REBIRTH OF THE TRUE LUNA

Leah stood, shocked, trying to understand what was going on right before her eyes.

Her husband of five years had his arm wrapped around a petite girl in the middle of their pack house. The cute black-head peeked at her discreetly, and Leah could swear she saw a smirk for a quick second.

“My dear,” her husband, addressed her in a manner he only did when they were alone, “I need to tell you something important, I just found my true mate and her name is Nina.”

The room was silent for a moment and everyone had stopped what they were doing, all eyes on the three of them, the Alpha Zev, Luna Leah, and the supposed mate.

Leah was too stunned to speak, so Zev continued.

“This doesn't mean that we are no longer mates, you will always be my wife and our Luna, it's just that ever since my wolf saw Nina, he has been restless. And it will be terrible for the pack if I reject her now. He won’t be able to deal with it, and it might weaken us.”

There it was—the mere justification!

Zev and Leah had been high school lovers, more so to say, the model couple. Leah was a daughter and heiress of a powerful Alpha from the Crimson pack. Zev was her Mother's best friend’s son and the future Alpha of Moon crest pack. Ever since they had started dating, rumors claimed that they were fated mates. They were always acknowledged everywhere and everyone envied their love.

As a daughter of an alpha, Leah was educated to become Luna someday and being the responsible lady she was, she spent all her spare time learning all she needed to about the pack and the werewolf community in general. She mastered every single task to perfection so that when she turned eighteen and was ready to marry Zev, she would be totally prepared.

On Zev's eighteenth birthday, she became anxious and feared to meet him, all she needed and wanted to hear was the word — mate.

He drove to her pack early that day, and when she ran out to meet him, her smile faded away as she felt nothing, but he already knew.

“We are not mates, right?” she asked, tears rolling down her cheeks.

“Not the fated ones, I guess,” Zev confirmed as he sighed heavily and hugged her tightly, his jaw in her hair. They stood like that for about ten minutes, waiting for the solid blow to pass a bit.

When she had relaxed and stopped crying, Zev took her hand into his and made a promise, “It doesn’t matter, Leah! I will forever choose you, Our love is unbreakable. You will be my mate, my chosen mate!"

For the Crimson Pack, there was already the pressing matter of who would inherit the pack. And since Leah was an only child, Zev had seemed the obvious choice since the two of them loved each other, and none of their family members were against merging of their two packs.

An alliance and contract was formed, but Zev suggested waiting until Leah was Eighteen. He made a stance that he had made his choice but wanted her to find her mate before she made hers. They eventually got married three months after Leah's eighteenth birthday since no mates were found and their feelings still stronger.

They became the most sought-after couple of the werewolf community, who merged both their packs into one. As time went by, they worked diligently to strengthen it. At twenty-six, Leah was now a Luna, respected by everyone.

Leah eyes darted around the room as she scanned the shocked faces of her pack mates. She couldn’t ignore the fact that not everyone seemed surprised by this change of events. Her husband’s Beta, Luke was watching silently from a distance, his hands crossed at his chest, with absolutely no change in his facial expression.

Nevertheless, the most shocked among them was still Leah herself, although not for the reasons they might have assumed.

Her hands were shaking, and her lips twitched slightly as she looked at Zev and his supposed mate with wide eyes.

“No,” she muttered, “This cannot be!”

Why would the Moon Goddess return her to the exact time when her life became a total sad story? The very beginning which led her to her death.

Barely a few seconds ago, Leah was crawling on the ground in the woods, gasping for breath and fighting for her life as three creatures followed her closely. The wolf found her first, digging his sharp claws into her flesh, making her scream in pain.

She was also a strong wolf, but unfortunately, the arrow shot on her arm was poisoned with napella, making her weak and unable to shift.

The wolf growled as he viciously ripped a part of her skin off, and for the first time ever, Leah screamed loudly.

“You can scream all you want for all I care,” the lady who stepped forward sneered. “No one is ever going to hear you.”

Leah recognized that voice at once. And It was none other than her husband's fated mate, Nina. “You?!” Leah panted, struggling to get up.

“Why are you doing this? What else do you want? You’ve already taken everything from me! My Zev, my position as Luna, my pack—”

The other wolf growled at her from beneath the tree, she tried to recognize him, but it was extremely dark. The only thing she noticed was that the werewolf was a yellowish brown, and that information would not be of help if she wasn't going to make it alive.

