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
A chill slithered through the air.Not the natural kind that came with the Forgotten Sanctuary’s age, nor the damp cold that clung to its stone walls. This was different. Alive. Watching. Waiting.Nicola felt it before she saw it - a ripple in the air, a shift in the space around them, as if the darkness itself was coiling inward. The pages of the notebook trembled in her grasp, a silent warning.Lucas’ body tensed beside her. “Something’s coming.”Elias stepped forward, his eyes narrowing. “Not something,” he corrected. “It.”The force that had been lurking in the edges of her fate, the one woven into the ritual itself. The presence that did not just demand her sacrifice - it was born from it.And it wasn’t going to let her leave.The candlelight flickered, then vanished.Darkness swallowed them whole.A low, guttural whisper curled through the chamber, slithering along the walls like a living thing. Nicola’s breath caught as the air thickened, pressing down on her chest. It wasn’t s
Nicola’s pulse pounded in her ears as she moved toward the faint glow. The pull was undeniable, an invisible thread wrapped around her chest, guiding her deeper into the heart of the Forgotten Sanctuary.“Nicola,” Elias warned, his voice low, tense. “Whatever this is - it isn’t safe.”“I know,” she murmured, but she didn’t stop.Lucas let out a frustrated breath. “You’re walking straight into something we don’t understand.”“I don’t have a choice,” she said, glancing over her shoulder. “She left something here. I need to know what it is.”Elias hesitated, his sharp eyes scanning the corridor ahead, as if he too could sense the shift in the air. His expression was unreadable, but finally, he gave a small nod. “Then we move carefully.”Lucas sighed, clearly unhappy, but followed as Nicola stepped forward.The corridor narrowed, the walls pressing in like the ribs of some ancient beast, and the deeper they went, the heavier the air became. The energy in this place was ancient, woven into
A deep, haunting howl tore through Nicola’s mind, raw and primal. It vibrated through her bones, sending a jolt of electricity down her spine. Her wolf - silent for so long - was awake.Run.The command wasn’t spoken in words, but in instinct, in the frantic pulse of her blood.The figure in the chamber remained still, shifting between shadow and substance, its presence pressing against her like an unseen weight."Nicola…"The way it said her name - it wasn’t a threat. It wasn’t a plea. It was… expectant.Her breath hitched."No."Her own voice sounded distant in her ears, drowned beneath the sound of her wolf's desperate howling. It clawed at her mind, urging her away, away, away.Lucas’s grip on her arm tightened, grounding her. “Nicola, look at me.”She blinked, her vision swimming as she turned toward him.His golden eyes were fierce, unwavering. “We cannot be here.”Elias didn’t lower his blade. His stance was rigid, his muscles coiled, but Nicola knew him well enough to see what
The Forgotten Sanctuary seemed to pulse with something unseen, a presence that stirred beneath the cracked stone and dust-laden air. The deeper they moved into its ruins, the more Nicola felt it - a whisper at the edge of her senses, calling her forward, drawing her toward something she couldn’t yet name.She stood between Elias and Lucas, the weight of Lucas’s words still settling over her like a shroud."Everything you think you know about this ritual is a lie."Nicola clenched her fists, her voice sharp as she demanded, “Then tell me the truth.”Lucas exhaled slowly, his gaze flickering between her and Elias. “I will. But first, you have to be ready to hear it.”She stiffened. “I don’t have the luxury of waiting.”A flicker of something unreadable passed through Lucas’s expression before he finally nodded. “Fine. Then listen closely, because we don’t have much time.”Nicola held her breath as Lucas continued.“The ritual you’ve been preparing for - it’s not what you think. It isn’t
