Two

~Adinah~

I opened my eyes to find myself in a strange room as the world spun around me wildly. As I tried to make sense of the odd conflict between my memories and the reality I was seeing, panic tightened its grip around my chest. The room, the smell, and the whole thing were different, so this couldn't be true. Nevertheless, the clear pictures of Jeremy's betrayal continued to haunt me.

Two years prior, my world had crumbled at his deceit, and the pain was etched into my very soul. But here I was, standing in a room that didn't belong to me, surrounded by the subtle fragrance of a pack that was not my own.

Confusion and disbelief clouded my senses as I walked around the room, desperately trying to reconcile my vivid memories with this alternate reality.

In my disoriented state, I stumbled upon the guards outside my door. "What day is it?" I asked, my voice betraying the turmoil within.

Their puzzled looks only deepened my confusion. "Are you alright, Luna?" one of them questioned cautiously.

"I need to know the date. The time," I insisted, my desperation growing.

The guards exchanged uncertain glances before one cautiously replied, "It's the 10th of May, Luna, and it's midday."

May 10th. That day, which will always be remembered as the day Jeremy destroyed my world, However, how could that have happened? Even though I could feel the weight of my past and the hurt of betrayal, my memories and the reality around me didn't match.

Summoned by an unexplainable force, I found myself standing before my father's office. The door creaked open, revealing a room that held both comfort and fear. My father, Alpha Eldrick, sat behind his desk, engrossed in his work. I took a deep breath and entered.

"Dad!" I exclaimed, unable to contain the overwhelming rush of emotions. In an instant, I closed the distance between us, wrapping my arms around him in a tight embrace.

He tensed for a moment, clearly caught off guard, before gently pulling me away. "Adinah, what's gotten into you?"

I gazed into his eyes, my heart pounding as I realised that my father, whom I vividly remembered losing, was alive and well before me. "You're alive!" I uttered, the words almost disbelieving.

A furrow formed on his forehead. "Of course I am. What's this about, my princess?"

Unable to understand anything that was happening, I whispered, "I thought... I thought I lost you."

“It must have been a nightmare.”

His concern deepened, and he guided me to a chair. "My darling, you're acting strangely. Did something happen?"

As my father's words sank in, the pieces of the puzzle began to align in my mind. I looked at him, wide-eyed. "Dad, what year am I?"

His confusion mirrored my own, and he replied cautiously, "It's the year 2022. Why?"

If it was really 2022, then it meant I had been granted a second chance. A chance to rewrite my destiny and rectify the mistakes that led me down a path of despair.

"I'm sorry, Dad; my nightmare felt so real.”

He smiled, nodding in understanding. “It’s fine, and nothing is ever going to happen to any of us, okay?”

“Yes, Alpha.”

It was the moon goddess’s doing, and if I was correct, this was the point at which he would institute an arranged marriage.

“The Lycan King will be here any moment from now, and you’ll have to meet him.”

“Be on your best behavior." He added a warning.

“Sure,” I agreed, turning to leave, which left him stunned as he called me back.

“You’re not going to object?”

I could remember the last time I blew things out of proportion and chose to elope with that jerk of a mistake, but not today.

“Of course not; I believe my father, the alpha, knows what is best for his beloved daughter.” I answered with a warm smile, which seemed to have impressed him before I left.

The idea of an arranged marriage seemed daunting, but I knew, deep down, that this was my chance to make things right. As I walked through the familiar corridors of the packhouse, trying to make sense of my newfound reality, I bumped into Sienna.

She looked at me with a smirk, a mockery of the friendship we once shared. The rush of anger surged within me, and it took all my strength to restrain myself from hitting her. Instead, I forced a smile, pretending as if the past had no hold over me.

"Dinah," she drawled, "I heard the news. The Lycan King for an arranged marriage? How delightful."

I raised an eyebrow, suppressing the seething rage. "What's delightful about it, Enna?"

She handed me a note with a sly grin. "Nothing, actually, but Jeremy's waiting for you at our usual spot. It seems like he couldn't wait to see you again."

My fists clenched involuntarily at the mention of his name. I could feel the pull of the past, the memories of heartache tugging at me. But I knew better than to succumb to that darkness again.

"Thanks, but I have other matters to attend to," I replied, maintaining the façade of a composed Luna.

“Alright, just meet when you’re less busy."

As she strolled away, her laughter echoed through the corridor, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. However, I couldn't afford to dwell on the past. The guards approached me, their stoic expressions alerting me that something important awaited.

"The Lycan King is waiting, Luna. Your father requests your presence," one of the guards informed me.

With a deep breath, I followed them to the meeting room. The scent of the Lycan King hit me as soon as the door opened. Tall, imposing, and undeniably powerful, he exuded an aura of dominance. His hazel eyes met mine, and for a moment, my wolf stirred within me, sensing something familiar.

What could it be?

"My precious jewel," my father greeted, gesturing for me to join them.

As I approached, the Lycan King studied me with a curious glint in his eyes. "Luna Adinah," he acknowledged, his voice resonating with authority.

"King Killian," I replied respectfully.

I felt the primal instincts within me responding to his presence. My wolf, who is usually wary of strangers, seemed strangely drawn to him.

“Mate.”

Our eyes locked again, and a gasp escaped my lips. The scent of his kind lingered in the air, and an inexplicable pull seemed to connect us. But as I looked into his eyes, the truth hit me like a bolt of lightning.

My wolf was right.

“What? He’s my second chance, mate? How come I never saw that coming?”

“Because you didn’t give him a chance, he would have been part of our brighter future.” Dera responded.

“He’s going to be now.” I assured her.

The meeting unfolded with discussions about alliances, packs, and the prospect of unity between our two powerful packs. Despite my initial reservations, I found myself captivated by his words.

“Your daughter will make a beautiful bride, Your Majesty, and a strong Luna Queen for the kingdom, alongside heirs that would perform better than their father.” Killain declared.

He spoke with conviction, outlining a future where our packs could stand united against common threats.

“I trust that she will be in good hands.”

“Most definitely, you’ve nothing to worry about.” He glanced at me, his eyes holding me at the spot, and my breath hitched.

As the meeting concluded, the decision loomed before me. Stay true to my father's wishes and forge an alliance with the Lycan King, or entertain the dark pull of the past and meet Jeremy again to die.