[ 4 ]

NIARA'S POINT OF VIEW

I wore a beautiful dark blue gown that shimmered softly with tiny sparkles every time the light touched it.

The dress hugged me perfectly, flowing elegantly around my body, making me look every bit like the future Luna everyone expected me to become.

For a moment, I stared at myself in the mirror.

Different. This time, my eyes were no longer innocent.

I took a deep breath before finally walking downstairs.

The smell of breakfast filled the mansion, but the moment I stepped into the dining hall, my footsteps slowed slightly.

Helena, Logan, Helena’s mother, my mother, and my father were already sitting around the breakfast table.

Helena and Logan were laughing together about something. Something inside me twisted at the sight. The way they leaned slightly toward each other.

The comfort between them, familiarity.

Goodness…Why didn’t I notice all this before? Why was I so blind? I guess I gave far more importance to a servant’s son than I ever should have.

The moment they noticed me, both Helena and Logan immediately stopped laughing. A strange silence settled over the table for a second.

Then Helena smiled brightly.

“Birthday girl finally decided to wake up,” she teased sweetly.

My mother smiled warmly at me.

“You look beautiful, sweetheart.”

“Absolutely stunning,” Helena’s mother added politely.

Father folded the newspaper and looked at me proudly.

“You look exactly like your mother when she was your age.”

The old me would have melted hearing that. Now, all I could think about was the same man ordering my execution in front of the entire kingdom.

“Thank you,” I said softly, forcing a small smile onto my face.

Logan stood from his seat almost immediately.

“There’s my girl,” he said with that charming smile I once thought was genuine.

He walked toward me confidently before, I would have run straight into his arms. Now his touch made my skin crawl.

Still, I kept my expression innocent.

He leaned closer, trying to kiss me like he always did but I gently pushed against his chest a little before he could.

Not enough to create suspicion just enough to stop him.

Logan paused in surprise and his brows furrowed slightly.

“Princess?” he asked with a small chuckle. “What was that for?”

I forced out a light laugh.

“Nothing… I just woke up.”

Helena watched the interaction carefully from her seat.

I noticed it this time. The way her eyes instantly went to Logan. The way Logan glanced at her for a split second before looking back at me.

God. How did I never see it?

“You feeling nervous about tonight?” Helena asked casually as she sipped her tea.

“A little,” I replied calmly.

Logan moved closer again, lowering his voice affectionately.

“Don’t worry, baby. Maybe tonight the Moon Goddess will finally bless you with your wolf.”

My fingers clenched slightly behind my back. The irony almost made me laugh because my wolf was already there.

And my real mate…would walk into my life tonight.

AT NIGHT | CEREMONY

At night, the entire mansion looked magical.

Golden chandeliers sparkled above the grand ballroom while soft music echoed beautifully through the hall. The walls were decorated with silver flowers and moon crystals that glowed faintly under the lights.

People laughed, danced, and talked elegantly around me.

Powerful Alphas, Lunas, nobles, witches, dwarfs, and fairies filled the ballroom exactly like I remembered.

My eyes slowly moved toward the dance floor.

And there they were.

Logan and Helena.

Dancing together.

Helena’s hand rested perfectly on his shoulder while Logan held her waist naturally, like they had practiced it a thousand times before.

In my first life, this was where everything started.

I remembered how furious I became seeing them together. I created a scene in the middle of the party, accused Helena unfairly, and embarrassed my father in front of everyone.

And Helena? She played the perfect victim.

Again. But not this time. This time, I only watched quietly.

Soon Logan noticed me standing there and walked toward me with that same charming smile.

“Princess,” he called softly. “Don’t misunderstand. I was only teaching Helena how to dance.”

I looked at him calmly.

God..How easily he lied and how easily I used to believe him but this time, I smiled sweetly.

“I trust you, Logan,” I said gently. “And I know you’re the best dancer here.”

For a second, he looked surprised by how easily I accepted it.

Helena walked over next, her expression almost disappointed that I did not react.

“Oh,” she sighed softly while touching her throat dramatically. “I’m feeling thirsty logan.”

Logan immediately turned toward me.

“Princess, go bring us drinks.”

The words made something dark inside me laugh bitterly.

In my first life, I was blind in love. I did everything for them without questioning anything.

Carried their things, covered their mistakes and obeyed Logan like my entire world revolved around him.

Like a fool but not now. I looked directly at Helena before speaking calmly.

“Take it yourself if you want it.”

Then I turned around and started walking away behind me, silence fell for a second.

Logan grabbed my wrist suddenly. My body instantly stiffened at his touch.

“Princess,” he said with warning in his tone. “Didn’t you hear what I said? Go bring us drinks.”

