"No, no!" I screamed, struggling against the iron grip on my arms. "You have to believe me!" I looked at my mate - my heart plunged into free fall as the world around me seemed to stop. He didn’t believe me. None of them did. I turned in desperation, scanning the cold, unrelenting gazes fixed upon me. The silence was deafening, ringing in my ears louder than any accusation. "Jay, I would never poison Samantha." My voice trembled as I pleaded, but my words shattered against his furious expression. "You dare...how dare you speak her name?" Jay hissed. His red eyes glowed ominously in the dimly lit hall, brimming with hatred. I took a step back, shaking my head, unwilling to believe this was happening. But the warriors behind me blocked my retreat. Jay took a deep breath, his chest heaving with barely restrained fury. Pain, rage, and murderous intent burned in his gaze as he looked down at me - the woman he had once sworn to cherish. "For the attempted assassination of my fated mate, I, Alpha Jay Merlot, sentence you to death by poison. The same poison you used to try and kill my beloved." His voice dripped with venom, the finality of his words sinking deep into my bones. I had stood by his side through everything. We had grown up together. Jay was my stepmother’s son from her first marriage, and when we wed two years ago, I had given him the throne. I had made him Alpha. And now, he was condemning me to die. "Take her away!" His command rang through the hall like a death knell. "Jay Merlot, what is the meaning of this?" A commanding voice boomed from the doorway. The hall fell into stunned silence as all eyes turned toward my father stepping forward. Relief flooded my chest. "Father…" I whispered, my voice breaking. I had never been happier to see him. When his gaze turned to me. "Father, I swear, I didn’t do it! I’m being framed!" I pleaded, my voice desperate. "Silence!" Jay commanded, his voice laced with authority. My father’s expression darkened as he turned his sharp gaze toward Jay. "What is this nonsense?" His powerful voice rang through the hall, his posture rigid with authority. "How dare you accuse my daughter of attempting to murder your mate? What possible motive would she have?" "Jealousy!" someone shouted from the crowd. My father scoffed. "Jealousy? Why would my daughter be jealous of a mere omega when she is already the Luna?" His voice was like thunder, rattling through the room. "Jay, you swore before the Moon Goddess to cherish my daughter and rule by her side. Why would she feel threatened by another woman when she has your vow?" Murmurs spread through the gathered wolves, whispers of condemnation against both me and my father. "Father…" My stomach twisted at the look in Jay’s eyes. My father growled, stepping closer. "Even a fool knows better than to poison someone in the middle of a crowded hall." The air between my father and Jay crackled with tension. “My daughter is innocent of this allegation. Someone her is framing her.” My heart pounded faster. “Did you plan this with your true mate to humiliate my child?” “Father!” And then I saw it. The glint of steel. The sword that had always been part of Jay’s ceremonial attire, whipped at my father and slashed his throat "No!" I screamed. Blood gushed from the wound, splattering onto the ground. My father fell to his knees, his eyes wide with shock before he collapsed. My world shattered. "Father!" I shrieked, lunging forward, but rough hands grabbed me. Jay wiped his sword clean of my father’s blood and turned away. "Take her to the dungeon. Her execution will be in seven days." I looked back one last time - at my father’s lifeless body. People cleared out of Jay's way. Others ran from the hall as I was dragged away, screaming and kicking. "Let me go!" I cried, my voice raw with desperation. My struggles were useless against the iron grip of the guards. They hauled me through dimly lit corridors, the stone walls closing in on me like a prison of shadows. My breath came in ragged gasps as fear twisted in my gut. I barely had time to take in my surroundings before I was thrown into a cold, dark cell. The heavy iron door slammed shut behind me, the deafening sound echoing through the narrow hallway like a cruel finality. I lunged for the bars, gripping them so tightly my knuckles turned white. "Please! This is a mistake!" I shouted, my voice cracking. But no one answered. No one cared. I was alone. My heart pounded within me, a frantic rhythm against my ribs, as if it were trying to escape my chest. I couldn't sit. Then, suddenly a footsteps. The faint sound echoed down the hallway, deliberate and unhurried. My breath hitched, and I quickly wiped my tears, scrambling to my feet. Hope flared inside me, fragile but alive. The iron bars g*****d as a guard unlocked the gate. A figure stepped inside, and my stomach twisted. It was her. Jay's mother. My stepmother. For years, I had called her "Mother." I had loved her as my own when my father married her when I was ten. She had tucked me into bed, brushed my hair, whispered lullabies when I had nightmares. But now, as she stood before me, something in her eyes sent a shiver down my spine. "Mother, I’m innocent!" I pleaded, my voice trembling. She smirked. Then,she laughed. A cold, cruel sound that made my blood run cold. "Yes, I know," she