Chapter 2

(ISOLDE)

I jerked awake, gasping.

My cheeks were pressed against a wooden desk. I closed my eyes again to be sure I wasn't dreaming.

I took in the familiar classroom. The books on my desk, confused. Looking up at the calendar on the wall. It suddenly dawned on me.

I was back to six years ago. This was my senior year of high school.

The moon goddess had truly given me a second chance.

“Isolde!” Freya's voice rang out before I could even accept this new reality.

Young Freya hurried up from her seat and stood before me with two boxes in her hands, smiling.

“You've been sleeping for hours. I was bored without you,” she whispered, throwing her arms around me.

My body froze for one second as I slowly came in terms with this new reality.

Feeling Freya’s arms around me. I felt nothing but pure disgust.

All I could think of was her fingers on my throat, snapping my necklace loose. Her fist on my stomach and her cruel voice.

My body moved before I could even realize it. I shoved her off me, so hard that she staggered, almost hitting the floor.

She caught her balance, then blinked at me in shock.

“Isolde? What is wrong with you?” She asked, giving that same innocent look I'd fallen for in my past life.

My eyes landed in her face, searching. The moon goddess had mentioned I wasn't the only one who had gotten reborn. But all I saw was confusion, genuine confusion.

She wasn't reborn.

I smoothed my expression, forcing out a smile.

“I think I just had a bad dream and you scared me! What are you holding?” I swiftly changed the topic and shifted my gaze to the two wrapped boxes she was holding.

That worked, her face instantly lit up. Replaced by eager brightness the past me would have mistaken for love.

She held up the two gift boxes. One was wrapped in red and had a cute bow on it. It was clear a lot of work had been put into it. The other was plainly wrapped in silver, with not so much effort.

“The Claiming Moon Ceremony is coming up,” she said. “Everyone's supposed to prepare something special for the person they want to claim as their mate someday….So, I made two.” She pushed the red box towards me.

“You don't have to stress yourself about preparing something for Bryan. You can just give this to him. We've all been friends for years, so I know what he likes…. Trust me, he'll love this.”

Listening to her, I almost laughed. 

In my past life, I'd collected this gift from her and handed it to Bryan. I'd been nothing but a delivery channel between them. I'd been a part of their sick game.

My heart went cold. I looked up at her, making sure to keep my face calm as ever. Despite the storm brewing inside me.

“Since you really want this to be gifted to Bryan. Why don't you give him the gift yourself? I mean you put in so much effort into it for him,” I raised a brow.

Freya's smile flickered, now replaced by pure fright, like she'd been caught doing something bad.

“Why….why would you say that?” She asked, her voice trembling.

Hurt flashing her face. “I'm just trying to help you. You think I want to take Bryan from you? Why are you being cold to me?” She sniffled, wiping her non-existent tears.

The old Isolde would have fallen for this perfectly rehearsed drama. But I wasn't her anymore.

I wanted to open my mouth to retort, to let out my anger. But I knew it was too early. 

I softened my face.

“Who's the other gift for?” I rested my gaze on the silver box.

Freya blushed, her cheeks turning pink then she let out a smile.

“It's for the new transfer student, Kairos.”

My heart skipped a beat at the mention of him.

“I heard he's the Alpha heir of the Dark ridge Pack.” She kept blushing. “I plan to gift it to him and invite him as my partner to the Claiming Moon Ceremony.”

She stepped closer. “Isolde, do you think he'll like me?”

I knew what she was doing. She was merely pretending to like Kairos. I knew better now and would never believe her lies again.

Kairos.

The name stuck on my mind, drowning out Freya's continuous lies. The man who'd love me until my last breath. I'd hurt him many times in my past life.

“I wish he was the one reborn together with me,” I thought before I could even realize it.

That thought startled me, causing my eyes to widen. 

For years, Bryan has been the only name carved in my heart. But now I'd easily wish to be with someone else.

Maybe it was the way he held me while I was on death's door. Or his broken and desperate cry. But I'd finally realized how much he truly cared for me.

“Isolde.”

Bryan called out my name from the classroom door. My smile disappeared.