Triple Moon Rising: An Omega's Destiny

Chapter 22: The Alpha’s Council

Lily Carter POV

"Get down!" I screamed as a silver arrow whistled past my ear.

I threw myself behind the thick wood table in the Alpha’s meeting room, my heart hammering against my ribs. Around me, the pack council members dove for cover as more arrows crashed through the windows.

"Shadow Wolves!" someone shouted. "They found us!"

This was going to be my first real council meeting. I’d been so scared about speaking up, about proving I belonged here. Now I was just trying not to die.

Alpha Marcus crouched beside me, his face grim. "How many?"

I peeked over the table’s edge, counting the dark shapes moving outside. My Triple Moon mark burned hot against my wrist, warning me of danger.

"At least eight," I whispered. "Maybe more hiding in the trees."

Beta Morrison - Luna’s father - glared at me from across the room. "This is her fault," he growled. "Ever since that omega joined our council, we’ve had nothing but trouble."

"Enough!" Alpha Marcus snapped. "Save your blame for later."

Another arrow smashed through the window above us, raining glass everywhere. I flinched as tiny pieces cut my face. This was all wrong. The emergency from this morning at the borders was meant to be handled. Aiden, Brock, and Caleb were out there dealing with the rogue wolf danger.

So why were Shadow Wolves attacking the Alpha house?

"The boys," I gasped, fear making my voice shake. "If the Shadow Wolves are here, what happened to the patrol?"

Alpha Marcus’s face went pale. He grabbed his radio. "Aiden, report. Aiden, do you copy?"

Static crackled back at us. Nothing else.

"Brock, Caleb, anyone respond," the Alpha tried again.

Still nothing.

My stomach dropped like a stone. Something terrible had happened to them. I could feel it through the mate bond with Caleb - a cold void where his presence should be.

"We have to help them," I said, beginning to stand.

Elder Thomas, the pack’s oldest council member, grabbed my arm. "Stay down, girl. You’re not a fighter."

"But I can sense things you can’t," I argued. "My omega instincts-"

"Will get you killed," Beta Morrison cut me off harshly. "This is what happens when we let omegas think they’re important."

Anger flared in my chest. Even now, with arrows flying and the triplets missing, he was still treating me like I was useless.

"My instincts saved the pack during the rogue attack last week," I shot back. "Maybe if you listened instead of dismissing everything I say, we wouldn’t be trapped right now."

"How dare you-" Beta Morrison started.

A loud crash stopped him as the front door exploded inward. Three Shadow Wolves walked into the room, their red eyes glowing like hot coals. Their very presence made the air feel thick and deadly.

"Looking for someone?" the biggest one asked, his voice like grinding stone.

Everyone froze. I’d never seen Shadow Wolves this close before. They were huge, twice the size of normal wolves, with fur so black it seemed to swallow light. When they breathed, close plants wilted and died.

The lead Shadow Wolf’s gaze found me instantly. "There she is. The little omega who thinks she’s special."

My blood turned to ice. They were here for me.

"Leave the girl alone," Alpha Marcus growled, stepping protectively in front of me.

The Shadow Wolf laughed, a sound like broken glass. "Oh, we’re not here to hurt her. We’re here to make her an offer."

An offer? That didn’t make any sense.

"You see," the thing continued, circling our hiding spot like a predator, "someone very important wants to meet you, Lily Carter. Someone who knows the truth about your little Triple Moon mark."

I touched my wrist automatically. "What truth?"

"That it’s not a blessing," the Shadow Wolf grinned, showing teeth like black blades. "It’s a curse. And we know how to remove it."

The other council members looked at me with confusion and fear. Even Alpha Marcus seemed shaken by this news.

"You’re lying," I said, but my voice came out smaller than I wanted.

"Am I?" The Shadow Wolf pulled something from behind his back - a silver chain with three moon charms. The rings were cracked and black, like they’d been burned. "This belonged to the last Triple Moon holder. She begged us to take her mark away before it destroyed everyone she loved."

My mark suddenly flared with pain so intense I nearly screamed. Images flashed through my mind - another girl, about my age, screaming as silver light poured from her skin. Pack members running in fear. Bodies lying still in the snow.

"What did you show me?" I gasped.

"The truth," the Shadow Wolf said simply. "Every Triple Moon carrier brings destruction. It’s not order you’re meant to restore, little omega. It’s chaos."

"Don’t listen to him," Alpha Marcus said strongly. "Shadow Wolves are masters of lies."

But doubt crept into my heart like poison. What if they were right? What if all the strange things happening lately - the rogue attacks, the pack problems, even this assault on the Alpha house - were somehow my fault?

"Where are the triplets?" I demanded, trying to sound stronger than I felt.

The Shadow Wolf’s grin widened. "Safe. For now. But that depends entirely on your cooperation."

"What do you want?"

"Come with us freely, and we’ll show you how to break the Triple Moon curse before it kills everyone in Silver Peak. Refuse, and your precious mates will pay the price."

The room fell deadly silent except for the sound of my own rapid breathing. Around me, the council members watched with scared eyes. Some looked like they wanted me to go. Others seemed torn between protecting me and saving themselves.

My mark burned hotter, and suddenly I could feel something through the mate bond - Caleb was alive, but barely. He was hurt, maybe dying. The same feeling came from the ties with Aiden and Brock. They were all in terrible danger.

"How do I know you’ll keep your word?" I asked.

"You don’t," the Shadow Wolf admitted. "But you know we’ll kill them if you refuse."

I looked at Alpha Marcus, hoping he’d have an answer, some way out of this impossible choice. But even he looked helpless.

"I need time to think," I said desperately.

"Time is something your mates don’t have," the Shadow Wolf responded. "Choose now, little omega. Come with us and learn the truth, or watch everyone you love die because of what you are."

My hands shook as I stared at the cracked moon rings. Was I really bringing destruction to Silver Peak? Had I been kidding myself into thinking I was helping the pack?

Through the broken windows, I could see more Shadow Wolves surrounding the Alpha house. There was no escape, no troops coming to save us. Just me and an impossible choice.

Save the triplets by believing creatures of pure evil, or stay and watch them die.

The Shadow Wolf stretched his clawed hand toward me. "What’s it going to be, Triple Moon bearer?" noveldrama

I took a big breath, knowing that whatever I chose next would change everything forever.