Nicola stretched out on Chloe’s plush carpet, her fingers idly toying with the tassels of a throw pillow. The three of them - Nicola, Chloe and Theo - had retreated to Chloe’s house after school. The bright, cozy living room offered a much-needed reprieve from the chaos of Crescent Moon High.Chloe emerged from the kitchen with a tray of snacks, setting it down with a flourish. “Okay, crisis over. Time for junk food and gossip.”Theo, sprawled on the couch with one leg draped over the armrest, grabbed a handful of popcorn. “I’m only here for the snacks.”Nicola smirked. “Sure you are.”Chloe plopped down beside Nicola, her green eyes sparkling with mischief. “So, Nic… the triplets.”Nicola groaned, burying her face in a pillow. “Please don’t.”“Oh, I will.” Chloe grabbed a handful of popcorn and tossed a piece at Nicola. “Come on, spill. What’s it like being bonded to not one, not two, but three Alphas?”Theo snorted. “Probably exhausting.”Nicola sat up, her cheeks burning. “It’s… co
The morning came too quickly, sunlight streaming through Nicola’s window and warming her face. She groaned, pulling the blanket over her head. A moment later, her phone buzzed insistently on the nightstand. She reached for it blindly, squinting at the screen.Chloe: Rise and shine, sleepyhead. Coffee’s on me if you’re ready in 15.Nicola smiled, the promise of caffeine a small consolation for having to face another day at Crescent Moon High. But as she stretched and rolled out of bed, a familiar pull in her chest reminded her she wasn’t facing the day alone anymore. The bond she shared with the triplets was like a hum in her soul, warm and ever-present.She hurried through her morning routine, throwing on a pair of dark jeans and a soft sweater that hugged her in just the right way. Her wolf purred in approval, a constant reminder of the changes in her life. Everything felt sharper now - her senses, her emotions. Even her reflection in the mirror seemed to hold a quiet confidence she
The school hallways buzzed with the usual chaos - students rushing to class, lockers slamming, and laughter echoing off the walls. Nicola walked through it all, feeling the weight of every gaze that lingered on her. Ever since the bond with the Blackstone triplets had become known, the dynamics at Crescent Moon High had shifted dramatically.Where she had once been invisible, she now found herself the center of attention.Nicola caught snippets of whispers as she passed groups of students.“Did you hear? The triplets are all her mates!”“I don’t believe it. An Omega?”“She must have done something to enchant them.”Nicola gritted her teeth, ignoring the pointed stares and barely concealed jealousy. Chloe had warned her this would happen. “People are going to talk,” she’d said that morning. “Just don’t let them get to you.”Easier said than done.When she reached her locker, she found Maddie Harlan waiting for her, arms crossed and a smug expression on her face.“Well, well, if it isn’
Nicola’s day passed in a blur of anxious energy. Even surrounded by the triplets, Chloe and Theo, a small knot of dread coiled in her stomach. Maddie’s sharp words lingered, and the look in her eyes - the one that promised she wasn’t finished - haunted her.The triplets had been relentless in their support, refusing to let her walk the hallways alone. Dylan even joked about forming a human wall around her, which Chloe found hilarious but Nicola found slightly excessive.“She’s not going to try anything,” Nicola said to Damien between classes. “Not with all of you breathing down her neck.”“Nic,” Damien replied, his voice steady but serious, “you don’t know Maddie like we do. She’s not stupid. She’ll wait for the right moment, and we won’t let her get it.”His protectiveness warmed her, but it also deepened her unease. Maddie wasn’t just an ordinary bully - she was a force of manipulation and control. And the triplets were right. If anyone could find a way to get under Nicola’s skin, i
The unease in Crescent Moon Pack settled like an unwelcome fog. Word of Maddie’s failed attempt to harm Nicola spread quickly, whispered behind closed doors and exchanged in furtive glances. Maddie’s retreat had been a small victory, but the aftermath was anything but triumphant.Nicola felt the shift as she walked to school the next morning. Normally, her routine was unremarkable - head down, blending into the background. But today was different. The stares were sharper, more invasive. Pack members who once ignored her now seemed to scrutinize every detail, their eyes brimming with speculation and judgment.“She’s with the triplets?” a woman murmured to her companion, not bothering to lower her voice.“Yes,” the other replied, her tone laced with disapproval. “An Omega. Can you imagine? Luna of this pack?”Nicola’s chest tightened, and she quickened her pace, wishing she could disappear into the sidewalk. The bond with the triplets was supposed to make her feel complete, whole. But r
The following day brought no relief. If anything, the tension seemed to thicken, like a storm brewing on the horizon. Nicola could feel the unease radiating from the pack, a palpable mixture of doubt and suspicion. Conversations ceased when she entered a room, and eyes followed her everywhere she went. The weight of it pressed down on her, a constant reminder that her place as the future Luna was anything but secure.But beneath the surface of the pack’s disapproval, Nicola sensed something more insidious - Maddie. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Maddie was lurking just out of sight, waiting for the perfect moment to strike again.Nicola’s suspicions were confirmed midway through the day. She approached her locker between classes, her thoughts clouded with the stress of the morning. At first glance, everything seemed normal, but as she reached for the door, she noticed it was slightly ajar.Her heart sank.Opening it cautiously, she found a folded piece of paper stuck between her