said simply. The air left my lungs. My l**s parted, but no words came. My mind reeled, trying to make sense of her words. If she knew… then why was I here? Before I could speak, another guard approached, his towering form casting a long shadow into the cell. He wore a menacing glower, his voice like a growl. "Luna Samantha is here." the guard announced, his voice echoing through the stone corridor. The heavy door creaked open, and Samantha stepped inside. A petite woman with soft brown hair, piercing brown eyes, and sun-kissed skin stood before me. Her delicate features were unreadable as she stared at me with a mixture of amusement. "I have something to tell you before you leave this world," she said, her voice eerily calm. A lump formed in my throat. My hands trembled as I bowed my head, forcing out the words that had been suffocating me for days. "I'm sorry," I whispered, my voice breaking. "I never meant to cause you trouble. But I swear,I never tried to poison you." Samantha interrupted me before I could say more. "I believe you." I froze. The air in my lungs turned to ice. Had I misheard? My heart clenched painfully, daring to hope. My stepmother stood beside her, nodding in agreement. If they believed me, if they truly believed me, then maybe, just maybe, I had a chance. A chance to get out. A chance to live. Samantha tilted her head, her l**s curling into a cruel smile. "You had no hand in poisoning me," she confirmed. I exhaled sharply. "Really? You came here to save me?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. Laughter erupted from both of them. My stepmother stepped forward, her eyes gleaming with malice. "How dumb can you be?" she sneered. The walls of my fragile hope came crashing down. My chest tightened as dread sank its claws into me. Samantha moved closer, her expression smug. "Jay is my fated mate," she said, her words like daggers to my heart. "We knew it the day of your engagement ceremony. Ever since then, he's been sneaking into my room. Every night." I felt sick. I stared her face. The truth stared back at me in her cold, triumphant gaze. My stepmother’s smirk widened. "Oh, I loved your father," she admitted, "but not too much. I was the one pushing Jay to court you, to make you believe he chose you." She leaned in, lowering her voice to a whisper. "But ever since he became Alpha, we’ve been waiting for the perfect opportunity to get rid of you and your father. In fact, we couldn’t wait, so we framed you." "No!" I screamed, shaking my head violently. "Yes," they said in unison, their laughter ringing in my ears as they turned and walked out of the cell. For five days, I was left alone in darkness. On the fifth night, my father’s Beta, Mark, now the head of the warriors, visited me. His presence was like a flicker of light in my endless torment. "Luna," he greeted me. I shook my head. "I'm not your Luna anymore." "You will always be my Luna," he said firmly. Then his voice dropped. "We need to escape." Before I could process his words, he moved swiftly, knocking the guard unconscious. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward the gate. My legs wobbled from exhaustion, but adrenaline kept me moving. We ran. At the back of the fortress, the scent of the sea filled my lungs. The sound of waves crashing against the cliffs was deafening in the silence of the night. The bell rang out, a sharp, urgent signal. Warning the soldiers that their prisoner had escaped. Mark blocked my way with his arm, panting. I looked at him, confused. "Go to the sea," he urged. "There's a boat waiting. It’s your only chance to escape. I'll hold them off." "Charge them?!" I gasped. "That's suicide!" His eyes softened, but his grip on my shoulders was firm. "We have no other options," he said. His voice wavered, but his resolve did not. "Please, Luna. Live. Take back the pack from Alpha Jay." Tears burned my eyes, but I forced them back. Mark swallowed hard. "There’s something I need to tell you - before it’s too late. No matter what your stepmother told everyone, no matter how they claimed you were weak, that you weren’t fit to lead. I always respected you." His voice thickened with emotion."You are not weak. You deserve to be the Alpha of our pack. You are the real heir. But even then, you did not accept the throne and instead gave it to Jay. I have never given up on you, and I never will - not until my last breath." A tear slipped down my cheek. Before I could respond, Mark turned and ran toward the approaching soldiers. "Mark!" They killed him. I forced myself to move, sprinting toward the stairs leading to the sea. My heart pounded with each step. I could hear the waves, see the moonlit water - but then… A shadow. Jay. He stood at the bottom of the stairs, waiting for me. His men flanked him, their eyes cold and unyielding. "Jay…" My voice broke as I took a shaky step back. Before I could react, pain exploded in my chest. I gasped. The world slowed as I looked down, my trembling hands reaching for the blade buried deep in my heart, the same sword Jay had used to kill my father. Blood. So much blood. Jay’s face twisted into a cruel sneer as he leaned in, his breath warm against my ear. "Die, you silly girl. Die." Terror surged through me. No, no! Goddess, no! I can’t die! I don’t want to die! I’m innocent! Moon Goddess!

