Elowen's POVThe drive to the academy was different this time. Alaric sat beside me, his presence calming, yet there was a strange excitement in the air. The morning fog clung to the trees, the silence between us almost too perfect. I could feel his gaze on me, but I couldn’t bring myself to meet it. It felt like everything had changed in the past month, like the world had tilted just enough to make everything seem new and unfamiliar."You okay?" Alaric’s voice broke the silence, low and soothing. He reached over, his hand brushing against mine. I felt the spark of connection instantly, the bond pulling me closer despite the confusion in my heart.I nodded, though my mind was far from calm. A part of me still couldn’t believe that I was going to live with him now. It was a step I never thought I’d take, but after everything that had happened, after the way he’d cared for me when I was broken... I didn’t know how to say no. “I’m just... processing,” I said quietly, my eyes still focus
Elowen’s POVI started walking toward my room, my mind buzzing with everything that had just transpired. The mansion felt colder than before, the tension from the dining room clinging to the air. My heart was still racing from the confrontation, but as I took a step toward the staircase, I felt a hand gently wrap around my wrist, stopping me.“Wait,” Alaric’s voice was soft yet firm. I turned to face him, and his deep eyes, filled with warmth and reassurance, instantly soothed some of the chaos in my heart. He stepped closer, the faint scent of coffee and cedarwood surrounding me.He reached up and cupped my cheek, his thumb brushing lightly against my skin. “I’ll take care of everything, my love,” he said, his voice steady, like a calm amidst the storm. “You don’t need to worry about them. I’ll handle Ranon and Theron.”I felt my breath hitch as he leaned down, pressing a tender kiss on my forehead. His touch was gentle, and yet it carried so much promise and protection that my chest
Elowen’s POV The tension in the air was suffocating. Even in the safety of my room, I could feel the heated confrontation downstairs echoing in my chest. I sat on the edge of the bed, my knees pulled up, trying to focus on the faint sound of rain tapping against the window. But my thoughts kept spiraling. They’re fighting because of me again. I hated it. The mate bond that tethered me to the triplets felt like a curse. I didn’t ask for this, for the overwhelming pull or the chaos it brought into my life. My fingers gripped the comforter tightly as my mind wandered to Alaric. He was the only one who made me feel safe in all of this madness. The sound of footsteps on the stairs pulled me from my thoughts. My heart jumped. Was it Alaric? Before I could get up, the door opened, and there he was. His expression was calmer than I expected, but there was a storm in his eyes that he tried to mask. “Are you okay?” he asked softly, closing the door behind him. I nodded, though my th
Elowen’s POV The next morning, I woke up to the soft hum of birds outside the window and the comforting scent of Alaric lingering in the room. For a brief moment, I let myself enjoy the peace. The storm of emotions from yesterday seemed like a distant memory, but the reality of the situation was quick to return. I sat up, running a hand through my tangled hair, and stared at the sunlight spilling through the curtains. Alaric had stayed true to his word, protecting me from his brothers. Yet, the lingering tension in the house was impossible to ignore. A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. I tensed, but Alaric’s familiar voice called out, “It’s me.” Relief washed over me as I got up and opened the door. He stood there, dressed casually in a dark shirt and jeans, holding a tray with breakfast. “I thought you could use some fuel,” he said with a warm smile, stepping inside. “You didn’t have to,” I murmured, but my stomach betrayed me with a loud growl. He chuckled, settin
Elowen’s POV The rain continued to pour, soaking through my clothes and plastering my hair to my face, but I didn’t care. Standing here in Alaric’s arms, the world around us seemed to fade. It was just him and me, the steady rhythm of the rain, and the warmth of his presence against the cold. His forehead rested against mine, his breath mingling with mine, his hands firmly gripping my waist as if he were afraid to let go. I could feel his heart beating against my chest, strong and sure, a stark contrast to the wild fluttering of my own. “You’ll catch a cold,” he said again, his voice a soft rumble that sent a shiver down my spine. I laughed quietly, my hands clutching the damp fabric of his shirt. “You’re the one keeping me out here.” “I can’t let go,” he admitted, his voice almost a whisper. “Not when you’re finally here, looking at me like this.” His words made my chest tighten. “Like what?” “Like you trust me,” he said, pulling back just enough to search my eyes. “Like
Elowen’s POV The academy halls buzzed with the usual morning chaos, students rushing to their classes or catching up on gossip. I clutched my books tightly to my chest, trying to stay invisible as I navigated the familiar paths. Despite the warmth of Alaric's presence in my life, the academy still felt like a battlefield where judgmental stares and whispered rumors followed me everywhere. I had just rounded the corner when I collided with a firm chest. My books tumbled to the floor, and my heart sank as I looked up to find Ranon towering over me, his sharp gaze pinning me in place. "Elowen," he drawled, his voice low and laced with something unreadable. "Ranon," I said stiffly, bending down to gather my fallen books. Before I could reach for them, he crouched, his hand brushing against mine as he picked up one of the books. His touch was brief, but it sent an uncomfortable chill down my spine. "Still avoiding me, I see," he said, standing and handing me the book. His smi
