"Aria," he said softly. "Today is your birthday."
It wasn't a question, but I nodded nevertheless.
"The moon is full tonight," he added, his voice quiet. "You will attend the ceremony."
"Of course, Elder," I replied, puzzled. All eighteen-year-olds attended the ceremony. It was essential.
He leaned in, smelling gently. "You already feel it, don't you? "The change."
My heartbeat skipped. "What change?"
Elder Malin's eyes narrowed. "Interesting. "Very interesting." He reached inside his pocket and retrieved a little pouch. "Wear this tonight."
I accepted it hesitantly. Inside was a simple moonstone pendant with a leather cord.
"But this is for—"
"Wear it," he interjected. "Hide it under your clothes if you must, but wear it."
Moonstones were precious. They aided our connection to the Moon Goddess during ceremonies. However, they were only given to wolves from influential families (Alphas and Betas). Not Omegas like me.
"Why?" I questioned.
Elder Malin glanced at Mira before returning his attention to me. "Because someone is harboring secrets about you, child. And tonight, those secrets may be revealed."

~

I never mattered in our pack. Omegas like me serve, submit, and survive. We don't dream of love. We don't dream of power.

She was the future Luna. I was just the girl who watched from the shadows.

But everything changed on my 18th birthday.

I felt the bond. I met my mate.

One of the Alpha's sons.

But the Alpha has triplets, and I felt the mate bond with all three and it seems the three of them felt it too — three perfect warriors, three powerful Alphas, three secrets buried beneath the surface.

One of them is my destiny.

One of them is lying.

And one of them might be the death of me.

The Moon Goddess doesn't make mistakes... but this time, I think she might've given me too much to handle.

"No!" I screamed as Lucien's body hit the ground.


But my voice sounded wrong. Hollow. Like it was coming from far away.


The Moon Goddess stood before me, her silver light making everything else look gray. "The choice is made, child. One life for many."


"What choice?" I stepped toward Lucien, but my feet felt heavy. "I didn't choose anything!"


"You did," the goddess said sadly. "When you accepted the mate bond, you accepted its price. The curse can only be broken by sacrifice."


I knelt beside Lucien. His eyes were closed. His chest wasn't moving. "He's not dead. He can't be dead. I would feel it through our link."


"The bond is breaking," she said. "As are your memories of why it mattered."


That's when I felt it. Like someone was pulling thoughts out of my head. One by one.


I tried to remember Lucien's laugh. Gone.


I tried to remember our first kiss. Fading.


I tried to remember why I loved him. Slipping away.


"Stop it!" I grabbed my head. "Stop taking my memories!"


Chapter 183 - The Luna's Sacrifice