300 Days With The Alpha Beta Triplets
HE WON

THIRD PERSON POV:

When Bella heard this, she sensed her father knew something, but she couldn't betray Ryder by coming clean because that would only anger Herald more.

"Now?" Ryder asked, and Herald shrugged.

"I have a lot of papers to go through, from the pack's budget to other matters, but I got a little bored, and you came to mind," he said, and Ryder glanced at Bella, who had her gaze fixed on her father. "Is there a problem, sweetheart?" Herald asked Bella, but she didn't speak.

Hazel stood behind the Alpha, trying to decipher his motives. She felt he was aware of what had happened, and she, too, feared what he planned to do to Ryder.

"You know he doesn't have to, right?" Bella said to defend Ryder, and Alpha Herald said nothing. Then she turned to Ryder.

"You don't have to do it if you don't want to," she said to him so he would know she supported him.

Ryder was scared because the look on Herald's face didn't show this would be a friendly match. For days, Herald had given him the cold shoulder, and it seemed he was the only one who noticed. He knew it was foolish to go against an Alpha King who had seen wars, but he didn't want to look like a weakling. He knew Herald didn't like him, and backing down would confirm everything Herald had said about him-being someone who wasn't capable of protecting his daughter.

"You're right; he doesn't have to go on with the match. It is his choice, but noblemen do not turn down a fencing match, right?" he said, looking into Ryder's eyes.

Bella tried to reach for Ryder's hand, but he got up from the bed.

"I know I don't have to agree to the match, but you're right, noble men don't turn down a fencing match, so I accept your challenge, Alpha Herald."

Bella felt as though she were going deaf when she heard Ryder say this. She recalled when she accepted Fae's fencing challenge, but this was different. Fae was strong, but she was no match for Bella, an actual Alpha Princess. As for Ryder, he was going against an actual Alpha King-not just any Alpha King, a Runestone, one of the original alphas of Moon Fire.

By now, the twins had arrived at the scene.

"What's going on?" Kai asked Hazel, who looked at both of them, slapping her forehead.

Herald, with a smile on his lips, turned to face the twins.

"Ryder and I are going to test our skills in a game of fencing. Mine's a bit rusty, but let's see."

Both twins' jaws dropped when he said this. The first time he mentioned going into a battle with Ryder, they assumed it was a joke, but his actions didn't seem like he was joking. As for Ryder, they couldn't see him beyond being a fool.

"With that being said, you all are invited to watch the match." he said to Hazel and the twins. Then he turned to Ryder. "Remember, no masks, but to make it easier, if you draw blood just once, you win. No matter how many rounds we go."

He is out to kill him, Bella thought to herself while she watched Ryder foolishly accept his death sentence.

"Shall we?" Herald asked.

Ryder nodded, and Bella stared at her father, her gaze lingering for a few seconds. Herald looked away at once, then walked out of the room.

"I'll be fine," Ryder said to Bella, with a smile hanging on his lips. Then the twins walked into the room.

All they had on their minds was telling him how foolish his decision was, but they didn't want to kill his spirit before he walked into the challenge. Alpha Herald already had the upper hand to kill him, so discouraging him was useless.

"Let's go," Ryder said to them, and they all nodded, making their way out of the room.

Soon, they were in the fencing room, which looked larger and more luxurious than the one at school. There was a range of suits lined up, and the fencing arena had a glass partition separating it from the rest of the room.

"That glass is soundproof. We cannot hear you when you are in there, but you can hear us a little from here. That's why I don't like this game," she said to Ryder.

"I'll be fine," he said to her once more, but he was speaking more to himself than to her because he knew he was in deep trouble.

If the Alpha decided to spare him today, then he was lucky.

"Pick your suit," Herald said, walking out from the door up ahead, all suited up. "You can choose from the suits here, or you can go inside and choose from any of them," he said to Ryder, who chose a black suit hanging outside on the suit rack.

"Good choice," Herald said. Then Ryder suited up at once, while Herald walked into the fencing arena with the swords.

When Ryder walked in, Herald shut the door, then he tossed two swords at him.

Ryder took his stance, facing Herald, whose expression remained calm but intense. He was indulging in a game he already knew he'd win, but he knew he had to ground himself so he wouldn't inflict too much pain on Ryder.

The room's silence pressed down on Ryder as the weight of Herald's presence filled every corner. He was thinking of the best way to outsmart Herald so he could land a blow.

Bella's heart raced as she watched, her anxiety clawing at her as the tension rose between the two.

"Why are they just standing?" Hazel asked, looking at the twins and Bella.

Her anxiety was over the roof, and she wanted the match to end.

"Because Ryder's trying to replace the best way to outsmart him. That's a known technique, especially when you your opponent is someone as tough as Alpha Herald," Finn said to them.

"Shh, they're talking," Kai said, and Bella sighed.

know

"You can't hear them," she said again, but the three of them watched, trying to decipher what Alpha Herald was saying.

