Unexpected Allies

Lily Carter POV

My heart was racing as I rushed through the nursery doors to find the puppies safe and sound. I looked around and saw two confused guards looking at me. There was no attack and no bad guys. Just two sleepy dogs in their beds.

One of them asked, "Miss Carter?" "Is everything wrong?"

I took a deep breath and looked around. "The alarm... someone said rogues were taking the pups."

The guards looked at each other. "Don't attack here. The warning went off at the northern border.

Before I could figure out what this meant, I heard heavy footsteps behind me. I turned to see Caleb, followed by Aiden and Brock, all breathing hard from running.

"The pups?" Caleb asked quickly.

"They're fine," I said, my mind running. "But someone lied about an attack here."

Aiden's eyes narrowed. "A trap. To separate you from us."

"We need to get you back to the house," Brock growled, already turning to the door.

Suddenly, the nursery windows burst inward. Glass flew everywhere as dark shapes leaped through. Not rogues—these dogs wore masks carved from bone.

"Run!" Caleb yelled, pushing me behind him.

But I couldn't leave the pups. As the brothers shifted to wolf form to fight the attackers, I ran to the back room where the youngest pups slept. A masked animal was already there, leaning over the smallest crib.

Without thinking, I grabbed a big wooden toy and swung it hard. It connected with the attacker's head with a crack. The wolf turned, growling, eyes glowing behind the mask.

"Get away from them!" I shouted.

The wolf lunged at me. I felt that same dangerous energy from years ago rise inside me—the power I'd tried to keep locked away since the Tommy Reed incident. But this time, I didn't fight it.

My shift came faster than it ever had before. My omega wolf was smaller than an alpha or beta, but somehow I knocked the attacker backward through sheer force of will. The Triple Moon Mark burned like fire on my wolf's leg.

The fight finished quickly after that. The masked wolves fled as quickly as they'd come, leaving destruction in their wake. Miraculously, none of the pups were hurt.

As we returned to human form, the brothers stared at me with new eyes.

"How did you..." Brock started, then stopped, looking confused.

I didn't answer. I couldn't explain what I barely understood myself.

The dining room felt too quiet the next morning. I sat stiffly at the huge table, aware of every clink of silverware against plates. After last night's attack and my strange power, no one seemed to know what to say.

Alpha Marcus had left at dawn to track the masked wolves with a hunting group, leaving me alone with the triplets for breakfast.

Aiden sat at the head of the table, his back straight, cutting his food into perfect little pieces. Every few minutes, he looked at me, then away. Polite, but absent.

Brock kept his eyes on his plate, shoveling food into his mouth. Occasionally, he'd look up and study me like I was a puzzle he couldn't answer. The suspicious stares made my skin crawl.

Caleb sat directly across from me, a thick book propped against the water jug. He flipped pages as he ate, barely looking at his food. But unlike his boys, he didn't seem uncomfortable around me.

"You should eat," Aiden finally said, breaking the quiet. "You need your strength after last night."

I nodded and picked at my food. I'd never seen so much on one breakfast plate—eggs, bacon, fresh bread, and veggies. In my old house, breakfast was usually just a small bowl of oatmeal.

"The masked wolves," I started, wanting to get past the awkwardness. "Have they attacked before?"

"No," Aiden answered. "They're not rogues. Their masks and planned attack suggest something more organized."

"And they specifically wanted you," Brock added bluntly. "Why?"

I cringed at his tone. "I don't know."

"They targeted the nursery to draw you out," Aiden said carefully. "Someone knows your attachment to the pups."

My fork clattered to my plate as I remembered Luna's threat. Had she planned the attack?

"What happened last night," Brock said, leaning forward, "when you shifted. Omegas aren't meant to be that strong."

I stared at my plate, shame washing over me. "I know."

"Actually," Caleb spoke up, pushing the book he'd been reading across the table to me, "that's not true."

I looked down at the book. The page showed an ancient picture of omega wolves fighting alongside alphas and betas. The description read "The Guardians of Balance: Omega Protectors."

"What is this?" I asked, touching the page carefully.

"Our real history," Caleb said, excitement creeping into his voice. "Before the Great Division three hundred years ago, omegas weren't just nursemaids and slaves. They were healers, yes, but also protectors of the young and keepers of pack knowledge."

Aiden frowned. "That contradicts everything we've been taught."

"Because someone wanted it forgotten," Caleb declared. "Look at this."

He flipped a few pages to show another image—an omega wolf with three moons glowing on its flank, standing between a pack of wolves and some shadowy danger.

"The Triple Moon Bearer," he said. "Always an omega, always appearing when the pack faces a hidden danger."

My heart beat faster as I studied the picture. "This looks like my mark."

"Exactly." Caleb nodded. "And according to this text, the Bearer has skills other omegas don't. Enhanced strength, healing powers, and something called 'truth sight.'"

"Truth sight?" Brock repeated skeptically.

"The ability to see through deception," Caleb explained. "To know when someone is lying or hiding something."

A memory flashed in my mind—how I'd always been able to tell which pups were lying about who started fights or took treats. I'd thought it was just good observation, but what if it was more?

"Where did you find this book?" Aiden asked, now looking interested despite himself.

"In a hidden compartment in the library wall," Caleb admitted. "I've been searching for information since Lily's mark appeared."

As they talked the book, I felt something shift inside me—a weight lifting. If Caleb was right, my strength wasn't something to fear or hide. It was part of who I was meant to be.

"There's more," Caleb said softly. He turned to a page showing a circular table with wolves of all ranks sitting equally. "Before the Division, our pack was ruled differently. Alpha, beta, and omega leaders had equal say."

"That's ridiculous," Brock scoffed. "Alphas lead because we're strongest."

"Strength isn't everything," I said before I could stop myself.

To my surprise, Aiden nodded slowly. "Maybe that's why the mark appeared now. Our pack has been suffering. Maybe we need to restore balance."

A knock at the door stopped us. A nervous-looking servant entered.

"Miss Carter," he said with a bow that still felt wrong to me. "Elder Iris asks for you immediately. She says it's about your mother's book."

"My mother's journal?" I repeated, confused. "But I don't have—"

"She said you'd understand when you saw it," the helper continued. "She's waiting in the healing cabin."

The brothers exchanged looks.

"I'll go with you," Caleb offered quickly.

"We all will," Aiden decided.

As we walked through the pack grounds, folks stared and whispered. Word of last night's attack—and my unusual strength—had clearly spread.

The healing cabin was at the edge of the area, surrounded by herb gardens. Elder Iris had taught me everything I knew about healing plants here.

When we arrived, the door stood slightly open. I called out but heard no answer.

"Something's wrong," Brock said, his body tensing.

I pushed the door open wider. The cabin was empty, herbs and bottles scattered across the floor as if there had been a fight.

"Elder Iris?" I called again, fear rising in my throat.

A soft groan came from behind a curtain. I ran over to find Elder Iris lying on the floor, blood seeping from a wound on her head.

"Lily," she whispered as I knelt beside her. "They took it. They took your mother's book."

"Who?" I asked, putting a clean cloth to her wound. "Who did this?"

Elder Iris grabbed my wrist with surprising strength, pulling me closer. Her eyes were wide with fear.

"Trust no one," she hissed. "Not even the boys. One of them knows the truth about your mother's death."

"Which one?" I asked, my blood running cold.

Elder Iris's eyes fluttered. "The one who carries the moon shade. The one who—"

Her words cut off as a low growl came from the opening behind us. I turned to see the three Silver brothers standing there, their faces blank.

One of them was a rogue. One of them might have killed my mother.

But which one?