"Aria," he said softly. "Today is your birthday."
It wasn't a question, but I nodded nevertheless.
"The moon is full tonight," he added, his voice quiet. "You will attend the ceremony."
"Of course, Elder," I replied, puzzled. All eighteen-year-olds attended the ceremony. It was essential.
He leaned in, smelling gently. "You already feel it, don't you? "The change."
My heartbeat skipped. "What change?"
Elder Malin's eyes narrowed. "Interesting. "Very interesting." He reached inside his pocket and retrieved a little pouch. "Wear this tonight."
I accepted it hesitantly. Inside was a simple moonstone pendant with a leather cord.
"But this is for—"
"Wear it," he interjected. "Hide it under your clothes if you must, but wear it."
Moonstones were precious. They aided our connection to the Moon Goddess during ceremonies. However, they were only given to wolves from influential families (Alphas and Betas). Not Omegas like me.
"Why?" I questioned.
Elder Malin glanced at Mira before returning his attention to me. "Because someone is harboring secrets about you, child. And tonight, those secrets may be revealed."

~

I never mattered in our pack. Omegas like me serve, submit, and survive. We don't dream of love. We don't dream of power.

She was the future Luna. I was just the girl who watched from the shadows.

But everything changed on my 18th birthday.

I felt the bond. I met my mate.

One of the Alpha's sons.

But the Alpha has triplets, and I felt the mate bond with all three and it seems the three of them felt it too — three perfect warriors, three powerful Alphas, three secrets buried beneath the surface.

One of them is my destiny.

One of them is lying.

And one of them might be the death of me.

The Moon Goddess doesn't make mistakes... but this time, I think she might've given me too much to handle.

I avoided the knife that flew past my ear and stuck into the tree behind me. Without pausing, I tackled the hooded attacker to the ground, pinning them with power I still wasn't used to having.


"Who sent you?" I growled, pulling back their hood.


My heart stopped. The face that stared back at me was one I recognized – a Beta from the neighboring Silver Ridge Pack.


"Your time is running out, Luna," he spat. "No female should lead three Alphas. It's against nature."


Kael emerged from the trees, his eyes glowing with fury. "Is he alone?"


I nodded, keeping the Beta pinned. "I think so, but he's just a messenger."


Two weeks had passed since I'd made my choice at the ninth door. Two weeks since I'd decided to stay in this world with my mates. Two weeks of building something totally new – a pack with three equal Alphas and one Luna to unite them.


And apparently, two weeks was all it took for other packs to decide we needed to be killed.


Chapter 71 - Chapter 71: The Enemy's Face