The car rumbled down the dirt road, its tires kicking up a trail of dust as the quintuplets made their way to the town's high school. Ash was at the wheel, his silver eyes focused on the road ahead. The old SUV had been their shared vehicle for years, and though it had seen better days, it carried the five of them faithfully on their daily journeys.
Forrest, riding shotgun, had his feet propped on the dashboard, much to Ash's annoyance. "Get your dirty boots off the dash," Ash growled, shooting his brother a glare.
Forrest grinned, leaning back lazily. "Relax, big guy. The car's already a wreck. My boots aren't going to make it worse."
"Doesn't mean you get to make it worse," Ash shot back, swatting at Forrest's leg. "I'm the one driving, so I make the rules."
"Rules," Forrest mocked, dragging the word out dramatically before finally putting his feet down. "Fine, Mr. Alpha."
In the backseat, Brooks and Ridge were squeezed against the windows while Opal sat in the middle. Brooks had his head tilted back, his blue eyes half-closed as he fiddled with the broken air conditioning vent. "Can we please talk about something more interesting than Forrest's boots?" he muttered.
"Like what?" Ridge asked, his calm amber gaze flicking toward his brother.
"Oh, I don't know," Brooks said, sitting up straighter. "Maybe... our eighteenth birthday? Or the fact that we're going to have our first shift in less than a month?"
"That's what you're thinking about?" Forrest said, twisting in his seat to face the back. "What about mates? That's what I'm interested in. The first shift is cool and all, but the mate bond? That's next-level stuff."
Ash chuckled, his grin widening as he focused on the road. "I'm with you on that, Forrest. There are a few girls I wouldn't mind being my mate."
"Let me guess," Brooks said, his tone dry. "Kara?"
"Kara's a good start," Ash admitted, his silver eyes gleaming mischievously. "But Talia wouldn't be a bad choice, either. She's smart, strong, and doesn't take crap from anyone. A good Luna, if you ask me."
"For you, maybe," Forrest said, shaking his head. "Me? I'm hoping for someone fun. Someone who can keep up with me, you know? Like Jessa. She's got energy for days."
Brooks snorted. "Energy? That's what you're basing it on? What happens when you actually have to sit still and lead, Forrest?"
"Who says I'll ever have to sit still?" Forrest shot back with a grin. "Maybe my mate will be so amazing, I'll never want to stop moving."
"What about you, Brooks?" Ridge asked quietly, his amber eyes thoughtful. "Who are you hoping for?"
Brooks shrugged, his expression more serious than the others'. "I don't know. Someone who doesn't expect me to be anything other than who I am. Someone who gets it."
"Deep," Forrest teased, though his tone was more good-natured than mocking. "Ridge, what about you?"
"I haven't thought about it much," Ridge admitted. "I guess someone calm. Balanced. Someone who can handle all of us."
"Good luck with that," Ash quipped, glancing at Ridge in the rearview mirror. "Handling all of us isn't for the faint of heart."
The boys laughed, their teasing lighthearted, but their excitement was palpable. The idea of finding their mates, of discovering the bond that would define their futures, was thrilling. For them, it was a dream filled with hope and promise.
Opal, however, sat quietly, her hands folded in her lap. She stared out the window, the passing trees a blur. She couldn't bring herself to join in the conversation. She didn't have a name to toss into the mix, no secret hope for who her mate might be. Instead, a knot of worry tightened in her chest.
What would happen when they all found their mates? Would their bond as siblings change? Would they drift apart, each consumed by their new lives, their new roles? The idea scared her more than she wanted to admit.
"Hey, Opal," Forrest said, nudging her knee with his hand. "What about you? Got anyone in mind?"
She forced a smile, shaking her head. "No. Not really."
"Come on," Ash prodded, his silver eyes flicking to her in the mirror. "There's gotta be someone."
"There's not," Opal said, her tone firmer this time. "I haven't thought about it."
Brooks glanced at her, his sharp blue eyes narrowing slightly. "You're worried," he said quietly, cutting through her defenses with his usual perceptiveness. "What's on your mind?"
The boys' chatter stopped, their attention shifting to her. Opal hesitated, then sighed. "I'm just... wondering what'll happen. When we find our mates. Will things change? Will we change?"
Forrest laughed, though it was more awkward than usual. "Change? Nah. We'll still be us, Opal. Just... with mates."
"It'll change," Ridge said softly, his amber gaze steady. "It has to. But it doesn't mean we'll stop being a family."
"Exactly," Ash said, his tone reassuring. "We're quintuplets. Nothing's going to break that bond. Not even the mate bond."
Opal nodded, though her worry lingered. She wanted to believe them, but the uncertainty gnawed at her. The idea of losing the dynamic they'd always shared was almost too much to bear.
As they neared the school, the conversation shifted, the boys launching into a debate about their upcoming classes and whether Forrest could convince the cafeteria staff to give him extra desserts. Opal stayed quiet, her mind far away.
She couldn't control what the Moon Goddess had planned for them. She couldn't predict what the future would bring. But one thing was certain: whatever happened, she would fight to keep their bond intact. They were stronger together, and she wouldn't let anything—or anyone—tear them apart.
