Chapter 4: Moon Goddess
Damien's POV
Damien, Magnus, and Xavier stared darkly at each other, their gazes filled with fury. None of them spoke at first, trying to make sense of what was happening.
Damien’s jaw clenched, his steely eyes narrowing as he assessed the situation. Magnus stood tense, his muscles coiled as if ready to strike.
“What the hell is going on?” Damien growled, glancing between Meredith and the others. “She’s mine. I felt it the moment I laid eyes on her.”
Magnus' gaze shifted to Meredith. “And I felt it too. But how is that possible? There’s only supposed to be one mate, one bond. This doesn’t make any sense.”
They both turned to Xavier, expecting to see the same confusion. But instead, Xavier’s face was calm, almost resigned. He had already accepted the truth that was tearing the others apart.
“We’ve shared women before, countless times,” Xavier began. “But this… this is different. This isn’t just lust or desire. This is the mate bond—stronger, deeper. And it’s binding all three of us to her.”
Damien’s brows furrowed. “But it’s not supposed to work like that. We’re supposed to find our own mate, not share one. It goes against everything we know, everything we’ve been taught.”
Magnus exhaled sharply. “The Moon Goddess… she’s never done this before. Why now? Why us?”
Xavier’s gaze softened as he looked at Meredith, caught in the middle of their silent battle. “Maybe this is what the Moon Goddess intended all along. Maybe she knew we would need each other, that we would be stronger together—with her.”
Damien shook his head, still resistant to the idea. “Stronger? Or cursed? How do we even begin to explain this to the pack? To ourselves?”
Xavier stepped closer to Meredith. “We’ll figure it out. But right now, what matters is her safety. We can’t let this tear us apart before we’ve even begun.”
The three of them finally broke their intense stares, their focus shifting to Meredith. Her breath quickened as she felt the full weight of their attention. The tension between the men eased into something calmer as they stepped closer.
When Meredith finally regained her senses, fear surged in her chest, and she did the only thing she could think to do—she pleaded for her life.
“Please,” she whispered as she looked from one to the other. “I don’t want to die. I don’t want to be part of this… this Purge. Let me go, I’ll do anything. Just… please don’t hurt me.”
For a while, none of the towering men spoke. The raw fear in her voice cut through them. Damien, Xavier, and Magnus exchanged glances.
Xavier was the first to break the silence, his tone softer. “You have it all wrong. The Annual Purge… it’s not what you think. We’re not here to harm you.”
Magnus nodded. “We never intended to hurt anyone. The Purge isn’t about killing. It’s about finding our mates, those chosen for us by the Moon Goddess herself.”
Damien took a step closer to her. “We didn’t expect this either. But what’s happening now is beyond any of us—it’s the will of the Moon Goddess. Whether you like it or not, this bond between us… it’s real. It’s her desire, and it cannot be undone.”
Meredith’s heart pounded in her chest. She looked at their faces. It was clear they believed what they were saying, that they were as bound by this strange fate as she was.
With no other options, Meredith swallowed hard and gave a small, reluctant nod. “I… I don’t understand any of this,” she said quietly. “But if it’s true… if this is what your Moon Goddess wants, then I might accept it. But… I need all of you to promise me that you won’t hurt me.”
Damien, Xavier, and Magnus all nodded in agreement.
“We promise,” Magnus assured her. “No harm will come to you. We’ll protect you with our lives. You’re ours now, and we’ll honor that bond in every way we can.”
Meredith exhaled shakily. She was bound to these three powerful men by a force she couldn’t begin to comprehend. But at least, for now, she knew she was safe.
The momentary calm shattered as Damien’s mind wrestled with the situation. His eyes narrowed as he looked at Xavier and Magnus.
“But… this can’t be,” Damien said. “How are we supposed to share the same mate? It’s just… unheard of. Xavier, Magnus, you two need to retreat and find someone else. This isn’t right. I swear I’ll protect the Luna with my life.”
Xavier, ever the calm one, shook his head firmly. “I'm sorry, but I can’t do that, Damien. You know the rules as well as I do. The otherworldly scent brought us here, to her. That’s not something we can just ignore or walk away from. It’s not a mistake.”
