Chapter 2: Kylie decides to take advantage of Anne’s identity

Kylie’s POV.

The world spun as I opened my eyes, sand rough against my skin. Each breath was a struggle. “Am I… alive?” I wondered, barely able to lift my head. The taste of salt lingered on my lips, a cruel reminder of the ocean’s merciless grasp. Images flashed in my mind—Graham’s cold eyes, his betrayal, the icy water pulling me under.

I tried to move, but my limbs felt like lead. “This is it,” I thought, “this is how I end.” As darkness threatened to claim me again, I saw a figure approaching. A woman, her outline blurred. My heart raced. “Not again, please not again.”

She knelt beside me, her touch gentle but unfamiliar. Panic surged. I flailed weakly, trying to push her away. “Stay back! Don’t touch me!” My voice was a rasp, barely audible over the sound of the waves.

“Easy, easy,” she said, her voice soothing. “I’m not here to hurt you.”

I squinted, trying to focus. Her face came into view, kind eyes filled with concern. “Who are you?”

“My name is Anne,” she said softly. “I’m from the Moonshadow Pack.”

“Moonshadow Pack? I’d heard of them. Why are you here?”

“I ran away,” Anne explained. “I’m working as a servant at Umbra Academy now. It’s… complicated.”

My suspicion lingered, but I was too weak to resist. “Umbra Academy?”

Anne nodded. “It’s a place for the elite. Killers and witches, shifters. They teach you how to survive, how to lead. It’s not a kind place, but it’s powerful.”

Powerful. The word resonated. Power was what Graham sought, and it had destroyed my life. “Why help me?”

“Because you need it,” Anne said simply. “Come, let’s get you to safety.”

As Anne helped me to my feet, my gaze drifted to the distance. There, among the crowd, was Graham, organizing a funeral. My funeral. The murmurs of the neighbors reached my ears, their voices dripping with accusation. “She cheated,” one said. “Died in shame,” another added.

My heart clenched. They believed his lies. My knees buckled, but Anne held me steady. “It’s going to be okay,” she whispered.

“Nothing will ever be okay again,” I muttered, tears stinging my eyes.

We moved slowly, each step in agony, but Anne’s presence was a strange comfort. “Why would someone from Moonshadow end up at Umbra?” I asked, trying to distract myself from the pain.

“I had no choice,” Anne replied. “I needed to escape my past. Umbra seemed like the only option.”

Escape. I understood that too well. “What’s it like, this academy?”

“Harsh,” Anne said. “Ruthless. But you’ll get stronger. You’ll learn to protect yourself.”

“Protection.” That was something I desperately needed. “And you trust them?”

Anne hesitated. “No. But sometimes, it’s not about trust. It’s about survival.”

We finally reached Anne’s temporary home, a small, modest place hidden away from prying eyes. As we stepped inside, the weight of everything crashed down on me. “Thank you,” I whispered, though my heart was heavy with doubt.

Anne guided me to a small cot, helping me lie down. “Rest,” she said. “You need to regain your strength. I will get some food.”

As I closed my eyes, exhaustion pulling me under, one thought lingered. “Will I ever get through this? Will I find a way to clear my name and uncover the truth?”

Soon, Anne came back. Her place was small but comforting. She handed me a bowl of stew, and I ate without tasting. My mind was elsewhere, trapped in a loop of betrayal and pain. Anne soon left for work, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I lay on the cot, staring at the ceiling. “How could he do this to me?” I wondered, the bond with Graham had severed, leaving an unbearable void. My wolf, my constant companion, had retreated into a deep sleep, leaving me even more alone.

Sleep wouldn’t come. My thoughts kept drifting back to my father. The day I defied him to marry Graham.

“Father, I love him,” I had said, standing my ground in our living room.

“Kylie, he’s not trustworthy,” my father had warned, his eyes filled with concern. “There’s something about him…”

“You don’t know him like I do,” I had argued, desperate for his approval.

“I know enough,” he replied, his voice firm. “I can’t support this.”

“Then I’ll marry him without your blessing,” I had declared, anger and determination fueling my words.

The memory made me wince. How could I have been so blind? Tears welled up, and I couldn’t lie still any longer. I got up, the guilt and heartbreak pushing me outside. The night air was cool against my skin as I wandered, searching for an escape from my torment.

