#Chapter 2: Second Chances

Ellie's POV

The alarm clock kept ringing, but I couldn't move. I stared at the ceiling of my childhood bedroom, my heart hammering against my ribs.

This was impossible. I had died. I remembered the wolfsbane burning through my veins, remembered Vivian's cruel smile as she wore my crown, remembered the darkness closing in.

But here I was, surrounded by pale yellow walls I'd painted at sixteen. The fairy lights around my window still twinkled softly in the morning sun.

I sat up slowly, hands shaking as I touched my neck. No purple veins. No burning pain. Just smooth, healthy skin.

"Ellie?" a voice whispered in my mind.

My wolf. She was crystal clear, vibrant in a way she hadn't been for years.

"You're here," I gasped silently. "But how?"

"We've been given another chance," she replied. "The Moon Goddess heard our pain."

My hands trembled as reality sank in. "But why?"

"Because our last life was a tragedy," my wolf explained gently. "The Moon Goddess made you and Dominic fated mates, expecting a love story that would strengthen the kingdom. But…..."

The weight of those words hit me. The Moon Goddess herself had seen our tragic end and found it so pitiful that she'd intervened.

"She regrets pairing us?"

"Maybe."

"So the problem was being mated to Dominic," I whispered. "Then this time, I'll change that entirely."

Eighteen, again. I had time. Time to change everything before it all fell apart, and I wouldn't waste this precious second chance.

My mother was alive. She was downstairs, probably making breakfast and humming that old song she used to sing. She didn't know what Dominic would do to her in the future. She was safe.

This time, I would keep her that way.

"Ellie! Breakfast!" Mom's voice drifted up the stairs, and I nearly sobbed at the sound.

I rushed to the mirror. The face looking back was young and unmarked by heartbreak. My skin glowed with health instead of the pallor that had plagued my final days.

But my eyes held knowledge they shouldn't have at eighteen. Having lived through hell, this time would be different.

I dressed quickly and went downstairs. I wouldn't repeat past mistakes: no chasing after Dominic or trusting Vivian's lies.

Most importantly, I wouldn't become his mate; I'd break the bond before it formed. Dominic could have Vivian, the woman he truly loved.

The dining room smelled of pancakes and coffee. Mom stood at the stove with her dark hair in a messy bun, humming while flipping pancakes. She looked alive and healthy.

"Good morning, sweetheart," she said without turning. "You're up early for a Saturday."

Before I could reply, arms wrapped around me. "Good morning, sister!"

Vivian. Her voice was sweet as honey, just like always. In my past life, I thought that sweetness was genuine affection. Now I knew better.

She clung to me like we were the closest sisters in the world. Every instinct screamed at me to get away from her.

This was the woman who had stolen my crown while I lay dying. Who had played that recording of Dominic choosing her.

I shoved her away hard enough that she stumbled backward.

"Ellie!" Mom spun around, her eyes wide with shock. "What's gotten into you?"

Vivian's face crumpled into that practiced look of hurt innocence. "Did I do something wrong? I was just trying to give you a hug."

The same manipulation tactics she'd always used. The same fake tears that had fooled everyone, including me.

Not this time.

I stared at Vivian coldly. "I don't want you touching me."

"Ellie Elizabeth!" Mom set down her spatula and turned to face me fully. "Apologize to your sister right now. I don't know what's wrong with you this morning, but that's no excuse for rudeness."

My sister. Not my stepsister. Mom had always insisted we were real sisters, even though Vivian's father had only married Mom when I was ten.

"She's not my sister," I said quietly.

The words hung in the air like a slap. Mom's face went pale, and Vivian's mouth dropped open in what looked like genuine shock.

But I was done pretending. Done being the good daughter who played along with everyone's lies.

Vivian recovered first, her eyes filling with crocodile tears. "I know I'm not your real sister, but I thought... I thought we were close. Did I upset you somehow? Please tell me what I did wrong."

She was good. I had to give her that. Even knowing what she really was, part of me almost felt guilty for being harsh with her.

Almost.

"Nothing," I said, turning away from her. "Just stay away from me."

I sat at the breakfast table, ignoring the tension crackling around us. Mom served pancakes with shaking hands, shooting worried glances between Vivian and me.

"Maybe it's about Dominic," Vivian said softly, her voice dripping with false concern. "You seemed really upset after he barely acknowledged you yesterday. You've been quiet since last night."

Just hearing that name sent a shiver down my spine.

My mother immediately softened her expression. My whole family knew I had been obsessed with Dominic, how every glance and smile from him could make my entire day. They had been quite supportive about my feelings, since Dominic was the future Alpha of our pack.

"Even if that's the case, you shouldn't take your anger out on your sister," my mother reminded me gently.

"It's not about him," I answered, looking directly at my mother.

The Moon Goddess had given me another chance because my last life was such a pity. To avoid the same tragic fate this time, the first person I needed to stay far away from was Dominic.

Perhaps it was because my voice sounded even colder and more rigid than before, but the rest of breakfast passed in uncomfortable silence. When it was time to leave for school, Vivian tried to link her arm through mine like she always did. This time, I pulled away immediately.

"I'm walking alone today," I said.

"But we always walk together," she protested. "What if something happens to you?"

What a joke. She was the danger I needed to avoid.

"I'll be fine."

The walk to school gave me time to think. My memories of this time period were fuzzy—ten years and a traumatic death had blurred the details.

That is when I spotted Dominic near the entrance, surrounded by his followers. At eighteen, he commanded attention with his dark hair and blue eyes. He stood confidently, as if he owned the world, as the future Alpha King.

In my past life, the sight of him had made my heart race with love and longing. Now, all I felt was cold anger.

Vivian appeared beside me, slightly out of breath from hurrying to catch up. "There's Dominic," she said, nudging me. "Aren't you going to go say hello?"

Such a good actress. Like she didn't know exactly how I had spent years making a fool of myself over him.

"No," I said simply.

I watched as Dominic's gaze swept the courtyard and landed on me. His expression shifted to one of expectation, like he was waiting for me to come running over like a faithful dog.

One of his friends - Marcus, his Beta - caught sight of me too. "Your little shadow's here again," he called out with a laugh.

His little shadow. That's what they'd called me. Like I was nothing more than an annoying appendage following Dominic around.

The group erupted in chuckles as Marcus pulled out his credit card and tossed it in my direction. It landed at my feet with a small plastic clatter.

"Coffee run, Ellie!" he called. "The usual for everyone."

I stared at the card, memories flooding back. For two years, I bought coffee for Dominic's crew, thinking it made me part of their group and showed my care for Dominic.

But I'd never been part of their group. I'd been their servant.

The courtyard had gone quiet, everyone waiting to see what I'd do. In the past, I would have smiled and rushed to fulfill their request, grateful for any acknowledgment from Dominic's friends.

I looked up at Marcus, then at Dominic, then at all the faces watching me with varying degrees of amusement and expectation.

"What's this supposed to mean?" I asked coldly. "I don't get it."

Marcus blinked in surprise. "Coffee. You buy it every day."

"Do I?" I picked up his credit card and walked over to him. The crowd parted to let me through, whispers following in my wake.

When I reached Marcus, I held out the card and shoved it back into his hand.

"Not today.”