Chapter 1

Vanya's POV

I blinked awake, the world around me sharpening from a blur to crystal clear. I was in my bedroom, not the storage room of the pack's hospital.

I turned, expecting to see my mate beside me, but the bed was empty.

A rapid knock on the door startled me.

"Who is it?" I called out.

No answer came, just the door swinging open to reveal a familiar figure.

It was Jenny, the Omega, who kept the Packhouse tidy.

"Luna Vanya, you need to come to the Packhouse," Jenny's voice was fraught with urgency.

She opened her mouth as if to say more, then closed it. Her eyes were filled with unspoken words.

"I'm on my way," I replied, not waiting for further explanation as I got to my feet.

As I approached the Packhouse, I stood at the entrance, my heart pounding in my chest.

My mate, Alpha Cliff, was inside, holding a petite girl's hand.

She glanced at me furtively. For a moment, I thought I saw a smug smile flash across her face.

"Vanya, what brings you here?" Cliff, my husband, my mate, and the Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack, spoke to me with an air of superiority.

"If my memory serves, I am the Luna of the Silver Moon Pack. I can be anywhere within our territory."

I retorted, stepping into the Packhouse.

The silence that greeted me was deafening.

Every action ceased, and all eyes turned to us.

Cliff glanced at me and said, "Let me introduce you to Melinda Coleman, my student."

"And?" I prompted.

Seeming to notice my gaze on his hand, he cleared his throat. "Well, it turns out Melinda is my true mate. Of course, I understand our bond. Your position as Luna remains unchanged. I assure you of that."

"I can't reject Melinda now. My wolf would go berserk, weakening the entire pack. You know how crucial our instincts and emotions are to our pack. I can't ignore that."

I scoffed inwardly, the same old excuses.

Our mating had been a union between packs, a perfect match on paper.

Cliff's family had hoped the alliance would strengthen both powerful packs.

I, from the Thunder Pack, the daughter of its Alpha, was destined to lead.

My upbringing had been focused on becoming the best Luna, not just a member, but an elite wolf managing our pack.

I dedicated every spare moment to learning the intricacies of pack management, conflict resolution, and caring for our members, striving for perfection in every detail.

To the Silver Moon Pack, I was the perfect Luna.

We had started courting early.

Cliff showed passion and devotion.

When proposing, he had promised that even if he met his true destined mate, he would reject her.

Now, as a respected Luna, every member of the pack admired me.

My gaze swept the room, taking in the shocked faces of my pack.

However, I couldn't help but notice not everyone was surprised, like Elliot, the Beta of the Silver Moon Pack.

He stood silently in the corner, arms crossed, his eyes betraying no shock.

Of course, the most shocked one was me.

After Cliff's revelation, I couldn't help but call to my wolf in my mind, "This can't be. How could this happen?"

I had lived through this before.

Just minutes ago, in the storage room of the Wolf Pack Hospital, I was moaning in pain.

Poisoned by wolfsbane, I was too weak to shift. A rogue tore my belly, blood flowing as I couldn't command my wolf to heal.

"You can cry all you want, while you still have the strength," Melinda said, leaning against the doorframe with a smile.

"Call Alpha Cliff. He's my mate. I beg you..." I whispered weakly.

In the dying moments of a werewolf, only their mate could restore their strength through the mate bond.

"I think you don't understand, Alpha Cliff doesn't want to see you."

Gasping, I tried to sit up, "Why are you doing this? Why take everything from me? My mate, my pack..."

"The dead don't need the truth," Melinda said with a laugh.

As she walked away, a tear slid down my cheek.

I could feel my life ebb with the warmth of my blood leaving my body.

I thought, 'This isn't fair! If I had another chance, I wouldn't end like this.'

Then, I opened my eyes, back in my bedroom.

By the grace of the Moon Goddess, I was reborn.

As Cliff explained Melinda's presence to me, I knew I had been taken back years.

I had been taken back to when I had just become the Luna of the Silver Moon Pack for a month.

I didn't know why the Moon Goddess had done this. Why not take me back further to when I would refuse Cliff's proposal?

But I had to do something.

So, I looked up, a mocking smile tugging at the corner of my mouth, "You seem to have forgotten your promise, haven't you?"