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
Nicola's POVNicola couldn’t shake the sense of unease that had settled over her like a second skin. The bond she shared with the triplets hummed with tension, their concern feeding her own. Maddie’s exile should have brought some semblance of peace, but the atmosphere in the Crescent Moon Pack was anything but calm.The pack’s edges felt frayed, whispers of unrest floating through the air like smoke from a smoldering fire. Nicola wasn’t naïve; she knew her presence as the triplets’ mate was a point of contention for some. What she hadn’t expected was the depth of the animosity still brewing.The sun rose weakly over Crescent Moon territory, its pale rays struggling to pierce through a blanket of gray clouds. Nicola walked to school with Chloe at her side, their usual chatter subdued.“People are still talking,” Chloe said, her voice low. “About Maddie, about you… It’s like no one can let it go.”Nicola sighed, her breath visible in the crisp morning air. “I can’t control what they th
Nicola’s breathing was sharp and shallow, each inhale burning her lungs as she dodged the woman’s next strike. Her father’s dagger felt almost too heavy in her grip, its blade catching and reflecting the pale moonlight like a beacon in the shadows. The woman moved with an unnerving grace, her movements as fluid as water yet sharp as a predator on the hunt. Her glowing eyes seemed to pierce directly into Nicola’s soul with every step she took, their golden hue flickering like embers in the darkness.“You’re quicker than I expected,” the woman sneered, her tone dripping with mockery as her lips curled into a sinister smirk. “But you won’t last long, little girl. Not against me.”Nicola’s jaw tightened, her knuckles whitening as she gripped the dagger tighter. She ignored the taunt, forcing herself to focus on her opponent’s movements. Every shift of the woman’s weight, every flick of her wrist, told a story of deadly precision honed over centuries - or worse, through unholy means. What
The howl in the distance sent a shiver down Nicola’s spine. It wasn’t the familiar call of their pack but something darker, more feral. Her hand gripped the dagger tightly, her knuckles white as her gaze locked on Harwin.“What do you mean, they’re coming?” Dylan asked sharply, stepping toward the elder.Harwin’s shoulders sagged as if the weight of his betrayal had finally caught up to him. “The Shadowed Ones know you’re closing in. They won’t wait for you to find them. They’ll strike first, and they’ll do it tonight.”Damien growled low in his throat. “How do you know this?”“I sent the signal,” Harwin admitted, his voice trembling. “It was the only way to delay them. To give you more time.”Nicola’s stomach churned. “You brought them here?”“It was either that, or they would unleash chaos elsewhere - on innocent people,” Harwin said, his tone pleading. “I thought... maybe you’d be ready by now.”Dean stepped forward, his fists clenched. “Ready? You think we’re ready for an ambush i
The suite was quiet except for the faint scratching of pens and the rustle of pages. The weight of unanswered questions loomed heavy in the room, but Nicola refused to let it consume her. She was looking for anything that might help, her father’s books spread out before her like a labyrinth of cryptic riddles and fragmented truths.Damien, seated across from her, was methodically cataloging every symbol and phrase that seemed significant. His brow furrowed in concentration, though every so often, he would glance up at Nicola, his concern evident.“You should rest,” he said softly, breaking the silence.Nicola shook her head, her fingers running over the edge of a page. “I can’t. Not when we’re so close. There’s something here, Damien - I can feel it.”Before he could argue further, Nicola’s attention was caught by a folded piece of paper slipping out from between the pages of the book she was studying. She froze, staring at it as if it might vanish.“What is it?” Damien asked, his voi
The suite buzzed with urgency as the triplets and Nicola strategized their next move. The second note had left no room for misinterpretation: their enemies were closing in, and the clock was ticking.Nicola sat at the table, the leather-bound books spread out before her like a puzzle waiting to be solved. Each page she turned revealed fragments of knowledge - ancient rituals, the history of the pack’s lineage, and cryptic references to a “key” tied to bloodlines.“We need more answers,” Damien said, pacing the room like a caged animal. His frustration was palpable. “These books are a start, but we’re missing too many pieces.”Dylan leaned over Nicola, his eyes scanning the pages she was reading. “We’ve found plenty about the curse and the bloodline, but nothing about who’s orchestrating this or why. It’s like chasing shadows.”Dean, sitting by the door with his arms crossed, suddenly spoke. “We need to go on the offensive. Stop reacting and start acting. The notes, the beast, the rogu
