"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.

My darkness wrapped around Aria's wrist like a chain. The moment I touched her, I could feel everything. Her faded memories. Her dying mate bonds. Her raw, exposed soul.


"She's perfect," I whispered. "A Luna with no memories to fight back. No love to make her strong. Just pure, empty power waiting to be filled."


"Let her go!" the healer triplet - Lucien - yelled.


"Why would I do that?" I pulled Aria closer. "She's exactly what I've been looking for. A body strong enough to hold my full power."


That was my real plan. Not to destroy them. Not to kill them. But to take over the most powerful Luna in generations and use her body to change the werewolf world in my image.


"You can't possess her," the Moon Goddess said. "She's under my protection."


"Is she?" I smiled. "Because it looks to me like your ritual broke all her ties. Including the one to you."


Chapter 184 - The Shadow Lord's Last Stand