The Five Howls of Fate

he pack house was silent, save for the occasional creak of the wooden beams or the distant rustle of the wind in the trees. Opal had

the pack was asleep. Sure enough, he was there, seated on the wide wooden steps with his broad shoul

eep voice rumbled wi

m. But the questions weighing on her heart pushed her forward. She stepped

he gestured for her to sit beside him. She lowered h

ways shared with her father. Finally, Opal broke it, her voice tentative. "Fa

ly, as though carefully considering his words. "If it is the Moon Goddess's plan," he said

ng his face. "But... don't you think

e, and heart. You have all the qualities of a great leader. But being alpha isn't just about thos

nd her knees. "So, it's not up to me. It's

cation-they matter. They prepare you for whatever role the Moon Godde

hen she turned to him again. "What about the pro

ilver eyes narrowing sli

"About the witch, Azeala. About how we're different. Special. And I think

through his silver-streaked hair. "Yo

firm. "You're keeping things f

Very well. If you're old enough to listen in on your pare

tened, her h

time when quintuplets will be born into an alpha family. These quintuplets will carry immense power-strength beyond that of any norm

caught. "Gifts

fore. They will be able to sense each other's thoughts, share their streng

?" Opal asked, her v

ks," Griffin explained. "Other alphas will see you as a threat. They'll fear what you represent,

. "Do they know about

a secret. Even within our pack, only the Elders know the

l asked, her voice tre

ur bond is your greatest strength. The prophecy doesn't speak of one alpha-it speaks of all five of y

rling. "But what if we can't? What if

you, in all of you. But strength isn't just physical. It's in your b

he prophecy settling over them like a shroud. Fi

dess's plan, then we'

e flickering in his eyes. "T

s hands together. "You know, there was a tim

nked. "S

efore you were born-before even Alpha Dorian wore the t

der, as if the flames

as old. Pure. She lived in the northern woods, just beyond the river cliffs

orward. "What

ght were broken forever-our sick, our crops, even fractured alliances.

appened

s gaze d

said she left this realm. Others whispered that a darker magic c

d into t

hest-right here-" he tapped just over his heart "-and I felt warmth I'd never known. Not just heal

im, goosebumps p

e sharp again. "The one watching you and your brothers n

a," Op

wants possession. She steals souls. Devours the

settled be

m not Selene. I won't

e not. But you have s

ha

s who would die for you. Opal, you are de

houlder. "You are not alone in this, Opal. But you must not be naï

lowly, her t

he said. "And if they wh

him. "What if the

hen you burn the world, chi

understanding forging a new bond between them. The road ahead was uncertain, but one thing was

she stood to leave, Gr

e Forrest, se

door and turned with a brow

e her a lon

he's probably out lighting something on fire for an incredi

gh-eternally tired but still deeply fond. "Moon Goddess help whoever

er chest. "Do we even have enough

are but real. "We might ha

ffered. "With cand

moment of laughter

m, Alpha Griffin's face returned to the quiet

"There's a storm coming. But storms don't sca

e and fear mingling insi

t you down,

ned. "You won't have to. Y

e fire fading behind her as the weight of her future settled on