Lyra's POV

I woke up with a groan, clutching my throbbing head. I struggled to open my eyes, but when I finally did, the blinding rays of sunlight streaming through the window made me wince and snap them shut again. The light felt like it was burning into my eyes.

I slowly opened my eyes once more, using my hands to shield them from the harsh light. As I sat up in bed, my movements were sluggish, and my head pounded with a strong ache. Confusion took over my thoughts. What's going on? I wondered, as my vision gradually cleared, revealing my surroundings. "Where am I?" I muttered, my voice as low as a whisper. The room was big and luxurious compared to my room at home.

"Where is this?" I whispered again, my eyes darting around the space. The memories started to come back: running from my father, the blaring horn, the sudden impact of the car. I placed a hand over my chest, feeling my heart race as panic set in. How was I alive and feeling okay? I clenched my fists, trying to calm down my breathing, desperately searching my memory for answers.

"Princess Raven," a voice called out, catching me off guard. I turned to see a maid standing there. "Oh, thank heavens you are fine," she said, smiling as she walked towards me, her eyes scanning me as if checking for injuries. I stared back, feeling confused. Who was Princess Raven, and why was she calling me that?

"Who are you?" I asked, curiosity taking over. "Where am I?" I looked around, trying to piece together my surroundings, when I noticed something odd. My long black hair was now a light brown with gray streaks. I racked my brain but couldn't recall ever dyeing my hair. What the hell is going on? I also glanced at my hands, realizing that my skin was looking unusually pale compared to my usual tan.

"What the heck?" I muttered, shifting uncomfortably in bed. Confused  as the maid stared at me, her expression a blend of concern and confusion. "Is everything alright, Princess Raven?" she asked cautiously.

"Princess Raven? Who the heck is that?" I shot back, my voice rising. I swung my legs over the side of the bed, attempting to stand, but my legs felt weak, nearly giving out. I gripped the edge of the bed to steady myself. "Where am I? Why do I feel so different?" I asked, my voice shaking as I started panicking.

The maid's eyes widened in alarm. "I will get the doctor," she said hurriedly, backing away before turning and rushing out of the room, the door closing with a slam behind her. My breathing quickened, and I clenched my hands into fists, my knuckles whitening. My body doesn't feel like my own. Why was she calling me Princess Raven when that obviously isn't my name? I racked my brain, trying to make sense of it all.

Just then, my eyes caught a mirror mounted on the wall in the corner of the room. My heart was beating fast as I felt fear and curiosity pulling me towards it.

My mind raced as I walked closer to the mirror, my reflection startling me. I shook my head in disbelief. This can't be real; I must be dreaming because there's no way this is happening. The woman staring back at me was completely different from me, from her hair to her nails.

I tried to connect with the wolf inside me, but I felt nothing-it was dead silent. Is this really happening? I lifted my hand, and the reflection repeated the motion. My eyes widened in shock, and I stepped back. This was not me; the reflection was not me.

Unable to handle the situation, my head grew light, my vision blurred, and I collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

Later, I woke to the sound of low voices, my vision blurry as I opened my eyes. I saw a man and a woman talking. My groan of pain seemed to catch their attention, and the man walked over, examining me and asking various questions. I felt too weak to respond properly or even understand him fully.

The man sighed and spoke to the woman before leaving the room, leaving us alone. As my vision cleared and my senses sharpened, I mumbled, "Where am I?" I looked at the woman, who glared down at me, arms crossed over her chest.

"Just a little punishment, and suddenly you have lost your memory," she said. From her tone, I could tell she didn't like me. Her words confused me. What was she talking about? What punishment? She sighed, her expression turning hard. "How I wish you had died falling off those stairs," she added, which only confused me further. What stairs?

She took a deep breath, still glaring at me, and continued, "I don't care if you have amnesia or if you are struggling to remember who you are and all that nonsense, but just know one thing: the Alpha is coming for you tonight, and you will do as he says."

She didn't give me a chance to respond as she stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her. What a witch. She reminded me of my stepmother back home. But who is she to this woman whose body I seemed to be living in? And what was this "Princess Raven" business?

