Pain flooded my senses, blinding me as I choked, the metallic scent and taste of blood suffocating me.

I was dying.

Fighting back the pain and tears, I forced myself to look up at the man that caused all of it.

Standing a few metres away from me, Daniel, my mate, looked at me coldly.

Moments ago was our mating ceremony. We had just taken the ceremonial wine when I collapsed. To my horror, everyone else did the same. I clung to him in panic when he suddenly backed away. Only then did I notice that he was completely fine and unsurprised.

“Daniel...” I choked out, not wanting to believe it. “y-you...poison...”

“Yes,” He said, “I poisoned the wine. You and everyone else here are as good as dead. Don't bother fighting it Raena, there's nothing you can do."

I coughed up blood. His blatant confirmation gutted me. How could he?

Why?

A figure appeared at the corner of my eye, moving towards my line of vision. I realised it was a young woman. A rogue.

To my shock, Daniel reached out, pulling her into an affectionate embrace, smiling at her tenderly in a way he'd never looked at me.

“Raena, there's someone I'd like you to meet.” Daniel said, turning to face me, “This is Dina, daughter and leader of the Rogue clan...and my true mate.”

My heart stopped. Impossible. How could he betray me, his pack and family for the Rogues, especially knowing what they were capable of?

“You...betrayed....pack...”

“For her, I would do anything.” Daniel defended, pulling her closer, “She is my mate. Nobody else can compare with her. Not the pack and especially not you.”

My heart broke instantly. If she was his true mate, what was I? What about our mate bond, the affection we shared over the years?

The woman suddenly pulled away from him to look at me. A bright, venomous laughter filled the air as the woman looked at me.

“The Starlet Pack Luna, now driven to this pitiful state. How does it feel to know that your entire life was a lie?” she asked, taking a step forward, “Let me state it clearly for you. Daniel and I have been working together from the start. The only woman he's ever loved was me. Every busy schedule he had, every moment he was absent, he was with me all along. He never liked you. To him, you were a silly, malleable child he could take advantage of. The only reason he married you was to ensure I would take over your pack."

"Now," she gestured to the bodies slumped around the hall "with the majority of your pack members dead, my men have already infiltrated and killed the rest.”

Horror filled me, glaring at the man who treated me tenderly for the past four years. Even with the truth laid before me I looked up at him.

It was like seeing him for the first time. Gone was the gentleness I was used to. Instead, his gaze remained cold, a superior air around him.

Then, without a word he turned away, shattering my last hope.

Dina's figure soon blocked his. She grabbed me, her nails biting against my chin.

“Since you're as good as dead, let me tell you a little secret” she sneered, “ Do you remember the attack four years ago?”

My breath hitched in horror. That was the day that my parents died during an attack.

“Yes,” Her smile widened, “it was my clan that orchestrated the attack. My parents were the ones that killed yours four years ago. Thanks to your family, they died in that attack and you got to survive. I've wished a thousand times to see you die like this. Now, thanks to your foolishness, I can. I've fulfilled their last wish. This Starlet pack is mine.”

Anger flooded me. I wanted to scream and fight but I could barely breathe. I barely felt myself being thrown down to the floor. The bodies spread across the hall filled my vision.

The Elders, my pack. They were all gone. The pack I was meant to protect was destroyed. Betrayed by the man I loved and trusted.

Daniel deceived all of us. If only I hadn't trusted him. Hadn't married him, maybe this would have happened.

If only...

Movements spring at the corners of my vision, followed by a light thump, but I could no longer process anything. Darkness flooded my vision and I let my eyes slip closed.

It was too late...

"Luna Raena? Luna?"

The words jolted me.

As I opened my eyes, a myriad of colours filled my vision. The faint sound of music and multiple faces sent waves of confusion through me.

Where was I?

“Luna Raena. What's wrong? Everyone's waiting for you.”

Those words sparked recognition in me. Looking around, my vision cleared, displaying the scene in front of me.

