"My dear child,"

I slowly opened my eyes, and all I could see was white smoke and a bright light. Am I in heaven?

"You were not fated to die yet. It was far too soon." A soft and calming voice echoed.

"Moon Goddess?"

"Yes? My child?" Her voice was like a lullaby.

A sad smile appeared on my face. "It's over," I whispered.

"But your story was not done yet." She revealed herself. Her eyes are filled with a sorrowful kind of love. "I will give you a second chance. You still need to accomplish a task. The people who forsake you had something done that I will never accept."

"What do you mean, my goddess?" Her hand caresses my face.

"I can't tell you this mission, you. You need to figure it out."

Her presence filled me with a glimmer of hope. A second chance. I didn't know what it meant or how it would come, but I knew one thing. This opportunity could rewrite my fate and ensure that Fiona and Kios are held accountable for their actions.

"I can feel the anger inside your heart, my dear. Don't let it blind you, or else you will miss the chance to find the happiness you were seeking."

"How can I find happiness in that world, my mother?" I asked, while she wrapped me in her arms.

"Again, it is up to you how you will use the second chance I will give you. Remember, don't let things blind you to a better picture. Also, there is someone who has gone berserk, knowing he lost you. Someone who cares for you and loves you even from afar." A playful smile played on her rosy lips. She looks like she is teasing me.

My heart skips a beat knowing someone cares for me.

The goddess kissed me on my forehead and let go of me. Her image started to flicker, and darkness slowly fogged my vision.

"Wait! Can I ask who he is, please?" But it was too late. She was gone. With those words, she said, a stubborn flicker of fire burned in my heart. I allowed myself to drift into the darkness, hoping for the miracle the kind goddess had given.

"Lady Annika!" I sat down on my bed. On my bed? I looked around and saw Rosa's worried face, my maid.

"Are you having a nightmare?" She asked and handed me a cup of water.

The familiar gown caught my attention. This is the night when Kios will propose to me three months before my demise.

"I told you not to take a nap after eating. That is what you get." I hugged Rosa and squealed in happiness. My heart thudded in my chest, and for a moment, I was uncertain if I had awoken from a horrific nightmare or if I was still trapped in that cruel reality.

The moon goddess's voice echoed in my mind. "A second chance."

I was indeed reborn! She had sent me back.

I would not let Kios and Fiona's plan destroy me this time.

"We need to prepare, my lady." I nodded to Rosa, and I delightfully took a bath.

While relaxing in the tub, I wondered how to get revenge on Kios. That jerk, how can he forsake our bond for a mere prophecy? And he was cheating on my sister! But, he also said he was not my mate. Is it the reason why my wolf is hesitant to his?

"Rosa!"

"Yes?" I smiled mischievously. "I had a mission for you." Her eyes squinted, and I bet she knew I would ask her to do impossible assignments again.

"I swear, I will pay you handsomely. A thousand dollars per picture taken."

"Deal," I shook my head. She loves money, even though I give her a competitive salary.

"Kios and my sister are seeing each other. Can you provide me with some evidence to defend myself later?" She gasps.

"Are you sure, my lady? Alpha Kios has been so loyal to you. You were both together since you were young." I scoffed. Who would know he is capable of doing that? He is known as the ideal man to be with.

"Remember, Fiona was also in the picture. Kios and I grew up together, and ever since we knew we were mates, Fiona was already there."

I look towards her. "This should be done discreetly." She bowed her head and left my room.

The clock started to ring, and it was time to prepare for the ball.

I wore a gown of deep sapphire. It was so beautiful that I even stored it neatly back then, as I acknowledge this piece of art as a token of my engagement with Kios.

Still, I can't let this dress go to waste. Later, it will remind me of what I will do to Kios.

As I made my entrance, I saw Kios greeting the nobles. What a people-pleaser. He is after the throne, after all. He is second in line, being the cousin of the notorious Alpha King, Deus.

"Annika!" Kios's voice called from across the room. His handsome face alight, being handsome with affection, the very expression I had once fallen for. He was the exact image of charm, but now, I saw through his mask. Every step he took reminded me of the betrayal and heartbreak he had caused.

"You look… beautiful," he said, his eyes sweeping me with admiration. Am I blinded by my love for him back then? Or is it because I already know that it was a show after all? His words held no meaning.

I forced a polite smile and lifted my chin, keeping my gaze steady.

"Kios," I replied coldly. He looked surprised.

Then, he reached out, taking my hand, and I resisted the urge to pull away.

"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice filled with feigned concern.

"Oh, I'm fine. How about you? Is there something you wanted to say?"

As he opened his mouth to respond, the room quieted, and I sensed all eyes turning to us. This was the moment when he would publicly declare his intentions. Little did he know that this moment would be one of his most unforgettable with me.

"Annika," he began, lowering himself onto one knee. His expression was one of the most evocative of emotion. "I have loved you, and it would be my greatest honor if you would do me the favor of becoming my Luna and my bride."

There it was, the proposal I had dreamed of. The room erupted in soft gasps and whispers of delight, all eyes on us.

I searched for Fiona. There she was, shooting a gaze like daggers. I smirked at her, and she drank the wine in her hands in one shot.

I diverted my eyes to Kios and the ring I had once cherished. I extended my hand, but when he was about to slide the ring onto my finger, I slapped his hand, causing the ring to fall off and roll to the ground.

"I, Annika Mireille, from Silvermoon Pack, reject you, Alpha Kios Ferir of Fenrir Pack."

Shocked murmurs filled the room, rippling through the crowd like wildfire.

He stood up, his face twisted in confusion, his smile fading to be replaced by disbelief, and his eyes hinting at a hint of anger.

"What did you just say?" he whispered as if he didn't hear me correctly.

I stepped back. "I am rejecting you as my mate, Kios. I do not wish to be your bride or your Luna."

"Stop making jokes. We were meant for each other. We will marry whether you like it or not."

"No!" I shouted. "I once believed that, but I realize now that I deserve life more than built-in false hopes and unfulfilled promises. I deserve honesty and loyalty. And as I stand here, I know you cannot offer either."

The room held its breath, the air thick with tension. Kios' face reddened, and I could see his pride warring with his anger. But I refused to look away, holding his gaze with the confidence I had never had before. I don't know why I am hurting inside, realizing this would be the end of us. Or I am hurt upon realizing the sacrifices I made to be a perfect Luna for him.

And then, I turned from him, my attention drawn to a figure near the edge of the ballroom- the Alpha King Deus.

I walked toward him, ignoring the shocked gasps that erupted around me.

Standing before him, I took a breath, gathering my courage as I looked at him squarely, then asked, "Will you sleep with me, Your Majesty?"

He returned the playful smile on my lips and replied, "Sure, milady."

Alpha Deus placed a hand on my back, guiding me as we walked away from the shocked crowd, leaving Kios and his shattered pride behind.