By the time Amaris arrived at the dining hall, the air buzzed with anticipation. The grand space was a testament to the opulence of the Supreme Alpha’s estate. Towering, gilded columns lined the hall, and a vaulted ceiling painted with intricate murals of the moons and their phases loomed overhead. Crystal chandeliers cast a soft, golden glow over the room, illuminating the vast banquet table that stretched nearly the length of the hall.
The table itself was adorned with crisp white linens, embroidered with silver thread that shimmered like starlight. Each setting featured fine china rimmed in gold, delicate crystal glasses, and napkins folded into intricate floral shapes. An elaborate centerpiece of fresh flowers—white lilies, pale blue hydrangeas, and delicate sprigs of baby's breath—ran the length of the table, interspersed with flickering candles that added to the room's celestial ambiance.
The scent of polished wood and floral arrangements mingled faintly with the aroma of the meal to come.
A long line of finely dressed ladies trailed before the grand entrance, their silken gowns and glittering jewels catching the light. Each one was waiting her turn to be announced, their postures prim and perfect, though the air of competition between them was almost palpable.
Amaris glanced at the line and turned to the elderly maid. “Do I have to be announced?” she whispered, her voice laced with apprehension.
The maid hesitated. “I don’t believe so, miss.”
“Good,” Amaris said firmly, her jaw set. “Then I’ll go in through the side door. If anyone asks, tell them I insisted.”
The maid nodded, worry etched into her features, and led Amaris to the side entrance. This door was used by the general guests already seated within.
When she stepped inside, Amaris quickly scanned the crowd. The dining hall was a sea of color and movement, filled with nobles and pack leaders dressed in their finest. The men wore impeccably tailored suits or ceremonial garb adorned with their pack insignias, while the women glided across the polished floors in flowing gowns of every hue, their hair pinned into elaborate styles.
Amaris’s eyes found her parents seated near the head of the table, and she scurried over, hoping to find her name card beside theirs. However, her place wasn’t there.
“Your seat is with the other ladies, darling,” her father said gently, motioning toward the far end of the table.
“You’d best hurry,” her mother added, her tone firm. “The Supreme Alpha and his family will be entering any moment.”
Amaris frowned. “Why can’t I sit with you?”
Her mother lightly scolded her with a look and shooed her away with a wave of her hand. “Amaris, go. Now.”
Sighing, Amaris turned to search for her place. She caught the curious and lust-filled gazes of several men as she moved through the room, the weight of their attention making her cheeks burn. Uncertain where to look, she approached an unoccupied butler and asked for help. He bowed slightly and quickly directed her to her seat among the other ladies.
Her name card rested between two strangers—a blonde woman with sharp features who offered a tight-lipped smile and a brunette who seemed more preoccupied with the hem of her gown. Amaris slipped into her seat, smoothing the fabric of her dress and placing the napkin delicately in her lap.
Minutes dragged by, and Amaris regretted leaving her phone in her room. The announcing of the ladies was a painfully slow process, each name followed by a description of lineage and accomplishments. The crowd clapped politely, though some did so with less enthusiasm as time went on.
Finally, the Supreme Alpha himself intervened, his voice deep and commanding. “The remaining introductions will be made at dinner. Let us not delay further.”
The grand double doors opened, and the Supreme Alpha entered. He was an imposing figure with graying hair and piercing golden eyes that seemed to take in everything at once. He moved with the regal confidence of a man who knew he commanded respect, his black and gold attire tailored to perfection.
Following him was Lady Alpha Mordena, a woman whose presence sent a chill down Amaris’s spine. Her severe expression, dark eyes, and high cheekbones gave her an air of quiet malice, her black gown adorned with blood-red rubies that seemed to gleam ominously.
Then came Lord Larkin, the Supreme Alpha’s fourth son and fourth in line for succession. As he passed Amaris’s table, he caught her eye and offered a warm smile. Amaris returned it, lifting a hand in a small wave.
Larkin had always been a friend, someone she could confide in during the tedious hours of their fathers’ political meetings. He was handsome, with sandy brown hair that fell slightly into his eyes and a genuine kindness that set him apart from the rest of his family.
The Supreme Alpha’s gaze followed Larkin’s and landed on Amaris. His stern features softened, and he smiled warmly at her. Amaris inclined her head in respect, but the sudden icy glare from Lady Mordena made her quickly shift her focus back to the doors.
Then it happened.
Her hearing became muffled, her face growing hot and flushed. She discreetly began to fan herself, confusion creeping into her mind. What was happening?
A gnawing sensation began to itch at her chest, not painful but relentless. She tried to scratch without drawing attention, but her movements were clumsy, and she knew she wasn’t being subtle.
