Dying from wolfsbane, I came back six months into carrying his pup.

I went straight to a witch, begged for a potion to slow down the pup's growth. Choked it down. Then every day, I padded my belly with rabbit fur and kept up the act.

In my first life, Emily and I went into labor on the same day.

She popped out a perfect silver-white pup. Me? A white wolf giving birth to some scrappy mutt.

James—Alpha of Ebonfang Pack—looked me dead in the eye and swore I betrayed him.

I begged him to test the pup's blood. He did. Results came back: father was from an enemy pack.

He called me a traitor, said I slept with the enemy, cut the bond, and threw me out.

Five years rogue gutted my wolf.

Then he showed up again. Guilt all over his face.

"Emily got played by a Darkclaw wolf. She's just an omega—she wouldn't have survived going rogue. I had to swap the pups. Didn't you get the supplies I sent? Whatever, it's over. I'll take care of you now."

Emily shot me a look full of venom and passed me a teapot.

Didn't even get a word out before the wolfsbane kicked in. I died choking, eyes wide, body frozen.

But now?

I'm back. I know everything. Let's see how they plan to win this time.

First thing I did after coming back? Asked the witch for a potion to stall my pup's growth.

Last time, Emily—my mate's omega stepsister—popped out a silver-white pup the same day I gave birth. Mine came out scruffy, fur screaming enemy pack.

James, Alpha of Ebonfang Pack, lost his damn mind. Accused me of cheating. Ripped the bond clean. Tossed me out like rogue trash.

Five years in exile gutted my wolf.

Then he dragged me back with fake apologies and a second-chance smile.

Didn't even last a day. Emily poisoned me. My pup—finally in my arms—died saving me.

The Moon Goddess hit rewind.

This time? Nobody touches me or my pup.

***

I barely made it back to the manor, potion in my bag, when I ran smack into James and Emily heading out.

Hand went straight to the vial. Locked eyes with James. Didn't say a word.

Emily latched onto his arm—syrupy voice, venom underneath.

"Don't get the wrong idea," she chirped. "James is just taking me to a checkup. My body's always been fragile, poor me. He's such a good mate—once your pup's here, I'm sure he'll be a great dad to them, too."

I almost laughed.

Last time, I actually bought their act. Felt sorry for Emily—an omega carrying alone—and treated her better than James ever did.

And what'd I get?

Fangs in my back. From both of them.

Every wolf thought I betrayed my mate. Even Silverlune Pack—my own pack—slammed the door in my face.

And my pup? She saw me once. Just once—before she tore into Emily for me.

Emily stabbed her clean through the heart.

We died that same damn day.

The memory hit hard. I let out a low, bitter laugh.

"Get the wrong idea? What kind of Alpha babies his stepsister while ignoring his Luna and unborn pup? If that's what being Luna means, you can take the damn crown."

James's eyes flashed.

But he couldn't afford to lose me. Not yet. He needed the pup. Needed the lie.

I stared him down, ice in my veins.

He breathed slow. Slapped on that fake-smile mask.

"Babe, don't talk like that. Of course I care about you. Emily's fragile, her loser mate bailed. You know that—what was I supposed to do? Just leave her alone?"

Smooth. Practiced.

He reached for my head like he was checking in.

"Come on, don't be like this. You look tired. Rest, okay? And quit taking random meds. Could hurt the pup."

I turned my head away.

He pulled back, annoyed, then slung his arm around Emily and walked off.

The second they were out of sight, I drank the potion.

Warmth wrapped tight around my core—steady, sure.

I watched them vanish down the path, smiling to myself.

This time, they couldn't get to pin their mess on my pup.

I wanted to see who they'd sacrifice to keep the lie breathing.

James came home stinking of Emily's perfume.

Bee-lined for our bedroom.

I blocked the door. "Hold up."

He blinked, annoyed. "Avril?"

Hand on my bump. "You've been rolling in late—and loud. I'm done losing sleep. Healer says I need full rest. Starting tonight, you're in the guest room. Don't wake me again."

He wasn't used to pushback. Tried to keep his tone smooth. "Yeah, I was late. Emily's been... a mess. She needed me. I'll keep it down next time. But not sleeping together? I'm just worried—"

"Worried something might happen to me?" I cut in, tapping my belly. "Then let me rest."

He hesitated. Eyes flicked, calculating. Then: a tight nod. "...Fine. But if anything feels off, you call me. Right away."

Worried about me? Please.

All he cared about was whether my pup would survive—so they could pass it off as Emily's.

If the Moon Goddess hadn't reset the clock, I might've believed that act.

But fake concern? It stays fake.

I hid the steel in my eyes and smiled sweetly. "Don't worry. I'll make sure the pup's born healthy."

He exhaled, relieved. Ate it up like he always did.

To him, I was still the fool who dumped her legacy for love.

Back then, Ebonfang Pack was nothing.

I was next in line to lead Silverlune Pack—strongest Alpha-blooded she-wolf of my generation.

But the second I chose James, I threw it all away to play the docile Luna.

Didn't matter that my bloodline was purer. He never doubted he could keep me on a leash.

This time?

He couldn't be more wrong.

***

In the days that followed, I played the weak card—too tired to do even basic Luna stuff, stuck in bed "for the pup."