Ranon’s POVI stormed down the corridor, my mind a whirlwind of anger and resentment. Her words echoed in my head, sharp and unforgiving. "Alaric loves me, and I love him. He’s everything you’re not, kind, patient, and respectful."Respectful? Patient? As if that’s what makes a true mate. She didn’t see it. She didn’t see me, the fire I could bring into her life, the passion that could consume her whole."Pathetic," I muttered under my breath, cursing her for the power she held over me. How could she choose him, out of all of us? Alaric, the golden boy who always played the hero. She didn’t understand that behind his perfect façade, he wasn’t as innocent as he pretended to be.My wolf snarled in agreement, growling, "She’s blind. But she’s ours."“She doesn’t want us,” I spat, shoving my wolf down.But I couldn’t stop myself. I turned on my heel, my feet carrying me back toward the library. I wasn’t going to let her walk away from me, not like that, not with those hateful words linger
Theron’s POV The Academy corridors were quiet, the faint hum of conversations in distant classrooms the only sound. I spotted Elowen walking ahead, her delicate figure framed against the sunlight pouring in through the windows. She seemed lost in thought, her head bowed as if the weight of the world rested on her shoulders. A part of me hesitated, my wolf clawed at me, demanding that I stay back, that I give her the space she clearly wanted. But I couldn’t. Not when I knew she was being manipulated by Alaric, my own brother. “Elowen,” I called out. She paused, turning slowly to face me. Her eyes met mine, and I felt the familiar sting of her disdain. “What do you want, Theron?” she asked, her tone tired and guarded. I walked up to her, stopping just a few feet away. “We need to talk.” She crossed her arms, clearly unimpressed. “We have nothing to talk about.” I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. “I know you don’t trust me, and honestly, I don’t blame you. But thi
Elowen’s POV We sat like that for a long time, our hands clasped across the cool wood of the kitchen table, the silence a comfortable tapestry woven with unspoken affection and shared understanding. The gentle ticking of the grandfather clock in the hallway marked the slow passage of the late hour, each tick a quiet affirmation of the peaceful intimacy that enveloped us. The moonlight continued its silent vigil through the arched window, bathing the deserted kitchen in a soft, ethereal glow. Alaric’s thumb continued its slow, soothing strokes across the back of my hand, a simple gesture that spoke volumes of his quiet tenderness. His silver eyes, still softened by the late hour, held a steady gaze, a silent reassurance that transcended the need for words. In that moment, the complexities of our lives, the ever-present awareness of the triplets’ possessiveness, the weight of the Academy’s scrutiny – all of it seemed to recede, leaving only the profound connection between Alaric and m
Elowen’s POV The remainder of the evening passed with a renewed sense of quiet solidarity. The brief intrusion by Lysander had served as a stark reminder of the outside world’s perception of our unconventional bond, but it had also solidified the unwavering unity between the triplets and me. Ranon’s possessive hand never left mine, Alaric’s protective arm remained draped across my shoulders, and Theron’s occasional sardonic remarks were now laced with an extra layer of territoriality. Later, as the common room emptied and the Academy settled into its nightly quiet, we retreated to the triplets’ suite. The familiar comfort of their shared living space, the scent of their combined pheromones a soothing balm to my senses, eased the lingering tension of the day. Ranon had built a roaring fire in the hearth, the flickering flames casting dancing shadows on the stone walls. Alaric was meticulously cleaning his blades, the rhythmic shick-shick of the whetstone a familiar sound. Theron was
Elowen’s POV The night with Ranon was a whirlwind of raw sensation and possessive tenderness. His touch was demanding, his kisses branding, each caress a silent claim. Yet, beneath the fierce exterior, there was a surprising gentleness, a deep-seated need to connect on a level that transcended mere physicality. We lost ourselves in each other, the cool stone of the gazebo a stark contrast to the burning heat of our bodies entwined under the watchful gaze of the moon. When dawn finally broke, painting the sky in soft hues of pink and gold, I awoke nestled in his arms, the lingering scent of our passion clinging to the air. He was still asleep, his dark hair tousled, his strong arms wrapped protectively around me. A sense of deep contentment settled within me, a quiet understanding of the intricate tapestry of my relationships with the triplets. Each connection was unique, each filled a different part of me, and last night had been a powerful reminder of the intense, undeniable bond
