"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 burst into flames just as the real Shadow Lord's voice filled the room.


The fire consumed me fully, turning my feathers to ash and my bones to dust. But I didn't fight it. I welcomed the burning.


This was my third return in five hundred years. Each time hurt more than the last.


But watching my friends die hurt even more.


Oberyn was barely breathing on the floor. Seraphina's vampire strength was failing. Morgana was caught by her own spell. And Aria was floating in the air, silver light pouring from her eyes.


The rebirth fire spread across the room like a wildfire. Everyone stopped fighting and watched as I burned down to nothing.


"A Phoenix," the real Shadow Lord's voice said with interest. "How lovely. I haven't seen one of your kind in ages."


I couldn't answer. I was nothing but flames and ash now.


Chapter 177 - Chapter 177: The Phoenix's Rebirth