ARIA POV
The kitchen door crashed open, and I dropped the heavy tray of food. Everyone turned to gaze at as plates fell to the floor.
"Can’t you do anything right?" Cook exclaid, her face crimson with rage. "That was for the Beta’s table!"
My cheeks burned as I knelt to clear up the ss. It’s just another day for Aria, the clumsy oga that no one notices—unless I ss up.
"Sorry," I muttered, picking up broken plates while the other kitchen workers walked around as if I were invisible.
The entire group was busy preparing for tonight’s huge celebration. The Alpha’s three kids, the famous triplets, were returning ho after two years away. Everyone was excited except . Tomorrow was my 18th birthday, but no one rembered or cared.
"Need help?" A friendly voice inquired. My best friend Mira knelt alongside , her compassionate eyes the only ones that had ever seen .
"Thanks," I replied. "I was thinking about tomorrow and wasn’t paying attention."
Mira nodded imdiately, indicating comprehension. "It’s your birthday. Don’t worry; I rembered."
We imdiately cleaned up the ss before Cook could yell again. Through the kitchen window, I could see the pack’s central clearing, where wolves were running back and forth hanging lights and setting up tables. In the midst of it all stood Elira, the Beta’s daughter, delivering commands with a flawless smile.
"Look at her," I muttered. "Acting like she’s already the Luna."
"Everyone thinks she’ll mate with one of the triplets," Mira said softly. "It’s probably Kael, the oldest. "
I had never even seen the triplets. When I was fifteen, they left for special Alpha training, and I began working in the pack ho. All I knew were the stories: Kael was cold and serious, Jaxon was wild and dangerous, and Lucien was quiet but intelligent.
"Aria! Stop daydreaming and get those beverages out!" Cook thrust a new tray into my hands, heavier than the first.
I moved cautiously outdoors, hoping not to spill anything. The midday sun made squint as I approached a table where four pack warriors were taking a rest.
"Watch it, oga," a tall girl said, intentionally knocking into . Elira’s friend, Maya. I wobbled but held on to the tray this ti.
"Sorry," I said automatically, even though it was not my fault.
"You should be," Maya joked. "Ogas like you should keep their eyes down."
I bit my tongue. Ogas were in the bottom of our pack. We served everyone else and remained quiet. I’d already learnt that lesson several tis.
When I gave the beverages and dashed back to the kitchen, ecstatic shouts erupted from the pack entrance. People began running that direction, ignoring .
"They’re coming!" soone exclaid. "The Alpha triplets are arriving early!"
My heart jumped. I should have returned to the kitchen, but sothing compelled to follow the crowd instead. I’d never seen the famous brothers before, and now I needed to.
I slipped among the enthusiastic wolves until I spotted Mira. She grabbed my arm. "What are you doing?" "Cook will be furious!"
"I just want to see them once," I told them. "Everyone talks about them all the ti."
The crowd thinned as three motorcyclists blasted through the pack gates. They ca to a halt in front of the Alpha House, and three tall n took off their helts.
My breath got locked in my throat.
They do not look like brothers. They resembled three distinct forms of power.
The man in front stood straight and serious, his dark hair cut short, his eyes scanning the throng for any dangers. Kael is the future Alpha.
Beside him, a sibling with wild hair and a threatening smile winked at so waving girls. Jaxon, the troublemaker.
The third hung back sowhat, quieter but looking about with inquisitive eyes. Lucien, a healer.
"They’re even more impressive than the stories," Mira remarked.
I could not explain the weird sensation in my chest. As if I were being yanked forward. My feet began going before I could stop them.
"Aria, what are you doing?" Mira shrieked and grabbed my arm.
I startled, realizing I had taken three steps toward the triplets. "I—I don’t know."
Alpha Darius, their father, erged from the pack ho to et his boys. His thunderous voice echoed over the clearing. "Welco ho."
Then Elira went forward, looking stunning in a blue outfit that matched her eyes. She smiled at Kael, who gave a polite nod. Everyone could see it: the future Alpha and his lovely Luna.
"Let’s go back," I told Mira, suddenly feeling dumb. "I’ll be in trouble if—"
"ARIA!" Cook’s harsh tone made jump. She marched through the mob, face flushed with wrath. "I have been seeking everywhere for you! "Get back to work now!"
People turned and stared. My face burned with sha as I bowed my head and attempted to disappear. But when I turned to follow Cook, I had a peculiar feeling—as though soone was watching .
I cast one glance back. Lucien’s eyes t mine as he moved through the gathering, past the ecstatic wolves greeting the triplets and Elira’s lovely grin.
He cocked his head slightly, as if he were bewildered. Then Kael spoke to him, and he glanced aside.
"You’re in big trouble," Cook hissed, yanking my arm back to the kitchen. "Alpha Darius specifically requested his favorite al for tonight’s feast, and we’re behind schedule because of you!"
We returned to a hot and crowded kitchen. Cook gestured at a mound of potatoes. "Peel all of them. "No breaks."
My hands were already sore, but I nodded and began to work. Through the glass, I saw the celebration begin without . Music sounded as wolves greeted the triplets.
I spent hours peeling potatoes till my fingers cramped. The sun began to fall, and servers hurried in and out, delivering food for the feast.
"You can go now," Cook finally remarked, his expression slightly less hostile. "But be back early tomorrow to clean up."
My back ached as I walked slowly to the modest cabin that I shared with three other ogas. The pack grounds were mostly empty, as was the welcoming feast, which I had not been invited to.
The moon was rising, nearly full. It would be completed tomorrow night—on my birthday. According to pack legend, the Moon Goddess revealed your partner when you were eighteen beneath a full moon. Not that it mattered to ogas like myself. We rarely found partners.
I was almost to my cabin when a peculiar feeling caused to pause. The hairs on my arms stood up. Sothing was not right.
I slowly turned around.
A stranger stood in the darkness, watching . Tall. Still. Silent.
My heart pounded in my chest. "Who’s there?"
The figure moved forward into the moonlight.
It was Lucien, the quietest of the triplets. His eyes appeared to glow in the darkness.
"You," he replied softly. "Why do you sll like pack but not pack?"
I froze, not comprehending. "What?"
He took another step closer and sniffed the air. His eyes narrowed. "Who are you really?"
"I’m nobody," I murmured. "Just an oga."
Lucien stared at for a long ti. Then he uttered sothing that made my blood run cold: "No, you are not. My brothers can also sense it."
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