one from becoming too powerful."

"But why bond to me at all?" I asked. "Why not just to Elira, if she’s also from the Moon Alpha line?"

"Because you have the mark," Elder Malin said simply. "The Goddess chose you."

A sudden thought struck me. "Wait. I need to test something."

I called for Kael, who entered instantly, his red eyes alert and watchful.

"Give me your hand," I said. When he paused, I added, "Please. It’s important."

Kael’s large hand enveloped mine, and the link was instant—white-hot and powerful, like touching lightning.

"Strength," I whispered, understanding flowing through me. "Raw power." freёnovelkiss.com

Jaxon returned from securing Elira, and I called him forward.

"Your turn."

His touch was different—electric and unexpected, setting my nerves tingling.

"Cunning," I said. "Quick thinking and adaptability."

I stood, looking at all three brothers. "You’re not fighting for my bond. You’re all part of it. Three bonds that form one link."

Elder Malin’s eyes widened. "The prophecy speaks of the three becoming one."

"Three brothers who remain balanced instead of destroying each other," I continued, excitement building in my voice. "But only if all three bonds are activated and aligned."

"How do we align them?" Kael asked.

Lucien picked up my mother’s notebook, flipping through the pages. "Here," he said, pointing to a map. "The ritual requires all three brothers to channel their energy through the Moon Alpha."

"But there’s a catch," Elder Malin warned, studying the page. "Once the bonds are fully engaged, they can never be broken. Your lives will be permanently linked."

"So if one dies..." Jaxon started.

"They all do," Elder Malin ended. "It’s both the answer and the safeguard. The curse is transformed into a bond of safety."

I felt the weight of this discovery settle over me. "That’s what my mother was trying to accomplish. Not just breaking the curse, but changing it."

"And that’s why Darius fought so hard to prevent it," Kael said, his voice tight with anger. "He never wanted us to be equals. He wanted to choose which of us would live to be Alpha."

"There’s one more thing," Lucien said, still reading the diary. "The ritual needs blood from both Moon Alpha daughters, freely given. We still need Elira."

"We can’t trust her," I urged.

"Maybe we don’t have to," Jaxon suggested, his eyes sparkling with a new idea. "If we can trick her into believing she’s getting what she wants..."

"No more tricks," I said strongly. "There has to be another way."

I closed my eyes, reaching for the strange new power inside me. The birthmark on my shoulder warmed, and suddenly I could feel the three different bonds like colored threads—red for Kael, gold for Jaxon, blue for Lucien. They pulsed with energy, separate but linked to me.

What if...

I focused on the threads, imagining them twisting together into a single rope. To my surprise, they began to move, gradually joining.

"What are you doing?" Kael asked, his voice strained.

"Testing something," I whispered, keeping my focus.

As the links twisted closer, a rush of power flooded through me. Memories that weren’t mine flashed before my eyes—childhood moments between the brothers, fights and reconciliations, secret fears and hidden strengths.

"I can see everything," I gasped. "All your memories, your feelings..."

"We can feel you too," Lucien said in wonder. "Your emotions, your thoughts..."

The connection grew stronger, the three ties becoming a single powerful link. Through it, I felt something else—a fourth presence, watching and waiting.

"Mother," I whispered.

Her voice answered in my mind. "The ties were always meant to unite, not divide. This is the true way to breaking the curse."

Then, suddenly, pain shot through me like fire. The links snapped back to their separate states, and I fell to my knees.

"What happened?" Kael asked, helping me up.

"Something’s blocking the complete merger," I said, breathing hard. "But I saw how it’s meant to work. Each of you represents an aspect of the Alpha power that was split apart generations ago."

"And when combined?" Jaxon asked.

"When combined through me, the curse breaks," I said. "But we need to remove the block first."

"The fourth lock," Lucien realized. "Your mother’s trapped spirit."

Elder Malin nodded seriously. "And for that, you need the Moon Chamber."

"And Elira," I added grudgingly. "Both Moon Alpha daughters must be present."

"It’s too dangerous," Kael argued. "She’ll try to kill you again."

"Not if we can convince her that working together is the only way," I said. "The vision I saw... maybe it can be changed."

"How?" Jaxon asked skeptically.

"By showing her the truth," I said, picking up the silver knife. "This blade is meant to draw blood for the rite, not to kill. If I can make her see that we need each other..."

"It’s risky," Lucien warned.

"Everything about this is risky," I replied. "But if we don’t try, the curse will never be broken. You’ll be forced to fight each other until only one remains."

The brothers traded looks, a lifetime of competition and forced rivalry passing between them.

"I’m tired of fighting my brothers," Kael said finally.

"Me too," Jaxon agreed.

Lucien nodded. "We’re with you, Aria."

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of their trust. "Then it’s time to face Elira."

As I stood to leave, Elder Malin grabbed my arm. "There’s something else you should know," he said quickly. "Something I’ve kept hidden too long."

"What is it?" I asked, suddenly afraid.

"The reason your bonds with the triplets are so strong," he said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "It’s not just that you’re the Moon Alpha."

"Then what is it?"

Elder Malin’s old eyes met mine. "Your father Marcus wasn’t Darius’s only brother. There was a third."

My heart stopped. "What are you saying?"

"I’m saying that the triplets aren’t just your mates," Elder Malin said. "They’re also your cousins."

The ground seemed to drop from beneath me as the final, terrible piece of the puzzle clicked into place.