Chapter Two

CHAPTER TWO

OCTOBER, 7, 2018

DEEPWATER PARK

HAILEY

I groan softly as my eyes flutter open. My body aches as though I've been run over by a truck. Where was I?

"You're awake!" A cheerful voice broke my line of thoughts. I looked up and my heart got stuck in my mouth as I came face to face with the intruder. It's Maya!

"How are you?" 

"I'm fine" with furrowed brows, I answer absentmindedly as I wonder what was going on.

Wasn't I supposed to be dead? I don't get it! My head hurts as I try to figure out what was happening.

"The doctor said you've sprained your ankles badly and need to stay in bed. I doubt you will be able to attend the ball. It's quite unfortunate" Maya said, her voice dripping with sadness like she really wanted me to attend the ball.

"What ball?" I raised my brow in confusion. "What year is this even?" I ask, my voice sounding harsher than I intended.

Maya looks at me with a weird expression and comes closer to touch me but I move away before she could reach me. "Hailey, are you sure you're fine? Did you hurt your head? Should I call the doctor?" She bombarded me with a series of questions, looking extremely concerned and interested in my well being.

"Answer the question, Maya" I frown. Her over niceness was starting to get on my nerves.

My sharp retort caused her facade to falter but she answers nonetheless "It's 2018" 

At this moment, reality dawns on me. I was reborn two years ago! The moon goddess has given me a second chance and I sure as hell won't mess it up.

I can remember what and why I landed where I am. On this particular day, I had tripped and fallen down the stairs causing me to sprain my ankle and the doctor asked me to stay bedridden for at least three days.

But why this day? What was special about today that the moon goddess chose to be reborn today?

I barely refrain myself from gasping out loud when I eventually put the pieces together.

Today is the annual gathering of all Alpha's and this year's meeting is being hosted by my father. 

The notable thing about this day is that Tristan promised to be my date for the event and officially announce me as his mate and Luna but unfortunately, because of my "unexpected accident", he had to go with Maya instead.

Thinking back, Maya was behind me when I mysteriously fell and I could swear that I felt her push me but when she profusely pleaded her innocence, I let it go, blaming it on nervousness and paranoia.

Maya had actually pushed me in order for me to not be able to attend the event so she could go with Tristan in my stead. I didn't think anything of it because I simply guessed Tristan needed company for the event and Maya was both our friend. 

But it just hit me, this was their plan all along. He introduced her as his mate, instead of me.

"Is there a problem, Hailey?" Maya spoke with her light voice that made me cringe. Ironically, I had once likened her voice to that of the soothy summer breeze.

I stare at Maya and feel nothing but pure unadulterated hatred. I had stupidly played the lead role in her plan to end me. Just how dense was I to be played by her?

"I need to be alone. Please leave" I say, and turn my gaze away from her. If I am reborn, I need time to calculate my next move. I need to make sure I don't repeat the same mistake and end up the same way I did.

"But the doctor--"

"No buts. I need space!" I cut her off angrily. Was she always this stubborn? As much as I could remember, she always acted docile in my presence. "Didn't the doctor say not to stress me? Or don't you want me to recover quickly?!" 

If it were before I got reborn, I'd have felt she was genuinely concerned about my wellbeing and asked her to stay by my side. But not anymore, I wasn't going to be that gullible girl anymore.

In this life, I have no trust and love left in me to give out. I've learnt the hard way that man is a very selfish being and to survive in a world like this, you need to be cruel.

"How could I not want you to recover, Hailey? What are you saying?" She looked like she was about to cry but I couldn't care less. She could die for all I cared- but not before I took my revenge.

"Then leave, Maya!" I insist.

Both Maya and I stare at each other with an unwavering gaze. I could tell she was thinking of what had come over me. What happened to the calm and overly nice girl she could control? I'm sure that's was was going through her mind

"Okay" Maya finally dropped her gaze and turned to leave. "Call me if you need anything"

I clicked my tongue loudly the moment she closed the door. How was I blind to these antics? How did she manage to fool me?

I shake my head. That isn't important anymore. My most important priority is to take revenge on everyone who orchestrated my death. No one would be left out.

But to do that, I need to be powerful enough and that means having a strong back up. But who? My father doesn't even pay attention to me.

A plan suddenly clicked in my mind and I smiled sinisterly. My thoughts were interrupted by a voice in my head.

"Hailey" The distant, yet firm voice which I recognized belonged to my wolf.

"Leila?" I asked, just to be sure. It's been a very long time since I spoke to Leila. So long ago that I almost forgot how she sounded.

"Yes Hailey, it's me."

"How? I thought you left me" I was surprised and happy. I had missed her so much.

"I did but I'm back because you were reborn, and hopefully smarter"

I couldn't help but wince at the subtle insult thrown at me. Back then, Leila abandoned me because she claimed I was hurting her by loving the wrong person. 

In my entire life, I had never heard about something of that sort so I likened it to her wanting to dominate me. I had always thought Leila was too mature to be my wolf. But now, I regret being mean to her.

"The moon goddess has granted you a second chance of being reborn and to avoid being reckless, she has given you two simple rules to follow. Failure to abide by them, leads to grave circumstances"

"What are the rules?" I asked carefully, my heart uncontrollably pounding for some weird reason.

"The first is; you must tell no one about being reborn." Leila paused for a second which only added to my strange anxiety.

"And you must not fall in love."