Goddess, no! As my vision darkened, I vowed that if I ever met them again in another life, I would make them pay. With the last ounce of energy and will that I had, I wished that I could have lived my life differently. "You have been given the privilege of a second life, a second chance, Melody!" A voice echoed faintly in the void as I felt my lifeless body suspended in a cold place, darkness engulfing me. Splash! I awoke with a gasp, choking as water flooded my nose and dripped down my forehead. Panting, I frantically looked around. "Oh my! Finally, she’s up," a familiar voice cooed. Agatha, my stepmother, stood beside my bed, a glass jar in one hand and her signature black fixed-hand fan in the other, partially concealing her face. Her deep brown eyes, gleamed with feigned concern. I barely had time to react before she shoved the jar into my personal maid Mary’s hands and pulled me into an embrace, pressing my face into her perfumed chest. My cheeks squished uncomfortably as she rubbed hers against my hair. "I was so worried about you, darling. For a moment, I feared you had died," she said, her exceptionally beautiful voice like a siren’s songs deceptive and hypnotic. I pulled back slightly, still breathless. "I thought I died too." My eyes darted around my room. I was still living in the Madison palace. Everything seemed so normal, Agatha still pretending to be a caring mother. But what kind of ‘caring’ mother woke her daughter by nearly drowning her? Ignoring Agatha’s continued fawning, I scrambled out of bed and rushed to the full-length mirror in my closet room. My breath hitched as I stared at my reflection. I looked... young. My twenty-year-old self stared back at me. Frantic, I pulled off my upper garments, my eyes locking onto a large wound on my chest. The exact place where Jay had plunged his silver-coated venomous sword. My fingers trembled as they brushed over the barely healed mark. I died after that. So how was I here? Was this the afterlife? If so, where was the Goddess? Why was I in my bed? Had I survived somehow? "You fainted without warning while we were walking in the back garden. You fell into a bush. Please forgive me, I failed to catch you," Mary whimpered, her shoulders shaking as she sobbed. "Doctor Evelyn…" My voice wavered as I turned back to my bed and sat. "How am I still here? I should have died!" Mary gasped, scandalized. "Miss Melody!" That title felt foreign now. After the day I mated with Jay, I had stop being ‘Miss Melody’ and had become ‘Luna Melody.’ Doctor Evelyn pursed her l**s, adjusting her glasses. "Only the most unfortunate souls die from falling into a rose bush, Miss. You suffered mild scratches, but rest assured, your injuries will heal before your engagement ceremony in one week." Her words barely registered. Engagement ceremony in a week? A suffocating numbness settled over me. Agatha turned to Doctor Evelyn. "Have some tea while Melody rests." As they left the room, I lifted my hand to examine the scratches. "Miss, your wrists—what happened to them?!" Horror laced Mary’s voice as she grabbed my hands. My breath hitched. Ugly white scars marred my wrists. Not fresh wounds, not red, but fully healed scars. Memories of silver chains binding me, burning into my skin, resurfaced in my mind. I yanked my hands away, my heart pounding. Then Mary called Dr. Evelyn, and moments later, doctor Eve stepped back into my room. Doctor Evelyn hesitated. "I... I am not quite sure. It looks like ...these are similars to injuries sustained from the silver handcuffs." Mary’s face paled. "Silver handcuffs? No! That’s impossible!" Doctor Evelyn wiped her brow. "I may be mistaken. Only criminals bear such scars. How could it be, on the lady ?" I clenched my fists. If this were a dream, then why did it feel so real? If I had died, then why was I here, reliving my past? "Perhaps an allergic reaction from falling into the rose bush?" Evelyn offered weakly. I met her gaze. "Can injuries from silver poisoning heal completely?" The room went silent. Doctor Evelyn hesitated before shaking her head. "No. Such injuries last a lifetime. There’s even an old saying..." "What saying?" I pressed. Her expression tightened. "They say that people can be reborn with these scars." A chill ran through my veins. Doctor Evelyn let out a nervous laugh. "But that's just nonsensical gossip among wolves." I inhaled sharply, staring at my wrists. "What is today's date?" "Today's date is march 3rd, 2025," she replied. Two years. Exactly two years and five days before my death and one week before my Engagement ceremony to Jay. A knock at the door snapped me from my thoughts. I turned, my breath catching in my throat as Jay stepped into my room. Before, his eyes had grown cold as he drifted away from me, drawn to Samantha. But now, they were warm, filled with concern as they rested on me. I swallowed hard. He took a step toward me, his arms reaching out as if to pull me into an embrace. But I moved swiftly, stepping out of his reach before he could t***h me. My body tensed, a surge of anger tightening my chest. I couldn’t stand the sight of him, let alone the thought of being held by him. His face twisted with shock, and he stumbled backward, his hands dropping uselessly to his sides. “What are you doing?” he asked, his voice tinged with hurt, as if he had any right to feel wounded. Before I could respond, a sharp voice rang out. “What is going on here?” My step-mother and Jay mother, Agatha, came rushing toward us, her expression a mixture of alarm and disbelief. Her sharp gaze darted between Jay and me, searching for answers. I clenched my fists, swallowing the bitter words rising in my throat. No one knew the depth of my hatred, the weight of the betrayal that simmered beneath my skin.

