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
The crisp morning air carried the promise of a new beginning, but Nicola knew her journey as a Luna had only just begun. The fallout from Maddie’s schemes had left the pack in a precarious position, and Nicola’s place within it was still questioned by many. If she wanted to truly integrate into her role, she needed to take action - not just to prove herself, but to bring the pack together again.Nicola’s first challenge came in the form of a pack gathering. Everett and the elders had arranged a community meeting to discuss lingering grievances and outline a path forward. Damien, Dylan and Dean were by her side as she stepped into the pack house’s main hall, but it was clear that this was her moment to lead.The room was packed, the energy thick with tension. Nicola took a deep breath, her wolf steadying her as she stepped forward.“I know some of you still have doubts about me,” she began, her voice calm but strong. “I don’t blame you for that. Maddie’s actions caused a rift in this p
Maddie's POV The forest pulsed with life, though none of it felt welcoming. Each sound - branches snapping, leaves whispering - fed Maddie’s relentless anger. Her breathing was steady but heavy, her wolf pacing inside her mind. The creature shared her rage, simmering beneath the surface, pushing her forward toward vengeance.Nicola had stolen everything: her pride, her future, her rightful place in the Crescent Moon Pack. Maddie’s exile was temporary, but the shame would stain her forever unless she did something to change the story.She pushed through the underbrush with a hiss of frustration, twigs clawing at her skin. The moon hung low, casting an eerie glow that barely penetrated the thick canopy. Every step brought her closer to the clearing - and to the choice that would shape her future and the pack’s.The rogue wolves were waiting when she arrived. Their scent hit her first, a nauseating blend of unwashed fur and blood. The fire at the center of the clearing was small but bri
When with a deep groan, the far wall shifted. Stone scraped against stone, and slowly, an ancient engraving peeled away, revealing a hidden passage cloaked in shadow.A hush fell over the room.Nicola’s heartbeat thundered in her ears as she stepped forward, drawn by something deeper than curiosity - something primal, something written in her soul. The sanctuary was speaking. And it was time to listen.Lucas was at her side in an instant, his golden eyes locked onto the revealed passage. The triplets weren’t far behind, their wolves stirred by the shift in energy. Elias, ever composed, stood still for a long moment before exhaling quietly."Listen," her wolf whispered.A deep voice, not of this world, echoed through the chamber."The bonded protectors have been chosen. The path ahead is fraught with darkness, but you shall stand as one. The Moon’s power flows through you, but it is not enough. You must unlock the final truth of the sanctuary."Nicola swallowed hard, her fingers tighten
Nicola and Lucas came back inside and sat in one of the common rooms. The air in the sanctuary felt charged, expectant, as if the ancient walls were listening, waiting.Neither of them spoke for a long moment. Then, Lucas let out a slow breath."So... this is it, then," he murmured, his voice quiet but steady. "We’re not breaking the bond."Nicola met his gaze, searching for any doubt in his storm-gray eyes. But she found none. Only quiet acceptance.“No,” she said, her voice stronger than she expected. “We’re not.”The words left her lips, and the moment they did, something shifted.A sudden, invisible force rippled through the room, like the very air was inhaling. The flames in the fireplace flared high, throwing long shadows across the stone walls. A deep hum vibrated beneath them, resonating through the sanctuary itself, as if the ancient structure had awakened.Lucas tensed beside her, his fingers curling into fists. “What the hell...”Then the power hit.A surge of something - v
The sanctuary was vast, stretching beyond what Nicola had initially thought. The deeper they explored, the more she realized this place held more than just history - it held purpose.The morning air was crisp as she wandered through the ancient corridors, sunlight streaming in through arched windows. Despite the newfound knowledge of their bonds, the weight of it still pressed against her chest.Lucas.Even though she had spent the last night discussing the truth with the triplets and him, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something about this arrangement was wrong.Not for her. For him.The triplets had each been chosen as her mates in a way that made sense. The connection between them was unshakable. But Lucas… he hadn’t been given a choice.Fated mates were meant to be everything to each other. They were supposed to build a life together, to love without hesitation.And yet, Lucas had been given a fate that denied him that chance.Nicola ran a hand through her hair, frustration b
