Bound to the Triplet Alphas

Chapter 62: The Traitor’s Shadow

Chapter 62: Chapter 62: The Traitor’s ShadowARIA POV

The knife flew past my ear, missing by inches before thudding into the wall behind me. I dropped to the ground, my heart pounding madly in my chest.

"Who’s there?" I called out,

Jaxon’s hand clamped over my mouth, but it was too late. Elder Malin’s head snapped in our direction. His eyes, usually cloudy with age, were sharp and alert.

"I know you’re there, Luna," he called out. "Your father sends his regards."

I stepped out from our hiding spot, anger overriding fear. "You were supposed to be our wisest leader. You guided me!"

"I guided you exactly where you needed to go," he said with a cold smile. "The Blood Moon rite was the final key. You did beautifully."

My hands began to shake. "You wanted the First Wolf to wake up all along."

"The old must fall for the new to rise," he said quietly. "Your father understood this. So does Dr. Reid."

Jaxon appeared behind him, quiet as a shadow. But Elder Malin laughed without turning around.

"I’ve been feeling your presence in shadows for years, boy. Did you think you could sneak up on me now?"

What happened next was too fast to follow. Elder Malin spun around with impossible speed for someone his age. There was a flash of silver – a knife – and Jaxon fell to his knees, blood spreading across his shirt.

"No!" I screamed, running toward them.

Elder Malin smiled at me sadly. "You should have picked him, you know. He’s the strongest of the three, though no one sees it."

Then he was gone, disappearing into the trees with unnatural speed.

I dropped beside Jaxon, pushing my hands against his wound. "Stay with me! Lucien will heal you, just hold on!"

"Always knew I’d die dramatically," he choked out, trying to smile through the pain. "Makes for a better story."

"You’re not dying," I insisted, tears blurring my vision. "Not today."

His hand grabbed mine, surprisingly strong. "Listen to me. The seven with the marks – they’re just players. The real enemy is someone closer to you."

"Who?" I begged as his eyes started to flutter.

"The one who..." His voice faded as he lost consciousness.

I howled for help, the sound echoing through the forest. As I waited, clutching Jaxon’s bleeding body, a terrible thought took root in my mind.

Seven pieces with the Broken Moon mark. But who was moving them?

In the distance, I heard running footsteps. Lucien and Kael were coming. But as I looked down at Jaxon’s pale face, Elder Malin’s words repeated in my mind: The real enemy is someone closer to you.

How much closer could they get than sleeping beside me every night?