I slowly looked down at the hand gripping my arm..Disgust crawled beneath my skin.

I pulled my hand away immediately.

“No,” I said coldly. “And stop touching my arm.”

Logan looked shocked so did Helena.

Neither of them expected me to refuse them so openly.

Before either of them could say anything else, Alpha Cedric’s deep voice echoed across the ballroom.

“Niara.”

The entire hall quieted slightly. My father stood near the grand staircase beside my mother, his expression calm but commanding.

“Come to the stage.”

I smiled softly and nodded.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Logan instantly straighten, clearly expecting me to invite him along just like I did in my first life.

Back then, I used to drag him everywhere beside me proudly despite Father’s constant anger. Father hated seeing me so attached to the son of a servant, but I was too blinded by love to care.

I remembered how Father used to warn me.Know your position, Niara.But I never listened.

And in my first life, the moment I was invited to the stage, I immediately grabbed Logan’s hand and took him with me proudly..As if he belonged there..As if he was equal to me.

Then Logan had brought Helena too..And the three of us walked together while the entire ballroom watched.

God. I was so stupid.

But not anymore. This time, I simply turned around and started walking toward the stage alone.

I could practically feel Logan’s irritation from behind.

“Princess,” he called out quietly, trying to keep his smile in place. “You should invite me too.”

I ignored him completely and continued walking.

The ballroom lights reflected beautifully across the floor as all eyes followed me.

For the first time, I finally understood what it meant to walk like an Alpha's daughter. Not Logan’s obedient little lover.

Me.

Only me.

Luna Niara Winters

I stepped onto the stage gracefully. The musicians slowly lowered the music while guests turned their full attention toward us.

Then suddenly, footsteps approached from behind.

Logan. He walked toward the stage confidently, clearly intending to stand beside me anyway just like before.

The old me would have happily made space for him..But this time, I turned toward him before he could fully step up.

“Alpha didn’t invite you.” My voice was loud enough for nearby guests to hear.

The ballroom instantly fell quieter and logan froze at my words. For a second, disbelief flashed across his face.then his jaw tightened.

Alpha Cedric slowly turned his gaze toward Logan.

“And why exactly,” Alpha Cedric asked slowly, “are you trying to step onto the Alpha family platform without permission?”

Logan’s face darkened instantly. Around the ballroom, whispers quietly started spreading.

“He’s only the servant’s son…”

“That platform is reserved for the Alpha bloodline.”

“How shameless…”

Helena looked visibly uncomfortable now.

Logan gritted his teeth hard, embarrassment flashing openly across his face for the first time that night but I only stood there calmly.

Watching because this was exactly where he belonged.

Soon after, my father stepped forward and raised his glass proudly.

“As Alpha of the Blackwood Pack,” Alpha Cedric announced, his deep voice echoing through the grand ballroom, “I officially present my daughter, Niara Winters, as the future Luna of this pack.”

The entire hall erupted into applause instantly.

Glasses were raised high into the air while congratulations echoed from every direction.

“To the future Luna!”

“May the Moon Goddess bless her!”

“Long live the Blackwood Pack!”

Vampires lifted their crystal goblets elegantly while powerful Alphas and Lunas nodded in approval. Even the fairies fluttered excitedly near the glowing chandeliers, their soft laughter mixing with the music.

I forced a graceful smile onto my face and lightly clicked my glass together with the others.

But suddenly my body froze. A strange warmth spread through my chest.

My breath hitched slightly as if something invisible had wrapped itself around my entire soul.

Then I felt it someone was staring at me.

No. Not staring. Watching me like a predator who had finally found what belonged to him.

Slowly, I lifted my gaze across the ballroom and my heart stopped.

Dark red eyes. That was cold, dominant and terrifyingly powerful.

The man stood near the far end of the ballroom dressed entirely in black, his broad figure towering over everyone around him effortlessly. The air itself seemed heavier near him.

Alpha Draven Ravencrest

The most feared Alpha in all the packs.

The Alpha of Ravenshade pack.

The man people whispered about in fear and right now he was staring directly at me. Without looking away or blinking.

My breath became uneven instantly. The mate pull hit me so violently this time I almost dropped my glass.

Mine.

The thought echoed through my soul before I could stop it.

Inside my head, Zulia screamed excitedly.

“Mate!”

My heart pounded wildly.

Yes.

Mate.

My real mate.

Draven’s sharp jaw tightened slightly as if he felt it too. His dark red eyes burned even deeper while his fingers slowly tightened around the glass in his hand.

He knew. Moon Goddess…He knew but I quickly forced myself to stay calm.

I lowered my gaze slightly and steadied my breathing.

I could not let Logan suspect anything before taking my every ounce of revenge.