"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.

The pack house door slammed open. Alpha Darius stormed in, his eyes still flickering between human brown and shadow black.


"Chain her!" he barked, pointing at me.


Four pack guards rushed forward. I backed against the wall, my newly found wolf still close to the surface after last night's full moon. I could feel her power humming beneath my skin, ready to break free again.


"Don't touch her," Kael's words cut through the tension. He stood in the doorway, arms crossed, his face hard as stone.


Everyone froze. No one expected Kael—strict, rule-following Kael—to challenge his father.


"She's dangerous," Alpha Darius growled. "You saw what happened last night. The girl called the Forgotten Packs!"


"They haven't arrived yet," Kael answered evenly. "And she didn't know what she was doing."


Chapter 28 - Chapter 28: Betrayal and Escape