Destined by the moon, Claimed by Three

The night was young, filled with the hum of laughter and the soft murmur of conversation as Aisling Callahan sipped her drink, her gaze wandering across the crowded room. She hadn’t planned on being here, at this swanky rooftop bar with her coworkers. After a long week as a nurse in the chaotic emergency room, all she wanted was a quiet evening at home, wrapped in a blanket with a cup of tea and a good book. But her friends had insisted—a “celebration,” they’d called it, though she wasn’t sure what they were celebrating besides surviving another grueling week. The bar was elegant, with dim lighting that cast a warm glow over the polished wooden surfaces. Aisling could see the city skyline through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the lights twinkling like stars against the dark expanse of the night. It was a beautiful sight, but she couldn’t shake the feeling of restlessness tugging at her. She glanced around at her friends, who were engrossed in animated conversations, and sighed. Maybe one more drink, then she could make her escape. As she made her way to the bar, she felt a prickle at the back of her neck, a sensation that made her pause. She glanced over her shoulder, half-expecting to see someone staring at her, but the only eyes that met hers were those of a disinterested bartender. Shaking off the feeling, she slid onto a barstool and ordered another glass of wine. "Rough day?" the bartender asked as he poured her drink. Aisling nodded, offering a small smile. "You could say that. But honestly, it’s just been a rough week." The bartender nodded sympathetically. "I hear that a lot. But hey, at least it’s Friday, right?" "Right," Aisling agreed, though the idea of the weekend didn’t bring her much comfort. She was tired—tired of the monotony, tired of the endless cycle of work and sleep, tired of the gnawing loneliness that seemed to have taken permanent residence in her chest. As she took a sip of her wine, a presence settled beside her. She turned her head slightly, her eyes catching a glimpse of a man who had just taken the seat next to hers. He was tall, with broad shoulders and a commanding presence that seemed to draw the attention of everyone around him. His dark hair was tousled in a way that looked both effortless and intentional, and his eyes—deep, stormy blue—held a hint of something dangerous, something magnetic. “Mind if I join you?” he asked, his voice low and smooth, like velvet. Aisling blinked, momentarily caught off guard. There was something about him that made her pulse quicken, though she couldn’t quite put her finger on why. He was handsome, certainly, but there was more to it than that. It was as if the air around him buzzed with energy, pulling her in, making it hard to look away. “Sure,” she replied, her voice steadier than she felt. The man smiled, a slow, knowing curve of his lips that sent a shiver down her spine. He ordered a drink—a whiskey, neat—and leaned back slightly, studying her with an intensity that made her feel like she was the only person in the room. “What’s your name?” he asked, his gaze never leaving hers. “Aisling,” she answered, her heart beating a little faster. “And you?” “Just call me Cade,” he said, lifting his glass to his lips. They fell into an easy conversation, the awkwardness that usually accompanied encounters with strangers slipping away like it had never existed. Cade was charming, with a quick wit and a smile that made her feel warm all over. They talked about everything and nothing—work, life, the city. Aisling found herself laughing more than she had in weeks, the heaviness in her chest slowly easing as they shared stories and traded banter. But beneath the surface of their conversation, there was an undeniable tension, a current of attraction that hummed between them. Every time their eyes met, every time his hand brushed against hers, the air seemed to crackle with unspoken possibilities. After what felt like hours, but could have been minutes, Cade leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper that sent another shiver down her spine. “What do you say we get out of here? Somewhere quieter, just the two of us.” Aisling hesitated, her mind racing. She wasn’t the type to go home with a stranger, wasn’t the type to throw caution to the wind. But something about Cade made her want to forget her rules, made her want to take a risk for once in her life. Maybe it was the wine, or maybe it was the way his eyes seemed to see right through her, but she found herself nodding. “Okay,” she said softly, her voice barely audible over the noise of the bar. Cade’s smile widened, and he offered her his hand. “Come with me, Aisling.” She took his hand, the warmth of his skin seeping into hers, and allowed him to lead her out of the bar. The city streets were quieter now, the hustle and bustle of the evening beginning to fade as the night wore on. They walked together, side by side, their fingers still entwined. Aisling didn’t ask where they were going; she didn’t care. All she knew was that being with Cade felt right in a way she couldn’t explain, and for once, she didn’t want to overthink it. They ended up at a small boutique hotel just a few blocks away. Cade checked them in, and before Aisling knew it, they were in an elevator, ascending to the top floor. The air between them was thick with anticipation, the silence heavy but not uncomfortable. When the elevator doors opened, Cade guided her down a quiet hallway to a suite at the end. He unlocked the door and pushed it open, gesturing for her to enter first. The room was luxurious, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a breathtaking view of the city. A king-sized bed dominated the space, its crisp white sheets inviting. But Aisling barely noticed any of it. All she could focus on was Cade, who was watching her with those intense blue eyes, his expression unreadable. For a moment, time seemed to stand still. Aisling’s heart pounded in her chest as she realized the gravity of what she was about to do. This was crazy—she didn’t know anything about this man, didn’t even know his real name. But the thought of stopping, of walking away, seemed impossible. Something about this felt inevitable, as if it had been written in the stars long before tonight. Cade moved toward her, slow and deliberate, until he was standing just inches away. He reached out, his fingers brushing against her cheek, and Aisling felt her breath hitch in her throat. There was a heat in his touch, a searing intensity that made her pulse race. “You’re sure about this?” he murmured, his voice low and husky. Aisling nodded, unable to find her voice. She was sure—sure that she wanted this, sure that she needed to feel alive, if only for a moment. Cade’s lips curved into a smile, and then he was kissing her, his mouth claiming hers with a possessive hunger that made her knees weak. The world outside the room ceased to exist as they lost themselves in each other, the night stretching on in a haze of passion and heat. When Aisling woke the next morning, the sun was streaming through the windows, casting golden light across the bed. She blinked, disoriented for a moment, before the events of the previous night came rushing back. She turned her head, expecting to find Cade beside her, but the space was empty. The sheets were cold, as if he had been gone for some time. A strange sense of disappointment settled over her as she sat up, clutching the sheets to her chest. She glanced around the room, searching for any sign of him, but there was nothing. No note, no number, not even a trace that he had been there at all. She shouldn’t have been surprised—this was what one-night stands were, after all. No strings, no attachments. But still, she couldn’t help the hollow feeling in her chest as she realized he was gone. With a sigh, Aisling climbed out of bed and began gathering her clothes, the warmth and excitement of the night before quickly fading into the cold light of day. She dressed quickly, not wanting to linger in the room any longer than necessary. As she reached for her purse, her hand brushed against something on the nightstand—a small, folded piece of paper. Heart pounding, she picked it up and unfolded it, her eyes scanning the words written in elegant script. “I’m sorry I couldn’t stay. Take care of yourself, Aisling. Until we meet again. —Cade.” Aisling stared at the note for a long moment, her mind swirling with questions. Who was Cade, really? And why did she have the nagging feeling that this wouldn’t be the last time they crossed paths? With a heavy sigh, she tucked the note into her purse and left the room, the weight of the night’s events settling heavily on her shoulders. She had no way of knowing that this one impulsive decision would change her life forever, setting in motion a chain of events that would lead her down a path she could never have imagined. But as she stepped out into the bright morning light, Aisling could feel it—the shift in the air, the tingling awareness that something was coming. Something that would alter her world in ways she couldn’t yet comprehend. All she knew was that her life, so carefully controlled and meticulously planned, was about to be turned upside down. And nothing would ever be the same again.