Elara didn't sleep a wink that night. The strange warning echoed in her mind as she tossed and turned in the lavish guest room they'd given her. Not everyone in this house wants you to survive the night.
The morning sunlight flowing through the curtains brought little comfort. Her new silver eyes blinked back at her from the mirror, still strange and foreign.
The mark on her wrist glowed faintly, a steady reminder that her life had changed forever. A sharp knock on her door made her jump.
"Miss Moon." It was one of the house staff. "Alpha Marcus asks your presence in his study. Imdiately."
Elara's stomach curled into knots. What did the Alpha want now? She straightened her borrowed clothes—Luna Evelyn had demanded she wear sothing "suitable" for staying in the Alpha's mansion—and followed the staff mber down the long hallway.
The house was even more impressive in daylight. Paintings of past pack leaders lined the walls, their stern faces watching her pass. Elara felt like an imposter walking these grand rooms.
The servant stopped at a heavy wooden door. "They're waiting inside."
They? Elara took a big breath and knocked.
"Enter," ca Alpha Marcus's authoritative voice.
Elara stepped into a large study lined with bookshelves. Alpha Marcus sat behind a massive desk, his powerful fra radiating dominance.
To his right stood Luna Evelyn, her face blank. Ruth, the pack doctor, was there too. And so were the triplets. Kael stood by the window, arms crossed, face stormy. Ronan lounged against a bookshelf, though the tension in his shoulders revealed his casual pose. Darian sat quietly in an armchair, his observant eyes watching her every move.
"Close the door," Alpha Marcus directed.
Elara did as told, her heart racing. "You wanted to see , sir?"
"Show them your wrist," he ordered. With shaky fingers, Elara held out her arm. The crescent moon and three stars glead silver against her skin.
"Now," Alpha Marcus said, turning to his boys, "show her." For a mont, no one moved. Then Ronan stepped forward first. He rolled up his sleeve to show his inner wrist. Elara gasped. There, on his skin, was the exact sa mark—a half moon with three stars.
"That's impossible," she whispered.
"Apparently not," Darian said softly, showing his own wrist. The sa mark glowed on his skin.
All eyes turned to Kael. With apparent reluctance, he pushed up his sleeve. The mark on his wrist matched the others exactly.
"What does this an?" Elara asked, looking from one brother to the next.
"It ans," Ruth said, stepping forward, "that the tie is mutual. All three brothers are bound to you, and you to them. This is unprecedented in our pack's history."
"But why?" Kael asked. "Why her? Why all three of us?"
"The Moon Goddess works in mysterious ways," Ruth answered. "But I believe it has sothing to do with her true nature."
Alpha Marcus leaned forward. "And what exactly is her 'true nature'?" Ruth stopped.
"I'm not certain yet. But the silver eyes, the silver blood... these are signs of sothing special. Sothing powerful."
"Or dangerous," Kael mumbled.
"Whatever she is," Luna Evelyn interjected, "she's ant to be with our boys. All three of them. We cannot ignore the Goddess's will."
Alpha Marcus stroked his chin thoughtfully. "No, we cannot."
He fixed his eyes on Elara. "Which is why you'll be staying here forever. If you're to be the next Luna—or whatever this unusual bond makes you—you need good training."
"I don't understand," Elara said, her voice shaking. "How can I be mated to all three? That's not how it works."
"Normally, no," Ruth agreed. "But there's nothing normal about this situation."
"This is ridiculous," Kael snapped. "An oga can't lead this pack. I won't accept it."
"She's not an oga," Ronan growled. "How many tis do we need to say it? Look at her eyes, brother. Look at the mark. This isn't your choice to make."
"Actually," Alpha Marcus said, "it is. As future Alpha, Kael has the right to reject the mate bond." A heavy silence fell over the room. Elara felt a strange pain in her chest at the thought of rejection, which made no sense. She barely knew these n. Why should she care if Kael wanted her or not?
"What about us?" Darian asked quietly. "If Kael rejects her, what happens to Ronan and I? Our ties are just as real."
No one had an answer. A noise outside the study broke the tense silence. The door burst open, and Celeste rushed in, followed by an older man—Beta Rivers, her father.
"Alpha, I demand to be heard!" Beta Rivers declared. "This situation is unacceptable!"
"You forget yourself, Rivers," Alpha Marcus said coldly. "No one demands anything in my presence."
Beta Rivers bowed his head slightly. "Forgive , Alpha. But my daughter has been prepared her entire life to be Luna. To bond with your son. And now this... this girl cos out of nowhere with impossible claims?"
"Not claims," Ruth anded. "Facts. The marks don't lie."
Celeste stepped forward, her beautiful face twisted with hate. "Let see," she ordered. Before anyone could stop her, she grabbed Elara's wrist roughly.
The mont their skin touched, sothing strange happened. Celeste jumped back with a yelp, as if burned. "What was that?" she gasped, holding her hand. Elara stared at her own wrist in shock.
The mark was shining brighter now, pulsing like a heartbeat. "Interesting," Ruth whispered.
"What just happened?" Alpha Marcus asked.
"The mark rejected her touch," Ruth explained. "It's protecting its owner."
All three triplets moved closer to Elara, as if drawn by invisible ropes. Even Kael, despite his protests, couldn't seem to help himself. Standing near them, Elara felt stronger sohow, more complete.
"This is ridiculous," Celeste spat. "She's bewitched them!"
"Watch your tongue," Ronan growled. "That's OUR mate you're talking about."
Our mate. The words sent a shiver down Elara's spine.
"Enough," Alpha Marcus ordered. "Beta Rivers, control your daughter. This matter will be handled according to pack law and the Goddess's will." Beta Rivers nodded stiffly, though his eyes burned with anger.
He pulled Celeste away, saying sothing in her ear that made her smile coldly at Elara before they left.
"They're planning sothing," Darian noted quietly.
"Let them plan," Alpha Marcus said dismissively. "Now, we need to determine what to do with our... unusual situation."
"There's sothing else," Ruth said. "If you'll permit , Alpha, I'd like to run so tests. If my suspicions are right about Miss Moon's true nature, it could explain a great deal."
"What suspicions?" Luna Evelyn asked sharply. Before Ruth could answer, a servant burst into the room.
"Alpha! There's an invader on the grounds! The guards caught him hiding near the east wall."
"Bring him in," Alpha Marcus demanded. A minute later, two guards dragged in a guy with dark hair and sharp eyes.
Elara recognized him imdiately—the man she'd seen watching her through the window.
"Tobias Grey," Alpha Marcus growled. "The rogue returns."
"Hello, Marcus," the man said calmly, despite being restrained by two guards. "It's been a while." His eyes found Elara, and a small smile played on his lips.
"So they've found you at last, little Luna. I was thinking when your true nature would reveal itself."
Everyone stared at Elara. "You know her?" Luna Evelyn asked.
"Oh yes," Tobias answered. "I've been watching over her for years. Making sure she stayed hidden. At least until she was ready."
"Ready for what?" Kael asked. Tobias's smile widened.
"Ready to perform the prophecy, of course. The one that says three brothers will share a mate who will either save your pack—" his eyes shone dangerously, "—or destroy it completely."
Reviews
All reviews (0)