Within the decorated pack hall, people looked up at me. Alphas and Luna's from other packs, my pack Members and the Elders. But at the center of them were a group of men from multiple packs . All of them were invited candidates for me to choose from to become my mate and Alpha of the Starlet pack.

This was the night of my Choosing Ceremony, where I was to choose my mate.

The blood. The deaths and destruction were gone.

Was I... reborn?

My breath hitched. This was too real to be a dream.

I was truly reborn, five months before the Mating Ceremony that destroyed everything.

There was no time to process in the face of reality. Looking at everyone, memories of this exact moment came to mind. At this point in time, I was supposed to move forward and choose Daniel.

After my parents were killed by rogues when I was 16, I, as their sole daughter became their heir and was raised as Luna. Despite the fact that I never awakened my wolf, the pack held no judgement and treated me with respect and love. The only issue to settle was who I would choose as my mate.

And as far as was concerned, there was only one qualified candidate.

My gaze dropped to the expectant man standing in the center, his gaze full of expectation.

Daniel Hawkins. My fated mate.

And the man that betrayed me.

The memory of his calm calculating face as I died was fresh, making my heart harden and anger wash over me.

But at this moment, none of that happened.

We were playmates during childhood. Despite him being an orphan I constantly clung to him. Later, on the day my parents died, the day before my birthday, he was the one who rescued me from the rogues. I woke up discovering that we were mates.

Following their deaths and the discovery of our fated bond, he gained the trust and gratitude of the Elders and was given the position of Beta. As he took on most of the pack responsibilities and cared for me, he gained the respect and adoration of the pack.

With the mate bond and his competence, he was the sole candidate. The Elders believed that with him ruling alongside me as Alpha, my reign would be secure.

Everyone across the realms were equally aware. In their eyes, my choice was already clear. The ceremony was only for show.

In that past event, I agreed, eagerly choosing him with the same hopes for the future.

How had that turned out?

My jaw clenched. He clearly noticed me looking at him because he smiled confidently. It sent a wave of revulsion through me.

If this was truly a second life, I would never choose him again.

But under tradition choosing a mate was inevitable. To refuse or delay would be disgracing the pack, which was the last thing I wanted.

I still had to make a choice, and do so quickly. But who?

Panic spread through me. I’d already taken too long, and their looks made me panic further. Darting my gaze towards the men waiting, I searched for any familiar face. Anyone but Daniel.

In the end, I quickly settled on a man who, from the distance I vaguely recognized and rushed forward.

I didn't pay attention to Daniel's growing smile as I moved forward, nor did I notice when it fell as I moved past him. I paid no mind to the crowd's confusion.

I didn't stop until I was in front of the man, my gloved hands fiercely grabbing his under the expectant gazes of Daniel and the others, and spoke.

“I choose you to be my mate.”

Shock filled the entire hall. When I looked up, the shock on the faces of Alphas, Lunas and Pack members alike was evident.

The look on Daniel’s face was the most comical. The smug look he wore moments before was gone, replaced with disbelief and incredulousness. I barely glanced at him before turning to the Elders.

“Is there any problem?” I asked,

I kept my gaze firm, keeping an unbothered facade despite how my heart raced. I expected an uproar or even confusion, but they remained staring.

Why?

My brows furrowed in confusion. I turned to the man I was holding and froze.

The man I chose was none other than Rowan Nightingale, the current Alpha of the Nightingale Pack and my longtime childhood enemy.

In the past, the Nightingale and Starlet pack, being neighbouring packs, were close and our parents were friends, leading to constant visits. But since childhood, Rowan and I couldn't stand each other.

Despite being three years older, he constantly teased and tormented me, calling me a pampered princess, incapable of leading. When I was old enough, I would retaliate, leading to a neverending feud. After my parents death however, the relationship between both packs became strained and I never saw him, only hearing from afar that his parents retired and he took their place as pack Alpha. He'd made a name for himself as a powerful ruler. The few times we met, during regional pack meetings, he remained the same, causing me to constantly avoid him at all costs.

