The Flame-bound Wolf and Her Triplet Mates

7

Chapter Seven

The morning sun streamed through my window, painting the walls with golden light. My wolf stirred restlessly, more alert than usual, her presence thrumming beneath my skin. My dad and Maddie had already tried their best to cheer me up—a small cake for breakfast, balloons in the living room. But I couldn’t shake the weight in my chest, the nagging feeling that today wasn’t just any birthday.

“Are you okay?” Maddie asked, her wide eyes full of concern as she set a plate of pancakes in front of me.

I forced a smile. “Yeah, just a little tired. Thanks, Mads.”

She grinned and skipped off, satisfied with my answer, but my dad lingered. He crouched beside me, placing a steadying hand on my shoulder.

“Whatever’s bothering you, you’ll figure it out,” he said quietly. “And no matter what happens today, you’ve always got us.”

His words hit deeper than he realised. I nodded, muttering a quick thanks before escaping outside. I needed air, needed space to think.

But before I could shift and run into the forest, I froze.

The triplets were waiting at the edge of the yard, their presence impossible to miss. Orion leaned against a tree, his stormy eyes fixed on me. Evan stood with his hands in his pockets, the calm to Orion’s tension. Flint, as always, had that infuriating smirk on his face, though even he seemed...off.

“What do you want?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

They didn’t answer right away. Instead, their gazes sharpened, their wolves stirring.

Then it hit me.

A wave of energy slammed into me, pulling the breath from my lungs. My heart raced as their scents—pine, smoke, and rain—wrapped around me, so intoxicatingly familiar and overwhelmingly new at the same time.

No. No, no, no.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I whispered, stumbling back.

“Milli,” Orion started, his voice low and measured, “we need to talk—”

“No!” I snapped, cutting him off. “You’re not—this isn’t—”

But it was. The bond hummed between us, undeniable and maddening. My wolf practically purred at the sight of them wanting to get closer, but I wanted to scream.

“You’re my mates?” I demanded, glaring at each of them. “All of you?”

Evan stepped forward, his calm voice soothing but no less aggravating. “We didn’t plan this, Milli. Trust me, we’re just as shocked as you are.”

“Shocked?” Flint chuckled, scratching the back of his neck. “We’ve known for 2 years. We left for training because our mom thought that it would be easier for you to accept us if we gave you space especially after the things we did to you. It was hard keeping away from you but knowing you were waiting for us at the end was what got us through, Plum.”

“Why don’t you tell her your whole life story while you’re at it?” Orion growled.

“I don't need to. She probably knows everything about me at this point.” Flint chuckled. He was doing this thing were he uses humour to mask his nerves. It may have been working for him but it only seemed to work to tick off Orion further as he bit out, “This isn’t a joke.”

“No kidding,” I said, my voice trembling. “I can’t deal with this right now.”

Before any of them could stop me, I turned and ran.

The forest blurred around me as I shifted mid-stride, my wolf taking over. She was restless, her emotions as tangled as mine. We ran until the pounding of our paws drowned out the chaos in my head.

That’s when I saw it.

Scorched earth stretched out before me, the perfect circle unnervingly precise. Was this the clearing the triplets had mentioned before? My wolf hesitated, her instincts warning me to stay away. But something stronger pulled me forward.

As soon as I stepped into the circle, the air shifted. Heat prickled along my skin, and my vision blurred. Flames licked at my skin but didn’t burn. Instead, they warmed me from the inside, fueling a strength I didn’t know I had. My wolf’s voice was no longer a whisper—it was a roar, echoing through my mind like a rallying cry.

“We are the fire,” she declared, her tone fierce and unyielding.

The power surged through me, overwhelming and unrelenting. My legs gave out, and I collapsed to the ground, clutching my head as images of fire, destruction, and renewal flooded my mind. My wolf howled within me, not in pain but in triumph.

When I came to, everything felt sharper. My senses were heightened, my body buzzing with energy I didn’t understand.

“What the hell was that?” I muttered, dragging myself to my feet.

“Milli!”

The triplets’ voices broke through the haze. They appeared at the edge of the clearing, their expressions a mix of relief and frustration.

“What are you doing here?” Orion demanded, storming toward me but Evan held him back from crossing into the circle.

“I could ask you the same thing,” I shot back, my voice unsteady.

