A Bold Proposal

Alpha Magnus sat on his throne-like chair, his fingers drumming impatiently against the armrest. His sharp golden eyes bore into Eila, who stood nervously before him. The heavy silence in the room only intensified her unease.

Luna Priscilla remained composed beside her mate, her expression unreadable. Unlike her husband, she was more intrigued than irritated. But it was Leonard's presence—standing like an impenetrable wall beside Eila—that truly made the situation tense. His usual icy demeanor had cracked, replaced by something dangerously close to betrayal.

Eila swallowed hard. This was it. There was no turning back now.

After what felt like an eternity, she finally forced herself to stop fidgeting and speak.

"I came here because I need to tell you something important," she began, her voice steady despite the storm inside her. "There are things about me that you don't know… things that will change the way you see me."

Alpha Magnus arched an eyebrow. "You've interrupted my evening for this? Speak, girl. I don't have all night."

Eila clenched her fists, ignoring the condescension in his tone. She turned her focus to Luna Priscilla instead, who watched her with quiet curiosity.

Taking a deep breath, she said, "I had a dream… a dream where I met the Moon Goddess."

That caught their attention.

Magnus narrowed his eyes. Priscilla tilted her head slightly, intrigued. Leonard, however, stiffened beside her.

Eila pushed forward. "She told me I was special. That I had gifts."

Magnus leaned back, unimpressed. "Many wolves have special abilities. What makes you any different?"

Eila lifted her chin. "I have clairvoyance—I see future events in my dreams."

Magnus scoffed, but Priscilla's gaze sharpened. "And?"

Eila swallowed. "I can heal wounds… not just my own, but others as well."

Silence.

Leonard's head snapped toward her, his eyes wide with disbelief. She felt his gaze burning into the side of her face, but she didn't dare look at him.

"Impossible," Magnus muttered. "No werewolf has such abilities."

"She's telling the truth," Priscilla interjected smoothly, her piercing gaze assessing Eila with new interest. "Healing others is almost unheard of, but not impossible."

Magnus frowned but said nothing, clearly waiting for her to continue.

Eila took another shaky breath. "There's more."

Magnus exhaled through his nose, already irritated. "Of course there is."

Eila bit her lip before forcing herself to say it. "I have three mates."

The reaction was immediate.

Magnus's hands clenched the armrests, his sharp gaze turning predatory. Priscilla's eyebrows shot up in genuine surprise. But it was Leonard's reaction that made Eila's heart twist.

He went utterly still. A muscle in his jaw twitched. When he finally spoke, his voice was dangerously quiet.

"Three?"

Eila's stomach churned. "Yes."

Leonard turned toward her fully now, his icy blue eyes piercing through her. "Who?"

Eila hesitated. "I don't know yet."

His hands curled into fists at his sides. The tension in the room became suffocating.

Magnus leaned forward, his expression unreadable. "The mate bond is sacred. Three mates is unheard of."

Eila nodded. "I know. That's why I'm telling you."

Leonard let out a slow breath, visibly trying to control himself. His reaction was understandable—he had believed their bond was unique, only to find out that two others shared the same claim on her.

Priscilla finally spoke, her voice gentle but firm. "And how do you plan to handle this, Eila?"

Eila straightened her shoulders. "By proving my worth."

Magnus gave a dry chuckle. "Oh? And how do you plan to do that?"

Eila met his gaze head-on. "By enrolling in Moonshine University."

Silence.

Magnus blinked. "You want to go to university?"

"Yes."

Priscilla's lips curved into a small smile.

"Interesting."

Eila pressed on. "It's the perfect solution. If I train here, my family will suffer financially. My mother will be forced to quit her job just because I'm Leonard's mate, and she won't be allowed to work until I prove myself—which could take a year or more." She paused, then added, "But if I go to Moonshine University, I can gain knowledge in politics, business, etiquette, and combat. I'll have four years to prepare myself for my future position, and by then, my family's status will no longer be an issue."

Magnus considered her words carefully. "You do realize that Moonshine University is not a place for weaklings? Even with Luna's decree allowing women to study, few will accept you."

Eila nodded. "I understand. But I am willing to fight for my place."

Magnus exhaled, rubbing his temples. "This is a bold request."

Priscilla turned to her mate. "It's not a bad idea, Magnus. The girl is right. If she stays here and trains under scrutiny, her family will suffer. But if she trains at the university, she will return stronger—both in skill and reputation."

Magnus scowled but didn't argue. He turned to Leonard. "And what does my Beta think of this?"

Leonard was silent for a long moment. Then, he finally spoke.

"She should go."

Eila's breath caught.

Leonard turned to face her fully, his expression unreadable. "If you're going to be my mate, you need to be strong. I won't have you standing at my side unprepared. If university is the way to achieve that, then so be it."

Eila nodded, relief flooding her.

Magnus sighed. "Fine. You have my permission to enroll."

Eila's heart soared.

Priscilla smiled. "You will have our full support, Eila."

Magnus waved a dismissive hand. "Just don't embarrass this pack."

Eila bowed her head. "I won't."

As she turned to leave, Leonard grabbed her wrist, pulling her close. His breath was warm against her ear as he whispered,

"This isn't over."

A shiver ran down her spine.

No, it definitely wasn't.