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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?"
Chapter 2
Vanya's POV
Cliff stared at me in surprise after I spoke.
Up until then, I had always acquiesced to his requests, executing them flawlessly.
So, when he offered a casual explanation this time, he didn't expect me to challenge him.
"I told you, it's a necessary choice for the stability of my wolf. You're still my Luna..." Cliff repeated his rhetoric with a furrowed brow.
I'd heard this excuse too many times. He didn't love Melinda, not yet, but no werewolf could resist the pull of a true mate.
He hadn't rejected her as we had agreed, once his wolf was stable.
Over time, the more they spent together, the more he fell for her, until he eventually marked her.
Yet, he knew I was a competent Luna, so he didn't reject me.
Every time he wanted to be with Melinda, he used his wolf as an excuse.
I slowly closed my eyes, trying to escape the harsh reality. However, the pain inside me was like a tidal wave, overwhelming and inescapable.
I had given everything for the prosperity of the pack, working tirelessly.
But that dedication had become my fatal flaw.
This time, I would not make the same mistake.
Melinda, the woman who had caused me so much pain and disaster, had to be removed from my life immediately.
Remembering the past, when Cliff had given me the choice, I had been too naive, making the wrong decision.
I allowed Melinda to exist between us. This weakened my wolf a lot.
Cliff waited for a few seconds. When I didn't respond immediately, he lost patience.
"Beta Elliot, find a guest room for Melinda to rest in," Cliff ordered.
"I didn't agree to that," I said.
All eyes in the room turned to me.
"What?" Cliff asked, as if he hadn't heard me.
"I said, no," I repeated, coldly looking at my mate.
I continued, "We discussed this before. We had an agreement. She could be your student, but she couldn't stay here, and that was with the condition that you would reject her. Or are you just informing me now? Do you not care about my opinion as Luna?"
I always wondered why Cliff chose to discuss this matter in public.
But that wasn't important right now. I had more urgent matters to handle.
"Vanya..." Cliff's tone softened as he called my name, but he took a step forward, shielding Melinda.
"Of course, I'm discussing this with you, but you also have to consider that I am the Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack. If my wolf weakens, it will have a significant impact on the pack."
"We're in Seattle, modern enough, and the Silver Moon Pack has well-managed businesses. I don't think the company's operations will be affected by your wolf. I know rejecting your true mate is painful, but we've consulted the witch. This pain and weakness are only temporary. I will be by your side."
As we are mates sworn to the Moon Goddess, my wolf, Selena, can also influence our partner to some extent.
So, at that moment, Cliff mumbled, his tone no longer so firm, "Of course, I understand. I just want what's best for the pack."
I didn't say anything, just quietly watching him, then subtly released my Luna's aura, which has a soothing effect on the pack members.
"Melinda, as you can see..."
Cliff turned to Melinda and said, "It's not convenient for you to stay with the Silver Moon Pack now. I will have Beta Elliot rent a house for you in downtown."
"I, Cliff, the Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack, reject..." Cliff began with determination.
Suddenly, Melinda knelt on the ground, crying.
"Please, don't do this," she pleaded, her face streaked with tears.
Then, she looked at me, "Luna Vanya, please forgive me. I don't want to take your mate, but I'm just a rogue. If I was rejected, I will die. I swear, I just want to learn for a while, and then I will leave Seattle. I can leave the States, actually!"
Cliff hesitated, unable to bear rejecting this delicate companion.
At that moment, I knew it was over.
"Please, Alpha Cliff! Luna Vanya!" Melinda continued to sob.
I looked at her, meeting the deep-seated hatred in her eyes.
Her acting was not subtle, but Cliff was already trapped.
No one spoke. The room was filled with Melinda's pitiful sobs. But for my own life, I said, "Beta Elliot, escort her out."
"And rent her..." I was about to continue when a roar interrupted me.
"Enough!" Cliff bellowed, his eyes glowing red, his wolf barely in check.
"Calm down," I said loudly, but he roared again, clearly furious.
"I said enough!" Cliff rushed to Melinda's side, lifting her up, "She stays! We'll find a way!"
Chapter 3
Vanya's POV
Cliff carried Melinda out of the Packhouse, their backs seeming to tear a deep rift.
