TRIPLET ALPHA

Elizabeth Point of view

"One of the Stone brothers is my mate," I said, and beside me my best friend, Elaine, fiddled with my red locks. She dropped them and gave me a small smile.

"How lucky you are," she said, and I rolled my eyes. I wasn't a bit lucky; I was stuck finding which one was my mate, and I wasn't up for that. Elaine sighed beside me and patted my shoulder.

"It can't be all that bad. Besides, you don't have to meet them, and I'll never know," she said, and I shook my head.

"What if they do find out?" I said, and Elaine shrugged.

"With luck, one of them will be kind enough, and you might eventually fall in love," she said, and walked to a shelf to grab a drink while I pondered her words. I heard so much about the alpha brothers and how powerful they were. I really didn't want to be caught up in a power struggle for who was going to have the alpha title. Elaine came over with a bottle of wine in hand and poured some into a glass for me.

"The one I know of is Logan. He is not exactly kind, but he is not bad," she said, and I stared at her.

"What of the other two?" I asked, but she shook her head.

"No one knows that much about them; they aren't always around," she said, and I nodded. Maybe I wouldn't meet them at all. My wolf seemed to go haywire at the prospect of meeting her mate, but I wasn't ready for that. I still wanted to keep on going to college, and meeting a mate who was an alpha might crush those dreams. Elaine patted me on the shoulder and headed upstairs, probably to crash in. I sighed, and an idea popped into my head and I grinned. I took off my clothes and transformed into my wolf form, then I charged for the woods, breathing in the musky evening air. I ran to the familiar cabin and bounded in. I pushed open the door and transformed instantly, walked to the quarters, grabbed some clothes, and put them on. The cabin belonged to my parents. It was here I first learned to shift. I smiled as I whipped up hot coffee and toast, my favorite when I was out of the main house. A knock jostled me from my thoughts and I opened the door to see a tall, handsome man with brown hair and green eyes, and my mouth fell open.

What was Logan Stone doing here?

"Hey," Logan said, and I stared at him on the porch and offered a small smile.

"Hello, sir," I said, and he shook his head, his eyes dancing with an emotion I couldn't read.

"Sir? I prefer Logan," he said, and I nodded, still at the doorway. What was he doing on the porch?

"Umm, can I help you?" I asked, and he smiled, and I was momentarily stunned. He looked so handsome up close that it took my breath away.

"I was having trouble with my car," he pointed to a Benz outside, "and it's about to rain," he said, and I nodded.

"I am so sorry; come in," I said, and he gave me a smile and walked in. The large cabin suddenly looked so small as his powerful, tall frame came in. He sat slowly on the sofa, and I gave him the tea I had already prepared and toast. He shook his head, but I nodded. Outside the cabin, thunder rumbled, and the rain started to pour down hard.

"It's really nice. Have a try," I said, and his intense eyes studied me with interest. Then he beamed and nodded.

"If you say so," he picked up the cup and took a sip. His eyes met mine.

"It's good," he said, and I smiled back. For some reason, hearing him praise me felt like music to my ears. He sipped his tea again, his eyes trained on mine and smiled.

"I am Logan. Logan Stone," he said, and I nodded and sat across from him, digging into my meal.

"I am Elizabeth," I said. I watched Logan watch me, then he dropped his teacup and stood up and sat beside me. He suddenly looked nervous.

"I want to say something, Elizabeth," he said. His eyes roamed my face and stopped at my mouth.

"What's that?" I said, and he smiled at me and held my hand.

"Ever since we met, you have just been on my mind. Elizabeth, I think I have fallen in love with you. I know this might sound crazy and stuff, but can you come with me to my house? Stay with me because I think you are my mate," he said, and I sighed. If only he knew, he was still holding my hand, and since my wolf was silent, he was not my mate, but it was worth a try.

"Alright," I said. "I'll come with you," I added, and he grinned at me.

"Thank you," he said and stood. He stared at the window. The rain probably had subsided because everything was so quiet. I quickly sent Elaine a text, then I pocketed my phone and smiled at Logan.

"Shall we?" I said, and he nodded, and we headed for the car. I knew it was too sudden and fast, but my life sucked. Ever since my parents died in a car accident and I graduated from high school, my life has been pretty predictable and boring. I welcomed a change, so if going with Logan was that change, then so be it. We slipped into the car, and he drove off. We burst out of the woods, and he tore across the highway, and I smiled. It had even been a while since I entered a car. I grinned, and Logan caught me smiling.

"What's it?" he said, "You look happy," he added, and I smiled at him.

"I am feeling more alive," I said.