The doors opened again, and a voice announced, “Lord Klaus, Lord Kade, and Lord Khal.”
The moment they stepped in, the room seemed to change. The scent hit Amaris like a tidal wave, intoxicating and overwhelming. Her body reacted instantly, heat pooling low in her abdomen, her core tightening as arousal surged through her.
She pressed her hands to her face, desperate to mask her reaction, but the sensations were too intense. The three brothers strode into the hall, their presence commanding and electric. They were tall, their features sharp and identical, yet each carried himself with a slightly different air—one intense and brooding, another playful and confident, and the third calm but deadly.
As they passed, they flared their noses, their eyes darkening as they inhaled deeply. Their wolves stirred, barely contained, their focus locked on her.
Amaris tried to look away, but the heat in her body made it impossible. She could feel their gazes on her, could feel the magnetic pull between them. Suddenly, one of them was beside her, his hand wrapping around her wrist. The touch sent shocks through her body, igniting every nerve.
“Moon-kissed,” one growled, his voice low and guttural.
“Mine,” the second snarled, his eyes glowing.
“Ours,” the third added, his tone possessive.
One of them gently tilted her chin up, forcing her to meet their eyes. The connection was instant and overwhelming, a flood of warmth and love crashing through her.
The room erupted in whispers and gasps, but none of it registered. Amaris was consumed by the intensity of their bond, by the certainty that this was real.
Then, a voice rang out, cutting through the tension like a blade.
“She’s mine!”
Amaris turned to see Larkin standing, his eyes blazing with defiance.
The elder three brothers turned their blazing, angry gazes toward Larkin, their golden eyes glowing like molten fire. A low, rumbling growl erupted from their throats, primal and protective. The sound made the room fall eerily silent, and every wolf present felt the weight of their dominance.
The triplets stepped closer to Amaris, their movements fluid and in perfect synchrony as they formed a protective circle around her. Their presence was overwhelming, a wall of raw power and aggression that radiated from them like a storm about to break.
“She is ours,” growled Klaus, his voice low and filled with unshakable finality.
“We are moon-kissed,” declared Kade, his tone carrying the authority of absolute truth.
In unison, the three brothers raised their wrists, revealing identical crescent-shaped marks etched into their skin. The marks glowed faintly, a silvery sheen that pulsed with life, undeniable proof of their bond.
Gasps rippled through the hall, the gathered wolves murmuring in astonishment and confusion.
Larkin, however, refused to back down. “No!” he shouted, his voice trembling with fury and desperation. “She’s my chosen mate!” His defiance only fueled the flames of the brothers’ anger, their growls intensifying as their wolves threatened to surface.
Amaris, standing at the center of the escalating tension, felt a strange pull in her arm. Her heart pounded in her chest, her breathing shallow as the heat coursing through her body seemed to concentrate on her wrist. Confused, she glanced down and realized she couldn’t control the way her arm lifted.
As if guided by an unseen force, her wrist turned to reveal the very same crescent-shaped mark glowing brightly against her skin.
The room erupted into chaos.
Wolves snarled and growled, their instincts reacting to the sudden and undeniable revelation of a moon-kissed bond. The energy in the room surged, electrified by the clash of dominance and the bond’s raw, unshakable power.
Amaris looked around, wide-eyed and overwhelmed, as the truth of her bond with the triplets settled over her like a tidal wave. Her legs wobbled, and she swayed slightly, only to be steadied by Khal, his touch firm yet grounding.
“They bare the mark!” someone shouted, their voice filled with disbelief.
“She’s their moon-kissed!” another gasped, their words echoing through the hall.
The triplets exchanged a look, a silent communication passing between them. Then Klaus stepped forward, his gaze locking onto Larkin with an intensity that made the younger wolf flinch.
“You dare to challenge the moon’s decree?” he snarled, his tone deadly.
Larkin’s hands balled into fists, his jaw tightening. “This isn’t over,” he hissed, but his voice faltered under the weight of the triplets’ combined fury.
Kade turned his back on Larkin as if dismissing him entirely, his focus returning to Amaris. “You are ours,” he said softly, his voice soothing now, though it carried the same unwavering certainty as before.
Amaris’s head spun, her emotions a whirlwind of confusion, fear, and undeniable attraction. Her voice barely above a whisper, she asked, “What’s happening to me?”
Khal stepped closer, his hand gently brushing her cheek as he leaned in. “You’re ours, little moon,” he murmured, his voice both tender and possessive.
Klaus cast a dark glance around the room, his wolf rising to the surface as he growled, “Anyone who dares to come near her will face us.”
The declaration silenced the remaining murmurs, the room now completely under their control. All eyes were on Amaris and the triplets, the significance of the moon-kissed bond undeniable and impossible to ignore.