The wind howled through the Forgotten Sanctuary, whipping through the stone ruins like a restless spirit. Nicola’s breath came in uneven puffs, her heart still hammering from the shock of seeing Lucas standing before her.He was real. Not a vision, not a trick of the shadows.Lucas.Her childhood friend. Her almost-mate. The one who had vanished without a word.Now, after all these time, he was here - standing in the very place where she was meant to face her fate.The silence between them stretched, taut with tension and unanswered questions.Elias shifted beside her, his golden eyes sharp and assessing. His entire stance screamed distrust, his fingers hovering near the dagger at his waist. He was ready to act at the slightest provocation.Lucas, on the other hand, looked at ease. Too at ease. He stood with his hands resting at his sides, his expression unreadable, but there was something in his gaze - something heavy. He looked to calm, to stedy. He was diffrent than the boy he was
The Forgotten Sanctuary loomed before Nicola, an ancient ruin carved into the mountainside, its jagged silhouette barely visible beneath the pale moonlight. The air was thick with an eerie stillness, broken only by the distant howl of the wind. The stone walls, cracked and weathered by time, pulsed faintly with traces of old magic - power that had long since faded but never truly vanished.She took a slow breath, inhaling the scent of damp stone and something deeper, something familiar yet unsettling. This was where she had been born. Where her mother, Lyra, had brought her into the world.It didn’t feel like a place of beginnings.It felt like an ending.Elias walked ahead of her, his golden eyes scanning the ruins with an intensity she had come to recognize as something between reverence and calculation. He moved like a shadow, his presence blending into the ancient magic, as if he belonged here in a way she never could.Nicola’s steps faltered as she reached the entrance. The tower
Nicola’s mind reeled as the cavern around her trembled, the echoes of the vision still thrumming through her veins. Her breath came fast, shallow, as she tried to process the truth laid before her.The ritual wouldn’t destroy the darkness. It never had.It had only contained it, delaying the inevitable.She clenched her hands into fists, the phantom sensation of blood on her palms still lingering from the vision. The First Lycan Queen - her ancestor - had given everything to trap the darkness before. But time had weakened the chains. And now, it would fall to her to decide whether to do it again.Or to find another way.A hand on her shoulder grounded her.Elias."You look like you're going to be sick," he observed, voice calm but watchful.Nicola swallowed hard, shaking her head. "I just..." She exhaled sharply. "I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this."The Keeper stood motionless beside the altar, their silver eyes unreadable beneath the hood. "You came seeking answer
They walked out of the rocks formations. Nicola followed Elias through the dense, mist-shrouded forest, the ancient trees towering above them like silent sentinels. The night air was thick with the scent of damp earth and moss, a strange stillness settling over the world around them. Every step she took felt heavier, as if unseen forces in the ground beneath her feet were pulling her deeper into something far older than she could comprehend.Elias moved with an ease that unsettled her, his steps sure and unhurried. The glow of the moon barely touched his silver-streaked hair, and his golden eyes shimmered in the darkness like a predator perfectly at home in the shadows."Where are we going?" Nicola finally asked, breaking the silence."You'll see soon enough," Elias said, his voice calm but firm. "This is not just a place. It is… a memory of something long forgotten. A part of your story waiting to be reclaimed."Nicola frowned but kept walking. The air around them grew heavier, tinge
Nicola’s breath came fast and uneven as she staggered to her feet. The ground beneath her was rough, uneven stone, cold enough that it sent a sharp chill up her spine. The air here was different - dense, thick with something she couldn’t name. It pressed against her skin like an unseen force, tingling at the edges of her senses.Her pulse pounded as she turned on Elias, anger and confusion swirling together in a volatile mix.“You took me,” she hissed. “Without warning. Without my consent.”Elias met her fury with unwavering calm, his hands clasped behind his back. “Because you wouldn’t have come willingly.”Nicola clenched her fists. “Damn right I wouldn’t have.”She took a step toward him, rage crackling in her veins like live electricity. “You severed my bond with them.” The words tasted bitter on her tongue, fear laced beneath the anger. “Do you have any idea what you’ve just done?”Elias tilted his head slightly, studying her like she was a puzzle he had already solved. “It is no