Only a total idiot gets reborn and still breaks her back for the guy who ruined her.

Without me running things, James spiraled. Alpha life? Already hectic. Without his Luna? Chaos.

Still, every spare second he had went to Emily. Every checkup, every mood swing—he was right there, playing doting mate. Gave her all the rare supplements too, like she was carrying gold.

But I didn't care.

If I wanted something, I took it.

James could glare all he wanted—I didn't flinch.

I was the real Luna. Period.

Emily sulked like the victim, so James doubled down—spoiled her even harder, like that'd balance the scales.

The Ebonfang wolves started catching on. Whispers spread. Something wasn't right.

My friend, Lina, finally broke. "Avril, I know they're step-siblings, but James is way too close to Emily... Just be careful."

I smiled, squeezed her hand. "I've got this."

Careful? Please.

The closer he clung to Emily, the better.

I needed all eyes on her—not on the fact that my bump hadn't grown at all. Still sitting at six months.

***

Time passed. Emily's belly ballooned.

James started sweating.

"Avril, your bump looks kinda..."

He wouldn't stop hovering—asking questions, trying to check me himself.

I dodged every time. Smiled. "The pup's fine. Just a quiet one. If something was wrong, don't you think I'd say?"

He frowned, clearly not buying it—but he couldn't poke a single hole in my story.

Finally, Emily's due date crept up.

The pack healer told her to stay off her feet and move into the pack clinic.

But James had other plans—two expecting wolves giving birth at the same time? Perfect cover for a swap.

Emily didn't like the risk, but she played along. Came back to the manor, eyeing my bump like it might explode.

Three more days. Then she cracked.

Even through the wall, I heard her sobbing to James.

Two hours later—knock on my door.

He walked in, fake smile locked in place, holding that "tonic." Same one from my last life.

"Babe, now that you're further along, the pup needs more nutrients. Drink this while it's hot. You've gotten so thin."

I glanced at the mirror. Glowing, full-faced, obviously well-fed.

Laughed under my breath.

Not sure if it was his bad acting or the recycled lies that got me.

Held out my hand, no hesitation. "Sure."

I took the bowl, sniffed deep. "Huh. Smells like there's... something extra in it."

James flinched. Covered fast. "What? That's ridiculous. My mom made it herself. She'd never hurt you."

I sneered. "Camilla?"

His brow twitched. "What's with that tone?"

I blew on the steam, voice flat. "She's always hated that I outshined your bloodline. Said I wasn't soft enough. Let's be real—she'd throw a party if you marked Emily instead."

His face went stiff. Yeah, he remembered how his mom really was.

Camilla always said Emily was the "real" Luna. Her family died saving James, and she basically grew up in his shadow. That bond? Deep.

Even with Emily knocked-up and unclaimed, Camilla still treated her like pack royalty.

Guess she assumed whatever was growing in Emily's belly had to be James's.

And James knew it.

He scrambled for an excuse. "Avril, my mom actually likes you. She's just... not great at showing it. Hasn't she been better since you got pregnant?"

I laughed.

Better?

Making daily tonics for Emily while ignoring me when I asked for water?

I said nothing.

He dropped his voice. "This tonic's legit. She got the recipe from the healer. Just drink it, okay? Don't waste her good intentions."

I put on my best touched expression. Under his eager stare, I lifted the bowl—and downed it in one go.

James let out a relieved sigh, took the bowl, and wiped the corner of my mouth. "That's more like it."

For a second, I thought I saw guilt flash in his eyes.

Maybe.

Or maybe I just wanted to believe he still had a soul.

The second he left, I bolted to the bathroom and threw up every drop I hadn't already blocked. Potion or not, I wasn't taking chances.

Less than thirty minutes later, I started groaning loud enough to shake the walls.

"James! It hurts—my belly!"

Almost instantly, Emily's voice rang out from the next room. "James! I—I think I'm in labor too!"

Perfect timing.

James hadn't expected the drug to kick in so fast. His face twisted—panic and excitement all tangled up.

"James... it hurts so bad..."

He kept whispering sweet nothings, too wrapped up in her to notice how calm I was.

At the clinic, he rushed Emily into the best birthing suite, then shoved me toward a nurse without looking back.

"You go to the room at the back. I'll be there soon!"

The second I walked in, I knew her.

Martha.

Same healer from before. The one James bribed in my last life. Swapped my newborn for Emily's and swore up and down that mutt was mine.

"Luna, don't worry," she said, all sugar, stepping in close. "I'll take good care of you and your pup."

I sat up fast and grabbed her hand mid-reach. "Martha, didn't your two pups go train on Nightmaw Mountain last month? Still not back, right? Pretty dangerous terrain. Good thing my pack—Silverlune Pack—patrols that area. But if something DID happen... and the patrol just MISSED it... what then?"

She froze. Whole body shaking.

Her kids—her one soft spot.

I let go, calm again. Lay back. "Let's make a deal."

Hours later, the door creaked open.

James slipped in, thinking I was asleep, arms cradling a swaddled bundle.

He made a beeline for the crib—ready to pull the switch.

I opened my eyes. "Hey babe, what exactly do you think you're doing?"