Chapter 3

Fiona’s POV 

The first thing I felt when I opened my eyes was confusion. I blinked a few times, staring at the ceiling. My body felt… fine. No pain, no wounds. I could breathe without sharp stabs of agony.

I was alive.

Panic surged through me as I bolted upright in bed, my heart racing. I frantically patted my body, checking for injuries. But there was nothing—no bruises, no blood. The cliff, Rex, the rogue… it was all gone. I was… perfectly fine.

My heart hammered in my chest as I tried to make sense of it. Where was I? What had happened? I looked around and realized I was in my bedroom. My old bedroom. The one I’d left behind months ago.

I swallowed hard, my throat dry. This was impossible. I remembered everything so clearly—Rex pushing me off the cliff, the wind whipping around me as I fell, knowing I was about to die.

But now I was here, with no wounds, no broken bones. I jumped out of bed, and my heart nearly stopped when I caught sight of the calendar on my desk. It read the date: two months ago, back before the wedding.

Back before Rex betrayed me.

A chill ran down my spine as realization hit me like a slap to the face. I had been reborn.

I was back to the day Rex came to ask my father, Alpha Ambrose, for my hand in marriage. My mind whirled. Two months ago—this was when everything started. Rex was with my father right now, charming him into signing the agreement to merge our packs together. If that happened again, there would be no way to stop the wedding. No way to escape him.

I had to stop them.

Before I could move, the door to my room swung open. My head snapped around just in time to see Lillian walk in with a wide smile, holding up a glittering silver dress.

“Good morning, Fiona!” she chirped, stepping inside with an air of excitement. “Look what I brought! You’ll look so beautiful in this at your engagement dinner.”

I froze, my blood running cold. Lillian? The best friend who backstabbed me?

She was the same person who had laughed at me, who had helped Rex kill my wolf and destroy me. And now, here she was, acting like nothing had ever happened.

She didn’t know I knew the truth about her.

“Y-You…” I stammered, trying to gather my thoughts. “Lillian…”

Lillian gave me a puzzled look, her expression soft and friendly. “What’s wrong, Fiona? You look pale. I know it’s a big day and all, but you should be happy! You’re going to be Mrs. Rex soon!”

The cheerful tone, the fake warmth in her voice, it was exactly the same as in my past life. This was when she pretended to be my best friend, always supporting me, but behind the scenes, she had been working with Rex to destroy me. They had planned to kill me on my wedding day and take over everything.

My mind raced. I couldn’t let her know I remembered. I had to play along. I couldn’t reveal the truth.

I forced a shaky smile, fighting back the nausea that rose in my throat. “You’re right, Lillian. It’s just… I didn’t sleep well last night. I guess I’m just a little anxious.”

Lillian’s smile widened, and she held up the dress. “Don’t worry! This dress will make you feel so much better. Go on, try it on! It’s going to be a perfect day.”

I nodded slowly, playing along as best I could. But my eyes flicked to the mirror, where I caught a glimpse of Lillian’s reflection. Even though she was smiling, there was something off in her eyes, something cold and calculating. She was the same manipulative person she had always been.

I needed to get her out of the room so I could stop my father from signing those papers. 

An idea flashed in my mind. I glanced at the teacup sitting on my bedside table, still filled with cold tea from the night before.

“Oh, Lillian,” I said sweetly, pretending to admire the dress. “I love the dress, but my hands are a bit shaky. Do you mind holding it for a second while I take a sip of tea?”

Lillian raised an eyebrow but smiled, handing the dress to me. “Of course.”

I took the cup, pretending to sip from it, and then, “Oops!”

I tilted the cup just slightly, enough for the tea to spill all over Lillian’s dress. The pale fabric soaked it up instantly.

Lillian gasped, stepping back in horror. “Fiona! You’ve ruined it!”

I pressed my hand to my mouth, faking an apologetic expression. “I’m so sorry, Lillian! I didn’t mean to—I was just so nervous!”

Her face twisted in irritation, her eyes flashing with anger before she quickly masked it. “It’s fine. I’ll just—” She looked down at her dress with a grimace. “I’ll go change. I’ll be back soon.”

I smiled sweetly. “Thank you. I’m really sorry again.”

She huffed and rushed out of the room, probably heading to find a clean dress. As soon as the door clicked shut behind her, I bolted.

I had to stop them.

I raced down the hallway, my heart hammering in my chest. I knew exactly where my father and Rex would be—in my father’s office, sitting down to sign the agreement that would merge our packs and trap me in this nightmare again

I couldn’t let that happen. Not again.

I reached the heavy oak doors of my father’s office and didn’t hesitate. I threw the doors open, bursting into the room in nothing but my pajamas, hair disheveled, my face flushed with panic.

“Stop!” I shouted, breathless as everyone in the room turned to look at me.

My father, Alpha Ambrose, sat at his desk with a pen in hand. Rex stood beside him, tall and handsome, wearing the same charming smile he had worn the first time he deceived me. My mother sat nearby, watching quietly. The ink on the documents was still fresh.

“What in the world?” my father exclaimed, rising to his feet. “Fiona, what are you doing?”

Rex’s face faltered for a moment, shock flickering across his features. “Fiona, what’s wrong?” he asked, his voice dripping with concern, but I knew better now. I had seen behind that mask.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself. “I don’t want to marry Rex anymore,” I declared, my voice cold and firm. “The engagement is off.”

The room fell into stunned silence. Rex blinked, his mouth opening and closing as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. My father’s eyes widened, and my mother let out a small gasp.

“Fiona,” Rex stammered, stepping toward me. “What are you saying? We’re getting married. You can’t just—”

“I don’t care,” I snapped, glaring at him. “I’m breaking up with you, Rex. You don’t meet my standards.”

Rex’s face twisted in confusion, his hands trembling slightly. “Fiona, this is crazy. What’s gotten into you? We’re about to be married! You can’t just call it off like this!”

“I can, and I will,” I replied icily. “You’re not the man I thought you were, Rex.”

My father cleared his throat, his expression confused. “Fiona, I understand you’re upset, but it’s too late for that. I’ve already signed the documents. Our packs are merged and they can not be broken without good reason.”

“What?” I breathed, my heart dropping into my stomach. I looked at the papers on the desk, the ink still drying. My father had already sealed my fate.

“The agreement is final,” my father continued. “Our packs are bound together. You will marry Rex, and there’s nothing that can change that without a very good reason.”

I felt as if the air had been sucked out of the room. I had failed. Even after coming back, even after trying to stop it, I was still trapped in this twisted game. I couldn’t breathe. The walls felt like they were closing in on me.

“But… Father,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “I don’t want to marry him. Please.”

My father shook his head, his expression full of regret. “It’s done, Fiona. The pack’s future depends on this union. You’ll still have to marry Rex.”

Tears burned in my eyes, but I blinked them back, my mind racing. This couldn’t be happening again. I wouldn’t let it.

Rex stepped forward, his eyes softening as he reached out to touch my arm. “Fiona, I know this is overwhelming, but we can work through this. We’re meant to be together.”

I recoiled from his touch, disgusted. He was lying. All of this—everything he said—was manipulation. He didn’t care about me. He never had.

“I’ll never be with you, Rex,” I spat, my voice shaking with fury. 

Rex’s smile faltered, and for the briefest moment, I saw the coldness in his eyes, the same look he had when he pushed me off the cliff.

My father sighed heavily. “Fiona, there’s no other choice.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat, my body trembling with helplessness. I was trapped.

Again.