"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 ducked as the massive black wolf struck at my throat. His teeth snapped inches from my face, the sound booming across the challenge circle.


All around us, wolves from both packs watched in tense silence. Shadow Fang and Moonclaw, enemies for generations, now gathered to watch this fight that would decide everything.


Alpha Thorne of Shadow Fang was twice my size, with fight scars covering his dark fur. He'd killed twelve competitors before me. And now he had my father locked away somewhere, a bargaining chip to force this battle.


"Too slow, little girl," he taunted through the pack-mind link that linked all wolves in the circle. "Is this the best the daughter of the Great Alpha can do? Run and hide?"


I didn't answer, focused on my breathing as I circled away from him. Three days had passed since the Silvercrest Institute had shown me my father was alive. Three days of desperate planning that led to this moment.


Chapter 59 - Chapter 59: Challenge Day