The night was quiet, the kind of quiet that hummed with an underlying tension. The quintuplets, restless after the day's lessons, found themselves lingering outside their parents' study. They hadn't planned it—at least, not entirely. Forrest had joked about sneaking closer to listen in, and somehow, the others had followed.
Now, crouched in the shadows of the hallway, they strained to hear the low voices of Alpha Griffin and Luna lila through the thick oak door.
"This is reckless," Opal whispered, her violet eyes darting nervously to her brothers. "If they catch us—"
"They won't," Forrest interrupted, his grin as mischievous as ever. "Besides, don't you want to know what they're keeping from us?"
"Of course she does," Brooks muttered, leaning casually against the wall. "She just doesn't want to admit it."
"Shh," Ash hissed, his sharp silver eyes narrowing. "I can't hear anything with you two talking."
The group fell silent, their bickering forgotten as Griffin's deep voice filtered through the door.
"We can't ignore this any longer," Alpha Griffin said, his tone heavy. "Azeala is growing bolder. She's already destroyed two neighboring packs. It's only a matter of time before she turns her attention here."
Opal's breath caught, and she exchanged a wide-eyed glance with Ridge. Azeala. The name was unfamiliar, but the weight it carried was unmistakable.
Luna Lila's voice was calm but laced with worry. "And what do you suggest we do? Go to war? Sacrifice lives when we don't even know the extent of her power?"
"We don't have a choice, Lila ," Griffin replied, his frustration evident. "If we wait, she'll come to us on her terms. We need to strike first, while we still can."
Ash tensed, his hands curling into fists at his sides. "War," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "They're talking about war."
"For what?" Forrest muttered, his earlier bravado fading. "Who is this witch?"
Brooks tilted his head, his analytical mind already piecing things together. "Someone powerful enough to take down other packs."
Luna Lila voice broke through their whispered conversation. "Griffin, our children's birthday is in a month. They're about to experience their first shift. Do you really want to risk everything when they're so close to stepping into their roles?"
"That's exactly why we can't wait," Griffin said, his voice firm. "If we don't act now, there may not be a pack left for them to lead."
Silence followed, heavy and oppressive. The quintuplets barely dared to breathe, their hearts pounding in unison. Finally, Luna Lila spoke again, her voice softer this time.
"What about the Elders? Have you spoken to them about the possibility of the Moon Goddess blessing our children?"
"Yes," Griffin said, his tone dark. "And they agree that the blessings, if they come, could turn the tide in our favor. But it's a gamble. The Goddess's will is not something we can predict."
"But we can hope," lila said quietly. "Our children are strong, Griffin. I believe they will rise to whatever challenge the Goddess places before them."
"I hope you're right," Griffin replied, his voice losing some of its earlier edge. "But hope alone won't protect our pack. If Azeala comes, we need to be ready."
The sound of footsteps brought the quintuplets back to reality. They scrambled away from the door, retreating down the hallway as quietly as they could. Once they were safely out of earshot, they stopped, their faces pale in the moonlight streaming through a nearby window.
"Did you hear that?" Forrest asked, his usual bravado replaced by unease. "A witch destroying packs? What does she want?"
"Power," Brooks said simply. "What else?"
"Does it matter why?" Ash growled, his silver eyes blazing. "What matters is that she's coming for us."
"Not yet," Ridge said, his voice calm despite the tension in the air. "Father said it's only a matter of time, but we still have time to prepare."
Opal, who had been unusually quiet, finally spoke. "Do you think the Moon Goddess will bless us? Like they said?"
All eyes turned to her. The idea of the Goddess's blessings—powers beyond what any normal werewolf possessed—had always been more myth than reality to them. But now, it felt like their best hope.
"She has to," Forrest said, his grin returning, though it didn't reach his eyes. "I mean, look at us. If anyone deserves blessings, it's this pack of weirdos."
Opal rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips. "You're impossible."
"And you're tiny," Forrest shot back, earning a smack on the arm from her.
Ash's voice cut through their banter, his tone sharp. "This isn't a joke. We need to be ready. If there's even a chance that this witch is as dangerous as they say, we can't afford to mess around."
