Iris POV
The door to my new room slammed shut behind me, and I finally let myself fall apart.
My legs gave out and I fell on the fancy bed, my whole body shaking. The mate bonds were still humming under my skin like live electrical lines, connecting me to three Alpha brothers who were probably as confused and scared as I was.
What had I done to earn this? One minute I was just a kitchen worker worried about being matched with a boring omega boy. The next minute I was mated to the three most powerful males in the pack and everyone was calling me the Silver Wolf.
I didn't even know what that meant.
A soft knock stopped my panic attack. "Miss Iris? May I come in?"
I recognized Elder Sage's voice and quickly wiped my tears. "Yes, ma'am."
The old woman entered holding a tea tray, her wise eyes kind but serious. "Drink this," she said, pouring me a cup of something that smelled like flowers and honey. "It will help calm your wolf."
I took a sip and instantly felt some of the electric energy settle down. "Thank you. Elder Sage, what's happening to me? What's the Silver Wolf everyone keeps talking about?"
She sat down beside me on the bed. "That's a long story, child. But first, we need to discuss the current danger."
"Danger?" My stomach clenched.
"Viktor Shadowmoon is coming for you," she said softly. "He's been hunting your bloodline for twenty years, and your awakening today sent out a signal he couldn't ignore."
Viktor Shadowmoon. The name made my wolf whimper with fear. Even I had heard the scary stories about the rogue Alpha who tried to take over other packs.
"But why would he want me?" I asked. "I'm nobody special."
Elder Sage's face grew sad. "Oh, my dear child. You're not nobody. You're the most special wolf born in the last century. And Viktor Shadowmoon..." she paused, like she was deciding how much to tell me. "He has a very personal interest in you."
Before I could ask what she meant, another knock came at the door. This time it was Beta Marcus, looking grim and worried.
"Elder Sage, Alpha Damon needs to see the girl urgently. We have a situation."
My heart started racing again. "What kind of situation?"
"The kind that involves fifty rogue wolves heading straight for our territory," Beta Marcus said grimly.
Elder Sage stood up quickly. "It's too soon. She's not ready."
"Ready for what?" I demanded, jumping to my feet. "Will someone please tell me what's going on?"
Beta Marcus looked at Elder Sage, who nodded hesitantly.
"Iris," she said slowly, "there are things about your birth that you were never told. Things we kept secret to protect you."
"What things?" My voice came out as a whisper.
"Your mother didn't die in childbirth like we told you," Beta Marcus said. "She was killed. By Viktor Shadowmoon."
The room spun around me. "What?"
"Your mother was his daughter," Elder Sage continued gently. "She fled his pack when she was pregnant with you, seeking shelter here. We've been hiding you from him ever since."
I couldn't move. Couldn't think. My mother was Viktor Shadowmoon's daughter? That made him my...
"He's my grandfather," I whispered in horror.
"Yes," Elder Sage verified. "And he's been looking for you since the day you were born. The Silver Wolf bloodline carries incredible power, and he thinks that controlling you will make him unstoppable."
My legs gave out again and I sat down hard on the bed. "So the kitchen fire this morning..."
"Was meant to force an early awakening ceremony," Beta Marcus said. "Someone wanted to flush you out before you were ready to defend yourself."
"But who would..." I stopped as a terrible thought occurred to me. "Celeste. She started the fire, didn't she?"
The look that passed between Elder Sage and Beta Marcus confirmed it.
"She was being manipulated," Beta Marcus said quickly. "Viktor's spies have been in the pack for weeks, probably months. They used her jealousy to create the perfect chance."
I felt sick. My whole life had been a lie. My mother hadn't died quietly. She'd been killed by her own father. And now that same monster was coming for me.
"What does he want exactly?" I asked.
"To mate you to one of his sons," Elder Sage said bluntly. "Viktor believes that combining his bloodline with yours will make the ultimate Alpha offspring. Children who could direct every werewolf pack in the world."
The thought made me want to throw up. "That's awful. He's my grandfather."
"Family means nothing to Viktor Shadowmoon," Beta Marcus said grimly. "He's killed his own children when they failed him. The only thing he cares about is power."
A new voice spoke from the doorway. "Which is why you're not going anywhere with him."
I turned to see Kieran standing there, his golden eyes blazing with purpose. Behind him were Asher and Zane, all three of them looking ready for war.
"The mate bonds make you our responsibility now," Asher said firmly. "We protect what's ours."
"And you're ours," Zane added quietly, but with absolute confidence.
Despite everything that was happening, their words made my heart tingle. These powerful, amazing guys wanted to protect me. Little omega me.
But then reality crashed back down.
"You can't fight Viktor Shadowmoon because of me," I argued. "He's too dangerous. Maybe if I just go with him..."
"No." All three brothers said it at the same time, their voices carrying Alpha order.
"You're not sacrificing yourself," Kieran said, moving closer. "We'll find another way."
Elder Sage cleared her throat. "There might be another choice. But it's very dangerous."
Everyone turned to look at her.
"The Silver Wolf powers aren't just about healing and strength," she stated. "At full awakening, a Silver Wolf can briefly break mate bonds. If Iris could sever her connections to you boys before Viktor comes..."
"Absolutely not," Asher growled.
"It would protect the pack," Elder Sage continued. "Viktor wants her specifically because she's married to powerful Alphas. If she were mateless..."
"She'd still be Silver Wolf," Zane pointed out. "He'd still want her bloodline."
"Yes, but without the mate bond strengthening her skills, she'd be much weaker. Less valuable to him."
I felt the three brothers' feelings through our bond - anger, fear, protective rage. They hated this plan.
But it made sense. If I could make myself less valuable to Viktor, maybe he'd leave the pack alone.
"How would I break the bonds?" I asked quietly.
Elder Sage paused. "There's a routine. But child, you need to understand - breaking mate ties that have already formed... it could kill you. At minimum, it will destroy part of your wolf permanently."
The room fell silent except for the sound of my heart pounding.
"I'll do it," I said finally.
"Iris, no," Kieran stepped forward, his face desperate.
But before anyone could argue, a fighter burst through the door.
"Alpha Damon needs everyone in the war room now," he panted. "Viktor Shadowmoon just sent a message. He's not coming to fight."
We all stared at him.
"Then what does he want?" Beta Marcus asked.
The warrior's face went white. "He wants to talk. He says he'll leave the pack alone forever if we hand over his granddaughter quietly. But there's a catch."
"What catch?" I whispered, though I was afraid to know.
"He's bringing someone with him to the talks. Someone he says you'll want to meet."
My blood turned to ice. "Who?"
The warrior looked straight at me, his expression full of pity.
"He says he's bringing your mother. The one we all thought was dead."