The room was steeped in silence, thick and heavy, broken only by the soft, steady beeping of the IV monitor. The triplets hadn't moved from their spots around the bed, their gazes locked onto the unconscious omega nestled beneath the dark silk sheets.
Ace sat at the edge of the mattress, arms resting on his knees, his fingers twitching as if resisting the urge to touch the omega's fragile frame. His amber eyes flickered with restlessness, his wolf stirring beneath the surface.
Alec leaned against the wall, his golden gaze dark with contemplation. His lips were pressed into a thin line, his mind whirring with unspoken thoughts.
Alexander stood at the foot of the bed, unmoving, unreadable. His silver eyes, sharp and calculating, remained trained on Roo's delicate form, watching every rise and fall of his chest.
The bond between them was a slow-burning thing, wrapping around his ribs like unseen chains. It was unlike anything he'd ever felt—dangerous, possessive, consuming.
Ours.
The word pulsed between them, unspoken but undeniable.
"Are we going to ignore the fact that we just found our mate half-dead in a rogue-infested forest?" Alec finally broke the silence, his voice laced with quiet fury.
Ace scoffed. "What are we supposed to do? Celebrate?" His jaw clenched. "He's an omega. A runt. Someone's castaway."
Alexander's silver gaze cut to him, sharp enough to draw blood. "He's ours."
Ace didn't flinch, but his fingers dug into the mattress. "I know," he admitted, his voice softer, rawer. "That's the problem."
Silence stretched between them again.
Alec exhaled, running a hand through his silver-streaked hair. "This wasn't an accident."
Alexander's expression darkened. He had been thinking the same thing. Rogues rarely acted without reason. Someone had wanted Roo dead—or worse. And that meant someone had reason to fear him.
The implications sent a slow burn of rage through his veins.
"We find out who did this," Alexander said, voice dangerously calm. "And we deal with it."
Ace's smirk was all teeth. "Now that's a plan I can get behind."
Alec sighed but didn't argue. His fingers flexed, his wolf thrumming with barely contained aggression.
Before anyone could say more, a soft sound drew their attention.
A whimper.
A tiny, pained breath.
Then, the smallest movement—a delicate shift beneath the covers, the faintest twitch of fingers.
Roo was waking up.
Ace shot to his feet instantly, his entire body tense. Alec straightened, his golden eyes narrowing as he pushed off the wall.
Alexander didn't move, his gaze fixed on the omega as those long lashes fluttered, hesitating between consciousness and the void.
Then, with a fragile inhale, Roo's eyes cracked open.
Emerald.
Brilliant, disoriented, breathtakingly green.
For a long moment, he simply lay there, blinking sluggishly as if struggling to make sense of where he was. His pupils were blown wide, his breathing unsteady.
Then, as his gaze flickered between the three imposing figures surrounding him, something changed.
His body tensed.
The scent of fear laced the air.
Alexander's wolf bristled in protest.
Alec was the first to move, stepping closer, his voice low, careful. "You're safe."
Roo flinched. His fingers curled weakly into the sheets, his breathing picking up. His throat worked as if he wanted to speak, but no sound came.
Ace took a slow step forward, hands raised in mock surrender. "Easy, piccolo. We're not going to hurt you."
Roo's gaze darted between them, his chest rising and falling too fast, panic taking hold.
Alexander finally moved.
In one swift, fluid motion, he knelt beside the bed, his silver eyes locking onto Roo's trembling form. He reached out, slow, deliberate. His fingers barely grazed the omega's wrist—warm, small, delicate.
A soft gasp escaped Roo's lips, his body stiffening.
Alexander's voice was low, steady, unyielding.
"You're safe," he repeated. "No one will ever hurt you again."
The words lingered between them, heavier than a vow.
Roo's lips parted, his breath hitching. His green eyes searched Alexander's face, hesitant, wary.
Then, slowly—so slowly it nearly undid them—his tiny fingers uncurled from the sheets…
And curled around Alexander's hand instead.
The bond roared to life, silent and all-consuming.
And the triplets knew.
They would burn the world down before letting him go.
To Be Continued...