The sound of metal plates clinking echoed faintly across the room.
Adam stood near the center of the Thornes' dorm, staring at the three sisters as if he'd misheard something. His eyebrows were drawn tight together, his posture stiff with confusion, the words still hanging in the air between them.
"What?" he said finally.
Amber didn't even pause her movement.
She lay on a training mat near the far side of the room, pressing a pair of dumbbells upward with smooth, controlled repetitions. The muscles in her arms tightened under the effort before she lowered the weights again, a small grin forming at the corner of her mouth.
"You heard us," she replied casually.
Adam blinked once, then rubbed the back of his neck.
"No," he said slowly. "I heard you. I just… don't get why."
The room carried the quiet warmth of a lazy afternoon. Sunlight poured through the wide windows along the wall, washing the wooden floorboards in a soft golden glow. A cool breeze slipped through the open frame beside Abigail's seat, stirring the thin curtains and carrying the distant scent of the ocean across the island.
Each of the triplets occupied a different part of the room, absorbed in their own activity as if the conversation itself wasn't particularly dramatic.
Amber continued her workout, breathing steady as she lifted and lowered the weights with practiced rhythm.
Anissa stood near the wardrobe with several pieces of clothing draped over her arm, carefully sorting through outfits while casting occasional irritated glances toward Amber.
And Abigail sat quietly on the wide window ledge, one knee pulled loosely toward her chest as she read from a thick book resting across her lap.
At least, she appeared to be reading.
Adam wasn't entirely convinced.
Abigail turned a page slowly, the faint rustle of paper breaking the silence before she finally spoke.
"Tonight is the full moon."
Her voice was calm, matter-of-fact.
She didn't even look up from the page.
Adam exhaled through his nose.
"I know that."
Another rep finished with a soft metallic clink as Amber lowered the weights.
Abigail closed the book gently, marking the page with a finger before lifting her gaze toward him.
"It's your first full moon."
The words settled heavily in the room.
For a moment, none of them spoke.
Adam shifted his weight slightly, crossing his arms as the reality of it sat quietly in the back of his mind.
His first full moon.
His first transformation.
The first night the wolf would truly take hold.
He understood exactly what that meant.
That much had already been made painfully clear.
He just hadn't expected this conversation.
Adam looked between the three sisters again.
"…I get that part," he said. "What I don't get is why you suddenly want me spending the night here."
Amber sat up from the mat, rolling her shoulders once before resting the weights beside her.
"That's easy," she said with a playful shrug. "Because you're gonna lose your mind tonight."
Adam stared at her.
Amber's grin widened.
"Not permanently," she added. "Probably."
"Amber," Anissa snapped.
Amber held up both hands.
"Relax, I'm kidding."
Anissa didn't look convinced.
She stepped away from the wardrobe, placing a neatly folded black outfit onto the bed before turning toward Adam with the same firm expression she always seemed to carry.
"It's because someone has to take care of you," she said plainly.
Adam frowned.
"Take care of me?"
"Yes."
Her tone carried that familiar strictness, almost like a teacher explaining something obvious to a stubborn student.
"This is your first transformation," she continued. "Which means you will lose control."
Amber leaned back on her palms, nodding in agreement.
"That's kinda how it works."
Abigail rested her chin lightly on her hand as she watched Adam's reaction.
"You need someone experienced nearby," she said quietly. "Someone who understands what happens during a full moon."
Adam absorbed that for a moment.
He couldn't deny the logic.
Not really.
But something about the situation still felt strange.
"Okay," he said slowly. "I appreciate that. Really."
He gestured vaguely between them.
"But where is this coming from all of a sudden?"
Amber chuckled under her breath.
Anissa's expression hardened slightly.
"We already told you," she replied. "Because we're responsible for you."
Adam raised an eyebrow.
"Responsible?"
Her gaze didn't waver.
"We saved your life."
The words carried a quiet weight.
Adam's shoulders lowered slightly as he exhaled.
"I know," he said. "And I'm grateful for that."
He meant it.
Truly.
But he shook his head slowly.
"Still… I can't stay."
That answer landed harder than he expected.
Amber straightened slightly.
Anissa's brows pulled together.
Even Abigail's gaze sharpened a fraction.
Adam rubbed the back of his neck again.
"I already made plans for tonight."
That caught them off guard.
"Plans?" Amber repeated.
Anissa folded her arms.
"You're not having a normal night tonight."
Adam nodded once.
"I know that."
His voice stayed calm, but firm.
"That's why I already planned something."
The three sisters exchanged brief glances before their attention returned to him.
"Who?" Amber asked.
Adam hesitated for half a second.
Then answered plainly.
"Luna."
The name landed in the room like a stone dropped into still water.
For a brief moment the atmosphere shifted.
Subtle.
But unmistakable.
Amber's eyebrows rose slightly.
Anissa's posture stiffened.