“Everyone has a reason for doing things and this is mine.” Nina retorted. “ I don’t need to explain to you in details. Not now, not anymore. Your time here is over. You are done, Leah.”

“They will find out the truth”, Leah warned. “You will pay for all this, and when that time comes, there will be no escape, I promise you!”

Nina laughed out mockingly as she squatted next to her and grabbed a fistful of her hair. “Oh my Leah, you still don't understand this, do you? I just got away with it now!”

Forcefully, she pushed Leah towards the ground and ordered the wolf, “Round this up. Make sure nothing of her remains is found.”

A tear trickled down Leah cheek as she watched Nina walking away and giggling to herself.

What had she done to deserve this? It was unfair!

If only the Moon Goddess would give her another chance, she would handle things more differently.

“Don't keep me waiting!” Nina's sudden voice brought her back from her thought as the wolf pounced on her, and everything became dark.

Leah gasped as she suddenly found herself in the throne reception room of the house. Something felt off because all the furniture and decors she loved so much were still in place and from what she could remember it was all changed and dumped away by that shrewd, Nina.

She couldn’t understand what was going on until Zev walked in with Nina, and that was when the realization hit her, this day was exactly one year before.

Luckily, she was well exposed, very reserved and knew how to hide her feelings. She lifted her chin to meet Zev's gaze.

“I understand that this is very sudden,” Zev explained. But she muttered under her breath. “If only you had an idea.”

“I know we made a promise to each other, but my wolf is going restless. You are not just my wife but also my best friend, who has always supported my decisions and I know that you want what’s best for the pack.

Nina is just a low omega and orphan. They treated her so badly and horrible in her pack . I couldn’t leave her wandering alone out there. It wouldn't be of my true nature, and my wolf would never forgive me.”

He finally let go of Nina, walking toward his wife, taking her hands in his.

“Let her stay in our pack. My wolf is stronger next to her; the rejection would kill him. We can give Nina a peaceful life here. She will—”

“Never,” the response was supposed to be calm, yet it was loud enough for the whole pack to hear.

They all stared at her in shock.

“Leah, but you know my wolf—” Zev started with the same old excuse again, and she wanted to laugh.

She had heard it in her past life. Whenever he wanted to spend time with Nina, he mentioned the wolf. He never rejected her as he promised, and soon she became his lover.

Leah was in a lot of pain, but she tried to remain composed. She truly cared about her people. This was another mistake of hers. Now that she had a second chance, she wouldn't make the same mistake twice. She had to send Nina away before it was too late.

Back then, Zev had told her that it was her decision and that her choice was wrong. Letting Nina stay behind for the sake of the group had been a grave mistake. Many people died because of it. And not just her. Leah’s eyes met her best friend Gwen's, and tears were about to spill.

Gwen was one of those who had lost her life as a result of Nina's plan. Leah had doubts before, but now she was certain. She would rebuke this evil once and for all.

“I said never,” she repeated, looking coldly at Zev. “I will find a good pack to take care of her. But she must not stay here. You will have to send her away.”

One question ran through her mind: why did Zev want to have this conversation in public? But now was not the perfect time to think about that. She had more important matters to deal with.

“Leah,” Zev said, his expression suddenly serious, stepping forward to face Nina, who had hidden behind him and was fidgeting. “Think about this. I found her myself and personally brought her here knowing she was my fated mate. I can't risk—”

“Zev,” she said quietly, “I also have my reasons. It's not like I’m asking for you to throw her out. I believe in your decisions, I always have. I know it won't be easy giving up your true mate, but we have been living just fine before all this. So like I said before, I will find a good pack for her.”

“I only want what's best for the pack,” Zev whispered, and Leah felt a glimmer of hope. “If you want what's best for the pack, I suggest you do it now,” she insisted. “The longer you drag this on, the harder it will be. In fact, from what I can see right now, she’s already your weakness.”

Zev sighed and turned to Nina and said quietly, “I'll make sure you are taken care of. I promise.” Leah hadn't realized how tightly she was clutching the fabric of her dress. Could it have been that easy? Does this mean, if she had said no then, all those mishaps and deaths would have been avoided?

