"Alpha…?" Cedar asked unsurely.
Murmurs echoed among the people below the stage, but none of that mattered.
My eyes were entirely glued on the triplet Alphas―Rowan, Soren, and Cassian―and likewise, they looked at me with matching looks of horror and disbelief.
Alpha Cassian was the first to recover. He stormed forward, and without warning, yanked me off the platform and down the stage.
Gasps began to ring out, but he paid them no mind. Instead, he pulled me into a quiet corner out of sight before slamming me against the trunk of a tree.
"What the fuck did you do, you witch?!" he growled, his eyes turning molten gold. His voice seemed to reverberate, and I wasn't sure it was any use to find a deserted corner when he was loud enough for the entire pack to hear.
I hissed in pain, groaning as I winced. Even though I had braced for the impact, it didn't dull the pain any bit.
But now that I was so close to him, I could smell Alpha Cassian's scent as clear as day. I hadn't been hallucinating. There was a distinct, natural aroma of mint that wafted off his body, and I hated how it made my knees weak.
This may be the first and only time I was finding my mate, but I already knew without a doubt.
Alpha Cassian was my fated mate.
What sort of fucked up joke was the Moon Goddess trying to play with me?!
Before I had the chance to reply, his fingers wrapped around my throat and squeezed. I wheezed, air immediately locked out of my lungs as I struggled against his hold. He didn't snap my neck immediately, but it sure felt like it.
"Cassian!" In my peripheral vision, I could see Alphas Soren and Rowan rushing over. "Let go of her."
"Calm down," Alpha Rowan said, his voice a notch colder than usual.
"Calm down?" Alpha Cassian repeated. "Calm down?! How can I stay calm when this… this traitor is my fated mate?!"
"Our," Alpha Rowan corrected.
"Just let her go first," Alpha Soren added. "How is she supposed to speak with your hands choking her like that?"
I subtly nodded, wishing to express my agreement. Finally! An Alpha who had some semblance of a brain.
Alpha Cassian scowled, but he did as his brothers said. The moment he let go of my throat, I dropped to my knees, wheezing as I tried to collect myself. Air rushed into my lungs, and I gasped hungrily, desperate to refill them.
"Speak," Alpha Rowan ordered.
When I looked up, my eyes met with his frosty gaze. He might've persuaded his brother to spare my life―for now―but I knew it didn't mean he suddenly had a change of heart.
"I didn't perform any witchcraft," I insisted, my voice scratchy as I continued to massage my throat. "Tonight is my eighteenth birthday."
"That is impossible," Alpha Soren muttered under his breath. The gaze in his eyes seemed distant. "There's no way you can be our fated mate. Not after―"
"Alphas!" Cedar yelled, and Alphas Rowan, Soren, and Cassian turned back.
My brother had come after us, and with him were those who had gathered to watch my execution. Violet had tagged along as well, walking side by side with my brother. Her eyes were still red-rimmed and glassy, as though she had just cried.
"Alphas, is there something wrong?" Violet asked, coming forward. Her voice was frail, and as if to add a dramatic flair, she didn't forget to sniffle.
"There is nothing wrong," Alpha Cassian replied with gritted teeth. "We will proceed―"
"There have been some changes," Alpha Rowan said, cutting Alpha Cassian off. The latter turned to look at his brother in confusion. And when he heard the next sentence, Alpha Cassian's jaw dropped. "The execution has been rescheduled."
"What?!"
"Rescheduled?" Cedar all but yelled, his eyebrows flying to the top of his forehead. "To when? Tomorrow?"
"Until further notice," Alpha Soren said. His jaw was clenched as he cast me a quick glance. He wore a complicated expression, but his eyes didn't linger on me for longer than a split second. "Until then, Willow will stay in the main wing of the packhouse with us."
Murmurs immediately rippled through the crowd. Cedar and Violet, especially, wore such red faces that they would put a rose to shame.
They weren't the only ones. Even my eyes went wide with surprise. I had honestly expected the Alphas to kill me right here and now so that their dirty little secret―our fated mate bond―died with me.
I snuck a peek at Alpha Cassian. Even he was quiet, staring at the forest floor as though it now showcased a spectacular art display. He studied the grass without another word, though his tightly clenched jaw betrayed his emotions.
"I overheard that she is the Alphas' fated mate," someone in the crowd said.
My head snapped up in alarm. I couldn't see who it was who had said that, but clearly, they spoke loud enough for everyone to hear. Alphas Rowan, Soren, and Cassian wore matching looks of disdain.
"What?" another replied. "No way… To think the Alphas would be paired with an omega…"
"Why else would they spare her? I heard it's her birthday. Her wolf should have come forward. That's why they changed their minds."
"Who said that?" Cedar barked, turning back to look at the crowd.
No one dared look him in the eye. Obviously, the two who gossiped about the Alphas' fated mates were quiet as well, afraid of getting caught.
"It can't be true, right, Alphas?" Violet asked. She walked forward, her lips trembling. "Does that mean that Willow is now excused?"
"Of course not," Alpha Cassian immediately said, unable to stay quiet any longer. "She will still be punished." As if he was worried I wasn't listening, he even turned back to shoot me a glare. "In due time."
"We have something else to announce," Alpha Rowan suddenly said, coming forward. "We have decided on the future Luna of Shadowclaw."
A fresh wave of murmurs echoed through the night. Everyone looked at each other, their heads bobbing up and down in understanding. I could already tell―almost everyone collectively agreed that the Alphas had gone mad and were about to crown me as their Luna.
Many of them shot me dirty looks, while others shook their heads in disappointment. They seemed ready to protest the moment the three Alphas declared the future Luna's name.
"Violet Sorrel," Alpha Soren said, holding out a hand in Violet's direction. "Are you willing to become our Luna?"