I couldn't sleep all night. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw their faces staring at me—the way Kaelen looked shocked, how Lucien's chair fell over, the wild look in Darius's blue eyes.
My wolf kept pacing inside my mind like a caged animal. She wouldn't stop whimpering about our "mates." But that word felt too big, too impossible for someone like me.
The morning bell rang, and I jumped out of bed. Maybe if I stayed busy, I could forget about last night. Maybe I could pretend it never happened.
I was wrong.
The second I stepped outside, everyone stared at me. Conversations stopped. People pointed and whispered behind their hands. Some looked excited. Others looked frightened.
"Is it true?" a young girl asked her mother as I walked past.
"Hush," the woman replied, pulling her daughter away from me.
My cheeks burned with shame. I ducked my head and walked faster toward the training grounds. I had to deliver breakfast to the warriors, just like every morning. Maybe things would feel normal there.
But nothing was normal anymore.
As I approached the training area, I heard the sounds of combat—metal clashing against metal, grunts and shouts. The Alpha's sons were sparring with the other warriors.
I crept to the edge of the trees and peered out. Maybe if I was really quiet, I could watch them train without anyone noticing me.
Kaelen stood in the center of a circle, holding a sword. His opponent was twice his size, but Kaelen moved like flowing water—fast and graceful. Every movement he made was flawless.
"Again!" he shouted when he knocked the large warrior down. "If you can't block a simple strike, how will you protect our pack?"
The warrior got up, looking embarrassed, but he tried again. And again. Kaelen never grew tired of teaching, even when his students made mistakes.
My heart did a strange flutter. Kaelen was so strong, so confident—everything a true Alpha should be.
Then I heard laughter from across the field. Lucien was sitting with a group of younger fighters, drawing something in the dirt with a stick.
"If we attack from the north," he was saying, "they'll expect us to come through the main road. But what if we circle around and approach from behind instead?"
The warriors looked amazed. "That's brilliant!" one of them exclaimed.
Lucien grinned, and even from a distance, I could see how his smile made everyone around him light up. He was the kind of person who made others feel valued.
My stomach fluttered again. How could someone be so intelligent and kind at the same time?
A twig snapped behind me, and I spun around. Darius stood there, so silent I hadn't heard him approach.
"You're watching us," he said. His voice was soft, but it made my entire body tingle.
"I'm sorry!" I stammered, stepping backward. "I was just—I have to bring breakfast to the warriors, and I didn't want to interrupt—"
"It's okay," Darius said, moving closer. "You don't have to explain."
Up close, his eyes were even more intense—dark blue like the night sky. When he looked at me, I felt like he could see straight into my soul.
"Are you scared?" he asked quietly.
The question surprised me. "Of what?"
"Of us. Of what happened last night."
I wanted to lie and say no, but something about Darius made me want to tell the truth.
"Yes," I whispered. "I'm terrified."
He nodded like he understood. "We are too."
Before I could ask what he meant, a loud crash came from the training field. We both turned to look.
Kaelen and Lucien were facing each other with swords, but something was wrong. Their movements were too fast, too aggressive. This wasn't practice anymore.
"You think you're so perfect," Lucien growled, swinging his sword hard.
Kaelen blocked it, but barely. "And you think everything's a game!"
"Stop it!" I ran toward them without thinking. The basket of food tumbled from my hands as I raced across the field.
Both brothers turned to look at me, and their swords froze mid-swing.
"Don't fight because of me," I pleaded. "Please."
The other warriors had backed away, giving us space, but I could feel them all watching.
"This isn't about you," Kaelen said, but his voice lacked conviction.
"Yes, it is," Lucien replied, lowering his sword. "Everything changed last night. We all felt it."
Darius appeared beside me like a shadow. "The bond is affecting us already."
"What bond?" I asked desperately. "I don't understand any of this!"
Elder Mira's voice came from behind us. "The triple bond, child. Something that hasn't been seen for centuries."
We all turned. The old woman was walking slowly toward us, leaning heavily on her walking stick.
"Elder Mira," Kaelen said respectfully. "Can you explain what's happening to us?"
She stopped in front of me, her cloudy eyes studying my face intently.
"The Moon Goddess has chosen you, Elara. All three of these young men are your destined mates."
"But that's impossible," I said, my voice breaking.
"Many things seem impossible until they happen," Elder Mira replied. "The question is, what will you do about it?"
Before anyone could answer, a howl echoed across the mountains. Then another. And another.
Every wolf in the training area went still. Those weren't normal howls—they were warnings.
Alpha Orion's voice boomed across the field. "Rogues! Rogues are approaching our borders!"
Warriors scattered everywhere, grabbing weapons and shifting into their wolf forms. But Elder Mira gripped my arm with surprising strength.
"This is no coincidence," she whispered urgently. "They're coming for you, child. The prophecy is beginning, and there are those who would rather see you dead than see you fulfill your destiny."
My blood turned to ice. "What prophecy?"
But Elder Mira was already being led away by other pack members seeking safety.
Kaelen appeared beside me, his face grim. "We need to get you somewhere safe."
"No," Lucien said firmly. "We need to know what she's talking about. What prophecy?"
Darius looked toward the mountains where the howls were growing closer. "Whatever it is, we'll figure it out later. Right now, we have bigger problems."
Another howl split the air, much closer this time. My wolf whimpered in fear, and I realized something terrifying.
These rogues weren't attacking randomly. Somehow, I knew they were here because of me. Because of what happened last night. Because of this impossible bond that connected me to the three most powerful young wolves in our pack.
And if Elder Mira was right, this was only the beginning.