Reborn to Defy Fate

Lyra

Darkness pressed in from all sides. It was suffocating and endless. I blinked hard, once, twice, trying to adjust to the black void that swallowed me whole. Every nerve in my body screamed in pain, a deep ache that radiated from my bones outward. I tried to cry out but no sound came. Not even a whimper.

Then came the memories. They were sharp, unforgiving, and merciless.

Damon.

Selene.

The two people I loved the most. My boyfriend and my best friend.

Their betrayal pierced deeper than the cold steel they drove into my body, deeper than the acid they forced down my throat. I gagged as the phantom pain surged through me again, tears slipping silently down my cheeks. But none of it, none, hurt as much as knowing they were the ones who had done this to me.

And for what? Power.

It all began when I ignored every warning and chose Damon as my mate. Blinded by what I thought was love, I didn't see the ambition lurking behind his smile. He didn't love me. He needed me. My power. My status. My heart was just a stepping stone.

I groaned, the pain dragging me to my side as the memories played again like a cursed lullaby. Darkness tugged at the edges of my consciousness, whispering promises of rest, of oblivion.

Was this death?

Then I heard it.

A voice, gentle, melodic and otherworldly.

"My child."

My breath caught. Mother? No, not her voice. It was too serene, too ancient.

Light exploded in the void, brilliant and soft, illuminating a figure so radiant it stole my breath. She looked like something out of a dream; silver hair cascading like moonlight down her back, eyes the color of the sea, and a white gown that shimmered like the stars.

A fairy?

No... no. I knew who she was.

The Moon Goddess.

The deity of our legends. The mother of all werewolves. The one we were taught to worship from birth. And now, she stood before me, glowing with divine sorrow.

"Am I... dead?" I whispered, my voice barely more than a tremble.

"Yes," she replied, her voice heavy with emotion. "But this is not the end."

I wanted to laugh, but the sound caught in my throat like thorns.

Not the end? How could she say that when I had been gutted by the people I would have died for?

"They took everything from me," I rasped. "My power, my trust, my life. Why? Why did you let them do this to me? Why did you abandon me?"

Even as I asked, I felt the boldness of the words burn my tongue. Questioning the Moon Goddess was unthinkable but the pain demanded answers.

She stepped closer, her light embracing me in a warmth I hadn't felt in ages.

"I never left you, Lyra," she said. "You are my chosen. Your strength is forged in fire. Now, you stand at a crossroad."

I stared, confused.

"What crossroad?"

She gave a small, sad smile. "You can choose to move on, to be reborn without memory, to live a new life free from this pain. Or..."

"Or?"

"Or you can return. But you must defy the fate you once accepted. Walk a path you were too blind to see before."

A second chance. A chance to undo everything. To protect the ones I failed. To avenge what was taken.

"What happens if I don't?" I asked.

"Then your soul will pass into the world of the dead. When rebirth comes, you will begin again, but you will remember nothing of who you were, of who you could become."

I hesitated, heart pounding. Could I really change my destiny? Could I rise from the ashes of betrayal stronger than before?

I thought of my mother. Of the way she died... because of me.

I thought of Damon and Selene, laughing as they confessed their sins just before ending my life.

No. I wouldn't let that be my legacy.

"I accept," I said, voice steel despite the terror I felt.

The Moon Goddess smiled, gentle and proud.

"Remember, Lyra. You were not chosen because you are unbreakable. You were chosen because you rise, even when broken. Trust yourself. Trust the bond that will find you."

"Bond?" I asked, but her form was already dissolving, her voice echoing like wind through trees.

