The Triquetra Bond

Prologue

Eimear O'Connor wandered along the well-worn paths of Hare Island, her boots crunching on gravel as she tried to walk off the anxiety knotting in her stomach. The island, her home, was a place of rugged beauty—a patchwork of green fields, dense woods, and the small village where the Haven pack lived. Yet today, even the island’s serene charm couldn’t ease her nerves.

A thick band of trees surrounded the island just off the shoreline, a natural curtain shielding the pack from prying human eyes. This sanctuary had been theirs for generations, and Eimear’s grandfather had ensured its secrecy by acquiring land on Killinure Point. From there, the pack could travel undetected to the mainland using their sturdy dock, which stretched into the murky waters of Lough Ree.

Eimear’s family home, nestled at the forest's edge, was the largest on the island. A two-story stone house with a thatched roof and a wraparound porch with a dining room so large it could accommodate most of their pack for celebrations. Declan, her father, and the pack’s Alpha had built the house himself with the pack’s help. The herb garden her mother, Maeve, maintained was a testament to her role as the pack’s healer and spiritual guide.

Her brothers, Liam and Sean, had already secured their places within the pack. Liam, the eldest and Alpha-in-waiting, was a natural leader, with a rugged charm and the weight of responsibility etched into his every action. His mate, Fiona, was a perfect match for him—resilient and resourceful. Sean, the pack’s scout, was quick and daring, his mate Niamh a gentle healer who balanced his adventurous nature.

Today was Eimear’s 18th birthday. She has been looking forward to this day with both excitement and nervousness. It was more than just a milestone; it was the day she would finally transform into her wolf. Or so she hoped. For werewolves, the first transformation under the full moon following their 18th birthday was a rite of passage, a moment of pride and belonging. Tonight, Eimear and two of her closest friends, Mairead and Donna, will stand beneath the ancient Hawthorn tree to shift for the first time.

The Hawthorn tree, standing in the centre of the pack courtyard, was more than a landmark; it was sacred. Its wide trunk and deep roots had witnessed countless transformations, and its canopy sheltered the pack’s rituals. Tonight, offerings of moonstones and night-blooming jasmine lay at its base, gifts to the Moon Goddess in gratitude and reverence.

As the day crept toward night, Eimear’s unease grew. A sense of foreboding clung to her, whispering doubts she couldn’t shake. Her mother’s words of encouragement replayed in her mind—"Trust the Moon Goddess, and she will guide you"—but they offered little comfort. What if something went wrong?

As the moon rose, casting a silvery glow over the courtyard, the pack gathered beneath the Hawthorn tree. Families stood shoulder to shoulder, their expressions a mixture of pride and excitement. Tonight was a celebration, a welcome for the next generation of wolves.

Eimear took her place beneath the tree, flanked by Mairead on her left and Donna on her right. The air thrummed with an unseen energy, a primal pulse that prickled at her senses. Mairead’s stoic expression faltered as her hands trembled at her sides, while Donna flexed her fingers as though readying for a fight. Eimear’s heart raced, her breaths shallow.

Declan stepped forward, his voice steady. “Tonight, under the light of the full moon, you will receive your wolves and take your place among us.”

The pack fell silent, their collective gaze fixed on the three young women.

The moonlight grew brighter, illuminating the courtyard and the Hawthorn tree’s sprawling canopy. Though the air was still, the tree seemed to shiver in anticipation.

A sharp gasp broke the silence. Mairead staggered, clutching her chest as her knees buckled. Her face twisted in a mixture of pain and wonder before a searing flash of light engulfed her.

Eimear shielded her eyes, feeling the surge of magic ripple outward. When the light faded, a massive brown wolf stood where Mairead had been, its fur thick and rich like the loamy earth.

Eimear barely had time to process the sight when Donna let out a low growl, her body trembling violently. Her head tilted back, a strangled cry tearing from her lips. Her skin shimmered as magic cracked in the air around her. With a final pulse of light, Donna’s form shifted into a sleek, silver-furred wolf.

“Mairead… Donna…” Eimear whispered, with awe in her voice. The two wolves threw their heads back, their howls of thanks to the Moon Goddess echoed by the gathered pack.

Eimear tilted her head toward the moon, her breath catching. This was it—her moment. She willed herself to feel the pull, the heat or shiver that everyone else had described.

But there was nothing.

The moonlight felt cold against her skin, its weight heavy and unyielding. Panic began to rise as seconds stretched into agonizing minutes. She clenched her fists, desperate to feel anything—please, please let it come—but the primal surge of magic never arrived.

The murmurs began.

“Why isn’t she shifting?”

Eimear’s heart pounded as she dared a glance at her family. Declan’s commanding presence faltered, his expression frozen in disbelief. Maeve’s hand hovered mid-reach, her lips parting in silent worry. Liam and Sean stared, their confusion and concern evident.

A sob clawed its way up her throat, raw and hot. She couldn’t bear the weight of their stares, the whispers, the crushing sense of failure.

Turning on her heel, Eimear ran. The calls of her family and packmates faded into the night as she fled toward the Alpha house. The cold night air bites against her cheeks, but she doesn’t stop.

For the first time in the O’Connor family history, a child of the Alpha had failed to shift.