Chapter 2

"Yes, Luna, that's right—it's me," Lila taunted, a smug grin slowly spreading over her features.

Her look had shifted entirely from the helpless, innocent vibe she'd shown at the feast, now glaring down at me with pure spite gleaming in her gaze.

Her hair wasn't that soft chestnut anymore; somehow, it had transformed into a bold, fiery red right then.

Damn! Was Lila really a witch? That red wine! She had to have spiked it with poison earlier.

"What are you up to? What do you hope to gain from this?" I questioned faintly, frantically attempting to connect with Luna.

The toxin must have hit her as well, since I couldn't reach her at all.

As reluctant as I was to face it, I was powerless. Completely at Lila's whim.

"Worthless Luna, I doubt you ever saw this coming for yourself, huh?" Lila jeered, drawing a knife from its sheath on her hip and waving it threateningly at me.

"Don't go through with this, Lila. If you end my life, Marcus won't ever let you off the hook."

Lila burst into laughter, throwing her head back as she convulsed with amusement.

"Oh, you're hilarious. Maybe you should've gone into comedy rather than being Marcus's Luna," she remarked, dabbing at a tear in her eye's corner before sneering at me again, her eyes blazing with loathing, "I'm Marcus's true mate, not you. All that was yours is mine now."

She snarled, pressing the dagger's point against my cheek, letting it break through the skin.

I felt the sharp sting as it tore open, followed by the slow drip of blood trailing down my face, but I was too drained to even lift my hands to fend her off.

"I'll let you in on something else, Miss Sophia Brown—this thing between Marcus and me... the whole pack was in on it," she grinned viciously as my heart broke apart, "His Beta, every single member... they've known for ages. You were the only one clueless."

Her toxic smile and the poison in her tone stabbed into my heart just as she lifted the dagger high with a sinister spark in her eye.

A chill of terror swept through me when I grasped her plan, and I stared up at her with eyes wide in shock and utter disbelief as she drove the blade downward, cutting through my chest's flesh and cracking my sternum as the icy steel plunged into my heart.

"Every person you ever cherished and trusted ditched you for me, Sophia."

The surreal scene before me began to blur and dissolve, leaving me in a state of total numbness.

I'd never pictured my death unfolding like this.

Rage flared intensely within me over the sheer unfairness, and I vowed that if the Moon Goddess granted me another shot, I'd ensure Marcus and Lila both paid dearly for their treachery with their own lives.

I found myself wandering without purpose through a misty woodland, unsure of any path to take.

Out of nowhere, a dazzling glow illuminated the woods ahead, cutting through the haze and dispelling it as its soft beams played across my skin.

Was I gone? Was this what came after death?

I moved toward the radiance, arm extended, reaching to grasp it, but abruptly, a deafening sound blasted in my ears.

"Luna! Come on, it's time to get up!"

"What?" I shouted in alarm, jolting upright in bed within a room that felt all too recognizable. I stared at Omega Amy before me in astonishment, struggling to process the situation.

"I'm so glad you're up at last—you were out cold!" she laughed. "We've got tons to handle today for your third anniversary with Marcus tomorrow, plus all the setup for the banquet."

"Hold on... what? You're saying the banquet is tomorrow?"

"Yes, of course—don't you recall?"

I pressed my hand to the spot on my chest where the knife had struck so brutally, but there wasn't a trace of harm.

Was it possible that everything I'd experienced was merely a nightmare?

I sprang from bed and rushed to my desk, pulling my journal from the drawer.

This journal was crucial for organizing my routine. I noted my daily emotions, key events, official duties, and pack matters to stay on top of everything. Each morning, I'd jot down my to-do list.

I flipped to the entry where I distinctly recalled listing tasks right after waking on my anniversary's eve, but it was empty.

Puzzled, I scanned the prior days' notes, and they matched my memories perfectly.

Could the Moon Goddess have truly answered my plea?

Naively hoping for a change this round, I trailed Amy to the banquet setup while visions of Lila and Marcus in each other's arms looped in my mind. Her last cruel words rang painfully in my head.

"Every person you ever cherished and trusted ditched you for me."

Had it been a mere dream, or had it truly occurred? If only a dream, why did the ache in my chest feel so vivid?

"My esteemed pack members, I greet you all and appreciate your prompt attendance. It's my honor to declare today that my destined mate, Lila, is joining our pack. I truly wish for both Lila and Luna Sophia to receive the same respect."

The feast unfolded precisely as in my nightmare, with Marcus delivering his announcement verbatim.

Could it be that the Moon Goddess had heeded my plea for vengeance and genuinely bestowed a second chance?

"Sophia! Sophia!"

"Yes... Luna, is that you?"

"Oh, praise the goddess—I can communicate with you once more!"

"Luna, what's happening here? We..." I stuttered in total incredulity.

"Hear me out, dear—I'm as baffled as you, but I know for certain we perished before. It wasn't a dream."

"Then why ignore me when I summoned you?"

"Because of that bitch! We must proceed with caution, Sophia."

Before I could sort my racing thoughts, Marcus proactively nudged Lila toward me this time.

"Sophia, meet Lila. I hate to say it, but I must admit... I've discovered my real mate."

I observed Lila intently as she lifted the wine glass from the table and approached me gracefully, maintaining a deferential posture.

"My Luna, have mercy and permit me to reside in your home. Please, accept my gratitude with this red wine."

I examined the glass she presented, taking it gingerly and narrowing my eyes at the contents, but it appeared like regular red wine.

Nothing suggested foul play, and without my prior death from this ploy, I'd never have guessed it held such a deadly toxin.

I shook my head and thrust the glass back at her.

"No. You've tainted this with your filthy touch—I refuse to drink it."

Lila paused as if caught off guard by my rejection, and for a split second, fury flashed across her expression. Instantly, it vanished, swapped for her feigned innocent, woebegone demeanor, eyes brimming with tears.

"You're correct, Luna. My position is beneath yours; I shouldn't have..."

"Stop, Lila. No apologies needed," Marcus soothed before whirling on me with an enraged look, "Mind your tongue, Sophia!"

I couldn't stand this deceptive little tramp! Without knowing her true nature already, I'd have fallen hook, line, and sinker for this sweet, fragile act she was putting on.

I glared at Marcus, ready to fire back with sarcasm, but Lila abruptly brought the glass to her mouth, eyeing me with a faint smirk, and gulped down the red wine she'd just tried to give me.

I stared at her, dumbfounded.

Had she skipped the poison this go-around?

Within moments, Lila collapsed, hacking up blood, and I recoiled in dread as gasps of shock echoed around.

Marcus rushed to her side immediately, his face twisted in panic.

"Lila! What's wrong?!"

As Lila slumped into Marcus's embrace, she fixed me with a flawless mask of suffering, her lower lip quivering as she uttered,

"Luna, I never meant to wreck your union... why would you harm me like this?!"

Marcus's gaze snapped to me,

his eyes locking onto mine with frozen rage. He drew Lila tighter into his protective hold as his glare sharpened dangerously.

"Guards! Seize the Luna and lock her in the dungeon!"

"Marcus?!"