"In time, you will understand. Now, wake up. Reclaim what is yours."

~~~

I gasped. My lungs filled with air like it was the first time I had ever breathed. Eyes wide, I stared at the ceiling. Familiar.

Too familiar.

I bolted upright, the realization crashing over me. I was in my room. At my parents' house.

Disbelief clawed at my chest as I stumbled to the vanity mirror. I stared at the reflection before me, a stranger I once knew.

Silver hair. Sea-blue eyes: My true self.

Tears blurred my vision and I let them fall, uncaring. The dream wasn't a dream. I had been reborn.

A knock at the door made me stiffen.

"Good morning, my Princess," my mother greeted as she stepped inside, her voice laced with warmth.

I choked on a sob and ran into her arms, the weight of my guilt slamming into me like a tidal wave.

She had warned me about them. She knew Damon and Selene weren't to be trusted. I had dismissed her. Moved out to escape her 'nagging.' And in the end, they had silenced her forever, poisoned her, just to keep her out of their way.

And I... I had let them.

But not this time.

This time, I would be her shield, not her shame.

"Did someone hurt you, baby?" She asked, wiping my tears with worried hands. "Tell Mama, and I will make them pay."

I managed a smile and croaked, "I just missed you. That's all."

She pinched my cheeks fondly. "You silly girl. You saw me last night."

Yes. But in another life, I never saw you again.

"Freshen up and come downstairs. Breakfast is ready."

She turned to leave, then paused. "Oh, your friend is here, Selene. She's waiting for you."

Ice flooded my veins. My fists clenched involuntarily.

My mother must have noticed because her face tightened subtly, that look she always wore when Selene came around. A mother's intuition.

"I know, Mama," I said softly. "She's not a true friend. And I'll never forget that again."

Relief flickered in her eyes as she nodded and left.

The moment the door closed behind her, I exhaled slowly, staring at my reflection once more.

"I have two people to protect. And two to destroy," I whispered to myself, my voice a vow.

If my calculations were right, Damon had asked me to be his girlfriend exactly one year from today. That meant I had time. Time to plot, to prepare.

To make them bleed.

I let a slow smile curl my lips as I stepped away from the mirror, already wearing the mask Selene would expect.

Let her think I'm the same foolish girl from before.

Let the game begin.

Lyra

I took my time getting ready that morning. Every movement, every choice was deliberate. Today, I would see him and that's exactly why she was already here.

Selene.

In the past, I had thought her presence comforting, like a sister waiting to help me pick the right outfit or whisper advice about love. But now I knew better. Her charm had always been a weapon. Her loyalty, an illusion. And I... well, I had walked right into the trap they laid for me.

Not this time.

I stepped out of the shower, letting the steam swirl around me like mist on a battlefield. Choosing a pair of high-waisted skinny jeans and a form-fitting tee, I made sure everything I wore said one thing: I'm not your puppet anymore.

At the vanity, I brushed out my silver hair, the color Selene once convinced me to hide. I applied a soft, bold makeup look, letting the glow of my skin and the icy blue of my eyes speak for themselves. My reflection looked like a stranger to the old Lyra. But to me, now, it looked like power.

Satisfied, I made my way downstairs.

Selene was lounging in the living room, thumbs tapping away at her phone. Probably texting Damon, her co-conspirator, her lover, feeding him updates like a loyal little spy.

I scoffed inwardly, the taste of my past stupidity bitter on my tongue. How could I have been so blind? So trusting?

Selene looked up, her gaze instantly narrowing as she took me in.

"Lyra, what the hell are you wearing?" She blurted, frowning as her eyes scanned my outfit like a security check.

I tilted my head and smiled sweetly. "Why? Don't I look good?"

She blinked and tried to hide the envy in her eyes, "of course you do but... you know Damon doesn't like it when you flaunt yourself. He's very protective."

Ah, yes. The old script. I've been there, done that.

Back then, I had believed her. Believed that Damon's "protection" meant love. That modesty meant respect. But now I saw it clearly; Selene had been marking territory. Hiding me. Manipulating me into shrinking so Damon wouldn't forget where his loyalty truly lay: with her.

"Funny," I said, keeping my voice light. "I like how I look. And if Damon loves me, I doubt my jeans will be a dealbreaker."

Her smile cracked for a heartbeat, just long enough for me to catch the venom before she sealed it behind her usual sugary expression.

"Of course," she said. "You look beautiful."

My mother walked in then, carrying a plate of pancakes and a steaming cup of coffee. She didn't even glance at Selene before her eyes landed on me, glowing with pride.

"My baby looks gorgeous in anything, but today? You shine," she said warmly.

I smiled and kissed her cheek before settling at the table. As I ate, she silently served Selene her breakfast too. Despite her feelings toward Selene, my mother had always been gracious. That's who she was. Too good for the world that had taken her from me once. I wouldn't let it happen again.

