The wind howled through the ruins of the Orderโs stronghold, carrying with it the acrid scent of burned stone, ash, and old magic. The fortress that had once stood as an unshakable pillar of power and secrecy now lay in shattered remnants around them.Nicola tightened her grip on the relic in her hands - a cold, jagged stone inscribed with symbols she could barely comprehend. It was heavier than it looked, as if something unseen weighed it down.Something ancient.Something alive.Dean, Dylan, and Damien stood nearby, their faces reflecting the same grim realization. This wasnโt just another artifact. This was something far more dangerous.The triplets had seen their fair share of powerful objects, but this oneโฆ this one had a presence.Nicola exhaled slowly, her breath visible in the cold night air. "We need to know what this really is."Dean frowned. "I thought thatโs what we were here for."Nicola turned to where the survivor from the Order lay, barely breathing. "Not guesses. Not
The manโs body went limp in Dylanโs grip, his head slumping forward as unconsciousness claimed him.Nicola cursed under her breath. They had barely managed to pull him from the rubble, woke up, and now he was fading fast. His breathing was shallow, his skin pallid beneath the streaks of dirt and blood. If he had any useful information, they were running out of time to get it from him.โWe canโt leave him here,โ Dean said, already shifting to support more of the manโs weight.Dylan scowled but nodded. โYeah. But dragging a half-dead Order member into the pack grounds isnโt exactly a great look.โDamien gave a humorless chuckle. โSince when have we cared about what looks good?โNicola ignored them, her mind racing. If the Order really had a way to sever the tether, then this man might be their only chance at finding out how exactly do this.โWe take him to the infirmary,โ she said firmly. โIf he wakes up, he talks. If he doesnโtโฆโ She exhaled sharply. โWe figure something else out.โDea
The scent of antiseptic and herbs hung thick in the air as Nicola stepped into the pack infirmary the next morning. The soft morning light filtered through the windows, casting long shadows across the white walls. It was a stark contrast to the smoldering ruins they had left behind just hours ago.She had barely slept. None of them had a good rest.The triplets flanked her as she moved toward the bed where the surviving Order member lay. He had been unconscious most of the time since they pulled him from the rubble, his body weak from the collapse and blood loss.Now, though, his eyes were open.Sunken, wary, but aware.Nicolaโs stomach tightened. They needed answers. And they needed them now.The healer stood beside the bed, adjusting the manโs bandages. โHeโs stable,โ she informed them. โBut heโs weak. Donโt push him too hard.โNicola gave a stiff nod. โWe donโt have time to wait.โThe healer exhaled but didnโt argue, stepping back to let them speak.The manโs gaze flickered to Nico
Nicola sat on the balcony of their suite, staring up at the full moon, her mind heavy with the revelation of what lay ahead. The weight of the coming ritual pressed against her chest, but she refused to let it suffocate her.She barely flinched when the door behind her opened."Alright, enough brooding," Dean announced, stepping out onto the balcony.She turned her head slightly, raising an eyebrow. "Iโm not brooding."Damien snorted. "You have your โIโm-about-to-get-sacrificedโ face on."Dylan leaned against the railing beside her. "Time for a reset, Nic."Nicola huffed. "And how do you suggest I โresetโ when I have literal darkness inside me trying to claw its way out?"Dean grinned. "You run."She blinked. "Run?""Shift," Damien clarified. "Run with us. Let your wolf take over for a while."Dylan nudged her with his shoulder. "Clear your head. Feel free again."A part of her resisted - how could she just let go when so much was at stake? Butโฆ another part of her ached for it.To be
Nicolaโs breath was still coming in uneven gasps, her skin burning from their touch, but her body wasnโt nearly satisfied. Not yet. The air between them was thick, charged, and her pulse thrummed with anticipation as she lay beneath them, completely bare, completely theirs.Deanโs golden eyes locked onto hers, molten and possessive. He traced a single finger down her spine, his touch featherlight, yet it sent shivers cascading through her body.โYouโre trembling,โ he murmured, his voice a mixture of control and dark promise. โIs it from pleasureโฆ or from the thought of what weโre going to do to you next?โNicola swallowed hard, but she didnโt look away. โMaybe both.โA slow, wicked smile curved his lips. โGood answer.โDylan leaned in, his hands gripping her thighs as he dragged her back toward him with delicious ease. His strength, his control - it always left her breathless. He pressed a heated kiss just above her knee, his lips lingering as he murmured against her skin, โThen letโs
The golden morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the suite. Nicola stirred, the weight of exhaustion still heavy in her limbs. She wasnโt sure what time it was, but she knew she had barely gotten any sleep. Not because of the triplets - though last night had been nothing short of unforgettable - but because her mind refused to settle.Even as she lay tangled between their warm bodies, the reality of what lay ahead pressed into her like a vice.The blood magic ritual.The impossible odds stacked against her.The prophecy that whispered of a destiny she still didnโt fully understand.Nicola inhaled deeply, trying to ground herself. Deanโs arms tightened around her instinctively in his sleep, while Dylanโs breath was slow and steady against the crook of her neck. Damien, always the lightest sleeper, shifted slightly beside her, his fingers brushing against her hip before stilling.For a moment, she let herself stay there, surrounded by them, by their war