I never realised back then, that he was also in this Choosing Ceremony. Even though he, like other packs, was invited, I never saw him in the past life and assumed that he chose to avoid me, just like I did.

But he was here, and of all the people, I chose him.

What had I done?

His cold aloof expression contrasted with his intense gaze penetrating me. Were it any other situation I would have been irritated and confronted him but now I fought the urge to shrink back.

I inwardly scolded myself for being impulsive but there was nothing I could do now. I'd chosen him openly. Taking it back would mean further humiliation. Better to go with the flow.

Forcing my gaze back to the crowd, I lifted my chin defiantly.

“My choice is clear. Rowan Nightingale will be my mate and the future Alpha of the Starlet Pack.”

“Luna Raena,” Elder Vane, one of the pack Elders, came forward, looking anxious, “Are you sure of this? Everyone knows—”

“I'm sure Elder Vane,” I rushed out, stopping him from speaking about my bond with Daniel or enmity with Rowan. My gloved grip on Rowan's hand instinctively tightened but I didn't dare face him, focusing on the Elder.

“The Starlet and Nightingale pack have been neighbours and allies for decades. Our parents were friends. Rowan and I, despite our... difficulties over the years, have come to an understanding." I fought the urge to cringe at my lie and continued, "An alliance between our packs will be good for both of us.”

The silence that came after was deafening. The Elder's gaze shifted.

“Is this true Alpha Rowan? Do you agree with this match?”

My heart sank. My hands felt shaky underneath my glove. I couldn't forget that I'd caught Rowan off guard too. If he said anything contrary, I was doomed—

“Yes.”

My breath hitched. The hand I'd gripped so tightly had shifted, interlacing with my own. My heart skipped a beat involuntarily as I turned to look at his deep sea eyes, a vast contrast to Daniel's constant cold Dark ones.

“Very well,” Elder Vane nodded, still looking at us unsurely, “Luna Raena had chosen her match. The Choosing ceremony is complete.”

Claps and cheers filled the room but I barely processed it. My mind was racing, itching to leave the suffocating hall. Now that things were done I wasn't going to waste time mellowing.

Meeting Rowan's blank stare, I pleaded with him with my eyes.

'Trust me this once'

“If you'll excuse us honourable Elders, Respected Alphas and Lunas and my fellow pack," I announced, "I need to speak to my fiancé alone.”

Daniel who was silent the entire time stepped forward, his face a storm.

“Raena—”

I completely ignored him, dragging Rowan by our linked hands out of the hall. To my surprise and relief, he was compliant.

When we were finally alone outside the pack hall, I released his hand in relief.

“I’m sorry.” I rushed out before he could speak. Meeting his dark gaze a strange feeling swept through me but I ignored it.

“I hadn't intended to choose you. Not exactly. I wasn't thinking properly and acted impulsively. I just wanted to choose anyone but Daniel.” I confessed, “I can't explain the details, but now that things are like this, we both have no choice but to follow through with it. You don't have to feel burdened to stay around me given our past relationship but for now, let's just pretend we like each other. We just have to be engaged in name only, as a temporary measure.”

His gaze made me nervous as I spoke. Once I was done, I looked up, half expecting him to laugh in my face or mock me. Yet when I met his gaze, his eyes were dark and unreadable, creating an ambiguous air.

What was he thinking? Before I could ask, his voice cut through.

“Are you doing this to get back at Daniel for something?”

I recoiled in shock.

“What? No.” I frowned, anger and disgust churning in me. To use someone out of spite? Whether in the past or now I would never think about doing such a revolting thing. Was this what he thought of me?

“I don't care what you think Rowan but this has nothing to do with Daniel. I want nothing to do with him either.” I said, “If you're trying to annoy me into taking back this proposal, you can just refuse directly. You don't have to—”

“Who said I was going to refuse?”

I blinked, taken aback.

“What?”

The cold expression he wore shifted into an arrogant look I recognised, his lips lifting to a smirk.

