The moon hung low, blood-red and heavy, casting eerie shadows across the ancient forest. Elara's breath came out in ragged puffs as she ran—her feet pounding against the cold earth, branches clawing at her sleeves. Somewhere behind her, the distant howls of the Alpha's pack echoed through the night, sending a shiver down her spine.
They were coming.
She dared not look back.
Elara's heart thundered harder—not just from fear but from the wild magic coursing through her veins, a power she never asked for but couldn't deny. The three marks burned against her skin, invisible to others but searing her soul with a promise she couldn't escape.
Marked by the forbidden three.
The Alpha. The Mage. The Vampire.
Their names were whispered in legends and nightmares alike. Each clan sworn enemies, bound by ancient blood feuds that had lasted centuries. And yet, somehow, their fates had twisted to bind her to all three.
Her fingertips trembled as she touched the mark on her wrist—the symbol of the Alpha. Jagged and dark, it pulsed like a heartbeat she could feel even in the silence. Next to it, the glowing rune of the Mage shimmered faintly, its fiery light alive beneath her skin. The third mark, the vampire's crest, was cold to the touch but burning with a dangerous hunger.
How was this possible? How could one girl be claimed by all three?
Elara forced herself to keep moving. The forest was thick here, ancient trees looming like silent sentinels watching her desperate flight. She couldn't afford to stop—not now.
A shadow shifted ahead.
She stumbled to a halt, eyes widening.
From the darkness stepped the Alpha—tall, with eyes that burned like molten gold. His presence was overwhelming, a force of nature itself. His raven-black hair whipped in the wind, and his muscular frame radiated raw power.
"Elara," he said, his voice low, a growl wrapped in silk. "You can't run from this."
She swallowed hard, heart pounding. "I'm not running from you."
His gaze flicked to the glowing rune on her wrist.
"The marks are dangerous," he warned. "Not just for you—but for all of us."
Before she could respond, another figure emerged from the shadows—the Mage. Draped in a cloak that seemed to ripple with fire and smoke, his eyes glowed with an unnatural light. He stepped close, the air around him crackling with energy.
"Elara," he said, voice like a whisper but filled with power. "You belong to us all."
The third figure was silent as he approached—tall, pale, and deadly. The Vampire prince's cold blue eyes locked onto her, hunger and something softer beneath it battling for dominance. His presence chilled the air, frost blooming on the ground where he walked.
"Elara," he said softly, "You can't deny what we are."
Three destinies collided in one girl.
She was the forbidden one.
The one marked by all three.
And the world would never be the same.
Suddenly, a violent crack shattered the night—an explosion of dark magic from the forest's edge. The ground trembled, and Elara was thrown to the earth, pain shooting through her body.
"Run!" the Alpha shouted, grabbing her hand, his grip fierce and desperate.
Behind them, shadows surged—dark creatures born of hatred and old curses, hunting them down.
Elara's eyes met the Mage's and the Vampire's. Each of them ready to fight, to protect, to claim her.
But the price of their love could be death.
She gasped, struggling to rise as the creatures closed in.
And then—
A blinding light erupted from her chest, bursting through the marks, scattering the darkness.
The creatures screamed—then vanished.
Silence fell.
But Elara knew—it was only the beginning.
The sudden burst of light still shimmered faintly in the cold night air, leaving Elara breathless and trembling. The shadows had vanished, but the danger felt far from over. Her chest burned where the light had erupted—a fierce warmth, like a fire smoldering beneath her skin.
The Alpha's grip on her hand was iron-strong. His golden eyes searched hers with an intensity that made her heart falter. "You have a power none of us expected," he murmured, voice rough with awe and fear. "That light—it's... unprecedented."
Elara swallowed hard, her fingers twitching in his hold. "I don't understand it," she whispered. "Why me? Why am I marked by all three?"
The Mage stepped forward, his eyes glowing softly like embers. "Because fate never plays fair," he said. "You are the keystone—without you, the fragile peace between our clans will shatter."
The Vampire prince's cold gaze softened for a moment, revealing a hint of vulnerability. "And because no matter how forbidden, the three of us cannot ignore what binds us to you."
Elara's heart pounded painfully at the words. She looked at the three men—the Alpha with his fierce, untamed power; the Mage whose calm intelligence masked hidden depths; and the Vampire whose icy presence stirred a strange, magnetic pull within her.
"You don't even know what this means," she said, voice cracking. "I'm supposed to bring peace between enemies who have hated each other for centuries. And what if I fail?"
The Alpha's hand tightened, lifting her chin so she met his gaze squarely. "We won't let you fail. Not while we still breathe."
His words sent a shiver through her—not just from the cold but from something deeper, something electric.
But before she could respond, a sudden movement in the shadows caught her attention. Her breath hitched.
A figure stepped out—a woman cloaked in midnight blue, her eyes sharp and filled with malice. "So, this is the girl everyone's been whispering about," the stranger said, voice dripping with venom. "The marked one. The prophecy's key."
The three men tensed instantly. The Alpha growled low in his throat. "Who are you?"
The woman smiled cruelly. "I'm the one who will stop her."
