Chapter 1: Chapter 1

Chapter 1

"Oh dear, you look beautiful!" Beatrice remarked as she helped Miranda to wear the diamond earrings, the last of her ornaments after she had tried on her wedding dress, and stood in front of the full-length mirror, looking dazzling.

She tucked her blonde hair in a neat bun and even though she wore no make-up, it did not appear as if she needed it because the Moon Goddess had blessed her with natural beauty. Her friend jumped as she gazed at Miranda all dressed-up, who was soon going to be the bride, and Luna to the Alpha of the Night Shadow Pack, the famous Alpha Walden.

"I don't know." Miranda had a look of uncertainty on her face as she stared at herself in the mirror in front of her. "Do I look good in this dress?"

"Of course, dear! Oh, I can't wait for Audrey to come in and see you right now! There's nothing wrong with your appearance. The only thing you lack is the confidence to see just how gorgeous you are. Oh! I knew these earrings would look good on your gown the minute I saw them at the display."

Miranda sighed as she stared at herself once more. She was unsure of her looks and was nervous about the next day's Luna ceremony.

Just then, the bedroom door opened and her other friend, Audrey, brought in a bouquet that had been delivered for Miranda.

"It's for you!" Audrey grinned, handing the bouquet to Miranda. Of course, it was another wedding gift, from either her mate-to-be or one of the well-wishers that was going to be at their wedding. Most probably the latter.

"Who is the sender?" Miranda asked as she looked down to check the note and read the message it contained, loud enough for her friends.

*'Congratulations on your upcoming Luna ceremony, dear Princess. We all are looking forward to the day when you will wed the Night Shadow Pack's Alpha at the grand opening of the cardinal ceremony tomorrow.'*

Signed,

Alpha Dylan of the Bane Pack.

Miranda smiled as she read the message from one of her dad's closest allies. After hearing the message, her two friends giggled with excitement.

"Everyone knows how important this wedding is to the continuation of the Lotus Pack. Finally! There is hope at the end of the tunnel for us!"

Beatrice held her shoulders high, nodding at Audrey's statement, "Yes. When our Princess will be the Luna of the Night Shadow Pack, our Pack's dignity and honor will be restored. People will no longer feel pity and disgust when they hear the name of the Lotus Pack. Our lands will be healed, our people will no longer suffer, as we will have the full support of the Night Shadow Pack."

"Let's not get too carried away, guys." Miranda cut in. "I mean, how can you be sure that this wedding is what the Lotus Pack needs? We've been in the dark for a good number of years because the rogue war had badly damaged the pack. How can you be sure that an alliance with the Night Shadow Pack will help us out of this darkness?"

Beatrice's and Audrey's faces suddenly turned upside down.

"Miranda? You're not thinking of calling this engagement off, right? I mean, have you ever thought about what will happen to us if you do?"

Audrey took her hand and made her sit on the bed beside her, patting her hands softly, "I know that you and Alpha Walden haven't been as close as you used to be before, but please, you have to do this. For us, for your father, Miranda."

Beatrice sat on the other end, with Miranda squeezed in between, "The Lotus Pack cannot survive another rogue war alone. Miranda, we need a powerful ally before that time comes or else the war will wipe the Lotus Pack off the face of the earth."

Miranda nodded, "I know. But has anyone ever considered my true feelings about this? Getting married to someone who I know will never love me enough as his mate? Walden and I used to be very close growing up, but I don't know anymore? We just grew apart."

"Is it because of Samara?" Beatrice scoffed. "Don't mind her at all, dear. All you need is an alliance with the Night Shadow Pack, so they will stand by our side to lend us their aid during the next war. You are Princess Miranda. We know that this isn't what you want, but that's what princesses do. Sacrifice for the betterment of her home, and her people. So do this for us, Miranda, please. Do this for the Lotus Pack."

A heavy sigh escaped Miranda's lips.

After the small talk and trying on the wedding attire, Miranda was still not sure.

...

As a vehicle stopped in front of the Lotus Pack-house, Audrey was the first to see it from the bedroom window. Beta Finn of the Night Shadow Pack came out of the vehicle and entered the pack-house.

Audrey ran excitedly toward Miranda to tell her what she had just seen.

"Alpha Walden's Beta is here! I think he is here to pick you up."

Miranda threw a surprised glance. "Pick me up? He was supposed to come and do that himself!"

"Don't jump to conclusions, dear. Maybe he couldn't come because of something important."

"You know the life of an Alpha is so busy, Miranda," Beatrice chimed. "He must have sent his Beta over to take you to the Goddess' crescent since he couldn't come."

Miranda shrugged, "I guess you're right. He said that Samara got injured during training today. He called earlier to apologize that he'll be late because of that."

"See! I told you that there must be a reason that he did not come. But he still sent someone to come pick you up so you can be at your wedding venue by this evening, such a gentle wolf."

The three friends packed up the wedding dress and the ornaments in the boxes before heading downstairs to meet Beta Finn in the pack's meeting room. A guard had already welcomed him into the pack-house. He was talking with her father, Alpha Luther the Great, as he was formerly known, before the last war with the rogues damaged him and his wolf completely, leaving him sick and confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

"Miranda dear," her father gave her a weak smile when he saw her enter the meeting room. Because of his condition, he could not speak much.

"Hello father," she came closer to kiss him on the forehead before turning to the Beta.

"Princess Miranda, it's so good to see you today. Alpha Walden has sent greetings to you."

She nodded, unable to hide her concerned look. "Thank you, but he was the one who should have come here to pick me up himself so we'd be at the wedding venue by this evening. Is everything alright?"

She turned to see her father, who had a disappointed look on his face as he had already known what Beta Finn wanted to talk about. It was then that Beta Finn said the words that led to the same disappointment reflected on her face as it was on her father's face.

**"I'm sorry, dear, but you are not getting married this year."**