Jade’s POV
Valerio leaned a little closer to , lowering his voice.
“Are you also getting your wolf awakened tonight darling?”
I nodded, nervously smoothing the satin of my red dress. “Yes... I turned eighteen today, so I suppose it’s ti.”
“Oh, how thrilling,” Valerio whispered with glimring eyes, as if I’d just told him I was about to ascend a throne instead of participate in a spiritual ceremony that might ruin my life. “Let’s hope your wolf is as bold as your gown.”
I tried to laugh but my throat was dry. The hall quieted as the priestess glided to the center of the stage, her silver and white robe shimring under the glow of the chandeliers. Every conversation died instantly. Even the triplets finally tore their eyes away from .
“It is ti,” she announced, her voice echoing with a strange, ancient energy. “Tonight, under the blessing of the moon, we awaken the wolves of all who have reached eighteen. Tonight, you will hear your wolf’s voice for the first ti, and so of you.... will discover your fated mate.”
The crowd murmured in excitent while my heart hamred so violently it hurt.
The priestess raised her palms. “As I chant, open your mind. Let your wolf in. Do not fight it.”
She began humming, low, lodic, chilling. The air shifted. Hair on my arms stood. A wind passed through the hall though every window was closed. It felt like the walls themselves were breathing.
I closed my eyes, trying to steady myself.
Okay Jade, it’s just a wolf. Everybody gets one. Don’t overthink this.
But the fear seeped through anyway.
What if nothing happened?
What if even my wolf doesn’t want ?
What if being a “traitor’s daughter” sohow cursed and prevents from having a wolf?
Linda’s voice suddenly cracked through the silence.
“Oh my goddess, I can hear her! I can hear my wolf!!” she squealed, bouncing on her heels like a child. The crowd erupted in applause.
More voices followed from around the hall.
“I hear mine!”
“ too!”
“Finally!”
Excitent rippled everywhere. Except inside .
I heard nothing.
Not a whisper. Not a breath.
My chest tightened painfully.
Why? Why not ?
Was I really that pathetic?
That unwanted by the universe?
That useless?
The priestess continued chanting, but panic began clouding my ears. Linda was already complaining loudly about why her mate bond to the triplets wasn’t showing up yet. That sohow made it worse. Even she, who had bullied my whole life, had a wolf.
And I had... nothing.
I clenched my fists, anxiety crawling up my spine.
Maybe I don’t have one. Maybe they were right. Maybe I am defective.
“You really are a paranoid one.”
I jolted, eyes snapping open. I twisted in my seat, expecting soone behind , but no one was speaking.
The voice ca from inside .
“Hello, Jade Knight,” it said, smooth and amused. “I am your wolf.”
I gasped so loudly I startled myself. Then I scread. And jumped to my feet.
The entire hall turned to stare at .
“I... I just got my wolf” I blurted out nervously. “Sorry!”
Snickers and murmurs broke out. Linda rolled her eyes dramatically from the stage.
“Even with all that makeup, she’s still classless,” she muttered into the mic, loud enough for everyone to hear.
I ignored her. My wolf chuckled inside my head, clearly unimpressed.
“Is she calling us classless? When she’s dressed like that? Really?"
I didn’t know whether to laugh at that, I was too embarrassed to. I started to lower myself back into my seat...
....but suddenly, my arm jerked upward as if pulled by a string.
“What the....” I breathed.
A glowing red line appeared from my wrist, bright and shimring like a beam of moonlight condensed into a thread. Gasps rippled through the hall.
“What’s going on?!” I whispered.
“Follow it,” the priestess instructed calmly from the stage. “Your wolf has chosen. It will lead you to your mate.”
Mate.
My stomach dropped to my feet.
Linda’s fury from the stage was palpable. She looked like she wanted to claw my face off.
I swallowed hard and took a small step forward. The red line tugged again, pulling like a magnet.
Everyone watched.
Every eye burned into my back.
Every heartbeat echoed in my ears.
I walked past clusters of people whispering and pointing. The line pulled steadily forward. My palms were sweaty, my breath uneven.
Please not soone horrible.
Please not soone cruel.
Please not soone who hates ....
But the closer I got, the more dread pooled in my stomach.
Because the line was leading toward the VIP table.
The triplets.
Renzo. Ryder. Ronan.
My steps faltered.
No... no, this can’t be right. Not them. Anyone but them.
People gasped as the red thread grew brighter, almost humming in the air. Linda was storming down the stage now, her heels clicking furiously.
I kept walking, barely breathing.
When I reached their table, the line from my wrist split, right at the end, into three shimring threads.
One pointing at Renzo.
One pointing at Ryder.
One pointing at Ronan.
Each thread linked to their wrists like glowing bonds.
I froze.
The boys froze.
The crowd exploded in shock.
“No way...” soone whispered.
“This has never....”
“Three mates?!”
Linda’s shriek cut through the noise. “What?!!!!”
I couldn’t move. Couldn’t think. Couldn’t even breathe. I stared at them, wide eyed, unable to comprehend how this was possible.
Renzo looked like he’d been hit with lightning.
Ryder’s brows were pulled tight in disbelief.
Ronan looked astounded
I opened my mouth to say sothing, anything....
But then....
There was a sudden splash.
Freezing, icy water cascaded over my head, drenching my hair, my dress, my makeup, everything.
The hall went dead silent.
Water dripped from my eyelashes as I slowly blinked.
Soone had poured a full bucket of cold water on .
And I had a very good idea who.
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