Trap of the King Alpha Triplet

Emily.

"Well, Miss Blackwood, it looks like you're ready to be discharged," Joe said, checking my vitals one last time. "Your temperature and heart rate are back to normal."

I let out a sigh of relief. "Finally. I was starting to think I'd have to redecorate this room."

The triplets, who had been hovering like oversized, hot muscular mother hens, practically buzzed with excitement.

"Great!" Luca exclaimed, already reaching for my bag. "Let's blow this popsicle stand!"

"Not so fast," Joe interjected, her stern gaze sweeping over all of us. "Emily, while you're physically recovered, your wolf is still... damaged. You'll need to continue taking medication and avoid any extreme emotional situations." At this, she shot a pointed look at the triplets, who had the decency to look sheepish.

"Us? Cause extreme emotions?" Logan placed a hand over his heart in mock offense. "Joe. That hurts."

I rolled my eyes. "Please. You three are walking, talking embodiments of 'extreme emotions.' Usually anger and arrogance."

Leo smirked, leaning against the wall with infuriating casualness. "You forgot devastatingly handsome, babe."

"How could I possibly forget?" I muttered, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. "It's not like you ever let anyone forget it."

As I stood up, a wave of dizziness hit me, and I swayed on my feet. Instantly, three pairs of hands reached out to steady me.

"Whoa there, Bambi," Luca said, his arm snaking around my waist. "Maybe take it slow?"

I shrugged them off, forcing myself to stand straight. "I'm fine. Just... not used to having an entourage, I guess."

It was true. Usually, I was in and out of hospitals on my own, Mom was too busy working multiple jobs to accompany me. This whole 'being taken care of' thing was... weird.

"Well, get used to it, princess," Leo said. "Because we're not going anywhere."

I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the way my heart skipped at his words. "Whatever. Can we just go now? I'm dying for some real food."

The boys exchanged grins that could only be described as wolfish. "Oh, we've got something even better than food waiting for you," Logan said cryptically.

Alarm bells started ringing in my head. "Why do I suddenly feel like I should be very, very afraid?"

Their only response was to usher me out of the room, practically vibrating with excitement. As we stepped out of the hospital, I was momentarily blinded by the sunlight. When my vision cleared, I felt my jaw drop. There, in the parking lot, gleaming like some kind of automotive wet dream, was a cherry red Maybach sports car.

"What. The. Actual. Fu-"

"Language, Em," Leo chided, though he was grinning from ear to ear. "What do you think? It's all yours."

I blinked, sure I must have heard wrong. "I'm sorry, what?"

Luca bounced on his toes, looking like an overgrown puppy. "It's a gift! From us to you. Pretty sweet, right?"

I stared at them, then at the car, then back at them. "You're joking, right? This has to be a joke."

Logan frowned, his excitement dimming slightly. "You... don't like it?"

"Like it?" I sputtered. "I've only ever seen cars like this in magazines! It probably costs more than my entire life! I can't accept this!"

The triplets exchanged confused glances. "Why not?" Leo asked, genuinely perplexed.

I ran a hand through my hair, exasperated. "Because it's too much! And besides, I don't even know how to drive."

Their reactions were almost comical. Leo's eyebrows shot up so high they nearly disappeared into his hairline. Logan's mouth dropped open in a perfect 'O'. And Luca... well, Luca looked like I'd just told him the moon was made of cheese. "You don't know how to drive?" Luca repeated slowly, as if I'd spoken in a foreign language.

I crossed my arms defensively. "No, I don't. Is that so hard to believe?"

"But... but how do you get around?" Logan asked, still looking shell-shocked.

I shrugged. "I walk. Or take the bus. Or, you know, use magic."

This seemed to snap them out of their stupor. "Magic?" Leo's eyes lit up with interest. "You can magically drive a car?"

"Well, not exactly," I hedged, suddenly feeling a bit sheepish. "Witches can use a spell to start and control a car. But, uh... I haven't exactly learned that one yet."

There was a moment of silence before the triplets burst into laughter.

"Oh, this is priceless," Logan wheezed, clutching his sides. "Our badass witch can't even magic a car to life!"

