The double doors to the council chamber creaked open as the three Alphas strode in—Lionel leading, Joseph and Matthew flanking him like a tide of authority. The room, packed with elders seated at the long obsidian table, fell into murmured silence at their arrival.
"The matter of the Luna position can no longer be delayed," Elder Hadrek announced before they could even take their seats. His voice was deep, brittle with age and authority. "The people grow restless. The pack needs a Luna. Since the Moon Goddess has chosen to remain silent—"
"She hasn't," Joseph cut in, not missing a beat as he moved to his seat. "You can stop preparing for the election."
The elders stiffened.
Lionel's eyes flicked across the table. "You can all relax. The Moon Goddess heard you—loud and clear."
Matthew folded his arms, a slow smile pulling at the corner of his mouth. "Turns out, she decided to bless all three of us."
Whispers exploded across the room like sparks on dry grass.
"What are you saying?" one elder asked cautiously. "That you've all found your fated mates... at once?"
"Yes," Joseph said, grinning with satisfaction. "We have one mate. The three of us."
"One mate shared by three Alphas?" another elder scoffed. "Impossible."
Lionel's voice was calm, but the weight behind it made the room quiet again. "Not impossible. Divine."
Gasps and rustling filled the air as their words sank in. The council struggled to comprehend, but their disbelief was quickly overridden by curiosity. Even some of the most cynical among them leaned in.
And then she spoke.
The Queen Mother.
She rose slowly from her seat at the end of the table, her elegant form draped in royal gray, her sharp features now hard with simmering fury. "No," she said. "Absolutely not."
All eyes turned.
"Yes, Mother," Joseph said, tilting his head. "Her name is Andrea."
"The girl you met earlier," Matthew added, his tone no longer playful. "The one you wanted to know about."
"The answer to your qeastion," Lionel finished coldly.
The Queen Mother's eyes narrowed into slits. "She's a stranger. An orphan. We know nothing of her bloodline. You'd risk the future of this pack on—on her?"
Lionel stepped forward, his tone controlled and cutting. "You ensured we were never dethroned when Father died. We owe you that. But make no mistake—we are no longer children to be guided."
Joseph's voice carried next, light but edged with warning. "And you're not the Alpha anymore, Mother."
Matthew stood tall. "Andrea is our fated mate. That makes her our Luna. When she's ready, the ceremony will take place. And tonight, we're throwing her the birthday celebration she never had."
The council began to murmur again, but no one challenged them now. The Alpha's words were law.
"And we expect to see all of you there," Joseph said smoothly, a faint smirk on his lips as he addressed the stunned elders.
Lionel's final words cut through the tension like a blade. "The Moon has chosen. And we will honor that—whether others do or not."
The three Alphas turned without waiting for dismissal.
"See you all tonight," Matthew said with a casual wave, and they strode from the chamber as the elders whispered behind them like leaves in a coming storm.
Behind them, the Queen Mother sat frozen—her smile gone, her hands clenched at her sides.
The moment the council doors slammed shut behind the elders, the Queen Mother turned sharply, her heels clicking against the polished stone floor as she stormed after her sons.
"You can't possibly be thinking of making her your Luna!" she snapped, her voice echoing down the corridor like a whip crack. "You were fine without mates for years! You've led the pack just fine without this—this girl. You don't need her!"
Lionel stopped mid-step.
Joseph's jaw tensed.
Matthew turned around slowly.
"You've survived this long," she pressed, her voice laced with desperation now. "Think about what this means. The pack will never accept a human Luna. You're not just Alphas. You're the last bloodline of the Alpha King. This isn't just about your hearts—it's about the entire future of the White Moon Pack."
Her voice cracked slightly, just enough to show the fear beneath the fire. She wasn't just angry—she was terrified.
Lionel stepped closer, calm but unwavering. "We know what it means, Mother. And we know what we're risking."
"You think this is a risk?" she said, voice rising. "This is madness! You're throwing away centuries of legacy for a girl you don't even understand—"
"We understand her better than anyone else ever has," Joseph said firmly. "We felt the bond the moment we saw her. Felt her pain. Her power."
"This can't be," Their mother said walking away angrily.