Theron’s POVI saw her in the hallway after class, her head bent low, her shoulders hunched as if she wanted to disappear. She was walking with that friend of hers, Lisa, the only person who didn’t seem to hate her. My chest tightened at the sight of her, and my wolf stirred immediately, clawing to the surface. There she is. Go to her. Fix this.I wasn’t sure what “fixing” it even meant, but I knew I couldn’t keep avoiding her. Not after everything I’d been feeling, not after the jealousy that had consumed me since the courtyard. “Elowen,” I called, my voice sharper than I intended. She froze, her hand tightening around the strap of her bag. Slowly, she turned, her eyes widening slightly when she saw me. Her fear hit me like a punch to the gut. Lisa stepped in front of her, glaring at me. “What do you want, Theron?” she demanded, her tone full of defiance. “Stay out of this,” I said coldly, my gaze fixed on Elowen. “I need to talk to her.” Lisa didn’t back down. “She doesn
Elowen’s POVThe next few days were a blur of avoidance. I stayed close to Lisa and kept my head down, doing everything I could to avoid running into Theron, Alaric, or Ranon. Every time I thought about the scene in the hallway—or the kiss with Alaric—my stomach twisted into knots. It wasn’t just the embarrassment or the whispers that still followed me in every corner of the school. It was the bond pulling me in three different directions, tearing me apart. My wolf whimpered constantly in the back of my mind, begging me to let her take over, to fix what she called the “damage” I was doing to our connection. But how could I fix anything when every encounter with the triplets left me feeling more broken than before? Lisa and I were walking to class one afternoon when it happened. “Hey, Omega,” a cold, familiar voice called from behind us. My stomach dropped. Lisa stiffened beside me, her hand tightening on my arm as we both turned. Theron stood at the end of the hallway, lea
Ranon’s POVThe common room of the packhouse was quiet, the air heavy with the scent of wood smoke and leather. Alisa leaned against the armrest of the couch, her long legs draped across my lap as she smirked at me. She always looked like she had the upper hand, her sharp features glinting with arrogance. "You're quiet tonight," she purred, twirling a strand of her golden hair around her finger. I leaned back, letting my head rest against the cushions, and gave her a lazy smirk. "Just thinking," I said, running my hand absentmindedly along her thigh. Her eyes narrowed slightly, her curiosity piqued. "Thinking about your precious little Omega?" she teased, her tone dripping with mockery. I chuckled, though there was no humor in it. "She's a part of the game, Alisa. Nothing more." Alisa tilted her head, studying me with sharp eyes. "Game, huh? You sure about that? Because the way you look at her sometimes..." I cut her off, my voice cold. "Don't get ahead of yourself. I told
Alaric’s POVI couldn’t take my eyes off her. She was sitting by the fountain, her back slightly hunched, her long hair falling like a curtain around her face. Elowen. The girl who was supposed to be my mate. But she didn’t look at me. Not once. It was like I didn’t even exist to her. I stood in the doorway of the packhouse, watching her from a distance. She was scribbling in a notebook, her shoulders tense, her gaze fixed on the pages. And the moment I took a step toward her, she tensed even more. It wasn’t the first time this had happened. Every time I tried to approach her, she seemed to shrink into herself, as if trying to escape me. The pull between us should have been undeniable—powerful, magnetic—but every time I tried to bridge the distance, she pushed me away with invisible walls. My wolf growled restlessly in my chest. Go to her. She’s yours. I resisted, fighting the urge to rush toward her, to grab her and demand that she acknowledge me. But I could see the way she
Alaric’s POVI pulled away just enough to look into her eyes. Her expression was still clouded with doubt, but there was something different in her gaze now. Something I hadn’t seen before. A flicker of hope, of belief, maybe even trust. It wasn’t much, but it was enough."Elowen," I murmured softly, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. "I know this bond is terrifying for you. I know it feels like it’s all happening too fast, but we don’t have to rush anything. I just want you to know that I’ll be here. Whenever you need me."Her lips parted, and for a moment, I thought she might say something, but she only nodded slowly, a faint tear lingering on her cheek. I wiped it away with my thumb, my heart aching as I saw how fragile she still was, how much pain she carried behind her brave facade.“I’m not asking for you to love me right now,” I said, my voice steady but soft. “I’m asking for a chance. A chance to show you that you don’t have to be scared of us—of me. I won’t force y
Alaric’s POV I could feel Elowen’s hand trembling in mine, but as I gently threaded my fingers through hers, I didn’t want to let go. It was a silent promise, a vow to show her that she wasn’t alone, no matter what anyone else said. We were walking away from the chaos, away from the whispers, away from the hurtful words that had been thrown at her. I could sense her reluctance, the fear that still lingered in her, but I wasn’t going to push her. I just wanted to be there for her, even if she wasn’t ready to lean on me completely yet. I kept my grip light, giving her the freedom to pull away if she wanted, but I didn’t think she would. She didn’t pull away. We walked in silence for a while, the only sound our footsteps against the pavement. I could feel her nerves, her heart beating a little too fast, and I hated that she was scared. But I knew that over time, I would make her understand that she didn’t have to be scared of me. When we reached my house, I stopped in front of the