Princess Raven? The memories started flooding back. I have heard of her but could I really be in her body? Princess Raven was the princess of the Cremstone pack, and I had heard about her engagement to the Alpha of the Silverwolf pack, Alpha Orion, just before the incident that happened to me. Alpha Orion was known for his power and ruthlessness, a figure both feared and respected. The thought of meeting someone like him terrified me. How could Princess Raven be engaged to him? How was that even possible?

But then a chilling thought crossed my mind: how was I in Princess Raven's body? Or had I been Princess Raven all along, and my previous life was just a figment of my imagination or perhaps a dream when I passed out?  The confusion was too much for me, and I couldn't make sense of anything.

Just then, a knock on the door broke my thoughts. A group of maids entered the room, their expressions pleased as they bowed slightly. "The lady of the house has asked us to help you get dressed," one of them said. "The Alpha will be arriving soon, so you need to be ready for his arrival."

I didn't know how to react or what to say. I simply watched as the maids went about their work, rifling through a collection of clothes I had never seen before. They dressed me in the finest, high-end designers, transforming me into something out of a fairy tale. When they finally finished, I stared at my reflection in the mirror. I had to admit, Princess Raven was stunning, but how was I trapped in her body? Why couldn't I connect with a wolf of hers?

"The woman of the house requests that you stay here until his arrival," the maids said, bowing respectfully before exiting the room and leaving me alone with my swirling thoughts.

Who was that woman? I tried to recall but then it hit me. She was the mistress of the Alpha before he died, and now, for some reason, she was in charge of the house instead of Princess Ravenna. What could she be plotting? I could tell she was in trouble.

As I sat in the room, contemplating my next move, a maid arrived to inform me that the Alpha had arrived. I took a deep breath, bracing myself for the encounter. The maid escorted me out of the room and down the stairs. My heart pounded in my chest, but I couldn't help but admire the house's beauty. The interior was nothing short of extravagant.

As I made my way down the stairs, the mistress of the house shot me a glare. "Wait and sit here. The Alpha will join you shortly. And remember what I said-you will do everything he asks of you." I nodded, settling into the couch and glancing around the lavish interior, still questioning whether this was all a dream or if it was real. My mind raced, struggling to understand the situation.

I clasped my nervous hands together, waiting for the Alpha's arrival. A maid walked towards with a smile, offering me a glass of water. "Do you want some water?" she asked, extending the glass toward me. I was about to politely decline when I noticed her smile fade immediately. Her eyes locked on something behind me, and fear took over her. She stepped back quickly, abandoning the water without a word.

Curious, I turned toward the direction she had looked, my heart racing as I wondered who or what could have frightened her so much that she had to run away. My gaze met his cold, silver eyes, making my heart almost leap from my chest. He sat on a couch opposite me, relaxed and confident, studying me from head to toe. This had to be him. The aura around him was very cold, radiating nothing but danger despite him not saying a word. Was this what Alpha Orion looked like? I had never seen him before, as he rarely made public appearances. But one thing was certain: he was ruthless in the stories I have heard about him, and the way he looked at that moment confirmed the stories. Danger was all I could think of the more I stare at him. 

Then something surprising happened: I felt my wolf stirring within me, a feeling that was very familiar. It was my same wolf I had grown up with "Nara", not a different one. This definitely meant that the body I was in wasn't my own; it belonged to someone else. I wasn't crazy-I had indeed had a life of my own before. If Nara was with me then this isn't my body and this isn't my life I am living.

At first, relief came over me as I felt the comforting feeling of having my wolf again. But then, as his stirrings grew more strong, I understood what it meant when she reacted like this. Suddenly, in a whisper as soft as a breath, she said, "Mate..." 

The word hit me very hard. Could he really be my mate? Was it possible to have another mate besides the man who had abandoned me? Was he my second chance mate? I had heard that some people were lucky enough to find such a thing, but I never thought it would happen to me. Now, it seemed the moon goddess had decided to toy with my fate, and I was left battling with this new, shocking twist in my life.

"You're my mate?" the man I assumed to be Alpha Orion asked, his shock written all of over his face. But if he had been with Princess Raven before, he must have known she was his mate-so why was he suddenly acting surprised? The next question he asked sent a shiver down my spine. "Why do you smell different? The last time we met, there was no mate bond between us." He paused, a frown growing on his face before adding, "Why are you suddenly my mate? Who are you?"

