Elowen’s POVThe academy gates loomed ahead, familiar yet foreign.It had been weeks since I’d last walked through them—weeks since blood stained my hands, pain etched itself into my bones, and the world I once knew unraveled at the seams. And now, as the morning sun streamed down, casting a golden glow on the stone path, I felt… off-balance.Not weak. No, I wasn’t that anymore.Just changed.Alaric’s hand hovered close to my back without touching, his gaze scanning the students like they were threats. Theron flanked my right, silent and unreadable, while Ranon walked a step ahead, his arms folded, jaw clenched as always.Their presence was suffocating… but not in the way it used to be.Now it was protective. Devoted. Desperate.Students turned to stare, whispers already rising like a wave."She’s back.""Is that her?""Did you hear what she did to Ezekiel?""That’s the witch with the triplet alphas..."Every whisper hit me like a blade. Not because I cared about what they thought—but
Elowen’s POVThe academy halls were hushed now, lit only by faint moonlight filtering through the tall windows. Everyone had been ordered to rest after the incident, but rest was a foreign concept to me tonight.I found myself drawn to the library—a place of stillness, of worn pages and silent thoughts. The fire was lit in the hearth, casting a warm, golden glow across the shelves.I sank into one of the old leather chairs, arms folded around myself. The moment I closed my eyes, the sound of the summoning echoed again—the screaming runes, the creature’s hiss, the way my magic had clawed its way out of me like it had a mind of its own.A hand gently touched my shoulder.I looked up.Theron.He didn’t say anything at first. Just looked at me, gaze heavy, stormy as always.“Couldn’t sleep?” he asked finally, his voice low.I shook my head. “Didn’t want to close my eyes and see that thing again.”He nodded and lowered himself into the chair beside me, resting his elbows on his knees, hand
Elowen’s POV The afternoon sun was beginning to dip behind the academy towers, casting long shadows over the courtyard. Most students had gone inside, their laughter and conversation fading down the stone corridors, but the four of us lingered.Theron sat beside me, his thigh pressed lightly against mine, his arm stretched behind me along the bench. Alaric was pacing nearby, distracted, while Ranon leaned against the tree, head tilted back, eyes closed—but I knew he wasn’t sleeping. He was listening. Always listening.There was something peaceful about this moment… but there was also a quiet tension brewing beneath the surface. I could feel it in the way Alaric’s jaw tightened with every few steps, in the way Theron’s fingers twitched, like he was ready for a fight.“You’re all on edge,” I finally said softly, glancing between them.Theron didn’t deny it. “It’s been too quiet. After what happened in class…”“They’re regrouping,” Alaric muttered, his voice low. “Whoever tried to trigg
Elowen’s POV The academy felt colder that night, even though the air was warm. A strange stillness had settled over the corridors—like something was watching. Waiting.After the incident in combat class, the triplets hadn’t left my side once. Not even for a minute. I appreciated it, even if I didn’t say it aloud.But tonight, I needed a breath. Alone.I slipped out while they were distracted in a strategy meeting with the head of security. My footsteps were quiet against the marble floors as I wandered toward the library tower. The scent of old parchment and dust always soothed me—it reminded me of quiet moments before everything turned chaotic.I was halfway up the spiral staircase when the hairs on the back of my neck stood.Something was wrong.Too quiet.I turned slowly.A figure dropped from the ceiling beams above, silent as a shadow, blade already drawn.“Elowen—!” a voice roared behind me—Theron’s.But he was too far.I raised my hand, magic sparking instinctively from my fin
Elowen's POVWarmth.I woke to it—not just from the soft morning light spilling through the windows or the thick blankets tucked around me, but from the steady presence beside me.Alaric.He was still here, sitting on the edge of the bed, one hand entwined with mine. He hadn’t let go all night.His thumb stroked the back of my hand absentmindedly, his eyes focused out the window. I studied the sharp line of his jaw, the small crease in his brow, the faint stubble that had grown overnight.He looked tired. But he also looked peaceful.I shifted slightly, and his gaze snapped to mine instantly.“El,” he said softly, his voice still hoarse with sleep, but there was a smile in his eyes.“Morning,” I whispered.He leaned forward, brushing his lips gently across my forehead. “How do you feel?”“Like I got trampled by a herd of wolves,” I said with a dry laugh. “But… better.”Alaric chuckled quietly, relief flashing across his face. “You scared me half to death, you know that?”“You and the