Elowen’s POVDinner was quiet, almost peaceful. The meal Alaric had made was simple—roasted chicken, some vegetables, and bread—but it was delicious. I tried to focus on eating, though my mind was still racing. His kindness was overwhelming, and I didn’t know how to process it. After everything that had happened, the chaos, the bullying, and the constant reminders that I wasn’t supposed to be here, I had never imagined this... a night like this.We ate mostly in silence, with only the occasional soft murmur from Alaric, asking if I wanted more of something or if I was comfortable. It wasn’t forced, though. He didn’t push me to talk. He just let me be.When dinner was over, we cleaned up together, and then Alaric led me to the living room. It was cozy, the fire still crackling softly in the fireplace, and the storm outside raged on, the sound of rain pounding against the windows. I felt a strange sense of calm, but at the same time, the storm inside me didn’t quiet.I wanted to ask him
Elowen's Pov The soft glow of dawn filtered through the curtains, stirring me from sleep. I blinked slowly, the world around me coming into focus. And there he was—Alaric—lying beside me, still lost in his dreams. I stayed still, not wanting to wake him, but my eyes couldn’t help but trace his features. Even asleep, he was breathtaking. His dark lashes cast faint shadows on his cheeks, his jawline sharp yet softened by the stubble from a night unshaven. His lips, parted slightly, held an effortless allure. How could anyone look this good without even trying? A memory from last night stirred in me, warmth flooding my chest. He had been there for me, his steady voice and strong embrace chasing away every shadow of doubt. The way he’d wrapped his arms around me, the way he’d held me like I was the most precious thing in the world—it still lingered, wrapping around me like a second blanket. I reached out, hesitating for a moment before brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead.
Elowen’s POVThe midnight air was a cool balm against my fevered skin, heavy with the earthy scent of rain-soaked soil and the sharp, clean fragrance of pine. A gentle breeze whispered through the trees surrounding the training grounds, carrying with it the distant hoot of an owl and the rustling of unseen creatures in the undergrowth. But the peace of the night was a stark contrast to the turmoil that raged within me.I sat hunched against the rough stone of the training pavilion’s outer wall, my injured leg stretched out before me. Each shallow breath sent a fresh wave of throbbing pain radiating from the deep gash that marred my inner thigh. The wound, a testament to my reckless desperation to push beyond my limits, was a dark, angry red against the pale moonlight. It pulsed with a dull ache that mirrored the ache in my heart.I shouldn’t have come out here. The rational part of my mind, the part that still clung to a semblance of self-preservation, screamed at me. It was foolish,
Elowen’s POVDays bled into nights, each one a relentless cycle of training, exhaustion, and the gnawing fear that clung to me like a second skin. Sleep offered little respite, my dreams filled with swirling shadows and the echoing whispers of a past I didn’t remember, yet felt deep within my bones.The Academy, once a sanctuary, now felt like a cage. Every glance, every hushed conversation, seemed to center around me, a constant reminder of the change that had irrevocably altered my place within its walls. The awe in some eyes felt like a judgment, the unease in others a premonition of the fear I myself harbored.Caelum remained a peripheral figure, a silent observer whose presence was a constant, unsettling hum beneath the surface of my awareness. He didn’t approach me, didn’t offer any further cryptic pronouncements. He simply watched, his gaze unnervingly knowing, as if he held the missing pieces of my fractured identity. And that silence was perhaps the most terrifying thing of a
Ranon’s POVShe was really slipping away. The realization was a slow, agonizing unraveling, like a precious tapestry being pulled thread by thread. It wasn’t a conscious decision on her part, not a deliberate act of distancing. Elowen’s heart, when given, was a fierce, unwavering thing. There were no lukewarm affections in her soul. This was something more profound, more elemental. Like a fragile skiff caught in the relentless pull of an unseen current, drawn towards a distant, powerful shore I couldn’t even glimpse. It was as if a stronger moon had begun to govern her tides, an astral influence I was powerless to counteract.Every time she walked past me in the Academy halls, her very presence thrumming with a nascent magic that shimmered just beneath her skin, a faint, ethereal glow that seemed to emanate from her very bones, I felt it. It was a subtle shift in her aura, a deepening of the shadows that lingered in the depths of her usually vibrant eyes, a quiet intensity that separa
