Alina's POV

Chapter 2

Alina's POV

My eyes snapped open, and I gasped for air, clutching my chest as if I had just surfaced from drowning. 

My heart pounded wildly against my ribs, and my body trembled. I blinked rapidly, staring up at the familiar ceiling of my childhood bedroom.

I bolted upright, my hands running over the soft fabric of my nightgown. My fingers trembled as they reached down to touch my stomach, flat. 

No sign of the life I had been carrying. I swallowed hard, my mind racing. I was supposed to be dead, burned alive in that wretched dungeon, yet here I was.

Swinging my legs over the edge of the bed, I stumbled to my feet and rushed to the window. The view outside was just as I remembered it, the lush green gardens of my father's pack, the morning sun casting a golden hue over the horizon.

“This can't be real.” I muttered in shock, I spun around, searching the room with wide, panicked eyes. My old desk, my vanity, the soft pink curtains my mother had insisted on years ago, they were all here.

I grabbed my phone from the bedside table, my hands shaking as I checked the date. My breath hitched. The screen displayed a date months before I had ever married Viktor, before I had packed my bags and left my family behind.

Tears welled in my eyes as realization dawned on me. I felt my stomach, the huge bump was no longer there. I wasn’t pregnant. I had never been pregnant. 

The events I had just lived through, Viktor’s betrayal, Mira’s cruel laughter, the agonizing pain, I hadn’t lost my child because the truth was, I had never conceived in the first place.

A choked sob escaped my lips, a mix of relief and disbelief. Had my desperate wishes been heard? Was this my second chance to make things right? Before I could process it further, the bedroom door creaked open.

"Alina?" a familiar voice called.

I turned around sharply to see my younger sister, Tessy, standing in the doorway, a bright smile on her face. She looked exactly as she had before everything fell apart, innocent and full of life.

"Food's ready," she chirped, stepping inside. "Mom said you’d sleep all day if we let you."

Déjà vu washed over me like a tidal wave, and I stared at her, my mind replaying this exact moment from my past. It had happened before. She had said those exact words before.

I walked towards her, realizing that I was back home, back to having a younger sister. I hugged her passionately, my hands wrapped around her. She hugged me back but immediately pulled away.

Tessy tilted her head, frowning. "Are you okay? You’re looking at me like I have two heads."

I swallowed down my emotions, forcing a small smile. "I'm fine," I said, my voice steadier than I expected. "Just felt like hugging my little sister.” I said, smiling to her but the look on her face didn't seem like she believed me.

She shrugged and grabbed my hand, tugging me gently. "Come on, before Dad finishes all the good stuff." She chuckled.

I let her lead me out of the room and down the hallway, each step feeling surreal, as if I were walking through a dream I had already lived. The scent of roasted chicken and spices filled the air, bringing a lump to my throat.

As we entered the dining room, I saw my parents sitting at the table, just as they had so many times before. My father looked up first, his stern face softening when he saw me. My mother gave me a warm smile, her eyes filled with hope.

Tessy and I sat across from them, I was close to making them cry over me. I was glad to see their faces again.

"Since we’re all here," my father started, setting his utensils down, "We wanted to talk to you again about Viktor Rolf."

I stiffened. My past self would have immediately bristled, defending Viktor without a second thought. But not this time.

"We still don’t think he’s the right man for you. Think about it, darling. His pack and ours aren't on good terms. You know this." my mother said gently, reaching for my hand across the table. 

"Are you sure about this wedding, Alina?"

I glared at her, darting my gaze towards my father and then to Tessy. My response would have been, “The wedding was in a few days time ma, I want to marry Viktor.”

But now things were different, I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of my new reality settle into my bones. I looked around at the faces of the people who had always loved me, who had tried to protect me.

And this time, I didn’t fight them.

"You’re right. Ma and pa, I've made a decision." I said, my voice strong and certain. "I’m not going to marry Viktor."

The room fell silent. My father’s eyes widened slightly, and my mother’s lips parted in surprise before a tearful smile spread across her face. Tessy gasped beside me, almost dropping her fork.

"Are you serious?" my father asked cautiously.

I nodded, feeling an overwhelming sense of relief. "Yes. I’ve thought about it, and I realize now that he’s not the right person for me."

My mother let out a shaky breath and squeezed my hand. "Oh, Alina, I’m so happy to hear that."

"You need to tell him," my father said firmly, though I could see the pride in his eyes. "Make it official. Call him and end this engagement."

I nodded, pushing my plate aside and standing up. "I will," I said with newfound determination.

As I left the dining room, I could feel their relieved gazes following me. I walked back to my room, clutching my phone tightly. I had been given a second chance, a chance to change my fate, to make different choices, to avoid the heartbreak that had once consumed me.

I wouldn’t waste it.