1

“Help… please…” I whisper to the wind, knowing no one is around to help me. I tried to escape when Kaiden fainted but all I could do was push the balcony door open after crawling in a pool of my own blood. I don’t know how long I’ve been laying on the floor. I thought it was morning already when I saw the golden light shining through the sheer curtains of the living room but now that I lay outside, I realize that it is only the moon.

A Golden Moon.

The first in a thousand years.

Why would the Moon goddess give me a mate that would end my life?

Kaiden was sweet. He loved me even more than I loved him. Or so I thought. However, somewhere down the line of our seven years of marriage, he turned into something else. Drinking, using drugs, partying…

I should have left the first time he laid his hands on me. I shouldn’t have gone to Mother. I shouldn’t have let her convince me to put up with him because the heavens designed our partnership. I shouldn’t have let the jealous eyes root me in place. I should have let them take him away. If they love him so much, they should have married him. Why did I fight so hard to keep him?

All I ever wanted was to bake… I wanted to paint…

A cough escapes, racking my already weak frame.

Moon goddess, this moon is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. Gold… what a lovely color. My eye sight starts to go as my hand falls limp.

In my next life, let me be free… as free as a bird soaring high in the heavens.

Death, welcome. What new adventure do you hold?

-

BZZZZT BZZZZT BZZZZT

I slap away the phone ringing by my head. Everything falls silent around me but there is a pounding head ache threatening to rip my head apart. I wobble around the blurry room, trying to escape the pain.

“Ugh… I haven’t had a headache this bad since the night of my engagement par…ty!” I stop in front of a mirror and the sight before me baffles me.

It’s me… in my engagement party suite. Same green eyes, same curly caramel and blonde streaked hair… I’m in the short pink dress I burned after I wore it once. I have the same mascara lines streaming down my face. The room is still a mess with streamers and deflated balloons and worst of all… the big diamond rock on my hand is glaring at me, glistening with each move of my hand.

“What the hell? Is this real?” I move my limbs slowly, watching my reflection do the same then I run to the windows and pull the curtains open. “It’s the same view… Orchid Pack City. Am I dreaming?”

KNOCK KNOCK

“Miss Llothair, your mother is here to see you.” The voice of an attendant calls.

“You may leave. Carrie Llothair! Open this door immediately!” My mother’s commanding voice bellows. I find myself moving to the door before I can stop myself. As the door opens, I’m greeted by her usual cold stare and a familiar look of disappointment. She takes in my state then shakes her head before pushing her way in.

Mrs Acacia Llothair, my birth mother.

“Carrie, I get that you are happy about your engagement but what is the meaning of this?” Her icy pink eyes take in the mess of my room. Empty champagne bottles, empty snack wrappers and feathers from a torn pillow.

“I was… celebrating…” I found my voice.

“Certainly. Let this be the last of it!” She commands. “You are a Llothair so act like it. The Fiancée of the first son of the Jacksons shouldn’t forget her place.” She goes on but I tune it out, watching her. Those high shoulders that never come down for anyone but my older brother and those sharp eyes that never seem to soften for anyone but my sister. Even now, when I’ve granted her the opportunity to be aligned to Alpha Jackson through my engagement to his son, she doesn’t come down from her high tower to congratulate me.

Funny… is this who I died to please?

“Carrie, answer me!”

“Sorry, what did you say?”

She points a stare at me and rolls her eyes while muttering under her breath. “Clean up, take your things, let’s go home!”

In the past, when this first happened… Did I pack my things and follow her? Oh, I remember. I did. On the drive home she didn’t stop talking about my weight and children and service in my married life.

Like hell I’m gonna go through that again. This is probably my life flashing before my eyes, regression doesn’t exist and even if it does, I do not want to live like a cow being led to the slaughterhouse.

“No…” I whisper with my head down.

“What was that?”

Werewolves have excellent hearing so I’m sure she heard me. My heart is pounding in my chest, as I balk my clammy fists and steady my resolve. I won’t let fear lead me anymore. “No, I’m not going with you.”

“What?” The pressure from her stare overwhelms me, instantly shattering my fragile courage. I look away.

“I’m too hungover for a road trip. I’ll come by later, plus I feel bad so I’ll tidy up a bit too.”

“Hmm” Mother looks around the room then she nods. “Yes, do that! It should teach you some manners.” She begins to walk to the door. “And don’t be too late, I won’t tolerate any misbehavior just because you are engaged.”

“Yes, Mother.” As soon as the door clicks shut, my knees give out. “This…” I say breathlessly, cold from the marble floor stings my exposed skin. “This is real.” I lay down slowly, careful not to trigger the headache again. “I’ve gone back in time.”

Whoa… how did this happen?

Forget that, even if I’ve somehow escaped death. How can I escape Mother?

Can I really live a different life this time around?