Ranon’s POVFrom the shadowed vantage point of the balcony overlooking the training pit, I watched her move. She was a whirlwind of raw power, a dance of untamed energy that both captivated and terrified me. Each strike, each parry, was imbued with a ferocity I hadn’t seen before, a primal strength that seemed to emanate from the very core of her being.Elowen was changing, evolving into something magnificent and terrifying. The girl I had known, the one I had fiercely protected and possessively loved, was fading, replaced by a force of nature I barely recognized. She was shedding the constraints of her past, breaking free from the mold we had unknowingly cast for her.And with every passing day, with every flicker of that burgeoning power in her eyes, I felt her slipping further and further out of my reach. The invisible thread that had bound us together for so long was fraying, threatening to snap entirely.Alaric was a constant presence at her side now, a silent guardian and patien
Elowen’s POVThe silence in the Academy was a suffocating blanket, heavy with unspoken truths and the tremor of impending change. It wasn’t the peaceful hush of a sleeping forest, but the strained stillness before a lightning strike, the air thick with a tension that prickled my skin.Since Caelum’s pronouncements had shattered the carefully constructed reality I’d known, I felt like a fractured mirror, each shard reflecting a distorted version of myself. Something primal had awakened within me, a dormant power stirring from its ancient slumber. It pulsed beneath my veins, a low, insistent hum that vibrated through my bones, a wild and untamed thing that both terrified and intrigued me.The following morning was a blur of avoidance. I skirted the familiar paths where I might encounter Theron’s simmering fury, Alaric’s quiet concern, or even Ranon’s possessive gaze. Their worry would feel like a cage, their need to protect me a suffocating weight. I wasn’t ready to be handled, to be s
Elowen’s POVI didn’t sleep. Not really.After the bathroom, after Alaric’s kiss, I’d sat on the edge of my bed for hours, staring at the wall, his words echoing like a heartbeat in my head. You’re Elowen. Ours.A part of me had wanted to curl back into that warmth and never leave. To let Alaric hold me until the fear faded, until the world forgot.But I couldn’t hide.Not when I’d been seen.Not when my power—that part of me I never understood, never controlled—had surged out and made the whole Academy flinch.So when the sun rose and the corridors filled with the noise of footsteps and hushed whispers, I got up. Dressed. Pulled my hair back.And walked straight into the storm.The cafeteria went silent the second I entered.Utensils froze halfway to mouths. Students glanced at one another, nudging their friends, pretending they weren’t all watching me like I’d walked in wearing armor and a crown of fire.I didn’t stop.I headed toward the table near the windows where Ranon sat, his
Elowen’s POVThe next morning training courtyard buzzed with energy, but beneath it all, I felt a tension inside me like a bowstring pulled too tight.Theron’s words from last night still clung to me: I believe you.And yet, I woke up this morning feeling heavier. Like I was wearing a second skin made of doubt, stitched from every look, every whispered word behind my back, every way I had to hold myself together when I really just wanted to fall apart.I joined the others late.Alaric was already sparring with two older students in one of the inner rings, and Ranon stood by the weapons rack, hands gripping the hilt of a training sword too tightly. He hadn’t looked at me since Caelum’s arrival.Because he doesn’t trust me… or because he knows he’s starting to doubt himself?Caelum stood at the edge of the field, watching everything like it was a chessboard, his golden eyes a constant, quiet burn on the back of my neck.The Academy had given him instructor privileges. Of course they had
Elowen’s POVThe evening air was heavy with the scent of pine and smoke. The training grounds were mostly deserted, cloaked in twilight shadows. The Academy behind me buzzed faintly with life—distant voices, laughter, doors creaking open and closed—but out here, it was still.I didn’t mean to come here. Not really. But my feet had carried me toward the old sparring arena. The place where Ranon had first kissed me. Where so much had begun to shift.Where I was beginning to shift.I stood in the middle of the stone circle, the moonlight silvering my skin, when I heard the footsteps.Slow. Confident.I turned before he could speak.“Didn’t expect you to be the kind who lurks in shadows,” I said.Caelum stepped into the light, golden eyes gleaming with amusement. “And yet here we are.”He wore black again, always black. A dark shirt unbuttoned at the collar, sleeves rolled up to his forearms. A sword hilt peeked over his shoulder—ornate, ancient, wickedly curved.He looked like sin incarn
Elowen’s POVRanon didn’t let go of me for a long time.We stood beneath the moonlight, the soft hush of night surrounding us, his arms around my waist like he could shield me from whatever threat Caelum represented.But no embrace, no wall of muscle and fury, could quiet the fire building beneath my skin. Not this time.“I don’t trust him,” Ranon said, voice low and dangerous, his chin resting against the crown of my head. “Not with that power. Not with those eyes. And especially not with you.”“I don’t either,” I whispered. “But he knows something. Something about me. About my bloodline.”He pulled back just enough to look at me. “Elowen, don’t chase answers from someone who sees you as a weapon.”“He doesn’t see me as a weapon,” I murmured. “He sees me as a queen who doesn’t know she’s already wearing a crown.”Ranon’s jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing like the words had cut deeper than they should’ve. “You’re ours, Elowen. Not his. Don’t let him twist what we’ve built.”“I’m not le