Moonrise painted the Silverfang territory in silver light as Aria walked the way to the Alpha's mansion. Her heart pounded so hard she was sure the whole pack could hear it. The grand stone building loomed ahead, windows glowing with warm light that seemed anything but friendly. "You can do this," she whispered to herself, holding her simple dress. She had nothing fancy to wear—omegas never needed such things. At the massive wooden doors, Aria paused. What awaited her inside? Three Alpha boys who all claimed her as mate, and their father who clearly despised the very idea. Before she could knock, the door swung open. Elder Vaughn stood there, his old face grim. "The Alphas await," he said, his voice low. "Be brave, child. Tonight changes your future." Aria followed him through halls lined with portraits of past pack leaders—strong, powerful wolves who had led Silverfang for generations. None looked remotely like her. Elder Vaughn stopped before elaborate double doors. "Remember," he whispered, "the Moon Goddess chose you for a reason." The doors opened to show a large study. A crackling fire cast dancing shadows across shelves filled with old books. Alpha Thorne sat behind a massive desk, his powerful frame radiating dominance. The triplets stood in formation—Kael at his father's right, Ren leaning casually against a bookcase, and Dax standing perfectly still near the window. All four pairs of eyes locked onto her the moment she entered. "Approach," Alpha Thorne ordered. Aria stepped forward, fighting the omega urge to lower her gaze.
"Show me the mark," he ordered. She extended her arm, where the crescent moon glowed even brighter now. Alpha Thorne studied it, his jaw tight. "Elder Vaughn believes this is the mark of the Moon Goddess. That my kids' unusual... situation... is her will." "Don't you believe it, Father?" Ren asked, that familiar grin playing on his lips. "What I believe," Alpha Thorne growled, "is that an omega becoming Luna would make our pack look weak. It's never happened. Not once in our history." "Yet here we are," Kael said firmly. "All three of us feeling the mate bond with her." Alpha Thorne stood, moving around Aria like a predator.
"Tell me, girl. Who were your parents?"
"I don't know, Alpha. I was found at the pack lines as a baby." "Convenient," he grumbled. "An orphan omega with no bloodline suddenly marked for my sons." "I didn't ask for this," Aria said, finding her words. "I was happy being invisible." Dax's eyes flashed with something—recognition? "She speaks the truth, Father. I can feel it." Alpha Thorne returned to his desk, drumming his fingers on the smooth wood. "This situation is unusual. Three children, one mate. The pack can have only one Luna."
"Then I will claim her," Kael stated, moving forward. "As firstborn, it's my right." "Your right?" Ren pushed off from the shelves. "The mate bond doesn't care about birth order, brother." "Enough!" Alpha Thorne slammed his fist down. "This split is exactly what I feared. My kids turning against each other over an omega." "What will you do, Father?" Dax asked quietly. Alpha Thorne's eyes narrowed as he studied Aria. "There is only one option. You three will fight for her." The room went deadly silent. "Compete?" Kael asked, his voice tight. "A series of trials," Alpha Thorne stated. "Tests of power, leadership, and worthiness. The winner will take the girl as mate." "And if we refuse?" Ren challenged. "Then none of you will have her. I'll remove her from the pack." Aria's breath caught. Banishment meant certain death for an omega alone in the wild. "You can't do that," Dax said, surprising everyone with his anger. "She bears the Goddess's mark."
"I am Alpha," Thorne growled. "I can do whatever necessary to protect this pack." Elder Vaughn stepped forward. "Alpha, the prophecy—" "Silence!" Thorne snapped. "We will not speak of that here." Prophecy? Aria looked between the Elder and the Alpha. What weren't they saying? "The trials begin tomorrow," Alpha Thorne stated. "Until then, the girl stays here. I want her watched." "I'll watch her," all three brothers said in agreement. Alpha Thorne's eyes flashed with anger. "She'll stay in the east wing. Alone. Guards will be placed." "May I speak?" Aria asked softly. Everyone turned to her, clearly shocked. "Don't I have any say in this? It's my life too." A shocked laugh burst from Ren. "She has fire, this one." "Omegas don't get choices," Alpha Thorne said coldly. "And until one of my sons proves worthy of you, you are nothing more than an omega with a strange mark." Kael stepped forward, his eyes fixed on Aria. "Father, at least let me show her to her room." After a moment's thought, Alpha Thorne nodded. "Fine. But return immediately." As Kael led her from the study, Aria felt the burning gazes of the other brothers on her back. The halls of the Alpha mansion were grand but cold. Aria's simple shoes rang on marble floors as Kael guided her with a hand hovering near the small of her back—not quite touching.