“I, Alpha Zev Sanders of the Crimson Moon Pack, reject…” her husband began in a low voice of determination as Nina knelt before him and began to cry.

“Please, no!” she groaned. “Please, don't do this, I'm still too weak! If you reject and send me away now, I might die! Please!”

Zev froze. He could not bring himself to continue his speech of rejection, staring wide-eyed at the pitiful girl kneeling before him.

“Please, Alpha!” she began to sob. Leah could have given her an applause. If she hadn't known who was kneeling in front of everyone, she would have bought the act immediately.

“I will be whatever you want me to be, Luna Leah! Please don't send me away! You can't do that!” Leah felt an electric shock upon hearing her name. She looked at Nina and stared at her with a gaze that stated—stop exaggerating, I know what your plans are.

“Please, Luna!” The girl continued to beg, still on her knees. "My fate is in your hands! I don't want to die!"

No one said anything, and the only sound in the room was Nina's pitiful sobs.

“My dear,” Leah decided to try one last time, “No one is going to kill you and there is no need to shed tears. We will take care of you, but not just here.”

“Please, Luna Leah!” Nina crawled towards Leah, grabbing the edge of her dress way faster before she could react.

“We—” Leah started to say, but a loud growl stopped her mid-sentence.

“That’s enough!” Zev roared, looking at Nina with his eyes glittering red, indicating his wolf was out.

“Zev, calm down,” Leah said firmly, yet another growl emerged from him as he was already furious.

“Not another word!” Zev appeared next to Nina in no time, lifting her from the ground and carrying her in his arms. “She is staying! We’ll find a way around it!”

He went up the grand staircase and led his mate to one of the guest rooms. Leah knew exactly which room he would take her to: the third floor, the second room on the right.

It was the room he would eventually move into. Nina’s head was buried in Zev's neck as he carried her away, and Leah was sure it was no coincidence that she was now breathing on his neck, where a mate mark should be.

She couldn't help but touch her neck where Zev had marked her when she was eighteen. As she looked up again, she caught Nina’s eyes staring back at her in disdain. Leah knew she had lost today just like the last time.

Nothing had changed. What she said and did that day had nothing to do with the outcome of what happened. It was like a bad movie on repeat.

As Alpha Zev was finally out of sight, Gwen walked towards her. “Are you okay?”

Leah looked at her best friend, her dearest friend whom she had lost before. Without thinking, she threw herself into Gwen’s arms. After her parents died, she was the only person besides Zev she could trust with anything.

“Alright, alright,” Gwen stroked her long, chestnut brown wavy hair. "Everything will be fine. I'm sure he'll reconsider.”

She suddenly moved away from Gwen, realizing how the current situation may look to the pack members around. She had already lost her husband. There was no need for her to embarrass herself too.

“Let’s go to your room instead,” Gwen suggested. “We can talk about everything there.”

No, Leah did not need this conversation. She remembered it very well. Because they had already had it.

What she really required now was time alone to think. She needed to strategize and come up with a new plan.She couldn't save her marriage, but she could still save her best friend Gwen, her pack, and her life.

“I can't talk right now,” she smiled at her friend, holding her hand, not believing that she was still here. "Let's talk about this another time. I still have a lot of work to do.”

“Next time?” Gwen’s eyes widened. “Are you serious?”

“Yes,” Leah smoothed out the wrinkles in her dress. “Right now, our Alpha is… busy and there is a lot pending.”

She gave her friend another warm smile and added, “Everything will be alright, Gwen.” Leah locked the door to her room and tried to control her heavy breathing. It was too much! It was all too much for her. She needed to clear her head and think about it all. She needed a good plan.

But the room was too stuffy. And she needed air. There was only one thing that could help her — to shift into her wolf form.

Leah went out into the woods surrounding the pack house, took off the heavy jacket she was wearing and tried to transform. But she couldn't.

“Silver, are you there?” She spoke to her wolf for the first time since her sudden rebirth less than two hours ago, but there was no answer. It was unsettling. Silver had been there her whole life.

“Silver.” Leah called out again, but she was silenced. Enraged, she ran as fast as she could. She was still superfast and strong, which could only mean that her wolf was still present somewhere.

She wasn't weak, but what was going on?