Resisting the Alpha Triplets by Cara Anderson

Ch. 96 Dangerous

Mallory’s POV

After the disaster that was our preliminary hearing at the Council headquarters, we made a quick stop at City General so Dr. Diaz could reassure my mates that their pups were fine. They were, of course. She offered again to tell us their gender but we still steadfastly refused. Though, for a moment I thought I saw Colton waiver.

“Do you want to know the babies’ sex?” I asked when we were cuddled up in the backseat together on our way back to Black Moon.

“Not if you don’t.” He answered a little too quickly.

I raised my eyebrow at him in an “I don’t believe that for a second” gesture. He sighed and finally explained himself.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“It’s not that I want to ruin the surprise. And I especially don’t want to ruin it for you. It’s just that they aren’t even here yet and I’m worried about their future. My brothers and I are extremely lucky that we are all willing to share the Alpha role.

“What if they’re all boys and the eldest doesn’t want to share? I don’t want there to be any animosity between them.” He admitted.

“What if they’re all girls?” I gasped dramatically, teasing him.

The hugest grin spread across his face and his eyes twinkled as he looked back at me.

“Three beautiful little girls, with waves of dark curls and gorgeous hazel eyes just like their mother? Nothing would make me happier.”

He had that awestruck look on his face again, like I was a priceless treasure and he couldn’t comprehend how he’d been given such a gift. I pressed my thighs together, staving off the aching need that always welled up inside me when he looked at me that way. He cupped my head and pulled me in for a tender kiss that only left me craving more.

But I could still feel his concern thrumming like a steady undercurrent in the bond. Sighing, I forced myself to focus on the conversation and not stripping him naked in the backseat of the car.

“Colton,” I placed my hands on either side of his face and brought his gaze to mine, “No matter what gender these babies are, they are going to have the four of us to guide them. You and Clay and Cary are going to be wonderful fathers and teach them by example to always be a team, just like the three of you are.”

“Yeah, you’re right.” He agreed, relaxing into my side.

“Of course she is!” Clay chimed in from the front seat, winking at me in the rearview mirror. “She’s always right.”

“Except when she’s very naughty and needs a spanking.” Cary’s cheeky comment earned him a punch in the arm.

“You like it when I’m naughty!” I teased.

“Yeah, I do!” He grinned like an idiot.

As our playful banter died down, the monotony of the road and the stress of the day caught up with me and I drifted to sleep between my mates. The next thing I knew, Cary was lifting me from the car to carry me inside. He laid me gently on our bed and tucked the covers around me while he and his brothers started pulling out suitcases to pack our bags.

After the hearing, we had discussed a plan with Nathan and after much convincing, he agreed. Nathan would officially take over as Alpha of Hazelwood, and since Winter Woods was such a small pack, he would relocate them to Hazelwood, combining the two packs. I was more than content to relinquish my Alpha claim and solely focus on becoming the future Luna of Black Moon, especially with three babies on the way.

Our hope was, Goddess forbid we were convicted by the Council court, that Hazelwood would remain under Nathan’s leadership. We would testify that he was unaware of our plans for Alpha Quade and was only peripherally involved as an ally offering support. None of us wanted him to pay for a crime we hadn’t actually committed. And it was becoming clearer by the day that his mate, Charlie, needed his steady presence to overcome her trauma at Quade’s hands.

With that as our plan, we were preparing to divide and conquer. Colton would take me to Hazelwood to search for anything belonging to my parents I may want to hold on to. Then the two of us would help Nathan establish structure within the pack and determine which rebuilding projects to prioritize since the place had fallen into disrepair under Quade’s rule.

Meanwhile Clay and Cary would travel to each of Quade’s known properties, spreading the news of his death and hopefully find witnesses to his atrocities who would be willing to testify now that he was gone. In our spare time, if we managed to find any, all of us would research Miles McIntyre and his connection to Quade. With only two weeks to work with, we were all feeling the pressure.

“I can’t sleep while the three of you are working.” I grumbled, shoving the blankets away and attempting to crawl out of bed.

“You are working!” Clay insisted, gently pushing me to lie down again. ” You are busy growing three pups. You need to rest. Do not get out of that bed!”

“Yes, sir.” I smirked at him.

“You’re playing with fire, little wolf!” He growled playfully, caging me in with his huge frame.

“Mmm. Want to show me what it feels like to get burned.” I taunted.

But suddenly his weight was lifted off me and an angry looking Colton was snarling at him.

“You work. She rests!” He barked.

Clay put up his hands in surrender and went back to packing. The next time I woke up, we were pulling into Hazelwood. I must have really been tired.

