"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 opening ripped open just as the mountain began to crack, and I stepped through into chaos.


"Duck!" I shouted at the werewolves below me, throwing myself forward as a huge chunk of rock crashed where I'd been standing.


Three werewolf brothers stared at me in shock. One of them had wings and scales—definitely not normal. A dragon hovered nearby, looking just as surprised as everyone else.


"Who are you?" the winged werewolf asked.


"Someone who's here to save your lives," I said quickly. "I'm Queen Seraphina of the Vampire Realm, and you're all in more danger than you know."


The mountain shook again, and something roared from deep underground. Something that made my thousand-year-old vampire instincts scream with fear.


"We need to get out of here," I said quickly. "Now."


"We're not going anywhere with a vampire," the biggest werewolf said coldly. "Vampires can't be trusted."


Chapter 135 - Chapter 135: The Vampire Queen's Gambit