The Shadow Wolf

Aria Vale hated pack gatherings.

She stood at the edge of the forest, watching the other wolves laugh and dance around the huge bonfire. Music filled the night air. The scent of roasted meat made her stomach growl. But Aria stayed hidden in the shadows, where she belonged.

That's what everyone told her, anyway. Omegas should be quiet. Omegas should stay out of sight. Omegas should know their place.

"There you are!" Cira's voice cut through Aria's thoughts. Her best friend appeared between the trees, hands on her hips. "I've been looking everywhere for you!"

Aria smiled. Cira was the opposite of what an omega should be – loud, bold, and never afraid to speak her mind.

"Sorry," Aria whispered. "I was just..."

"Hiding again?" Cira finished, grabbing Aria's arm. "Not tonight! Tomorrow's your eighteenth birthday, and we're celebrating whether you like it or not."

Aria dug her heels into the dirt. "Please, Cira. No one will even notice I'm not there."

Cira's face softened. "I notice. And tonight isn't just any pack gathering. The Alpha's sons will be there!"

A cold feeling washed over Aria. The triplets. Everyone in the Moonclaw Pack whispered about them – Riven, Kade, and Silas Thorn. Future leaders. Strong, powerful Alphas. They wouldn't even look at an omega like her.

"That's exactly why I should stay away," Aria said.

Cira tugged harder on Aria's arm. "Don't you want to at least see them? They've been away for two years training with other packs. Everyone says they've changed."

Aria bit her lip. She was curious. The triplets had left when they were sixteen – the same age as Aria then. Now they were returning as men, ready to take their places as pack leaders.

"Fine," Aria sighed. "But we stay at the back."

Cira squealed with excitement and pulled Aria toward her small cabin. "First, we need to get you ready!"

An hour later, Aria barely recognized herself. Cira had insisted on brushing out her long dark hair until it shone like midnight water. She'd lent Aria her best dress – a simple blue one that somehow made Aria's silver eyes stand out like moons.

"You look beautiful," Cira said proudly.

Aria stared at her reflection. Beautiful wasn't a word anyone used for omegas. Useful, maybe. Obedient. But not beautiful.

"It doesn't matter how I look," Aria said, tugging at the dress. "No one sees me anyway."

Cira grabbed Aria's shoulders. "I see you. And tonight, others will too. Maybe even the Alpha's sons!"

Aria laughed. "Right. Because the future pack leaders have nothing better to do than notice the weakest omega."

Something flashed in Cira's eyes. "You're not weak, Aria. You've never been weak."

Before Aria could respond, Cira dragged her out the door and toward the center of the pack lands where the celebration had grown louder.

The pack grounds buzzed with excitement. Tables overflowed with food. Wolves danced around the massive bonfire, their shadows stretching into the darkness. Children chased each other between the adults' legs.

Aria tried to make herself smaller, pressing against Cira as they moved through the crowd. Every instinct told her to run back to the safety of the trees.

"Relax," Cira whispered. "No one's even looking at us."

But someone was.

Aria felt it before she saw him – a prickling sensation at the back of her neck. She turned slowly and her heart stopped.

At the head table sat the Alpha and his wife. And beside them, three young men who could only be the famous triplets.

The tallest one – Riven, she guessed – was watching her.

Aria quickly looked away, her cheeks burning. Why would he stare at her? Did she look strange? Was she breaking some rule she didn't know about?

"Cira," she hissed, "the Alpha's son is looking at me."

Cira's eyes widened. She glanced over at the head table and grinned. "Not just one of them. All three are watching you now."

Aria froze. She couldn't help it – she looked again.

Cira was right. All three brothers had their eyes fixed on her. Riven's face was serious, his dark eyes intense under heavy brows. Beside him, Kade – recognizable by the scar across his jaw – was leaning forward, a curious smile playing on his lips. And at the end, Silas, the quietest brother, studied her with a look that made Aria feel like he could see right through her.

"This isn't funny," Aria whispered, turning away. "Let's go get food."

"You go," Cira said with a mischievous smile. "I need to talk to my cousin about something."

Before Aria could protest, Cira disappeared into the crowd, leaving her alone.

Typical Cira. Always pushing Aria out of her comfort zone.

Taking a deep breath, Aria made her way to the food table, keeping her head down. She could still feel the weight of the triplets' stares following her.

As she reached for a plate, a deep voice spoke behind her.

"You're Aria Vale, aren't you?"

She spun around, nearly dropping the plate. Riven Thorn stood before her, taller than she'd expected. His shoulders were broad, his presence commanding. Up close, his eyes weren't just dark – they were deep midnight blue.

Aria's throat went dry. She managed a small nod.

"I thought so," he said. His voice wasn't friendly, but it wasn't cruel either. "My father pointed you out."

The Alpha had pointed her out? Aria's mind raced. Why would the pack leader even know who she was?

"Your birthday is tomorrow," Riven continued.

It wasn't a question, but Aria nodded again anyway.

"Eighteen is an important age." His eyes never left her face. "Things change."

A shiver ran down Aria's spine. Was that a warning?

Before she could find her voice, another brother appeared at Riven's side. Kade's smile was bright and charming, the opposite of his serious brother.

"Don't mind Riven," Kade said, his green eyes sparkling. "He's forgotten how to talk to pretty girls during his training."

Aria blinked in surprise. Did he just call her pretty?

"I was just leaving," Riven said stiffly. He gave Aria one last look before walking away.

Kade rolled his eyes. "Sorry about him. He takes everything too seriously." He picked up a sweet cake from the table and offered it to Aria. "Birthday treat?"

Aria hesitantly took the cake. "Thank you."

"So you're the quiet omega everyone talks about," Kade said, leaning against the table.

Aria's stomach dropped. "People talk about me?"

Kade's smile widened. "More than you think."

Before she could ask what he meant, the music changed. A fast, wild tune filled the air, and Kade's eyes lit up.

"Dance with me!" He held out his hand.

Aria shook her head quickly. "I don't dance."

"Everyone dances," Kade insisted. "Just one song?"

"She said no, Kade."

The third brother had joined them. Silas was slimmer than his brothers, but his quiet presence commanded attention in a different way. His amber eyes studied Aria with interest.

"I was just being friendly," Kade said, but he stepped back.

Silas nodded to Aria. "Happy early birthday, Aria Vale." He spoke her name carefully, like it was something precious.

Then he turned to his brother. "Father's looking for you."

Kade sighed dramatically. "Duty calls." He winked at Aria. "Save me a dance for next time."

As the brothers walked away, Aria stood frozen, clutching the sweet cake. What had just happened? Why had all three Alpha sons spoken to her? No one had ever paid this much attention to her before.

She glanced down at the cake in her hand and noticed something strange – a small mark pressed into the frosting. A crescent moon.

The same shape as the birthmark on her shoulder that she kept hidden from everyone except Cira.

Aria looked up quickly, searching for the brothers in the crowd. Silas had stopped and was watching her, his expression unreadable. When their eyes met, he gave her the smallest nod before disappearing into the crowd.

A strange feeling bubbled up inside Aria – something between fear and excitement. For the first time in her life, she felt seen. But why now? Why tonight, just before her eighteenth birthday?

As the moon rose higher in the sky, casting silver light over the celebration, Aria couldn't shake the feeling that everything was about to change. And deep inside, in a place she kept hidden fro

m everyone, a strange power stirred – like a wolf waking from a long sleep.