Evan raised his hands in a placating gesture. “We followed you after you ran off. We were worried.”

“Worried?” I laughed bitterly. “For what?”

“You are our mate.” Flint said, his tone unusually serious. “You shouldn’t be out here.”

I glared at him, my frustration boiling over. “Why? Tell me why I shouldn’t be out here. I want to know everything.”

“No,” Orion said sharply. “It’s for your own safety. Milli you’re in danger, and you don’t even realise it.”

“I realise it more than you think.” I said. “I had a dream of fire. I’ve gotten creepy messages from my possessed dad and from random objects. Just now I could swear I was on fire but there isn't a scratch on me. What is going on?”

The triplets exchanged a look, their wolves visibly restless, trying to get to their mate. Trying to get to me.

I got up from my crouching position and faced them head on. “If you don’t tell me, I am going to find the answers myself and I will never speak to any of you ever again. My life can’t continue in this darkness. I need answers.”

Flint was the first to c***k from my threat. “You’re an elemental wolf.”

I frowned. “What?”

Evan explained, his voice calm but urgent. “You know elemental wolves are rare, powerful, and hunted. Elemental wolves are powerful enough to make packs and it seems like the rogues want to organise themselves into a pack. They need an elemental wolf to do so.”

“So, what? They want me to be their leader? ” I asked, my voice trembling.

“No,” Orion said, stepping closer without coming into the circle. “They already have a leader. The leader wants to use you to keep his pack in order. Without you his power is fickle and his pack will easily fall apart.”

“And I am just supposed to help him?”

Orion spoke up. “No, you're going to fight. And we’re going to help you.”

“How does he even know I have powers?” I asked.

“We are still trying to figure that out. We also think another elemental wolf might be involved judging by the rogue and this spot.” Evan said. He looked down at ground and his worry seemed to grow, “Please come out of the circle Milli so we can discuss this more.”

I nodded and made my way to them. At least now I knew more. There was still a bit to figure out, but at least now I had direction.

“This isn’t how I expected our first meeting as mates to go.” Flint said, grabbing my hand as I reached the edge of the clearing. “You are quite the handful Plum.”

Sparks crept up my arm rendering me momentarily speechless. I looked up at him and as my eyes met his my wolf let out a soft purr which had me clearing my throat to make it seem like a mistake. “How did you know we were mates?”

“It was a few days after our 18th birthday. We had gone over to Aunt May’s house, you were up in Jessa's room. I said you smelt different and Flint said he felt sparks when you touched. We told our parents and they told us we shouldn’t say anything until you turned 18 to give you time to adjust.” Evan explained coming closer to me.

“Adjust to what?” I asked. Letting go of Flint’s hand. "The fact that my biggest tormentors were my mates?”

I saw Flint flinch, Evan immediately tried to salvage the situation. “I think all along our wolves were trying to get closer but didn’t know how to express the bigger feelings.”

I rolled my eyes. The classic excuse of boys not knowing how to manage their feelings so they bully the girl they like.

“We didn’t mean to hurt you.” Flint said.

I found that to believe. Replaying all the times that they had tripped me in front of the entire pack and teased me to the point of tears when I tried out new things, I couldn’t accept that as an explanation for their torment.

“We are sorry.” Orion said, finally speaking up. “I know it should have come sooner but we are truly sorry. We’ll spend the rest of our lives making it up to you.”

“Your word is law from now on.” Flint said.

I blinked back tears. If they hadn't found out I was their mate, would they have apologized? “Whatever, so what is the plan now?” I asked, needing to change the topic. I would definitely be raising hell later so that they would know to never treat anyone like that ever again.

“We are thinking of looking outside the pack. There are wolves who might know more about your kind.” Evan said.

I hesitated, the weight of their words settling over me. I trusted them—not entirely—but I couldn’t deny that I needed their help. “Fine,” I said finally. “But this doesn’t mean I trust you.”

Flint smirked. “Wouldn’t expect anything less, Plum.”

Orion rolled his eyes, but the corner of his mouth twitched in what might have been a smile.

As we left the clearing, Flint kept his grip on my hand, his touch grounding me in a way I wasn’t ready to admit. Evan walked close, his calm presence reassuring, while Orion trailed behind, his gaze unreadable but protective. The fire inside me burned brighter than ever, a quiet promise of what lay ahead—and a warning of what I might become.