CHAPTER 3

AUTUMN POV

Air rushed into my lungs as my eyes flew open, my body jerking upright. My heart thundered, and for a brief, agonizing second, I expected to feel the wind tearing at my skin, the ground rushing up to shatter my bones—

But instead... Soft blankets. Warm air. The scent of old wood and lavender. My room.

I blinked rapidly, my breath coming in ragged gasps. No. No, this isn't possible. I scrambled up, fingers trembling as I touched my arms, my ribs—smooth, unbroken. No bruises. No blood. No deep, agonizing wounds from my fall. My hands shot to my face. No cuts. No dried tears. My hair was thick, silky, not matted with dirt and blood.

I was... whole.

Shaking, I whipped around, eyes scanning the familiar walls. The small desk by the window. The shelf stacked with old books I had once treasured. The tiny crescent moon charm hanging above my bed—the same one Knox had given me years ago, before he...

Before he turned his back on me.

My breath hitched. I bolted to the mirror, my reflection staring back at me in stark disbelief. My skin was smooth, untouched by pain. My eyes—young, wide, untainted by betrayal. I looked eighteen. I was eighteen.

How is this possible? The last thing I remembered was Agatha's cruel smile as she pushed me from the cliff edge, her words echoing in my ears: "No one will ever believe you." I remembered the sickening feeling of freefall, the rocks below rushing up to meet me, the knowledge that this was the end—

Yet here I stood, in the body I'd inhabited before everything went wrong.

My hands flew to my mouth as a strangled sob burst from my lips. "I'm back." I wasn't dead. The Moon Goddess had heard my final prayer.

Tears streamed down my face as I collapsed to my knees. "Thank you," I whispered, hands pressed together. "Thank you, thank you, thank you."

A second chance. I swore on everything—this time, I wouldn't waste it. This time, I would live for myself.

Part of me wanted to laugh hysterically. Five years of suffering, of fighting to survive on my own, erased in an instant. But the memories remained—Agatha's betrayal, the pack turning against me, and finally, that fateful day at the cliff when she had ended my life.

A loud shout echoed from outside. I stiffened, recognition washing over me. This moment... I remember this.

I pushed to my feet, legs shaky as I moved toward the door, every muscle in my body humming with awareness. A strange calm settled over me as I walked down the familiar hallway, my fingers trailing against the wall as if to confirm it was real.

I stepped into the hall, the voices growing clearer, angrier. Then, as I reached the front entrance, I saw it. The scene that started it all.

Agatha stood at the edge of the small lake behind the Logan estate, her golden curls damp, her dress clinging to her frame like she had just been pulled from the water. Tears—fake, practiced, perfect—streamed down her face.

And standing around her? Them.

Adonis, arms crossed, his golden-brown eyes sharp with irritation. Knox, watching with his usual calculating gaze, as if dissecting the situation. Dante, brows furrowed, lips twisted in mild amusement, though his eyes held a flicker of concern.

My heart ached at the sight of them, so familiar yet so distant. These men who had once been my world. Who would one day stand by and watch as Agatha led me to my death.

Gods. I had missed them. Even after everything.

But beneath that longing, a steely resolve formed. I wouldn't fall for it this time. Not again. Death itself had taught me strength I never knew I possessed.

Agatha let out a soft, pitiful sob, shaking slightly as she buried her face into Dante's chest. "She—she pushed me!"

And just like that, everything clicked into place. I knew exactly what she was doing. This was the first moment she had turned them against me. The first seed of doubt she had planted in their minds.

Five years ago, I had defended myself. I had screamed, cried, begged them to believe me. And they hadn't. They had started to look at me differently.

I felt the ghost of that old panic rising in my chest, but I pushed it down. I wasn't that naive girl anymore. I had died with their betrayal fresh in my mind, yet the Moon Goddess had given me another chance.

Not this time.

This time, I would rewrite my story.

This was it.

The moment that had ruined everything in my past life.

The moment where they—my mates, my supposed family—had first looked at me with doubt.

Back then, I had denied it. Begged. Cried. And it had only made them believe Agatha more.

Not this time.

"I pushed her."

The words left my mouth smoothly, without hesitation. I crossed my arms, tilting my chin up, a strange confidence flowing through me. Inside, my heart hammered against my ribs, but I kept my expression neutral. This would be the moment they turned on me—just like before—and I could escape this cursed pack for good.

Silence clung to the air like a thick fog.

For a second, a flicker of shock crossed Agatha's face before she quickly smothered it with another sniffle. I savored that brief moment of surprise—the first genuine reaction I'd seen from her perfect mask.

"She—she did it on purpose!" she whimpered, clutching onto Dante's arm. "She's always bullying me!"

I stood my ground, waiting for the rage, for the disgust, for the inevitable punishment. My muscles tensed, preparing for the verbal assault that would follow. Banish me. That's what I wanted. Throw me out so I can leave this cursed place forever.

But instead—

Adonis sighed.

Then… he shrugged.

"It's okay."

I blinked, confusion washing over me in waves.

What?

