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?"