02

Valeria

“Enough!”

His voice was a low growl, and even though he was several yards away, the power in his tone sent a chill down my spine. As he closed the distance, I could feel the gravity of his authority settling over me like a heavy cloak. The pack members who had been bustling about preparing for the celebration stopped in their tracks, all eyes turning toward the Alpha King and to me.

My heart pounded in my chest as the Alpha King’s gaze swept over me, then shifted to the three Alphas standing beside me. His lips pressed into a thin line, his displeasure evident. I didn’t know what he had heard, but whatever it was, it had drawn his attention, and I could sense that this confrontation was far from over.

“Valeria, you are not done with serving your banishment terms. Returning to the wolf pack without my permission is strictly forbidden. And worse still,” the Alpha King’s voice was echoing in the large room. “You’ve disrupted the balance of this pack. Your presence here has caused nothing but trouble. This—” he motioned towards Kade, Aiden, and Rylan, who stood at my back, “this madness cannot continue.”

My spine stiffened at his words. Madness? Was that how he saw this bond? I glanced over my shoulder at the three Alphas who were my mates. Each of them stood tall, their expressions tense and protective. I felt the connection between us like a live wire thrumming beneath my skin. Whatever the Alpha King thought, this bond was not something that could be dismissed as mere chaos. It was powerful, sacred.

Kade was the first to speak, his voice steady but simmering with the frustration he was barely holding in check. “King Magnus, this bond—what’s happening between Valeria and us—it wasn’t something any of us could control. It’s fate. We can’t change that.”

The Alpha King’s eyes narrowed, his lip curling in disdain. “Fate?” he spat the word like it was something foul. “Fate doesn’t justify breaking the laws of the pack. One woman cannot belong to three men. You know that.” He turned his gaze back to me, and I could see the disapproval burning in his eyes. “You’ve disrupted the natural order, Valeria. For that, you will face the consequences.”

I could feel the tension rising behind me, a low growl rumbling from Rylan’s throat. But I stepped forward before any of them could respond, my heart pounding in my chest but my voice steady.

“With all due respect, King Magnus,” I said, my voice clear and confident. “I didn’t come back to be told what I can or cannot do. I didn’t choose this bond, but it’s real. And I will not choose between Kade, Aiden, and Rylan. I belong to all of them.”

A murmur swept through the room as my words sank in. I could feel the eyes of the entire pack on me, their reactions a mix of shock and disbelief. But I kept my chin high, refusing to back down. I wasn’t just speaking for myself. I was speaking for the bond that tied me to these three men. A bond that felt more ancient and powerful than any law or tradition the pack had put in place.

Whether the moon goddess did this on purpose or not, I can’t sever the bond she had created initially. That was when I would face the consequences.

The Alpha King’s face darkened, his anger evident in the way his jaw clenched. “This is not your choice to make. You have disturbed the balance within this pack, and as the Alpha king, it is my duty to restore it.” His voice was low and dangerous now. “You will face punishment.”

The room fell silent as his words hung in the air, thick with the weight of finality. My heart raced, but I didn’t look away. I wouldn’t let him intimidate me.

“Your punishment is exile,” the Alpha King continued, his gaze cold. “For the next 24 hours, you will be banished from the packhouse. You will be given time to think, to make your choice. And when you return, you will choose one mate. Only one. The balance will be restored, or you will face permanent exile… again and this time around, I’ll make sure you won’t have the opportunity to return.”

Behind me, I heard Aiden draw in a sharp breath, and Kade’s fists clenched at his sides. Rylan stepped forward, his anger barely contained. “This is unjust!” he shouted, his voice raw with fury. “You can’t punish her for something none of us had control over!”

The Alpha King’s gaze snapped to Rylan, but before he could speak, Kade stepped forward. His voice was calmer, but no less intense. “King Magnus, you know this bond is unprecedented. We cannot ignore it. Valeria is meant for… all three of us. That’s clear.”

Aiden, ever the voice of reason, spoke next. “This isn’t just about physical attraction. This is a supernatural bond—something beyond tradition or law. You can’t sever it with force.”

