Bound to the Triplet Alphas Chapter 3: The Prophecy has Began

ARIA POV

I ducked behind a tree and tried to regain my breath. After what transpired at lunch, I ran out of the Alpha’s dining room without permission, which no oga had ever done. But I couldn’t stay there with all three triplets looking at as if they knew sothing I didn’t.

And the voices in my head. I found you. What exactly did that an?

"Aria!" Mira’s anxious voice erged from behind . "Are you crazy?" "You can’t just flee the Alpha’s house!"

I pushed my palms to my chest and felt my heart race. "Have you noticed how they stared at ? "All three of them!"

"I saw," Mira murmured, peeking uncomfortably over her shoulder. "But now Cook is enraged, and Beta Marcus is questioning who you are. "Very good. Just what I needed for my birthday: attention from the Beta. "Not the good kind, either." "They talked to , Mira," I muttered. "In my head." I overheard them.

Mira’s eyes widened. "That’s not possible."

"I know!" I took out the moonstone Elder Malin had given . It felt warm in my hand. "And this... it got hot when I was near them."

Mira gently stroked it. "We need to prepare you for the ceremony. It will start soon."

The Moon Goddess ceremony took place in the holy clearing where our group convened for major events. All wolves turning eighteen were required to attend, kneeling before the moonstone altar while the full moon blessed them. So people discovered their mates on this night.

"I can’t go," I admitted, terror rising in my throat. "Not after what just happened."

"You have to," Mira emphasized. "If you don’t, you will be punished. And, besides... She paused. "Don’t you want to know what’s happening to you?"

She was correct. I needed answers. The tingling under my skin had not ceased all day, and it suddenly felt like electricity was coursing through my veins.

"Fine," I sighed. "But stay close to ."

We went to our cabin so I could change into my ceremony attire, a simple white gown that all ogas wore. Nothing extravagant, like what Elira would wear.

As the sun sank, wolves congregated in the clearing. I stayed in the shadows, hiding the moonstone under my dress. My pulse raced every ti I saw soone with black hair, fearing it was one of the triplets.

"Ogas, line up in the back," a pack fighter instructed.

I stood with the other ogas in the very back of the crowd. Elder Malin stood atop a moonstone altar, which we could barely see. Naturally, the Alpha family would be in the forefront.

"There are three other wolves turning eighteen tonight," Mira whispered near . "You’ll be called last because—"

"Because I’m an oga," I concluded. "I know."

The ritual began as darkness fell. Elder Malin raised his arms toward the rising moon, his voice echoing throughout the clearing.

"Tonight, the Moon Goddess blesses our young wolves as they enter adulthood," the man said. "She might reveal mates, fates, or gifts. "We gratefully accept her wisdom."

The remaining eighteen-year-olds were called forward one at a ti. A Beta lad arrived first, standing tall and proud at the altar. Elder Malin put his hands on the boy’s shoulders and chanted ancient words as moonlight poured down. Nothing unusual happened.

A warrior girl appeared next, followed by another Beta boy. They both received the traditional blessing: Elder Malin’s chant, a touch of sacred oils, and a simple moonstone benediction. No mates have been revealed, and there are no particular signals.

Then it was my turn.

"Aria, oga of the Moonclaw Pack," Elder Malin said. When he spoke my na, his voice changed; it sounded almost thrilled.

My legs shook as I moved onward. The gathering dispersed, with several wolves wrinkling their noses as I passed. Ogas were rarely worthy of attention at ceremonies.

I could feel eyes burning into from the front row. The Triplets. I did not dare to look at them.

When I approached the altar, Elder Malin smiled at . That never occurred. He motioned to kneel on the stone platform.

"The Moon Goddess sees all," he exclaid, his hands hovering above my head. "She knows the truth even when it’s hidden."

What exactly did that an? I wanted to ask, but ogas did not speak at ceremonies.

"Show us your truth, daughter of the moon," Elder Malin said, resting his hands on my head.

When he touched , the moonstone pendant beneath my dress scorched on my skin. I gasped as fire surged through my body, stronger than before.

Sothing wasn’t right. Perhaps sothing was finally right.

Moonlight struck the altar, making it more brighter than before. It enveloped in a luminous circle that got brighter by the second.

