"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.

"Get down!" Kael shouted, tackling me to the ground as a blast of blue fire shot over our heads.


We were crouched behind a fallen tree at the edge of the sacred grove, the opening to the Moon Chamber somewhere ahead of us. Elder Malin's news about the triplets being my cousins still echoed in my mind, but we'd had no time to process it.


"What was that?" I gasped, my heart beating against my ribs.


"Guardians," Lucien explained, peering carefully over our cover. "Spirit dogs. They protect the door."


Another blast of fire burned the ground nearby. Through the trees, I could make out glowing blue shapes moving between the old oaks.


"We need a distraction," Jaxon said, his golden eyes searching the area. "I can—"


"No more of your magic," Kael growled. "Your tampering is what got us into this mess."


Chapter 46 - Chapter 46: Shadows Below