"Why is your father so angry?" she asked softly. "He had plans," Kael answered. "Political ties with other packs through our matings. You've upset everything." "I didn't mean to." Kael stopped, turning to face her fully. "Do you feel it? The pull toward me?" Aria's cheeks warmed. "I feel... something. Toward all of you." His jaw tightened. "I will win these trials. I am the real heir." "And if your brothers feel the same?" "They'll lose." His voice held absolute certainty. "This is my birthright." He led her to an ornate door and pushed it open to reveal a bedroom larger than the entire cottage she shared with three other omegas. "Stay here tonight," he ordered. "Tomorrow, everything changes." After he left, Aria explored the room, running her fingers over fine fabrics she'd never been allowed to touch before. A full-length mirror reflected a girl she barely recognized—pale, wide-eyed, with that glowing mark on her wrist. A soft tap at the balcony door made her jump. Heart racing, she approached cautiously and saw Ren's grinning face through the glass. She opened the door. "You shouldn't be here." "Since when do I follow rules?" he asked, slipping inside. "I wanted to see you alone, without my serious brothers hovering." "Your father will be furious." "Let him be." Ren moved closer, his golden eyes warm. "Tell me honestly, little moonflower. Do you feel drawn to me too?" The nickname made her heart flutter.
"Yes," she admitted. "But I feel it with Kael and Dax as well. I don't understand what's happening." "None of us do." His normal playful demeanor slipped, revealing something vulnerable beneath. "But I know one thing—I won't let them take you from me. Not Kael with his rules, not Dax with his secrets." "Secrets?" Ren's face changed. "Ask him about the night you were found. Ask him what he knows." Before she could ask him further, another soft noise came from the hallway door. It opened slowly to reveal Dax. His gray eyes opened slightly at seeing Ren. "I should have known you'd break the rules."
"Just like I knew you would come check on her," Ren answered with a smirk. Dax entered, closing the door quietly behind him. "I wanted to make sure you were comfortable," he told Aria. "As comfortable as a prisoner can be," she responded. Something like regret flashed across his face. "You're not a prisoner." "Then what am I?" "The answer to a prophecy," he said softly. "One that scares my father."
Aria looked between the two boys. "What prophecy? Please, I need to know." Dax paused. "I only know pieces. Something about three wolves sharing one fate, and a hidden daughter of the moon." "Which is ridiculous," Ren cut in. "We're brothers, not pieces of one wolf." A sudden commotion in the hallway stopped them. Heavy footsteps neared. "You need to go," Aria whispered quickly. Ren winked, slipping back to the balcony.
"Until tomorrow, little moonflower." Dax moved to follow, but paused. "Watch your dreams tonight," he warned. "They may show you truths you're not ready for." After they disappeared, Aria collapsed onto the bed, her mind spinning. Three brothers, all claiming her. A strange prophecy. A man who hated what she represented. As she drifted toward sleep, her wrist started to burn. The crescent mark was shifting, spreading like silver vines up her arm. In the mirror across the room, her image seemed to shimmer. For just a moment, her eyes flashed silver like moonlight. Outside her window, hidden in shadows, Moira watched quietly. "First night of the blood moon," she whispered. "Her power awakens." In her hand, she clutched an old amulet bearing the same mark that now crept up Aria's arm. "Sleep well, daughter. Tomorrow, the wolves begin to hunt each other." In his quarters, Elder Vaughn unrolled an ancient scroll. The prophecy's words glowed in the candlelight: "Three wolves, one soul, torn asunder by old magic. Only the daughter of the moon can repair what was broken, but her choice will end two lives to save one." Outside, the moon turned blood red.