Chapter 2

Nyra’s POV

Pain.

That was the first thing I felt, not the tearing agony from before… but a sharp, lingering heat in my chest, like something had burned its way into me and refused to fade.

My body jerked violently as I sucked in a breath.

“Nyra… are you ready?” I heard my sister's familiar voice say in a singsong tone and my eyes snapped open.

I could feel the rage I had when the lights went off, immediately filling my senses upon hearing her voice.

I had died though so what was this?

This wasn’t the healer's wing either.

My eyes trailed around the room… the familiar chandelier glittered above me and these silk curtains… the soft color of the room?

This was my room before I got married but what was I doing here?

What was going on?

“Are you okay?” I heard her squeaky voice again from behind the door, causing a rush of migraine to my head.

Slowly I sat up.

What was being celebrated? There were rose petals scattered across the floors and I could hear music playing in the room beside this.

My pulse thudded painfully in my ears as I found it hard to understand what was going on here.

“Lady Nyra!” I winced as the maids rushed into the room and towards me all at once.

For a second I just stared at them… most of them, I had known since I had lost mom, but after dad died they had either been dismissed or been let go.

But here they were…

One of them shoved a glass of water toward me while another reached for my shoulders.

“Are you okay? We just left you for a second as per your command but it’s obvious we made a mistake.”

“You still need to make a decision on the dress.” I heard another say.

What dress?

“I know the nerves are all over the place but your presence has been requested… are we going with your choice or Ms. Vanessa.”

I was helped to a seat and just as I sat, Vivian, the personal maid, screeched dramatically. “Stop crowding her and be careful with the veil!”

Veil?

I turned so fast my neck hurt.

My reflection stared back at me from the towering vanity mirror.

This was my wedding day?

I had on the gown I wanted, while the one Vanessa had claimed was going to suit me better was on the seat beside me.

BIG LIE!

This piece of shit was big and so ugly… why had I even chosen to wear it in the first place?!

Yeah! Because my sister had helped me understand that I didn’t want to look like a slut by wearing a dress that was fitted on me.

I frowned as I stared at the pearl embroidery down to the diamond tiara and makeup.

I looked so healthy and younger.

My shaking fingers touched my cheeks, my throat, my arms.

I had no bruises or needle marks so that means somehow after that encounter I had one of two things happen… I was still dreaming…

I stumbled off the cushioned stool.

Wait…

This morning was way too familiar to be a dream… I had lived it.

“This… this isn’t…what’s today?” I couldn't keep my emotions away from my voice as the room spun.

A familiar laugh caused me to pause.

Nessa was about walking in and telling me how much of a mess I looked and suggesting we shouldn’t do too much so I wouldn’t be the laughingstock of the party.

“Oh Goddess, Nyra you never cease to amaze me… don’t tell me you’ve started panicking now.”

I froze.

Vanessa stood there in a blush pink gown, holding a jewelry case against her chest.

This was the same gown she had worn on that day.

My stomach twisted so violently I nearly vomited, how could I have ever guessed that behind that sweet smile was hatred and plans for my death?

All I could think about her asking her partner in crime, “What if she survives?”

The contrast hit me so hard I staggered backward.

Vanessa frowned, sounding panicked, “Nyra?”

She took one step toward me and subconsciously I took another one back.

Snake.

That was all I could see now.

No longer my loving stepsister and my confidante but a snake wearing the face of Nessa.

My gaze darted around the room.

The flowers…dress… the wedding jewels.

Blood drained from my face as I realized what time it was… minutes after this, I’d walk down the aisle to my death in a few months time.

A strangled noise left me.

No no no.

This was impossible.

I remembered dying.

My knees weakened.

“What day is it?” I rasped.

Vanessa blinked.

“What?”

“I said, what day is it?” I shouted.

The room fell silent.

Vanessa forced a small laugh. “You’re being dramatic. It’s your wedding day, Nyra. We talked about this all night.”

