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CASSANDRA's POV.

The first thing I noticed was the silence. No screaming. No rustling leaves. No pounding footsteps chasing me through the forest. Just silence, heavy and unnatural. My eyes flew open, my chest heaving as I bolted upright. My heart raced, expecting the pain—the crushing agony of my body breaking apart—but it never came. Instead, soft light  basked the room

I blinked, startled,confused.  My hands instinctively flew to my stomach, searching for the weight of my child. Nothing. Flat. Whole. My breath hitched as I clutched the fabric of my dress—a familiar satin gown that felt out of place.

No blood. No dirt. No forest. Just this room.

I turned slowly, my gaze sweeping over the ornate furniture, the fresh bouquet of white roses on the vanity table.  the gilded mirror reflecting a face I barely recognized. My reflection stared back at me, young and unblemished by the scars of betrayal and loss. I stepped closer to the mirror, trembling as I studied the smooth, unmarked skin of my arms, my hazel eyes wide with disbelief.

“No,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “This can’t be real.”

But it was. Everything about this room was achingly familiar. This was the suite I’d stayed in on the night of my wedding. My wedding to Ethan.

I stumbled back, my heart slamming against my ribs. My hands gripped the edge of the vanity as the truth clawed its way into my mind. I wasn’t supposed to be here. I had died. I had felt my life slip away, my child taken from me, my body broken on the forest floor. And yet, here I was.

Seven years in the past.

The door creaked open behind me, and I froze, my pulse racing. A familiar figure stepped inside, his blonde hair catching the  light. My stomach twisted as I turned to face him, memories of his betrayal crashing over me like a tidal wave.

Ethan.

“You’re awake,” he said, his voice smooth, as if nothing had ever gone wrong between us. He stepped closer, his gaze sweeping over me with a tenderness that made my stomach churn. “I was worried. You’ve been resting all day.”

Resting. Was that what he called it? I bit down hard on the inside of my cheek, my nails digging into my palms to keep from screaming at him. He didn’t know. He had no idea that I remembered everything—every lie, every touch of Pearl’s hand on his arm, every cold word that had sealed my fate.

“I’m fine,” I said, forcing the words out through clenched teeth. My voice wavered, but he didn’t seem to notice.

He smiled, and it took everything in me not to flinch. “Good. Tonight is a big night, Cassandra. Everything we’ve worked for is finally coming together.”

Everything he had worked for. His power. His control. My death. I swallowed the bitterness rising in my throat and nodded, my mind racing. 

This wasn’t just a second chance. This was my opportunity to rewrite everything. But if I wanted to survive, I couldn’t let him see the fire burning inside me. Not yet.

“I’ll get ready,” I said, turning away before he could see the fury in my eyes. “Give me a moment.”

Ethan hesitated, his smile faltering for just a second. Then he nodded and left the room, closing the door softly behind him. The moment he was gone, I collapsed onto the bed, my hands trembling as I gripped the sheets. My mind raced, piecing together what this meant, what I had to do.

This time, I wouldn’t walk down that aisle as his pawn. I would play the obedient bride, just long enough to destroy everything he had built. 

---

The ceremony was a blur. The faces of the pack blurred together as I walked down the aisle, my steps slow and deliberate. Ethan waited for me at the altar, his smile as charming as ever. But all I could see was the man who had stood in the forest with Pearl, planning my death. My hands clenched into fists at my sides as I approached him, my heart pounding with rage.

When I reached the altar, Ethan took my hand, his grip firm and possessive. His eyes searched mine, and for a moment, I thought he might sense the fire burning beneath my calm exterior. But he simply smiled and turned to the officiant, ready to begin.

The words washed over me, meaningless and bitter. I barely heard the vows, barely felt Ethan’s hand in mine. All I could think about was the decision I had made, the plan I had set in motion. 

“Do you, Cassandra Montrose, take Ethan Everett to be your mate?”

The question hung in the air, the silence stretching on as I stared into Ethan’s expectant eyes. My heart thundered in my chest, but my resolve never changed. Slowly, I turned to face the crowd, my gaze sweeping over the faces of my packmates. They watched with bated breath, waiting for my answer. 

“I do,” I said, my voice steady and calm. A murmur of approval rippled through the crowd. Ethan’s smile widened, his grip on my hand tightening as he turned back to the officiant.

But I wasn’t finished.

As the ceremony concluded, and the pack prepared to celebrate, Ethan leaned close to me, his voice low. “The pack elders are expecting you to sign the transfer of your father’s lands to me tonight. Once it’s done, we’ll solidify our control.”

My blood ran cold. Of course. That was why he had wanted this union so desperately. It was never about me. It was about power. About taking everything my father had built and claiming it for himself. 

I smiled sweetly, nodding as if I agreed. “Of course, Ethan. Whatever you need.”

When the time came, the documents were laid before me, the room filled with pack elders and witnesses. Ethan stood beside me, his hand resting lightly on my back, a silent reminder of his expectations. The pen felt heavy in my hand as I stared down at the parchment, the words blurring together.

This was the moment. The moment I could change everything.

I set the pen down and straightened, my gaze meeting Ethan’s. “I’m sorry,” I said, my voice ringing clear in the silence. “But I can’t sign this.”

Ethan’s smile tightened, his jaw clenching so subtly that I almost missed it. “Cassandra,” he said, his tone calm but with an edge of warning. “This is what’s best for the pack. For us.”

“No,” I said, my voice firmer now. “This is what’s best for you. My father’s packs aren’t yours to take.”

A flicker of something dark passed through his eyes, but it was gone in an instant. He forced a smile, his hand tightening on my back. “We’ll talk about this later,” he said through gritted teeth, his jaw flexing as he kept his composure for the room.

“No,” I said again, louder this time, so that everyone could hear. My gaze swept over the elders, their murmurs growing louder as they exchanged glances. “This is my decision. And it’s final.”

The room erupted into loud murmurs  as the elders whispered among themselves. Ethan’s hand dropped from my back, his expression a mask of barely contained rage. For the first time, I saw the cracks in his facade, the calculating man beneath the charm.

Before he could speak, a movement at the edge of the room caught my eye. My breath hitched as I recognized the figure standing near the doorway, his broad shoulders and familiar dark hair impossible to miss. Blake.

My true mate. The man I had left behind for Ethan.

Our eyes met across the room, and the air seemed to still. His gaze burned with emotions I couldn’t quite place—hurt, anger, something else I didn’t dare name.