Scarlett’s POV
I was lost in the strokes of my charcoal pencil, the lines forming the jagged peaks of a mountain range I had never actually seen, when the heavy door to the studio creaked open. Alpha Samuel walked in, his presence warm and comforting.
"Good morning, Alpha," I said, offering a small, genuine smile.
He wandered over, staring at the canvas with genuine admiration. "Your talent grows every day, Scarlett. There’s a soul in your work that most artists spend a lifeti trying to find." He paused, tapping the edge of the easel. "Listen, there is a massive gathering starting tomorrow: The Continental Warrior Festival. All the packs in Africa are sending their best, and this year it’s being hosted right here in Nigeria, at the Iron-Claw Pack."
My heart gave a little flutter of interest. "A festival? It sounds... lively."
"The prize is huge," he said, watching closely. "And they are holding a combat tournant. I know you’ve been training hard. Do you want to go? It might be good for you to step outside these walls for a while.
I bit my lip. The itch to test my strength was there, buried under layers of caution. "The triplets are far away... on another continent," I reasoned, more to myself than to him. "I suppose... yes. I’d like to go."
"Good. It’s only a twenty-minute drive from our borders," he said, nodding before heading out.
Hardly had the door shut when my phone buzzed. It was Alpha Ethan. I took a deep breath before answering.
"The morial is in three days, Scarlett," Ethan’s voice was somber. "The triplets’ parents... they reached out again. They’re still asking if you’ve changed your mind. They want to know if you want to show up and end the charade, now that the triplets have other mates."
My grip tightened on the phone. The mory of the choice I made—to save them from a war they couldn’t win—flashed through my mind. "Tell them no, Ethan," I said, my voice cold and firm. "As far as the world is concerned, I am still dead... and that’s how it has to stay."
"I understand," he sighed. "How are you doing?"
"I’m great," I said truthfully.
"I miss you," he said, his voice dropping into that intimate, heavy tone that always made feel guilty. "I’ll co see you next week. I love you, Scarlett. You know that, right?"
I swallowed hard, the words sticking in my throat. I couldn’t say it back. Not yet. Maybe not ever. "I... I’ll talk to you soon, Ethan. Thank you. For everything."
I ended the call and closed my eyes, leaning my forehead against the cool glass of the window. Please, I prayed to the Moon Goddess, let learn to love him. He’s perfect. He saved . He deserves a woman who is whole... soone who can love him the way he deserves.
"Maybe you two are not ant to be together," a voice said in my mind, sharp and clear.
I frowned. Be quiet, Zoe, I snapped at my wolf. You only want the triplets. You are holding on to the past.
"I am holding on to the truth," Zoe said, her voice low. "Ethan is a good man. A great Alpha. But he does not make us feel alive. You are trying to force sothing that does not fit."
I pushed her away in my mind and refused to listen. The triplets had moved on. They had other mates now, other Lunas to be with.
I had to start living my life. I had to be happy, or at least find a way to exist. If being happy ant choosing the man who was actually there for instead of the three who were thousands of miles away, then I would choose him. Every single day.
The next morning, the air was thick with the scent of dust, sweat, and anticipation. I dressed in my dark fighting gear and climbed into the transport truck with four other warriors from our pack.
When we arrived at the Iron-Claw Pack’s grounds, the sight of it stole my breath. The field was massive, a sea of warriors from every corner of the continent. I was relieved to see I wasn’t the only one with fair skin—the diversity of the African packs was vast—but I still didn’t want to be recognized.
I headed straight for the registration tent. "Human form combat only," I told the official. I had no intention of shifting; my wolf was too distinct, too recognizable to anyone who might be looking.
"It gets brutal out there, girl," the official muttered, looking at my slight fra. "Do you want a helt and full fighting armor? We provide them for those who want to keep their vitals—or their identities—protected."
"I’ll take the full suit," I said imdiately.
By the ti I stepped out of the tent, I was encased in lightweight, charcoal-colored reinforced plating. The helt featured a dark visor that completely obscured my face. Not an inch of skin was exposed. To anyone watching, I was just another naless warrior.
The sun was beating down, trapping heat inside the armor. I felt a sudden surge of thirst and made my way toward a water stall at the edge of the arena. As I was reaching for a bottle, a roar of excitent erupted from the far side of the grounds. The crowd began to move toward the entrance, people whispering and shouting all at once.
"What’s going on?" I asked the girl standing next to the stall.
She looked at like I was crazy. "You don’t know? The special guest just arrived! One of the Alpha Triplets from the Full Moon Pack is here. They say he’s traveled halfway across the world just to oversee the opening matches."
My heart didn’t skip a beat—it stopped completely.
The water bottle slipped from my gloved hand, hitting the dirt with a dull thud.
One of them is here?
No...
That wasn’t possible.
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