Elowen's POV Ranon didn’t move immediately after making his declaration.His arm was still gently looped around my waist, his chest rising and falling with quiet intensity, like he was holding back every raging emotion inside him. I could feel the heat of his skin, the subtle tremble in his fingers. He had just said all of that—to everyone—and still stood tall, unwavering.But as the whispers grew fainter and the students slowly began to disperse, the only sound I could hear was the thunder of my own heartbeat.“Come with me,” Ranon said softly, his lips brushing the edge of my ear.I nodded, barely able to find my voice.He led me away from the garden path, around the back of the Academy grounds, through the small gates that led to the older training fields. The moon cast a pale silver glow over the grass, and the quiet hum of crickets filled the night air.We stopped near the edge of the field, where the trees started. The shadows danced across his face, but even in the dim light,
Elowen’s POVThe whispers hadn’t stopped since the kiss.I could still feel Ranon’s lips against mine, still see the stunned expressions on the faces around us as he kissed me in the courtyard—bold, public, possessive. I wasn’t just the girl recovering from a brutal battle anymore.I was the girl claimed by the Alphas.And now, I was also the girl everyone whispered about.Whispers always grow louder when power is involved.I had just begun adjusting to this new rhythm of life at the Academy. Every hallway I walked down came with stares, tension—envy. The triplets barely left my side anymore. Ranon was the most obvious, his touches lingering longer than before, his eyes burning with unspoken promises. Alaric became sharper, his words edged with something protective and territorial. Theron… watched. Quietly. Intently. As though he knew something none of the others did.And then… he arrived.The great hall was unusually packed for a midday assembly. The hum of conversation buzzed with c
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
Elowen's POVThe next morning golden sunlight, fractured by the delicate weave of the gauzy curtains, painted shifting patterns across the dark wooden floors of our shared bedroom, finally settling in warm, inviting pools on the soft, rumpled sheets tangled around my limbs. For a few blissful, stolen seconds, cocooned in the lingering warmth of their bodies and the faint scent of their skin, I managed to forget everything—the rigid rules of the academy, the ever-present hum of latent magic, the unseen threats lurking in the shadows, the hushed whispers that followed me like a persistent echo. All that registered was the steady, comforting warmth of a muscular body pressed intimately against my back.Ranon’s strong arm was draped possessively over my waist, his calloused fingers splayed against the soft skin of my stomach, a silent claim that sent a pleasant shiver down my spine. Behind me, I could hear the soft, even rhythm of Alaric’s breathing, a reassuring presence in the quiet roo
Elowen's POV When his thumb brushed the thin, soaked fabric of my panties, a strangled whimper escaped my lips, a sound raw with need. The ache between my legs intensified, a sharp, insistent throbbing that demanded his touch, their touch. “Gods, you’re so wet, Elowen,” Ranon muttered against my skin, his breath hot and ragged against my inner thigh, the possessive observation sending another shiver of anticipation through me. Then his finger slipped beneath the delicate edge of the fabric, gliding with exquisite slowness over my slick, swollen heat, and I couldn’t help the involuntary moan that spilled from my lips, my head falling back against the cool, rough stone of the rooftop as a wave of pure, unadulterated pleasure shuddered through my core. Ranon groaned, the sound low and guttural, a primal rumble that vibrated against my skin, his fingers stroking against me with a teasing gentleness that left me trembling uncontrollably, every nerve ending screaming for more. “I want
Elowen’s POV The cool night air, sharp with the scent of distant rain and damp stone, pressed in around us, no longer a chill but a warm, endless cocoon, isolating us from the rest of the sleeping Academy. Above, the celestial canvas was a breathtaking spectacle, the stars spun in dizzying, intricate patterns, a thousand tiny, silent witnesses to the beautiful, chaotic storm raging within my heart. I felt like I was burning from the inside out, a slow, consuming fire ignited by their nearness, their unwavering gazes. Surrounded by them—Alaric’s steady, grounding strength, Theron’s consuming, passionate fire, Ranon’s wild, untamed hunger—I was drowning in the magnetic pull that bound us together, a force both terrifying and exhilarating. And I didn’t want to be saved. I yearned to succumb, to be completely consumed by the intensity of our connection. I wanted to drown in the depths of their devotion. “Look at me, little star,” Theron whispered, his voice a rough, urgent rasp that r
Elowen’s POVThe night pressed down on the Academy like a heavy velvet shroud, suffocating and restless. Even after the last echoes of footsteps faded down the long corridors and the heavy oak doors of the student rooms clicked shut, sealing everyone into their private spaces, sleep remained a distant, unattainable shore for me. I paced the confines of my room, the moonlight filtering through the tall, arched windows, casting pale silver rectangles across the dark, polished hardwood floors, my mind a relentless whirlwind of anxieties and unanswered questions, spinning endlessly around Caelum’s cryptic words and the Triplets’ simmering fury.They had been a silent, ominous presence throughout dinner in the grand hall. Dangerously, furiously silent. Their usual banter and playful jabs absent, replaced by a taut, almost palpable tension that crackled in the air around us like an impending storm gathering strength, the heavy clouds of their anger darkening their eyes. I knew, with a certa
