Sage's POV
I'm dying.
I know this because the world has gone cold and distant. Because I can feel my blood soaking into snow. Because through the partial bonds, I feel Kael's, Damon's, and Ryder's absolute terror.
They're screaming my name, but I can't answer.
The silver blade in my chest burns like acid, poison spreading through my veins with every weakening heartbeat.
This is how I die. Stabbed by a desperate father trying to save his daughter. Killed before I could choose. Before I could save anyone.
No, no, no! Ryder reaches me first, his hands shaking as he carefully pulls the silver blade from my chest. The pain makes me gasp, but at least the poison stops spreading.
Kael appears, pressing his hands against my wound. Stay with us, Sage. That's an order.
She's lost too much blood, Damon says, his voice cracking. Even with accelerated healing, she won't
Then we give her ours! Ryder snaps. The bond. We can share life force through the bond.
That's only possible with a complete bond, Kael argues. We're only partially bonded. It won't work.
It has to work! Ryder's golden eyes are wild. I am NOT losing her!
Through my fading consciousness, I feel them reach for our partial bonds ice, shadow, flame. Feel them trying to pour their strength into me.
But Kael's right. The bonds aren't strong enough. Their power hits a wall, unable to fully transfer.
I'm still dying.
Marcus appears above me, his red eyes furious. You IDIOT! he roars at Theron. I needed her alive!
You have my daughter, Theron says brokenly. Kael has him pinned to the ground, but the Beta isn't fighting back. What did you expect me to do?
Not kill the only Omega in existence! Marcus kicks Theron viciously. Now she's useless to everyone!
Nova materializes in a flash of green light. She takes one look at me and her ancient face goes pale.
The silver reached her heart, Nova says quietly. There's only one way to save her now.
Name it, all three Alphas demand simultaneously.
Nova looks between them. The Trial of Three. The complete bonding ritual. If you perform it now, the combined life force of three Alpha bonds might be enough to burn the poison from her system and heal her.
But the ritual takes hours, Damon protests. She doesn't have hours.
Then we do the emergency version. Faster, more dangerous, less stable. But it might work. Nova's eyes are grave. The risk is you all die instead of just her. The ritual could consume all four of you if it fails.
I don't care about the risk, Ryder says immediately.
Neither do I, Damon adds.
Kael hesitates for only a second. We do it. Now.
Wait. Nova holds up her hand. You need to understand what you're agreeing to. A complete bond is permanent. Forever. If you do this, all four of you will be linked mind, body, and soul. There's no undoing it. Ever.
We haven't even courted her properly, Kael says. She deserves time to choose
She's dying! Ryder cuts him off. I'll deal with her being angry at me for forcing the bond later. I will NOT deal with her being dead.
Through the haze of pain, I try to speak. Try to tell them I choose this. Choose them. All three.
But no words come out.
Nova kneels beside me. Sage. I know you can hear me. The ritual requires your consent even emergency versions. If you agree to bond with all three Alphas permanently, squeeze my hand.
I squeeze with what little strength I have left.
Nova nods. She consents. Begin.
She positions Kael, Damon, and Ryder around me in a triangle. Places their hands over my heart, each touching the wound.
You'll feel her dying, Nova warns. Feel her pain, her fear, her life slipping away. Don't let go. No matter how bad it gets, do NOT break contact or you all die.
She begins chanting in that ancient language.
Magic explodes through me three different powers slamming into my fading soul all at once. Ice from Kael, shadow from Damon, flame from Ryder.
It hurts worse than the silver blade. Worse than shifting. Worse than anything.
I scream, and through the emergency bond forming, my three Alphas scream with me.
I feel them now. Really feel them. Not just emotions everything. Kael's desperate love hidden beneath ice cold control. Damon's fierce devotion buried under darkness. Ryder's absolute certainty that I'm his everything.
They love me. All three of them. Completely.
And I love them back.
The realization unlocks something inside me. My Omega power surges, not fighting the bond but embracing it. Pulling all three Alphas closer instead of keeping them at a distance.
The partial bonds shatter and reform as complete bonds stronger, deeper, permanent.
On my wrist, three marks appear and intertwine: ice blue, midnight black, and goldened. Beautiful instead of twisted like Marcus's forced bond.
Power flows between us now not one way, but cycling. Their strength pours into me, burning away the silver poison. My Omega magic amplifies their power, making all four of us stronger.
The wound in my chest closes. Heals. Disappears.
My heart beats stronger. Once. Twice. Steady.
I gasp, eyes flying open.
Three faces hover above me ice blue eyes, midnight eyes, golden eyes. All filled with relief so intense it makes my chest ache.
You're alive, Ryder breathes.
We're bonded, Damon adds, wonder in his voice.
All three of us, Kael finishes. Permanently.
I can feel them in my mind now. Hear their thoughts brushing against mine. Feel their emotions as clearly as my own.
We're one being in four bodies.
The first successful Trial of Three in history.
That's impossible, Marcus whispers, staring at us in shock. No one survives the Trial of Three.
We just did, I say, sitting up with my three Alphas' help. My voice is stronger than it's ever been. Power thrums through me amplified by three Alpha bonds.
Marcus takes a step back. For the first time, he looks afraid.
You made a mistake coming here, Kael says coldly. Our bond lets him draw on my power, making him stronger than any single Alpha.
You threatened what's ours, Damon adds, shadow magic crackling around his hands enhanced by our connection.
And now you'll pay, Ryder finishes, his wolf rising to the surface with supernatural strength.
But before they can attack, Marcus does something unexpected.
He kneels.
I surrender, he says, bowing his head. You've won, daughter. You and your three mates. I accept defeat.
Silence.
This has to be a trick. Marcus doesn't surrender. Doesn't give up.
Through our bond, I feel my three Alphas' suspicion matching my own.
Prove it, I demand. Release Theron's daughter. Withdraw your army. Swear a blood oath.
Done. Marcus cuts his palm with a claw. I swear on my Alpha blood: I surrender to Sage Winters and her bonded Alphas. I release all hostages and withdraw my forces.
The oath magic flares red, binding him to his words.
He looks up at me, and for the first time, I see my father as a person instead of a monster.
I just wanted my daughter back, he says quietly. But you were never mine, were you? You were always theirs.
Something in his eyes makes my blood run cold.
Goodbye, Sage. Maybe we'll meet again in another life.
He stands and walks toward his army. They part for him, confused.
Marcus, wait I start.
He shifts into his massive black wolf, throws his head back, and howls.
Then runs straight off the cliff edge.
I scream, racing forward, but Kael catches me.
Through the bond, I feel all three Alphas' shock.
Marcus just killed himself rather than face defeat.
Nova appears at my side. The oath was real. His army will withdraw. Theron's daughter will be freed. But Marcus...
Why? I whisper. Why would he do that?
Nova's ancient eyes are sad. Because he was broken long before he found you. And sometimes, broken things can't be fixed.
The army disperses. The battle is over.
We won.
But it doesn't feel like victory.
It feels like tragedy.