Elizabeth Point of view

"Welcome to my humble home," Logan said, and I smiled at him. His home was hardly humble at all. It was beautiful in all its glory; some mosaics on the walls were inlaid with gold, and the chandelier above gave a '90s vibe. I turned to Logan and smiled at him.

"Is this your humble home? It is hardly humble," I said, and he grinned and tossed back his hair.

"Alright, you've got me. It is certainly not a humble home," he said, and I smiled.

"Exactly," I agreed. We stared at each other for a while, then burst into laughter. I doubled over, and when I stopped laughing, I smiled at him. I hadn't laughed in a long while, and it was like a heavy weight lifted from my chest. Logan sobered up and stared down at me.

"I'm sorry about your parents," he said. I had told him about it earlier. He wasn't meeting my eyes when he said that, but I passed it off as he didn't want me to see him all sobered up. I smiled sadly.

"It's okay. They are... are," I broke down and sobbed, and he pulled me into his arms.

"Hey, hey. It's okay," he said and rubbed my back, and I sighed. I was suddenly aware of his body on mine, but I didn't want to pull away; it just felt so good. Eventually, he pulled away and I sighed.

"So, you like some drink?" he asked, and I nodded.

"Yes, please," I said. My throat felt parched. Logan nodded and opened an in-built fridge, bringing out an expensive-looking wine and pouring it into a glass for me and another for himself. He handed me one and sipped the other.

"So, are you the alpha?" I asked, and his green eyes held mine before he turned away.

"Not yet. I have to battle other competitors for the title," he said, and I raised a brow.

"Is the fight to the death?" I asked, and he nodded.

"Yes. Though anyone who accepts defeat is spared," he said, and I shook my head.

"So, if anyone didn't forfeit or surrender, would you kill that person?" I asked. He was silent for a while, and I thought he wasn't going to respond, then he shrugged.

"Yes, I will kill them. Those are the rules, and I won't bend them for anybody," he said. I nodded and drank the last of my wine.

"Thank you, Logan, for..." I started, but Logan moved closer and shut me up with a kiss. I stared at him in surprise, then I kissed him back. The feeling of his hot lips on mine was intoxicating, and I wanted more. He pulled away and smiled.

"I love you, Elizabeth, and I really want you to be my mate," he said, and I smiled at him. I didn't know what to say, and I didn't know how to tell him that I wasn't feeling this way, so I smiled instead and kissed him again. He stood and poured himself another drink.

"There is a party tonight, in celebration of the last full moon. Would you like to come?" he said, and I grinned.

"Of course," I said, and he nodded.

"Great, get ready because we are going to a party."

Loud music boomed from hidden speakers, and a crowd of werewolves danced to the music. Behind me, Logan did some cool moves, and I grinned and did some moves of my own. He stared at me in surprise, then he grinned. He grabbed a glass of brandy from a serving lady and observed me.

"My, my, you are really good," he yelled over the loud music, and I grinned. He had a way of complimenting me that made me happy.

"You think so?" I asked as he smiled and spun me around.

"I know so," he said, and we danced again. Once we were tired and sweaty, we moved over to the counter and sat on the barstools, watching the crowd.

"It's the first time I have been partying in months," I said, and Logan turned, held my face, and stared at me.

"It's going to be alright. You are with me now. I am going to make sure you enjoy every second of your life with me," he said, and I nodded. He wiped the tears that were starting to form at the corners of my eyes and kissed me slowly. I melted into his arms when he pulled away; his eyes were sort of yellow.

"Mine," he murmured, and I stared at him in surprise.

"You said?" I asked, and he shook his head; his eyes returned to their normal warm green.

"It's nothing, sorry about that. I'm going to go grab something," he said and walked away. I sighed; he didn't seem okay, and if his eyes turned yellow, that meant he almost lost control of his wolf. Someone slid into the bar beside me, and when he turned, my breath caught. He looked just like Logan, only a bit younger, and where Logan's brown hair was short, his was well-groomed and fell to his forehead. I smiled at him, and he smiled back; his green eyes danced.

"Hey, I'm Aiden. Aiden Stone," he said, and I smiled.

"Elizabeth," I offered my hand, and he shook it. He didn't let his fingers linger long before he pulled them away.

"Have you seen Logan?" he asked, and I nodded.

"He headed that way," I indicated to the hallway, and he nodded. Our eyes met, and I looked away. There was something in those cheerful green eyes, something that drew me in, something that made me want to know more about him. He suddenly raised his hands tentatively and took something from my hair. I smiled at him, and he smiled back. He stood and grinned at me.

"It was nice meeting you, Elizabeth. We might meet sometime again," he said and waved as he walked away.