Elowen’s POV The rest of the day at the Academy passed in a blur of lectures and drills, each moment punctuated by the subtle awareness of the triplets’ watchful gazes. Ranon’s hand never strayed far, a possessive warmth against my skin. Alaric’s silver eyes followed me with a quiet intensity, a silent promise of unwavering support. Theron’s sharp observations and sardonic remarks were always directed my way, a constant, teasing reminder of our intertwined lives. The undercurrent of the morning’s events lingered, a subtle shift in the way the other students interacted with me. There was a newfound respect, tinged with a healthy dose of fear, in their eyes. Caelum’s defeat at my hands had clearly sent a ripple through the Academy’s hierarchy. As dusk began to paint the sky in hues of fiery orange and soft violet, we found ourselves in the training gardens, a secluded sanctuary tucked away behind the main buildings. The air was fragrant with the scent of night-blooming jasmine and da
Elowen’s POV The air in the Academy’s combat hall, a vast chamber usually echoing with the clang of steel and the grunts of exertion, crackled with a palpable, almost electric tension even before Professor Lyra’s crisp voice sliced through the anticipatory silence. I sat wedged between Alaric and Theron on the long, polished wooden bench that lined the edge of the expansive sparring floor. Ranon, ever the sentinel, hadn’t allowed me more than a few feet of breathing room since the charged intimacy of the rooftop. His calloused fingers, possessive and reassuring, grazed the back of my hand every few heartbeats, a silent, tactile reminder to both himself and anyone watching that I was still within his orbit—still his. But the moment Caelum stepped onto the gleaming sparring floor, a ripple of altered energy spread through the room, a subtle shift in the students’ collective focus. He moved with a predatory grace, his tall, muscular frame encased in black training leathers that seemed
Elowen's POV Second Round – Alaric. Alaric was already waiting in the center of the mat, rolling his broad shoulders, his dark hair pulled back in a tight knot, his jaw set with a focused determination. His silver eyes were locked on mine – not intense with possessiveness like Ranon’s, not teasingly sharp like Theron’s. Just… intensely focused, a silent promise of a challenging but fair fight. “You okay, sunshine?” he asked softly, his voice a low rumble that only I could hear, even as we began to circle each other, the tension between us a palpable thing. “I’m always okay, Alaric.” The automatic response felt hollow, even to my own ears. “You don’t have to be, you know.” His gaze softened for a fleeting moment, a hint of the gentle soul beneath the stoic exterior. Before I could formulate a response, he struck, his movements fast and powerful, each blow precise and calculated. Alaric fought like a controlled storm – a whirlwind of disciplined chaos. And he always, always pushe
Elowen’s POVThe morning sun, a brazen intruder, spilled through the expansive glass windows of the Academy’s combat arena, painting the polished stone floors in streaks of gold and illuminating the raw tension that already thrummed beneath the surface of the bustling room. The air crackled with a palpable anticipation, a familiar energy that always accompanied combat drills, especially those involving the top-tier Alphas – the triplets.But this morning felt different. The usual undercurrent of excitement was thick with a new layer of scrutiny, a palpable curiosity that had intensified ever since the stolen kisses – Ranon’s desperate claim on the rooftop, Alaric’s gentle solace in the rain-soaked gardens, Theron’s fiery promise in the quiet of his room. Every stolen glance, every shared secret, had seemingly been magnified under the Academy’s ever-watchful eyes.Whispers, sharp and insidious, clung to the edges of the walls like grasping shadows, their hushed tones carrying the weigh
Elowen’s POVThe morning light, sharp and unforgiving, sliced through the tall arched windows of the Academy halls, illuminating the usual early-hour bustle of students shuffling to classes, their hushed whispers and the rhythmic thud of training boots echoing off the ancient stone walls. But this morning, the familiar weight of the Academy’s ever-present scrutiny felt different, amplified by the lingering sensations of the night before.I walked into the classroom, the ghost of Ranon’s calloused hands still imprinted on my skin, the phantom warmth of his possessive grip a constant reminder. The echo of his desperate, hungry kiss still lingered on my lips, a secret fire that threatened to betray the tremor in my hands. It was a different kind of awareness that accompanied me now, a knowledge shared in the darkness, a boundary crossed under the silent watch of the stars.He sat near the back of the spacious classroom, his chair tilted back at that characteristic, precarious angle that
Elowen’s POV “Ranon,” I breathed, my voice a ragged whisper, a plea that echoed the desperate yearning in the depths of my soul. The question in his burning golden eyes needed no verbal answer; the overwhelming need within me was a language all its own. In a single, fluid movement that spoke of his inherent strength and a sudden, fierce urgency, he swept me off the cold stone wall, his powerful arms cradling my weight as if I were no more than a feather. My legs wrapped instinctively around his waist, a silent, primal claiming, a desperate embrace that mirrored the magnetic pull between us. He carried me with a focused intensity to the center of the rooftop, where a small, timeworn stone bench sat nestled against the crumbling outer wall, a silent witness to countless nights under the watchful gaze of the stars. He lowered me carefully onto the smooth, flat surface, the ancient stone instantly cold against my heated skin, a stark contrast to the inferno raging within me. He stepped