Gisele’s POV

It was finally the day I’d been looking forward to, my 21st birthday.

I stood in front of the mirror, smoothing out the delicate folds of the beautiful blue dress that Maerona had picked out for me.

The color sparkled in the light, and I felt like a princess on my special day. As I made my way to the grand hall, the sound of music and laughter filled the air, and I couldn't believe the grandeur of the party that Maerona had planned.

It was more than I could have ever imagined, beautiful balloons, in my favorite colors white and purple; and ribbons lined the walls and floors. A variety of meals were laid out on tables for anyone who cared to eat.

I rushed towards her, eager to thank her for making this day so special.

But before I could reach her, I was intercepted by Maureen and Morris, my friends from school who Maerona had insisted on inviting despite Orien's objections. They squealed with excitement as they saw me, and we exchanged warm hugs.

"Gisele, you look stunning!" Maureen exclaimed, her eyes shining with admiration. Morris nodded in agreement, and we all giggled and chatted excitedly as we made our way to my table. The party was in full swing, and I spotted a huge banner that read "Happy 21st Birthday Gisele" in glittering letters.

I felt like I was on cloud nine, surrounded by my friends and the festive atmosphere.

Maerona caught my eye and smiled, and I mouthed a silent "thank you" to her, feeling grateful for her kindness and effort in making this day so special.

As the full moon rose high in the sky, I felt a strange sensation coursing through my veins. My body began to shift, and my senses grew sharper. I let out a gasp as I felt my wolf emerged, and I felt an overwhelming urge to find my mate.

“Is everything okay?” Morris asked but I couldn’t utter a word.

The scent of my mate wafted through the air, drawing me to the gardens.

I followed the scent, my heart pounding in my chest. As I turned a corner, I came face to face with three figures. My eyes widened in shock as I realized that it was my brothers: Kaelric, Orien, and Raugar. They stood before me, their eyes locked on mine, and I could sense their wolves stirring beneath the surface.

"Do you know?" I demanded, my voice barely above a whisper. "Do you know that you're my mates?" I asked, not wanting to believe it.

Kaelric took a step forward, his eyes filled with a mixture of both caution and longing. "We've had an idea," he said slowly. "But we weren't sure." Orien added.

I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. "It's insane!" I exclaimed, my voice rising in incredulity. "How can I have you as my mates after everything you've done to me? After how badly you've treated me?" I glared at them, my anger and hurt boiling over.

They exchanged a glance, and for a moment, I saw a glimmer of remorse in their eyes. "We're sorry, Gisele," Orien said, his voice soft.

Now they were sorry? Because they’ve found out I’m their mate?

"We were wrong to treat you the way we did. We realize that now." He said.

But I wasn't having it, I just couldn’t.

"An 'I'm sorry' isn't the answer," I snapped, my words laced with venom. "Words can't change anything. You've hurt me, belittled me, and made my life miserable. You think a simple apology can fix everything?" I yelled.

I took a step back, my heart heavy with pain. "Just go away," I told them, my voice firm. "I don't want anything to do with you." I turned to leave, but not before I saw the hurt and disappointment in their eyes.

Just as I was trying to process the gravity of the issue the moon goddess had decided to curse me with, Raugar pulled me in for a kiss.

For a moment, I let myself get lost in the sensation, kissing him back with a passion that surprised me, their softness was just as I had imagined countlessly.

I felt shivers course through my heart.

But as suddenly as it started, I snapped back to reality, pushing him away and shaking my head. I needed to get out of there, to clear my head and process everything that was happening.

“Gisele!” They called out but I didn’t stop as I walked away.

I made my way back to the party, scanning the crowd for a familiar face. That's when I spotted Morris, laughing and chatting with some of the other guests.

I made a beeline for him, hoping to lose myself in conversation and forget about the drama that had just unfolded.

As I approached him, he turned to me with a smile. "Gisele! I saw the way you left, did you find your mate?" he asked, his eyes filled with curiosity.

I hesitated for a moment before shaking my head. "No, I didn't," I replied, trying to brush off the complicated emotions that were swirling inside me.

Morris's face lit up with a hopeful expression. "I haven't found mine either," he said, his voice immediately taking a romantic note.

"But maybe... maybe we could be together, like chosen mates? I love you, Gisele. I've loved you for a long time." He said and my heart skipped a beat as I looked into his eyes, seeing the sincerity and adoration there.

"I... I don't know," I stammered, feeling overwhelmed by the sudden love declaration.

Morris's face fell, but he didn't push the issue. Instead, he leaned in and kissed me, his lips pressing against mine in a gentle but insistent gesture. I was taken aback, unsure of how to react.

As we pulled away, I looked up and I saw the glaring eyes of my stepbrothers watching us from across the room. Their faces were tense with anger and possessiveness, and I felt a shiver run down my spine.

Oh boy, this was not going to end well for either of us.