Offered to the Triplet Alphas

Chapter 123: Chapter 123: Against the Clock

The moment Leo staggered back, I rushed to his side without thinking.

“Leo! Are you okay?” I grabbed his arm to steady him.

Instantly, a wave of perfume hit me, causing my breath to stutter in surprise. My heart skipped a beat unnaturally. This feeling. It was almost like—

“I’m fine,” he gritted out, though his face was contorted slightly in pain.

His ears had turned increasingly red, and his breathing was labored. The needle was still sticking out of his forearm where he’d intercepted it before it could pierce my skin. A thin trickle of amber liquid was dripping down his skin.

Behind us, Levi moved with lightning speed. Before Esther could retreat, he had her in a chokehold, his muscular arm wrapped around her throat. Her eyes bulged as she clawed at him.

“Tell your people to stand down,” Levi growled, tightening his grip just enough to make his point, “or I snap your neck right here.”

The guards hesitated, looking to Esther for direction. Her face was turning an alarming shade of red.

Leo winced as he looked at me. “Hazel, there’s a button under the desk. Press it. Now.”

“What?” I asked, confused by his sudden instruction.

“Just do it!” he barked.

I hesitated, meeting his intense gaze. Despite everything, I trusted him.

My fingers

room, and an automated

SEQUENCE INITIATED. ALL PERSONNEL EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY. TEN MINUTES TO COMPLETE FACILITY

in horror. “What have you done?!” she screeched,

scatter, abandoning their posts and running for the exits. In the face of impending destruction, they couldn’t care less about Esther’s well-being. It was every man

to get her out of here,” he

you?” Lucas demanded, already moving to take my

care of,” Leo replied

protested, pulling against Lucas’s grip. “We

me toward the exit. Levi had taken hold of Esther, forcing her along with us, while Liam and Lucas flanked me

have time to argue, Hazel,” Lucas said

alarms blaring, the automated countdown continuing its ominous announcement. We pushed our way through the throng, heading for the stairwell that would

dust rained down from

exploding at random,” Liam shouted over

to shake. The second wave of explosions came just as we reached a junction in the hallway. The force was much stronger this time, sending ripples through the floor and causing the ceiling to

Lucas shoved me forward just as it crashed down between

Liam’s panicked voice from the other side.

fine!” I called back, my voice shaking. “But I can’t

commanded. “We’ll find another way

side, their voices growing fainter as they moved away to find an alternate route. I stood there for a moment, my heart pounding, before making a

He’d sacrificed himself to protect me, and I couldn’t just leave him behind

only one thing Leo would stay in