Once Upon Her Three Wishes

Chapter One

Alyona jumped out of bed, excited about the first day of their senior year. "Come on, you sleepy heads!" she beckoned. "How can you be sleepy when this is our year?"

Isabella rolled over and groaned, "Only you could be excited about this." The young lady had been up late the night before secretly working with the general of the pack's army.

Irina stretched, her long arms reaching toward the ceiling. She yawned deeply, "It's not that bad Isabella," she admonished gently. She had to admit, she was excited too, but not for the same reasons her sister was. This year, she could begin her training in the medical field officially. The youngest of the triplets couldn't be happier about that, as Isabella was quite determined to become a Luna warrior. "You're just tired because you were out late last night."

Isabella shot up, "How do you know?" She worried that her sister would snitch her out.

Irina just chuckled, "I'm not telling Mother. I think you'd be a fine warrior, and eventually a luna."

Isabella rolled her eyes, "Don't remind me. It's going to be a long year. And momma is going to be so occupied with these stupid balls. For us and Bardik." At the mention of their still mateless brother, they sighed. Their parents were getting more worried about him not having a mate by the day. However, the three of them were more than thankful that it hadn't been Mila when he turned sixteen. Being pack royalty had its advantages, and that was finding their mates at a slightly younger age than the rest of the pack's members.

"Well, maybe we'll finally meet our mates this year!" Alyona sighed. She wanted nothing more than to have her mate and be in love. "After all, we are going to be sixteen in a few months!"

"Girls, it's time to get up!" their mother knocked firmly on the door.

"Yes, matushka!" they replied in unison. Tatyana nodded to herself, she had heard Alyona's wistful hope that they would find their mates this year. She couldn't help but be a little sad over it, her babies were growing up. The regal woman walked to the other end of the wing and knocked on Bardik's door. She wasn't even sure if he was home right now. He'd taken up with fighting fires and that job simply added to Tatyana's graying hair.

"Yes?" Bardik called from the other side of the door. He was packing his overnight bag for his shifts at the fire station.

Tatyana opened the door a crack, "Great, you're home. I've been thinking," she began.

Bardik chuckled, "Just plan the ball, matushka and I'll be there." He leaned down and kissed his mother's cheek. The alpha-to-be knew his mother wouldn't stop until he was mated. He didn't mind the parties, it was a chance to mingle with the other packs, and potentially find allies they would otherwise not have. "Be sure to invite the other shifters this time, though."

Tatyana nodded, they were running out of options for Bardik, and people were starting to talk. She began to leave his room, "Oh, can you walk with the girls today?"

Bardik smiled, he loved his sisters dearly and looked forward to the opportunities to spend any time with them. "Of course."

She patted his cheek affectionately, "You're such a good son."

***************

Sergei opened his eyes, not only was today the first day of his senior year, it was his eighteenth birthday. He stretched his long muscular body and sighed. "I wonder who she is," he murmured. As he exited his bed, his mother knocked on the door.

"Come in, momma." He said as he sorted his clothes for the day.

"Happy Birthday, my dear sweet boy!" his mother greeted him cheerily. "I have a surprise for you!"

Knowing his mother, he wasn't concerned. She had nothing but his best interest at heart. He turned to face her, holding his t-shirt in his hand, barely covering his bare chest.

Oksana moved to the side and allowed a strange man to enter his room. "He's here to tell you who your mate is. And if you don't like her, he can fix it!"

Sergei was confused, "Momma, the moon goddess decides for us."

Oksana looked down, she was well aware of just how the moon goddess works and she'd been connected to a terrible mate for over twenty years. The only blessing from their union was standing in front of her now. She wouldn't wish the kind of mate she had on anyone.

"Just humor your mother, sweetie," she pleaded. The older woman knew that women could be just as horrible as a man when treating their mates poorly.

Sergei nodded, "Okay, momma."

The old man that entered reeked of sulfur, and had a darkness over him that made the teenager nervous. "Just relax, boy." He ordered as he placed a smooth hand on his shoulder. As the vision overtook the witch in front of him, he could see the boy's mate and smiled. This would be perfect, he thought, as the young lady appeared. Her delicate features were still small, as if she weren't quite old enough yet. Her brown skin was smooth and soft, and she had a kind heart, and that would prove to be a weakness. "Your mate isn't yet old enough to detect you, but you will see her today. You must make her love you." The black-haired witch knew that there was more than one of the girls. But he only needed one of them for their power. This weak she-wolf made it terribly easy to take advantage of them. Her mate kept her under his thumb easily and he had no doubt that he could control this boy into doing the same with his mate. "She will be a difficult one, but I'm sure you know how to handle that."

The witch then turned to Sergei's mother, "I've given you all I know, your fee is one hundred dollars."

Oksana swallowed, she knew that her mate would be furious with her for giving a witch that much money. But she was willing to risk it for her son's happiness. "As long as he is happy, I will pay any price." She handed over the crisp bills and smiled at her son. She would have to find yet another doctor for the consequences of this, but she didn't care anymore. Her son's happiness is all that matters.

Sergei could see his mother's apprehension and knew that this would cost her. No matter how much she tried to hide it, he knew what his father did to her. Sometimes, he believed she deserved it, but others, not so much.

The black witch disappeared once the money was in his hands, the acrid odor of sulfur filling the air and burning the wolf's sensitive nose.

"Now, get to school, and find your mate," Oksana said as she kissed her son's cheek.

Sergei nodded and finished getting ready, throwing a breakfast sandwich in his mouth on the way out the door. As he shut the heavy piece of wood, he heard his father come out of his parent's bedroom. He rushed away from the house, having learned his lesson, the one and only time he ever tried to intervene on his mother's behalf. He sighed when he heard his father shout at his mother about the witch, but didn't hear anything else as he put his headphones over his ears. "Why won't she leave him? Or tell anyone about him?" As long as she is silent, nothing can be done.

*************

The girls waved to their brother, they always enjoyed their walks with him, especially in the cool mornings of fall, like today. "I can't believe you three are seniors! Two years ahead of the game!"

Irina laughed, "What do you think you're the only one in the family that's smart?"

Bardik feigned hurt, "No, I know full well how smart my sisters are!" He was proud of them all, and he couldn't wait for them to find their mates and be happy.

Sergei was still deep in thought over the morning's events when he bumped into the hulking mass of the alpha-to-be. "Hello, Bardik," he greeted humbly. His mind was filled with thoughts of being an alpha. To be in that position would mean power and wealth that he never knew. As his mind wandered into that forbidden territory, a sweet scent filled his nose. It couldn't be, he thought as he looked at the triplets.