"What?" The word escaped before I could stop it, disbelief coloring my voice.

Knox exhaled as if this were just another day and not the moment I had been waiting for. "Accidents happen," he said smoothly, voice calm, almost… amused?

Dante let out a low chuckle, tilting his head at me. "You're in a feisty mood today, Barbie."

His teasing tone made my stomach tighten. Something was very, very wrong. The script had changed completely, and I was the only one who didn't know the lines.

No. No, this isn't right.

I needed them to hate me. To push me away. To give me a reason to leave before history repeated itself.

I turned sharply and shoved Agatha again—this time, harder. The action felt wrong under my hands, despite everything she would do to me in that other lifetime.

She let out a startled yelp, landing in the water with a splash.

Surely—surely this would set them off. Surely, they would rage, punish me, do anything other than what they did next.

Adonis sighed and rubbed his temples, looking more exasperated than angry. "Autumn, don't be stubborn."

Knox ruffled my hair, RUFFLED MY HAIR, like I was some kid throwing a tantrum. "Little Moon, you sound feisty today. Cute too."

CUTE?! My mind reeled, memories clashing violently with this new reality.

Dante was the worst. He actually had the audacity to grin, before pulling me right into his chest, one arm slung lazily over my shoulder. The warmth of his body against mine sent electric shocks through my system—both welcome and terrifying.

"Barbie's all worked up today," he mused, tapping a finger against his chin. "Maybe she's on her period? We should be understanding."

I choked, heat rushing to my face. "EXCUSE ME?!"

He laughed, but I was frozen, my mind spinning like a broken compass. This wasn't right. This wasn't how it happened last time. Where was the anger? The accusations? The disgust?

Instead, they were comforting me? Teasing me with affection?

Agatha, standing at the edge of the lake, was as shocked as I was. Her wide, stunned eyes flickered between the three of them, then to me, like she couldn't comprehend what just happened. For once, her perfect mask had slipped completely, revealing raw confusion beneath.

Yeah. Join the club, princess.

I stared at them, completely lost. My carefully constructed plan was crumbling around me, leaving me standing in unfamiliar territory. I pushed her again. I admitted it, twice. And yet—

"Go to your room, Autumn," Adonis ordered, but his voice was gentle, not the sharp command I expected. His eyes held none of the coldness I remembered from my past life.

"I'd rather be banished," I said, completely serious, desperation edging into my voice.

Dante grinned, his eyes dancing with mischief. "And I'd rather kiss you as punishment."

I nearly collapsed, my legs suddenly weak. This wasn't the man who had stood silently while I was cast out. This wasn't the same person at all.

"YOU—" I turned to Knox for support, but the bastard was smirking too, his silver eyes glinting with amusement.

"I second that."

My face burned so hot I thought I might explode. These men—these wolves who had once been my executioners—were looking at me with warmth, with affection. With desire.

Adonis, who was always the serious one, sighed like this was a normal occurrence before stepping forward and—gods help me—hugging me. His scent—pine and ember—wrapped around me, achingly familiar yet now so different.

"You smell nice," he murmured, inhaling deeply before releasing me.

I stood there, completely frozen, my mind short-circuiting. The memory of his rejection in my past life collided violently with this tender gesture.

I had spent years suffering in this pack. Years of being hated, being blamed, being punished. But now? They were calm. Patient. Teasing me.

My heart pounded, my thoughts spiraling in circles. What the hell is going on? Was this some cruel joke? A test? Had the Moon Goddess not just given me a second chance but sent me to a completely different reality?

I scowled, trying one last thing, forcing harshness into my voice. "You're all idiots." I snapped, crossing my arms.

Dante grinned, completely unfazed. "And you're adorable when you're mad."

I GIVE UP.

Agatha's face was priceless. Pure. Stunned. Shock. I had seen her smirk so many times before, but never had I seen her this lost for words. It was almost worth my own confusion. Almost.

Knox smirked, running a hand through his silver-blue hair. "Go to your room, Little Moon, before we decide your punishment is something you won't recover from." His voice dropped lower on the last words, sending an involuntary shiver down my spine.

Agatha finally found her voice, her face twisted with frustration.

"You’re seriously not going to punish her?! She pushed me! TWICE!"

Knox sighed dramatically, as if she were being annoying. "You’re wet, Agatha. Not dead. Go inside and change."

Agatha’s jaw dropped. "Are you kidding me?! If it were me, you’d have—"

"Go. Change." Adonis cut her off with a bored expression.

I turned and ran before they could say another word, conflicting emotions churning inside me—fear, confusion, and something else I refused to name.

I slammed the door shut behind me, heart pounding, my hands shaking. I backed against the wood, breathing hard.

What. The hell. Was that?

This was not how it was supposed to go. I had always been punished. Thrown out. Made to kneel. Blamed. But now? Now they were acting like I was precious. Like they still wanted me.

The realization crashed over me like a wave: the Moon Goddess hadn't just sent me back in time. She'd sent me somewhere else entirely. A place where everything I thought I knew was different.

Where they loved me.