I woke with a gasp, my body drenched in cold sweat. The phantom pain of a knife slicing through my abdomen still burned in my memory, along with the image of my sister cradling my newborn son—*our* son—while I lay bleeding on a forest floor.

My eyes flew open, taking in the familiar surroundings of my marital bed. The silk sheets, the ornate canopy, the morning sunlight streaming through gossamer curtains—all exactly as they had been three years ago.

Three years before Ryan murdered me.

"Sarah? Are you awake, my love?"

The voice sent ice through my veins. I turned slowly toward the sound, forcing my features into a mask of sleepy contentment.

Ryan stood in the doorway, his broad shoulders silhouetted against the morning light. He looked every inch the powerful Alpha—dark hair perfectly styled, jawline sharp enough to cut glass, eyes that could charm or intimidate with equal ease.

"Good morning, my beautiful Luna," he said, crossing the room with measured steps. "Did you sleep well?"

I swallowed hard, fighting the instinct to recoil as he sat on the edge of the bed. His weight depressed the mattress, and I remembered—with sickening clarity—how that same weight had pinned me down while warriors held my arms for the doctor's knife.

"Like a baby," I lied, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. "The nursery designs arrived yesterday. I can't wait to show you."

Ryan smiled, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. His fingers brushed my cheek, and I felt my skin crawl.

"You're radiant," he murmured, leaning in to press his lips against my forehead. "My perfect Luna."

I forced myself to lean into his touch, to smile up at him with adoration. "And you're my perfect Alpha."

The lie tasted like ash on my tongue, but I kept smiling. I had to. This time would be different.

As Ryan's hand moved to cup my face, I cataloged every detail of him—the slight crook in his left eyebrow from a childhood fight, the way his eyes never quite matched his smile, the cedar-and-sage scent that now made my stomach turn.

"Your eyes are so beautiful in the morning light," he said, thumb tracing my lower lip.

I glanced past him to the tea service on the bedside table—yesterday's cup still containing a quarter-inch of cold, brown liquid. I inhaled deeply, and there it was—the faint, bitter scent of wolfsbane dissolved in tea.

"You've been so busy with pack affairs," I said softly, placing my hand over his. "I hardly see you anymore."

Ryan's expression flickered—just for a moment—before settling back into practiced concern. "The duties of an Alpha are demanding. But I'm always thinking of you, Sarah."

"Of course you are," I replied, my fingers tightening imperceptibly around his. "I understand completely."

He kissed me again—a quick peck on the lips—before standing. "I have Alpha duties to attend to. Will you be alright?"

"I'll be fine," I assured him. "I have plans to review for the full moon ceremony."

As soon as Ryan left, I bolted from the bed and barely made it to the bathroom before my stomach heaved. I retched violently, emptying the contents of my stomach into the marble toilet.

When I finally stopped, I raised my eyes to the mirror. Pale face, tear-streaked cheeks, trembling lips—but my eyes burned with a cold fire that hadn't been there before.

"Hello, Sarah," I whispered to my reflection. "Remember what they did to you. Remember how it felt."

I pressed my palms against the cool marble countertop, steadying myself. "This time," I promised my reflection, "I'll be the predator, not the prey."

I splashed cold water on my face and reapplied my lipstick—a perfect shade of red that matched the blood I would soon make them spill.

My father would be heading out for border patrol soon—the patrol where Ryan's hired rogues would ambush him. The patrol that would leave him dead and Ryan one step closer to absolute power.

Not this time.

I made my way through the pack house, nodding at warriors who bowed their heads respectfully as I passed. Some of them had been there—had held me down while Ryan's doctor cut my child from my womb. They didn't recognize the difference in me yet.

I intercepted my father in the main hallway, just as he was preparing to leave.

"Father," I called, my voice deliberately weak.

Corbin Vance turned immediately, his weathered face creasing with concern. Even at fifty, he stood taller and broader than most warriors half his age. His silver-streaked hair and battle scars told the story of a life dedicated to protecting the pack.

"Sarah," he said, crossing to me in three long strides. "What's wrong? You look pale."

I swayed dramatically, letting my knees buckle. Father caught me easily, his strong arms supporting me as he guided me to a nearby bench.

