The Triplet Alphas' Forbidden Temptation

Beep... Beep... Beep...

The steady rhythm of the heart monitor filled the quiet room, blending with the soft patter of rain striking the tall windows.

Kieran’s study had long since become more of a medical laboratory than a bedroom. One entire wall was lined with glass cabinets filled with carefully labelled jars of dried herbs, rare flowers, and medicinal roots gathered from every corner of the continent.

Rows of polished shelves displayed bottles of potions in every imaginable colour, while thick medical journals lay stacked neatly across a large oak desk covered with handwritten notes. The faint scent of herbs lingered in the air, mixed with antiseptic and the earthy fragrance of fresh plants.

Eloise lay motionless on the examination bed positioned near the centre of the room. An intravenous line disappeared beneath the blanket covering her arm, steadily dripping medicine into her veins. Her breathing had become more stable, and the monitor beside her displayed a steady heartbeat, but the colour had yet to return to her face.

She looked frighteningly pale. Her long hair had been dried as much as possible after changing her into clean clothes, but a few damp strands still clung to her temples.

Olivine carefully disposed of the last bloodstained gauze before wiping her hands with a clean cloth. ”I’m done, Lord Kieran,” she said softly.

The moment the words left her mouth, Kieran leaned back in his chair. Exhaustion washed over him all at once. Every muscle in his body protested. His eyelids felt heavy, and even lifting his hand required more effort than he wanted to admit.

”You can leave,” he murmured.

Olivine nodded and took a few steps towards the door before stopping. Her fingers tightened around the tray she carried.

”Lord Kieran...”

He raised his tired eyes towards her.

”You should rest.” Her voice carried quiet concern. ”I’ll stay with Lady Eloise if you’d like.” She hesitated before adding, ”You exhausted yourself stopping her organs from failing.”

Silence settled between them.

Olivine still couldn’t believe Eloise had actually swallowed concentrated wolfbane. It was practically suicide. Ordinary antidotes wouldn’t have worked. Even the strongest healing potions had failed to slow the poison.

Kieran had spent the better part of the morning forcing healing magic through her body, repairing tissue as the poison destroyed it again and again. She had watched him drag her back from death through sheer determination. It should never have been possible.

Kieran’s gaze wandered back to Eloise. She looked so fragile lying there. Even unconscious, her brows remained faintly furrowed, as though she were still trapped inside whatever nightmare had driven her to this.

”I’m fine,” he answered quietly. ”Just... tired.” His fingers absent-mindedly adjusted the blanket covering Eloise. ”I still need to watch her. If something changes...” He never finished the sentence.

Olivine understood. She let out a quiet sigh. There was no changing his mind. Sometimes she genuinely wondered why fate hadn’t made the two of them mates. Anyone with eyes could see how completely devoted the three brothers were to Eloise.

”I’ll take my leave then.”

She bowed respectfully before leaving the room.

The hallway outside felt much quieter. Unlike Killian’s dark minimalist quarters or Kaden’s training hall filled with weapons, Kieran’s wing of the manor was alive with greenery. Flowerpots rested beneath nearly every window. Vines climbed decorative trellises fixed against the stone walls.

Small trees grew inside enormous ceramic pots placed throughout the corridors. To anyone else, they looked like beautiful decorations. Kieran knew the medicinal value of every single one. If there was anything he treasured almost as much as Eloise, it was his plants.

Rain battered the windows without mercy. Lightning flashed beyond the glass, filling the corridor with brief bursts of white before darkness settled again.

Olivine’s footsteps echoed softly across the polished marble floor. As she rounded a corner, another figure emerged from the opposite hallway.

Kaden.

His clothes were still damp from the storm. Black wolf ears remained atop his head, while his large tail swept quietly behind him as he walked.

Olivine immediately lowered her head. ”Lord Kaden.”

He acknowledged her with a brief nod and continued walking.

She almost kept going. Almost. Her grip tightened around the tray. She shouldn’t interfere. She knew that. Still...

”Lord Kaden.”

His footsteps stopped. He turned his head just enough to look at her. He said nothing. The weight of his gaze alone made her stomach knot.

She swallowed nervously. ”I know this isn’t my place,” she began carefully, ”but Lord Kieran has pushed himself too far. He won’t admit it, but he’s exhausted. He needs to sleep.”

Kaden remained silent. His unreadable expression only made her more anxious.

”I... I’m only concerned.” Her words tumbled out in a rush. ”Please don’t misunderstand. I wasn’t trying to overstep.”

”It’s fine.” The single word interrupted her panicked explanation. ”I’ll talk to him.”

