"Aria," he said softly. "Today is your birthday."
It wasn't a question, but I nodded nevertheless.
"The moon is full tonight," he added, his voice quiet. "You will attend the ceremony."
"Of course, Elder," I replied, puzzled. All eighteen-year-olds attended the ceremony. It was essential.
He leaned in, smelling gently. "You already feel it, don't you? "The change."
My heartbeat skipped. "What change?"
Elder Malin's eyes narrowed. "Interesting. "Very interesting." He reached inside his pocket and retrieved a little pouch. "Wear this tonight."
I accepted it hesitantly. Inside was a simple moonstone pendant with a leather cord.
"But this is for—"
"Wear it," he interjected. "Hide it under your clothes if you must, but wear it."
Moonstones were precious. They aided our connection to the Moon Goddess during ceremonies. However, they were only given to wolves from influential families (Alphas and Betas). Not Omegas like me.
"Why?" I questioned.
Elder Malin glanced at Mira before returning his attention to me. "Because someone is harboring secrets about you, child. And tonight, those secrets may be revealed."

~

I never mattered in our pack. Omegas like me serve, submit, and survive. We don't dream of love. We don't dream of power.

She was the future Luna. I was just the girl who watched from the shadows.

But everything changed on my 18th birthday.

I felt the bond. I met my mate.

One of the Alpha's sons.

But the Alpha has triplets, and I felt the mate bond with all three and it seems the three of them felt it too — three perfect warriors, three powerful Alphas, three secrets buried beneath the surface.

One of them is my destiny.

One of them is lying.

And one of them might be the death of me.

The Moon Goddess doesn't make mistakes... but this time, I think she might've given me too much to handle.

I jumped as another tree crashed down behind us. The Shadow Alpha's roar shook the trees.


"Keep moving!" Kael yelled, pulling me along as we raced through the dark woods.


My lungs burned. We'd been running for hours, trying to stay ahead of the monster that used to be Alpha Darius. Mom was still weak, leaning on Lucien. Mira struggled to keep up.


"In here," Jaxon whispered, pointing to a secret cave behind a waterfall.


We slipped through the sheet of water into darkness. The cold spray drenched us, washing away our smells. The cave was small but dry further in, with strange marks etched into the walls.


"Is everyone okay?" I asked, counting heads. My heart stopped. "Where's Mom?"


"She and Lucien were right behind me," Mira said, her voice shaking.


Kael looked out through the waterfall. "I don't see them."


Before anyone could stop me, I bolted toward the cave opening. Jaxon caught my arm.


"Are you crazy? The Shadow Alpha will catch you!"


Chapter 25 - Chapter 25: The Guardian's Secret