After breakfast, Selene and I left the house. The morning air was crisp as we headed toward the training grounds.

"You didn't dye your hair black like I had advised?" She asked, her voice too casual.

I raised an eyebrow. "Why would I?"

"You said you would last night. Damon hates that silver color, remember?"

I smirked.

"I like it. It's natural. If he really cares about me, he will accept it. After all, it's not the hair he's attracted to... right, Selene? It's me."

That hit home. I saw her lips twitch before she masked her discomfort with a grin.

"Of course. Damon really likes you."

Lies.

He liked what I could give him. Power. Favor. A way to ascend.

We reached the training grounds. I scanned the field. There were warriors training hard, sweat glistening on skin, the clash of fists and growls. I searched instinctively for him, but I felt... nothing.

No familiar scent. No tug. No heartbeat echoing mine.

My wolf was gone.

That was the cost of my first death. A piece of me lost.

"He's waiting for you," Selene said behind me, gesturing toward the far side of the field.

There he was.

Damon.

Still the same charming smile. Still handsome in the rugged, unpolished way that once made my heart flutter. Now, it made my skin crawl with disgust but I swallowed to hide it.

As we approached, he noticed me and lit up with a grin, manufactured, just like everything else about him.

"Lyra, you came," he said, stepping closer.

"Selene said you had something to tell me," I replied, forcing a soft smile.

He scratched the back of his head, playing the bashful act he had perfected. The one I had fallen for once.

"Yeah, I wanted to do this in a special way, but... I couldn't wait."

Of course you couldn't. The trap was set. The audience was here. The stage was perfect.

Warriors had gathered, casually but clearly aware of the performance about to unfold. Just like last time. Damon knew how to play the crowd, how to corner me with eyes and expectations.

He pulled a small red velvet box from his pocket and dropped to one knee.

Predictable.

He opened the box. A cheap ring glinted in the morning light. My heart didn't race. My cheeks didn't flush. I didn't even blink.

"Lyra," he said with that fake, boyish smile. "I know I'm not perfect, but my love for you is real. I want to spend the rest of my life loving you. Will you be my girlfriend?"

The crowd erupted in cheers. Whistles. Laughter. Clapping.

I turned my head, catching Selene's face just in time to see the flicker of fury she tried to smother. Her smile was wide, too wide. She hadn't expected me to play along.

Time to give them the show they wanted.

"Oh my goddess," I squealed, letting my hands fly to my cheeks. "Damon, this is... beautiful!"

More cheering. Damon stood, smug as ever, and slipped the ring onto my finger. I let him. For now.

"You have made me the happiest man alive," he said, and for a brief second, he looked genuinely proud of himself.

Fool.

He stepped back, basking in the praise.

And then I struck. It was my moment now.

"Damon," I began, my voice soft, almost trembling. "The ring is lovely. And your words... the sweetest I have ever heard."

I paused. The crowd quieted, sensing something.

"But..." I took a breath, just enough to look shaken. "I can't accept your proposal."

Gasps rippled through the group like a wave. Damon stiffened.

Selene grabbed my arm, eyes wide and furious.

"What are you doing?" She hissed under her breath.

I yanked free and turned to face Damon, my expression serene.

"I'm sorry," I said, loud and clear. "But we can't be together. Let's break up."

And with that, I walked away while throwing the ring at him.

Not looking back.

Not this time.

"What the hell was that about, Lyra?" Selene yelled from behind me as she hastened her steps to catch up with me.

I turned around, my anger simmering but I masked it with indifference.

"What was what about?" I queried back with a frown.

"Why did you turn down Damon's proposal? You made him look like a joke in the whole pack." She hissed, glaring at me.

"What was I supposed to do when I am not ready to be his girlfriend?"

"What do you mean you don't want to be with him? Last night,you said..."

"I thought it over and while Damon is a good man, I want to concentrate on other things first and not starting a relationship." I cut her off, folding my hands on my chest daring her to continue.

Selene looked taken aback by my answer, she never expected that from me. She wasn't used to me not doing what she wanted. I had been a puppet.

In my past life, I was a fool who got easily manipulated by their sweet words and coercion. Things were different and I was going to undo every single mistake I made before.

Everything started the day I accepted Damon's stupid cheap proposal and I had figured out after waking that to get a different result in my second life, I needed the changes.

"What are you talking about?" Selene asked, puzzled.

"I want to learn from my mother and be the next pack healer. It's my duty and responsibility." I replied and watched as Selene frowned, dissatisfied.

My previous life, they had talked me into abandoning being the pack's healer since my mother never liked the duo. This time, I won't disappoint my mother who always wanted me to take over as the next pack healer.

