I didn't know how many hours had passed. I stirred from a sleep that felt both eternal and fleeting, my body aching and weak as I slowly blinked my eyes open. The first thing I noticed was the shocking softness beneath me—a bed, richer and more comfortable than anything I'd ever known.
Then I felt it. Warmth pressed against both sides of me, hard bodies—too close for comfort. My breath hitched. I slowly, cautiously, turned my head. A man. No, not just any man.
He was handsome, his features masculine, with muscles rippling even in his sleep. His skin was bare, and my pulse quickened as I realized he was completely naked. Panic began to set in.
I turned to the other side, and there was another one. Equally breathtaking, also naked, his chest rising and falling rhythmically as he slept.
Suddenly, fragmented memories began flooding my mind. The Annual Purge. The dark forest. Running. The growls, the chase. Three of them surrounding me. Fangs sinking into my flesh. Pain, yes, but something else too—something far more intense than anything I'd ever felt.
"Oh, God," I whispered breathlessly, the realization hitting me like a slap. "Werewolves."
My brown eyes widened as the truth crashed over me. I tried to sit up, but my muscles protested with every move. A groan escaped my lips, and that's when I noticed both men beside me stirring.
Alpha Damien was the first to wake. His golden eyes flashed as they landed on me, sharp and alert in an instant. A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, but there was something else in his gaze—a glint that made my heart skip a beat. Xavier followed, his gaze softer but no less intense. Both men sat up, their movements slow and deliberate, as if trying not to startle me. But it was too late.
I scrambled away, my back pressing against the headboard as panic gripped me.
"Stay away from me," I gasped. "You're... you're werewolves. You bit me. You're going to kill me!"
Damien's brow furrowed, and he shook his head. "No, Andra," he said softly. "We're not going to hurt you..."
"How did you know my name?" I froze, my eyes darting between the two men. "What did you do to me?"
Xavier reached for me but stopped when he saw me flinch. He licked his lips, hesitant at first, then gently said, "We marked you." His voice was strangely soothing. "Not to harm you, but to claim you as our mate."
My breath came in ragged bursts as the weight of his words sank in. "Mate?" I repeated. "What does that even mean?"
Damien moved closer, his gaze locking with mine. He sighed. "I see you don't remember. The Annual Purge isn't about killing. It's a way for us to find our true mates. When we bit you, we were connecting our souls with yours. You're no longer just human. You're becoming one of us. A werewolf."
My hands flew to my neck, where the marks still tingled. "No... no, that can't be. I'm weak, I'm just human. I can't be like you. I don't want to be like you."
"You're not weak," Xavier said firmly, his hand gently cupping my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. "The bite cleanses you of your human identity. Soon, your own wolf will emerge, and you'll be stronger—stronger than you've ever imagined. You're one of us now, whether you like it or not. You've been chosen, and your destiny has been decided."
"Why me?" I whispered. "Why did you choose me?"
Xavier leaned closer, almost kissing me. "We didn't choose you. Fate did."
Damien's fingers brushed my cheek, a gesture far too tender for the storm of emotions raging inside me. "I'm sorry, but this is not a dream. You're ours now."
I swallowed hard, the realization solidifying: there was no going back. Damien patiently watched me, his eyes softening as he noticed my gaze darting around the room. My breath was still uneven, my body trembling slightly from the overwhelming flood of strange sensations.
Damien leaned in closer, gently kissing my cheek with his soft lips. "How are you feeling, Sweet Pup?" he asked.
I swallowed hard, my mind still piecing together the fragmented images from the previous night. I remembered the power in their touch, how my body had responded to them in ways I never imagined. And now, here I was, marked by three of them, claimed as their mate. A part of me wanted to draw back in fear, but another part felt drawn to them, bound in a way I still couldn't understand.
My eyes narrowed as I looked around. "There are only two of you here..." I murmured. "Where's the other one?"
Damien and Xavier exchanged a glance before Damien answered. "Magnus is in his own room for now," he said. "We thought it would be best to give you some space. The bedroom will be reconstructed soon to accommodate all of us... for the time being."
My heart pounded. "All of us?" The thought of sharing a room, let alone a bed, with all three of them was almost too much to bear.
"Yes," both men spoke gently.
Silence lingered before I responded. "I want to go home. Away from here. Away from... all of this."
Xavier shook his head softly. "I'm sorry, my Gorgeous Mate, but you can't go home anymore."
Damien leaned closer, his hand still resting on my cheek. "The Moonlit Pack is your home now, and forever."
My chest tightened. My eyes filled with tears, but I fought them back. "I didn't ask for this."
Damien's eyes softened, and he leaned down, pressing his forehead gently against mine. "Neither did we."
I closed my eyes, trying to calm the storm of emotions surging within me. I inhaled sharply before asking, "Can you… give me a moment alone?"
Surprised by my request, Damien and Xavier exchanged glances, but they both nodded without hesitation. "Of course," Damien murmured, standing from the bed. "We'll be right outside."
With that, they both left the room, the soft thud of the door closing behind them. Finally alone, I sat up, my breath quickening as I glanced around the room, searching for a way out. My eyes soon landed on the window.
It was my only chance—my only way to escape this nightmare. Without thinking twice, I moved to the window, fumbling with the latch as quietly as possible.
The cool breeze of early morning hit my face as I pushed the window open, the scent of the forest and fresh dew filling the air. I quickly climbed out, my bare feet hitting the ground softly. I scanned the area, desperate for a path that would lead me far from the Moonlit Pack.
But before I could take another step, my body froze. A figure stood just ahead, bathed in the soft light of daybreak. His piercing eyes met mine. He was leaning casually against a tree, arms crossed over his muscular chest, as if he had been waiting for me.
"Running away already, Little Wolf?"