"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.

The shadow barrier slammed into my chest and threw me twenty feet backwards.


I hit the ground hard, tasting blood in my mouth. Around me, the other pack members were fighting against the dark wall that had appeared out of nowhere. The Shadow Lord Commander's magic was stronger than anything I'd ever felt.


"Dad!" Kael yelled from the other side of the barrier. "Are you okay?"


I could see my boys through the black energy, but I couldn't reach them. The barrier removed me from everyone I cared about. Aria was stuck on the other side with the baby, facing both the Shadow Lord Commander and Lady Vex alone.


"I'm fine," I lied, wiping blood from my lip.


The truth was, I was dying. Had been for months. The pack doctor said I had maybe a week left, two if I was lucky. Some kind of strange disease that ate away at an Alpha's life force. I'd been hiding it from everyone, especially my kids.


Chapter 154 - Chapter 155: Darius's Sacrifice