"I don't feel well," I whispered, letting my head rest against his shoulder. "I think I need to lie down."

"Let me get Aris," he said, already turning to call for the pack doctor.

"No," I grabbed his wrist, my grip surprisingly strong. "Just... sit with me for a moment. Please."

He hesitated, clearly torn between duty and his daughter's request.

"Father," I said again, this time with steel in my voice. "The border patrol can wait."

Something in my tone must have reached him because he sat beside me, one arm around my shoulders.

"What's really going on, Sarah?" he asked quietly.

I took a deep breath. "I need you to look at something."

I led him to my chambers, where yesterday's tea cup still sat on the bedside table. Father's nostrils flared as he approached it—a warrior's instincts never faded, even in retirement.

"Wolfsbane," he growled, his eyes flashing amber as his wolf rose to the surface. "Who would dare—"

"Ryan," I said simply.

Father's head snapped up, disbelief written across his features. "That's impossible. Why would the Alpha—"

"He's been poisoning me," I interrupted, my voice steady despite the rage building inside me. "Slowly, in small doses. Enough to make me weak, to prevent pregnancy complications when the time comes."

"When what time comes?" Father asked, though I could see in his eyes that he already knew.

"When he's ready to replace me," I said softly. "With Melissa."

Father's face darkened with fury. He rose to his full height, hands clenched into fists. "I'll kill him."

I grabbed his arm, pulling him back down beside me. "No," I said firmly. "That's exactly what he wants—for you to challenge him publicly, so he can kill you and claim you attacked first."

"Then what do we do?" Father demanded, his wolf clearly pushing for violence.

"We wait," I replied, a cold smile forming on my lips. "We gather evidence. We build a case so airtight that when we finally strike, the entire pack will see him for what he truly is."

Father studied me with new eyes—his daughter, but not as he remembered her. In her place sat someone harder, colder, more calculating.

"Sarah," he said slowly, "what aren't you telling me?"

I met his gaze steadily. "Everything," I whispered. "But you'll know soon enough."

What I couldn't tell him was how I knew—how I'd lived through Ryan's betrayal already, how I'd died at his hands while my sister stole my child. How I'd come back for one purpose only.

Revenge.

And this time, I wouldn't fail.

I waited until Ryan left for his afternoon pack meetings before slipping into our bedroom with the small package I'd received from a trusted contact in the neighboring territory. Inside were five tiny cameras—each no larger than my thumbnail—and a receiver that would transmit their feed to a secure device hidden in my personal library.

My hands trembled slightly as I examined them. In my previous life, I'd never had the chance to gather evidence. I'd been too trusting, too naive. This time would be different.

"Perfect timing," I whispered, glancing at the clock. Ryan would be gone for at least two hours—plenty of time to install my surveillance network.

I moved methodically around our bedroom, placing the first camera inside the decorative wooden carving above our bed. From there, it would capture most of the room without being easily detected. The second went into the light fixture near the sitting area, and the third behind a book on the shelf where Ryan kept his most private papers.

My fingers brushed against his journal—the one where he'd detailed my murder and my father's "accident." I fought the urge to rip it open and read it again. I already knew what was inside; I needed to be patient.

The fourth camera went into the bathroom ventilation grate, and the fifth—the smallest of all—I placed in the ornate mirror frame that faced our bed.

"Let's see how you like being watched," I murmured, testing the receiver to ensure all cameras were transmitting properly.

With the system in place, I quickly erased all evidence of my activities and returned to my normal routine, reviewing plans for the upcoming full moon celebration.

---

The pack dining hall glowed with warm light as servants placed platters of roasted meat and fresh bread on the long tables. I sat at the head table beside Ryan, my hand resting lightly on his arm as he discussed territory matters with the elders.

"Sarah," Melissa's voice cut through my thoughts as she approached our table. "You look tired tonight."

I smiled up at her, noting how her eyes lingered on Ryan's face a moment too long. "Just busy with preparations for the ceremony."

"You should take care of yourself," she said, her hand reaching out to touch my shoulder. "The pack needs its Luna strong."

As she leaned in, I noticed her fingers brush against Ryan's arm—a gesture so subtle that anyone else might miss it. But I wasn't anyone else anymore. I watched as she pressed her index finger against his wrist, then tapped twice.