Ridge nodded. "Agreed. The first step is making sure we're at our strongest when we shift. No distractions. No excuses."
Brooks smirked. "Finally, something we can all agree on."
The quintuplets stood together in the pale light, their usual bickering replaced by a shared determination. The threat of Azeala loomed over them, a shadow they couldn't ignore. But for now, they had each other. And together, they would face whatever came their way.
The first light of dawn bathed the training ground in a soft, golden glow. The clearing, surrounded by towering pines, had always been a haven for the quintuplets—a place where they could be themselves, challenge each other, and prepare for the roles they'd someday fulfill. Today, the air felt different. Their overheard conversation about the witch Azeala weighed on their minds, and it showed in the intensity of their training.
They had agreed to meet early, before the pack stirred, to hone their skills in private. Each of them felt a sense of urgency, a need to prove themselves ready for what lay ahead.
Ash and Brooks were the first to face off, standing across from each other in the clearing. Ash rolled his shoulders, a confident smirk tugging at his lips. "You ready to lose again, Brooks?" he taunted, his silver eyes glinting.
Brooks tilted his head, his blue eyes narrowing. "Keep dreaming, big brother. I'm going to make you eat those words."
"Forrest, what's your bet?" Ridge called from the edge of the clearing, where he and the others were watching. He was leaning casually against a tree, his arms crossed, his amber eyes sharp as he observed the two brothers squaring off.
"For Brooks?" Forrest scoffed, shaking his head. "Nah, my money's on Ash. Sorry, Brooks, but I don't think you've got it today."
Opal, sitting cross-legged beside Ridge, raised an eyebrow. "You never have any faith in Brooks. One day he'll prove you wrong."
"Maybe," Forrest said, a mischievous grin spreading across his face, "but it's not today."
"Enough talk," Ash growled, his gaze fixed on Brooks. "Let's do this."
The two brothers circled each other, the tension in the clearing rising. Ash lunged first, his movements powerful and deliberate, aiming a punch at Brooks's midsection. Brooks dodged quickly, his body twisting to avoid the blow, and he countered with a sharp kick to Ash's side. Ash grunted, blocking the attack with his arm before swinging back with a hook aimed at Brooks's jaw.
"Stay on your toes, Brooks!" Opal called out, her violet eyes focused intently on her brothers. "Don't let Ash get in too close. He'll overpower you if you do."
Brooks nodded, his attention never wavering from his opponent. He danced back, creating space between himself and Ash, his lean frame moving like water over the ground. He feinted left before aiming a swift kick at Ash's legs.
"Nice move!" Ridge shouted, his eyes alight with interest. "But keep an eye on his shoulders! Ash telegraphs his next move when he tenses up."
Ash, catching Ridge's comment, gave his brother a brief glare. "Thanks for the help, Ridge," he muttered sarcastically, narrowly avoiding Brooks's kick.
"Just trying to keep things fair," Ridge replied with a small, amused smile.
Brooks used the momentary distraction to his advantage. He rushed forward, slipping past Ash's guard and landing a punch to his ribs. Ash grunted in pain, but instead of backing off, he grabbed Brooks's arm, pulling him off balance.
"Too slow!" Ash roared, swinging Brooks to the ground with a forceful throw. Brooks landed with a thud, the wind knocked out of him.
Forrest laughed, shaking his head. "Told you! Brooks, you really gotta work on not getting tossed around."
"Shut up, Forrest," Brooks gasped, rolling away from Ash and getting back to his feet, a determined look in his eyes. He didn't hesitate—he moved in again, this time aiming low to sweep Ash's legs out from under him. Ash stumbled, his balance momentarily lost.
"Nice, Brooks!" Opal cheered, her voice filled with pride. "Stay on him!"
Brooks pressed the attack, but Ash recovered quickly, planting his feet and grabbing Brooks in a bear hug, lifting him clear off the ground. Brooks struggled, but Ash's grip was unrelenting.
"Give up yet?" Ash asked, his voice strained with effort.
