Aria’s POV

“Run! Run Aria. Run!”

Those words echoed in my head as I ran through the bush path ahead of me. I was in grave danger. I needed to run, It was the only thing I could do now.

The darkness of the night engulfed me and the silence was broken by crunches of dried twigs and leaves that had fallen off trees as I ran through the forest.

I could hear them.

I could hear the howl from afar. The hungry panting of these beasts who wouldn’t leave me alone.

I placed my hands on my stomach, I could feel my heart twisting within my chest. The wolfsbane poison worked faster than I had expected.

I kept on running but as I went on my pace slowed down, I felt so weak. I grew pale and cold all over as the wolfsbane worked it’s way up my lungs. I was losing my breathe.

I couldn’t stop running, not when these monsters were still after my life.

I didn’t know how long I had been running but I ran until I couldn’t feel my leg again. My feet felt numb beneath the cold forest soil.

The howl got closer and I knew I was meeting my end soon.

I fell.

My leg got caught up by an overgrowth which pulled me back twisting my ankle. I whimpered in pain pressing my hand on my mouth to stop the scream from rolling out.

Tears rolled down my cheek, I tried to stand up but I couldn’t. The howl and footstep of the rouges got closer and closer.

In that moment I closed my eyes accepting my fate.

But…..

Silence followed. The recurring howl had disappeared, I could no longer hear the footsteps of the guards. The air was still, I was engulfed in an irksome silence.

I was hesitant at first. I didn’t want to open my eyes, I didn’t know what to expect. Everywhere felt too calm, too calm to be real.

The air was still and the cold evening breeze felt warm against my skin but I had to, I had to open my eyes and when I did I was taken aback by what I saw.

I was lying on a blue bedding with a piece of clothing up my shoulders. I was in a dimly lit room, the space was so small it could have been mistaken for an attic.

The room smelled of a mix of herbs—Lavender and Rosemary. A mix of medicinal herbs i was used to making.

My ankle.

The pain in my ankle had disappeared, it was like I never sprained my ankle. I didn’t understand what was happening, I was running few minutes ago now I am lying in a room that looks like an attic.

Could it all have been a dream? No, it can’t be a dream. Everything that happened was too real to be a dream or am I dead? Is that why I am in this unrecognizable room?

The door swung open, thrusting me out of my inner thoughts. A young lady walked in.She was dress in dull brown and a yellow piece of clothing around her waist.

“Thank goodness.” The lady said dropping her basket. “You’re finally awake, the herbs were really helpful. No one would have thought you’ll survive this Astrid.”

Astrid? Who is Astrid? Is she referring to me as Astrid? Who is this young lady and why does she care if I am dead or alive?

I was quiet, but my thoughts were busier.

“How do you feel?” The young lady asked.

How do I feel? I feel lost, scared and alone. What was happening? Where am I?

I couldn’t utter anything. I sat there as I shook my head subtly.

“You’ll be fine. Get a little rest and get ready for tomorrow. We’ll be going to the palace to see the Alpha.” The young lady said. She stood up picking her basket.

The Alpha? Why would Alpha Adrian want to see me after feeding me wolfsbane and sending me on exile to die?

“Why would Alpha Adrian want to see me?” I asked. The young lady dropped her basket—again. She turned towards me giving me a deadly stare.

“Alpha Adrian?” The young lady said walking towards me. “Are you sure you’re alright? Dont do this in the palace or it would cost you your life. It’s Alpha Kael. It would be treason to think another Alpha is in power that is not Alpha Kael!”

Alpha Kael? I’ve never heard that name before. Did Alpha Adrian have a brother? I looked around, my eyes clocking with a mirror that sat at the corner of the room.

My eyes lit up when I saw my reflection. I watched agaped as I stared deeply into my reflection on the mirror. I couldn’t believe my eyes.

This wasn’t me, my reflection wasn’t me. I had brown hair and green eyes but the person I was seeing in the mirror was different—She was blonde, blue eyes, pointed nose, sharp jawline and with perfect white teeth.

“What are you looking at Astrid?” The young lady said.

Astrid? Perhaps I was in Astrid’s body. Does that mean I died? It wasn’t a dream after all. Does this mean I was reborn—as Astrid?

“Nothing…I..I.”I said, my voice breaking.

“Astrid, you need to stop this. You can’t act like this when you get to the palace. You can’t trust anyone so you need to be always self cautious.” The young lady said.

Should I tell her that I wasn’t Astrid? Should I tell her that I woke up in a whole different body? Could I trust her all of a sudden and what would she do when she finds out I’m not Astrid?

“Listen, it’s a miracle you’re alive and it’s unbelievable you’ve been chosen to be Luna—in—training alongside other maidens. You’ll be moving to the palace tomorrow morning, and I’ll be accompanying you. The palace is a very dangerous place and most people wants you dead. You need to stop spacing out every now and then.” The young lady said.

Luna—in—training? What does that even mean? What does she mean by everyone wants me dead?

“I am sorry for spacing out….” My eyes darted towards the wooden tag on her chest. “…Marian.”

“It’s alright. You need all the rest you can get. Tomorrow is a long day and you need to be fit.” Marian, the young lady said, picking her basket for the second time and walking out of the room.

The door closed and the room was engulfed in a sickening silence, leaving me with my thoughts to feed on.

“Astrid? Is that who I have become?”

My thoughts were clouded, I had many questions. Why was I reborn? Why does it have to be into the body of a woman who is in grave danger? Does the moon goddess have a purpose of giving me a second chance?

I laid there quietly until the candle light went out.

“I need to be calm and navigate my way around this new world I’ve found myself—I need to survive.”