“I accept your proposal Luna Raena.” He leaned in with amusement, "it's quite flattering that you chose me though but completely understandable. Who else could keep up with your sharp tongue and violent tendencies 'princess'?”

This bastard. Heat rushed to my cheeks, irritation flickering through.

“You-”

He pulled away before I could continue.

“Careful. You can't attack or play pranks on me like when we were kids. After all, we're engaged now and have to pretend to like each other. Your words exactly. Else what would people think if they see their Luna cursing her poor fiancé out?” his grin grew wider with every word, assured that I could do anything about it.

He was right.

I watched him walk away, speechless and irritated. I already regretted this, but now I had no other choice.

What's done was done. I sighed helplessly.

The rest of the party was perfunctory, so there was no use in staying longer. I returned to the pack hall to bid everyone farewell before moving towards the Alpha's House, the home reserved for the pack leader and my family's home that was now mine.

As soon as I entered, waves of memories filled me. My mind was racing. I was so lost deep in my thoughts that I didn't realise that there was someone behind me.

Suddenly I was dragged from behind, spun around. When I came to, I met the blazing brown eyes of Daniel.

The moment I realised it was him, anger burst through me. Fighting back my rage I pulled my hand away, forcing my gaze to be neutral.

“Daniel, it's late. What are you doing here?”

“Why didn't you choose me?” he demanded, gaze flickering with confusion and anger, “How could you choose Rowan? Clearly it was supposed to be me.”

His words held no real question, only confusion and entitlement. Hearing it filled me with disgust and hatred but I held it back.

I couldn't confront him yet and given the way things were, my actions were indeed abnormal.

“Daniel,” I began, "I know this is abrupt for you, but everything I said is the truth. As for the past, let's just forget about it.”

“What is wrong with you? We have a bond.”

A bond that didn't stop him from killing me or the rest of the pack.

“We can forget about the bond.” I said through gritted teeth, “As for my feelings and devotion through these past years, I realise that they were just from gratitude and grief. Because my parents died I thought of you as my only family and confused those feelings for love. Now I see my own heart.” I said.

His gaze flickered, stunned. Slowly it was replaced with a soft, almost exasperated look.

“Is this about missing your birthday celebration?” He frowned, “I've already explained that I was busy back then.”

My brows furrowed in confusion before it came to me.

Right. A week before the Choosing Ceremony was my birthday when I turned 20. Back then, in anticipation for our future betrothal, I set up a party in the pack and constantly reminded Daniel to come. With my parent's death anniversaries the day before my birthday, I never celebrated it before making it my first birthday party in four years.

I'd waited the entire day but he never attended. It wasn't until the next evening that he came over, giving a flimsy excuse of being busy with pack matters and forgetting without even an apology. I was angry and upset, rightfully so. Yet under the reminder that he cared for me in the past, I let it go, trusting him. After that, he remained ‘busy’ until the Choosing Ceremony.

Thinking about it now, I was too complacent. Too trusting. His absence and callousness over the months leading up to the ceremony should have tipped me off. Even the entitlement he showed the week before the Ceremony should have led the past me to refuse the engagement.

But it was only during the weeks leading up to it that he began to show his true colors, making me think it was a fluke.

I was blinded, both by his past care and the common consensus that he was to be my mate.

Meanwhile he was with Dina, plotting our downfall.

“No.” I said, “This has nothing to do with that day. I've made my choice—”

“Enough Raena." He grabbed my hand again, a coaxing look on his face, "I never knew you could be this irrational and rash. This is the pack's future on the line and you placed it on an outsider you hate to make a point? You didn't even know what you're doing. But it's okay, for now let's go to the pack hall and explain—”

He didn't get to finish when I pushed him away with force, tearing my arm from his grasp.

I wanted to rip him to shreds. How dare he talk about the future of the pack when he was the one who was planning to destroy it?

This time I couldn't hide my disdain.

