Chapter 4

HANNAH

I could see everything. My mate's guilt and agony. And I was crying beside him all the time, hugging him from time to time, and comforting him that everything would be alright.

But everyone knew it was a lie because I was already dead. Or maybe it was the truth because no one wanted me to live anymore. At least, for my best friend, someone I thought would always be on my back, had betrayed me. How could she do this to me?

I saw them coming out together to face the guests for the New Luna Announcement. She couldn't hide her happiness anymore that she finally became the Luna of this pack.

On another side, I found a contrast on my mate's face. He looked miserable, with a short beard visible. He even didn't bother to shave.

I tried to touch his face, only to catch nothing. I made a second attempt, but the result was the same. My body was not in this world anymore. Only my soul.

Oh, Goddess. Why were you so mean to us? I was such a good girl all my life. I just wanted to have a happy and peaceful life with Eliot. But why didn't they let us alone? Why did they mix up with the family I was about to build?

Tell me, Goddess. Why?

I closed my eyes as tears ran down my cheeks. I wanted my life back. I wanted my Eliot back. I wanted my baby back.

Please, give me a second chance.

--

My eyes fluttered open as my consciousness was back. I found it bright, which made them back close. But I tried again as I felt warmth over my body. Was this heaven?

'Wake up, silly girl.'

I frowned at the strange voice in my head. Whose voice was that? I had never heard of it before.

'I'm Fiona, your wolf. I'm awakened as you were to be reborn.'

Me? Reborn? What did that mean?

'We're literally reborn, Hannah. Goddess gave us a second chance.'

And it caused my eyes to open in an instant. I got up and felt slight pain from sleeping too long in the same position.

Wait. Pain?

Pain?

Pain!

I could feel pain. But how?

'Don't you hear me? Goddess gave us a second chance so I could be awakened, and you have your life back.'

Was that true?

I didn't hear her further explanation as I stood up and swung my body to all sides, expressing my overjoyed feeling. I couldn't be happy more than this. I was alive!

"Are you so happy that Alpha Eliot is coming here for your birthday?"

Fiona growled inside my head even before I realized whose voice it was. It was just Casey, my best friend. But why was she acting like Casey was a threat? Casey was only doing her job as omega to wake me up before we cleaned up my room together. There was nothing wrong with that.

Except that she killed you.

As those words ran through my head, pictures of her talking with the doctor, the Luna Ceremony, her persuading me to abort my baby, and more came to me one by one. I almost fell on my knees, as those all were too overwhelming. I couldn't contain all my feelings at once.

"Hannah, are you okay?" Casey asked worriedly. She intended to come near me, but my hand raised to stop her. "Are you feeling unwell?" She asked again, concern plastered on her face.

I felt like being choked by something unreal. But I knew they all happened. The pain, betrayals, and even happiness. They all happened in my previous life—if this was really my second chance.

"Hannah."

"I'm okay," I said as I stood up to gather my strength. I had to face the cruel reality. "I'm okay, Casey. You can go now." Unlike before, I said it coldly after mustering all the pain she had left. I didn't even bother to look at her.

"Han-"

"I can tidy up by myself." I cut her fast.

She might see the determination in my voice, so she didn't debate me anymore. "Okay. I'll just inform you that Alpha Eliot will arrive soon. He's going to join you at breakfast."

After that, she left me alone in my room. And I was happy she did that because I couldn't hold myself any longer. It felt like I might throw up at her acting skill. She was such an evil.

'We have to protect ourselves.'

I agreed with my wolf. I wouldn't let myself fall into the same pit.

--

I came out of my room when someone knocked on the door and said Alpha Eliot, I meant Eliot, was here. He was my childhood friend and also my mate. I knew that, but maybe he didn't realize it, as I was not eighteen yet.

Yes, I didn't know why, but Goddess brought me back to the day before my birthday. So we hadn't known that we were mated to each other yet. Only me and my wolf knew, but we didn't know what we were supposed to do with that.

"Hi, birthday girl." Eliot greeted me as he walked toward me with open arms.

I only glanced at him with no excitement on my face. Then I walked past him, leaving him hanging, as I didn't welcome his hug. I sat at a very corner of the table. My intention was apparent. I wanted to avoid him.

Eliot turned around and looked disappointed. Moreover, after seeing where I was sitting. I just realized that we almost had each other's side when we were present at the same place. And by me taking a few chairs away from him must be hinting something.

"Are you in period?" He asked. But before I answered, he said again. "No. You finished it last week. So what?" He seemed to mutter those words to himself.

Again, I tried to ignore him. I placed toast and an omelet on my plate and began breakfast silently. There were only two of us, as we were late for breakfast with everyone else.

I didn't know why I should wait for him.

"You don't forget our promise, do you?" He asked after two minutes of silence.

I frowned at his question. What promise?

Then a piece of memory came to my mind. We promised to celebrate my birthday under our favorite tree, as I wanted to be with him when I turned eighteen. I had a reason back then that maybe Eliot was my mate.

"I don't think we need to celebrate my birthday anymore."