Chapter : Scent Of Past

Roo's pulse pounded so hard it echoed in his ears.

Alexander's grip on his chin was firm, unyielding, golden eyes burning into him like molten fire. Alec's lips brushed against his throat, his breath hot against Roo's skin, and Ace—Ace's smirk was dangerous, full of dark amusement and something deeper, more primal.

"You're trembling, piccolo," Alec murmured, pressing a feather-light kiss just below Roo's jaw. "Are you afraid?"

Roo's breath hitched.

Yes.

But not in the way they thought.

He wasn't afraid of pain. He wasn't even afraid of them.

He was afraid of what this meant—of what it would do to him if they truly claimed him. If they marked him, he would be theirs. His scent would change, his body would crave them even more, and no one would be able to take him away from them.

Not even himself.

"I—I'm not ready," Roo whispered.

For a brief second, silence hung between them.

Then—

"Not ready?" Ace repeated, his smirk fading.

"That's not an option, Roo," Alexander said smoothly, thumb tracing over Roo's bottom lip. "You're ours."

"Forever," Alec added, voice soft but absolute.

Roo's heart slammed against his ribs. "You—"

CRASH.

The sound of glass shattering split through the air.

Roo jerked, his instincts screaming as the triplets reacted instantly—Alexander pulling him back, Ace stepping forward with a snarl, and Alec's golden eyes flicking to the window.

"Stay behind us," Alexander ordered, voice dangerously calm.

Roo barely had time to process before a shadow moved outside the floor-to-ceiling glass.

Something—someone—had just broken in.

"Intruder," Ace growled, already moving.

Roo's blood ran cold.

The marking was forgotten.

Because someone had come for him.

Roo's breath hitched.

The triplets moved in an instant. Ace lunged forward, a blur of movement, his golden eyes flashing as he reached for the source of the intrusion. Alexander shielded Roo with his body, an iron grip on his waist, while Alec's gaze flickered dangerously toward the window.

"Tch." Ace clicked his tongue as the scent hit him. "Rogues."

The shattered glass crunched beneath his boots. The night wind howled through the broken window, carrying the scent of blood, sweat, and filth.

Roo's stomach churned. Why here? Why now?

"Who sent you?" Alexander's voice was calm—too calm. The kind of calm that preceded something brutal.

A low growl rumbled in response.

And then—movement.

A figure lunged from the darkness.

But before they could even reach Roo, a sickening crack echoed through the air.

Ace didn't hold back.

His claws ripped through flesh, sending the rogue flying into the opposite wall. The impact shook the room, but the triplets didn't flinch. Alec barely spared a glance at the writhing intruder, his focus still on Roo.

"Are you hurt?" Alec's voice was softer now, but there was an edge beneath it.

Roo shook his head, eyes wide. "I—"

"No second chances," Alexander murmured darkly.

The rogue coughed, blood splattering against the white marble floor. "W-we didn't—We weren't sent here to—"

"Spare me the excuses," Ace snarled. "Who sent you?"

"P-please—"

Alexander sighed. "Pitiful."

And then—his claws plunged deep.

The rogue barely had time to scream.

Roo gasped.

He had seen violence before. Had seen death. But the casual ease with which Alexander ended the intruder sent a chill through his veins.

This was who they were.

Lethal. Unforgiving. Monsters draped in human skin.

And yet—when Alexander turned back to him, wiping the blood from his fingers, his touch was gentle.

"You don't have to see things like this, piccolo," Alec murmured, brushing Roo's hair from his face. "We'll always protect you."

Roo's chest tightened.

Because deep down, he knew the truth.

They would kill for him.

And they wouldn't hesitate to do it again.

The room was silent, save for the faint drip of blood against the marble floor. The triplets stood like beasts at rest, their lethal instincts barely sheathed beneath their poised control.

Roo's heartbeat refused to slow.

Alexander's golden eyes watched him with quiet intensity, fingers still curled from where they had ripped through flesh moments ago. Ace let out a huff, rolling his shoulders as if bored. Alec, ever the calm one, pressed a comforting hand against Roo's lower back.

"Piccolo," Alec murmured, voice smooth, warm—soothing. "You're shaking."

Roo blinked. He hadn't realized.

Ace scoffed. "Of course he is." His sharp gaze flickered toward the lifeless body at their feet. "He's not used to this yet."

"He will be," Alexander said firmly. "He's ours."

Roo's throat felt tight.

They said it so easily. As if it were already decided.

"We need to deal with this quickly," Ace muttered, nudging the body with his boot. "Before the cleanup team arrives, I want answers."

"He was going to say something before Alexander killed him," Roo said suddenly.

All three pairs of golden eyes snapped toward him.

"…What?" Alec asked, voice unreadable.

"He wasn't just some rogue attacking for the hell of it," Roo murmured, glancing at the bloodied corpse. "He said he wasn't sent here to—"

He stopped.

Because suddenly, the scent hit him.

Something familiar.

Something wrong.

His entire body stiffened.

"What is it?" Alexander asked immediately, stepping closer.

Roo's breath came fast. "I... I know this scent."

It was buried beneath the stench of rogue filth and blood, but it was there—something from his past.

Something he had tried to forget.

Alec's hand was suddenly on the nape of his neck, fingers pressing gently, grounding. "Breathe, piccolo," he murmured. "Tell us what you remember."

Roo's lips parted—

And then—

A howl split through the night.

It wasn't a rogue. It wasn't a random attack.

More were coming.

Ace's grin was all sharp teeth. "Well, well." He cracked his knuckles. "Looks like we're not done yet."