Bound to the Triplet Alphas-Chapter 59: Challenge Day

ARIA POV

I ducked as the massive black wolf struck at my throat. His teeth snapped inches from my face, the sound booming across the challenge circle.

All around us, wolves from both packs watched in tense silence. Shadow Fang and Moonclaw, enemies for generations, now gathered to watch this fight that would decide everything.

Alpha Thorne of Shadow Fang was twice my size, with fight scars covering his dark fur. He’d killed twelve competitors before me. And now he had my father locked away somewhere, a bargaining chip to force this battle.

"Too slow, little girl," he taunted through the pack-mind link that linked all wolves in the circle. "Is this the best the daughter of the Great Alpha can do? Run and hide?"

I didn’t answer, focused on my breathing as I circled away from him. Three days had passed since the Silvercrest Institute had shown me my father was alive. Three days of desperate planning that led to this moment.

"The challenge is simple," Elder Malin had explained. "Defeat Alpha Thorne, and both packs must follow Shadow Fang rule and release your father. Lose, and you give yourself to them."

The deal had gotten my pack safely away from the Silvercrest hunts. But now I faced something perhaps worse.

Thorne charged again, faster this time. Instead of dodging, I stood my ground until the last second, then turned sideways. His speed carried him past me, and I managed to bite down on his back leg.

He howled in pain and rage, spinning to face me.

"First blood to you," he growled. "It will be your last."

From the edge of the circle, I felt Lucien’s worry through our bond. Beside him stood Kael and Jaxon, their faces tense. They had wanted to fight in my place, but pack law was clear: Alpha threats must be met by the Alpha.

Thorne’s next blow knocked me off my feet. I rolled in the dirt, trying to get up before his jaws found me. Pain shot through my shoulder as his teeth grazed me.

"You’re weak," he growled. "Just like your mother."

My mother. The thought of her made anger burn through me. She had betrayed me, revealed my presence to Silvercrest, all for power. And now she watched from the Shadow Fang side, her face impassive.

"You’re right," I said, startling him. "I’m not as strong as you."

He paused, suspicious of my admission.

"Physical strength isn’t everything," I continued, slowly circling him. "The Moon Goddess values other qualities too."

He laughed, a harsh sound in the pack-mind. "Pretty words won’t save you when my teeth are in your throat."

He lunged again, but this time I was ready. I didn’t try to outfight him. Instead, I reached for that golden warmth inside me—the healing power I’d found with Lucien.

As Thorne’s body slammed into mine, I let my power flow into him through the touch. Not to heal, but to connect.

Suddenly, I was inside his mind, seeing flashes of memories that weren’t mine. A young dog, beaten by his Alpha father. A sister, killed for challenging custom. Years of fighting to live, to never show weakness.

Through our unexpected link, I felt his shock, then his rage.

"Get out of my head!" he roared, literally backing away from me.

The wolves around us muttered in confusion. No one could see what was happening between us, only that the mighty Alpha Thorne had withdrawn from a smaller wolf.

I kept my eyes locked on his. "I see you, Thorne. I see your pain."

"You know nothing," he growled, circling me carefully now.

"I know you didn’t want to be Alpha," I said quietly, through our secret link. "I know you took the role to protect the others from your father’s cruelty."

His eyes widened. "How could you possibly—"

"Because I can feel it. Just like I can feel that you don’t actually want this fight."

He snarled and charged again, but his attack lacked drive. When our bodies touched, I pushed deeper into our bond, letting him feel my own memories too. The years of being treated as useless. The shock of learning my true heritage. The fear of failing my pack.

We broke apart, both breathing hard. The onlookers were getting restless, not understanding why we kept separating without serious injury.

"They expect blood," Thorne said.

"Then let’s give them something better," I answered.

I stepped back and did the unthinkable during a challenge fight—I shifted back to human form, standing naked and vulnerable in the middle of the circle.

Gasps spread through both packs. To shift during battle was to forfeit, to submit to death.

"What are you doing?" Lucien’s terrified voice touched my mind through our mate bond.

"Trust me," I sent back.

Thorne stood frozen, his wolf form rising over my human body. One snap of his jaws could end my life.

"I challenge you differently, Alpha Thorne," I said loudly, so everyone could hear. "Not with teeth and claws, but with truth."

I put my bare hand on his massive head. Again, the link flowed between us, but this time I pushed all my strength into it, letting everyone in the circle feel what I felt—the pain, the fear, the hope that bound our two packs together.

A collective gasp rose as wolves from both packs suddenly staggered, feeling the link spreading through the pack bonds.

"We’ve been fighting the wrong enemy," I said, my voice carrying across the suddenly silent clearing. "While we tear at each other’s throats, Silvercrest gets stronger. They want us split."

Through our link, I felt Thorne’s resistance crumbling. With a shudder, he too shifted back to human form.

"What are you?" he asked, his voice rough.

"Someone who’s tired of watching wolves die for old hatreds," I answered. "Our packs were one, once. Before the Great Divide."

Elder Malin stepped forward, his old face shocked. "How do you know of the Great Divide? Those records were destroyed generations ago."

"I saw it," I said simply. "Through him." I nodded at Thorne. "His bloodline remembers, even if he doesn’t."

Thorne looked at me with new eyes. "The prophecy never mentioned this power."

"Because no one understood it," I said. "It’s not about fighting or control. It’s about healing—healing the broken ties between us all."

The silence stretched as both packs absorbed my words. Then, slowly, Thorne bowed his head.

"I yield the challenge," he announced.

Outraged cries came from the Shadow Fang side. My mother pushed forward, her face twisted with rage.

"This is not a proper yield!" she shouted. "The challenge requires blood!"

"Blood has been spilled for centuries," Thorne said, his voice firm. "Today, I choose a different path." He turned to me. "What would you ask of Shadow Fang, Alpha Aria?"

"Return my father," I said without doubt. "And stand with us against Silvercrest."

He nodded. "It will be done."

As whispers spread through both packs, my mother’s laugh cut through the noise.

"You fools," she hissed. "Did you really think I came alone?"

The sound of vehicles coming made all heads turn. Black SUVs emerged at the edge of the clearing, men in tactical gear pouring out.

"Silvercrest," Kael growled.

My mother smiled coldly. "I made a better deal. Your special blood for my freedom."

Before anyone could react, a strange gas started filling the clearing. Wolves dropped to the ground, unable to shift, unable to run.

As darkness clouded my view, I felt strong arms catch me. Through blurry eyes, I saw Thorne holding me up, fighting the effects of the gas.

"Run," I whispered.

"No," he growled. "I meant what I said. Today we stand together."

As awareness slipped away, I heard my mother’s voice, speaking not to me but to someone else.

"Yes, she’s ready for extraction, Doctor. And you were right—her power is beyond anything we imagined." ƒrēenovelkiss.com

The last thing I saw before darkness took me was a familiar face stepping from the lead car.

It wasn’t Dr. Reid from Silvercrest.

It was...

It was Elder Malin.