I found myself by a river, its waters dark and inviting. “Maybe this is the only way out,” I thought, stepping closer. “An end to this pain.”

I took a deep breath, ready to surrender, when a voice cut through the silence. “Kylie! What are you doing?”

I turned to see Anne, her face a mix of anger and concern. “I can’t… I can’t live like this,” I whispered, tears streaming down my face. “I don’t want to feel this pain anymore.”

Anne grabbed my arm, pulling me back. “You think this is the answer? Giving up?”

“It hurts too much,” I cried. “I can’t take it.”

Anne’s grip tightened. “Life isn’t easy, Kylie. But this isn’t the way. You have to fight.”

“Fight for what?” I shot back, my voice breaking. “I’ve lost everything.”

“You haven’t lost everything,” Anne insisted. “Your life is still yours. And so is your future.”

“My future?” I scoffed. “What future? All I see is betrayal and emptiness.”

Anne’s eyes softened. “The future is unwritten, Kylie. It holds possibilities you can’t even imagine. But you have to be here to see them.”

“I don’t know if I can,” I admitted, feeling utterly defeated.

“You can,” Anne said firmly. “And you will. You’re stronger than you think. And there’s more to your story than this moment.”

I looked at her, searching for any sign of falsehood. But all I saw was sincerity. “Why do you care?”

“Because I’ve been there,” Anne replied quietly. “I know what it’s like to feel hopeless. But I also know that things can get better. You just have to give it time.”

I hesitated, the urge to end my suffering still tugging at me. “What if I can’t?”

Anne sighed, her anger melting into empathy. “You can. And I’ll help you. We’ll take it one day at a time. But first, you need to take back your life. You want revenge on Graham and Flora? Then live. Show them you’re stronger than they ever imagined.”

The mention of revenge sparked something within me. “Revenge…” I whispered, the idea taking root.

Anne nodded. “Yes. Show them you’re not defeated. Use that anger, that pain, to fuel your comeback.”

I wiped my tears, a new resolve forming. “You’re right. I can’t let them win.”

Anne gave a small smile. “That’s the spirit. Now, let’s get you home.”

As we walked back, I glanced at Anne. “You said you’ve been there… what happened to you?”

Anne’s expression darkened. “That’s a story for another time. Right now, let’s focus on you.”

I nodded, respecting her silence. We reached her place, and as I lay down again, the weight of my despair felt a little lighter. Anne’s words echoed in my mind. The future is unwritten. Maybe, just maybe, I could find a way through this darkness.

The days passed in a blur of recovery and reflection. I was getting stronger, both physically and mentally. But today, something felt off. Anne hadn’t returned, and it was unlike her.

“Where are you, Anne?” I murmured, pacing the small room. My eyes landed on a diary half-hidden under a stack of papers. I pulled it out, and a letter slipped out from between the pages, addressed to me.

With trembling hands, I unfolded the letter.

“Kylie,

If you’re reading this, it means I’m gone. I’ve seen a spark in you, a strength that will carry you far. You’re destined to be the most successful Luna. You’ve got so much life ahead of you, and I want to give you even more reasons to live. My time in this world is over, but yours is just beginning.

Remember, you have the power to change everything. Use that power. Live, fight, and never give up.

Anne”

Tears blurred my vision. “Why, Anne? Why would you leave me like this?” I whispered, clutching the letter to my chest. Her words were a lifeline, urging me to keep going, to find strength in my pain.

I turned my attention to the diary, needing to understand her story. As I read, Anne’s life unfolded before me.

“Alpha Logan’s fiancée…” I whispered, shocked. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Anne’s entries were raw and painful. She had fled to Umbra Academy to escape a political marriage. Logan, cold and ruthless, had killed her mate to force her hand.

“Logan didn’t even see me, but he was aware of the benefits from this marriage,” Anne had written. “He took away the only person who mattered, leaving me with nothing but pain. Umbra Academy was my refuge, but even here, I couldn’t escape the shadows of my past.”

My heart ached for her. “I’m so sorry, Anne,” I said softly, tears streaming down my face. Her sorrow was palpable, a mirror of my own.

