The Flame-bound Wolf and Her Triplet Mates

18

Chapter Eighteen

The silence in the clearing was heavy, broken only by the rustle of leaves in the evening breeze. Flint paced, arrow in hand, his expression stormy. Orion leaned against a tree, arms crossed, his brows furrowed in thought. Evan stood beside me, his hand lightly brushing my arm, a grounding presence amidst the chaos of my thoughts.

“I don’t buy it,” Flint finally said, tossing the arrow onto the ground. “The rogue leader is just trying to mess with your head, Plum.”

Orion nodded. “It’s a classic tactic; sow doubt, make you question yourself. He knows the ceremony is coming, and he’s trying to throw you off.”

Evan looked at me, his sharp blue eyes softening. “What do you think, Milli? You’re the one he’s targeting."

I exhaled slowly, forcing my scattered thoughts into order. “I think you’re right. His warning doesn’t add up. Every time I’ve used my powers effectively, you three were nearby. I can feel the connection between us—it makes me stronger, more in control.”

Flint smirked. “Exactly. That bastard’s bluffing, trying to scare you into backing out."

Orion straightened, his voice steady and decisive. “Let’s focus on what we can control. We’ll return to the house tonight and plan to visit the seer tomorrow. She may know if there’s any truth to his claims.”

I nodded, grateful for their support. “Agreed. But I want answers. If there’s even a chance he can disrupt the ceremony, we need to know.”

***

The following morning, we made our way back to the seer’s secluded forest home. The air was crisp, the sunlight filtering through the trees creating dappled patterns on the ground. Despite the beauty around us, I couldn’t shake the knot of anxiety in my stomach.

As we approached, the door opened, and Jessa stepped out, her face lighting up when she saw me. “Milli! Interesting running into you here!”

“Jessa!” I ran up to her, embracing her tightly. “What are you doing here?”

She grinned. “I visit my aunt whenever I can. She's all alone out here.”

I blinked, startled. “Your aunt?”

Jessa nodded, her smile widening. “Yeah. The seer is my dad’s sister. Didn’t I mention that?”

“No, you did not!” I said, laughing despite myself. The more I thought about it, the more I could see the resemblance between the Seer and Jessa. They both had this free spirit thing going on.

The seer appeared in the doorway, her serene expression unchanged. “Welcome back, Millicent. I sense you have questions.”

"We got a message from the rogue leader yesterday." I said.

"There is more to this story." The Seer said. "You wouldn't come all the way out here because of a message."

I looked cautiously at the Seer before answering, "My wolf recognized him as my father, I wanted to know if he was."

"A DNA test would be best." The Seer said. I couldn't tell if she was among a joke or not.

"Getting a sample will prove to be difficult, especially as the last time we saw him he was buried under rubble." Evan said.

"Very well. We could try to and see if Milli's past can help us uncover secrets." She turned away from us and made her way to the fire pit. She took one of the many jars that lined the walls and opened it before sprinkling the contents of into the fire pit. It lit instantly.

The flickering flames cast long shadows on the walls, the air thick with the scent of herbs. The seer gestured for me to sit at the edge of the fire pit.

“Let’s see if we can uncover the connection between you and the rogue leader,” she said, her voice calm and steady.

I hesitated. I had come all of this way to get answers but now that they were right in front of me, I wasn't sure I even wanted them.

I glanced at the triplets and Jessa, who all nodded encouragingly. Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward and sat by the flames.

“Close your eyes,” the seer instructed. “Focus on the fire and let it guide you.”

The world around me shifted, and I found myself standing in a small, dimly lit house. Two men stood in the center of the room, their voices raised in argument. A baby’s wail echoed from somewhere nearby, growing louder and louder.

I recognized one of the men immediately—the rogue leader, though his eyes were a deep brown, not the unnerving green they were now. The other man was unfamiliar, but something about him tugged at my heart. He had rich brown skin and piercing green eyes that mirrored my own. Around his neck hung a wooden pendant, its design strikingly similar to the trinket Tala had given me.

I tried to listen to their argument, but the baby’s cries drowned out their words. The light in the room grew brighter and brighter, blinding me. I shielded my eyes as the cries abruptly stopped. When I lowered my hands, the man with the green eyes was gone.

The rogue leader remained, his expression cold and unyielding. His eyes, now the same green as mine, glowed faintly in the dim light.

I snapped out of the vision with a gasp, tears streaming down my face. My hands trembled as I looked at the seer. “I... I think he killed my dad,” I whispered, my voice breaking.

The seer shook her head. “No, child. Your father’s soul is still alive. What you saw was something far darker.”

The room fell silent as her words sank in.

The seer continued, her tone grave. “The rogue leader has been absorbing the souls of Flame-Bound wolves to consolidate his power. The light you saw in your vision was the moment he stole your father’s soul. He’s been using that power to strengthen himself, and if he continues, he’ll become unstoppable.”

"Can we bring him back?" I asked. "Can we bring back all of the wolves he absorbed?"

The Seer thought for a bit before answering, "I think we can, but we have to capture him first."

Orion’s jaw tightened. “What can we do to stop him?”

The seer’s gaze settled on me. “Millicent must complete the ceremony with you three. Your bond will enhance her powers and make her strong enough to face him. Without it, she won’t stand a chance.”

My heart pounded as I processed her words.

“Then we’ll do it,” I said, my voice trembling but resolute. “We’ll perform the ceremony on the next full moon.”

***

The walk back to the pack was quiet, the weight of the seer’s revelation hanging heavily over us. I stayed close to Jessa, needing the comfort of her presence.

“Are you okay?” she asked softly. If she was trying to make sure the triplets who were walking just a few feet ahead of us didn't hear us by whispering, it would be a waste as I am sure they could even hear how fast my heart was beating.

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “This ceremony—it’s not just about marking my mates. It’s about accepting my role in the pack, in this fight. It’s a lot to take in. I'm not sure I will be a good Luna.”

Jessa squeezed my hand. “I get it, Milli. But you’re stronger than you think. And you’re not alone in this. The triplets have your back. So do I. The pack would be lucky to have you as a Luna.”

I nodded, grateful for her unwavering support.

Ahead of us, the triplets walked in a tight formation, their protective instincts on high alert. Every so often, I caught one of them glancing my way, their eyes filled with determination.

As the pack house came into view, I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what lay ahead. The ceremony was only days away, and I had a lot to prepare for—not just physically, but emotionally.

This was my moment to prove to myself, and to my pack, that I was ready to embrace my destiny.