The suite was heavy with tension after they discovered the ominous note. Nicola sat at the table, turning the parchment over and over in her hands. The triplets surrounded her, their expressions varying from anger to concern, their protective instincts evident in their stiff postures.“‘The truth lies in the blood,’” Dylan read the note aloud again, his tone clipped. He placed it back on the table, his fingers drumming against the polished wood. “What do they mean by that? Is this about your lineage?”Nicola shook her head, exhaling sharply. “It has to be. My father’s books might hold the answers, but I still don’t know where they are. I’m starting to think he hid them on purpose, knowing this day would come.”Damien leaned against the counter, arms crossed and his brow furrowed in deep thought. “We need to focus. First, securing the pack and making sure everyone is safe. Second, finding those books. Whoever’s behind this isn’t just playing games anymore.”Dean frowned, pacing near th
The council meeting had been tense, the air heavy with unspoken accusations and suspicions. As Nicola and the triplets made their way back to their suite, the discussion echoed in her mind. The elders had raised the possibility of a traitor within the pack, someone who might be working with the mysterious woman behind the beast transformations. It was a chilling thought, and the weight of it settled uneasily in her chest.When they reached their door, Nicola’s steps faltered. There, lying conspicuously on the floor, was a folded piece of parchment. Dylan was the first to notice her hesitation.“What is it?” he asked, stepping forward.Nicola pointed silently to the note, her pulse quickening. Damien bent down, picking it up carefully as if it might explode. His jaw clenched as he unfolded the parchment, and his expression darkened as he read aloud:“The truth lies in the blood. Stop searching, or more will bleed.”Dean growled low in his throat, his wolf barely contained. “They’re not
Nicola’s pulse pounded in her ears as she rushed through the halls of their shared suite. The note’s message repeated in her mind, a sinister echo that made her skin crawl. Someone was watching her every move, someone who knew she was digging too deep.She flung open the main door to the living area, where the triplets were lounging. Damien was nearest, standing by the kitchen counter with a glass of water. His golden eyes narrowed the moment he saw her pale face.“What happened?” Damien asked, his voice low and steady, though she could hear the tension in it.Nicola didn’t answer right away. She pushed past him and held up the folded parchment. Dylan, who was sprawled on the couch, straightened immediately, while Dean paused mid-step on his way to the bedroom.Nicola slapped the note onto the coffee table. “This,” she said, her voice trembling with both fear and anger. “Someone left it outside our door.”Dean snatched up the parchment, his carefree demeanor evaporating as he read the
Nicola stepped out of the dim, oppressive cell and into the cool night air, her chest heavy with failure. She couldn’t shake the image of the rogue disintegrating into ash, his anguished screams echoing in her ears. She had taken a risk, hoping to save him, but instead, she had lost the only lead they had.Damien was by her side in an instant, his hand brushing hers. “Nic,” he said softly, “you couldn’t have known. It wasn’t your fault.”Nicola nodded absently, her thoughts already turning to her father’s notebook. He had left her breadcrumbs of knowledge, scattered fragments of wisdom. Maybe there was something in his writings she had overlooked.Alpha Marcus and Cedric immediately called for a council meeting, while Nicola returned to her suite with the triplets. She barely felt the bruises forming on her arms or the exhaustion seeping into her muscles. Her mind was racing, a relentless storm of possibilities and threats.The rogue’s cryptic warnings still rang in her ears."They’re
The sun had fully risen by the time Nicola and her companions returned to the pack’s compound. The triplets walked close beside her, their protectiveness evident in the way they scanned their surroundings, even in the safety of their own territory. Cedric and Lucas trailed behind, their expressions somber.Nicola clutched the small box containing the vial to her chest, her thoughts a tangled mess. Her father’s notes swirled in her mind, the weight of his warnings pressing heavily on her.The rogue in the cells. The beasts in the forest. The vial of moonstone energy. The pieces of the puzzle were slowly coming together, but the picture it formed was far more sinister than she’d imagined.As soon as they reached the pack house, Nicola headed straight for the alpha’s study. Her mother and Cedric’s mating ceremony had been a rare reprieve, but the time for celebration was over.Alpha Marcus was already there, seated behind his desk. Clara sat beside him, her brow furrowed in concern. Elde