I felt my cheeks burn with embarrassment and anger. "It's not funny! Mom and I never had enough money for a car, so learning that spell seemed pointless." Their laughter died down at that, replaced by looks of understanding and... was that pity? Oh hell no.

"Hey, it's okay," Luca said softly, reaching out to touch my arm. "We can teach you how to drive. It'll be fun!"

I jerked away from his touch, suddenly feeling suffocated. "Can we just go home? Please?"

The drive back to the packhouse was mercifully short and quiet, though I could feel the triplets exchanging concerned glances in the rearview mirror. As we pulled up to the house, I practically bolted from the car, eager to escape to the sanctuary of my room.

But as I threw open my bedroom door, I realized my troubles were far from over.

"What. The. HELL?!"

My room, my safe haven, had been transformed into some kind of tech wonderland slash fashion boutique. A sleek new computer setup dominated one corner, complete with the latest tablet. And my closet... oh goddess, my closet. It was stuffed to bursting with new clothes, shoes, and... was that lingerie?

I let out a strangled scream, torn between rage and disbelief.

Footsteps thundered up the stairs, and the triplets burst into my room, looking ready for battle.

"Emily! What's wrong?" Leo demanded, his eyes scanning the room for threats.

I whirled on them, my eyes blazing. "What's wrong? What's WRONG? This!" I gestured wildly at the room. "All of... this!"

The boys exchanged confused glances before Leo stepped forward, a smug grin spreading across his face. "You like it? We wanted to surprise you."

I stared at him, momentarily struck dumb by his utter cluelessness. Then, something in me snapped.

"Like it?" I snarled, advancing on him. "If you guys make any more 'surprises' to my room, I swear to the moon goddess I will move out of here right now! Oh, and reject all three of you while I'm at it!"

Their faces fell, shock and hurt flashing across their features.

"But... we thought you'd be happy," Luca said. "Don't girls like getting gifts?"

I took a deep breath, trying to rein in my temper. "Okay, first of all, not all girls are the same. Second, I don't need your gifts. I have a job, I can buy my own things."

"But you're family now," Logan protested. "You shouldn't have to work. Our money is your money."

I said nothing. I suddenly realized that I never saw myself as a part of this family.

Silence fell over the room, heavy and uncomfortable. I sighed, suddenly feeling drained.

"Look," I said, softer this time. "I appreciate the thought, I guess. But this is too much. And frankly, it's kind of insulting. Did you think you could just buy my affection?"

The triplets had the grace to look ashamed. "That wasn't our intention," Leo said quietly. "We just... we wanted to take care of you."

I nodded, some of my anger dissipating. "I get that. But I don't need to be taken care of. I need to be respected."

They nodded, looking properly chastised. Then, Luca's eyes lit up with an idea.

"Hey, speaking of respect," he said, a hopeful smile on his face. "We were wondering if maybe you'd like to go on that date this weekend? To our cabin in the woods?"

I raised an eyebrow. "A cabin in the woods? Isn't that how most horror movies start?"

Logan chuckled. "Trust me, it's perfectly safe. We can swim, have a barbecue, maybe do some stargazing..."

"Swimming?" I cut him off, wrinkling my nose. "Yeah, no thanks. In case you forgot, I'm not exactly a natural-born swimmer like you."

"We could teach you!" Luca exclaimed, looking far too excited at the prospect. "It'll be fun!"

I eyed them warily. "I don't know..."

"Come on, Em," Leo said. "Just give us a chance. We promise to respect your boundaries."

"Fine," I sighed, holding up a hand to stop their excited reactions. "But remember the conditions. No pressure, I choose where we go in the cabin area, and if I want to leave, we leave. Got it?" They nodded vigorously, looking for all the world like oversized puppies who'd just been promised a walk.

"Got it," Leo said, a genuine smile spreading across his face. "We won't let you down, Emily."

As they filed out of my room, chattering excitedly about plans for the weekend, I couldn't help but feel a tiny spark of... something. Not quite excitement, but not dread either. Maybe, just maybe, this wouldn't be a complete disaster.

But as I turned back to my transformed room, eyeing the pile of lacy underwear.

Oh crap.

Why did I say yes?

Had these wolves put a spell on me or something?