"Please," I whisper as his teeth graze my neck, my body betraying every promise I made to keep him at a distance. "We can't—" "Can't?" His laugh is dark, dangerous. "Your wolf is screaming for me, Fin. I can smell how much you want this." His hands pin my wrists above my head, his body pressing mine against the wall. "Tell me to stop. Tell me you don't dream about my hands on your skin, my mark on your throat." His lips brush my ear, voice rough with need. "Tell me, and I'll walk away. But we both know you're tired of denying what's between us." Finley Bennett never expected to be Alpha of Forest Trails pack. But when her brother refuses the role, she's determined to prove a female can lead - even if it means burying her broken heart. Because the one wolf who was supposed to be her perfect match chose another, leaving her with nothing but duty to cling to. When Mountain Ridge's powerful Alpha arrives to discuss border threats, his sudden marking of her as his mate offers a second chance at happiness. But fate isn't finished testing her yet. Another cruel rejection leaves her wondering if she's destined to lead alone. As mysterious attacks threaten pack lands and ancient magic stirs, Finley must navigate pack politics, unseen enemies, and the return of her first mate. But something darker lurks beneath the surface - a hidden enemy whose manipulation could cost her everything she's fought to protect. With her territory under siege and her heart torn between two wolves who rejected her, Finley must decide: can she trust fate's choice a third time? Or will opening her heart again destroy everything she's built?
View MoreFinley
I stare out the car window as we pass the "Welcome to Glass Lake" sign, my stomach doing that weird flippy thing it always does when I know I'll be seeing Liam soon. You'd think after eighteen years of friendship, I'd be over this schoolgirl crush. But apparently my wolf, Nova, hasn't gotten the memo.
Just friends, I remind myself for the thousandth time. That's all we'll ever be.
"Cheer up, birthday girl," my brother Rhett says, nudging my shoulder from the backseat. "You look like you're heading to a funeral instead of your own party."
I force a smile, though it probably looks more like a grimace. "I just don't see why we had to celebrate here. All my friends are back home."
"The Stones, Crosses, and Kanes have been coming to our place for your birthday every year since you were born," Mom chimes in from the front seat, her tone gentle but leaving no room for argument. "It's our turn to visit them, sweetheart. These summer gatherings are tradition."
She's right, of course. Our families have been gathering like this for as long as I can remember – the Stones with their Alpha bloodline, the Crosses whose daughter is the new Luna of Glass Lake, the Kanes who've been their trusted Gammas for generations, and us Bennetts. Pack rank never seemed to matter during these visits. We were just family.
"Besides," Dad adds, his eyes meeting mine in the rearview mirror, "Liam specifically asked if you could celebrate here this year."
My heart does that stupid little stutter it always does at the mention of his name. Liam Stone – youngest son of the former Alpha, notorious troublemaker, and the boy I've been half in love with since I was old enough to know what love was.
Nova stirs restlessly under my skin. “Calm down,” I tell her. “It's just Liam.”
But even as I think it, I know something feels different this time. Maybe it's because I'm finally eighteen, officially of age in pack terms. Maybe it's the way Nova keeps pacing in my mind, more agitated than usual. Or maybe it's the strange tension that's been building in my chest for the past few days, like the air before a storm.
"Did he say why?" I try to keep my voice casual, but Rhett's knowing smirk tells me I've failed miserably.
"Nope." He pops the 'p' with annoying emphasis. "But Ryleigh's been helping with the planning."
And just like that, my momentary flutter of hope crashes. Right. Ryleigh Kane. Former gamma's daughter, sweet as honey, and Liam's unofficial girlfriend for the past year. I've seen the way he looks at her – like she hung the moon and stars.
Nova whines, and I push down the familiar ache in my chest. I'm being ridiculous. Liam is my friend, one of my best friends. I should be happy he's found someone who makes him smile like that, who helps quiet the insecurities he tries so hard to hide behind his jokes.