Melody Madison. That was me. My mother died an hour after giving birth to me, but not before she whispered my name - Melody. It means music or song. I’ve always thought it was a cruel irony, naming me something so beautiful when my life was anything but cruel. I am the only daughter of Alpha Andrew Madison, the man who led the extermination in our kingdom and earned his title as the Zeta Werewolf - the rarest and most powerful class of werewolf. To the world, he was a ruthless leader, but to me, he was barely a shadow. I looked too much like my mother for him to be around me. We lived in the same mansion, yet I could go months without seeing him. His absence carved a hollow ache in my chest, but I learned to live with it. I grew up alone, without family, without friends, locked up in my father's mansion, unable to step outside for fear of kidnap. The servants’ whispers followed me through the halls, tales of my father’s battles and the blood that stained his hands. It didn't surprise anyone that I grew to hate him. Yes, he was cold to me, but I was colder to him. I used to run away at the mere sight of him, a ghost fleeing a nightmare. I kept thinking that my father hated me because my mother became weaker after giving birth to me and eventually succumb to death. Perhaps he did blame me. Perhaps I blamed myself. My father was… drop-dead gorgeous. His deep brown eyes, shadowed yet piercing, stood out against the raven-black hair that framed his face. A chiseled body that seemed sculpted from marble. If perfection had a name, it would be Andrew Madison. When I was ten, my father remarried. Agatha Merlot became my stepmother, bringing her son Jay, who was twelve at the time. Agatha was all smiles and gentle touches, but her eyes were as sharp as knives. I could never tell if her affection was real or just another act in the intricate play that was our life. Jay was different. He was sunlight in my darkness, my only friend. As we grew older, friendship morphed into something more - love. The kind that burned quietly but fiercely, like a candle left too close to a curtain. I would have done anything for him. I did do anything for him. At eighteen, I manipulated my father into helping Jay become the alpha of a pack. It wasn’t easy. My father refused at first - Jay didn’t have alpha blood, after all. But desperation makes a person cunning. I told him I needed Jay on my side, that without him, I had no one. I threatened to end my life if he refused. The words tasted like poison on my tongue, but I didn’t care. "Why don’t you love me?" That was the question I asked him most. Sometimes in a whisper, sometimes in a scream. Then followed by “If you love me, you would help Jay. That’s how much I loved Jay. Then Father helped Jay become an Alpha in the neighboring land of our pack. He leads a pack of twenty - consisting of me, our maid, and some of his friends. However, he cannot rule us without my father's support and guidance." My father said that as the daughter of an alpha, I needed to be trained, to become a superior warrior. But Agatha wouldn’t allow it. She claimed it was for my protection, that a woman’s place was not on the battlefield. Her words sank into the pack's ears, spreading like a virus. They began to see me as weak, and in time, I started to believe it too. Agatha had spent years manipulating me, subtly weaving her words into my mind until they became my own thoughts. She made me believe that I was weak, that I lacked the strength to endure physical training. With carefully chosen words and a gentle but firm tone, she convinced me that such activities were unbecoming of a lady, that my place was elsewhere, far removed from the rigorous demands of combat and self-defense. Whenever I showed interest in training, she would shake her head with a disapproving sigh, reminding me that grace and refinement were far more important than brute strength. She painted a picture of a proper lady - delicate, poised, and dependent on others for protection. Over time, her words took root, and I began to doubt myself, to see my own body as fragile and incapable. I had wanted to believe her, to trust that she had my best interests at heart. But now, looking back, I saw the truth, Agatha had never wanted me to be strong. She had wanted me to be powerless. Her words clung to me, shaping my insecurities and making me dependent on Jay. Without him, I felt powerless. The pack members saw me as an unfit leader, a sentiment that cut deeper than I cared to admit. Now that Jay is an Alpha, his pack needs a Luna and I thought he would choose me. I was stubid to think that. To him, I was his best friend, the girl he’d grown up with. Yet my heart betrayed me, stuttering at his presence, yearning for something more. But Jay’s gaze was void of any romantic interest. He made it clear that he saw me as nothing more than a friend. His rejection shattered my heart, but I refused to give up. Desperation pushed me to an unforgivable act. I went to my father and begged him to give Jay an ultimatum - either Jay accepted me as his mate, or my father would withdraw his support to Jay small pack. Cornered, Jay had no choice but to agree to an engagement. My stepmother’s words echoed in my mind, sharp and unforgiving. She sneered that the only valuable thing about me was my father’s name, that I was vain, hot-tempered, and rude. According to her, I behaved like a spoiled child, unworthy of being Luna to her son. No one else dared to confront me directly - my father’s influence was too powerful, but I heard the whispers, the cruel things they said behind my back. I told myself that becoming Luna would change their views, that power would force them to respect me. But deep down, I knew the truth, I wasn’t doing this for the pack. I was doing it because I couldn’t stand to lose Jay, even if it meant chaining him to me with guilt and obligation.

