I awoke with a gasp and my heart beating. Something tingled beneath my skin, like small sparks moving through my body. I sat up hastily and checked my arms in the low morning light.
Nothing seemed altered, but everything seemed wrong. Perhaps not wrong, just different.
"Happy birthday to me," I said softly, placing my tingling fingers to my face.
I'm eighteen today. The age at which wolves become adults. The age when the Moon Goddess may reveal your mate during the ceremony.
I hadn't gotten much sleep after what occurred with Lucien the night before. His words echoed in my head: "No, you are not. My brothers can also sense it." What exactly did he mean? Was I more than just an omega? And why did he walk away immediately after saying that, vanishing into the shadows before I could ask?
My roommates had already gone. They never waited for me. I hurriedly splashed water on my face and braided my hair, attempting to ignore the strange buzzing sensation beneath my skin.
When I stepped outdoors, the pack grounds were in disarray following yesterday night's celebration. Empty cups, food leftovers, and decorations were scattered about. Guess who would be cleaning everything? The Omegas.
I went straight to the kitchen, hoping Cook wouldn't notice my disappearance from yesterday. The back door was propped open with a rock. Just as I reached for the handle, I heard voices from inside.
"...all three of them acting strange." It was Cook speaking.
"What do you mean?" someone else inquired.
"The Triplets. At the feast, they kept glancing around, as if looking for someone. Alpha Darius was upset because Kael had ignored Elira all night. "
My hand froze on the door. Were they searching for me after Lucien discovered me?
"Maybe they don't want arranged mates," another voice suggested. "They've seen other packs where wolves choose for themselves."
Cook snorted. "That's not how things work here. The Alpha lineage remains pure. "One of them will mate with Elira, mark my words."
I took a deep breath and pushed open the door. As soon as I went in, the conversations stopped. Three kitchen staff and the cook stared at me.
"You're late," Cook replied, frowning.
"Sorry," I muttered, grabbing an apron. "What should I do first?"
Cook pointed to a mound of filthy dishes. "Start there. "We need everything clean before tonight's ceremony."
I nodded and began to work. The Moon Goddess celebration was the most important night for each wolf who turned eighteen. We would stand in front of the sacred stone as the moon rose to its highest point. Most wolves felt their mating links activate—if they had any.
However, omegas rarely found partners. We were not regarded important enough.
The tingle under my skin intensified as I worked. My hands shook slightly as I wiped the pots and pans. What happened to me?
"Are you sick?" Cook inquired, noting my twitching fingers.
"No," I replied quickly. "Just tired."
She narrowed her eyes. "Okay, work faster. "The Alpha family requests a special lunch prior to the ceremony preparations."
My stomach sank. "What about the Alpha family?" "All of them?"
"Yes, all of them," Cook repeated. "Include the triplets. "Now hurry up!"
I scraped harder, my thoughts racing. Will Lucien say something if he sees me? Will he inform his father about what he said to me?
The kitchen door flung open, and Mira hurried in, her gaze immediately drawn to me.
"Aria!" she exclaimed, too loudly. "I need help carrying something!"
Cook frowned. "She's busy."
"It's just for a minute," Mira pleaded, clutching my arm. "Alpha's orders."
That was a falsehood, but Cook refused to question it. She waved us away with an irritated huff.
Mira pushed me into the pantry and shut the door. In the dim lighting, she held up a miniature cupcake with a tiny candle.
"Happy birthday," she said softly, smiling.
My eyes burned from the quick tears. "You remembered."
"Of course I did." She lit the candle using a match. "Make a wish."
I closed my eyes. What should I wish for? To grasp what Lucien meant. To no longer be an omega. To locate a companion who will take me away from this pack?
I blew out the candle.
"What happened after I left you yesterday?" Mira inquired, dividing the cupcake in half to share. "You look worried."
I hesitated before telling her about my weird experience with Lucien.
Her eyes expanded. "He claimed you aren't an omega? "What does that mean?"
"I don't know." I shrugged and ate my half of the cupcake. "Maybe he confused me with someone else."
Mira didn't seem convinced. "Alphas have keener senses than that. Particularly the triplets. They have been trained to observe everything."
The door unexpectedly opened, and we separated like guilty children. But it wasn't Cook; it was Elder Malin, the pack's oldest wolf and spiritual leader.
His ancient eyes fixated on me with such intensity that I had to take a step back.
"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."
Before I could inquire what he meant, he vanished, leaving me and Mira stunned.
"What just happened?" Mira whispered.
I gripped the moonstone and felt the cool surface on my hand. "I don't know."
We jumped when Cook's voice called out for us. I quickly slid the moonstone into my pocket and followed Mira back into the kitchen.
The Alpha family's meal was ready for service. Cook handed me a hefty tray of drinks.
"Don't drop these," she cautioned.
My hands tingled and shook slightly, but I nodded and carefully accepted the tray. Mira was given food to carry. We strolled together toward the Alpha's private dining room.
"Remember, don't look them in the eyes," Mira said quietly as we reached the door. "Just serve and leave."
I nodded, but my heart was beating so fast I couldn't hear her. The tingles under my skin became more intense with each step closer the Alpha's household.
When we arrived, they were already seated around the table. Alpha Darius is at the helm, appearing stern and powerful. The triplets sat on one side, with Elira and her father, Beta Marcus, on the other.
I kept my gaze downward as I approached with the beverages. My hands trembled more than previously. The moonstone in my pocket seemed warmer.
"Be careful," Mira said as I set down the first drink.
I proceeded around the table, placing drinks in front of each individual. When I got to Kael, the oldest triplet, my fingertips brushed across his as I set down his drink.
My body received an electric shock. I gasped and lurched backward, the remaining glasses on my tray rattling dangerously.
Kael's head snapped up, and his eyes locked with me. For a little while, I was unable to breathe. His countenance shifted from astonishment to confusion to something else that I couldn't identify.
"You," he said gently.
Suddenly, all three triplets looked at me. Jaxon leaned forward, inhaling the air in the same way Lucien had last night. Lucien's eyes widened with recognition.
"What's happening?" Alpha Darius demanded, glancing between his boys and me.
The moonstone in my pocket felt like it was on fire now. The tingling under my skin intensified into a surge of heat that swept through my entire body.
And then I heard three different voices in my thoughts at the same time: Found you.