Wolves in the crowd stepped back. I overheard gasps and whispering.

"What’s going on?" soone asked loudly.

"An oga?" "Impossible!" another voice exclaid.

Elder Malin’s hands trembled over my head. He leaned down and muttered sothing only I could hear: "The forgotten alpha awakens. "The prophecy begins tonight."

Alpha? ? That couldn’t be correct. I was simply an oga, wasn’t I?

The light around beca so brilliant that I had to close my eyes. Sothing pulled inside my chest like a hook, grabbing my heart. It yanked to the front of the crowd, towards...

I opened my eyes and gazed straight at the triplets for the first ti. They stood shoulder to shoulder, their expressions paralyzed with shock. Kael clinched his fists. Jaxon leaned forward, as if he was about to run to . Lucien pushed his palm on his chest, right where I felt the tug.

Alpha Darius stood beside them, his expression filled with wrath. Elira and her father appeared to have been slapped.

The tugging in my chest intensified, almost taking off my knees. It was drawn to all three of the triplets rather than just one.

"No," Elder Malin gasped. "It cannot be all—"

His remarks were cut off when the moonlight vanished, leaving the clearing in complete darkness for a heartbeat. When it returned, sothing had changed. I was able to see, hear, and sll better.

Fear, uncertainty, and fury were the scents that reached from the crowd. The triplets’ aroma stuck out the most—pine, storm clouds, and sothing sweet I couldn’t identify.

"She’s responding to all three," soone said softly. "How is that possible?"

Elder Malin helped rise up, his ancient hands surprisingly strong. "The Moon Goddess has spoken," he said, his voice shaking. "Aria has been blessed."

Blessed? Is that what it was? It felt more like being ripped apart. The tug in my chest had split into three distinct tugs, each leading to a different triplet.

Alpha Darius strode forward, his visage a mask of controlled rage. "This is a mistake," he snarled. "An oga cannot—"

"Look at her eyes!" soone exclaid.

Everyone turned to look at . What did they see? My chest pushed so hard that I took an unintentional step forward toward the triplets.

Kael moved first, breaking formation and marching toward . His gaze never left as he neared. The crowd parted for him, and the wolves swiftly backed away.

When he ca to a stop in front of , the pulling in my chest turned into a severe ache. Up close, his aroma was overwhelming: pine and force.

"Your eyes," he whispered quietly, his deep voice sending chills down my spine. "They’re gold."

Gold? But it was impossible. Oga’s eyes were brown. Beta eyes were blue or green.

Only Alphas possessed golden eyes.

"This cannot stand," Alpha Darius scread as he stord at us. "Check her for magical stuff. She must have cheated sohow."

Elder Malin stepped between us. "The Moon Goddess doesn’t make mistakes, Alpha."

"Then explain how an oga has three mate pulls!" Alpha Darius shouted. "And to my sons!"

Three mate pulls? To all triplets? That couldn’t be correct. Wolves had one real mate. Always.

The tugging in my chest intensified into a scorching sensation. I gasped, doubled over, gripping my heart. Through wet eyes, I saw Jaxon and Lucien approaching , both looking as perplexed as I was.

"Stop them," Alpha Darius told his soldiers. "Keep them apart until we understand what’s happening."

Strong hands grabbed my arms and drew away from Kael. I cried out—not because of their hard hold, but because being away from the triplets exacerbated the suffering.

"Don’t touch her," Kael hissed, his eyes darting aggressively at the warriors.

Jaxon pushed through the crowd, his usual lighthearted deanor replaced by sothing vicious. "Let her go. Now."

Lucien did not say anything, but the expression on his face was terrible. Calm and controlled rage.

The audience exploded into anarchy. Wolves yelled and shoved. In the hubbub, I lost sight of Mira.

Throughout it all, Elder Malin’s words reached : "The prophecy has been fulfilled. "Three flas and one heart."

The agony in my chest spread outward. My legs went out. As darkness fell, I saw all three triplets fighting to reach , their eyes flashing the sa gold that mine now appeared to be.

Before losing consciousness, I heard Alpha Darius’ command: "Lock her up." Nobody speaks to her until I determine what to do about this... abomination."