Bound to the Triplet Alphas

ARIA POV

"The female should not be here," growled Alpha Damon, slamming his fist on the old oak table. "This council has been male-only for five hundred years."

I stood my ground as seven pairs of eyes glared at me. We had barely fled the Silvercrest ambush three days ago, and here I was, standing in the sacred meeting cave of the Alpha Council with nothing but Lucien at my side.

"I am Alpha of Moonclaw Pack," I said, keeping my voice steady. "And I have as much right to be here as any of you."

Alpha Damon snorted. His huge shoulders made him look like he could snap me in half with one hand. "A true Alpha leads with strength, not tricks and magic."

"Is that why your pack is losing territory to humans every year?" I shot back before I could stop myself. The words hung in the air like a physical blow.

The meeting room went silent. I felt Lucien tense beside me, ready to defend me if required.

Alpha Thorne, shockingly, was the one who broke the silence with a rough laugh. "She’s got you there, Damon." He pointed to the empty chair. "Sit, Alpha Aria. You’ve earned your place."

I took the seat, trying not to show my relief. Getting to this meeting had cost us dearly. After finding Elder Malin’s betrayal, we had barely escaped the Silvercrest team. My father stayed a prisoner, and half our pack was in hiding.

Alpha Marcus, the oldest wolf present, leaned forward. "Let’s get to business. Three packs have reported strikes from Silvercrest in the past month. They are no longer hiding in the darkness."

"They took my best fighters for their experiments," said Alpha Rey, a lean wolf with sharp eyes. "Cut them open while they were still alive."