Bound to the Triplet Alphas-Chapter 58: Healing Bonds

ARIA POV

"Don’t move!" I pressed my hands against Jaxon’s cut as blood poured between my fingers. His face was death pale, his breathing shallow.

"Did I... get her?" he whispered, his eyes fighting to focus on mine.

"Yes," I lied, not wanting to tell him Luna had left after shooting him with a silver bullet. "You were very brave."

Lucien burst into the healing den, his arms full of plants and bandages. His eyes met mine, grave and worried.

"How bad?" he asked, kneeling beside me.

"Silver bullet. Straight through his shoulder, but he’s lost a lot of blood."

Lucien nodded, quickly mixing plants into a paste. "Hold him down. This will hurt."

I gripped Jaxon’s good shoulder and chest as Lucien pressed the burning mixture into the cut. Jaxon’s scream echoed through the caves where our pack had taken cover after the attack.

"I’m sorry," I whispered, feeling his pain through our bond. Though he wasn’t my true mate, the connection between all three triplets and me had grown stronger since the blood moon fight two days ago.

"Some Luna I am," I mumbled as Lucien bandaged the wound. "I couldn’t protect anyone."

"That’s not true," Kael said from the door. His arm was in a sling, but he stood tall and strong. "You saved half the pack by getting them to the caves."

"But Luna and my mother—"

"We’ll find them," Lucien cut in, his voice gentle but strong. He finished with Jaxon and checked his pulse. "He needs rest now."

As Jaxon drifted into an uncomfortable sleep, I followed Lucien to the small stream running through the back of the cave. He washed Jaxon’s blood from his hands, his face tense in the dim light.

"You’re blaming yourself," he said without looking at me.

"Aren’t you?" I asked.

"For not seeing Luna’s true plan? Yes." He dried his hands on a cloth. "But not for everything else."

I sank down on a rock, suddenly tired. "Twelve hurt. Three dead. All because I didn’t see what was right in front of me."

Lucien knelt before me, taking my bloodstained hands in his. "None of us saw it. Not me, not Kael, not even Elder Malin."

The touch of his skin against mine sent warmth spreading up my arms, our mate bond humming with energy. Since that night under the blood moon when the truth was revealed, being near Lucien felt like standing next to a fire on a cold night.

"I need to be stronger," I said. "I need to learn to use whatever power is in my blood."

"That’s why I’m here." He squeezed my hands gently. "The healing gifts I have—they’re connected to the same power you carry."

"The Great Alpha," I whispered, still not fully believing Luna’s statement about my father.

Lucien nodded. "If it’s true, you have abilities none of us understand yet."

"Teach me," I said, meeting his eyes. "Teach me to heal like you do."

A small smile touched his lips. "It starts with feeling the bonds between us."

He put my hand over his heart. The steady beat pulsed against my hand, and I felt something else—a thread of golden warmth connecting us.

"Close your eyes," he directed. "Feel the bond. Not just between us, but between you and Kael, you and Jaxon."

I did as he said, letting my senses spread. Three ties stretched from my heart—a strong golden cord to Lucien, and two silver threads to his brothers.

"I feel them," I whispered.

"Good. Now, reach through the link to Jaxon. Find his pain."

I followed the silver thread in my mind until I felt Jaxon’s presence—weakened but fighting. Black spots of pain blurred his energy.

"I see it," I said. "Dark spots where the silver poisoned him."

"Now, push your energy through the bond. Imagine light washing away the darkness."

I focused, sending warmth through our connection. To my surprise, I felt something flow from me—like water through a dam suddenly opening. Jaxon’s presence brightened in answer.

My eyes flew open. "Did it work?"

Lucien was looking at me, wonder on his face. "Look."

Across the cave, Jaxon was sitting up, touching his bandaged shoulder with a confused look.

"How did you—?" Lucien started, then shook his head. "I’ve never seen anyone heal through a bond before. Not like that."

A commotion at the cave entrance stopped us. Elira ran in, her face streaked with dirt and a fresh cut across her cheek.

"Luna’s forces are regrouping," she reported. "But that’s not the worst part." She paused, looking between Lucien and me. "I overheard them talking. The people with them—they’re not just any hunters. They’re from the Silvercrest Institute."

Lucien’s face drained of color. "You’re sure?"

"What’s the Silvercrest Institute?" I asked.

"Scientists," Kael answered, joining us. "They don’t just hunt werewolves. They experiment on them, trying to understand our shifting powers."

"They want you, Aria," Elira said quietly. "Luna told them about your healing powers. How you brought Kael back from the brink of death during the blood moon fight."

Cold fear gripped my stomach. "How would she even know about that?"

"She has spies," Elira revealed. "Including someone still in this cave."

Everyone fell silent, looking at each other with suspicion.

"We need to move," Kael decided. "These caves aren’t safe anymore."

"Move where?" I asked. "Half the pack is injured."

Lucien took my hand. "We can fix them together. Like you just did with Jaxon."

"I don’t even know how I did that," I argued.

"But I felt it," he said, his eyes fixed on mine. "Our link is stronger together. If we combine our healing powers..."

The way he looked at me made my heart race. Something was changing between us—deepening beyond the mate bond into something more personal.

"Okay," I agreed. "We’ll try."

For the next hours, Lucien and I moved from one hurt wolf to another. Each time, he led me to channel healing energy through our bonds. Some wolves healed fully; others improved enough to travel.

By dark, I was swaying with exhaustion. Lucien caught me as I stumbled, his arms strong around my waist.

"You need rest," he whispered, his face close to mine.

I nodded, too tired to argue. He led me to a quiet part of the cave where someone had laid out blankets.

"Sleep," he said, helping me lie down. "I’ll keep watch."

As he turned to leave, I caught his hand. "Stay," I whispered. "Please."

After a moment’s pause, he stretched out beside me, careful not to touch me. But in the darkness, I found his hand and joined my fingers with his.

"Thank you," I muttered, "for teaching me today."

I felt rather than saw his smile. "You didn’t need much teaching."

Sleep pulled at me, but before I drifted off, I felt him press a gentle kiss to my forehead.

"Rest, my Alpha," he whispered.

I woke to screaming.

Lucien was already on his feet, pulling me up. "We’re under attack!"

We rushed to the cave mouth where Kael and Elira stood ready to fight. Outside, dark forms moved through the night, surrounding the cave.

"It’s not Luna," Elira said tensely. "It’s worse."

Men in black tactical gear moved in exact formation, carrying strange devices that glowed blue in the darkness.

"Silvercrest," Lucien growled.

One man stepped forward, removing his hat. His cold eyes found mine instantly. freewёbnoνel.com

"Aria Moonclaw," he called out. "I’m Dr. Reid of the Silvercrest Institute. We know what you are—a biological wonder. Come with us freely, and your pack can live."

"Never," I hissed.

He smiled. "That’s frustrating. But perhaps you’ll rethink when you see our other guest."

Two guards dragged forward a fighting figure. When they pulled the hood from their head, I gasped.

It was Mira, my best friend—her face bruised, but her eyes blazing with determination.

"Don’t do it, Aria!" she yelled. "They have your—"

A guard stopped her with a brutal blow.

The doctor smiled quietly. "Shall I tell her, or will you?"

"Tell me what?" I asked.

"Who we really have," he said. "The real reason you’ll surrender to us."

He pointed, and the guards brought forward another hooded figure—taller, broader, barely conscious.

When they removed the hood, my world shattered.

"Dad?" I whispered, looking at the face of the man I’d thought dead for fifteen years.