Relief flooded through her. ”Thank you, my lord,” she blurted.

Kaden gave another small nod before continuing down the corridor.

His thoughts drifted elsewhere. The familiar hallways brought back memories he hadn’t thought about in years. He remembered the day the High Priestess insisted the triplets choose separate living quarters.

She had warned their parents that allowing them to remain inseparable would only bind their destinies more tightly together. Each of them needed space to become their own person.

Killian had chosen the northern wing. Kieran had immediately claimed the eastern quarters because they received the most morning sunlight for his plants. Kaden had taken the western wing simply because it overlooked the training grounds.

The first night had been awful. The rooms had felt enormous and empty. Then a storm rolled in. Thunder had shaken the entire manor. Unable to sleep, Kaden had crept into the hallway. At the exact same moment, Kieran stepped out of his own room, meeting him at an intersection.

The two of them stared at each other. Neither said a word. They simply nodded before marching together towards Killian’s bedroom.

Kaden couldn’t help smiling at the memory.

They had knocked. Killian opened the door, took one look at them, sighed loudly, and said, ”Grow up.”

Then he slammed the door in their faces.

Kaden almost laughed aloud. The stubborn idiot had refused to let them in. So they had spent the entire night sleeping outside his bedroom door, curled against each other while the thunder rattled the manor. By morning, Killian had finally given up. From then on, whenever storms became too frightening, his room quietly became their unofficial headquarters. Their parents’ bedroom had never been an option. Alexander had forbidden them from entering at night unless it was an emergency.

Kaden’s smile faded.

He wasn’t sure why those memories had returned now. Perhaps because everything suddenly felt so different.

He stopped outside Kieran’s study. His hand settled around the cold brass handle.

Pushing the door open, the familiar beeping greeted him immediately.

His gaze found Eloise first. She lay sleeping peacefully beneath the blankets. Then he looked towards Kieran. His brother looked terrible. Dark circles shadowed his eyes. His shoulders had slumped with exhaustion.

”I guess the maid wasn’t exaggerating,” Kaden muttered. ”You need a break before you collapse.”

Kieran shook his head. ”I have to stay with her.”

”You’ve been staying with her all morning,” Kaden cut in.

”I know.”

”You can’t keep doing this.”

”I have to.”

Kaden walked further into the room. ”I’ll watch her.”

”You don’t have medical training,” Kieran replied.

”I’ve kept dying warriors alive long enough for physicians to arrive.” He lifted one hand. Soft white light gathered around his fingertips. ”Did you forget I can heal too?” The glow illuminated his tired face. ”And we still have an entire medical team standing by. You don’t have to carry this alone.”

Kieran stared at the light before finally looking away. ”I don’t want to sleep.”

Kaden frowned. ”Why?” he blurted.

”If I close my eyes...” Kieran whispered, ”...I’ll see it again.”

”What do you mean?” Kaden’s frown deepened.

For several seconds, Kieran said nothing. Then he spoke so quietly Kaden almost missed it. ”I saw her.”

Kaden immediately understood. Sometimes the bond between the triplets allowed brief flashes of each other’s memories or visions. His stomach tightened.

”What did you see?” he asked quietly. His stomach twisted, hoping it wasn’t the scene on the bed. They were so focused on their conversation that they didn’t notice Eloise’s lashes flutter slightly.

Kieran’s fingers curled together. ”She was lying on the rooftop.” His voice grew quieter. ”Covered in blood.”

He swallowed. ”We left her there.”

His hand drifted unconsciously towards his chest. ”I know Eloise needed us. I know we didn’t have a choice.” His voice cracked. ”But every time I close my eyes... I see her lying there again.”

The room fell silent. Neither of them noticed Eloise’s fingers twitch faintly beneath the blanket. Her eyelashes fluttered almost imperceptibly again before becoming still once more.

”I can’t feel her wolf anymore,” Kieran whispered. His shoulders sagged. ”Do you think...” He stopped. His throat tightened. ”Do you think this is wrong? She’s our fated mate. And somehow...” He shook his head. ”Forget it. I’m exhausted.”

He slowly rose from the chair. ”I’ll accept your offer,” he said.

As he walked past, Kaden’s voice stopped him. ”You still hate them... don’t you?”

Kieran paused. Without turning around, he answered quietly, ”I do.”

Something inside Kaden loosened.

”That’s all that matters.” His voice sounded firm. ”It wasn’t your fault. Eloise was dying.” He looked back towards Eloise. ”This will all be over soon.”

He said it like a promise. Kieran remained silent for a moment. Then he nodded once.

”Sure.”

Without another word, he walked out of the room.