The SUV rattled to a stop in the school parking lot, its brakes squeaking in protest. Ash turned off the ignition, leaning back with a satisfied grin. "Another flawless drive. You're welcome."
"For what?" Forrest teased as he swung open the passenger door. "Not crashing? The bar's pretty low, Ash."
"Low for you, maybe," Ash shot back, smirking. "Last time you drove, we ended up in a ditch."
"That was one time!" Forrest defended, hopping out. "And it was barely a ditch. More like a... really shallow hole."
The rest of the quintuplets filed out of the car, their usual banter filling the air. Students milled about in groups across the parking lot, some throwing curious glances their way. The siblings had a certain presence that made them hard to ignore—an energy that drew attention wherever they went.
As they headed toward the school building, Brooks nudged Opal. "Still thinking about what we talked about?"
Opal glanced at him, surprised by his quiet concern. She shrugged, pulling her backpack higher on her shoulders. "Not really. I mean... kind of."
Brooks nodded, his blue eyes thoughtful. "We'll figure it out, Opal. We always do."
Before she could respond, a familiar voice called out. "Hey, Ash! Over here!"
Talia, the girl Ash had mentioned earlier, waved from a nearby group. Her dark hair gleamed in the morning sun, and her confident grin made it clear she knew exactly how captivating she was.
Forrest elbowed Ash with a wicked grin. "Go on, lover boy. Your future Luna is calling."
Ash rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress a grin of his own. "You're a pain in the ass, Forrest."
"That's what makes me great," Forrest said, laughing as he jogged ahead toward the school entrance.
Brooks shook his head, muttering, "Somebody has to keep his ego in check."
Opal lingered behind, watching as Ash joined Talia's group and Forrest disappeared inside. Ridge stayed close, his quiet presence grounding her.
"You okay?" he asked, his voice low enough that only she could hear.
Opal hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah. Just... thinking."
"About mates again?"
"About everything," she admitted. "The prophecy. The shift. The witch. And yeah... mates."
Ridge's amber eyes softened, and he offered her a faint smile. "It's a lot. But we'll get through it. Together."
"Together," Opal echoed, though the word felt heavier than it should. She wanted to believe Ridge, to believe her brothers' reassurances. But the more she thought about the mate bond, the more it felt like a shadow looming over them, ready to change everything.
Inside the school, the quintuplets navigated the familiar hallways, their conversations blending seamlessly with the cacophony of student chatter. They split off to their respective classes, each falling into the rhythm of the day. But for Opal, the rhythm felt off. Her thoughts were scattered, her focus elusive.
At lunch, they reunited at their usual table in the corner of the cafeteria. Forrest was halfway through a plate of fries, gesturing animatedly as he recounted a story from class. "And then Mr. Carson actually believed me when I said the homework got eaten by a raccoon. A raccoon!"
"That's because you're charming," Brooks said dryly, stealing one of Forrest's fries. "Or at least you think you are."
"Think?" Forrest repeated, feigning offense. "Please. I radiate charm."
"Radiate something," Ash muttered, earning a laugh from Ridge.
Opal sat quietly, poking at her sandwich as her brothers' banter swirled around her. She couldn't help but notice the way Ash glanced across the cafeteria toward Talia's table or how Forrest seemed to brighten every time Jessa walked by. Even Brooks and Ridge seemed distracted, their usually sharp focus dulled by whatever was on their minds.
"You're quiet today," Ridge said, breaking her thoughts.
Opal forced a smile. "Just tired."
Ridge didn't look convinced, but he didn't press further. Instead, he turned back to the others, steering the conversation toward their upcoming shift. "So, what do you think it's going to be like?"
"Incredible," Ash said without hesitation. "Finally becoming our wolves? It's what we've been waiting for our whole lives."
"And it'll be the first time we can really test our strength," Forrest added, his green eyes gleaming with excitement. "I bet I'll be the fastest."
"You wish," Brooks said, shaking his head. "Speed's not going to matter if you don't know how to control your wolf. That's going to be the real challenge."
Ridge nodded. "He's right. We've trained our whole lives, but this is different. It's instinct, not just skill."
"What about you, Opal?" Ash asked, turning his attention to her. "What do you think it'll be like?"
Opal hesitated, her gaze dropping to the table. "I think... it'll change everything."
The table fell quiet, her words hanging in the air. The excitement that had lit their faces moments before dimmed, replaced by uncertainty.
"Change doesn't have to be bad," Ridge said finally, his tone thoughtful. "It just means we'll grow. Together."
"Yeah," Ash said, his silver eyes steady. "No matter what happens, we've got each other. That's not going to change."
Opal looked at each of them in turn, their familiar faces filled with a mix of confidence and vulnerability. She wanted to believe them. She wanted to believe that the bond they shared would withstand whatever the Moon Goddess had planned.
"Together," she said softly, her voice carrying a quiet determination. Whatever lay ahead, she would hold onto their bond with everything she had. It was the only thing that felt certain in a world that seemed poised to change.