The forest stilled.
The word echoed in her mind like a thunderclap, Mate.
Her pulse surged. She staggered back a step, the reality crashing into her like ice water. Three massive figures stood before her, bathed in fractured moonlight, their glowing eyes pinning her in place.
The tallest of the three stepped forward, his presence so dominating that even the wind seemed to bow around him. Raven-black hair framed sharp cheekbones and a jaw so defined it could cut glass. His bare chest heaved with restrained power, and the dark tribal mark on his collarbone pulsed as he looked at her.
"I don't believe this," he growled, voice like velvet smoke. "The Moon Goddess… gave you to us?"
Lyra's throat tightened. "Who… who are you?"
The second man let out a chuckle, deep, smooth, and dangerously teasing. "Now that's a question, darling. But perhaps we should ask who you are first."
He had golden hair that glinted like firelight and eyes the color of molten honey. There was a predator's grace to the way he moved, circling her slowly, as if she were prey and he was already imagining the taste of her skin. Every inch of him screamed temptation. And danger.
Lyra took another step back, but her legs were trembling. The third stepped forward silently. He didn't speak, but his presence was the most unsettling. Silver eyes, nearly colorless, gleamed in the shadows. His dark brown hair was cropped close, and scars etched the side of his neck and down one shoulder. He looked like a ghost out of war lethal and quiet.
"Enough," the black-haired Alpha snapped, turning his gaze to the other two. "She's overwhelmed."
No shit, the golden one said, smirking. Three mates? The poor thing's about to faint. I'm not fainting, Lyra snapped, her voice trembling despite her best efforts..The silver-eyed Alpha finally spoke, and his voice was low, hoarse, and full of quiet command. Then why do I smell fear? She lifted her chin. Because I don't know who the hell you are. There was a beat of silence.
Then the black-haired one folded his arms. "We're Alphas. Three of them. Brothers by fate, not by blood. Each of us rules a pack across this cursed territory. And you… He stepped forward, crowding her space until she was forced to tilt her chin up to keep eye contact. You just shifted. You're unmated. And we all felt it at the same time. The bond, the golden-haired one added. It snapped into place the second your wolf came alive. We were called to you.
No. That's not possible. Lyra's voice cracked. That doesn't happen. One mate. One bond. That's how it works.
Not this time. The silver-eyed Alpha's voice was nearly a whisper, but it cut deeper than a roar. The Moon Goddess marked you for us. All three.
Lyra shook her head. No… no, that's wrong. That's unnatural.
The black-haired Alpha's eyes darkened. So was what they did to you.
Lyra froze.
A cold breeze whispered past, and she realized she hadn't told them anything about what happened in Hollow Crest. About the fire. About her being cast out. About the betrayal.
How do you?
"We don't know the details," the golden Alpha said softly. "But we felt your pain when the bond activated. Deep. Violent. Unforgivable pain."
Lyra's chest tightened. For a second, the forest blurred, her memories flashing: the flames, the screaming, the laughter as they dragged her through the streets. Her father's cold eyes. Her Alpha's silence. Her pack's betrayal.
She wrapped her arms around herself. "I'm not your mate. I never asked for this."
The black-haired Alpha stepped back slightly, giving her space, but not retreating. "Neither did we. But the bond is there. You feel it."
She did. It pulsed beneath her skin, a tug in three different directions. One part of her longed to yield, to be claimed and touched and owned. Another part wanted to run and scream and fight. And the worst part, the most dangerous part was the part that was curious.
"What are your names?" she asked, barely above a whisper.
The golden one grinned. "Call me Darius."
The black-haired one nodded. "I'm Theron."
The silver-eyed one simply said, "Cassian."
She swallowed hard, the names settling in her mind like a brand.
Theron, the dominant, controlling one.
Darius, the teasing, charming predator.
Cassian, the silent one who watched everything.
We won't force you, Theron said. But don't mistake that for weakness. You belong to us, Lyra. The Moon chose you. And we don't walk away from what's ours. We'll give you time, Darius added, taking a slow step forward. But not too much. The bond only grows stronger. And once it reaches the next phase…
Cassian finished for him. There's no turning back.
A soft rustle in the trees made Lyra spin, every sense on high alert. But it was just a deer, darting into the shadows. Still, her heart didn't calm. It was too much. Too fast.
I need to go, she whispered. l need time. Space. Theron's jaw clenched, but he nodded. We'll let you go tonight. But you won't get far. The pull will only get worse. You'll dream of us, Darius said, voice darkly amused. You'll wake aching. Wanting. Confused. But we'll be here when you're ready. Lyra turned and ran. She didn't look back. Couldn't.
But every step away made her feel like she was tearing pieces of herself out.
And behind her, the forest whispered her fate.
The silence between them thickened like a storm cloud ready to burst.