Elizabeth Point of view

I watched him now from the bench I sat on, admiring him wistfully. Ever since I met him at the party, I couldn't stop thinking about him; he drew me in. I smiled when I remembered what happened at the party-he hadn't taken anything from my hair, he had put something there: a rose flower. Ever since then, I've been so intrigued, and as if he noticed me staring, he waved and dropped the shears. I had discovered he loved gardening.

"Hello," he said when he got to my side and slowly sat on the bench beside me.

"Hey, your gardens look beautiful," I said, and he grinned at me.

"Why, thank you," he said and tossed back his hair from his face.

"So, you are the second triplet?" I asked, and he nodded, smiling.

"Yeah. I am the second, the one who always loves to keep his two brothers in check. Damon and Logan do not exactly get along so well," he said, and I stared at him.

"Why?" I asked, and he shrugged.

"Damon has held a grudge over something Logan did to him when we were just teens. Ever since, Damon has hated him for it, though I still think behind all that supposed hate, Damon would do anything for me and Logan even if he had to kill us," Aiden said. He closed his eyes.

"Where is he, and what's he like?" I asked, and Aiden smiled.

"Damon is in Spain, doing whatever business he usually does. As for who he is..." Aiden sighed. "Damon is the person you don't want to piss off. He kills without even thinking twice about it; he doesn't have the slightest care about what people think," Aiden said.

"Why is he like that?" I asked, and Aiden shrugged.

"Damon wasn't always like this. He drifted away from the moral person he was. His one true love was killed in cold blood, then our parents, and also his best friend," he said, and I sighed. Our eyes met again, and this time, Aiden stared at me curiously. He brushed away my hair from my face.

"You are so beautiful," he said, and I blushed. He leaned forward, then he stopped. He moved away.

"Sorry, you are, umm, with Logan," he said, but I shook my head.

"I am with no one. Even if Logan loves me, that does not mean that I love him back," I said, and he smiled. He fished in his pocket and brought out his phone.

"I have a surprise for you," he said, and I looked at him in surprise. He unlocked his phone and handed it to me to see. On the screen was a message from college inviting me to study...

"Biology!" I exclaimed. "I have always loved biology," I said, and Aiden smiled. I pulled him into a hug.

"Thank you," I said, and he pulled away. He stared at my face way too long, then he sighed.

"You're welcome, Liz," he said, and I smiled. Liz! I liked the sound of that.

"You have classes tomorrow, and you still have today to do all your registration and all that," he said, and I smiled at him.

"Would you come with me?" I said, and he smiled warmly at me. He put his phone back in his pocket and held my hand.

"Yes. I will come with you," he said.

"You should have seen the girls' faces when I walked in with you. Everyone just kept staring; some looked like they wanted to kill me," I said, and Aiden smiled and shrugged innocently.

"I wasn't even trying to do anything," he said. He opened the door for me as we got home and smiled.

"So you don't have a girlfriend?" I asked, and he shook his head.

"No, I don't," he said, and he looked pleased. "Girls are trouble," he added, and I pouted.

"Are you saying that I am in trouble?" I asked. He burst out laughing; the sound was so contagious that I chuckled.

"No, you are not," his smile faded away, and he stared at me with intent. "You are just Elizabeth," he said, and moved closer to me.

"Why do I want to kiss you right now?" he asked, and I moved closer until I could feel his breath.

"Maybe you should find out," I said, and his green eyes bore into mine. Then he brushed his lips across mine, and I shuddered. Just that simple touch was making me go haywire already. He pulled back and stared at me in wonder. Deep down, I was feeling a bit disappointed; he wasn't also my mate. My wolf didn't recognize her.

"You look pale," he observed, and I smiled. I pulled him in for a hug; I really wanted him to be my mate.

"I am okay. Just hold me like this," I said, and he nodded and stroked my hair.

"Do you believe in love?" he asked, and I nodded.

"Yes, why?" I asked, but he shook his head.

"I was just asking," he said and pulled away.

"How did Logan make you feel?" he asked, and I sighed.

"He made me feel alive," I said, and he smiled and kissed me on the forehead.

"How do I make you feel?" he asked, and I grinned.

"You make me feel more alive and... and loved," I said, and he pulled me to him again and covered my lips with his. I wrapped my arms around his neck. He pulled away and stared at me, brushing away the stubborn strands of hair that came into my face.

"I am yours, Aiden," I said, and he stared at me and shook his head with a smile.

"You know what that means in werewolf law," he said, and I smiled; I did know what that meant.

"I do," I said and held his hand.

"It means we are bound for life," I said, and he smiled wide. Then something crossed my mind: if he wasn't my mate, then it was certainly the last of the Stone brothers.

Damon.