Maddie's POVThe first phase of Maddie’s plan began in whispers, subtle and strategic. She targeted the older members of the pack - those who held influence but were wary of change. Over coffee and during casual encounters, Maddie played the role of the concerned pack member.“I just worry about what this means for us,” she said, her tone tinged with false sincerity as she spoke with Miriam, a respected elder. “Nicola’s heart might be in the right place, but leadership requires more than that. We need someone who can command respect, who understands our ways.”Miriam, who had always been skeptical of the triplets’ bond with Nicola, nodded slowly. “It’s true. Being Luna is no small responsibility. I’m not sure she’s ready for it.”Emboldened, Maddie pressed on. “Exactly. And what if her inexperience puts the pack in danger? I mean, we’ve already seen how she struggles to keep up with the expectations of her role. The council is already uneasy - what happens if she makes a mistake we ca
The world seemed to tilt on its axis as Nicola replayed the events of the pack meeting in her mind. The accusations, the whispers, the lingering gazes of doubt - they all gnawed at her spirit. She sat on the edge of her bed, staring blankly at the pale moonlight streaming through her window. Her wolf growled softly in the back of her mind, frustrated by her inaction.Maddie’s schemes were more than personal; they were an attack on the bond she shared with the triplets and a direct challenge to her place in the pack. For a moment, despair threatened to take root, but Nicola refused to let it bloom.This was her pack now. Maddie wouldn’t take that away from her.When Nicola arrived at school the next day, the tension was palpable. Conversations died as she passed, replaced by furtive glances and murmurs that were just loud enough for her to hear.“Think she really did it?” “Who else would’ve had access?” “Triplets must be so embarrassed…”Each word was a knife, but Nicola kept her hea
Nicola stood at the edge of the training grounds, her arms crossed as she watched the pack warriors spar under Damien’s supervision. The crisp morning air carried the sounds of grunts, the clash of practice weapons, and the occasional barked instruction.Today wasn’t about combat for her, though. Today was about diplomacy - an entirely different kind of battle.Alpha Marcus had called a meeting with neighboring packs to discuss recent rogue activity. Nicola’s presence had been specifically requested - not just as a representative of the Crescent Moon Pack but as a future Luna in training.The weight of that expectation settled heavily on her shoulders.“Penny for your thoughts?” Dean’s voice interrupted her spiraling worries.She turned to find him leaning casually against a tree, his easygoing smile doing little to mask the concern in his eyes.“Just wondering how many ways I can screw this up,” Nicola admitted with a wry smile.Dean shook his head. “You’re not going to screw it up.
The morning sunlight streamed through Nicola’s bedroom window as she sat at her desk, trying - and failing - to focus on her biology textbook. Her mind wandered, replaying the previous day’s events at the park. For the first time, she felt like she wasn’t just surviving in the pack but starting to belong.Her phone buzzed, pulling her from her thoughts.Emily: Morning! Study session today at the library? A bunch of us are meeting at 4. Hope to see you there!Nicola hesitated. Yesterday had been... good. Better than she expected. But part of her still questioned whether this budding camaraderie was genuine or just a phase.“Everything okay?” Dean’s voice broke through her thoughts as he appeared in her doorway, his presence steady and reassuring.Nicola glanced at him, debating how much to share. “Emily invited me to a study session at the library.”Dean raised an eyebrow. “And you’re thinking about going?”“I don’t know,” Nicola admitted. “It’s hard to tell if they actually want me th
The late afternoon sunlight filtered through the school’s tall windows as Nicola walked down the hallway, her backpack slung over one shoulder. The day had been... different. Not the hostile stares and whispered insults she was used to, but something subtler - an undercurrent of curiosity, tinged with admiration.It unsettled her.Whispers followed her as she passed, a soft murmur just loud enough to catch snippets of.“...she was on that patrol…” “...stood up to Maddie…” “...bet she’ll be Luna soon...”Nicola gritted her teeth, gripping her bag strap tighter. Luna soon? The thought made her stomach churn. She wasn’t even sure she wanted that title, let alone the expectations it carried. And yet, the pack seemed to be deciding for her.“Nicola!”The voice snapped her from her thoughts. Dylan had appeared beside her, a wide grin plastered on his face as if he hadn’t a care in the world.“You survived another day,” he said, matching her pace. “Shall I bake you a cake?”Nicola rolled h