"We're here," Dad announces as we pull up to the imposing Stone mansion.
The sight of it still takes my breath away, even after all these years. Three stories of gray stone and gleaming windows rise before us, perfectly framed by ancient oaks that have guarded the property for generations. White columns line the wraparound porch where we spent countless summer evenings as kids, telling ghost stories and planning adventures.
I catch glimpses of silver and white decorations through the windows, and my stomach twists. I've never been one for big celebrations, preferring small gatherings with close friends. But I know this party is as much about pack tradition as it is about my birthday. Eighteen is when we're considered adults in wolf terms, old enough to accept a mate bond if fate decides to present one.
Nova perks up at that thought, and I quickly shut it down. The last thing I need is to get my hopes up about mate bonds, especially with Liam so clearly spoken for.
I take a deep breath, straightening my shoulders as we get out of the car. The late afternoon sun catches the lake beyond the house, turning it into a sheet of molten gold. The air is thick with the scents of pine and wild roses, and underneath it all, the familiar markers of Glass Lake pack – earth and water and ancient magic.
And then another scent hits me, one I would know anywhere. Rainwater and cedar and something wild that always makes Nova want to run straight toward it.
"Finally!" Liam's voice booms across the driveway. "I thought you guys were going to miss all the fun."
I turn, and there he is, jogging down the front steps with that crooked grin that never fails to make my heart skip. His blonde hair catches the sunlight like spun gold, a gift from his mother's side, and those bright blue eyes dance with their usual mischief. But there's something else there too, something that makes Nova suddenly go very still.
He reaches for me, and the moment his arms wrap around me in our usual hug, everything changes.
The world tilts on its axis. My skin buzzes where we touch, and Nova surges forward with a force that nearly brings me to my knees. Liam goes rigid against me, his arms tightening almost painfully as a low growl rumbles through his chest.
Mate.
The word echoes through my mind, through my soul, with the force of a thunderclap. Every cell in my body sings with recognition, with rightness, with Mine.
And then Liam jerks away like I've burned him, his eyes wide and panicked. The sudden loss of contact feels like being doused in ice water.
"I... I need to..." He stumbles backward, his usual smooth confidence nowhere to be seen. "Ryleigh's waiting. For the... the decorations."
He turns and practically runs back into the house, leaving me standing there with my world simultaneously exploding into perfect clarity and shattering into pieces.
Because in that moment, I know two things with absolute certainty: Liam Stone is my fated mate.
And by the look in his eyes, he is going to reject me.
FinleyI wake to unfamiliar warmth, my body registering the comfort before my brain catches up to why. Dane's arm is draped around my waist, his steady breathing against the back of my neck sending little shivers down my spine despite the seriousness of today's looming ritual.The Night of Seven Stars. It's finally here.For a moment, I allow myself to linger in this bubble of peace—Dane's solid presence behind me, his scent wrapped around me like a security blanket, the mate bond humming contentedly between us. Nova stirs beneath my skin, pleased to have one of our mates so close after weeks of distance.One of our mates. The thought no longer jars me the way it once did. Through our strengthened triad bond, I can sense Liam too—not physically present but connected nonetheless, his consciousness just beginning to stir from sleep somewhere in the guest quarters. The awareness of both of them, the steady certainty of their presence, feels increasingly right despite everything tradition
Dane Finley's door is unlocked when I arrive, as if she's been expecting me despite our lack of specific arrangements. I find her standing by the window, still fully dressed, staring out at the night sky where the stars are gradually shifting into the alignment that will reach completion tomorrow."You're supposed to be resting," I say softly, closing the door behind me."I tried," she replies, not turning from the window. "Too many thoughts."Through our connection, I can feel the tumult of emotions beneath her outwardly calm demeanor—worry about tomorrow's ritual, confusion about our complicated relationship, lingering doubts about her leadership abilities in the face of unprecedented threats."You should have asked me to stay," I observe, moving to stand beside her. The stars outside seem unusually bright, as if already responding to the approaching alignment."I wasn't sure if you'd want to," she admits quietly. "After everything at dinner. Ms. Valen's interruption. The conversat
