Fated To Not Just One, But Three

Chapter 8: Eighteenth Birthday

Chapter 8: Eighteenth Birthday

Two days later.

Olivia's POV

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Olivia... happy birthday to you."

My mother's soft singing pulled me from my sleep. Slowly, I forced my heavy eyelids open, meeting her warm gaze as she sat beside me on the bed. A bright smile lit up her face as she held a tiny cupcake with a single candle on top.

A matching smile spread across my face as I sat up.

"Happy eighteenth birthday, my love," she said cheerfully. "Now, make a wish and blow out the candle."

Sucking in a deep breath, I hesitated. It wasn't that I didn't know what to wish for—I had too many wishes. I wished for my father's release, for him to be proven innocent because I knew in my heart he was. I wished for our old life to be restored, for the respect we had lost to return. And maybe, just maybe, I wished to find a mate who would love me.

So many wishes, but in the end, I summed them up into one.

Closing my eyes, I whispered, "I wish to be happy again," before blowing out the candle.

When I opened my eyes, my mother's warm smile remained.

Are you ready for the mating ceremony?" she asked.

I hesitated. The mating ceremony was a tradition for every wolf who turned eighteen. It was a grand event where one's wolf would emerge, and if their mate was present and of age, they would find each other.

But there would be no ceremony for me.

The only mating ceremony happening today was Anita's. She was convinced that at least one of the triplets—Levi, Louis, or Lennox—would turn out to be her mate.

"Mother, I don't feel like going. Besides, the ceremony is for Anita," I murmured.

She sighed and placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Just attend, darling. Who knows? You might meet your mate."

I scoffed. "A mate who will probably reject me? Or worse, an omega like me?"

Mom offered me a reassuring smile. "The Moon Goddess has something planned for you. Just trust in her."

a soft kiss to my forehead before standing. "Get dressed

this day—how I would get my wolf, how a ceremony would be held for me. For once, I used to have the silly thought of being mated to one of the triplets. I adored them so

my bed. After a quick shower, I pulled out the dress my mother had bought for me. It wasn't

dressed, I tied my black hair into a ponytail and studied my reflection in the cracked

okay to look

of lipstick, I slipped on my sandals and headed

mansion, I could see how busy everyone was. Today was

of

that today

I knew my mother would be. She was probably busy

her brows slightly furrowed in concentration. She looked up

love," she said, wiping her hands on her apron before reaching out

small smile. "Thank you,

for a moment before sighing. "I know this isn't how you imagined your eighteenth birthday, but don't let it ruin your day. Who knows what fate has

Fate.

lives fell apart. The only thing that excites me today is that I will get

I grabbed an apron and began helping her prepare the pastries for the ceremony. As much as I hated being here, I didn't want to leave my

I focused on kneading the dough, trying to push aside the bitter feelings stirring inside me, the kitchen door swung open. A young maid stepped inside, her eyes scanning the room until they

"Anita wants to see you in her room. She

mother, who only sighed and gave me a small nod. "Go on, darling. I'll handle things

excitement in the air became. The halls were filled with pack members chatting about the upcoming ceremony, and

took a deep breath

her

my eyes immediately spotted what was

filled with dazzling jewelry. The sight of them alone was overwhelming,

with satisfaction. She gestured grandly toward the lavish

pointed at the dress first. "Levi got me this," she said, her fingers trailing over the delicate beading. "He said it would

these? Louis picked them out. He has such good taste, don't you think? He said they were meant for someone who would be standing beside

remained silent,

She knew.

knew how much I had once

rubbing it

opening it

this," she purred, lifting the necklace, "is from Lennox.