A signal.

Ryan's expression didn't change, but his eyes flicked to her for just a fraction of a second. "Perhaps you should help Sarah with some of the preparations tomorrow," he suggested to Melissa. "Since you're so concerned about her well-being."

"I'd be happy to," Melissa replied, her smile never reaching her eyes.

I took a sip of water, hiding my expression. "How thoughtful of you both."

Throughout dinner, I observed them carefully. The way Melissa's chair gradually shifted closer to Ryan's. How her foot brushed against his under the table. The possessive way her fingers lingered on his arm when she reached for the wine.

All while maintaining the perfect facade of sisterly affection.

---

Three days later, I sat in my private study, watching the feed from my bedroom cameras on a small tablet hidden beneath a stack of ceremonial documents.

Ryan entered our bedroom with Melissa close behind him. They thought I was visiting with the pack's elders—a meeting I'd carefully scheduled to give them privacy.

"Is she gone?" Melissa asked, already unbuttoning Ryan's shirt.

"For hours," he confirmed, pulling her against him. "The elders can keep her occupied until dinner."

I adjusted the camera angle, ensuring their faces were clearly visible as they moved to sit on the edge of the bed.

"We need to be careful," Ryan said, his voice low. "Her father is getting suspicious about the border patrol incident."

Melissa laughed softly. "What's he going to do? Challenge you?"

"He's still the most respected warrior in the pack," Ryan replied. "We need to be smart about this."

I leaned closer to the screen as Ryan pulled a small vial from his pocket.

"Just like I was smart with my father," he said, holding up the vial. "Slow-acting toxin mixed with his heart medication. Took months before it finally stopped his heart."

Melissa's eyes widened. "You never told me how you did it."

"Didn't I?" Ryan smiled coldly. "The old Alpha was weak—just like Sarah's father. Neither of them deserved their power."

I pressed my hand against my mouth to stifle a gasp. This was it—the first concrete evidence of his crimes.

"And after Corbin is gone?" Melissa asked, stroking Ryan's chest.

"Then it's just Sarah," he replied. "And we'll handle her the same way we handled my father."

---

The garden was in full bloom, roses and lilies scenting the air as I walked slowly along the stone path. This was Leo's patrol route—I remembered from my previous life how he would walk this path every afternoon at precisely this time.

I'd placed myself here deliberately, a small envelope of photographs clutched in my hand.

Sure enough, I heard footsteps approaching from behind. I turned to see Leo approaching, his tall figure silhouetted against the afternoon sun.

"Luna Sarah," he said, stopping at a respectful distance. "Is everything alright?"

"Just enjoying the flowers," I replied, forcing a smile. "The pack house can feel so... confining sometimes."

Something flickered in his eyes—concern, perhaps, or suspicion. "You seem troubled."

I hesitated, as if deciding whether to trust him. Then, with calculated clumsiness, I let the envelope fall from my hands.

Photos spilled onto the path between us—images of Ryan and Melissa in intimate embraces, taken from my bedroom cameras.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, bending to gather them. "I didn't mean—"

Leo knelt to help me, his eyes widening as he saw what the photos contained. "Luna..."

I let my hands shake as I collected the scattered images. "Please don't tell anyone," I begged, my voice breaking. "I don't know what to do."

To my surprise, Leo gently took the photos from my hands and pulled me to my feet. Then, before I could react, he wrapped his arms around me as I collapsed against his chest.

I hadn't expected physical contact—hadn't prepared for it—and for a moment, genuine emotion broke through my carefully constructed facade. Tears spilled down my cheeks as I sobbed against Leo's shoulder.

"I've known for so long," I choked out, allowing my real pain to surface for the first time since my return. "They're going to kill me, Leo. Just like they killed Ryan's father."

Leo's body tensed, his arms tightening around me protectively. When he spoke, his voice was low and fierce.

"Tell me everything," he commanded. "And I promise you this—whatever they're planning, they won't succeed."

I pulled back slightly to look into his eyes, seeing the determination there—and something else, something that looked remarkably like love.

"Even if you don't understand everything?" I asked softly.

"Especially then," he replied without hesitation. "I will help you, Luna Sarah. Whatever it takes."