As Aria woke up, light came in through the windows in the morning. As she blinked, the strange dream of silver plants and moonlight went away. Looked at her arm. The circular shape was still there, but it didn't go all the way up her arm like it did in her dream. "Just nerves," she said as she got out of bed. There was a soft knock on the door. A beta maid came in with clean clothes. She didn't look Aria in the eyes as she said, "Alpha Thorne asks you to join the family for breakfast." Aria said yes, and quickly put on the simple gray dress that was given to her. It was nicer than anything she had worn before, but not at all like what a real Luna would wear.
The dining hall buzzed with stress. The triplets were sitting around Alpha Thorne, who was at the head of the table. Elder Vaughn stood in the corner, watching quietly. Kael straightened when she entered. Ren winked. Dax's gray eyes followed her every move. "Sit," Alpha Thorne ordered, pointing to an empty chair. Aria sat, feeling everyone's stares. Servants brought plates of food she'd never seen before. "The trials begin at noon," Alpha Thorne declared. "My sons will compete for the right to claim you." "Like I'm a prize?" Aria couldn't stop the words. Ren snickered. Kael frowned. Dax's lips twitched. Alpha Thorne's eyes narrowed. "Watch your tongue, omega." "Father," Dax spoke softly. "The mark grows bigger. Look." Everyone stared at Aria's wrist.
The crescent moon now pulsed with silver light. Alpha Thorne pushed back from the table. "I must speak with the elders. The trials will continue as planned." After he left, Kael leaned forward. "I'll win today." "So confident, brother?" Ren challenged. "Focus on preparing," Dax suggested. "She's not a trophy." Aria slipped away during their fight. She needed air, room to think. The mansion's lawns offered escape. Walking among the flowers, Aria tried to make sense of everything. Three mates. A forecast. A mark that seemed alive. "Enjoying your new status?" a cold voice asked. Aria spun around. Lyra stood there, beautiful and scary in a blue dress that screamed power. Her golden-brown eyes burned with hate. "I was just walking," Aria answered. "In my garden," Lyra stepped closer. "In what should be my home." Aria backed up. "I didn't ask for this." "Liar!" Lyra hissed.
"You must have tricked them somehow. Used some dirty omega charm." "That's not—" "I was raised to be Luna!" Lyra's voice cracked. "Trained since birth. My father was Beta until he died defending this pack. And now you—a nothing, a nobody—think you'll take my place?" Aria's back hit a tree. "I'm sorry about your father, but—" "Don't speak of him!" Lyra grabbed Aria's marked wrist, squeezing until pain shot up her arm. "You're not fit to be Luna. You're not worthy to breathe the same air as the Alpha's kids!" "Let go," Aria gasped. "I should kill you now," Lyra whispered, her nails digging into Aria's skin. "Make it look like an accident." Something hot and wild rushed inside Aria. The mark on her wrist burned like fire. "I said, let GO!" A blast of silver light burst from Aria's body.
It threw Lyra backward. She flew through the air and crashed into a stone bench with a painful thud. Aria looked at her hands in horror. Silver light danced between her fingers before fading. Lyra groaned, pushing herself up. Blood trickled from her face. Her eyes were wide with fear and rage. "What are you?" she whispered. Footsteps pounded nearby. Someone was coming. Aria turned and ran. She fled through the grounds, heart hammering against her ribs. What had just happened? How had she done that? "Aria!" A voice called behind her. She ran faster. The Whispering Grove appeared ahead—her childhood hideaway. She'd be safe there.
The white flowers welcomed her as she ducked beneath the trees. "Breathe," she told herself, sliding down against a tree. "Just breathe." "Running won't help," a calm voice said. Aria jumped. Moira stood among the trees, her violet eyes sparkling. "Who are you?" Aria demanded. "How did you find me?" "I've always known where to find you," Moira approached, her black hair floating around her face. "Since the night you were born." "You know me?" "Better than you know yourself." Moira knelt before her. "That power you just used against Lyra—it's only the beginning." Aria looked at her hands. "I didn't mean to hurt her." "You didn't. You protected yourself." Moira touched the mark on Aria's wrist. "This is awakening what was always inside you." "And what's that?" "Your heritage." Moira's voice dropped to a whisper. "You're not an omega, Aria. You never were." Aria's heart skipped. "Then what am I?" "Something the wolves have feared for centuries." Moira pulled out a pendant identical to Aria's mark.
"The daughter of the Moon Goddess, born in mortal form." "That's impossible." "Is it? How else could three Alphas all be drawn to you? How else could you direct the moon's light?" A twig snapped nearby. Moira stiffened. "They're coming. The triplets search for you." She put the amulet into Aria's palm. "Keep this hidden. Tonight, when the blood moon rises, meet me at the Moonstone Temple." "Why should I trust you?" "Because the triplets' lives depend on it." Moira's face darkened. "One soul in three bodies, Aria. If you choose wrong, two will die." Before Aria could reply, Moira vanished between the trees. Seconds later, Dax appeared. His gray eyes took in her shaking form. "Aria," he rushed to her side. "Are you hurt? We heard what happened with Lyra." "I'm fine," she lied. "You're not." He touched her cheek gently. "You're scared." "I hurt her, Dax. I didn't mean to, but something inside me—" "I know." His voice was soft. "I've always known you were different." "How?" Before he could answer, Kael and Ren burst into the clearing. "Aria!" Ren reached her first, pulling her into his arms. "Are you okay? Lyra's telling everyone you hit her." "That's not what happened," Aria argued. "We believe you," Kael said strongly. "But Father is angry. The trials are stalled while he deals with this." "Deals with me, you mean," Aria whispered. The brothers traded looks. "We won't let him hurt you," Ren promised. "But you need to tell us what happened," Kael pressed. Aria clutched the amulet in her pocket. Could she trust them? If what Moira said was true, picking one meant killing the others. "I want to go back," she said instead.
As they walked, Dax fell in step beside her. "Whatever you're hiding," he whispered, "I'll help you protect it." Back at the house, Alpha Thorne waited with Elder Vaughn and a bandaged Lyra. "The omega attacked me!" Lyra cried, pointing at Aria. "She used magic!" "Is this true?" Alpha Thorne commanded. Before Aria could answer, the ground beneath them shook. The windows shook. Outside, the sky darkened strangely. Elder Vaughn gasped, looking at Aria's wrist. The crescent mark now glowed blindingly bright. "The prophecy," he whispered. "It begins." Alpha Thorne grabbed Aria's arm. "What are you?" The moment he touched her, lightning cracked across the sky. The mark shot silver light in all directions. And deep in the forest, the Moonstone Temple awakened with an ancient power that had slept for ages. The blood moon was rising early. And with it, a truth that would tear everything apart.