And Abigail…
She simply watched him.
Her face didn't change.
But the silence stretched just a little longer than it should have.
Finally Abigail spoke.
"You're planning to spend the night with her?"
Adam nodded.
Abigail studied him carefully.
"You're willing to stay with Luna," she said slowly, "despite the fact that she tried to kill you."
Adam's expression shifted.
"I'm not sure that's what happened."
Anissa scoffed softly.
"You're not sure?"
Adam shrugged lightly.
"If Luna wanted me dead," he said, "I'm pretty sure I'd be dead already."
The words hung there.
Amber suddenly snapped her fingers.
"Oh."
She leaned forward slightly, eyes lighting with amusement.
"Now I get it."
Adam blinked.
"Get what?"
Amber pointed at him.
"That scent."
Adam frowned.
"What scent?"
She grinned.
"The one that keeps popping up on you every now and then."
Adam stared at her.
Amber leaned back again, clearly enjoying herself.
"Guess that explains it."
Anissa's reaction was the opposite.
Her disbelief showed immediately.
"You've been seeing her?"
Adam shifted slightly.
"Well… yeah."
Anissa stared at him like he'd just admitted something insane.
"After everything we did to save you?"
Her voice carried a sharp edge now.
Adam felt the tension spike in the room.
"Hey," he said quickly, raising both hands slightly. "Calm down."
Anissa didn't look calm.
"You're meeting her in secret," she continued, "after what happened?"
Adam sighed.
"I'm telling you she's not the enemy you think she is."
Abigail's voice cut through the room before Anissa could respond.
"Luna is a Rivera."
Adam looked toward her.
"And the nurse who tried to kill you," Abigail added evenly, "was also a Rivera."
The reminder landed hard.
Abigail's gaze remained steady.
"You need to stop being naive."
That did it.
Adam straightened.
His jaw tightened slightly as irritation flickered across his face.
"I'm not naive."
Anissa opened her mouth to speak, but Adam continued before she could.
"I'm also not a kid."
The words carried more bite now.
"You three aren't my babysitters."
The room fell quiet again.
Adam took a slow breath before speaking again, calmer this time.
"We'll be on the northern shore," he explained. "Away from the castle."
Their eyes stayed fixed on him.
"There's a small mansion there," he continued. "The whole point is to stay far away from people so nobody gets hurt."
His voice softened slightly.
"If things go wrong…"
He shrugged.
"Then you win."
Amber blinked.
Adam held their gaze.
"If something happens and I lose control, you can come save me," he said. "And I'll listen to whatever you say from that point on."
The silence thickened.
"But," he added quietly, "if nothing happens… then maybe you should cut her some slack."
None of them answered.
Adam let the moment sit there before stepping toward the door.
"I've gotta get back to work anyway."
He gestured vaguely toward the hallway.
"Student council stuff."
He reached for the handle.
"See you later."
The door swung open.
Then slammed shut behind him with a sharp thud.
The room fell silent.
For several seconds no one spoke.
Amber finally broke the quiet.
"…well."
She leaned back onto the mat again.
"That was intense."
Anissa pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Boys are unbelievably stubborn."
She sighed.
"I really thought Adam would be different."
Amber snorted.
"They're all the same."
She shrugged casually.
"Still though…"
A smirk tugged at her lips.
"Guy's got guts."
Both sisters turned their attention toward the window.
Abigail hadn't moved.
She still sat on the ledge with the book resting across her lap, staring out at the bright sky beyond the glass.
From the outside she looked perfectly calm.
Composed.
Unbothered.
But beneath that stillness something burned quietly behind her eyes.
Not anger toward Adam.
No.
Her frustration had a different target entirely.
Luna.
Anissa folded her arms.
"So what do we do?"
Amber tilted her head slightly.
"Yeah."
Her eyes drifted toward Abigail.
"What's the plan?"
Abigail remained silent for a moment longer, her thoughts turning carefully behind her steady expression.
Adam couldn't be allowed to drift closer to Luna.
Not now.
Not when everything depended on where his loyalty settled.
If Adam's heart leaned toward Luna…
The entire plan could fall apart.
They needed him to see Luna as a threat.
To believe she was dangerous.
To fear her.
Only then would he move closer to the Thornes.
Closer to Abigail.
But forcing that realization too aggressively would be a mistake.
Adam wasn't stupid.
If they pushed too hard, he would notice.
And if he noticed…
They risked losing his trust entirely.
Abigail's fingers tapped lightly against the edge of the book.
Slow.
Thoughtful.
Finally she closed it.
Then she stood.
Amber and Anissa watched her carefully.
Abigail turned toward them, her expression calm again.
"We're going to visit the lucky girl."
Amber's grin returned instantly.
"Luna?"
Abigail nodded once.
Outside the window, the afternoon sun hung high above the island.
But the day was already beginning its slow descent toward evening.
And tonight…
Everything would change.