"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 vampire's blade whistled past my ear, missing by inches.


"Foolish bloodsucker," I growled, taking Marcus by the throat and lifting him off the ground. "I came here to help, not fight."


"Then why did you attack first?" he gasped, grabbing at my hand.


I set him down gently and stepped back. Around us, the other magical creatures Elder Malin had gathered were still tense and ready to fight. The witches had their power crackling around their fingers. The werewolves were half-shifted, showing their fangs.


"I didn't attack," I said quietly. "I tried you. How did you think I was going to trust you with my life if I didn't know if you could fight?"


The truth was more complex than that. Dragons don't just make agreements with anyone. We're proud beings, and we've been burned before by trusting the wrong people. The last time I worked with other supernaturals, half of them betrayed me when things got scary.


Chapter 132 - Chapter 132: The Dragon's Bargain