Reborn for revenge

Gwen’s POV

I could feel the darkness closing in, suffocating me, dragging me down into its cold, endless depths. The pain was unbearable, but I clung to the last shred of my consciousness, refusing to let go. I wasn’t ready to die—not like this.

As the world faded around me, a strange calm settled over my mind. The pain began to dull, and for a moment, there was nothing but silence. I floated in the void, suspended between life and death, waiting for the end to claim me.

But then, a voice—a whisper—cut through the darkness, soft yet commanding, like the rustle of leaves in the wind.

“Gwendolyn,” it called, the sound wrapping around me like a warm embrace. “It is not your time.”

I tried to speak, but my voice was lost in the void. The darkness around me shifted, pulsing with a strange, ethereal light. I could feel it pulling at me, urging me to follow.

“Who…?” I managed to rasp, my voice a weak, barely a breath.

The light intensified, and from within it, a figure began to emerge. She was radiant, with long silver hair that flowed like water and eyes that glowed with the light of the moon. Her presence was both terrifying and comforting, a paradox that made my heart ache with longing.

“I am Selene, the Moon Goddess,” she said, her voice echoing in my mind. “And I have come to offer you a choice.”

A choice? I tried to make sense of her words, but my thoughts were slow, muddled by the lingering pain and the weight of the darkness that still clung to me.

“You were wronged, child,” Selene continued, her tone filled with a sorrow that resonated deep within my soul. “Betrayed by those you trusted, cast aside like nothing. But your fate does not end here. I can grant you another chance—a chance to return, to reclaim what was taken from you.”

Return? Reclaim? The words stirred something inside me, igniting a spark of defiance that had been smothered by my despair. I could feel the cold grip of death loosening as the goddess’s light enveloped me.

“How….?” I croaked, my voice barely more than a whisper.

Selene’s gaze softened, and she stepped closer, her hand reaching out to touch my cheek. Her touch was gentle, yet it sent a surge of energy coursing through me, filling me with strength.

“You will be reborn, Gwendolyn,” she said, her voice filled with promise. “Reborn into a new body, a new you, with a new purpose. But there are limits—constraints that you must heed.”

“Limits?” I echoed, struggling to understand. My thoughts were still sluggish, like trying to wade through thick mud.

“Yes,” she nodded, her expression serious. “Your time will be short—only three months to find your true mate and reclaim your life. Should you fail, your soul will be lost to the darkness forever.”

Three months. The weight of her words pressed down on me, but with it came a surge of hope. I had been betrayed, left for dead. I couldn’t allow that to be the end of my story. I wouldn’t.

“What if I succeed?” I asked, a flicker of hope sparking within me.

“If you succeed, your life will be yours to reclaim,” she said, her voice like the soothing caress of the night. “You will have your revenge, and you will find the strength you need to protect those you love.”

I took a deep breath, the darkness receding as I clung to her words. “And the man that saved me?” I asked, a bittersweet taste in my mouth. He was the last thing I saw before I died.

Selene’s expression became unreadable, her eyes glowing with a mysterious light. “It was all your imagination, Gwen. Nobody saved you, but yourself. Regardless, you should know that he is part of your fate. To get your revenge you have to join forces with him.”

I felt a pang of resentment at her words. What did she mean by saying I saved myself? I knew what I saw! Besides how could I find a man that I didn’t take a closer look at, where would I begin my search from?

“You’ll be lead,” she said, her voice firm, stronger than it had been since this nightmare began. “You must tread carefully. There is no second chance after this!”

I nodded, having a second chance at life was enough for me to get back at Damien and Elara.

Selene’s gaze softened, and she smiled—a sad, knowing smile that made my heart ache. “Very well,” she said softly.

With that, she stepped back, the light around her growing brighter, more intense. I could feel the pull of life returning, dragging me back from the edge of death.

“Go, child,” she whispered, her voice fading as the light consumed me. “Go, and reclaim your destiny.”

And with those words, the world exploded into light, blinding and all-consuming, until there was nothing but white.

When I opened my eyes, the first thing I felt was the cold, damp earth beneath me. My body ached, my muscles stiff and unyielding, as if I had been lying in the same position for far too long. I forced myself to sit up, the memory of Selene’s words ringing in my ears.

Reborn. I was alive—alive in a new body.

But as the last remnants of sleep faded, I realized something else. The scent of the forest, the cool air against my skin—it was all different, yet eerily familiar. My heart skipped a beat as I took in my surroundings. The clearing, the towering trees, the moonlight filtering through the canopy—it was the same place, the place where I had died.

Panic surged through me, but I forced it down, focusing on the task at hand. I needed to find my mate. I needed to find a way out of here quickly before Damien and his cohorts came looking for Jax and my body.

I struggled to my feet, my legs shaky and unsteady. My clothes were different—simple, functional, nothing like the ceremonial robes I had worn before. By the side lay my old bloodied body and the remnants of Jax’s body sliced into pieces.

I walked towards them to take a closer look. It felt like a dream to me, but I knew there was no time to dwell on it. I had to move.

The moonlight cast an eerie glow over the forest, and as I moved, I felt a strange, tingling sensation in the air. A string like-bond. It was weak, fragile, but it was there, pulling me forward, guiding me.

I followed it, my heart pounding in my chest, my mind racing with a thousand thoughts. If that strange man didn’t save me, how did I save myself?

The bond grew stronger, more insistent, leading me deeper into the woods. My breath came in short, ragged gasps as I pushed through the underbrush, ignoring the branches that clawed at my skin.

And then, I saw him.

He was standing in a small clearing, his back to me, his tall, broad figure silhouetted against the pale light of the moon. His presence was overwhelming, dominating the space around him. But there was something else—something dark, dangerous, that set my nerves on edge.

It seemed like he sensed my presence as he turned slowly, his eyes locking onto mine, and for a moment, the world stood still. There was recognition in his gaze, there was warmth—but a hint of cold, calculating intensity that sent a shiver down my spine.

“Arlene!” he called out, his voice low, rough. “How is it possible that you are here?”

His words hit me like a blow, and I took an involuntary step back. This wasn’t the reception I had expected. It was then it made sense to me; He recognized the body, maybe the owner of this body.

“I…” I began, but the words caught in my throat. How could I explain? How could I make him understand that I was not Arlene but Gwendolyn?

He took a step forward, his gaze narrowing. “You died,” he said, his voice laced with disbelief. “I watched you die in my arms, Arlene.”

“I’m… I’m not Arlene….” I blurted out, my voice cracking.