Lyra's POV

I stared at the man before me, utterly speechless. I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out as his eyes roamed up and down my frame. I had to admit, Alpha Orion was the most attractive man I had ever seen-with his chiseled jaw, impressive physique, and striking features. But I was too frightened to appreciate his looks in that moment; everything felt way too intense. I was scared.

"What the fuck will I use a mate for?" he snapped. His harsh tone made it clear he was not happy with the idea of a mate bond. But why would something so beautiful as a mate bond make him feel so disgusted? I couldn't make sense of it at all.

I gulped nervously, seeing his growing impatience, which frightened me even more. "He is definitely not going to like the idea of a mate between us," the man said, as I opened my mouth to ask a question, only to shut it again, lacking the courage to speak. What was going on? Who was this person he mentioned who wouldn't like the idea of a mate bond?

"Beta Keto, you are here," the rude woman said, appearing out of nowhere. Her face was filled with fear and respect as she walked towards the man, who remained relaxed, his eyes  focused on me. Beta? This was his Beta. The rude woman who called herself the woman of the house, whose name I later discovered was Ruth, glanced around as if searching for something and asked, "Where is the Alpha now?"

"He couldn't make it today; he had some important matters to deal with," the man replied, rising to his feet and adjusting his suit. "The princess will be coming with me. The Alpha will meet her at home" With that, he stood up and walked out of the house, while Ruth turned to me and said, "What's going on here? How can you be the Beta's mate? You have met him before, and you weren't his mate. How did this happen?" 

I had no answer for what was happening. I opened my mouth to say, "I really don't remember anything," but it was a lie. How could I explain that I was a lonely soul trapped in the princess's body? It is not going to make any sense because it doesn't even make sense to me at that moment.

"Oh, shut up," Ruth snapped, cutting me off. "One more word from you and I will push you from a balcony this time." She glanced around frantically to ensure no one was listening. "Don't forget our plan. Seduce the Alpha if you need to. We need him on our side and you have to break that stupid bond with the Beta. Our plans can't fail." I was at a loss for words as she pushed me forward, urging me to move.

I glanced back to meet her cold, icy stare before taking a deep breath and walking out of the house. A sleek black car waited for me just outside. I entered the car, where the Beta was already seated in the back seat. I took a seat close to him, trying to steady my nerves.

He didn't say a word, preferring silence, and I couldn't think of any meaningful words either. My entire world had taken a sudden turn. What business did I have with the Alpha, and why did it seem necessary to seduce him to achieve my goals? As for the Beta, how was I supposed to break the mate bond? It seemed strange, but I already felt so drawn to him that breaking the bond might be difficult. 

"If you know what is  best, don't tell the Alpha about this. I will find a solution to this nonsense soon," he said dismissively. I merely stared at him, unable to find the courage to respond.

We soon arrived at a grand mansion, with the Beta remaining silent throughout the drive and making no effort to address the mate bond any further,  which was confusing. "This way, ma'am," a maid said politely, her expression cold as she added, "Come with me." By then, the Beta had already disappeared, but I didn't think about it. I had more pressing matters at hand-namely, meeting Alpha Orion and understanding this situation with him.

"He is working out in the gym right now, but he wouldn't mind talking to you," the maid said as we arrived in front of a door.

Is working out the important matters he had to deal with that stopped him from coming. 

It was a private gym in the Alpha's mansion as the maid slowly pushed the door open. The space wasn't large, but it was well-equipped, with various pieces of exercise equipment arranged neatly. From the corner of the room, I spotted a figure drinking water from a glass. He seemed to notice me as he finished his drink, setting the cup down and fixing his stare on me. 

He walked toward me, his eyes locked on mine, and stopped right in front of me, his tall frame towering over mine. Standing at exactly 6'4", he was even more good looking than the Beta. His dark hair, damp with sweat from his workout, clung to his face, giving him a rugged, and very manly look. He wore a fitted sleeveless gym shirt that brought out  his impressive biceps and a pair of athletic joggers that highlighted his powerful physique. I gulped, unable to tear my eyes away from him, he was so hot. At that moment, something occurred to me.