“I know what I'm doing Daniel. In fact, this is the smartest decision I've made in a long time. I don't need to explain anything to you,” I sneered coldly, “Now leave. From now on keep your distance and respect your boundaries. I am your Luna and leader and you are just a Beta. From now on don't come to my home on a whim, lest you make people get the wrong idea.”

Anger bottled up inside me, ready to spill but I couldn't. Not yet.

Silence filled the air as I flared, daring him to try again. This time he stepped back, a soft, innocently aggrieved look appearing on his face.

“I don't know what came over you tonight, but I'll only play along for a while,” He said, “Whatever nonsense this is with Rowan is only temporary. I know you'll come to your senses soon.”

He smiled at me, before turning away. I barely held back a growl at his retreating back.

I hated that caring mask more than ever. But it was better to let him presume.

“Luna Raena?”

I stiffened as Rose, my maid came up behind me, but didn't stop looking at the distance.

“Rose, tomorrow morning, give this order to all the guards. From now on, Daniel isn't allowed to enter my home or bring anything inside at will. Before seeing me he must request for permission.” I ordered.

“But Beta Daniel is your....” she trailed off at my gaze.

“That doesn't matter anymore. I've chosen a mate and it's not him" I said, facing her stunned expression, "I have no more connection with Daniel now and in the future. From now on, he's nothing more than the Beta of the Starlet pack.”

And even that was a position I wanted to take away from him, I thought inwardly, icy rage washing over me.

This life, I had avoided getting engaged to him, but that was far from the end of things. Daniel was long since colluding with the Rogues and Dina far before today and as the Beta, he gained the respect and trust of the pack with his diligence.

I cursed myself for being so oblivious. In my past life I'd personally allowed and approved of it. At first, still grieving over my parents, I let him take care of everything pack related. Later as years flew by I accepted it, trusting him as my mate and future Alpha.

Those words felt like a joke now, but the implications were heavy. He held power and knowledge of the pack that I knew little of.

And I? I knew little to nothing.

How he was communicating with them, their whereabouts and their plans. There was nothing I could use to convince the pack of his true nature and no way to stop the Rogues from harming my pack.

Even if I blocked one road, there were many others he could use that would follow the same path. He had control over the pack.

The only solution was taking back that control.

My actions tonight derailed his plans and moving further I would disrupt things more. I held no prior knowledge of his activities before my death, and couldn't rely on my past knowledge.

The only way to know his plans was by monitoring him. And I knew exactly who was fit for the task.

I silently signalled Rose to follow me to my room. As soon as we were out of sight I swiftly wrote a letter and passed it to her.

“Go quickly and give this letter to Jay. Tell him that he should follow Daniel's movements tonight and onwards and keep a close eye on him from now on.” I whispered, earning her surprise.

Jay was a trusted guard from my parents, raised by the former Commander of the pack borders. After my parents' deaths, he became my secret guard, his stealth unmatched.

Believing I was safe, I held no use for him, dismissing him a year ago, partly at Daniel's suggestion. For the sake of the pack, I knew he would obey.

Rose was shocked but I didn't give her time to speak, pushing the letter into her hands. Despite her confusion, she nodded.

“Understood Luna.” She said,

Before she could move, I pulled her into a tight hug, ignoring her surprised yelp. When I pulled away, her confusion was evident.

“I’m sorry. The ceremony was exhausting and I needed that.” I said. It was the only excuse I had. I couldn't tell her that the last memory I held of her was her bloodied trembling corpse.

She still looked taken back but accepted my words. Her gaze still looked uneasy and I wasn't surprised. Everything I'd done so far was out of character.

But it was a necessary change.

“Rest well Luna,” She said and turned away, leaving me alone in my bedroom.

Glancing at the window, the view of the glowing lights through the pack filled my vision. It was peaceful, a peace I wanted to hold onto.

I clenched the sheets under me. I would uncover the truth. This time, I wasn't going to let them destroy my pack and ruin me.

I closed my eyes, bracing myself for what was to come.