Iris's POV

My eyelids felt impossibly heavy. I slowly opened them, blinking against the bright sunlight streaming through the window.

I sat up, my heart pounding in my chest as I looked around the room. I was expecting to see the cold ground of the Lycan border or the dark walls of Kael’s pack house. But my jaw dropped. White silk curtains covered my windows, a crystal chandelier sparkled above me and the polished wooden furniture matched everything I remembered from my youth.

I looked at the fireplace and saw a huge portrait of myself and realization hit me. I was in my room... in my parents' estate, the Moonstone Pack.

"What is going on?" I thought, my mind spinning. "Why am I here?"

"Iris?"a familiar voice called inside my head.

"Anya?" I gasped out loud. "Anya, you are back!"

"I am here, Iris!"Anya spoke, her voice clear and strong in my mind. "What happened? After we got hit by that dart, everything went black. I was knocked out by the poison....I tried to reach you, but I disappeared into the dark. I could not feel you for so long. Where are we?"

"We are in my old room," I whispered, holding my head. "At the Moonstone Pack. Is this a dream, Anya are we dead or maybe someone picked us up and brought us here."

"No, it is not a dream,"Anya answered, examining our surroundings through our eyes. " I can feel the blood pumping in our veins."

Aside from that pain from the silver and the broken bones is gone. Our body is completely healed. Before I could answer her, a soft knock came at the door.

"Come in," I called out.

The door pushed open, and my best friend Maya walked in alongside my cousin Nina. They both wore bright, excited smiles.

"Sleeping beauty is finally awake....I can't believe it's finally happening...we are so happy for you, Iris." Maya cheered, stepping into the room. "Everything is set."

I froze, staring straight at Nina as all the horrible memories flashed back...the moaning on the phone while Avery died, the brutal beatings in the forest, her cruel laughter as she left me to die. My fists clenched until my nails bit into my palms.

"What do you mean?" I stammered, trying to control the hatred in my voice. "What are you talking about?"

Nina walked over with a sweet smile and sat down on the bed right next to me. "Are you still sleepy.... The wedding is about to start soon!"

"Wedding?" I blinked, totally confused. "What wedding?"

Nina laughed softly, shaking her head. "Did your sleep really make you forget that today is your wedding day?"

"My wedding day?" I gasped, getting off the bed. I rushed over to the full-length golden mirror in the corner of the room.

My jaw almost dropped looking at my own reflection. My face was unbruised, my skin smooth, and I was already wearing an elegant white wedding gown.

"Anya, did the Moon Goddess play a trick on us?” I asked her. “ Did we really come back in time to our wedding day or was it all just a dream?”

“ It seems like it,” Anya snarled, her eyes flashing in my mind as she stared at Nina through the glass. “We have been brought back to the past.” That meant o was going to marry Kael all over again.

Nina stepped up behind me in the mirror, putting her fake, sweet hands on my shoulders. "You do not have to be shy, Iris. You are brave. Today is a great day."

I stared at her face, a dark thought forming in my head. “ I could reject Kael on the altar and walk away living my life in peace. Or I could go through with it and destroy everyone who ruined me.”

“We take our revenge,” Anya urged, “We make them pay.”

I took a deep breath. "I know what I am going to do."

"Wait," I turned to Nina, my mind suddenly racing. "If today is my wedding... I am getting married to Kael, right?"

Nina’s sweet smile dropped and her brows pulled together in deep confusion. "Kael? Have you really lost your mind from that nap? Why would you marry Kael?"

"What?" My heart skipped a beat.

"You told us you did not want Kael," Nina said, looking at me like I had grown two heads. "You gave Kael to me…You said I could marry Kael and you would go ahead with the alliance and marry Cassian Blackwood, the Lycan King!"

My breath caught in my throat. "Cassian... Blackwood?"

"Yes!" Maya added with a chuckle. "The Lycan King himself…you agreed to marry him for the pack.”

I stood there in pure shock. “ Anya, what is going on? In our past life, I married Kael and Cassian was just the scary Lycan King across the border. Why am I marrying Cassian now?”

“ I do not know,”Anya replied, just as shocked as I was. “ I guess the timeline has changed.”

Before I could process anything else, the bedroom door opened again. My parents walked into the room, dressed in noble royal attire. I felt like running to them and break down in tears, telling them everything that happened when I was married to Kael, but it wouldn't make sense at all.

"Iris, my beautiful daughter you look amazing, “ my father said, his voice filled with pride as he wiped a tear from his eye. "It is time."

My mother walked over, placing a gentle hand on my cheek. "We are so proud of you my sweet Iris. We understand that you are doing this for the pack's well-being. You have always wanted the Lycans and our pack to merge into peace. Our pack will forever hold you grateful because of the power and protection this union brings."

"Thank you, Mother, Father," I said softly, my mind still spinning. They stepped forward and wrapped their arms around me, they had no idea how much I needed their embrace.

“ Finish getting ready my dear child.” My mother said , also wiping tears from her eyes.

Maya and Nina stepped forward and helped lower the long, white lace veil over my head and it fully covered my face. My parents guided me out of the room, down the long hallways of the estate and toward the grand wedding hall.

The heavy double doors opened and grand music echoed through the air. Hundreds of guests filled the rows, watching as I walked down the aisle. I kept my head down, staring at the white carpet beneath my shoes, trying to calm my beating heart.

“ I really hope he isn't like that monster… whatever happens we stay strong,” Anya reminded me.

We could have walked away or run away.

But running wasn't an option, and one way to seek revenge on Kael was to merge with someone ten times more powerful than both of us.

I reached the altar and stepped onto the raised platform. I slowly lifted my head and looked straight at the groom standing before me. My breath hitched,he was stunning.

Cassian Blackwood was ridiculously hot. He was toweringly tall, broad-shouldered, and built like a warrior god. His crisp black suit hugged a muscular frame that practically radiated raw power and authority. Dark, jet-black hair fell slightly over his forehead, framing a sharp chiseled jawline. His striking blue eyes locked onto mine through my veil and a display of dark tribal tattoos curled up his neck, disappearing under his collar, adding a wild and dangerous edge to his breath-taking looks. And his scent…it was so hypnotic and familiar but I couldn't pinpoint where I smelt it before.

I stood paralyzed, staring at him. He looked younger than I had imagined, I had never really seen or met him before. But his aura was heavy and suffocating in the most thrilling way.

“Goddess above,”nya whimpered , her tail wagging rapidly “ He is so handsome.”

Cassian offered a faint, handsome smirk as I stood before him, his blue eyes never leaving mine.

The old priest stepped forward, clearing his throat to begin the ceremony.

"We are gathered here today to join this woman and this man in holy matrimony," the priest announced, his voice echoing through the quiet hall.

Cassian reached out, taking my small hand in his large, warm palm. A spark of electricity shot up my arm at his touch, making my heart race even faster.

The priest continued, holding up the golden rings. "If there is anyone present who knows any reason why these two should not be joined together, let them speak now or forever hold their peace."

Silence settled over the room for one brief second.

"I object!" a loud, voice rang out from the back of the hall and the entire crowd gasped, turning around in shock. I whipped my head back, looking past the guests straight toward the entrance of the venue.

Standing at the back of the hall, looking furious, was none other than Kael Throneheart.