Chapter 2

VIOLET'S POV

As I get ready for the coronation, I keep staring at myself in the mirror because one thing is very clear. The moon goddess heard me and I have been reborn. My face looks exactly like it was four years ago, my wolf sounds just the same, the rooms are decorated like in the past and everything is just like I'm seeing my old memories.

My heart aches, not just from hurt but anger.

Adrian killed me in my past life. He lied, manipulated me and took my heart for his true mate. Everything he said to me in that operating room keeps looping in my head over and over as I tighten my grip around my dress.

I've been given another chance to change my fate and I won't make the same mistakes again. Today, instead of Adrian, I must choose his half-brother, Lucius. In my past life, Lucius was kinder to me and I always felt like he liked me. As teenagers, he would follow me around every chance he got and even bought me gifts. I never valued them because I had my eyes on Adrian and eventually, we drifted apart when I choose his brother.

Today, I can change that fate by picking him as Alpha.

Macy, my cousin enters the room just as my makeup is done and her face lights up. "You look so beautiful, couz. Can't believe you're Luna now."

I stare at my reflection, forcing a smile. "I can't believe it too."

Being reborn means reliving things I wish I could forget: losing my father again. The only parent I had after my mother died in childbirth. He was all I had for years and after he died, everything went quiet. Life became small and lonely.

“I’m sure you’re excited to pick Adrian,” Macy says with a giggle, stepping behind me. “I saw him arrive and he looked hot. You’re finally getting what you want.”

Everyone knows I liked Adrian, especially her and they will all be expecting me to say his name when I stand on that stage.

I keep my eyes on my reflection.

“What about Lucius?” I ask. “He’s here too, right?”

I see the confusion cross her face in the mirror. “What about him?”

I bite my lip because what I’m about to say will shock her. “He’s the one I want.”

She gasps, eyes widening as she claps a hand over her mouth. Then she steps in front of me. “I know you’re Luna now, but have you lost your mind?”

Wanting Lucius isn’t the end of the world, but she’s reacting like it is.

“He’s better than Adrian,” I say instead. There’s no point telling her I’ve already lived this once because she won’t believe me. “And he’s hot too. Maybe even hotter, if you actually pay attention.”

“Better than Adrian? Goddess.” She shakes her head. “Fine, how can you even pick someone who already rejected you?”

My eyes widen and my heart stumbles. “What?”

She scoffs. “Are you sure you’re okay? Did you forget everything?”

This has to be a joke.

In my past life, Lucius never confessed to me. We stayed platonic and nothing was ever said. It was just the tension and vibe that made me think he liked me.

Rejected me?

When did that happen?

I grab Macy’s wrist and pull her closer, panic tightening my grip. “Tell me everything.”

She hesitates, then starts talking. She tells me Lucius is my mate and that alone is enough to make the room spin. But that’s not the worst of it: I rejected him. Two years ago.

My stomach drops.

She keeps going. She says his mother tried to kill me and it was covered up at first. Then it came out and she was banished from the pack. Ever since then, Lucius and I have been sworn enemies. I hate him because of his mother and he hates me because he lost the only person he loves.

Macy keeps rambling, but my head is spinning and I can barely keep up.

I close my eyes, hoping that when I open them, I’ll be in my bed and this will all be a dream. A bad one. A very bad one.

I open them.

Macy is still standing in front of me.

I tilt my head, studying her face. “Are you messing with me?”

She stares at me like I’ve sprouted two heads. “Even the maids know you hate him. And let’s be honest… he’s never liked you either.”

My chest tightens.

Is this the Moon Goddess playing a cruel joke on me? Bringing me back just to corner me like this? Or is this not my life at all?

I haven’t lost my mind. I know I haven’t.

I still remember Lucius clearly from my past life—his warm smiles, his voice, and the way his eyes light up when he smiles. None of that feels imagined. So how can this be real?

It’s true, my wolf says in my head, and I flinch. He’s our fated mate.

