Chapter 2 ANOTHER CHANCE

STELLA'S POV

I stood in the forest , bathed in pale moonlight. A silvery mist drifted through the trees , cloaking the surroundings in a haunting beauty. In the center of the forest , something called to me. Compelled , I moved forward-only to glance down and see through myself.

Transparent. Hollow. Dead.

Yes , dead. Killed by my own damn stepsister.

Rage surged in my chest like wildfire. My fists clenched as the realization took hold. I didn't want to believe it , but I had to. I was no longer alive. The hatred burning inside me made my whole body tremble. My teeth ground together as I imagined tearing every one of those traitors apart.

I refused to accept that this was how I died.

Fueled by fury and vengeance , I reached the center of the forest-only to find a lake bathed in moonlight. Standing beside it was a woman , luminous and ethereal , her figure glowing beneath the sacred light.

The Moon Goddess.

I whispered her name , stunned. She turned to me with eyes full of gentle sorrow. She felt my pain. My fury.

With a wave of her hand , I felt my spirit drift-weightless , directionless-as my vision blurred and my consciousness spiraled.

When I awoke , I gasped and bolted upright , my heart pounding.

The room around me was familiar. Too familiar.

The hotel suite Tristan and I had shared on the night of our engagement.

I rushed to the mirror. My reflection stared back at me-eighteen again , in the same engagement dress , my face still touched with perfect makeup.

I had been reborn.

The Moon Goddess had granted me a second chance. A chance for vengeance.

This time , Charlotte wouldn't win.

"Stella!"

My wolf's voice broke into my thoughts.

"Stella , are you okay? I can finally reach you!"

"Alice!" I choked , relief flooding me. "I'm okay. It feels so good to hear your voice again."

"I'm sorry , Stella... I couldn't protect you. I should've been there."

"No , Alice. It's not your fault. It was Charlotte's poison-it severed our bond."

I could feel Alice's rage seethe through me.

"That vile bitch. I'll rip her to pieces."

"And I'll help you ," I vowed. "Charlotte , Maddison. Every single one of them will pay."

And they would. This time , I wouldn't be blindsided. I would drive them out of the Pack. I'd take back everything they stole.

But then my heart wavered.

The engagement...

I still loved Tristan. But his lack of trust in me had hurt worse than any betrayal. It shattered me deeper than his indifference ever could.

We were engaged in name only. A loveless contract. A fragile alliance.

He never loved me.

A voice whispered from inside me: Run. Cancel the engagement. Leave Tristan behind. Don't let your broken heart get in the way of your revenge.

Yes.

I would escape.

I had a mission now, and love had no place in it.

I opened the door to leave-but my legs buckled. Heat flooded my body , and my breath caught in my throat.

No. No, no, no.

I had drunk the champagne Charlotte gave me-laced with aphrodisiac. That's how she planned to destroy me last time. That's how Tristan misunderstood everything.

And it was happening again.

Panic surged. The trap was about to spring.

Two strangers would arrive soon to complete Charlotte's plan-frame me , humiliate me , and ruin my engagement.

But not this time.

I wrapped my arms around myself , drawing strength from Alice , and fled through the back door.

There-on the roadside-a car waited. Perfect.

I jumped in , breathing hard. No phone. No wallet. No purse.

I yanked the engagement ring from my finger and threw it at the driver.

"Drive ," I ordered , the heat pulsing through me like a curse.

The driver turned , and I froze.

"Where do you want to go , dear Stella Raymond?"

That voice.

Tristan.

Why him?

Of all the people...

I wanted to yell at him to stop the car. Let me out. But the fire inside me burned hotter with every breath.My skin tingled, my mind clouded, lust overtaking logic.

Damn that woman. Damn her poison.

I needed relief. Desperately.

Then a wicked thought crept in.

Why not Tristan?

If I had to sleep with someone... if Charlotte wanted a scandal...

Let it be him. Let her scream.

I leaned in , brushing my fingers down Tristan's cheek. His breath caught. His eyes widened.

He grabbed my wrist , hesitating. Saying something I couldn't make out through the haze in my head. The aphrodisiac dulled everything except desire.

My body moved on instinct.

I pressed against him. Kissed him. Pulled his hand under my skirt , shuddering at the contrast of his cool skin against my fevered body. My mind blurred with craving , and I trembled as I touched him , desperate to extinguish the flames inside me.

He resisted-at first.

But then he kissed me back. Hard.

His hands explored , pulling down the zipper of my dress , trailing over my skin.

And then-

He was inside me.

Every thrust cooled the fire and lit something deeper in me. A dangerous comfort. A broken kind of wholeness.

I clung to him , rocking with him , moaning into the silence of the night.

And just like that-it was over.

Morning.

Sunlight spilled through the window , harsh and bright.

I groaned , confused , disoriented. My body ached. My memory returned in flashes.

The car. The heat. The sex. Tristan.

I sat up , groaning. Tristan was outside the car now , facing away , talking on his phone.

Perfect.

I wasn't sticking around for whatever awkward mess this was about to become.

Charlotte would be at home waiting for news. And Tristan? He would follow me soon.

I smirked.

Couldn't wait to see the look on her face.

Straightening my dress , I climbed into the driver's seat , shoved the car into gear , and slammed the accelerator.

This time , I would strike first.

And no one-not even Tristan-was going to stop me.