REBIRTH

 “Stop struggling Nyssa.”

Alpha Adrian’s voice was far too calm for a man who was watching his mate die right in front of him.

My knees buckled, and I fell on the cold marble floor as the very last of my strength left my body. The taste of copper filled my mouth. It was thick, fluid and mixed with something bitter, poison.

I had recognized the poison the very moment it burned down my throat.

I fell flat on the floor as my fingers began to claw uselessly at it.

“You… poisoned me…” my voice cracked as blood kept on spilling from my lips.

Across from me, Adrian leaned back on his throne, his expression almost bored as he watched my body fall apart.

This was the man I had sacrificed everything for, the man I had called my mate.

“Yes,” he answered with a smirk, “Yes, I poisoned you.”

His words echoed in the hall, and they broke the last ounce of hope I had in my heart. My wolf whimpered within me, the poison was potent enough to kill even her.

For five years, I built this pack from nothing, its wealth, its alliances, its survival.

And in the end, I was nothing more than something to discard. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say I had given Adrian everything I had, and it was only now that I understood why I had always felt space between us.

In his heart, I was never his Luna, I was just useful.

Just as I was lost in my despair, a soft chuckle sounded behind me. I did not even need to turn around to know who it was.

Lyra, my best friend.

Slowly, but painfully, I lifted my head up just as she stepped out of the shadows and came into view.

She smirked at me as she walked towards Adrian’s throne and held his hand. Her long blonde hair simmered under the golden glow of the sun and the smile on her face was devilish.

“You were always a little slow, Nyssa.” she hissed in a mocking tone,

My stomach twisted as my gaze burned,

Lyra’s betrayal pained me more than I could admit. She has been my best friend since we were kids. She knew all my secrets, knew every little desire I had, and I thought I knew hers too.

Apparently, I was the fool.

“How long have you been with him?” It took me a while, but I managed to force the words out.

Lyra tilted her head and actually made a show of pretending to think over her next words.

“Oh,” her smirk grew wider, “We have been together for over four years now.”

The world fell around me, and it was not from poison.

The fact that she had been with my mate that long meant they were having an affair almost the entire time we were together.

Adrian finally stood up and with his hands still clasped around Lyra, he began to walk towards me. His boots echoed loudly on the marble floor like the ticking of a clock.

“You were a good Luna,” he said as he reached me and stopped, “But that was all you were. You were never meant to stay,”

My eyes widened as he crouched right in front of me. His eyes were cold, and his gaze was filled with fire.

Behind him, Lyra took a step forward. “Don’t worry, my friend,” she smiled, “I will make a far better Luna than you ever could be.”

My chest tightened as memories flooded through me. I had always been faced with constant pressure by the Silver Ridge pack. I had been blamed, mocked and even spat on. And throughout all this, I had thought it was because being a Luna meant having to sacrifice some things. I had thought Adrian loved me.

“How pathetic,” Lyra shook her head and took a step back.

Adrian followed after her.

“The poison will finish its work soon,” he said without an iota of pity in his tone,

My wolf howled weakly within me and I felt rage begin to rise up.

“You both will regret this!” I hissed,

Lyra burst into laughter, “Regret?” she chuckled, “Oh no, we are going to celebrate your death.”

I tried to lunge at her, but my body was far too weak.

Darkness was already beginning to creep into my vision, my heart pounded wildly, and I immediately knew that this was it.

Five years of sacrifice, and my only reward was death.

A strange calm settled over me as I whispered my last words.

“If I had another chance… If the moon goddess gave me another life… I would never make the same mistake again. Never.”

Those words left my lips just as the world went dark.

And I died.

***

“Nyssa.”

A heavy hand shook my shoulder.

“Nyssa,” the voice called out again, this time in a much harsher tone, “Wake up, child.”

My eyes snapped open, and I sucked in a deep breath.

My mind was muddled, but I immediately knew something was wrong. My chest rose and fell rapidly as I stared up at the ceiling and the room I was in.

Sunlight poured through a window that was old but familiar. The curtains were faded but also familiar and the velvet walls of the room I was in were ones I would recognize even in my sleep.

This was a room I had not been in for years, but it was mine, and it was impossible.

My heart stopped as I realized exactly what I was seeing.

“Nyssa?”

The voice called out again, but this time, it had a note of worry in it.

I slowly turned my head and I froze as I saw my mother sitting beside my bed with an impatient expression.

She shouldn’t be alive. She had died three years ago during a rogue attack.

My pulse thundered in my ears.

No, I hissed under my breath, This can’t be real.

“Did you even hear me, Nyssa?” my mom or the illusion of her asked,

My voice came out hoarse and unfamiliar, “What did you say?”

My mom, Sarah, sighed, “I asked if you heard me,” she replied, “I know you like being stubborn, but this is not the time.”

Her words hit me like lightning and I realized why I was feeling déjà vu.

I remembered this exact moment. This was the moment where everything had changed.

My mother crossed her arms and looked into my eyes, “Alpha Adrian has expressed interest in having you as his mate.”

The room spun around me as I began to hyperventilate. This was five years ago.

But how?

“You should be grateful,” my mom continued, “Do you know how many girls would kill for this very opportunity?”

She kept on speaking, but I couldn’t hear her. My heart pounded as I recalled what had happened this very day.

It was the day I had said yes to Adrian. The day I had chained myself to the man who was eventually going to kill me.

My mother frowned, “Well?” she asked, “What’s your answer?”

I slowly sat up and stared into my reflection on the mirror opposite my bed.

This was a younger and healthier me.

The memories of my death still burnt in my mind. A slow smile spread across my face as I turned to face my mom.

“Please tell Alpha Adrian something for me,” I said quietly,

My mother’s eyes widened, and she nodded, “What?”

I met her gaze and, for the first time in my life, I chose myself.

“Tell him,” I said in a calm tone, “that I reject him.”