"Before we begin, there's something you should know." Herald began looking into Ryder's eyes.

Ryder was tensed, but he held his ground, meeting the Alpha's intense stare.

"I know you slept with my daughter under my roof," Herald said in a bitter voice, slicing through the air with an edge sharper than any blade. Ryder's face paled, his body freezing as the shock of the revelation hit him like a punch to the gut.

For a moment, he was speechless, his eyes widening with surprise and guilt. He hadn't realized Herald knew.

The brief hesitation was all Herald needed. In a swift, effortless movement, the Alpha lunged forward, his blade grazing Ryder's cheek before Ryder could even react. A thin line of blood appeared on Ryder's face.

Ryder staggered back, his hand instinctively reaching up to touch the cut, which stung deeply, attacking his brain. Shakily, he stared at Herald, meeting the eyes of a father who would kill anyone to protect his daughter.

Bella gasped, her instincts kicking in as she surged forward.

"Father, stop!" she called out, desperation edging her voice as her face paled.

Her mind raced, and she got to her feet, dashing toward the arena. She opened the door at once.

Herald's gaze flicked to her as he withdrew his sword, pointing the tip to the ground as he watched her rush toward Ryder.

"Are you okay?" she asked, and Ryder looked at her, nodding.

Irrespective of what her father would do, she pressed her lips against Ryder's, causing him to wrap his arms around her. His face hurt, but he knew she was hurt too, and he couldn't break in front of her. Herald watched, but this time, the surge of anger he felt had vanished. What he witnessed were two people in love, and although Ryder was hurt, he consoled Bella, disregarding his wound.

"I'm fine," he said, pulling away from her.

"Let's go," she said, grabbing his hand. Then she glared at her father with her brows drawn down. "This madness ends now!" she yelled, but Ryder yanked his hand away from hers.

"No," he said, his gaze fixed on Herald.

"What?" Bella asked, her brows creased.

"A nobleman fights until his last breath, too. My father taught me that," he said, and Bella scoffed.

"I don't care what your father taught you. He's going to kill you if you don't step away," she said, and then Ryder looked at her.

"Do you trust me?" he asked, and she nodded.

"Then trust that I'll be fine," he said to her, and before she could speak, her father spoke.

Herald chuckled. "I like this kid."

When he said this, Bella glanced at him with her face contorted.

"Leave the arena, sweetheart." She looked at him in fury, then her gaze went back to Ryder, who nodded at her. She planted a kiss at the corner of his lips before she walked out of the arena with her heart in her mouth.

Ryder's eyes followed Bella as she left. Then he steadied himself, his fingers brushing over the thin trail of blood on his cheek, wiping it away with the back of his hand. He stayed silent, his gaze locked on Herald, who hadn't taken his

eyes off him.

Herald took a step closer.

"Tell me, boy," he began in a calm tone, "do you truly think you're worthy of my daughter?"

Ryder stayed still, his jaw tight as he considered his answer.

Finally, he spoke. "I may not be worthy in your eyes. But Bella loves me. That's something you can't change, no matter

how hard you try."

Herald's jaw clenched as Ryder's words dug into him. Ryder noticed the hint of vulnerability and decided to press

further.

"Does it hurt, Alpha?" Ryder asked in a steady tone. "Does it bother you, knowing that your daughter might love me more than she'll ever love you?"

The subtle shift in Herald's stance told Ryder he had struck a nerve. Herald's grip on his sword tightened, his posture momentarily faltering. For a split second, the Alpha lost focus as thoughts became clouded by the reality Ryder had

put into words.

Seizing the opportunity, Ryder lunged forward, his blade flashing as he moved in for the opening. But Herald recovered swiftly, his own blade rising to block Ryder's attack. Metal clanged against metal, but Ryder's blade barely nicked the Alpha's cheek, leaving a thin line of blood.

Herald stepped back, a look of surprise in his eyes as he raised a hand to touch the shallow cut. Ryder held his stance, breathing heavily, and in that moment, the frown on Herald's face turned into a smile.

"You have proved yourself," Herald said, and Ryder stared at him in confusion.

He put out his hand to Ryder for a shake, and Ryder took it, unsure of what to do.

"You might be worthy of my daughter, but the next time you have sex with her under my roof, I will kill you," he said,

then he pulled Ryder in, bumping shoulders with him momentarily while Ryder processed his words.

He truly would kill him, and he knew.

Herald turned to Bella and her friends, showing his bloodied face.

"I think he won," Hazel said, clasping her hands together and getting to her feet.

This was when she noticed the twins shut their eyes the whole time. They were pros in fencing, and they knew how

easy it would be for the Alpha to clear Ryder, so they couldn't bear to watch him get destroyed.

"He won!" Bella screamed, then she rushed toward the arena, opening the door, and the rest followed her.