Brooks growled, wriggling in Ash's grip. "Not a chance!" With a sudden twist, he managed to free one arm, landing an elbow strike to Ash's side that forced his brother to release him.
They separated, both of them panting, their eyes locked in determination. Brooks's lip was split, and Ash's cheek was reddened where Brooks had struck him, but neither was ready to back down.
"All right, enough!" Opal shouted, standing up and stepping forward. "You two are gonna end up breaking each other's bones if you keep this up."
Ridge nodded, stepping forward to stand beside her. "This was supposed to be a sparring session, not a death match."
Ash, breathing heavily, looked at Brooks, and they both cracked a grin. "Yeah, yeah," Ash said, rubbing his ribs. "Guess I got a little carried away."
Brooks laughed, wincing as he touched his split lip. "Same here. But I almost had you."
"Almost," Ash agreed, clapping a hand on Brooks's shoulder. "Next time, maybe."
Forrest stepped into the clearing, a grin on his face. "All right, my turn! Who wants to take me on?"
Opal stepped forward, her violet eyes gleaming. "I will. I need to put you in your place after all that trash talk."
Forrest's grin widened. "Oh, this is gonna be good."
They squared off in the clearing, and Opal could already feel the tension in the air shift. Unlike her fight with Ash, there was no brute force to contend with—Forrest was quick, unpredictable, and always underestimated her. It was a combination she'd grown used to, and one she knew how to handle.
"Don't go easy on me just because I'm tiny," Opal taunted, her smile daring.
Forrest laughed. "I wouldn't dream of it, Opal."
They began to circle each other, their movements light and calculated. Forrest lunged first, a playful grin still on his face as he feinted a punch and quickly twisted to aim a kick at her side. Opal anticipated the feint and dodged, her body low to the ground as she ducked beneath his kick.
"Too predictable, Forrest!" Ridge called from the side. "She's already got you figured out."
Forrest's grin faltered slightly, and he huffed in mock frustration. "Oh, yeah? We'll see about that." He moved in again, his hands moving quickly, attempting to grab her wrist, but Opal was faster. She twisted her body, using his momentum against him and flipping him over her shoulder. Forrest hit the ground with an "oof," staring up at the sky in disbelief.
"Yes!" Opal cheered, her violet eyes shining with triumph as she stood over him. "Told you, Forrest. I'm not as easy to beat as you think."
Forrest groaned, rolling onto his side. "You know, it'd be nice if just once, you let me have a little dignity."
"Where's the fun in that?" Opal replied with a smirk.
Ash laughed from the sidelines, his voice carrying a note of pride. "Good one, Opal. But don't get too cocky. Remember, you still haven't taken me down."
Opal turned her head, her gaze locking onto Ash. "Maybe I'll get my chance sooner than you think, big brother."
Ridge stepped between them, shaking his head with a small smile. "That's enough for today. We need to stay focused, remember? The witch. The pack. Our responsibilities."
The mention of Azeala brought a somber quiet over the group. The urgency of their training returned, and Opal nodded, stepping away from Forrest and offering him a hand up. Forrest took it, giving her a sheepish grin as she helped him to his feet.
"You're right," Opal said, her tone softer. "We need to be ready."
Forrest dusted himself off, his grin fading into something more serious. "We will be. We just have to keep pushing ourselves."
Brooks nodded in agreement, his blue eyes serious as he spoke. "We're strong, but we need to be more than that. We need to work together, learn to anticipate each other's moves. It's not just about fighting alone."
"Exactly," Ridge said, his amber eyes reflecting the early morning light. "We're strongest as a team. And that's how we'll protect our pack."
Ash clapped his hands together, his gaze sweeping over his siblings. "Then let's make a pact. No more holding back. No more distractions. We train like our lives depend on it."
"Because they do," Opal finished, her eyes meeting each of her brothers' in turn. They all nodded, their bond unspoken but stronger than ever.
As they stood together in the clearing, the first rays of the sun broke through the trees, casting a golden light over them. For now, they were ready. They would fight, they would train, and they would rise to whatever challenges awaited them—together.