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."

standing. "Get dressed and meet me in the kitchen. We have a lot

my room. Years ago, I had fantasized about 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

pushed myself out of bed, murmured a short prayer, and made my bed. After a quick shower, I pulled out the dress my mother had bought for me. It wasn't luxurious, but it

black hair into a ponytail and studied my reflection in the cracked mirror on the

it okay to

slipped on

busy everyone was. Today was

day. The scent of fresh flowers and baked goods filled the air, but instead of making me feel excited, it

that

walked toward the kitchen, where I knew my mother would be. She

brows slightly furrowed in concentration. She looked up as she sensed my

she said, wiping her hands on her apron

forced a small

eighteenth birthday, but don't let it ruin your day. Who knows

Fate.

day our lives fell apart. The only thing that excites me today is that I will get my wolf tonight. My better half will be given to

pastries for the ceremony. As much as I hated being here, I didn't want

push aside the bitter feelings stirring inside me, the kitchen door swung open.

wants

my mother, who only sighed and gave me a small nod. "Go

air became. The halls were filled with pack members chatting

took

her voice rang

inside, and my eyes immediately spotted what

red beaded gown, a pair of elegant heels made with crystals, and a velvet-lined box filled with dazzling jewelry. The sight of them alone was overwhelming, but what made it worse was Anita herself, standing beside the bed with a smug smile, her

voice dripping with satisfaction. She gestured grandly toward the lavish gifts. "Aren't they beautiful? Each

forward and pointed at the dress first. "Levi got me this," she said, her fingers

to the shoes, her lips curling in amusement. "And these? Louis picked them out. He has such good taste, don't you think? He

silent, my

She knew.

much I had once admired

rubbing it in

for the jewelry box, opening it to reveal a

necklace, "is from Lennox. He