Nicola's POV Nicolaโs pulse was still hammering in her ears, her breath uneven as Eliasโ words settled over her like a suffocating weight.To the place where you were born.The implications clawed at the edges of her mind, demanding attention she wasnโt ready to give. She had never known her true birthplace.โYouโre wrong,โ she muttered, shaking her head. โI was raised in the Pack. I was made there, in the Order ground .โElias exhaled slowly, his ancient eyes watching her with quiet patience. โYou were forged there, child, but you were not born there.โA chill ran down her spine, despite the warmth of the night.Elias took a step closer, his presence a looming force even in stillness. โYou feel it, donโt you?โ His voice was softer now, less of a command and more of an invitation. โSomething is calling to you.โNicola clenched her jaw. He wasnโt wrong.Ever since the talk of the ritual had begun, she had felt it - that gnawing pull in her gut, a whisper in the depths of her mind that
Nicolaโs breath came fast and uneven as she staggered to her feet. The ground beneath her was rough, uneven stone, cold enough that it sent a sharp chill up her spine. The air here was different - dense, thick with something she couldnโt name. It pressed against her skin like an unseen force, tingling at the edges of her senses.Her pulse pounded as she turned on Elias, anger and confusion swirling together in a volatile mix.โYou took me,โ she hissed. โWithout warning. Without my consent.โElias met her fury with unwavering calm, his hands clasped behind his back. โBecause you wouldnโt have come willingly.โNicola clenched her fists. โDamn right I wouldnโt have.โShe took a step toward him, rage crackling in her veins like live electricity. โYou severed my bond with them.โ The words tasted bitter on her tongue, fear laced beneath the anger. โDo you have any idea what youโve just done?โElias tilted his head slightly, studying her like she was a puzzle he had already solved. โIt is no
When with a deep groan, the far wall shifted. Stone scraped against stone, and slowly, an ancient engraving peeled away, revealing a hidden passage cloaked in shadow.A hush fell over the room.Nicolaโs heartbeat thundered in her ears as she stepped forward, drawn by something deeper than curiosity - something primal, something written in her soul. The sanctuary was speaking. And it was time to listen.Lucas was at her side in an instant, his golden eyes locked onto the revealed passage. The triplets werenโt far behind, their wolves stirred by the shift in energy. Elias, ever composed, stood still for a long moment before exhaling quietly."Listen," her wolf whispered.A deep voice, not of this world, echoed through the chamber."The bonded protectors have been chosen. The path ahead is fraught with darkness, but you shall stand as one. The Moonโs power flows through you, but it is not enough. You must unlock the final truth of the sanctuary."Nicola swallowed hard, her fingers tighten
Nicola and Lucas came back inside and sat in one of the common rooms. The air in the sanctuary felt charged, expectant, as if the ancient walls were listening, waiting.Neither of them spoke for a long moment. Then, Lucas let out a slow breath."So... this is it, then," he murmured, his voice quiet but steady. "Weโre not breaking the bond."Nicola met his gaze, searching for any doubt in his storm-gray eyes. But she found none. Only quiet acceptance.โNo,โ she said, her voice stronger than she expected. โWeโre not.โThe words left her lips, and the moment they did, something shifted.A sudden, invisible force rippled through the room, like the very air was inhaling. The flames in the fireplace flared high, throwing long shadows across the stone walls. A deep hum vibrated beneath them, resonating through the sanctuary itself, as if the ancient structure had awakened.Lucas tensed beside her, his fingers curling into fists. โWhat the hell...โThen the power hit.A surge of something - v
The sanctuary was vast, stretching beyond what Nicola had initially thought. The deeper they explored, the more she realized this place held more than just history - it held purpose.The morning air was crisp as she wandered through the ancient corridors, sunlight streaming in through arched windows. Despite the newfound knowledge of their bonds, the weight of it still pressed against her chest.Lucas.Even though she had spent the last night discussing the truth with the triplets and him, she couldnโt shake the feeling that something about this arrangement was wrong.Not for her. For him.The triplets had each been chosen as her mates in a way that made sense. The connection between them was unshakable. But Lucasโฆ he hadnโt been given a choice.Fated mates were meant to be everything to each other. They were supposed to build a life together, to love without hesitation.And yet, Lucas had been given a fate that denied him that chance.Nicola ran a hand through her hair, frustration b
