Nicola’s life shifted in small, incremental ways over the next few days. It wasn’t just the bond - though that pulsed steadily in the background like a drumbeat - but the way the triplets had claimed her as theirs. The subtle way Damien’s hand would find hers in the hallway, how Dylan would throw an arm casually over her shoulders, or the lingering warmth of Dean’s protective presence by her side.It didn’t take long for the rumors to spread.By Monday morning, the entire school buzzed with the news. Whispers followed Nicola everywhere she went, weaving a tapestry of curiosity, envy, and, in some cases, outright hostility.“That’s her?” a girl murmured behind her in the hallway. “The Omega who thinks she can mate with the triplets?”“She must have bewitched them or something,” another sneered. “There’s no way they chose her.”Nicola kept her chin high, though her insides churned. Chloe and Theo flanked her protectively, their expressions daring anyone to say something louder. The trip
The morning dawned quiet and cold, the pale sunlight barely filtering through the thick curtains of Nicola’s room. She stirred, her body sore from the previous evening’s training but her mind surprisingly clear. The bond with the triplets hummed steadily, a comforting reminder of their presence even when they weren’t physically beside her.The peace didn’t last long.Her phone buzzed incessantly on the nightstand. Groaning, she reached for it, squinting at the screen. The pack group chat was in chaos.Maddie: Some Omega thinks she’s fit to stand beside our Alphas? Pathetic.Jordan: It’s a joke, right? The Blackstones would never choose someone so weak.Lila: Maybe it’s time someone put her in her place.Nicola’s stomach tightened. Maddie wasn’t just spreading rumors - she was inciting the pack against her. And judging by the number of likes and replies, she was succeeding.A sharp knock on her door startled her. “Nic, are you up?” Damien’s voice called.“Yeah, one second!” She scramb
The days following the confrontation with Jordan were tense. Nicola could feel the weight of the pack’s scrutiny wherever she went. Whispers followed her through the school hallways, and the air at every pack gathering was heavy with unspoken questions.But the triplets were her constant. Damien, Dylan, and Dean stayed close, their protective presence a reassurance that she wasn’t alone in this fight. And yet, Nicola couldn’t shake the feeling that something bigger was coming - something that would test her bond with the Alphas and her place in the pack.“Again,” Damien commanded, his voice firm but not unkind.Nicola braced herself, her body coiled tightly as Dean lunged at her. She ducked under his swipe, using her smaller frame to maneuver behind him. With a grunt, she delivered a quick jab to his side, earning an approving nod from Dylan, who observed from the sidelines.“That’s better,” Dylan said. “You’re getting faster.”“But not fast enough,” Nicola panted, wiping sweat from h
The day of the trial dawned with a chill in the air. The pack’s territory was blanketed by a layer of mist that clung to the ground, lending an almost surreal quality to the clearing where the trial would take place. Nicola stood in front of her mirror, her hands trembling slightly as she braided her hair. She barely recognized the girl staring back at her - there was a determination in her eyes that hadn’t been there before.A knock at her door startled her, and Dylan’s cheerful voice came through. “Are you decent? Or should I pretend I care?”“Come in,” Nicola called, rolling her eyes.Dylan sauntered in, his grin wide and mischievous. “Looking fierce, Nic. That braid screams, ‘Don’t mess with me, I know where to aim.’”“Thanks, I think?” Nicola replied, smoothing her shirt nervously. “Where are Damien and Dean?”“Strategizing downstairs,” Dylan said, leaning casually against her dresser. “Dean’s got that whole ‘stoic warrior’ vibe going, and Damien is, well, Damien. Commanding ever
The aftermath of the trials left Nicola in a whirlwind of emotions. As the pack members dispersed, some offering respectful nods and others begrudging glares, she stood surrounded by the triplets. Their protective presence shielded her from the weight of the gazes, but the undercurrent of tension was undeniable.The four of them walked back toward the Blackstone mansion, their steps falling into a natural rhythm. Nicola’s head buzzed with the events of the day, the adrenaline from the trials still coursing through her veins. She glanced at Damien, who walked closest to her, his hand brushing against hers.“You were incredible today,” Damien said, his voice soft but brimming with pride.Nicola felt her cheeks flush. “I don’t know if ‘incredible’ is the word. I was mostly terrified.”Dylan snorted from her other side. “Terrified, maybe, but you didn’t show it. Ryan looked like he’d been hit by a truck when you dropped him.”“Bet his ego’s in worse shape than his ribs,” Dean added with a
The aftermath of the rogue attack left a palpable tension in the air. Nicola sat in the living room, the crackling fireplace doing little to chase away the chill that had settled over her. The triplets were nearby, pacing or leaning against the walls, their sharp eyes scanning the room as if expecting danger to leap from the shadows.“Are you okay?” Dylan’s voice broke the silence as he crouched beside her chair. His usual playful grin was absent, replaced by a look of genuine concern.Nicola nodded slowly, though the tremor in her hands betrayed her. “I’m fine. Just… trying to process everything.”Dean crossed his arms, his expression dark. “That wasn’t a regular rogue. Whatever it was, it wasn’t here by accident.”Damien, who had been standing by the window with his arms crossed, turned to face the room. “It knew exactly what it was doing. It was testing us.”“Testing what?” Nicola asked, her voice quiet but steady.“You,” Damien said bluntly. “It’s not a coincidence that it showed
The chatter in the Crescent Moon High cafeteria was louder than usual, a buzzing hive of gossip and speculation. Nicola walked in with Chloe and Theo, her tray balanced precariously in her hands. Despite their laughter and lighthearted conversation, she couldn’t shake the sense of unease that had followed her all morning.Everywhere she turned, eyes lingered on her for a fraction too long, whispers following her like a shadow. She knew what they were talking about - the rogue attack, her trials, and, of course, her connection to the Blackstone triplets.“Let them stare,” Chloe said as they slid into their usual seats at the far corner of the cafeteria. “They’re just jealous.”“Jealous?” Nicola raised an eyebrow, stabbing her fork into her salad. “Of what? The endless drama or the constant death threats?”Theo chuckled. “Probably both. You’re like a celebrity now.”Nicola groaned, resting her forehead on the cool surface of the table. “I didn’t ask for any of this.”“You don’t have to,
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
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