Just like before, I felt an attraction I couldn't explain, and it seemed he felt it too, as his expression shifted for a moment before quickly returning to normal. My wolf stirred again, adding to my confusion as the Alpha and I locked eyes. Suddenly, Nara, my wolf  whispered, "Mate..."

"Mate?" I asked, shocked. How could this be possible? The Alpha and I were supposed to be mates?  but the Beta was already my mate. What was happening? How could I have two mates at the same time? What cruel game was the universe playing with me? Was my wolf perhaps mistaken?

"A mate?" The Alpha seemed taken aback, his deep voice sending shivers through me as he continued to stare. I felt small under his intense look, unable to look away as he asked, "How exactly are you my mate all of a sudden?" It felt like déjà vu, as the Beta had said something very similar.

I felt his hand under my chin, lifting my face slowly so we locked eyes. My heart raced as I struggled to find the right words. "What a shame you are my mate," he said, his eyes boring into mine. "It seems I will have to punish you ten times harder than I intended for daring to be my mate." His words shocked me, and my heart pounded furiously. His tone was so psychopathic that it sent shivers down my spine. What was he planning to do to me? Why would he punish me for something I can't control?

Suddenly, I heard a very familiar voice say, "They are ready, sir?" It shocked me to the core. No, it couldn't be him-perhaps I was imagining things. Alpha Orion glanced at the person behind me before nodding and then looking back at me. His hands remained on my chin as he gently caressed my face with his thumb. The small gesture stirred something within me that I couldn't quite describe at the moment.

"I guess I will have to play with you later," he said, removing his hand from my face and walking away. I stood there, dumbfounded, struggling to process everything that had just happened. 

The familiar voice that had announced something to the Alpha spoke again, "What do you think you are doing, Raven?" no it can't be him. But the voice was too familiar. I turned to find Jacob standing there. My heart nearly leaped out of my chest as our eyes met. "Jacob?" I called out, stunned. This was my fiancé, the man who had left me just a day before our wedding. What on earth was he doing here?

"Shhh," he said, placing a finger over his lips as he walked closer. "Here, my name is Kevin. Don't use my real name." He closed the distance between us while I stared at him, trying to make sense of the situation. What was he doing here? Why was he here now, especially after running away with my best friend a day before my wedding?

"We have a mission, Raven, and you need to stick to it," he said, gently grabbing my hands. "You have to seduce the Alpha at all costs. Use your charms-you are pretty, so make the most of it." He glanced around nervously, then leaned in to whisper, "Ruth told me about your mate's bond with the Beta. I don't know how that's possible since you are supposed to be mated to me," he said. I didn't feel any mate bond between us. We had been mates before, but he had broken the bond. Does that mean the original owner of this body was mated to him too just like me? What is going on here?

"Anyway, it doesn't matter. Just make sure you break that mate bond so the Alpha doesn't suspect anything." He paused, looking around nervously, before leaning in to give me a kiss on the lips. What the hell? Did he just kiss me or should I say Princess Ravenna?  "Once this is all over and we have the money we need, we will pay Ruth off so she can leave you alone, go far away, and be together. Just do your part and seduce him more." With that, he walked out of the gym room.

I stood there, dumbfounded, unable to process what was happening. The entire situation felt confusing. What connection does Princess Raven have with Jacob? What were they planning with Ruth and what is the need to pay her off so I can be free? Why do they need me to seduce the Alpha? So many questions but I had no answer to any of them. What the heck is going on?

Lyra's POV

I stood in the middle of the gym, my head turning like a rollercoaster. 

 My lips still ached from where Jacob had kissed me just minutes ago. 

Jacob, my fiancé, the guy who'd jilted me some days ago, leaving me heartbroken and shattered to pieces. 

And yet, somehow, it feels like I'm stuck with him again.

  He even has the mind to kiss me, like we were lovers.

I felt really annoyed and frustrated at the same time. I was confused as fuck.

While I was still trying to process the whole jargon flowing through my head, I heard the gym door opening.

I turned to look and saw Alpha Orion walk in.

My goodness, this dude looks like a smoking mountain, or a freaking giant. 

Everything about him was intimidating as hell, down to the way he looks at me, the exact kind of look a lion would give to a puppy. It made me feel very uncomfortable.