DaneSecurity protocols have tripled since we returned to Forest Trails. Ms. Valen's unexpected appearance at what was supposed to be a secure location has everyone on edge, especially since her "companions" are still being contained somewhere on Forest Trails territory. I can practically feel the tension humming through the pack bonds as we move through the compound, warriors positioned at every junction with silver verification equipment at the ready."I want hourly reports on the Silver Creek delegation," Finley instructs the security team as we enter the main hall. "And I want Ms. Valen under constant surveillance. If she so much as twitches wrong, I want to know about it."The warriors nod, already moving to implement her orders. Even in crisis mode—or perhaps especially then—Finley's natural command presence is something to behold. Summit stirs appreciatively beneath my skin, pride flowing through our bond at her strength."I'll coordinate with the perimeter teams," I offer, aut
Liam"You seriously booked an entire restaurant?" Kaden asks, watching me fidget with my shirt collar for the fifth time."Not the entire restaurant," I correct, giving up on the collar and running a hand through my hair. "Just the private dining room in back. Which, by the way, isn't easy to arrange on six hours' notice during a supernatural crisis.""Impressive dedication to your... what are we calling this exactly? Double date? Triad negotiation? Pre-apocalypse last supper?"I flip him off, earning a rare chuckle from my usually serious brother. "You're enjoying this way too much.""Can you blame me?" He leans against my doorframe. "My perpetually bond-phobic little brother is suddenly arranging romantic dinners with not only your Goddess-given mate but your sworn rival for her affections the night before a potentially world-ending cataclysm."Despite his teasing, Kaden offers unexpected support. "Whatever happens with this triad thing, whatever you three figure out between you—I'm
Finley "Where exactly did you study blood oath magic, Ms. Valen?" Dane asks conversationally, though I can feel the agitation beneath his casual tone. "Such specialized knowledge is rare these days.""Ancient traditions preserved through dedicated lineages," she replies vaguely. "My credentials were thoroughly verified by Silver Creek leadership before this assignment.""Leadership currently showing signs of compromised decision-making," Dane counters smoothly. "According to Aria Blackwood's own assessment of her father's condition since returning from northeastern territories with certain... artifacts."Ms. Valen's composure cracks slightly at this reference—not much, barely noticeable without our enhanced perception, but through the triad connection, her reaction registers like an alarm bell. Knowledge she shouldn't have, concern about information being shared between packs that should be operating independently, calculation about how to proceed."I believe we've established enough
Finley"It's okay, Fin," Liam's voice reaches me through the connection, unexpectedly gentle. "We're all messed up here. None of us knows what we're doing. But hiding it just makes everything harder.""The triad requires authenticity," Dane adds, his presence in the circuit steady despite my hesitation. "Not perfection. Just truth, whatever form it takes."Their combined reassurance loosens something tight in my chest. Nova pushes forward, sensing the opportunity to finally express what I've been fighting so hard to contain.Fine, I think with resigned determination. They want the truth? Here it is.I lower my emotional barriers, allowing everything I feel to flow freely into the circuit between us. The lingering hurt from Liam's rejection two years ago and Dane's deception about Aria. The confusion of having two mate bonds and the attraction I feel for both of them. The growing hope that somehow, impossibly, there might be a path forward that doesn't require losing either of them.The
Welcome to GoodNovel world of fiction. If you like this novel, or you are an idealist hoping to explore a perfect world, and also want to become an original novel author online to increase income, you can join our family to read or create various types of books, such as romance novel, epic reading, werewolf novel, fantasy novel, history novel and so on. If you are a reader, high quality novels can be selected here. If you are an author, you can obtain more inspiration from others to create more brilliant works, what's more, your works on our platform will catch more attention and win more admiration from readers.
Comments