The Triumvirate Prophecy: The Three Mates

I can’t even begin to fathom what’s happening. How did I end up here, in the middle of the woods, my back pressed against the rough bark of a tree? My leg feels like it’s being consumed by flames, and the blood pooling around me feels as cold as ice, seeping through my clothes in chilling waves. In front of me, an enormous wolf stands. I’ve never seen anything like it before— its fur blends with the surrounding darkness, a subtle shimmer in the moonlight. And its eyes... those amber-golden eyes pierce through me, filled with an ancient, knowing intelligence. It stares at me as if it’s trying to understand the same questions I am. What is happening? How did I get here? I can barely comprehend the situation, let alone my own thoughts. Let me rewind a bit—back to the beginning—before everything got so... unreal. --- My name is Sasha Antonov. I turned nineteen last month, and I've spent the past year living with my roommate, Aiden. Life hasn’t been easy for me. I was orphaned at seven and shuffled between various foster homes until I turned eighteen. For years, I learned to fend for myself, growing up too quickly, never knowing stability. Aiden’s life hasn’t been much easier. He was kicked out of his home at sixteen when he came out as gay. He’s twenty-one now, and since that day, his parents haven’t spoken to him. We found each other in the most unexpected way. One of the families I lived with mentioned Aiden was looking for a roommate, and it seemed like the perfect fit. He’s kind, supportive, and, well, it was an added bonus that I’m more comfortable around women. I’m a lesbian, after all. Aiden loves to joke about how cute I am, but he also teases me constantly about my lack of fashion sense. I’m about average height for a woman—five foot four—and my hair is thick and dark auburn, falling just past my shoulders in soft waves. I have bright green eyes, flecked with golden brown, and a dusting of freckles across my nose that I’ve learned to embrace. As for my body, I’m curvier than most, a fact I tend to hide beneath baggy sweaters and leggings. It’s not that I dislike my body, but I guess I’ve never felt the need to flaunt it. Aiden, on the other hand, insists my curves are “delicious,” though I still don’t see it. I’ve always thought I could stand to lose a few pounds—not because I’m overweight, but because I’ve convinced myself that I’d be “cuter” a little leaner. It’s a thought that lingers, especially when I’m getting ready for a date, though it doesn’t control my life. Aiden, though, he’s the opposite. He’s tall, lean, and his platinum blonde hair contrasts sharply with his piercing blue eyes. He’s always been the more fashion-forward one. Despite our differing appearances, Aiden and I share one thing in common—we’re both strong, athletic, and we love working out together. I’ve never been one to back down from a challenge, and that’s probably why my muscle tone shows despite my constant struggles with body image. I train as hard as he does, but my body never seems to change in the ways I expect. Sometimes, it’s frustrating. Still, I’ve learned to let it go. We share other common interests, too. We both love to read. Aiden prefers historical books, while I can’t get enough of supernatural fiction. But it’s not just books we love—being outside, in nature, is another thing we both enjoy. We’ll spend entire weekends hiking, camping, or horseback riding. Photography is something I’ve picked up on the side, though I’d never call myself a photographer. I work as a librarian at our local library. It’s not the most glamorous job, but I enjoy the quiet, the smell of old books, and the comfort of my routine. I’d say I’m of above-average intelligence—definitely more book-smart than most people. Aiden teases me sometimes, saying I talk over his head, but I like having someone to challenge me. And, frankly, the library is a place where I can hide, unnoticed, blending into the background in my oversized clothes. When I’m not shelving books, I work on coding. It’s a side hustle I picked up during my free time at the library. The internet connection there is fast, and I can code for hours without interruption, enjoying the rhythm of tapping away at the keyboard. We live in Conway, New Hampshire—a quaint, quiet town surrounded by thick forests that stretch for miles. Our little loft, which occupies the third floor of a repurposed factory, is just a ten-minute drive from the library. The conservation center in Albany, where I often go for hikes, is only five minutes away. It’s peaceful here, in the woods, where the air is crisp, and the only sound you hear is the rustle of leaves or the call of distant wildlife. Today seemed like any other. I woke up at seven, hopped in the shower, and by the time I finished, Aiden had breakfast ready. I dressed in my usual comfort—black Victoria’s Secret Pink leggings and a baggy gray sweater from the thrift shop. I don’t wear much makeup—just a light coat of mascara and some foundation to even out my complexion. Aiden had made eggs and bacon, and I poured myself a glass of orange juice before sitting down to eat. “You should wear tighter clothes, Sasha,” Aiden said, mid-bite. I cringed. “First of all, don’t talk with food in your mouth. And secondly, I like what I’m wearing.” Aiden grumbled but kept eating. I loved him like a brother, but sometimes, his dramatics got the best of him. Not that I didn’t have my moments too—I'm definitely not without my own quirks. I grabbed my laptop and my blue light filter glasses, which help with the migraines I tend to get after too much screen time and headed out the door. I also have my daith piercings, which are supposed to help, but they don’t always do the trick. I’ve always been a bit of a loner, and my piercings, like my appearance, often draw unwanted attention. I’ve got a lip, nose, and multiple ear piercings. I’ve thought about getting my eyebrow pierced, but it would only make me stand out more—something I’m not exactly eager to do. And when the guys at the library stare at me, I feel uncomfortable. I’d rather they pay attention to LeAnn, my assistant. LeAnn’s gorgeous. She’s taller than me, with long, caramel-brown hair and deep chocolate eyes. She’s thinner than me, but in a way that’s still incredibly feminine. She’s straight, and she has a boyfriend, but that doesn’t stop me from admiring her. I’ve caught myself staring at her on more than one occasion, and I’m sure she’s noticed. I can’t help it. There’s something about her that’s magnetic. As I arrived at the library, I parked at the back lot, giving our patrons space at the front. LeAnn pulled in just behind me, and I gave her a small wave, ducking my head slightly. It’s a habit I’ve developed around her—shy, awkward, always trying to avoid her knowing how much I admire her. The day was moving smoothly. We were taking inventory of the supernatural section, something I always look forward to. We only had two books missing: 'Beautiful Creatures' by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, and 'Incubus Dreams' by Laurell K. Hamilton. Both were fantastic books, the kind that had me hooked on the first page. I’d read the entire Anita Blake series and had grown to adore her character. But little did I know, today would soon take a turn I could never have imagined.