MistNovel - Read Web Novel Stories & Fiction Online

The Sacred Grove glowed under the rising moon, its light filtering through the branches of ancient trees that formed a natural cathedral. Silver moss seemed to pulse with a life of its own, clinging to heavy boughs. Brielle stood at the edge of the gathering, a solitary figure watching other eighteen-year-olds arrive with their excited families. Parents embraced their children while siblings shouted encouragement and pack members called out blessings. She stood alone in the simple white ceremonial dress the pack provided to all participants. The plain cotton fabric was a stark contrast to the elaborate gowns other girls wore, which were embroidered with family crests and decorated with jewels.

The triplets arrived like visiting royalty, wearing ceremonial attire of deep blue silk with silver thread tracing patterns of wolves and moons across their shoulders. Alpha Matthias Haverford walked beside them, his presence commanding instant respect. The crowd parted automatically, and heads bowed as the Alpha’s family passed. Brielle forced herself to look away. Tomorrow, she would complete her transformation and become a full wolf. Tomorrow, she would start planning her escape from the pack that held her captive.

Elder Mara, her white hair flowing loose down her back, stepped into the center of the grove. She raised her arms, and a blanket of silence fell over the assembly. “Tonight, the full moon completes what the Moon Goddess began at your births,” she announced, her voice carrying with surprising strength. “You will drink from the sacred chalice and stand beneath her light. Your wolves will emerge, and the bonds that tie soul to soul may reveal themselves.”

Brielle’s heart pounded. Mate bonds were precious, rare things that connected wolves who were perfect complements, strengthening both the pair and the pack. Most wolves never found their fated mates, settling instead for chosen partnerships. She had given up dreaming about such things years ago, knowing that dreams were luxuries she could not afford.

The triplets went first, naturally. Devereaux drank from the chalice with perfect composure before stepping into the moonlight. Power radiated from him as his body shifted, bones reforming and fur sprouting. His wolf was massive and black, with eyes that glowed gold with Alpha authority. Thorne transformed next, his wolf slightly smaller but crackling with aggressive energy, its teeth bared. He threw his head back and howled, and the pack howled in response. Montrose’s transformation was quieter and more controlled, producing a wolf that was lean and graceful, moving with an artist’s precision. Together, the three of them were magnificent and terrifying, a perfect representation of their power.

Other students transformed one by one, and Brielle watched them all, delaying her turn for as long as possible. Finally, only she remained. She stepped forward on shaking legs and accepted the chalice from Elder Mara. The liquid inside tasted of moonlight and ancient earth. She drank it all and moved to stand where the moon’s rays fell strongest.

Heat surged through her body, a feeling that was both painful and exhilarating, as if she were being torn apart and remade simultaneously. She fell to her knees as her bones cracked and reformed. Her wolf, smaller than the triplets’ but graceful and strong, emerged for the first time, its fur a soft gray touched with silver. For one perfect moment, Brielle felt complete. Her wolf’s presence filled the empty spaces inside her, making her feel powerful, whole, and free.

Then, three golden threads of light shot from her chest. They moved like living serpents made of pure energy. The entire grove watched in stunned silence as the threads crossed the distance and connected directly to the three Haverford triplets. The mate bond snapped into place with a crushing, overwhelming intensity. Brielle gasped as emotions that were not hers flooded her mind: shock, horror, confusion, and stark denial. The triplets stood frozen, their powerful wolves whining in distress.

Whispers exploded through the crowd. “The debt slave?” someone asked in disbelief. “Impossible!” another exclaimed. “Three bonds? To them?” someone else questioned. “The Moon Goddess must be mistaken!” a voice declared with certainty. Brielle collapsed, the sensation of three bonds forming at once proving too much to bear. Her vision blurred as pack members rushed forward, some to help her, others to stare. Through the chaos, she heard Alpha Matthias’s cold voice cut through the noise. “Everyone remain calm. We will address this situation appropriately.”

She forced her eyes open and looked across the grove. The triplets stared back at her. Devereaux’s face was a mask of fury, Thorne looked like he might be sick, and Montrose’s expression was an unreadable mixture of complexity and trouble. No, Brielle thought desperately. Not them. Anyone but them. The bonds hummed beneath her skin like electrical currents, three distinct connections linking her to the three people who had made her life a living hell. Her wolf whimpered, confused by the mates’ rejection. The Moon Goddess had blessed her with three fated mates, and all she felt was cursed. Elder Mara helped her to her feet. “The Moon Goddess has spoken, child. The bonds are true.” Around them, pack members argued in hushed voices. Some looked pitying, while others looked disgusted. Brielle met the triplets' eyes again, and for the first time, she saw something other than contempt. She saw fear.