Chapter Three

"Miranda is our pack's destined Luna, but for the next Alpha."

Bernard's voice cut through the grief-stricken silence like a blade.

"Who?" All three brothers spoke at once, their heads snapping toward him.

Hayden stepped forward first. "Father never named a successor. He said he would decide after the Luna ceremony was complete."

Bernard nodded slowly. "Your father did not name one because the choice was never his to make." He looked directly at Miranda, then back at the brothers. "Miranda is our destined Luna. Whoever she chooses will be the next Alpha."

The words hung in the air like a death sentence.

Kyson straightened. "What are you saying?"

"The marriage contract with your father is now ineffective," Bernard continued. "Miranda will marry one of his sons instead. The prophecy was clear about this, though we did not understand it until now. The Luna was meant for the next generation, not this one."

"This is insane," Lucas said, still kneeling beside his father's body. Tears streaked his face. "You are telling us our father died for nothing?"

"Your father died fulfilling his role in the prophecy," Bernard said quietly. "His death was the catalyst. Without it, the true path could not reveal itself."

Miranda took a step backward, then another. "Ah! This is a nightmare." Her voice rose with each word. "First I have to marry an old man, now I have to marry one of my stepsons? How does that even make sense?"

"It is destiny," Bernard said, turning to face her fully. "Miranda, you have to stay here. This is the only way to get everything back that was taken from you."

Miranda froze. Her mind flashed to her father's body lying cold on the altar. To Sasha's cruel smile as she kissed Daniel. To the pack chanting for her death.

"He killed my father," she whispered to herself. "Daniel killed him and took everything. took my best friend, my home."

She looked up at Bernard, and something hard settled in her chest.

"Fine," she said. "I accept. I will stay."

Kyson exhaled slowly. Hayden's face remained unreadable, his jaw tight. Lucas finally stood, wiping his eyes roughly with the back of his hand.

"We should go," Kyson said quietly. "Father needs to be prepared for the funeral rites, and Miranda needs rest."

Bernard nodded. "I will handle the arrangements. Take her to the main house."

They left the ceremonial hall in silence. Miranda walked between Kyson, Hayden, and Lucas, feeling like a ghost drifting through someone else's life. The path led through grounds lined with ancient trees, their branches forming natural archways overhead. In the distance, other buildings housed pack members, but they headed toward a massive structure that dominated the landscape.

As they approached, Miranda stopped. She stared up at the building, taking in the sheer size of it.

"So this is where we are going to live?" she asked.

Kyson stopped beside her. "This is the main house, yes. You will have your own quarters until you make your choice."

"Your choice," Hayden repeated, and there was something bitter in his tone. "No pressure or anything."

Lucas said nothing, but his red-rimmed eyes fixed on Miranda with an intensity that made her want to look away.

Kyson cleared his throat. "We should introduce ourselves properly. I am Kyson, the eldest. I run the pack's business operations and investments."

"Hayden," the silver-haired one said shortly. "Middle son. I handle pack security and military affairs."

"Lucas," the youngest added, his voice still thick with grief. "I work in tech development and innovation for the pack."

They stood there in an awkward cluster at the entrance. Three brothers who had just lost their father. One woman who was supposed to choose which one to marry.

"Take your time to decide," Kyson said finally. "We understand this is not what any of us expected."

Miranda looked at each of them. Kyson with his controlled authority. Hayden with his barely contained anger. Lucas with his raw grief still fresh on his face.

She had gone from being burned alive to being told she had to choose a husband from three men she had just met.

"Can we just go inside?" she asked, exhaustion crashing over her.

Kyson nodded and gestured toward the entrance. The massive doors opened as they approached, revealing marble floors and high ceilings.

Miranda stepped through the doorway, her torn wedding dress trailing behind her.