Bound to the Triplet Alphas

Chapter 25: Chapter 25: The Guardian’s Secret

ARIA POV

I jumped as another tree crashed down behind us. The Shadow Alpha’s roar shook the trees.

"Keep moving!" Kael yelled, pulling me along as we raced through the dark woods.

My lungs burned. We’d been running for hours, trying to stay ahead of the monster that used to be Alpha Darius. Mom was still weak, leaning on Lucien. Mira struggled to keep up.

"In here," Jaxon whispered, pointing to a secret cave behind a waterfall.

We slipped through the sheet of water into darkness. The cold spray drenched us, washing away our smells. The cave was small but dry further in, with strange marks etched into the walls.

"Is everyone okay?" I asked, counting heads. My heart stopped. "Where’s Mom?"

"She and Lucien were right behind me," Mira said, her voice shaking.

Kael looked out through the waterfall. "I don’t see them."

Before anyone could stop me, I bolted toward the cave opening. Jaxon caught my arm.

"Are you crazy? The Shadow Alpha will catch you!"

"I have to find her!" I pulled against his grip.

"Your mother wanted me to give you this," Jaxon said, pulling something from his pocket. "In case we got separated."

It was a small wooden box, made with moon symbols like the ones in the temple. I took it with shaky hands.

"When did she—"

"She gave it to me while you were training with Elder Malin," Jaxon explained. "Said if anything happened to her, you needed to see what’s inside."

The howls outside grew faraway. Whatever was chasing us had moved on.

I opened the box. Inside were old, yellowed letters tied with a worn ribbon. I unfolded the first one:

My dearest L, I’ve done as you asked. She will be safe here, hidden among the omegas. No one guesses her true nature. The ritual worked—her power sleeps within her. Not even Darius knows the truth.

But I worry about the future. The warning still hangs over us all. When she turns eighteen, will we be able to protect her?

Forever yours, D

"D?" I looked up at Jaxon. "Who’s D?"

He shook his head. "Keep reading."

The second letter was written years later:

L,

The kids grow stronger each day. Kael has his father’s mind, Jaxon his spirit, and Lucien... Lucien has your heart. I see you in him more with each passing year.

The Elders grow suspicious. Elder Malin asks too many questions. I’ve assigned someone to watch over Aria from the dark. If the truth comes out too soon, before she’s ready, we’ll lose everything.

Stay hidden. Stay safe. D

My hands shook as I reached for the third letter. "These are from someone to my mother. L must be Lyra—my mom."

"Not exactly," Jaxon said quietly.

I stopped and stared at him. "What do you mean?"

"Read the last letter," he pushed.

The final letter was the newest, the paper less yellowed:

Lyra,

The time comes. Aria’s power will soon rise, and when it does, keep her away from Darius at all costs. He is not what he seems—hasn’t been for years.

The Moon Stone must be found before the Blood Moon. It’s hidden where only a true daughter of the moon can find it—in plain sight, beneath what was taken.

I’ve told J to reveal himself when the time is right. He’s been watching over her since she was a child.

Tell her I’m sorry I couldn’t be there. Tell her I tried to protect you both.

With endless love, D

I looked up at Jaxon, suddenly understanding. "J... that’s you."

He nodded slowly. "I’ve been watching over you since you were five years old."

"On whose orders?" I demanded, though deep down, I already knew.

Jaxon’s face relaxed. "On your father’s orders. Your real father."

The cave seemed to spin around me. "My father died before I was born. Everyone knows that."

"Everyone knows what they were told," Jaxon corrected. "Your father isn’t dead, Aria. He’s been hiding all these years, guarding you from afar."

"And D stands for..."

"Dominic," Jaxon finished. "Your father’s name is Dominic. He was the true Alpha of Moonclaw Pack before Darius—"

"Before Darius what?"

"Before Darius killed him and took his place," a voice said from the cave opening.

We spun around. Lucien stood there, holding my mother, both soaking wet.

"Mom!" I ran to her, helping her sit on a rock. "What happened?"

"Darius found us," she explained between ragged breaths. "Lucien led him away so I could circle back."

I turned to Jaxon. "You knew? All this time?"

He nodded. "Your father saved my life when I was a child. I owed him everything. When Darius cursed me to control me, your father was the one who taught me how to fight it."

"But the triplets..." I looked between Jaxon and Lucien. "If Darius isn’t your real father, then who—"

"Dominic is," Lucien said softly. "At least, he’s mine and Jaxon’s father. Kael is Darius’s only real son."

Kael, who had been silent until now, slammed his hand against the cave wall. "That’s a lie!"

"It’s not," my mother said kindly. "Dominic was the true Alpha. He and I were mates, but Darius wanted power. He used dark magic to test Dominic."

"Where’s my father now?" I asked, my voice breaking.

Jaxon and Lucien traded looks.

"He’s been hiding in the Shadowlands," Jaxon finally revealed. "Planning, gathering friends. Waiting for you to awaken."

"The letters," I whispered. "He mentioned the Moon Stone."

My mother nodded weakly. "It’s the key to beating the Shadow Alpha. Without it, we can’t win."

"Where is it?" I asked.

"Hidden where only a true daughter of the moon can find it," Lucien quoted from the letter. "In plain sight, beneath what was taken."

A memory flashed in my mind—Elder Malin showing me the Temple of Luna, the circular opening in the roof, the moonlight streaming down...

"I know where it is," I said suddenly. "It’s in the temple, beneath the moonlight circle."

Before anyone could react, a deafening roar shook the cave. Rocks fell from above. The Shadow Alpha had found us.

"We need to go back to the temple," I said. "Now!"

"It’s too dangerous," Kael argued. "He’ll be waiting for us."

"It’s our only chance," I urged.

The cave opening exploded inward. Through the dust and falling rocks, I saw a huge silhouette—larger than any werewolf should be, with glowing black eyes.

"Run!" Lucien shouted, pushing me toward a narrow tunnel at the back of the cave.

I grabbed my mother’s hand, but she pulled away.

"Go," she ordered. "I’ll hold him off."

"No!" I screamed as Jaxon dragged me backward.

The last thing I saw was my mother standing tall, facing the monster, silver light shining from her hands. Then the passage fell between us.

"MOM!" I screamed, grabbing at the fallen rocks.

Jaxon pulled me away. "We have to keep going. Her sacrifice won’t mean anything if we don’t find the Moon Stone."

Tears blurred my view as we ran through the dark tunnel. One thought pounded in my head with each step: My father was alive. And he was coming.