The Triplet Alphas' Forbidden Temptation

It felt as though every bone in his body had been crushed into powder. Pain pulsed through him in relentless waves, stabbing into his ribs, shoulders and legs with every shallow breath he took. His head throbbed so violently that even thinking felt like punishment.

’ Fuck...’

’ I feel like absolute shit.’

His wolf let out an irritated growl.

’ Why wouldn’t you?’ he snarled. ’ You almost got us killed.’

Kieran grimaced. He wasn’t in the mood for blame games, especially now. A groan escaped him as another pulse of pain shot through his temples. He could feel sunlight pressing against his closed eyelids like burning needles.

”Can someone...” His voice came out hoarse. ”...close the curtains? It feels like someone’s driving nails into my skull.”

He could sense another presence inside the room. At least someone had heard him. Instead of the curtains closing, he heard steady footsteps approaching the window. The soft rustle of fabric followed. Then the curtains were pulled apart. Brilliant morning sunlight flooded the room, pouring directly onto his face. The light stabbed into his eyes like a blade. The veins at Kieran’s temple bulged. His patience, already hanging by a thread, finally snapped.

”What the fuck is your problem?” he barked, forcing his eyes open. ”Can’t you see I’m a patient?”

His furious glare collided with a pair of icy sapphire eyes. The irritation drained from him almost instantly. Kaden. His younger brother stood by the window with one hand still gripping the curtain.

He hadn’t even bothered changing after returning from the military base. Camouflage combat trousers, a black fitted T-shirt, a military jacket hanging open, and combat boots still damp from the rain outside. His usually carefree expression was nowhere to be seen. His face was frighteningly blank.

”Oh, I’ve got a problem,” Kaden replied, his voice dangerously quiet. A humourless smile curled across his lips. ”I wasn’t the one who nearly got a mother and her child killed.” His eyes narrowed. ”Or Eloise.”

Kieran’s stomach sank. Kaden folded his arms across his chest.

”So I’ll ask you the same damn question.” His voice rose. ”What the hell is wrong with you?”

Silence settled between them. Kieran swallowed. His throat felt painfully dry.

”It...” He rubbed a hand weakly across his face. ”It was an accident.” His voice was barely above a whisper. ”They didn’t...” His eyes searched Kaden’s face. ”...they didn’t die, did they?”

Kaden stared at him. Then a dry laugh escaped him. ”Tell me something.” He tilted his head. ”How many years do people get for manslaughter?”

Kieran closed his eyes briefly. ”I’m not joking,” he hissed.

”I’m not either,” Kaden sneered at him.

”I almost killed someone because of my own carelessness.” He spoke with such calm acceptance that something inside Kaden finally snapped.

A harsh laugh ripped from his throat. He dragged a hand down his face before looking back at his brother. Disbelief, frustration and fear twisted together inside his expression.

”You really have no idea, do you?” Kaden asked, and Kieran frowned.

”No idea about what?” Kieran blurted.

Kaden strode across the room until he stood beside the hospital bed. Only then did Kieran truly see himself reflected in his brother’s eyes. His hospital gown was wrinkled. His forehead was wrapped in thick white bandages. Bruises spread across his jaw and disappeared beneath the collar of his gown.

His skin looked almost colourless. Dark circles still lingered beneath his eyes from prolonged fatigue. He looked exhausted and broken. Kaden looked down at him, his jaw tightening.

Kaden’s voice dropped to a whisper. ”Killian told me what you did.”

Kieran’s fingers immediately tightened around the bedsheets. His pulse quickened. ”What... did he tell you?” he asked in a low voice.

Kaden’s eyes hardened. ”Did you seriously think we wouldn’t find out?” he scoffed.

A cold knot formed inside Kieran’s stomach. No. Not this. Anything but this. He didn’t want Kaden finding out about the regenerative drug. Especially not Kaden.

How was he supposed to explain that every hour he’d spent inside that laboratory had been for Yuki? That after everything that had happened, his conscience simply refused to let her die?

The same woman Kaden blamed for destroying their family. The same woman he had nearly died for because he’d absorbed part of the rejection backlash. Despite his mind hating his situation, his heart couldn’t ignore the fact that she might have been stuck in a coma forever. Even now... it sounded ridiculous.

”It isn’t what you think,” Kieran said quietly. ”I just...” He forced a weak shrug. ”...overworked myself.”

Kaden blinked once. Then he let out another bitter laugh.

”Just overworked yourself?” He repeated the words slowly, as though tasting how absurd they sounded. His arms unfolded. He stepped closer until his knees almost touched the side of the hospital bed.

”Kieran.” His voice became frighteningly calm. ”You didn’t rest after the rejection.”

Kieran looked away.

”I know you collapsed that day.” Silence. ”I know you absorbed Yuki’s backlash.”

Kieran’s breathing caught.

”You think I didn’t notice?” His voice sharpened. ”Killian noticed. I noticed. You stayed in your lab, hiding the entire night as your body collapsed from the pain while stubbornly treating yourself.” He jabbed a finger towards his brother. ”And then... instead of recovering... you buried yourself inside that damned laboratory.” His jaw clenched.

”I know you love your research. I know you lose track of time. But for Goddess’ sake... the entire pack wasn’t going to collapse because you took a week off.”

A small bit of relief washed over Kieran. At least Kaden didn’t know who the drug was for.

Still, Kieran couldn’t answer. Because it hadn’t been the pack he was trying to save. His thoughts drifted unwillingly back to Yuki. To the tears she had tried so desperately to hide. To the quiet determination in her voice when she spoke about finishing medical school. About becoming a doctor. She had still been talking about her future... while unknowingly dying because of the rejection.

The memory settled like lead inside his chest. She wasn’t supposed to pay that price alone for a cursed bond none of them wanted. Kaden wouldn’t understand. None of them would.