LOGIN“I only sort of got what I wanted after I took off. Kyle just had to be there. Do you know why my pack did that? It was a rite of passage, especially for my bloodline. A private moment with the Goddess herself. Probably why my shift was so hard and took so long to start, she was watching. After I shifted, you and Caspian arrived, it was as if only finding your mate mattered; the rest was just details you’d just work out as you went along if it didn’
Caspian shook his head. "None of us did. Dad might have suspected something, but he never shared it with us.""My grandmother kept it from me for six years." The betrayal still stung, sharp and fresh. "Six years of secrets. Six years of pretending we were just ordinary pack members.""She was trying to protect you," Caspian said, though there was no judgment in his voice. "From what we've learned about Silverclaw, she had good reason to be afraid."I hugged my knees tighter. "What have you learned?"Caspian hesitated, and I could feel his internal debate through our bond, whether to burden me with more darkness or shield me from it."Don't," I warned. "Don't try to protect me from the truth. I'm tired of being kept in the dark."He nodded, accepting my decision. "Silverclaw's pack isn't like others. They practice blood magic, rituals forbidden by the Council of Alphas for centuries. Xavier ha
I must have fallen asleep from sheer emotional exhaustion, because when I opened my eyes again, moonlight was streaming through the windows. My phone showed it was just after midnight. Three new texts waited, one from each brother, but I couldn't bring myself to read them.Instead, I opened my conversation with Marcus, confirming our coffee meetup tomorrow. Something about his straightforward friendship felt like a lifeline in the chaos my life had become.I got up and moved to the window, gazing out at the moon hanging full and bright above the pack lands. My wolf stirred restlessly beneath my skin, drawn to the night and the forest beyond. She wanted to run, to feel the earth beneath our paws, to howl our confusion to the stars."Not tonight," I whispered to her. "We need to rest."But rest wouldn't come. My mind kept replaying everything: Xavier Silverclaw's cold eyes, the Williams brothers' confessions, the Go
“I only sort of got what I wanted after I took off. Kyle just had to be there. Do you know why my pack did that? It was a rite of passage, especially for my bloodline. A private moment with the Goddess herself. Probably why my shift was so hard and took so long to start, she was watching. After I shifted, you and Caspian arrived, it was as if only finding your mate mattered; the rest was just details you’d just work out as you went along if it didn’t play out as you wanted, which it didn’t.” Asher looked genuinely pained at my words. Through our bond, I felt a complicated tangle of emotions, regret, shame, and something deeper that made my wolf whine with recognition."I know that now," he said quietly. "I've been learning about Lancaster pack traditions since the bond formed. I should have respected your heritage from the beginning."
His response came quickly: *We all could. Especially with Silverclaw circling. Want to meet tomorrow? Somewhere NOT at school?*I considered it. Getting away from the Williams house, away from the constant pull of the triple bond and the weight of everyone's expectations, sounded like exactly what I needed.*Yes,* I replied. *Coffee shop in town at 10?**Perfect. And don't worry - I'll make sure none of your three shadows follow us.*Despite everything, I found myself smiling at that. I set the phone down just as another knock came at my door. Through the bond, I immediately recognised Asher's presence; his energy was different from Kyle's, more intense and tightly controlled."Dinner," he called through the door. "Can I come in?"I sighed, too tired to fight the inevitable. "Fine."Asher entered carrying a tray loaded with food - far more than I could possibly eat. His eyes darted
"Among others," he admitted reluctantly. "But Dad shut it down quickly. Made it clear that the Goddess herself had blessed the bond, and questioning it was questioning her will.""Right, because that'll definitely make them love me more." I pressed my palms against my temples, feeling a headache building behind my eyes. "So now I'm not just the freak who talks to the Goddess, I'm the freak who stole their precious Alpha heirs.""You didn't steal anything," Kyle said firmly. "The bond chose us, all four of us. We don't get to pick and choose who fate decides we belong with.""But they don't see it that way, do they?" I already knew the answer from his expression. "They see it as me somehow manipulating the situation. Using magic or trickery or whatever else their jealous little minds can come up with."Kyle was quiet for a moment, and I could feel his internal struggle through the bond: he wanted to comfort me, yet
"I don't know how to fix this," he admitted. "I don't know if it can be fixed. But I want to try. If you'll let me."I turned to look at him then, really look at him. The boy who had tormented me was gone, replaced by a young man whose eyes held depths of regret I'd never seen before. The bond hummed between us, carrying his sincerity, his pain, his hope."I can't just flip a switch and forget six years of hurt," I said. "Even if the Goddess says we're meant to be together. Even if the bond makes me want to trust you.""I'm not asking you to forget," Kyle said. "I'm asking for the chance to prove that I'm not that scared fifteen-year-old boy anymore. That I can be someone worthy of the incredible woman you've become."The tears I'd been holding back finally spilled over. I wiped them away angrily, hating how vulnerable they made me feel. "Don't you dare call me incredible. Not when you spent years convincing me I was worthless.""You were never worthless." The words hung between us li