The Alpha with obsidian eyes, the one who spoke first—took a slow, deliberate step closer, and Lyra's body reacted before her mind could catch up. Her fists clenched at her sides, a mix of defiance and confusion twisting in her gut.
"You didn't answer," he said, his voice velvet over steel. "Do you feel it?"
She lifted her chin. I don't know what you're talking about.
A flicker of amusement crossed his face, but there was no humor in his eyes. "Liar."
The other two stepped forward. One had honey-blond hair and eyes like stormy skies, cold, calculating, and sharp. The second had a mess of tousled curls and a wicked smirk that screamed trouble.
All three radiated dominance. Power. Possession. But Lyra refused to be owned. Not again.
"I'm not yours," she snapped.
Storm-Eyes smirked. The bond says otherwise. I don't care what your bond says. Her voice trembled, but her glare was unwavering. I didn't choose this. And neither did we, the curly-haired one said, tilting his head like a predator sizing up his prey. But here we are.
Lyra turned on her heel, heart hammering as she stalked toward the door of the training hall. She needed air. Space. Sanity.
But she didn't make it far.
Obsidian-Eyes moved faster than her gaze could track, blocking her path with a swiftness that made her breath catch. Running away won't change what you are.
I'm not running, she said. I'm walking away. Big difference.
He leaned closer, his breath warm against her cheek. You can deny the bond all you want, but it'll only grow stronger. Painful, even. Especially if you reject it.
She stiffened. "Then maybe that's what I'll do."
Storm-Eyes snorted. "You have no idea what rejection means for someone like you."
Her gaze darted between them. "Someone like me?"
Curly-Hair's smile faded. "You really don't know, do you?"
Obsidian-Eyes muttered something under his breath. "Of course she doesn't."
Lyra took a step back. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"You're not just some omega," Storm-Eyes said, voice low. "You're". That's enough, Obsidian-Eyes cut in sharply. Storm-Eyes glared at him. She deserves to know. Not yet.
Frustration burned through Lyra's chest. "Know what? Stop talking like I'm not even here!"
They all looked at her, the tension between them coiling tighter.
Curly-Hair sighed. Come with us. We'll explain everything.
She barked a laugh. "Come with you? After you stalked me, broke into my mind, and declared I belong to three complete strangers?"
Obsidian-Eyes stepped closer again, but this time his voice softened. "You're not safe here."
Lyra blinked. I've lived in this pack for three years.
And someone's been keeping you hidden from us for just as long.
Storm-Eyes added, Someone who knew what you were and made sure we never found you. Until now.
Her stomach dropped. You're lying.
Curly-Hair shrugged. Check your pack records. No trace of your arrival. No real surname. Just... Lyra. I was found in the forest after the fire, she whispered. I don't remember anything before that.
We know.
They were closing in again. Her breath came in shallow bursts.
Stay away from me, she hissed.
We will, Obsidian-Eyes said, if you give us one thing.
Her brows furrowed. What? Your scent.
What?
He took a deep breath. "If you won't come with us, at least let us remember your scent. If someone tries to hide you again, we'll find you. No matter what."
Lyra shook her head. "You're insane."
Curly-Hair chuckled. "Maybe. But we're also right."
Obsidian-Eyes leaned down, close enough that his breath grazed her skin. She didn't know if it was magic or madness, but part of her wanted to tilt her neck, let him inhale deeply and it terrified her.
"Don't," she said, barely a whisper.
His lips brushed her ear. "Then run now, little flame. But don't expect to hide forever."
And with that, the three turned and vanished, just like that, leaving her in the middle of the training hall, breathless, shaken, and more confused than she'd ever been.
*
*
Hours later, Lyra sat on the edge of her bed, hands buried in her hair.
She couldn't sleep. Couldn't think straight.
Mate. Three of them. Alphas. Strangers. And they claimed she was something else. Not an omega.
She closed her eyes and focused.
Nothing.
Her past was still a blank slate. She remembered waking up alone in the woods. Covered in soot. Fire in the distance. Her lungs choking on smoke. And then… silence.
She'd been fifteen.
Now, she was nearly eighteen. Almost the age most wolves came into full power.
If she had power.
She wrapped her arms around her legs and pulled them to her chest. Maybe she was just a freak. A broken omega with no pack ties and no future.
A knock on her door startled her. She stood slowly, heart already racing. Maybe it was the head trainer. Or her friend Nia. She opened it. And froze. Standing on the threshold was a fourth figure.
But this one… this one she recognized.
Her heart stopped. "Alpha Damon?"
The Beta of her pack. Second only to Alpha Callan.
He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes.
"Hello, Lyra," he said softly. "We need to talk."
She took a step back. "Why?"
His smile widened, and it chi
lled her to the bone. "Because your past just came knocking... and it's time we finally put you back where you belong."