Slowly, I placed my sweaty palms on my gown and tried to act like nothing was wrong.

Orion stopped a few distances away from me and crossed his arms over his chest. 

"If you think the fact that we're mated is going to make me treat you differently, then you're setting yourself up for a shocking discovery."

I froze, losing my breath for a second. 

Why is he even getting married to Ravenna or whoever the fuck owns this body I'm trapped in if he doesn't care one bit about her.

The thoughts of what he might have in store for me terrified me, but my expression remained neutral. 

I wouldn't let him see how much his words terrified me. I am used to the rejections anyway, so if he rejects me here and now, I wouldn't care less, I don't even know him enough to love him.

 But then Orion's eyes narrowed, and he took a step closer. "What do you have to do with Kevin?" he asked. "I heard you two talking when I left."

My heart felt like a sinking ship. Did he see Jacob kissing me? I panicked, perhaps he heard us.

For fuck sake, why do I keep going from trouble to trouble.

 I didn't even know how to answer him, so I just kept my mouth shut.

He groaned, the kind of sound that means only one thing: anger. Especially with the way his jaw tightened.

 He stepped even closer, towering over me, and pointed a finger right at my chest. "How do you know Kevin?" he demanded,  "And if you lie, I don't mind killing you tonight."

The air left my lungs. Killing me? He'd really do that? My hands shook so bad, I had to roll them into fists to stop the shaking. 

His eyes were like lasers, piercing through me for answers.

At that moment, I knew, one wrong word, and I might not walk out of this gym alive.

I opened my mouth again, but there were no words.

I was trapped, caught between Jacob's stupid game and Orion's deadly Attitude.

 I had to say something, anything, but what? The truth? A lie?

 My mind danced in different directions, searching for the right words, but it was all blank. All I could feel was the pounding of my pulse and the sweat on my skin.

 I wanted to run, to bolt out the door and never look back, but my feet were glued to the spot.

Jacob's kiss kept replaying in my head. It had happened so fast, one second he was talking about some wicked plan, the next his lips were on mine. 

 My heart ached with the memory of how he'd betrayed my love for him.

 I could still see his face from that day he sent. me that text message, like it was no big deal. 

But  Orion, he was the real problem now. My mate. The Alpha. The guy who could snap my neck without breaking a sweat. I had just met him, and he's already talking about killing me.

Orion's groan snapped me back to the moment. He was losing it, I could tell.

 He stepped closer, so close I could perceive his strong masculine perfume.

"You're just thinking of the lies to come up with, aren't you?" he accused.

My jaw dropped. Lies? I hadn't even said anything yet! 

"You're a whore," he spat. " You're already trying to seduce Kevin."

His words hit me hard, like a hot slap across the face.

 Fear had been bubbling inside me, but now it boiled over into disgust.

 A whore? Seduce Jacob? The idea made my skin crawl. Jacob or whatever the fuck his name is now, had kissed me, not the other way around, but Orion didn't care about the truth.

 He'd already decided who I was. I wanted to snap back, to tell him he was wrong, but I bit my tongue. 

I'd heard the rumors about him, how he crushed anyone who crossed him, how bodies disappeared after his anger flared. 

If I slipped up now, who knew whose body I'd end up in next? Or maybe this time, my death would be permanent.

Orion's eyes narrowed, his voice rose with fury.

 "Since you're nothing but a whore, I'll treat you like one!"

My heart slammed hard like a wave on the seashore.

I took a shaky step back, but there was no running away from him. 

He turned toward the gym door and shouted, "Keto!"

The door creaked open, and Keto stepped inside.

 His eyes darted between me and Orion, a quick glance that revealed nothing at all.

"Take her to the drilling pit," Orion ordered, his tone cold. "My men are waiting."

The drilling pit? My eyes widened in terror. What was that? The name alone sent a chill down my spine, conjuring images of dark, twisted places, holes in the ground, blood, and screams.

 I didn't know what it was or what awaited me there, but it sounded like a nightmare.

 My breath caught in my throat, and my legs felt weak.

Before I could move, Keto crossed the room in four quick steps.

 His hand clamped around my wrist. "No-wait!" I gasped, pulling against him, but it was like tugging on a steel door. 

He didn't even look at me, just yanked me toward the door.