Oh, Goddess.

What kind of fate is this?

I sink back into my seat, my heart racing. If Macy is telling the truth, then this choice isn’t simple anymore.

Things have changed. This life is not lining up with the one I remember. In this version, I’m supposed to hate Lucius and from everything I’m hearing, he hates me too. His mother tried to kill me and there’s bad blood between us, deep and unresolved.

How am I supposed to make him Alpha of this pack when the obvious choice by tradition, by logic, by design is Adrian?

************

I step onto the decorated stage, my eyes sweeping across the hall. It’s packed with elders and council members up front, then the wealthy pack members who earned invitations.

At the very front of the crowd sits Adrian. Same black suit, same bored expression he had four years ago, acting like none of this matters. He hasn’t looked at me once, not that I want him to.

I can’t help wondering as I sit down: has he already found his mate? Is he already sitting there, scheming what to do with my blood?

I drag my gaze to the empty seat beside him. It has to be for Lucius, even though he’s not here.

Will he skip the ceremony? He’s expected to come and I need him to be here because no matter what, I have to pick him today, not Adrian. I have to change my fate.

After the coronation, we can figure out the rest and try to work past the hate. After all… we’ll be under the same roof and he doesn’t really have a choice.

Just then, the main door swings open, and all eyes turn as Lucius steps in. My heart jumps, my lips parting even though I’ve seen that face a hundred times.

But this Lucius… he’s not the same man I knew. Same chiseled face, same green eyes but the warmth is gone. His gaze is cold, and the aura around him is different, and almost… scary.

He walks toward his seat, and I can feel the distance between who he was and who he is now by just looking at him.

My wolf flutters excitedly in my chest, betraying the worry coursing through me. There's nothing I know about the man that's supposed to be my mate except that he doesn't like me.

As he settles into his chair, his gaze lifts. Our eyes meet for a brief moment before he snaps them away, his jaw ticking.

I force myself to look away, suddenly feeling suffocated by everything.

The ceremony begins.

The chief elder, Mathias, steps forward, clearing his throat and surveying the room before bowing slightly in my direction like he did in the past.

“As the law of the Greymoon Pack demands, a woman cannot lead the pack,” he announces, and heads nod in agreement. “As the only child of the late Alpha Richmond, today we continue our tradition by choosing an Alpha.”

I grit my teeth, resisting the urge to roll my eyes. Why can’t I be Alpha? Why must I hand that power over to someone else?

If only they had let me find my mate in my past life… I wouldn’t have married Adrian out of foolishness. I wouldn’t have ended up dead.

“Luna Violet will choose her Alpha from Beta Crowe’s family,” Mathias announces. “After her choice is made, the coronation will begin.”

All eyes snap to me, and suddenly the hall feels impossibly huge and I feel very small as every gaze is waiting for my decision.

But it’s not just a choice between names. This is me trying to save my life and rewrite my tragic fate. It’s a choice between the man who ended my life and his brother, who might hate me just as much.

I take a deep breath and start walking toward them, my heart hammering in my ears. Every step draws whispers from the crowd, faces turned toward me as they wait.

When I reach Lucius, I stop. My throat feels tight and I swallow.

“Lucius Crowe,” I say, lifting my hand toward him. “He’s my choice for Alpha.”

Instantly, murmurs explode through the hall, and I catch the disappointed looks on so many faces.

Veins line Adrian’s neck as he sits silently, anger rolling off him in waves.

Lucius, meanwhile, is staring at me, shock and fury flickering in his green eyes. He didn’t expect me to pick him but isn’t it an honor to be Alpha? His jaw tightens, the only clue that he either doesn’t like my choice… or doesn’t like me. Or maybe both.

“Luna, are you sure about your choice?” Mathias leans close to ask. “Perhaps you should choose the eldest son. It would make the pack happy.”

I lift my chin, meeting the eyes in the room. I don’t care what they think. I’ve made my choice. “I stand by my decision.”