Magnus stepped forward. “Beta Xavier’s right, Alpha. We’ve followed that scent for miles, through this damned, filthy forest, and it led us straight to her. I won’t turn my back on what’s meant to be.”
Damien’s fists clenched at his sides. “Why can’t both of you understand? I’m the Alpha. I have a duty to the pack, to the legacy of my bloodline. I can’t share my Luna with anyone—not even you two.”
Xavier met Damien’s glare. “And we have our own duties, Damien. You’re not the only one with responsibilities. I’ve followed you all my life, and I’ve always respected your leadership. But this is different. This is fate, not a choice. And I won’t deny it.”
Magnus nodded in agreement. “We’re not backing down, Alpha. Not this time. The Moon Goddess’s will is clear, and it’s our duty to honor it. Whether you like it or not, she’s ours—all three of us. And we’re not leaving her behind, even if it means abandoning the Moonlit Pack.”
Silence followed. Deep down, Damien knew Xavier and Magnus were right. The scent, the bond—it was all too powerful, too undeniable to be a mistake.
Damien exhaled sharply. “This is going to tear us apart,” he muttered, more to himself than to the others. But when he looked at Xavier and Magnus, he saw the same determination reflected in their eyes.
“Fine,” Damien finally said. “But don’t think for a second that I’ll make this easy for either of you. This is still my pack, my legacy, and I won’t let anyone—or anything—jeopardize that.”
Xavier and Magnus exchanged a glance.
“We’re not here to challenge your authority, Damien,” Xavier said quietly. “We’re just here to claim what’s rightfully ours.”
Damien’s jaw tightened, but he gave a sharp nod.
Later on, the three men surrounded Meredith. Damien stepped forward first, his position as Alpha compelling him to lead.
“This won’t be easy,” he murmured as he looked into Meredith’s eyes. “But it’s necessary. Please… trust me.”
Meredith’s heart raced as Damien knelt beside her. His eyes softened as he saw the questions lingering on her lips.
“I know this is overwhelming,” Damien began. “But you need to understand what will happen. This bite—it’s called Marking. It’s the sacred bond between a werewolf and their mate. It connects our souls, mingles our blood, and alters your very essence.”
Xavier added, “Once Marked, we are bound together for life. It’s a connection that goes beyond anything you’ve ever known. We’ll feel each other’s emotions, share each other’s strengths…”
Magnus, still standing tall, added, “This bond makes you one of us. But it also means you’re ours, as we are yours.”
Damien blinked. “What’s your name?” he asked softly.
Meredith looked from one man to the other, each of them so different, yet so connected to her now. Finally, she found her voice. “Meredith.”
Damien nodded. “Meredith. You have nothing to fear from us. This is your fate. And we will protect you, always.”
Xavier knelt beside Damien, his hand brushing a stray lock of hair from Meredith’s face. “You’re safe with us, Meredith. I know this is all so sudden, but we’ll guide you through it. You’re not alone in this anymore.”
Magnus, though still standing, leaned closer. “We’ll explain everything, one step at a time.”
Meredith swallowed hard. She had never imagined anything like this. “What… happens now?”
“Now, we finish what we started,” Damien said gently. “Your neck…”
With a ragged breath, Meredith nodded hesitantly, her hands trembling as she reached up to pull her hair aside, exposing the smooth skin of her neck. She could feel the eyes of the three men on her, but her gaze remained locked with Damien’s.
“Will this hurt?” Meredith stammered, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.
“Yes,” he replied. “But I’ll be gentle.”
Meredith just bit her lips and firmly closed her eyes.
Damien’s eyes darkened, his wolf just beneath the surface as he leaned in closer. His breath was warm against her skin, and for a brief moment, everything around them seemed to pause.
Then, with a swift, almost gentle motion, he sank his teeth into her neck.
Meredith screamed as the sharp pain shot through her body, but it quickly melted away, replaced by an overwhelming sensation that filled her core.
Damien pulled back, his lips stained with her blood as he licked the wound, sealing it with his saliva. His eyes were wild. He could feel her in a way that went beyond the physical—her emotions, her thoughts, even the rhythm of her heartbeat.
She was his now, and he was hers, forever.