"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.

"KAEL!" I screamed through the bond, but only quiet answered me.


The barrier around us flickered as my focus shattered. Through the network, I felt the other Moon Alphas fighting to hold the circle together as my power wavered.


"Aria, focus!" the Moon Goddess ordered. "If the barrier falls now, we all die!"


But I couldn't think. One of the twins was gone. The bond I'd shared with Kael since the curse broke felt like a gaping hole in my chest. Was he dead? Captured? I couldn't tell, and that not-knowing was driving me crazy.


I snapped back to reality just as a huge crack appeared in our magical shield. The Devourers were pushing against it, their eyeless faces hungry and patient.


"Hold it together," I told myself, pushing my power back into the circle. "You can't save anyone if you're dead."


Chapter 123 - Chapter 123: The Eldest Enemy