Step one

Tamara’s POV

As soon as Jack was out of sight, I rushed to my room, and went straight to the closet.

It was time to begin my plan.

I shoved aside the soft, delicate dresses Jack liked me to wear and reached for the boldest, most daring outfit I had. It was a leather warrior set, black and fierce, with intricate gold and silver designs that gleamed in the light. The material hugged my body in all the right places, showcasing both my curves but still making me look powerful.

It was a piece specifically made for a Luna. It commanded attention, and respect, so Jack hated it when I wore it.

He didn’t like the fact that whenever I wore it, every single pair of eyes always ignored him to focus on me.

It was perfect.

I turned to the mirror and started applying a little makeup. That was another thing Jack had never allowed me to do in my past life.

He used to say that he didn’t want me looking too good, because he was afraid that someone would realize how beautiful I was, and take me away from him. I used to think he was joking, but after our marriage, when he started locking me up at home, I soon realized he was very serious.

He was scared someone would steal me away before he could claim my pack completely, and that was the very same fear I would use against him.

For the final touch to my outfit, i picked up the Alpha’s chest pin my parents gave me before they retired.

It was designed as a golden Phoenix, it was meant to signify the transition from a child to the pack’s leader, and since a Phoenix was also the symbol of death and rebirth, I thought it was the perfect jewelry for me.

Suddenly a soft voice sounded behind me making me freeze. “Tamara?”

I spun around to see Violet, my best friend standing at the doorway. I stared at her, unable to believe my eyes. She was alive.

“Violet?” I whispered, shakily.

In my past life, I had watched Jack and Katie cruelly behead her, claiming that she had been plotting with King Dante to kill me. I hadn’t believed them of course, and I even fought to save her. But then, Violet’s own husband, Richard, had provided some evidence that proved she helped Dante to kill my parents and I was heartbroken.

Violet had crawled on her knees, begging, crying and telling me that Dante wasn’t the real enemy but I didn't understand her then.

I still tried to save her, but Jack cruelly killed her right in front of me. I was devastated.

Later, I found out that her so called husband Richard had fabricated everything, just so that he could inherit all her property and marry his younger mistress.

But here she was now, my Violet standing in front of me. Alive.

I rushed forward to hug her tighter than I had ever held anyone in my life. “I’m so sorry,” I whispered to her. “I should have listened to you, I’m so, so sorry.” I cried and she was stunned

Violet awkwardly patted my back, clearly confused about why I was acting like this. “Tamara? … are you okay? What’s going on?”

I pulled back to look at her innocent face and smiled. “I’m fine now that you’re here,” I said honestly, “I just… I promise I’ll protect you this time, Violet. I won’t let anything happen to you. Not this time.”

She frowned and placed her palm on my forehead to feel my temperature. “Are you sure you’re alright? Are you feeling feverish?” She asked and I shook my head with a laugh.

She frowned more. “Then what are you talking about?” She asked before suddenly noticing my warrior outfit. “And… why are you dressed like that?”

“I’m going to the warriors’ meeting,” I told her.

Violet’s face immediately tensed, and her eyes widened in alarm. “No, Tamara, no,” she suddenly whispered urgently, grabbing my hands. “You don’t have to go to that meeting. Please, you have to trust me. Stay out of this.”

Her sudden fear startled me. Why didn’t she want me to go? I knew that she was constantly trying to protect me, she was the only one who ever dared to tell me the truth about Jack and Katie, and that was probably why they had her killed. But what was the problem now? Why didn’t she want me to go to the meeting when it could help me save my pack?

“Violet, what’s wrong? What aren’t you telling me?” I asked, but she refused to say anything else, just insisting that I shouldn’t go to the meeting.

Whatever she was hiding, it only made me more determined to go to the meeting and find out.

I grabbed her wrist and began walking to the meeting. Violet tried to protest, but I didn’t give her the chance as I dragged her with me down the hallway, to the meeting room.

When we arrived at the meeting hall, I heard their voices talking, so I pushed open the doors with force, and all eyes immediately turned to me, then the hall immediately fell deadly silent.

I felt Violet stiffen beside me, and my eyes followed her line of sight until it landed at the top of the table where Jack was sitting.

But that wasn’t what made her freeze, what made her freeze was the fact that Katie was sitting right beside him, on the Luna’s chair, right were I was supposed to be sitting.

I gritted my teeth as my blood began to boil. That fucking bitch!

So this was why Jack didn’t want me to come to the meeting. He was already trying to replace me with Katie. Already giving her my position as Luna, even though I was still alive.

He said this meeting wasn't a place for a woman, but that rule clearly didn't apply to my sister.

My fists clenched at my sides, How dare they?!