Anne’s final entries were the hardest to read.

“I can’t keep running. Now, I’ve finally found the person I have been waiting for, and it’s Kylie. Before I go, I want to give Kylie a concrete reason to live. She has a fire within her, a drive that can change the world. She can do what I couldn’t—survive and thrive. I believe in her.”

“Anne…” I sobbed, feeling the weight of her belief in me. She saw something in me that I hadn’t seen in myself.

As I closed the diary, a fierce resolve ignited within me. “You wanted me to live, Anne. To fight. And I will. For you, for me, for everyone who’s been wronged.”

My fists clenched, anger and determination blending into a potent force. “Logan, you will pay for what you did to Anne. And Graham, Flora—you’re next. I’ll make sure you all feel the pain you’ve caused.”

I looked at Anne’s small, empty home, now filled with the echoes of her strength. “I’ll use your identity, Anne. I’ll finish what you started. I promise.”

I stood by the window, looking out at the darkening sky. “This isn’t the end. It’s just the beginning. I’ll avenge you, Anne. And I’ll take back my life.”

With a deep breath, I felt a renewed sense of purpose. “Watch over me, Anne. I won’t let you down.”

The flames of resolve burned brighter within me, consuming my doubts and fears. I would become the Luna I was meant to be. Strong, unyielding, and vengeful. This was my path now, and I would walk it with my head held high.

I stood alone at the edge of the forest, clutching Anne’s belongings: her letter, her diary, a few personal items. “I’m sorry, Anne,” I whispered, tears streaming down my face. “I couldn’t find your body, but I’ll honor you the best I can.”

I dug a small hole beneath an ancient oak tree, placing her things inside. “You deserved so much better,” I murmured, covering the items with earth. “Rest now, my friend. I’ll make them pay. I promise.”

With the makeshift funeral over, I knew I had to move forward. My path led back to my Pack. Sneaking into the Nightbloom territory was easier than I expected, the familiarity of home both comforting and painful.

I approached my family’s home cautiously, hiding in the shadows. Inside, I saw my mother, Sarah, and my brother, Michael, their faces etched with grief.

“I can’t believe she’s gone,” my mother sobbed, clutching a worn photograph. “My poor Kylie…”

“Flora visited today,” Michael said, his voice laced with bitterness. “Pretended to be all kind, but then I heard her talking to the landlord. She’s getting us evicted.”

“What?” my mother gasped. “Why would she do that?”

“Because she’s a snake,” Michael spat. “She wants to make sure we suffer, to erase any trace of Kylie.”

My blood boiled. “Flora, you’ll regret this,” I thought, fury coursing through me. My family’s pain was unbearable to watch.

My mother took the photograph, a picture of Graham and me on our wedding day. “He destroyed our girl,” she whispered, tears falling onto the image. “And now Flora wants to take everything.”

With shaking hands, she lit a match and set the photograph ablaze. “This is for you, Kylie,” she said, watching the flames consume the picture. “I hope it burns them both.”

I wanted to rush in, to comfort her, but I couldn’t. My presence would only put them in more danger. “I’m here, Mom,” I thought, tears blurring my vision. “I’ll make this right. I promise.”

As the flames died down, I saw a flicker of something in my mother’s eyes. Determination. “We won’t let them win, Michael,” she said, her voice stronger. “We’ll find a way to survive.”

“Damn right we will,” Michael replied, his eyes hard. “For Kylie.”

“For Kylie,” my mother echoed, gripping his hand.

Their resolve strengthened my own. “You’ll pay for this, Flora. And Graham, you’ll suffer too.”

I slipped away from the house, my heart heavy but my mind clear. “I’ll start by using Anne’s identity,” I decided. “I’ll infiltrate their world, gather information, and strike when they least expect it.”

The night was dark and silent as I made my way back to Anne’s temporary home. “This isn’t over,” I vowed, the image of my grieving family seared into my memory. “Not by a long shot.”

As I lay down, I whispered into the darkness, “Rest in peace, Anne. Your death won’t be in vain. And neither will my family’s suffering.”

The future loomed uncertain, but my path was set. I would become the weapon of justice Anne believed I could be. And I would bring down those who wronged us. One by one.