It was the day of our engagement ceremony when Jay met his true mate, Samantha Smith. She had nothing to offer him politically or aesthetically. She was humble, naive, and plain-looking, but for some inexplicable reason, everyone adored her. Unlike me, Samantha lacked the grace, the wit, and the strength required of a Luna. She could barely take care of herself, let alone lead thousands in our pack. Yet, despite all this, people whispered that she would be the perfect Luna. I despised her. With her arrival, my world began to crumble. The high society that once praised me now turned away. My maids, who once trembled in my presence, snickered behind my back. My jewelry vanished without a trace. My dresses disappeared, and some were mysteriously ruined with holes, forcing me to replace them constantly - making me appear extravagant and wasteful. And the worst part? Women began showing up to events in the exact dresses I wore, even though mine were custom-made. It was humiliating. Every time it happened, I confronted Samantha, blaming her for my misfortunes. But my accusations only solidified the perception that I was the villain - the evil woman who not only stole Samantha’s mate but tormented her relentlessly. The more I fought, the more distant Jay became. We were engaged, and with my father’s influence, Jay’s social standing and power in the pack rose quickly. His future was set. He was forced to choose me over his destined mate. A year after our engagement, under immense pressure from my end, we finally held our mating ceremony. By then, my reputation had already been dragged through the mud. I was despised, ridiculed, pitied. Aside from my bad reputation,my stepmother Agatha almost told everyone that i'm weak. She made the members of our pack dislike me as their leader. But none of it mattered - not when I saw the devastated expression on Samantha’s face as Jay and I officially became mates. In that moment, I thought I had won. I thought that no matter what, I would be the one standing beside Jay as his Luna. But I was wrong. From the moment we were officially mates, Jay recoiled from me as if I were poison. He made it painfully clear that he loathed me. There were no gentle touches, no whispered affections - only cold stares and a seething resentment that burned between us. Still, I held on, clinging to the life I had fought so hard to secure. I endured the whispers, the mocking laughter, and the way Jay avoided me like the plague. For a year, I struggled to keep our fragile union intact, but I was growing weary. On the night of our one-year mating anniversary, I decided to let go. I could no longer fight this losing battle, nor could I keep bullying Samantha. That night, in an act of what I thought was goodwill, I poured her a glass of wine as a peace offering. I wanted to end our rivalry, to finally put everything behind us. But the moment she took a sip, she collapsed, frothing at the mouth. Panic erupted. People screamed. Accusations flew. And just like that, my fate was sealed. That was the end of Melody Madison - the wicked woman who stole another’s mate, tormented the innocent, and finally, in one final act of malice, attempted murder. “Mom, there’s no need to panic. Maybe Melody just had a bad dream, that’s why she looked afraid of me.” Jay said to Agatha. Then Jay turned to Melody again, his voice laced with quiet reprimand. “Mels, I told you to stop skipping breakfast. Can you see why now?” I glanced at Jay just as Dr. Evelyn, Mary, and Agatha excused themselves from the room. My heart clenched when he spoke again, his tone almost teasing - but it sent a shiver down my spine. “I can’t have you dying just a week before our engagement.” When I looked at Jay, who had just entered my room, all I felt was fear. The image of him slicing my father’s n**k flashed in my mind like a cruel vision. My hands clenched into fists as a cold dread wrapped around me, suffocating. I closed my eyes. “My… my father…” I whispered, my voice barely audible. Jay’s expression didn’t change. “The Alpha hasn’t come to see you. He may not have heard about the incident.” Lies. “If he hasn’t come to me, then I must go to him.” I pushed the blankets off and swung my legs over the side of the bed. Jay frowned. “You shouldn’t be pestering the old man at your age, Mels…” He reached out, intending to steady me, but I flinched away before his fingers could graze my skin. The reaction was instant, involuntary. Jay’s eyes widened in shock. “Melody?” I scrambled back, putting as much distance between us as the room allowed. My breath came in short, panicked bursts. “What is it? What’s wrong?” His concern sounded genuine, but I couldn’t trust it. Not when the sight of him made my stomach churn with fear and revulsion. I shook my head, unable to form words past the lump in my throat. “Please… just go,” I whispered. Jay stiffened. For a moment, he looked like he wanted to argue, but something in my eyes must have stopped him. His jaw tightened, and with one last, lingering look - confused, maybe even hurt, he turned and left the room. The moment the door clicked shut behind him, I burst into tears. Tears spilled down my cheeks in an unrelenting stream, my body trembling as I slid down against the bed frame. Sobs wracked my chest, my hands clenching the fabric of my nightgown. I had been given a second chance - a chance to live, to change things. I wouldn’t waste it. The goddess had brought me back for a reason. This time, I wouldn’t beg for love. In the life I had left behind -the life that could still become my future, my father had died protecting me. A father I had never truly appreciated, a man I had always misunderstood… and yet, in the end, he had been the only one who had stood by my side. I would not let my foolishness cost him his life again. This time, I would change the fate of the Madisons. This time, I would be different.

The Alpha is in a meeting right now." My father’s secretary, Mr. Hall, visibly shivered in his boots the moment I stepped into the office. His eyes darted nervously as he adjusted his tie, his voice lacking its usual authority. "If you have an appointment, perhaps…" "An appointment?" I cut him off, raising an eyebrow. "Does it sound right to you that a daughter should have to schedule an appointment just to see her own father?" My voice was sharp, laced with the irritation bubbling inside me. Mr. Hall swallowed hard, clearly torn between protocol and the fact that I was the Alpha's daughter. "My lady, the Alpha is an important man. One cannot simply…" "I shall wait for him," I interjected before he could finish, my tone leaving no room for argument. His mouth fell open slightly, stunned. He knew me well enough to recognize that this was out of character. In the past, I never waited. I would barge in without hesitation, no matter how important my father’s meetings were. But today was different. Today, I was willing to wait. Mr. Hall's eyes widened in disbelief. "You can wait for him?" His voice trembled as he asked the question. "Yes. I would like а-'cup of tea