My wedding day? OMG!

My hand flew to my mouth.

I had somehow come back.

I had really come back and she… the woman that had touched me made it possible.

A sharp knock interrupted the flow of time… in my last life, Nessa had walked in and laughed about my nerves before causing me to change my gown choice.

One of the maids bowed as Nessa called her in. “Alpha Thorne wishes to see the bride.”

My entire body went still.

If this was some cruel hallucination…

The door opened and there he was.

I almost burst into tears as his watered eyes met mine.

My dad was alive.

The man Neesa and Silas had killed probably because he was messing up with their manipulation plans…

Perhaps he had found something…

“Nyra?” he asked, instantly frowning at my expression. “Are you okay baby?”

My composure went down in the drain and I ran into his already outstretched arms with enough force to cause him to grunt, “Dad!”

I cared less if this was a dream… it wasn’t so cruel if I got to see my father one last time.

I clung to him like a child and his arms folded around me automatically.

That only made me sob harder.

“Nyra,” he said again, voice lowering into confusion. “What happened? Did something happen?”

I didn’t answer and immediately he ordered everyone out… seeing as he wasn’t calm I shook my head against his chest but I couldn’t explain this.

I couldn’t tell him he had died because I chose the wrong man and somehow I was either in a dream or I had gone back in time.

Vanessa chuckled behind us.

“I think she’s just being overwhelmed probably because of all that heavy make up and dress.”

Of course she couldn’t help it.

I slowly lifted my tear-soaked face and looked at her over Father’s shoulder.

Overwhelmed?

You evil bitch.

For the first time, I wanted to damn it all and kill her.

“Leave us,” I said hoarsely and I saw dad's eyes raise into an arch.

Vanessa hesitated.

“But the ceremony and we still have to change the…”

She was still going on about the damn dress.

“Leave Nessa.”

Something in my tone made even her step back… of course it did, I had never spoken to her like that in my life but it’s all changed.

She was about to have a taste of hell.

She forced a smile. “Fine. Don’t take too long. Your husband is waiting.”

Silas.

My stomach rolled.

The moment the door shut, Father pulled back and cupped my face.

“Talk to me.”

I stared at him.

Was this my second chance to make it all right?

“Nyra… it is not too late to stop this wedding.”

The words hit me like prophecy.

The exact same warning and although the arrangement of the timeline had been shifted because of my slow coming in terms with all of this… it still hasn’t changed.

“I know you think you love Silas,” Father continued carefully, “but that man’s ambition reeks and Vanessa? I know she is my mistake and you love her but she and her mother have never been good people…”

My tears spilled harder because I knew now that he had been right about all of it.

“I won’t waste this chance again.”

He blinked, “What chance?”

I swallowed and walked away from him, to stare at my reflection in the mirror before dabbing my tear streaked face.

I was wearing the dress I had initially wanted… the dress hung tightly around my body accentuating my curves, I looked exactly how I wanted,

If this was a second chance like I thought, I had to use it properly but calling off this wedding was too easy.

I needed Silas humiliated before every Alpha in attendance and to move forward, I needed a force so powerful they wouldn’t be able to come close.

And an excuse.

I had already died once.

What was left to fear?

I lifted my chin.

Even when it felt like I had known them before, and everything felt familiar, I was determined to go slow first.

“Walk me down the aisle, dad… I have this covered.”

He stared at me strangely and before he protested, “I’m not so naive anymore daddy, and I’m about to teach them a lesson.”

Although he still wasn’t sure what I meant, he nodded and gave me a chaste forehead kiss before we locked arms.

Just as we were about to step out, I heard that familiar voice at the back of my mind, “You have me too Nyra.”

I didn’t have to ask who she was because she added, “In our past life we had been subdued all our lives but with the goddess' interference they are about to know why we aren’t a force to be messed with.”

She added, “I’m Serenyx and together we would push them to bow at our feet.”