Nicola stood in the training grounds at the edge of the Crescent Moon Pack’s territory, the crisp morning air biting at her skin. It was early, the sun barely cresting the horizon, but she was determined to be here.This wasn’t just about proving something to herself anymore - it was about proving it to the pack, the triplets, and everyone who doubted her.She was ready to show that she was more than just a bondmate or an Omega.“You don’t have to do this, you know.”Nicola turned to find Dean leaning against a tree, his arms crossed and a faint smile tugging at his lips. Behind him, Dylan and Damien approached, their expressions a mix of curiosity and concern.“I know,” Nicola said, meeting his gaze steadily. “But I want to. The pack needs to see that I can fight for them, not just stand behind you three.”Damien tilted his head, a hint of pride flashing in his eyes. “You’ve already proven more than they realize, Nic. But if this is what you want, we’ll help you.”The triplets gather
Nicola lay awake that night, staring at the ceiling of her bedroom. The house was silent except for the faint creaks and groans of the old wood. The triplets had wanted to stay with her, but she insisted they return to the packhouse to coordinate the security measures. Maddie was growing more dangerous by the day, and Nicola couldn’t shake the rogue’s chilling words from her mind: “To see how far your pack would go to protect its Luna.”The pack wasn’t the target - she was.Nicola clenched her fists against the soft comforter. She could no longer afford to act like the timid Omega she used to be. This wasn’t just about her survival. Maddie’s schemes had put everyone in danger, and Nicola wasn’t about to let that continue. This had to end.And it had to be her who ended it.At sunrise, Nicola met Chloe and Theo at the edge of the training grounds. The chill of dawn clung to the air, but her determination burned hotter than any fire.“You’re sure about this?” Chloe asked, her eyes wide
Nicola’s body ached with every step as she trudged back toward the pack’s territory. Her muscles were sore from the fight, and her mind swirled with conflicting emotions. The adrenaline that had kept her sharp during her confrontation with Maddie had long since faded, leaving exhaustion and a hollow sense of victory in its wake.She had faced Maddie - and won - but it didn’t feel like a triumph. The hatred in Maddie’s eyes, the venom in her words, lingered like a shadow over her thoughts.“Nic!”Worried expressions of Theo and Chloe melted into relief as they saw her, scratched and bruised but alive.“Don’t scare us like that again,” Chloe said, her voice shaky as she pulled Nicola into a fierce hug. “You look like you’ve been through a war.”Theo’s eyes scanned her injuries. “She got in a few hits, didn’t she? Tell me Maddie looks worse.”Nicola gave a small, tired smile. “She does. Trust me.”By the time they reached the packhouse, word of Nicola’s confrontation had already spread.
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
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
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 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 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
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