while I wait." My voice was calm, deliberate. Without another word, I made my way to the waiting room, ignoring the hushed murmurs that erupted around me. "Is that really Miss Melody?" "She will wait rather than barge in on the Alpha?" "It seems she understands the importance of this meeting." I let their whispers fade into the background. Wolves had superior senses - some could detect a scent from miles away, while others had impeccable night vision. The Madison bloodline, in particular, was known for its acute hearing, and I was no exception. But at that moment, I didn't care what they were saying. My mind was elsewhere, reliving the mistakes of my past life. I hadn't lost everything because I failed to manipulate Jay or sabotage Samantha. No, my downfall had been my own foolishness, my blindness to my own flaws. I knew everything but never sought to better myself. My stepmother had called me weak, and she had been right. Meanwhile, Samantha, with her gentle humility, had won everyone to her side. "Miss Melody!" A sharp voice snapped me out of my reverie. The Alpha's secretary stood before me, her expression expectant. "What is it?" I asked, my voice weary. "The Alpha is ready to see you," Mr. Hall announced. I stood and followed him down the familiar hallway. I had been here many times before, though every past visit had ended the same way - with me throwing a tantrum and my father throwing me out. But today would be different. Mr. Hall opened the heavy office doors and gestured for me to enter. "Go on in." I stepped inside, my eyes locking onto the man sitting behind the grand wooden desk. My father, Alpha Andrew Madison. The moment I saw him, something inside me broke. The weight of all my regrets crashed down on me at once. "Dad!" I cried, running to him. I threw myself into his arms, my body shaking as I sobbed uncontrollably. Startled, he held me tight. "Sweetheart? What happened? Did Jay hurt you?" His voice was laced with worry and barely contained fury. I shook my head, stepping back to look at him. My father had always warned me about Jay, his stepson. I had dismissed his concerns, believing him overprotective. But he had been right all along. If only I had listened. "Then why are you crying? Who offended you?" he pressed. "No one," I choked out, wiping the hot tears streaming down my cheeks. "I... I’m just glad to see you, Father." I clutched his coat as he handed me his handkerchief. "I missed you so much." My voice cracked as I wrapped my arms around his n**k again, burying my face in his chest. I wished I could stay there forever, safe in his embrace. I had taken this man for granted my entire life. Never once had I told him how much he meant to me. Without Alpha Andrew Madison, Melody Madison was nothing. "I love you, Father," I whispered. "I love you so much." He stroked my back gently, letting me cry until I had no more tears left. I clung to him, inhaling his scent, savoring his warmth, desperate to convince myself that this was real - that I had truly been given another chance. I wanted to tell him everything - how Jay had betrayed me, how Agatha had never loved him, how Jay had killed him and, ultimately, me. But even if the shock of my rebirth had worn off, I knew no one would believe such a story. This time, I would not drag my father into my mess. I had sullied his reputation enough in my past life. It was time to stand on my own. "What is it?" he asked, his voice firm. "I will pave the way for you, no matter what you choose to do." I had taken advantage of that promise too many times before. Not this time. "It’s something I must do myself," I said quietly. "But you should know. I will not mate with Jay." The room fell silent. My father stiffened. "Ha! This child!" He let out a humorless laugh before slamming his hand against the desk. "After everything I sacrificed to get you that engagement, you come to me with this?" I raised my head, meeting his piercing gaze. Whatever he saw in my eyes made his anger falter. "Jay is not mine," I stated, my voice devoid of hesitation. He studied me for a long moment. "After all your endless talk of love, you suddenly realize this?" I nodded, bracing myself for his disappointment. "Your engagement ceremony is in a week, Melody. How do you expect to call it off now?" I looked away. I had only woken up a few hours ago. I didn’t have a concrete plan yet. But I knew one thing for certain - I had to sever all ties with Jay. "You are an adult now," he said, his tone softer. "If you had a quarrel with Jay—" "No, we didn’t quarrel." I swallowed hard. He murdered me. But I couldn’t say that. Not without sounding insane. "Melody..." My father exhaled, rubbing his temples. "Let’s assume I support this sudden decision of yours. What reason do you have to call off the engagement?" I met his gaze head-on. "My life is at stake."

Melody's POV "Care to explain why?" Andrew, my father, asked, his voice calm yet firm. I swallowed hard, gripping the hem of my dress. "Father, I don’t want to be engaged to Jay," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. I wanted to tell him the truth, that this was my second chance at life, that I had already made this mistake once before. But how could I? He would never believe me. "Princess!" A familiar voice called out. I turned, and my heart sank as I saw Agatha, my stepmother, entering my father’s office with Mr. Hall trailing behind her. Her smile was warm, but I could see through it now. It was fake, just like everything else about her. "What’s wrong?" she asked sweetly. "I heard you saying you don’t want to be engaged to Jay. What do you mean? You already agreed." I clenched my fists at my sides. In my first life, I had been naïve enough to believe she cared for me as a daughter. But I knew better now. "Mother," I said, keeping my voice steady, "I will not mate with Jay, nor will I marry him." "Melody…" Agatha began, but my father interrupted her. "Okay," he said simply. I blinked in surprise. "Okay?" He nodded, though I could see the discomfort in his expression. "It’s your choice who you marry." Tears welled up in my eyes. Even in my past life, when I had made terrible decisions, when I had trusted Jay and suffered for it my father had always stood by me. I had taken his love and loyalty for granted, and I had paid the price for my foolishness. "It’s not too late to call it off, is it?" I asked hopefully. But before my father could respond, Agatha’s voice cut in. "I already sent the