The Triplet Alphas' Forbidden Temptation

Yuki bit the inside of her cheek. She placed one foot forward, then the other. Her legs trembled violently beneath her own weight. Sweat trickled down the side of her face as her breathing grew heavier with every step.

”You can do it, Snow!” Olivine called from the side, clapping enthusiastically. ”You’re almost there!”

Yuki managed the faintest smile. Almost there. Those words echoed inside her mind.

I’ll walk at your wedding. She had promised Aevia. No matter how much it hurt... she refused to break that promise. Her jaw tightened. She took another step. Pain flared through both legs so fiercely that her vision blurred for a second. Still, she didn’t give up. Her fingers tightened around the bars until they almost hurt.

The therapist smiled proudly. ”Excellent. You’ve made it.”

Yuki finally reached the end of the rails before sagging against them, breathing hard.

”You’re recovering much faster than we expected,” the therapist said warmly. ”At this rate, you’ll be able to walk down the aisle for your sister’s wedding.”

A tired but genuine smile spread across Yuki’s face. It was worth it.

Once the session ended, Olivine hurried over with the wheelchair.

”I honestly didn’t think you had that much stubbornness hidden inside you,” she teased with a grin as she helped Yuki lower herself into the chair.

Yuki laughed weakly. ”My sis always called me stubborn.”

”That’s believable,” Olivine chimed, handing her a towel.

Yuki wiped the sweat from her forehead before gratefully accepting the bottle of water Olivine offered. She took several long gulps before letting out a satisfied sigh.

”I have to make sure Aevia’s wedding is perfect,” she murmured, tightening the cap again. ”She only gets married once.”

Olivine smiled at the affection in her voice. ”You two are really close,” she remarked.

Yuki’s hands stilled around the bottle. ”...We are.” Her smile softened. ”She’s the only family I have left.”

For a moment, neither of them spoke. Yuki’s thoughts drifted despite herself. She wondered if Olivine saw her the same way. She loved Aevia more than anyone. Even so... there had always been questions she buried deep inside her heart. Aevia had become involved with a married man.

She was engaged to someone almost ten years older than herself. Sometimes, in her weakest moments, Yuki wondered whether people were right. Whether her sister truly loved Alexander... or whether his wealth had influenced her choice. The thought filled her with immediate guilt. Whatever Aevia’s reasons had been... she had sacrificed her youth to raise a little sister she had never asked for. That alone outweighed every doubt. Those thoughts would remain locked inside her forever.

Sensing the conversation becoming too heavy, Yuki forced a smile.

”So...” She looked towards Olivine. ”How’s exam preparation going? I heard the semester exams are close,” she remarked.

Olivine was a finalist. Due to her new assignment, she had been spending every free moment she wasn’t studying in the hospital, but she couldn’t tell Yuki this. She had a feeling Kieran didn’t want Yuki to know.

”My preparation’s going well,” Olivine replied with an easy smile.

Yuki narrowed her eyes suspiciously. ”You spend almost every free minute sitting beside my hospital bed.” She folded her arms. ”That has to affect your studying.”

If only you knew this is technically work... Olivine kept that thought to herself.

”I’ve always been good at managing my time,” she replied lightly. ”Besides, if I weren’t here, I’d probably be working in Lord Kieran’s laboratory.”

Yuki blinked. ”But he’s still admitted.”

”Exactly.” Olivine couldn’t help laughing. ”Lord Killian had every one of his laboratories locked.”

Yuki stared at her. ”...Seriously?” she gasped.

”Mm-hmm. He even assigned elite Alpha guards outside Lord Kieran’s room.” She lowered her voice dramatically. ”It’s the only way to stop that workaholic from escaping.”

Yuki let out an incredulous laugh. ”That’s... actually ridiculous.”

”It is,” Olivine agreed with a grin. ”Although Lord Kieran could probably defeat every guard outside if he really wanted.” She shrugged playfully. ”But then he’d ruin his reputation.”

The image made Yuki snort. Her laughter slowly faded. Even now, hearing the triplets’ names left something heavy sitting inside her chest. She quickly steered the conversation elsewhere.

”Do you think I can get an exemption from combat class?”

Olivine thought for a moment before nodding.

”I think so. The university can’t punish you for suffering a mate rejection.” She smiled reassuringly. ”They’ll probably modify your practical assessments.” Her expression grew more thoughtful. ”But... if you stay away from classes for too long, you may have to defer the semester.”

Yuki groaned dramatically, dropping her head against the back of the wheelchair.

”I barely survived dying.” She sighed. ”Now you’re threatening me with another academic year.”

Olivine burst into laughter. ”You’ll survive that too.”

Still chatting, they made their way back towards the private ward. Just outside Yuki’s room, Clara looked up from the nurses’ station and smiled warmly.

”There you are. How did physiotherapy go today?” she asked kindly.

Before Yuki could answer, Olivine puffed out her chest proudly. ”She walked the full length of the bars without collapsing,” she chimed.

Clara’s eyes brightened.

”That’s wonderful.” She turned to Yuki with an encouraging smile. ”At this rate, you’ll probably be discharged sometime next week.”

Yuki’s face lit up. ”Really?”

Clara nodded. ”You’ll still need regular follow-up appointments, but you’ll finally get to recover from home.”

Determination flickered across Yuki’s face. ”Then I’ll work even harder,” she chimed.

”I’m sure you will,” Clara replied warmly as she stepped past them. She had only taken a few steps before suddenly stopping.

”Oh, that’s right.” She turned back. ”Someone’s waiting for you in your room.”

Yuki frowned in confusion.

”...For me?”

Before Clara could say another word, another nurse hurried down the corridor, slightly out of breath.

”Clara! Dr. Lancaster is looking for you.”

Clara sighed apologetically.

”I have to go.” She offered Yuki a quick smile. ”You’ll find out soon enough.”

With that, she hurried away, leaving Yuki and Olivine exchanging puzzled glances as Clara disappeared down the corridor.