The Alpha Triangle

Wolves at Dawn

As she dried and brushed out my hair, her voice softened.

“I remember my shifting ceremony like it was yesterday.”

I glanced at her, curious. A small grin tugged at her lips as she continued.

“I wore a dark yellow gown, and my mom, your grandma, pinned my hair back, letting little curls fall in just the right spots. I was so nervous I could hardly stand still. There were six of us shifting that night. One by one, I watched my peers transform, and the hours dragged on. When it finally came to me…” She let out a soft laugh. “I panicked. I pivoted on my heels and tried to make a break for it. My mom caught me before I could get too far and dragged me right back to my spot.”

There was a spark in her eyes as she spoke, one I hadn’t seen in a long time. I had always thought of my mother as fearless. The watcher, the supporter, the one who never wavered. But hearing this made her real in a new way. She had been scared, too.

“And obviously it worked out,” she finished, a little smile tugging at her lips. “Because here I am.”

We fell into a comfortable silence as she curled my long, thick hair. Several cans of hairspray later, she was finally satisfied. Makeup came next. Quick, efficient strokes that highlighted my features in ways I barely recognized. When she pinned back a few loose strands, she leaned back to admire her work.

“Finished,” she announced proudly. “Put these on.”

She handed me a pair of silver high heels, sparkling with jewels to rival the dress itself. I slid them on reluctantly. They added nearly five inches to my height, and with every step I felt like my ankles might snap. Graceful was not a word I’d ever use for myself in heels.

Mom helped me over to the full-length mirror behind my door. For a moment, I didn’t recognize the reflection staring back. She was tall. Confident. Gorgeous. A version of me I had never imagined.

“Do you like the bracelet Liam gave you?” Mom asked softly. “It matches the dress beautifully, don’t you think?”

I looked down at the delicate piece on my wrist, then back at my reflection. “It’s perfect,” I whispered. “Everything’s perfect.”

I wrapped my arms around her in a hug, but she quickly pulled back with a laugh. “Careful. Don’t ruin all my hard work. Now it’s my turn to get ready.” She gave me a playful nudge. “Liam’s waiting out front. Go with him to the ceremony, mingle, grab something to eat. I’ll be there shortly.”

“Will you help me down the stairs first?” I asked sheepishly.

Her face softened. “I would love that.”

We walked arm in arm until we reached the car. Liam was already waiting in the back seat, engine idling. At the bottom of the steps, my mother and I parted with a wave, her smile proud and full of love.

“Wow.”

That was the first word out of Liam’s mouth as I opened the car door. His eyes widened, and his lips curved into a grin.

“I knew you’d look great, but I didn’t expect you to be absolutely stunning.”

He looked sharp himself. Black slacks, polished shoes, and a crisp white button-up. His green tie matched my dress perfectly, though it was loosened around his collar, the top button undone.

“You don’t look too shabby yourself,” I shot back with a smirk.

The shifting ceremony was being held on the same land we trained on, so within a minute, the car slowed to a stop. My stomach twisted tighter with every passing second.

“Hold on,” Liam said quickly as he hopped out and jogged around to my side. He opened the door with a flourish and extended his hand. I took it, grateful for the support, and he helped me rise gracefully from the seat. Our fingers intertwined, steadying me against the ridiculous heels as we wove through the thousands of pack members already gathered.

Liam paused to greet several people, exchanging small talk with easy confidence. I, on the other hand, distracted myself with hors d’oeuvres from trays floating past. My nerves had knotted my stomach so tightly I could barely swallow, but nibbling gave my hands something to do.

Then, suddenly, a hush rolled through the crowd.

Alpha Alex strode into the gathering, followed by my mother, Luna Layla, and both Wes and Dallas.

Almost immediately, Madisen appeared out of nowhere, slipping her way toward them. She draped herself across Wes and Dallas, one hand on each. Wes recoiled, gripping her wrist before pushing it firmly back down. Dallas, however, didn’t resist. He slipped an arm around her waist, indulging her like she was his prize.

My jaw clenched. My blood boiled at the sight of her plastered against them, hair flipping like she was the star of her own photo shoot. Why did I care? What was so special about those two that had me suddenly furious? Madisen had been pulling stunts like this with Liam for years, and I’d always laughed them off. Tonight, though, the sight burned.

She looked every bit like a Barbie doll in her ultra-short, neon-pink dress. It was skin-tight, as though she’d just stepped out of water. And she was loving every bit of the attention, even if only half of it was welcome.

Alpha Alex took the microphone at the center of the stage and tapped it twice. His deep voice carried effortlessly across the silent crowd.

“Welcome to the September shifting ceremony. Tonight, I am honored to officially introduce two more wolves into our pack, once they have successfully shifted.” He glanced at the cards in his hand. “If I could have Madisen Drake and Freya Bounds join me at the front, we are ready to begin.”

My heart thundered. Liam gave my hand a reassuring squeeze before tugging me forward.

Step by step, he walked me toward the stage, guiding me through the mass of eyes that seemed to burn into my skin. It was easier than I’d imagined, maybe because Liam never let go of me.

When we reached the front, he let me go with an encouraging nod.

I forced myself to climb the steps, the heels wobbling beneath me, until I stood on stage beside Madisen. She was already waiting, flipping her glossy hair like there were cameras flashing just for her.

And now, there was no going back.

“Who wants to go first?” Alpha Alex boomed.