invitations." My heart dropped. The entire kingdom would know by now. The engagement ceremony was set to take place in just a week, and hundreds of guests had been invited. The laws and traditions of our kind were strict, especially for alphas. Canceling the engagement wouldn’t just embarrass my father, it would force him to issue a public apology and pay a considerable sum to Jay as compensation. But knowing Jay as I did now, I was certain he wouldn’t settle for a mere fortune. He wanted more. My father’s pack was one of the strongest and wealthiest, while Jay’s was still small. Marrying me meant absorbing my father’s influence, solidifying his position. I gritted my teeth. I couldn’t let that happen. Reliving this life, I refused to drag my father into my mess again. There had to be another way. I took a steadying breath. "I’ll handle this, Father." He hesitated, concern flickering in his eyes. "Melody, if you don’t want to be engaged to him, if you don’t want to mate with him..." "I’m just being silly," I interrupted, forcing a smile. Agatha’s expression immediately brightened with relief. "Of course," she said with a knowing smirk. "It’s just nerves." I didn’t respond. Instead, I turned away, my mind racing. If I couldn’t call off the engagement publicly, I would have to convince Jay to back out himself. And I knew exactly how to do it. A sharp knock echoed through the room, and before anyone could respond, the door burst open. Mr. Hall, my father’s secretary, stepped inside with a composed yet urgent expression. "Alpha Jay is here," he announced. My father exhaled slowly, his face unreadable. "Send him in," he said. The moment Jay entered, he walked straight toward me with a sense of urgency, his grip firm but not forceful as he lightly grabbed my arms. His deep brown eyes were filled with concern. "Melody, what happened?" he asked, his voice laced with worry. My stomach twisted with disgust, but I didn’t pull away. "What happened?" he repeated, his brows furrowed. "You were supposed to meet with the designer today for your engagement gown." I lowered my gaze, feigning remorse. "I’m sorry," I said softly. "I forgot." I lifted my eyes to meet his, adding a slight pout to my l**s, playing the role of the innocent and scatterbrained fiancée. "You still have such a childish personality," Agatha remarked, her voice dripping with condescension. Agatha looked at Melody with a calculating smile. "Maybe it would be best if Jay started assisting with Madison Pack as well," she said smoothly. "And if Andrew retires, perhaps merging Madison and Merlot Pack would be the best option - especially since you’re not yet mature enough to handle it on your own." My father stiffened, and I saw the flicker of anger in his eyes. He was holding his tongue. "Mother," Jay said in a low, warning tone. He was annoyed, but not for my sake. He didn’t want Agatha drawing unnecessary attention to our dynamic, didn’t want her making comments that might raise suspicions. I looked at my stepmother in the eye. "There's no need for that," I said with a smile. "I will be the future Alpha of this pack." I could fell everyone staring at me in shock at my words. I couldn't blame them. it was not the kind of confident statement I would have made before. In my previous life, I had asked my father to turn over our pack to Jay, making him the Alpha of my family’s legacy. I had believed it was the right choice, but I had been wrong, terribly wrong. But now, in this life, I would never allow Jay to take control of my father’s pack. This time, I would be the one to lead. I would be the Alpha. "What suddenly changed your mind, Princess?" Agatha asked, placing a firm hand on my shoulder. Her voice was gentle, but I knew better than to trust her sweetness. She sighed, then continued, "You always refused to learn how to be an Alpha. You know nothing about leading a pack. So what’s wrong with letting Jay help you?" The first time this happened, I had been too naïve - too trusting. I had handed over all the power to Jay without hesitation, convinced it was for the best. My father had resigned at my request, believing it was what I wanted. But not this time. I took a small step back, looking up at Jay as I slipped from his hold. He watched me, his expression unreadable as I met his gaze head-on. "I want you to call off our engagement." The bombshell slipped from my l**s with eyes fixated on him.

When I dropped the bombshell, my father and Agatha immediately left my dad’s office, leaving Jay and me inside.Beating around the bush and cloaking words with more words never appealed to me, but I had long since mastered society’s habit of speaking in a roundabout manner. However, as I sat across from Jay, I felt no inclination to mask my words. With him, I had no interest in prolonging the inevitable. "That's not a funny joke." His voice was low, almost a growl. A shadow flickered across his face, darkening his features for a second. "Being my Luna isn't something you should joke about." He leaned back in his chair, crossing his muscular arms over his broad chest. "Does it seem as if I am joking?" I mirrored his movements, my gaze locking onto his. A thick lump clogged my throat when I leaned back, and almost immediately, discomfort settled in. Unable to hold such a sloppy posture, I straightened, my spine rigid. Jay broke eye contact first, exhaling sharply as he rubbed the back of his n**k. I curled my fingers together beneath the table, trying to still the trembling in my hands. "What is wrong with you?" His question caught me off guard. I flinched. "Alpha..." His upper l*p twitched. "Why do you call me Alpha now?" "It is—" "Ridiculous," he interrupted, shoving his chair back as he stood. He stalked toward the window, turning his back to me. In my past life, I called him Jay. Always Jay. I could still hear his voice from that moment, the sting of his words laced with irritation and pride: "Alpha, don’t be stubid, Melody. You must address me by title!" He had said it in front of a crowd, and the memory made me flinch all over again. Calling him by his name had always made me feel closer to him. So despite his promotion from an ordinary wolf to Alpha of the pack, I had stubbornly refused to be formal with him. It took years for me to convince him to call me by my nickname, years of familiarity and trust. We had been fine calling each other by our names, until that rift grew between us. A rift that caused him to sneer my name, to rebuke me