The school hallway buzzed with the usual Monday morning chaos - students chattering in clusters, lockers slamming shut, and teachers herding kids toward class with half-hearted reminders about tardiness. Yet, for the first time in what felt like forever, Nicola noticed something unusual.It was subtle, but it was there.Eyes lingered on her longer than usual as she walked to her locker. Whispers followed in her wake, though this time, they didn’t carry the usual venom she’d grown used to. Some students even nodded at her in what looked suspiciously like... respect.“What’s going on?” Nicola muttered under her breath, frowning slightly as she unlocked her locker.Dean, who’d insisted on walking her to class as usual, leaned casually against the lockers beside her. “Looks like people are finally starting to recognize you for what you are.”Nicola shot him a look, her brow furrowed. “And what’s that?”Dean grinned, his tone teasing. “A badass Luna-in-training who doesn’t take anyone’s cr
Nicola sat at her desk in her small bedroom, surrounded by an army of open textbooks, scattered notes, and three half-empty coffee cups. The triplets had promised they’d help her study, but so far, all they’d done was provide snacks, half-hearted moral support, and plenty of distractions.“You know,” Nicola muttered, underlining a sentence in her biology book with unnecessary aggression, “when you three said you’d help me study, I didn’t think you meant sitting around eating all my snacks and making fun of my handwriting.”Dean, sprawled across her bed with one arm behind his head, smirked. “We’re here for emotional support. And to keep you from losing your mind.”“And how, exactly, are you doing that?” Nicola shot him a glare, pushing a lock of hair behind her ear as she turned the page.“Look how calm you are,” Dylan chimed in from the floor, where he was leaning back against the side of her bed with a bag of chips balanced precariously on his chest. “If we weren’t here, you’d proba
Nicola sat on the couch in her small living room, fidgeting with the edge of a throw pillow. Her mother’s gaze was sharp, knowing - warm, but still firm. Nicola didn’t need to be a mind-reader to know that this wasn’t going to be an easy conversation. The looming presence of Alpha Marcus and the triplets only made the room feel smaller, as if the walls themselves were closing in.Alpha Marcus had taken the chair nearest the fireplace, his posture poised but calm. It was a position of quiet authority, one that didn’t need words to command attention. Across from Nicola, the triplets sat close, their large frames making the room feel less like home and more like a negotiation table.Nicola swallowed, shifting in her seat as her mom’s gaze landed on her like a hawk zeroing in on its prey.“So,” her mom began, her tone calm but heavy with meaning, “I’ve heard a lot about what’s been going on with the pack lately. Maddie. Rogues. Nicola leading patrols...”Nicola winced slightly. She could
Nicola stood outside the packhouse, watching the sunrise paint the horizon in shades of gold and pink. The events of the previous night replayed in her mind - the ambush, the chaos, the victory. Every muscle in her body ached, but she felt a deep sense of pride. For the first time, she hadn’t just survived - she had led.The pack was waking, and word of the ambush had already begun to spread. She could feel their eyes on her, curious and skeptical, as she made her way to the main hall. Today would be another test - perhaps the hardest one yet.Would they see her as a leader, or would they continue to doubt her?The triplets joined her as she entered the hall, their presence grounding her. Dean gave her an encouraging smile, while Dylan bumped her shoulder lightly in a silent gesture of reassurance. Damien, ever the protector, stayed close, his sharp gaze scanning the crowd.Alpha Marcus stood at the head of the room, his commanding presence silencing the murmurs of gathered pack membe
Nicola stood in the packhouse’s strategy room, staring at the map pinned to the wall. The triplets and a handful of senior wolves flanked her, their faces tense but expectant. The challenge she’d been waiting for - and dreading - had arrived.Reports of rogue activity had surged overnight. Two patrols near the southern border were attacked, and while there were no fatalities, one warrior was critically injured. Maddie’s betrayal had escalated into something more dangerous: the rogues weren’t just testing their defenses anymore - they were launching coordinated strikes.Alpha Marcus placed a firm hand on Nicola’s shoulder, his expression both serious and encouraging. “This is your chance to prove yourself. Lead this operation. Show the pack you’re ready to stand beside the triplets as Luna.”Nicola swallowed hard, the weight of his words sinking in. All eyes in the room were on her, waiting for her to speak. She felt the familiar stir of doubt creep in, but then she caught Damien’s gaz
The morning sun filtered through Nicola’s bedroom window, but she’d been awake long before its rays reached her. The events of the past few days weighed heavily on her mind, but they also fueled a new determination. If she was going to be Luna, she couldn’t just react to problems - she had to lead.The triplets had spent the night in their own rooms at the packhouse, giving her some much-needed space to process everything. She missed their reassuring presence but knew she needed to prove to herself - and the pack - that she could stand on her own.As Nicola arrived at the packhouse for a meeting with Alpha Marcus, she noticed the wary glances of pack members. Some nodded respectfully, others whispered to one another.Instead of shrinking under their scrutiny, Nicola raised her head high. She’d faced Maddie; she could face this.In the meeting room, the triplets were already seated, along with Alpha Marcus Blackstone and a handful of senior pack members. A large map of the territory wa