Elara's blood ran cold.
Before she could react, the woman lunged, a dagger gleaming in her hand.
---
The dagger sliced through the air with deadly intent, aimed straight at Elara's heart.
Instinct took over.
The Alpha reacted first—his hand shot out like lightning, catching the blade inches from Elara's chest. Sparks flew where metal met magic.
"Get back!" he roared, his voice a fierce warning.
The Mage stepped forward, chanting under his breath. Flames flickered from his fingertips, encircling the attacker in a ring of blazing fire.
The Vampire's eyes glowed fiercely as he moved with impossible speed, grabbing the woman's wrist and wrenching the dagger free with a force that made her cry out.
Elara stumbled back, heart pounding wildly, caught between awe and fear at their power—and the danger swirling around her.
"Who sent you?" the Alpha demanded, voice like thunder.
The woman spat a curse. "The Council. They know what you are, marked one. And they want you dead before your power grows."
Elara's mind reeled. The Council? Unknown enemies from the shadows—her fate was darker than she imagined.
"Why?" she whispered. "Why do they fear me so much?"
"Because if you live," the Mage said quietly, "everything changes."
A tense silence fell.
The Vampire's gaze softened as he looked at Elara. "But if you fall... it will mean the end of all we hold dear."
Elara's eyes filled with tears—fear, confusion, and something fierce rising inside her.
"I don't want this," she said, voice trembling. "I just want to be free."
The Alpha stepped closer, his voice gentle but firm. "None of us are free, Elara. But together, we might survive."
The night seemed to hold its breath.
Elara looked at the three men—the Alpha, the Mage, and the Vampire—and felt a strange hope blooming amid the chaos.
A destiny shared between enemies. A love forbidden.
And a power that could change everything.
Suddenly, the woman cursed again, this time vanishing into the shadows with a warning. "We will meet again. And next time, you won't be so lucky."
Elara's heart hammered in her chest as the danger closed in—and the night whispered a secret only she could unlock.
The forbidden three.
Marked forest
The forest fell silent once more, the shadows retreating into the night like frightened ghosts. Elara's breaths came fast and shallow, her heart still racing from the attack.
The Alpha stayed close, his presence a comforting shield against the unknown threats lurking just beyond the trees.
"Elara," he said softly, his golden eyes searching hers. "You're stronger than you realize."
She looked away, cheeks flushing as the warmth of his gaze settled deep inside her.
"I'm scared," she admitted quietly.
He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a low, intimate murmur. "It's okay to be scared. But you don't have to face this alone."
The space between them seemed to crackle with unspoken tension. Elara's pulse quickened as his hand brushed against hers, fingers grazing skin that still burned with the marks.
"Why me?" she whispered, voice trembling. "Why am I marked by all three of you?"
The Alpha's eyes darkened with something fierce and tender all at once. "Because you're meant to bring us together—break the chains of hatred. And because none of us can live without you."
Elara's breath caught in her throat.
Before she could respond, the Mage's voice cut through the moment like a blade.
"We don't have much time. The Council will send more hunters."
The Alpha stepped back reluctantly, his hand lingering where hers had been.
Elara's gaze followed him, her heart aching with a strange mix of longing and fear.
The Vampire emerged from the shadows, his pale face unreadable. "You'll need more than strength to survive," he said softly. "You'll need us."
Elara looked at him, then at the Mage and the Alpha, feeling the weight of their promises—and the dangerous road ahead.
Her fate was sealed.
Marked by the forbidden three.
And her story was just beginning.
The Alpha led the way, his steps sure and silent through the dense forest. Elara followed, her senses heightened — every rustle, every snap of a twig making her pulse quicken. Behind them, the Mage and the Vampire flanked her like shadows, their presence both comforting and electrifying.
After what felt like an eternity, the trees opened into a clearing bathed in pale moonlight. In the center stood an ancient stone archway, etched with glowing runes that pulsed softly with magic.
"This is our sanctuary," the Mage said, voice low. "A place hidden from the world and the Council's eyes."
Elara stepped forward, awestruck. The air hummed with power here, like the very ground beneath her was alive.
The Vampire's gaze lingered on her as he spoke. "Here, you'll be safe. But more importantly, here you'll begin to understand your marks—and what they truly mean."
The Alpha's eyes met hers again, fierce and unwavering. "We'll train you. Teach you how to control the power you barely know you have."
Elara swallowed hard. The weight of her fate pressed down on her, but in their eyes she saw something else—hope. And something dangerously close to something like love.
As the night deepened, the three heirs shared stories of their clans, their ancient grudges, and the fragile peace that hung by a thread. But Elara's thoughts kept drifting back to the marks—the mysterious bond she carried.
Suddenly, a sharp wind swept through the clearing, carrying a whisper that only she could hear.
"Find the truth," it breathed. "Or be consumed by the darkness."
Her heart skipped.
The road ahead was uncertain, but Elara knew one thing for sure—she would fight to control her destiny, no matter the cost.
And no matter which of the forbidden three claimed her heart.
