The silver light burst outward like a star being born.
Aria screamed as power ripped through her body, her vision going white-hot. Every nerve ending felt like it was on fire, every heartbeat echoing through her bones. The mate bond snapped into place with the force of lightning, linking her to three souls at once.
Kael. His name blazed across her mind, followed by waves of fierce defense and burning loyalty. She could feel his strength flowing into her, steady as mountain stone.
Kieran. Cool calculation mixed with hidden depths, brain sharp as a blade. His presence wrapped around her thoughts like armor, protecting her from the chaos.
Kade. Wild energy and wild joy crashed into her heart, making her want to laugh and run and howl at the moon all at once. Three ties. Three hearts. Three souls linked to hers forever. When the light faded, Aria found herself on her knees in the stone circle, gasping for breath. The triplets circled her, their faces pale with shock and wonder.
"Did you feel that?" Kael's voice came out rough, his green eyes wide with surprise. "Like being struck by lightning," Kieran whispered, putting a hand to his chest.
"But instead of pain, it felt like... coming home." Kade laughed, high and breathless.
"I can feel her feelings. She's frightened and amazed and confused all at once."
Aria struggled to her feet, legs shaking. The bond hummed between them like electricity, making her skin tingle wherever their gazes touched hers.
"This is real? All three of you?" "As real as breathing," Kael stepped closer, his hand reaching out but stopping just short of touching her face. "I've never felt anything like this."
"The Moon Goddess doesn't make mistakes," Kieran added, though his analytical mind was clearly trying to understand the impossible.
"But a triple bond... it's unheard of." "Maybe because we're triplets?" Kade suggested, bouncing on his toes with nervous energy.
"Shared everything else our whole lives. Why not a mate?" Elder Thalia stumbled to her feet, using her walking stick for support. The explosion of power had knocked her backward, but her eyes shone with pleasure.
"The forecast spoke of this moment. Three hearts to guard one soul. One soul to unite three fates."
"What prophecy?" Aria ordered, but before Elder Thalia could answer, a bone-chilling howl cut through the night. The Shadow Pack had arrived. Yellow eyes gleamed through the trees, circling the grove like hungry birds. Massive shapes moved in the darkness, their footsteps making the ground shake.
"How many?" Kael asked, his body shifting into fighting position. Kieran closed his eyes, extending his senses. "Twelve. Maybe fifteen.
They're staying in wolf form." "Cowards," Kade spat, his playful attitude vanishing. "Won't even face us as humans."
A voice boomed from the trees, deep and gravelly. "Give us the girl, and we'll make your deaths quick."
"Never," all three brothers growled in unison, moving to make a protective triangle around Aria. The voice laughed, cold and cruel.
"The awoken one belongs to us. Her power will fuel our conquest of every pack in the area." Aria felt anger building in her chest, but it wasn't entirely her own.
Through the bond, she could feel Kael's burning rage, Kieran's icy anger, and Kade's wild bloodlust. Their feelings mixed with hers, making her feel stronger and more dangerous than ever before.
"I don't belong to anyone," she called out, surprised by the steel in her own voice. "Brave words from a little omega." The Shadow Pack leader stepped into view, a massive gray wolf with scars covering his snout. "But power without control is useless. You'll burn yourself out before you can master it." "She's not alone," Kael growled, his body beginning to shift. Muscles bulged, and his fingernails expanded into claws.
"The bond protects her," Kieran added, his own transformation starting. His usually calm voice carried dangerous promise. "And we protect the bond," Kade ended, grinning wildly as fur sprouted along his arms. But before any of them could finish their shift, Elder Thalia stepped forward. "Wait." Her voice carried such power that even the Shadow Pack leader paused. "You want the girl's power?"
Elder Thalia asked, her tone seemingly mild. "Then you'll have to take it according to the old laws." "What old laws?" the leader growled. "Challenge by battle. Your strongest against ours. Winner takes all." Aria's blood ran cold.
"Elder Thalia, no. I won't let them fight for me like I'm some prize." "It's not about being a prize," Kael said softly, his hand finding hers. The moment their skin touched, warmth flooded through the bond. "It's about protecting what matters most."
"The old laws are sacred," Kieran explained, though his grip on her other hand was gentle. "Even they won't dare break them." "Besides," Kade added with a wild grin, "we've been training our whole lives for this moment. We just didn't know it yet." The Shadow Pack boss laughed again. "Very well. Our winner against yours. But when we win, the girl comes freely, or we kill everyone in your pack." "And when we win,"
Elder Thalia replied calmly, "you leave our territory and never return."
"Agreed." The leader's yellow eyes gleamed with hunger. "Choose your champion."
Aria looked between the three boys, panic rising in her throat. How could she choose? Through the bond, she felt their desire to fight, their desperate need to protect her. But she also felt their fearnot of death, but of failing her.
"I can't choose between you," she whispered. "You don't have to," Kael said strongly. "We fight together," Kieran added, his cunning mind already working. "As one," Kade finished with fierce joy.
The Shadow Pack leader's laughing died. "Three against one isn't fair combat." "Neither is fifteen against four,"
Elder Thalia pointed out dryly. "The old laws say the challenged party picks the terms.
Our terms are simple: your best fighter against our united trio." "That's not how bonds work," the leader objected. "It is for a triple bond," Elder Thalia responded. "They share one mate, they fight as one team.
The Moon Goddess herself blessed this match."
Aria felt something shift in the air around them. The moon seemed to pulse brighter, and she could swear she heard a faraway howl of approval echoing from the heavens.
The Shadow Pack leader's ears flattened against his head. Even he wouldn't dare argue with divine gift. "Fine," he snarled. "But when our champion tears them apart, remember that you chose this path." The leader threw back his head and howled, a sound like broken glass and grinding stone. The trees around the grove started to shake, and something massive crashed through the forest toward them.
Aria's newly awakened senses screamed danger. Whatever was coming felt ancient and hungry and wrong in ways that made her soul flinch.
"What is that?" she breathed. Elder Thalia's face went pale. "Something that should have stayed buried." The crashing grew louder, closer. Birds burst from the trees in panicked flight. Small animals fled in every direction.
"Whatever happens," Kael said, squeezing Aria's hand, "remember that we picked this. We chose you." "The bond makes us stronger," Kieran added, his analytical cool cracking slightly.
"Together, we can face anything." "Even the monsters under the bed,"
Kade whispered, but his normal playfulness was strained. The trees fell silent. Then the trees burst outward, and something out of nightmares stepped into the moonlight.