Elowen's POVThe sun was a pale, watery smudge behind a thick blanket of heavy, bruised clouds as I stepped into the Academy’s main courtyard the next morning. The cool wind, carrying the faint scent of damp earth and distant rain, stirred the loose strands of my hair around my shoulders, a fleeting caress that did little to dispel the deeper chill that snaked its way down my spine.It wasn’t the bite of the autumn air that made my skin prickle with unease.It was the way they watched me.Alaric.Theron.Ranon.My mates.Their gazes, sharp and possessive, followed my every movement across the bustling courtyard with such focused, unwavering intensity that it felt like a tangible pressure against my skin, a silent, invisible touch that both reassured and unnerved me. Protective. Possessive. Fierce. Their united front was a comforting shield, yet sometimes, the sheer weight of their attention felt like a gilded cage.And now, adding another layer to the already charged atmosphere, Caelu
Theron’s POVThe silence in the grand hall was thick enough to cut with a knife. Every fork clinked a little too loudly, every hushed conversation seemed to die in its tracks. All eyes were on us. On Elowen.I kept my arm possessively around her shoulders, my fingers lightly tracing the curve of her neck beneath the collar of Alaric’s jacket she still wore. A silent warning to anyone who dared to look too long.Ranon’s presence behind us was a palpable weight, a silent promise of retribution to anyone who might consider challenging our claim. I could feel the heat radiating off him, the barely leashed possessiveness that mirrored my own.Alaric, ever the pragmatist, continued eating as if nothing unusual was happening, but his silver eyes flicked around the hall, assessing the reactions, cataloging the threats. His hand, resting casually on the table, was close enough to Elowen’s to reach her instantly.Elowen, bless her oblivious heart, seemed more concerned with the plate of fruit i
Theron’s POVThe rain, a persistent veil earlier, now clung to us like a second skin, the soft, cool mist of it still swirling in the night air, clinging to our eyelashes and dampening the strands of Elowen’s hair that escaped Alaric’s too-large jacket. Her hand, small and trusting, was tucked securely within the warm, calloused grip of mine, her steps slow and heavy with a delicious exhaustion as we guided her back toward the imposing stone walls of the academy.Alaric’s dark leather jacket, usually molded perfectly to his broad shoulders, now swallowed her petite frame, the collar pulled high around her neck, a silent, possessive claim. Ranon’s large hand hovered protectively near the small of her back, a constant, reassuring presence, ready to steady her if her tired limbs faltered.She was quiet, her body radiating a boneless weariness, the sweet aftermath of being so thoroughly, so completely adored by all three of us weighing her down like a comforting blanket. But her eyes – go
Theron’s POVLater that night the academy gardens, usually bustling with the hushed conversations of students seeking solace or clandestine meetings, were deserted. The towering hedges of sculpted yew stood like silent sentinels, their dark forms absorbing the ambient sounds, leaving only the soft, intimate rustle of leaves stirred by a gentle night breeze and the sporadic, rhythmic chirp of crickets hidden amongst the flowerbeds. Above us, the moon hung full and luminous, a perfect orb of silver suspended in the inky expanse, bathing the meticulously manicured lawns and stone pathways in an ethereal, otherworldly glow.Elowen stood just a few feet ahead of me on the winding stone path, her slender back to us, her silhouette delicate against the stark white of a marble bench. The faint, almost imperceptible breeze caught the loose ends of her golden-streaked hair, lifting them in wispy tendrils that danced gently around her bare shoulders, a halo of moonlight framing her.She didn’t k
Theron’s POVThe dawn arrived with a languid grace, its golden tendrils unfurling across the vast expanse of the Academy’s massive windows, slicing sharp, luminous beams across the polished stone floor of the common lounge. The light illuminated the tableau of our intertwined bodies, where Elowen still lay nestled between Ranon and Alaric, a vision of peaceful vulnerability.I remained where I had been throughout the restless night, my long legs stretched out before me, my back pressed against the cool, unyielding stone of the wall, my arms folded tightly across my chest. But my stillness was a deceptive facade. Beneath the outward calm, every nerve ending was acutely aware, every muscle coiled with a possessive tension. I wasn’t resting; I was watching her, my gaze an invisible tether connecting us.She stirred in the depths of her sleep, a soft, almost childlike movement, murmuring something incoherent, her cheek nuzzling against the solid warmth of Ranon’s chest. A low growl, prima