Camilla's pov

I woke up suddenly from a deep sleep, gasping loudly for air. My whole body was drenched in sweat, and my hands trembled as I pressed them against my chest, feeling my rapid heartbeat. My breath came fast and uneven, making me feel lightheaded for a moment.

Slowly, I realized the most important thing—I was alive.

My heart raced even more as memories flooded my mind like a powerful wave. I remembered the terrible betrayal by Hilda, the cruel things Malakai had said and done, and the tragic way I had met my end. It was all so vivid and painful, but now I was back in this world, given a second chance.

This felt surreal, but I knew I couldn’t let this opportunity slip away. I had a chance to stop Hilda for good and change everything that had happened in my life.

With a shaky breath, I ran my fingers through my damp hair, trying to make sense of it all. I didn’t know why or how I was back, but I felt a strong resolve building inside me. This time, I would not let Hilda win.

As I looked around my room, everything appeared just as I remembered it. The soft, warm light from the lanterns illuminated the corners, creating a comforting glow. There was a familiar scent of lavender oil in the air, which I had always loved. I could also feel the slight chill around me, a reminder that winter was approaching.

After taking a moment to collect my thoughts, I realized the date—it was the day before my eighteenth birthday.

I clenched my fists tightly as a wave of determination washed over me. This meant that I had not yet shifted into my wolf form. More importantly, it meant that Malakai and I still didn’t know we were meant to be together.

My stomach twisted in knots as I thought about it. A deep sense of dread settled over me, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that I really hoped when I did finally shift, it wouldn’t be to him. I didn’t want to have anything to do with Malakai. He was the man who had treated me like I didn’t matter, and it felt unbearable to think that he might still be a part of my life in the future. He had allowed Hilda to manipulate him so easily, and I couldn’t forget how much that had hurt me.

Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm myself down.

Right now, I needed to act like everything was just fine. I had to make sure that nobody discovered my secret: I remembered my past life. This was something I had to keep hidden, or I could be in serious trouble. I also needed to pay close attention to Hilda. I was curious to see if she had started making her plans. More importantly, I had to find out who was helping her. I was sure she wasn’t plotting this all on her own.

The following days felt like a slow, painful crawl. Just being around Hilda made me feel a strong urge to hurt her. Every moment spent near her was a reminder of the past, and my frustrations bubbled just below the surface. However, I had to be careful; I needed to play it smart. I couldn't act on those feelings—at least, not yet. Patience was key in this situation, and I had to bide my time.

Then there was Malakai. He had started to notice that something was different about me. One evening, I could hear him call my name, "Camilla," his voice full of worry and concern. I pretended I didn't hear him. I focused hard on folding my clothes, trying to ignore the way my heart raced when he spoke.

He closed the distance between us, stepping closer. “You’ve been… different lately,” he said, his tone soft but firm. I didn’t respond at all.

“You barely talk to me anymore,” he continued. “Or to Hilda. You won’t even look at me.” His words hung in the air, heavy with a certain weight that made me uncomfortable. I squeezed my mouth shut tight, biting down on the inside of my cheek, fighting back my irritation.

It struck me as deeply ironic that the same man who had discarded me like I was nothing back in my previous life now cared about my coldness. My heart was filled with turmoil, but I couldn't let him see that. Not now.

Instead of answering him, I simply shrugged and turned my back on him. Malakai frowned. “Did I do something wrong?” he asked, his voice tinged with genuine confusion.

A dry laugh escaped me before I could stop it. If only he really understood the truth, then he would know how wrong he was to feel confused.

“No,” I replied flatly, keeping my voice devoid of emotion.

He stood there, studying me with those piercing golden eyes filled with confusion and… pain?

It didn’t matter.

I turned and walked away.

I was not falling for him again.

I refused to.

---

The night before my birthday, I tried to sleep but just couldn't. My thoughts were all over the place, racing like a fast car. I felt scared—really scared. I was afraid that fate would play a cruel joke on me and make Malakai my mate *again.*

“Please, please let it be someone else,” I whispered to myself in the darkness.

Just thinking about being linked to him after everything he had done made my stomach feel really uneasy. I wanted to be free and have a chance to choose my own path.

But deep down, I couldn’t escape the truth. There was only one wolf who had ever made my heart race, and that wolf was him—Malakai.

I took a deep breath and squeezed my eyes shut, trying to push those thoughts away. I wanted to make it through the night without thinking about him.

Tomorrow was a big day. I would finally shift into my wolf form for the first time. Then, I would know for sure what fate had planned for me.