The sanctuary was vast, an ancient place hidden deep within the heart of the forest. Its walls were carved from stone, worn by time but still sturdy and filled with a power that hummed beneath the surface. The air smelled of earth, magic, and something faintly sweet, like a hidden garden blooming in the night.
As Elara stepped into the central courtyard, the Alpha gestured for her to stand at the center. "This is where your training will begin," he said, his voice steady but laced with an edge of urgency. "You'll need every ounce of strength you can muster if you're going to survive what's coming."
Elara nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. She had no idea what kind of power she truly possessed—only that it was tied to the three men who were now her protectors, her enemies, and possibly... her fate.
The Mage stepped forward next, holding a staff carved with intricate runes. "First, you'll learn to control the power inside you," he said, his voice calm, like a river flowing steadily. "That light you unleashed earlier... it wasn't just magic. It was a manifestation of your inner force."
Elara's stomach fluttered with nerves. She remembered the way the light had surged through her, the warmth that had nearly consumed her entire being. But the more she thought about it, the more she realized that she had no idea what had caused it.
The Mage continued. "To harness it, you need to understand it. Magic, power, whatever you wish to call it—it is an extension of your will. When you focus, when you let go of fear, it will bend to you."
He gestured for her to hold her hand out. "Try to summon it."
Elara hesitated. She felt the power deep within her, thrumming just beneath her skin, but it felt wild, untamed. Her fingers trembled as she reached out, trying to focus, to gather the energy into her palm.
For a moment, nothing happened. And then—
A spark.
It flickered at the tips of her fingers, a pale blue light that seemed to dance and flicker like a flame. Elara gasped, her hand instinctively pulling back, but the light followed, swirling around her fingertips before vanishing into the air.
The Mage's eyes gleamed. "Good. You're starting to control it. But you need more than a spark to survive what's coming."
Elara's heart raced, both excited and terrified by the power that was now within her reach. "What happens if I can't control it?" she asked, her voice shaky.
The Mage's expression softened. "Then you'll lose yourself to it. And if that happens, there won't be anything left of you."
Her throat tightened. The stakes were higher than she had imagined.
---
The Alpha stepped forward, his powerful presence pulling her attention away from the Mage. His golden eyes bore into hers, intense and unwavering.
"Elara," he said, voice low, "you have more to you than just raw power. You have instincts. Your connection to the land, to the blood of our people, it's stronger than you realize."
He raised his hand, and in the blink of an eye, the air around them shifted. The wind stirred, the earth beneath them quaked slightly as the Alpha summoned the primal forces of his wolf nature. His eyes glowed golden as he leaned closer to her.
"Let's see if we can awaken that side of you," he said with a challenging smirk. "Don't hold back."
Elara's heart beat faster as he motioned for her to follow him into the open field. "I need you to feel the earth beneath your feet, the wind in your hair. Let the wolf inside you awaken."
She closed her eyes, trying to clear her mind of the fear, the doubts that clouded her thoughts. The earth beneath her felt solid, ancient—like it had been here long before her. She could almost feel the pulse of the land, the beating heart of the world. Slowly, she bent down, her hand touching the soil, and—
A surge.
The air around her thickened with power, and the ground beneath her shifted. Her senses flared as the connection deepened—she could smell the trees, the distant scent of rain, the sharp tang of the night air.
"Good," the Alpha said, his voice proud. "You're tapping into the primal force. Trust it."
Elara looked up, eyes wide with astonishment. She had never felt anything like this—this raw, untamed power that surged through her like a storm.
---
The Vampire stepped forward as the others stepped back. He had been quiet up until now, watching from the shadows with his usual detached air. But now, his gaze was fixed on her with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine.
"Let's test something else," he said, his voice like silk—dark, seductive, yet commanding. "Something... more dangerous."
The air grew colder as he raised a hand. Shadows began to stretch from the ground, curling around him like serpents.
"Vampire magic," he said with a faint smile. "Your marks... they're tied to all three of us. To my kind, the darkness is our ally. Let's see if you can embrace it."
Elara hesitated, her heart pounding in her chest. The Alpha's power was wild and untamed, the Mage's calculated and precise, but the Vampire's magic was different—shadowed, cold, and dangerous.
But there was something inside her that refused to shy away.
She stepped forward.
"Close your eyes," the Vampire instructed, his voice soft but firm. "Feel the shadows. Let them wrap around you. Control them."
Elara inhaled slowly and did as he said. The cold darkness surrounded her, slipping through her fingers like water. Her breath quickened as the shadows twisted and coiled, but she focused, reaching out with the power she had barely begun to understand.
Slowly, the shadows bent to her will, curling around her fingers, then rising like tendrils of smoke. She gasped in surprise as they obeyed her.
The Vampire's eyes darkened with approval. "You've barely scratched the surface. But you have potential."
As the night deepened, they trained her until she was exhausted, but something inside her had shifted. She wasn't just the girl who had been thrust into a world she didn't understand. She was the marked one—the key to everything. And as the three men watched over her, a sense of connection—dangerous, thrilling—began to grow.
And somewhere in the back of her mind, a whisper echoed.
This is only the beginning.