The Alpha King’s expression didn’t waver. “The law is the law,” he said coldly. “And Valeria will either balance it or she’ll have to face the consequences of breaking it.”

I knew there was no arguing with him now. The verdict had been delivered, and though I felt the outrage simmering in the Alphas behind me, I knew what I had to do. Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward again, meeting the Alpha King’s gaze with defiance. “I accept your punishment.”

A stunned silence followed my words. I could feel the disbelief radiating from the three Alphas, their eyes on me as if they couldn’t quite believe what they’d heard. But I knew that fighting the Alpha King now would only make things worse. I would endure the punishment—whatever it took to prove that this bond couldn’t be broken.

That night, the isolation of the punishment settled over me like a heavy cloak. The packhouse was silent in the distance, and I sat alone on the outskirts of the territory, the moon casting a cold light over the trees. The weight of the Alpha King’s words still lingered, but I refused to let them crush my spirit. This bond was real, and I wouldn’t let anyone take it from me. At least, I was given an opportunity to make a decision unlike the last time I was kicked out without an option.

I heard footsteps approaching, and my heart leapt in my chest. I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. The bond between us thrummed in the air, pulling me toward him.

Kade.

“You shouldn’t be here,” I whispered as he came closer, his presence warming the cold night air.

“I couldn’t stay away,” Kade said softly, sitting beside me. His eyes met mine, dark and intense, and my breath caught in my throat. “Valeria, I know this is hard, but we’re in this together. You belong to me. I mean… to all of us”

My heart raced as his hand brushed against mine, a spark of electricity passing between us. His gaze lingered on my lips, and before I could stop myself, I leaned in closer. The air between us crackled with tension, and just as his lips were about to meet mine…

“Really, Kade?” A voice broke through the silence, and I pulled back sharply. Aiden stood a few feet away, his arms crossed, his eyes flashing with anger. “You couldn’t wait to sneak in here and make your move?”

Kade’s expression darkened, and he stood, turning to face Aiden. “I wasn’t sneaking in. I’m here because I care about her. We all do, don’t we?.”

Aiden stepped forward, his gaze never leaving Kade. “But you think you deserve her more than we do, don’t you?”

“Stop it,” I said, rising to my feet.

But before I could say more, Rylan appeared, his expression a storm of frustration. “What’s going on here?” he demanded, his eyes flicking between Kade and Aiden.

“You two idiots, fighting over her like this is some kind of competition,” Rylan muttered, shaking his head. “This isn’t about who gets her first. We’re supposed to be protecting her.”

The tension between the three of them was palpable, but I stepped between them, placing a hand on each of their chests. “Enough. This isn’t helping. I feel the same way about all of you.” My voice was firm, but my heart was racing. “If the Alpha King catches the three of you here, it’ll only make things worse.”

For a moment, they all fell silent, their gazes shifting to me. The bond between us hummed with an intensity that was impossible to ignore, but I knew that now wasn’t the time. Slowly, they nodded, each of them stepping back.

“We’ll go,” Kade said reluctantly. “But we’re not giving up on this… On us.”

I watched as they disappeared into the night, my heart aching with the bond we shared. I wanted all of them—needed all of them—but I knew the hardest part was yet to come.

When the 24 hours finally passed, I was brought before the council, the weight of their stares pressing down on me like a storm cloud. The Alpha King stood at the front, his eyes hard as he looked down at me. His wife, Queen Morgana was present, including Prince Darius, who had a smirk on his face.

“Valeria,” he said, his voice booming in the large hall. “It’s time to make your choice. Which one of the Alphas will you choose as your mate?”

The room fell deathly silent, every eye fixed on me. My heart pounded in my chest, but I didn’t waver. I took a deep breath and raised my chin.

“I choose all three of them,” I said boldly, my voice carrying across the room. “Kade, Aiden, and Rylan are my mates. I won’t choose between them because I belong to all of them.”

A stunned silence followed, and I braced myself for the chaos that was sure to come.