"Did your mother talk you into this? Last night, you said you didn't want to be one." Selene asked, her hatred for my mother slightly showing.

"No one talked to me about anything. I made the decision myself," I replied sharply.

I turned around and started making my way to the woods.

"I am going for a run. I'll see you later." I said and disappeared before she could say anything else.

As a wolf, I was bestowed with the powers to teleport. I discovered that ability when I was fifteen years old. I can also run very fast in my human form, even faster than normal werewolves in my werewolf form.

My mother never explained why I was different from others. She only said I was special. With my wolf in deep slumber, I couldn't shift to her so I opted to teleport.

I appeared again some distance from where I knew I couldn't miss him: Killian, our pack Alpha. He was training with his beta, Luka.

I hid behind a tree and observed as they exchanged blows after blows. Luca was on the receiving end and was having a hard time defending himself from Killian's feral attacks.

As I watched him, guilt washed over through me. In my previous life, I tormented him, embarrassed him in front of the pack, accused him of crimes he didn't commit and finally betrayed him.

"Come out," he ordered as he halted his sparring with Luka who then slumped on the ground in exhaustion.

I smiled awkwardly and emerged from my hideout. I walked towards them and flinched from the intensity of his stare.

He had that murderous look on his face, as if one wrong word and he would rip my neck off my body.

That wasn't above him though, I had seen and heard about his ruthlessness whispered throughout the pack.

"What are you doing here? Spying on me?" He asked, his eyes narrowed on me.

I almost rolled my eyes at his accusation.

"Why would I spy on you, Alpha? I was just passing by." I answered.

Killian gave me a cold long glare.

"Why are you not with your little boyfriend? Did he send you to keep tabs on me?" He asked and I realized that all along, he knew what Damon was plotting against him. He also knew that Damon used me to get to him. If he did, why didn't he tell me then?

'Oh please, would you have believed him?' An inner voice mocked me. Yes, I wouldn't have believed him if it was the me in my past life.

"Are you jealous, Alpha?" I asked, stepping closer to him and giving him a sweet smile.

I watched as his jaw clenched and his eyes hardened.

"Jealous? Do I need to be jealous of a useless prick like him? You belong to me, Lyra and I will kill anyone who steals you from me." Killian declared possessively.

Something about his words rubbed me sweetly and I found myself smiling.

In my previous life, I heard him declare his possessiveness over me severally and every time he did, I ended up hating him more. This time though, a sweet sensation swept through me.

"Are you saying you will fight for me?" I decided to push my luck and see how far he would go for me.

In my previous life, Killian was in battle when Selene and Damon killed me. After colluding with traitors to attack the pack, they took the opportunity to finish me while Killian was away.

"Fight for you? Why would I fight for what's mine?" Killian asked,frowning.

I fought the urge to smack him in the face. What did he mean by that? Isn't it normal to fight for what you want?

"What if I want you to fight for me?" I inquired and Killian scoffed.

"Isn't that what your little lover boy is doing?" He asked before glaring at me and walked away.

I stomped my feet in anger. I couldn't believe that he walked away from me.

I was still reeling in anger when Luka approached me, a stern look on his face.

"Stop whatever games you are playing, Miss Lyra. The Alpha won't fall for your petty tricks." Luka warned.

I looked at him, aggrieved.

"What makes you think I am playing games?" I snapped at him, annoyed.

What was the deal with them though? Did they have to think the worst of me?

But then again, after all I had done and followed Damon as if I was a puppy, I think I deserved Killian's coldness.

"You are already engaged to Damon. You have violated the engagement treaty you two had. Don't come to pester the Alpha again." Luca replied and I smiled.

My plan of making Killian jealous had worked. Now, both of them thought I betrayed the Alpha.

"I don't plan on doing that, Luka. I am going to pester your Alpha till I breathe my last. Be ready to see me around often." I declared and Luka's eyes widened in surprise before anger overtook them.

"What else do you want? Haven't you done enough? Do you want to embarrass the Alpha until he loses face before his own people?"

I could feel the anger and hatred in Luca's words but I smiled in return.

"You will know what I want later. See you tonight, Beta Luka." I said and skipped away before the man could say another word.

I made my way back home, not derailed by the fact that neither Killian nor Luka trusted me. They had their reasons not to but I wasn't going to let things remain that way.

"I will earn your forgiveness and your trust, Killian. That's a promise." I said to myself, smiling.

Pushing the door to my house, a rather familiar scent hit me, making my heart race. My eyes scanned the room and settled on her seated on the sofa across from my mother.

"Long time no see, Lyra."