I stood still.
I could feel the gazes of the pack members around me, a mix of surprise, contempt, and sympathy piercing me like invisible needles.
But I showed no emotion.
I turned calmly, planning to leave the suffocating place.
At that moment, Beta Elliot hurried to my side and asked, "Luna Vanya, are you alright?"
I glanced at him and replied calmly, "I'm fine."
He frowned slightly, "I know this isn't fair to you, but Alpha Cliff... no matter what, he's doing it for the pack. I hope you understand, we, the pack members, will support you."
I vividly remembered Elliot's unwavering support for Cliff all the time.
He even sided with Melinda in public later on.
So, I had little fondness for him. I said, "Thank you."
Then, I ignored him, walking straight out.
Leaving the Packhouse, I began to call for my wolf, Selena, in my mind.
Usually, she would quickly respond, communicate with me, and offer advice and support.
But now, I could only sense her in a terrible state.
She was emitting low whimpers, no longer responding as usual.
This was the same as before my rebirth. This situation lasted over a year, leaving my wolf extremely weak, to the point where I couldn't heal myself.
I sighed inwardly. Fate seemed to be mercilessly playing with me.
Even though the Moon Goddess granted me a chance to rebirth, the predicament before me mirrored my past life.
'What was the point of this rebirth, then?'
'Was it just to experience pain and despair again?'
I walked heavily through the pack's square, ignoring the gazes of all the pack members around.
Many greeted me.
Their eyes filled with complex emotions, clearly aware of what had happened at the Packhouse earlier.
Jenny also rushed over and said softly, "Luna Vanya, don't be too upset. This isn't your fault. Alpha Cliff broke his promise."
I was grateful to Jenny. As an Omega, unconditional obedience to the pack's Alpha was her destiny.
It was a blood-bound shackle she couldn't resist.
Yet, she still showed me concern.
I spoke slowly, "Thank you, but I'm not upset."
Jenny was taken aback, seemingly surprised by my response, but she quickly nodded.
I continued towards the pack's boundary, my thoughts becoming clearer.
Since the Moon Goddess gave me a chance to start over, I would try every possible effort to avoid sliding towards that terrible ending again.
Even though I had tried to reject Melinda just now, she still stayed.
Her presence in the Silver Moon Pack would continue to weaken me. I needed to find a way to leave.
I desperately needed to garner more support and resources.
Only then, once my wolf recovered, would I have the courage to reject Cliff and return to my original pack—the Thunder Pack.
The Thunder Pack, once one of the most powerful packs in Seattle, held my childhood memories and family glory.
However, I alone knew it had begun to decline.
I couldn't stand by and watch it fade under the erosion of time. I had to make an effort to help it regain its former splendor.
Lost in turmoil, I unknowingly walked deep into the Shadow Forest.
Suddenly, my wolf, Selena, as if drawn by some powerful force, uncontrollably began to shift.
I felt a surge of scorching energy within, bones cracking, muscles stretching and transforming.
My skin was gradually covered with thick fur, my face protruding forward, mouth lengthening and widening, sharp teeth emerging from the gums.
My limbs became strong and robust, claws digging deep into the ground.
In moments, I completed the transformation from human to wolf, becoming a snow-white wolf.
"Selena, what's wrong?" I asked in my mind, but there was no response.
She just kept running in one direction, as if that force was stronger than our bond.
Soon, we arrived at a lakeside where I saw a massive wolf.
Its body was like a small mountain, radiating an aura of majesty and mystery.
I had never seen such a huge wolf before.
Before I could react, the giant wolf lunged at me, its movements swift and precise, clearly intending to subdue me.
Its forepaws shot out like lightning, trying to pin my shoulders. I quickly sidestepped, evading the attack.
But it immediately turned and rammed into me with its massive body, knocking me back.
Unwilling to be subdued, I lowered my body, growling deeply in my throat, trying to intimidate it.
However, it showed no sign of retreat, pouncing again.
This time, it successfully pinned my back with its forepaws, pressing me to the ground.
At that moment, Elliot's voice echoed from the forest.
I took advantage of the distraction to break free with all my might, then turned and fled towards the sound.
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