The next morning, we had breakfast with Nathan and Charlie. Clay and Cary were heading out after the meal and I was not looking forward to being separated from them. My wolf had been extremely possessive lately, most likely due to the pregnancy, and I knew it was going to be rough for her to have two of her mates so far away.

I distracted myself by watching the way Nathan and Charlie interacted. I chuckled to myself when I caught them watching each other when they thought the other wasn’t looking. They weren’t overtly affectionate, but there was no disguising the way they took every opportunity to touch each other, brushing hands or leaning over the other to reach for something. It was almost comical.

“We have to get going, Darling.” Cary interrupted my observations. “Will you walk us out?”

“Of course.” I answered but couldn’t hide the pout in my tone.

He slipped his hand into mine, lacing our fingers together. Clay came to my other side and did the same. I could feel their determination to succeed in finding witnesses warring with their need to stay close to me and our pups, a tangle of emotions in our bond. It was a testament to their trust in Cotlon to leave me alone in his care.

“I love you, little wolf. You know that, right?” Clay said, stroking my jaw with his knuckles. “We’ll be back before you know it!”

I could only nod and sniffle. Any attempt to form words would only end in sobs. He kissed me, our tongues dancing together for long moments, as if we were trying to imprint the memory in our minds. Then he stepped aside to let Cary say his goodbyes.

“Be a good girl for Colton, darling. Rest, eat, and take care of our pups. That’s an order!”

“I will.” I was going for reassuring but did not sound convincing at all.

He reached up and pulled my bottom lip from between my teeth, running his thumb over it and looking at me hungrily.

“You’re making it so fucking hard for me to leave, darling. I want to sink my teeth into that pouty lip but if I do, I won’t be able to stop there.” He said huskily.

“So don’t go.” I tried.

“Love, you know why we have to go.” He sighed, resting his forehead against mine.

“I know. I’m sorry I’m making it hard for you. I love you.” I told him.

He kissed me goodbye, but it was soft and sweet. I could feel through the bond how much it pained him to leave and anything more would break his resolve. He reluctantly released me and Colton came to stand next to me while we watched them leave.

“Well, I might as well get to work.” I announced, making a beeline back to the packhouse.

Colton just nodded and walked silently beside me. He seemed to understand that I was riding the line between keeping my shit together and breaking down completely.

Once back inside, I told him I planned to start in what had been my father’s office. He asked if I wanted company but something told me I needed to face it alone. So he kissed my temple and went in search of his laptop to start his own research.

Walking into the Alpha office, knowing my father had sat behind the huge mahogany desk, running the pack while I played at his feet, all seemed so surreal. The only memories I had of him were flashes from my dreams.

I spun around, taking in the space. It looked nothing like the room I’d seen in my nightmares. Then, the walls had been lined with family photos, framed and given pride of place. Now the walls were bare of memories, Quade’s doing I was sure.

I shivered to think of that evil man in this space that he’d had no right to, only his by spilling the blood of my father. I didn’t want to think of him here. I wanted to turn back time, to see my father at work at his desk while my mother sat in his lap, doting on him.

I wanted to see myself as a child, paper and crayons spread out on the floor while I quietly colored, just content to be in the same space with them. I would show them the picture I drew and they would ooh and aah over it like all good parents would, even if it was truly awful. I wanted something I could never have.

Sinking into the plush leather chair behind the desk, I wondered if my father had sat there or if it was Quade’s addition, the thought of the latter made my skin crawl. But when my eyes landed on the picture frame on the desk, a photo of a seven-year-old me smiling back, I nearly vomited. The thought of Quade keeping that picture all these years, studying it and plotting ways to destroy me, made me physically ill.

Still, it had belonged to my father before he got his tainted hands on it and knowing that sent a fierce longing coursing through me. My dad, a dad I never knew, had kept my picture on his desk because it brought him joy to look up and see me smiling at him while he worked. It felt like a connection to him and I knew I had to keep the photo.

I picked up the frame and worked the back loose to remove the picture. I couldn’t keep the frame when I knew Quade had touched it. I pulled the picture free and a folded piece of paper fluttered to the ground.

I picked it up and examined it. It appeared to be some type of land deed with my father’s name on it. Handwritten in pen on the edge of the paper was a chemical formula:

Hg + 2NA + 2CH31 -> Hg(CH3) +2Nal

The formula was followed by the words “neurotoxin” and “dangerous.” I had no idea what it meant, but my intuition told me it was important.

“Colton!” I shouted. “I found something!”