Chapter 1

At my bonding ceremony with my destined mate, my adoptive brother suddenly lunged, plunging a knife into my father, the Alpha of our pack.

Blood gushed out. My father stared in disbelief at the child he’d raised.

I wanted to scream, but I was pinned hard to the ground.

"Watch closely. This is the price for choosing the wrong mate." My adoptive brother leaned in, sneering right by my ear.

My mate was swarmed by six warriors and collapsed, drenched in blood.

"Throw him out of the territory. Let him wander forever."

I was imprisoned, humiliated, forced to watch as my adoptive brother established his new order.

The friend I once trusted snuggled up to my adoptive brother. "Now you're the Alpha," she purred, "and I'll be your Luna."

My pack members were forced to submit; those who resisted were executed.

In my final moments, I prayed to the Moon Goddess, "Please, just give me one more chance… a chance to fix all of this…"

After a searing pain, I snapped my eyes open.

"You're so pale. Are you that nervous about the ceremony in three days?" My mother’s voice was laced with worry as she looked at me.

I was back. Back to three days before that bloody ceremony.

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1

"Kneel, traitor to the Alpha!" Victor's voice thundered through the hall.

Blood gushed from my father's chest, his eyes locked on his adopted son, filled with disbelief. I tried to scream, but two Beta warriors pinned me hard to the floor.

"Take a good look, Elara," Victor hissed, leaning in close to my ear. "This is the price you pay for choosing the wrong mate."

Across the hall, my true mate, Kaelan, was swarmed by six warriors. Even with his insane strength, an ambush and being so outnumbered was just too much. Before long, he collapsed, a bloody heap.

"Toss him out of Silvermoon territory," Victor commanded. "If he manages to survive, let him wander forever."

Selena—the Omega I’d actually trusted—sauntered over to Victor, draping herself all over him. "Finally," she purred, "you’re the Alpha now, and I’ll be your Luna."

The days that followed were a living nightmare. I was locked up, humiliated, and forced to watch Victor and Selena build their so-called 'new order.' My people were forced to bow down, and anyone who dared to resist was executed. As I lay dying, moonlight spilled through the tiny window of my cell, washing over me.

I prayed to the Moon Goddess: "Please, give me one more chance, let me fix all of this..."

Agony. Darkness. And then... light.

"Elara? Are you even listening to me?"

My eyes snapped open. Standing right in front of me was my mother, Lyra, alive and well.

She looked at me, her face etched with worry. "Sweetheart, you're so pale. Are you just stressed about the ceremony in three days?"

I started to tremble. The Moon Goddess had heard my prayer. I was back. Back to three days before that godawful, bloody ritual.

"I'm okay, Mom," I managed, trying to keep my voice steady. "Just... had a nightmare."

I had to find Dad, now. I bolted from the room, raced down the familiar hallway, and headed straight for the Alpha's office. I barged right in without knocking.

"Dad!"

Alpha Alaric looked up, startled by my sudden entrance. "Elara? What’s going on?"

Seeing him standing there, alive and breathing, I almost fell apart. But I couldn't. I had to be strong.

"Victor's going to betray you," I said, cutting straight to the chase. "He's planning a coup at the bonding ceremony—to kill you and banish Kaelan from the pack."

Dad's expression shifted from worry to confusion, and finally, to a hint of annoyance. "Elara, that's a pretty serious accusation. Do you have any proof?"

"I know this sounds crazy, but please, you have to believe me. I saw... visions. Victor isn't the loyal adopted son you think he is. He's been after the Alpha position for ages."

Dad shook his head and sighed. "You're just too stressed out, sweetie. Victor's been my right-hand man since he was a kid. I trust him more than anyone. Maybe it's just pre-wedding jitters making you imagine wild things."

It was no use arguing. I left his office, my heart sinking to my stomach. Dad wouldn't believe me, at least not right now.

Walking back to my room, I suddenly caught that familiar scent—a mix of pine and morning dew, laced with the potent aura of a dominant Alpha. My heart skipped a beat.

Kaelan rounded the corner, and his steps faltered for a split second when he saw me. Our eyes met, and that irresistible pull instantly crackled through the hallway.

"Elara," he murmured my name, as if savoring every syllable.

"Kaelan…" I fought the urge to throw myself into his arms. Memories of my past life and the reality of this moment swirled together, hitting me with a rush of both pain and joy.

He walked over, a slight frown creasing his brow. "You okay? There's something... different about your scent."

"Can we talk? Somewhere private?" I murmured.

Something shifted in the corner. I glanced over, just in time to see Victor and Selena huddled up, whispering. They were way too close, way past the 'just friends' zone. Victor had his hand resting a little too comfortably on Selena's waist, and she was flashing that same scheming smile I remembered seeing a thousand times in my past life.

When Victor glanced my way, I saw it – a flash of guardedness, of outright hostility in his eyes. It was the exact same look he’d given me right before he killed my father in my past life.

"We need to be careful with Victor," I murmured to Kaelan, "He’s not as loyal as he makes himself out to be."

Kaelan stared at me, his expression baffled. "Victor? He's my best friend. The guy's like a brother to me."

"Trust me, Kaelan, it’s not what it seems," I insisted, clutching his arm tightly. "I have every reason to believe he’s gunning for the Alpha."

Kaelan’s brow furrowed, but he didn't immediately shoot me down. "That's a pretty heavy accusation, Elara. If you have any specific worries, we should really..."

His words were cut short. Victor strolled over, that phony smile plastered across his face. "Pardon the interruption, our Alpha heir and future Luna. How are the ceremony preparations coming along?"

I stared at his outstretched hand, remembering how that very hand had brutally plunged right through my father’s chest.

But what really got under my skin was the look Victor gave Selena—I picked up on a hint of closeness, that unspoken connection, the kind that only existed in our past life.

Could it be... he remembered too?