Nicola wandered through the vast halls of the sanctuary, searching for the triplets and Lucas. The flickering torchlight cast long shadows along the ancient stone walls, and the faint echoes of her footsteps were the only sounds accompanying her. She had expected to find them in one of the training halls or perhaps in the great hall, but each room she checked was empty. The night was growing late, and an odd sense of urgency pressed against her chest.Finally, a muffled laugh drifted through the corridor, drawing her toward a heavy wooden door reinforced with iron. Raising an eyebrow, she pushed it open and descended into the cool, dimly lit space of the wine cellar. The scent of oak barrels and aged liquor filled the air, and there, gathered around an old wooden table, were the triplets and Lucas.The sight nearly made her laugh. Damien leaned back in his chair, a dark bottle of wine in his grip, smirking at something Dylan had just said. Dylan, ever the troublemaker, was in the midd
Nicola POV The moon hung high in the sky, casting its silver glow over the sanctuary gardens. Nicola sat on a smooth stone bench, the ancient book resting on her lap. The scent of night-blooming flowers filled the air, blending with the crisp freshness of the restored sanctuary. Here, beneath the vast sky, she could breathe - yet her thoughts felt tangled.She traced her fingers over the runes on the bookโs cover, feeling the pulse of ancient magic beneath her touch. The pages were filled with knowledge lost to time, wisdom hidden from those who had been caged by fate. Somewhere in these words was the answer to the bond with Lucas, and she was determined to find it.She flipped through the delicate pages, her eyes skimming over old scripts detailing the history of mate bonds. Most were simple - sacred connections meant to strengthen wolves and their packs. But then she found something different, something that sent a shiver down her spine."There are bonds woven by the gods themselve
Lucas POV The air inside the sanctuary still carried the lingering scent of roasted meat and warm bread, but outside, the crisp night air held a different kind of energy - charged, restless. The stone corridors stretched in quiet elegance, their once-faded carvings now sharp and defined, almost humming with life.Lucas walked alongside the triplets, feeling the weight of their unspoken thoughts pressing against his back like a tangible force. The tension between them had not dissipated, despite the shared meal and the Moon Goddessโs blessing. If anything, it had thickened, an undercurrent of possessiveness laced with grudging acceptance.Dean was the first to break the silence. "You realize you still havenโt answered our question."Lucas kept his pace even. "Which one?"Dylan scoffed. "Donโt play dumb." He glanced at his brothers before turning his sharp gaze back to Lucas. "Why were you here? When Nicola and Elias arrived at the sanctuary, you were already waiting. Thatโs one hell o
Steam curled through the air as Nicola stepped out of the bath, wrapping herself in a thick, soft robe. The sanctuary provided everything they needed, and the water had been soothing, washing away the exhaustion and tension in her muscles.She had bathed quickly, knowing the triplets were waiting to talk. They had settled in their rooms, but the interconnected living space gave them an easy way to gather. As she stepped into the common area, she found them already lounging - Dean stretched out on one of the furs, Damien seated near the fire, and Dylan, as usual, restless, flipping a small dagger between his fingers.Nicola took a seat across from them, exhaling. โAlright. Whatโs on your minds?โDamien was the first to speak. โYou, mostly.โ His golden eyes studied her carefully. โYouโve had a lot thrown at you, and yet you keep pushing forward. We just want to make sure youโre actually processing all of it.โShe gave a small, tired smile. โI donโt think Iโve had the luxury of processin
The warmth of the meal still lingered in Nicolaโs chest, but the weight of everything that had happened pressed down on her shoulders. The Moon Goddess had spoken to her. Blessed her. Given her a purpose greater than she had ever imagined.Now, standing in the vast, ancient halls of the restored sanctuary, she felt something she hadn't dared to in a long time. Safety.Dylan stretched his arms above his head, letting out a satisfied groan. "I donโt know about the rest of you, but Iโm about two bites away from passing out."Dean smirked. "Two? Youโve already eaten enough to put a normal man into a food coma."Dylan shrugged unapologetically. "What can I say? Near-death experiences and divine encounters work up an appetite."Lucas chuckled, shaking his head. โThat meal was good, but what I really need is a real bed.โDamien shot a glance down the corridor. "Then let's find one. This place seems... aware of us. It wouldnโt surprise me if it already had rooms waiting."Nicola nodded, finge
Nicolaโs fingers brushed over the bookโs leather cover, the runes on it glowing faintly beneath her touch. She exhaled slowly, trying to steady her racing heart.A presence gathered around her, unseen yet impossibly close. Her wolf pressed forward, drawn to the call of something greater. Nicolaโs breath hitched as a soft, silvery mist curled around her feet. It swirled, moving with a purpose, until it coalesced into a radiant figure before them.The Moon Goddess.She stood in a form both ethereal and solid, her gown woven from the very fabric of the cosmos, shimmering with shifting constellations. Her silver eyes, endless and knowing, settled on Nicola. A profound warmth washed over her, reverent and overwhelming all at once.Nicola sank to her knees instinctively, head bowed. The others followed, their expressions a mix of awe and quiet reverence.โRise, my child,โ the Moon Goddessโs voice resonated, neither loud nor soft, but carrying the weight of eternity.Nicola obeyed, swallowin