Chp 2

Astrid POV

I couldn’t breathe. Even after waking up, my heart still pounded violently against my chest as memories of my death replayed inside my mind. Caspian’s cold eyes and Nora standing beside him alive.

Their laughter and their betrayal, I remembered all of them

My fingers curled tightly into the bedsheets beneath me.

It felt real….too real.

A soft knock suddenly echoed through the room before the door slowly opened.

“Astrid?” my maid Lily called carefully as she stepped inside. “Your parents are asking for you in the main hall.”

I froze, the main hall, suddenly memories flashed in front of me and my throat went dry instantly.

“They said it’s something important,” Lily continued nervously. “And… they asked you to dress well.”

Dress well, the words hit me like ice water because I remembered this day perfectly.

This was the day our futures were decided, the day my father announced the marriages.

My stomach twisted painfully.

In my previous life, I had been nervous yet excited because Caspian Ravencrest was coming.

My mate, the man I loved with all my heart.

I had spent hours choosing the perfect dress that day, hoping he would look at me with affection.

What a fool I had been, my eyes slowly darkened.

That naive Astrid was dead.

She died on the cold marble floor while begging for love from a man who never wanted her.

And I would never become her again.

A shiver ran through me as another name surfaced inside my mind.

Zane Ashblood.

The ruthless omega, the monster feared by every kingdom.

Rumors about him haunted every corner of the werewolf world.

He was cruel, merciless and a murderer.

Women feared him and Men avoided him.

Even children cried after hearing his name.

And yet…

Even a monster like him could never hurt me the way Caspian did. At least Zane’s cruelty was honest. Caspian’s love had been the real poison.

I slowly climbed out of bed before walking toward the mirror.

The reflection staring back at me looked younger, innocent and weak but my eyes….my eyes no longer belonged to the girl from before.

They belonged to someone who had already died once.Lily helped me prepare in silence, occasionally glancing at me nervously.

“You seem different today,” she whispered softly while brushing my hair.

I gave her a small smile.

“Maybe I finally woke up.”

She looked confused but said nothing.

Once I finished dressing, I slowly walked toward the main hall.

Every step felt heavier than the last because I knew exactly what waited for me behind those doors.

The moment the guards opened them, voices filled the room.

My father sat proudly at the center while my stepmother sat beside him elegantly.

And there she was…Nora, beautiful as always,Perfect and she is alive.

The sight of her nearly made me angry but unlike before, I kept my expression calm.

Cold.

I noticed the irritation in her eyes the moment she looked at me.

She probably thought today would change her life for the better.

Just like last time.

My father cleared his throat the moment I approached.

“Astrid. Sit down.”

I bowed my head. I obeyed silently as an obedient daughter and for a moment, nobody spoke.

Then finally—

“As you already know,” my father began, “the Ravencrest family has proposed an alliance marriage.”

My hands rested calmly on my lap.

Inside, my heart was ice.

“Alpha Caspian Ravencrest will marry Astrid.” my heart starter beating faster i could feel pain in my heart i wanted to run away but I tried to calm myself.

“And Nora will marry Zane Ashblood.”

The atmosphere instantly changed.

I saw the horror flash across Nora's face.

Her fingers tightened around her dress while rage filled her eyes.

I remembered that look, in my previous life, that same rage pushed her toward faking her death.

Toward destroying my life.

My stepmother immediately turned pale. “There must be another way…” she said with a tender look on her face.

“No,” my father interrupted firmly. “The council already approved it.”

Silence filled the hall.

Then suddenly I stood in my place

“I’ll marry Zane.”

My own voice shocked even me.

Everyone froze.

My father blinked in disbelief.

My stepmother stared at me as if she had misheard.

And nora…..her eyes lit up instantly.

Hope.

Relief.

Victory.

I watched all of it silently.

“You…” my father finally spoke. “What did you say?”

I slowly lifted my gaze toward him.

Calm.

Emotionless.

“I said,” I repeated softly, “I’ll marry Zane Ashblood.” the brother of Caspian.

The entire hall fell silent.

Even the servants stopped breathing.

Because no sane woman would willingly choose the ruthless omega.

The monster.

The live murder machine.

But as shock filled everyone’s faces…

Only I knew the truth.

This time—

I would rather marry death itself than belong to Caspian Ravencrest again.