Nicola wandered through the vast halls of the sanctuary, searching for the triplets and Lucas. The flickering torchlight cast long shadows along the ancient stone walls, and the faint echoes of her footsteps were the only sounds accompanying her. She had expected to find them in one of the training halls or perhaps in the great hall, but each room she checked was empty. The night was growing late, and an odd sense of urgency pressed against her chest.Finally, a muffled laugh drifted through the corridor, drawing her toward a heavy wooden door reinforced with iron. Raising an eyebrow, she pushed it open and descended into the cool, dimly lit space of the wine cellar. The scent of oak barrels and aged liquor filled the air, and there, gathered around an old wooden table, were the triplets and Lucas.The sight nearly made her laugh. Damien leaned back in his chair, a dark bottle of wine in his grip, smirking at something Dylan had just said. Dylan, ever the troublemaker, was in the midd
Nicola POV The moon hung high in the sky, casting its silver glow over the sanctuary gardens. Nicola sat on a smooth stone bench, the ancient book resting on her lap. The scent of night-blooming flowers filled the air, blending with the crisp freshness of the restored sanctuary. Here, beneath the vast sky, she could breathe - yet her thoughts felt tangled.She traced her fingers over the runes on the book’s cover, feeling the pulse of ancient magic beneath her touch. The pages were filled with knowledge lost to time, wisdom hidden from those who had been caged by fate. Somewhere in these words was the answer to the bond with Lucas, and she was determined to find it.She flipped through the delicate pages, her eyes skimming over old scripts detailing the history of mate bonds. Most were simple - sacred connections meant to strengthen wolves and their packs. But then she found something different, something that sent a shiver down her spine."There are bonds woven by the gods themselve
Lucas POV The air inside the sanctuary still carried the lingering scent of roasted meat and warm bread, but outside, the crisp night air held a different kind of energy - charged, restless. The stone corridors stretched in quiet elegance, their once-faded carvings now sharp and defined, almost humming with life.Lucas walked alongside the triplets, feeling the weight of their unspoken thoughts pressing against his back like a tangible force. The tension between them had not dissipated, despite the shared meal and the Moon Goddess’s blessing. If anything, it had thickened, an undercurrent of possessiveness laced with grudging acceptance.Dean was the first to break the silence. "You realize you still haven’t answered our question."Lucas kept his pace even. "Which one?"Dylan scoffed. "Don’t play dumb." He glanced at his brothers before turning his sharp gaze back to Lucas. "Why were you here? When Nicola and Elias arrived at the sanctuary, you were already waiting. That’s one hell o
Steam curled through the air as Nicola stepped out of the bath, wrapping herself in a thick, soft robe. The sanctuary provided everything they needed, and the water had been soothing, washing away the exhaustion and tension in her muscles.She had bathed quickly, knowing the triplets were waiting to talk. They had settled in their rooms, but the interconnected living space gave them an easy way to gather. As she stepped into the common area, she found them already lounging - Dean stretched out on one of the furs, Damien seated near the fire, and Dylan, as usual, restless, flipping a small dagger between his fingers.Nicola took a seat across from them, exhaling. “Alright. What’s on your minds?”Damien was the first to speak. “You, mostly.” His golden eyes studied her carefully. “You’ve had a lot thrown at you, and yet you keep pushing forward. We just want to make sure you’re actually processing all of it.”She gave a small, tired smile. “I don’t think I’ve had the luxury of processin
The warmth of the meal still lingered in Nicola’s chest, but the weight of everything that had happened pressed down on her shoulders. The Moon Goddess had spoken to her. Blessed her. Given her a purpose greater than she had ever imagined.Now, standing in the vast, ancient halls of the restored sanctuary, she felt something she hadn't dared to in a long time. Safety.Dylan stretched his arms above his head, letting out a satisfied groan. "I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m about two bites away from passing out."Dean smirked. "Two? You’ve already eaten enough to put a normal man into a food coma."Dylan shrugged unapologetically. "What can I say? Near-death experiences and divine encounters work up an appetite."Lucas chuckled, shaking his head. “That meal was good, but what I really need is a real bed.”Damien shot a glance down the corridor. "Then let's find one. This place seems... aware of us. It wouldn’t surprise me if it already had rooms waiting."Nicola nodded, finge
Nicola’s fingers brushed over the book’s leather cover, the runes on it glowing faintly beneath her touch. She exhaled slowly, trying to steady her racing heart.A presence gathered around her, unseen yet impossibly close. Her wolf pressed forward, drawn to the call of something greater. Nicola’s breath hitched as a soft, silvery mist curled around her feet. It swirled, moving with a purpose, until it coalesced into a radiant figure before them.The Moon Goddess.She stood in a form both ethereal and solid, her gown woven from the very fabric of the cosmos, shimmering with shifting constellations. Her silver eyes, endless and knowing, settled on Nicola. A profound warmth washed over her, reverent and overwhelming all at once.Nicola sank to her knees instinctively, head bowed. The others followed, their expressions a mix of awe and quiet reverence.“Rise, my child,” the Moon Goddess’s voice resonated, neither loud nor soft, but carrying the weight of eternity.Nicola obeyed, swallowin