Chapter Two

"Ah! Ahhhh!" Sasha screamed, her body flying sideways as if struck by an invisible freight train.

The knife clattered to the floor, spinning uselessly across the stone. Sasha crashed into the wall with a sickening thud, then crumpled to the ground in a heap of limbs and shocked gasps. Blood trickled from her temple where her head had connected with the hard surface.

"Who has the audacity to attack me?" she shrieked, trying to push herself up on trembling arms.

The windows exploded inward. Glass showered the room as three massive wolves burst through, their bodies rippling with raw power. Miranda threw her arms over her face, feeling the rush of wind and fur and something ancient that made her own wolf whimper in submission.

Daniel scrambled backward, his face drained of all color. The chanting outside stopped abruptly.

The three wolves were enormous, each one easily twice the size of normal pack wolves. One had fur black as midnight, another russet brown that gleamed like polished copper, and the third was silver-grey like winter storm clouds.

Then they transformed. Within seconds, three dangerously handsome men stood where the wolves had been. The shift was faster than anything Miranda had ever witnessed, fluid in a way that spoke of ancient bloodline purity.

The one with black hair stepped forward first. His amber eyes were sharp as he moved toward Miranda with purpose. She found herself frozen, unable to decide if she should run.

He reached down and lifted her to her feet with surprising gentleness. "You are safe now," he said, and his voice carried an authority that sounded like an unbreakable promise.

An elderly man pushed through the doorway, wearing robes marked with unfamiliar symbols. He looked at Miranda, then dropped to one knee in a deep bow.

"The Raven Pack awaits you, Miss Miranda."

Miranda stared at him. "I do not understand what is happening."

The black-haired man who still held her arm spoke. "I am Kyson, eldest son of the Raven Pack Alpha. You are our destined Luna, prophesied to come to us." His amber eyes held hers. "You hold our pack's future. A once in a century gift."

"What? Me?" Nothing about this made sense. She was supposed to be dead right now.

"Wait," Daniel found his voice. "You cannot just take her. She killed her own father—"

The russet-haired man turned his head toward Daniel. He did not say a word, just looked at him. Daniel's voice died, and he took a step backward.

"We are leaving," Kyson said simply.

Before Miranda could protest, they were moving. The elderly man led the way while the three brothers surrounded her as they walked through the pack house. Pack members pressed themselves against walls, faces showing fear. Miranda caught a glimpse of Sasha being helped up, blood running down her face, her expression twisted with rage.

Then they were outside and the world blurred, moving faster than Miranda thought possible.

When everything solidified, they stood in a massive ceremonial hall. The ceiling soared high above them, supported by carved pillars depicting wolves. Torches blazed along the walls, and at the center stood an altar arranged for a Luna claiming ceremony.

An older man stood beside it, tall and broad-shouldered despite his age. His silver hair caught the torchlight, and his eyes were sharp. He wore Alpha authority like a second skin.

"Father," Kyson said, warmth flooding his voice now. "We found her. Just as the Oracle said."

The Alpha stepped forward, his eyes fixed on Miranda. Then his whole body jerked violently.

The movement was so sudden, so wrong. His eyes went wide, his hand flying to his chest. He staggered.

"Father!" All three sons moved at once.

Kyson caught him as he fell, lowering him to the ground. "Father, no. Stay with us." His hands shook as he held his father's shoulders. "The ceremony is almost complete. This cannot be happening. Not now."

The russet-haired brother dropped beside them. "Father, please. We need you. We just found her."

The silver-grey one fell to his knees on the other side. "Do not leave us like this."

The Alpha's breathing came in ragged gasps. His eyes found Miranda's across the room, and for a moment they held strange clarity, as if he wanted to tell her something. Then his hand dropped to his side. His chest stopped moving.

The elderly man rushed forward, pressing fingers to the Alpha's neck, then his wrist. When he looked up, his face was ashen. "Your father is gone."

"No!" The russet-haired brother's voice broke. "Father, please wake up. We were supposed to have time. You were supposed to see the pack restored."

Kyson still held his father, his jaw clenched so tight Miranda could see muscles jumping beneath his skin. His eyes went distant, trying to reach through mindlink for a connection that no longer existed. "I made a mistake," he whispered, then louder, "Oh God, I made a mistake."

The silver-grey brother turned on him with fury in his eyes. "What mistake, Kyson? What did you do?"

"Did you bring the wrong Luna?" the russet-haired one demanded. "Lucas, is this her fault?"

Lucas, the youngest, was sobbing now, his hands on his father's chest like he could press life back into him. "Daddy, wake up. You cannot leave us. Not you too."

Miranda watched this family shatter in front of her. Two men dead in one day, both in her presence. Sasha's voice echoed in her head—you are cursed, you bring death.

She had to leave before anyone else died because of her.

"Sorry," she said, her voice cutting through their grief. All three brothers turned to look at her. "If I am no longer needed here, can I go? Please."

She turned toward the door, her torn wedding dress dragging behind her. She did not care where she went. Anywhere but here.

The elderly man's hand closed around her wrist, his grip surprisingly strong. "No. You cannot leave. You are still our pack's Luna."

Miranda whirled on him, yanking her arm back. "But he is dead!" Her voice cracked, nearly hysterical. "Two people have already died in front of me today. Do you not see? I am cursed. Please, just let me go before I kill anyone else."