when I failed to address him with his hard-earned title. "You fought hard to earn that title," I said softly, my voice steady despite the storm within me. "It is only fair that I use it when addressing you." His expression darkened as he turned to me. "Have you gotten cold feet?" "No." I inhaled deeply. "I simply do not wish to burden you with this mating." "Burden me?" He muttered the words under his breath, as if testing their weight. Then, his gaze sharpened. "Did I give the impression that I am burdened by this?" His thick brow arched, waiting for my answer. I swallowed hard. "I know you wish for your true mate," I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil in my heart. He scoffed, crossing his arms. "That was just an excuse to get the elders off my back about mating. Less than twenty percent of our kind ever find their true mates. Only an idealistic fool waits around for a soulmate they may never meet." Yes, I knew that much. He had used the idea of waiting for his fated mate as a shield against the elders, who constantly pushed their daughters on him. But Samantha’s arrival had changed everything. She had made him realize that, deep down, a part of him had always longed for his destined mate. "What if your mate appears one day?" I asked, searching his expression for a flicker of hesitation. "What would you do then?" His golden eyes gleamed with something unreadable. "I never thought you were the type to entertain such idealistic notions," he mused. Then, with a smirk, he added, "It confirms my suspicion - you’re having second thoughts already." "Alpha..." I started, but the words caught in my throat. Ha! Why did he suddenly have that infuriatingly large smile on his l**s? I despised the way it made my heart flutter. Even after everything, even after dying at his hands. I couldn’t harden my heart when confronted by a simple smile. Ah, Jay... after everything... When I had first woken up in my bed, confusion and dread had consumed me. I had died. I was sure of it. Yet here I was, alive. Closing my eyes only conjured up nightmares of my gruesome end - each one playing on repeat. In every dream, Jay’s sword plunged into my heart. But this wasn’t a dream. I went back in time. But I couldn’t tell anyone. Not only would they refuse to believe me, but they would also call me mad. Worse, they would see me as a disgrace, tarnishing not just my name but my father’s as well. The Goddess had granted me a second chance at life so I must live right. "In the future, you will meet your mate, and perhaps... I will too. It is only—" "Enough!" His voice was sharp, cutting through the air like a blade. I flinched at the sudden outburst, my words dying on my tongue. A strange look flickered in his eyes. Was it happening already? Jay had never yelled at me until Samantha came into the picture. As his best friend and his most loyal supporter, he had always treated me with a quiet reverence, a level of care that others envied. No matter how tense things became, no matter how much pressure weighed on his shoulders, he never raised his voice at me.

"Mels..." Jay started, but I cut him off. "Jay, we will not be good for each other," I interrupted firmly. His jaw tightened, his dark eyes narrowing, but I pushed forward, desperation clawing at my throat. "If you don't want to cancel the engagement party, we can at least postpone it. Just for a month…" "No," he interrupted, his voice cold and final. My pulse spiked. "Or even a week!" My voice wavered, but I forced myself to continue. Postponing wouldn’t be a bad idea. Samantha would show up before then so we would have a valid reason to call off the ceremony. But Jay remained unmoved. "I won't do that," he growled. He rose from his chair and, in one swift motion, dragged it closer to me before sitting down again. His presence loomed, his intense gaze pinning me in place. "You've prepared for this, Melody. I won't let you back out now just because you're afraid." Before I could react, he reached out, brushing a loose strand of hair from my face, his t***h far too intimate. "Afraid?" I echoed, barely above a whisper. "Yes," he murmured, his eyes searching mine. "I don’t know what you're afraid of, but I see it every time you look at me." His strong hands gripped my chin, tilting my face so I had no choice but to meet his gaze. I swallowed hard. "Melody, I know I rejected this idea at first, but now, I am certain. You are the perfect Luna for me and for my pack. I know you're afraid, Mels. Afraid of what Mother said, that you cannot lead. That you’re not fit to be Luna." Jay’s voice was gentle yet firm, his eyes locking onto mine with unwavering intensity. "But she’s wrong. With me by your side, you would be a perfect Luna. Not just for me, but for the entire pack. I believe in you, Mels. Even if you don’t believe in yourself yet." I stiffened at his words. "I know you're spoiled by Alpha Andrew," he continued, his voice softer now, almost coaxing. "I know it’s hard to step into this role. There are many responsibilities. But if there’s anyone who can do it, it’s you." A bitter taste coated my tongue, and my heart clenched painfully. "I don’t want to do it," I admitted, my voice laced with raw honesty. Jay exhaled slowly, his gaze darkening. "Permit me to hold your hands as you have held mine all this time." He reached for my hands, his palms warm and firm against mine. A strange shift in the atmosphere made my breath hitch. His t***h, though gentle, sent shivers down my spine. I had never seen this look in his eyes before. Affection? Devotion? No. There had never been a time Jay had looked at me like this. I thought back to how we used to be before everything fell apart. It felt like a lifetime ago. Back then, he was cold and distant from everyone else but I was clingy, and my affections had worn down his defenses. We hugged often, sat close to each other, and I never hesitated to rest my head on his shoulder. He would wrap his arm around mine, but never once did he look at me with anything more than friendly eyes. And now… His t***h sent a shiver down my spine, but not in the way it should have. It made me uncomfortable. Slowly, I pulled my hands away. He hesitated but let me go, his fingers lingering for a fraction of a second before slipping away completely. His eyes flickered with something unreadable. "You’re pulling away from me," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. I averted my gaze, unable to meet his. Jay sighed. "Why are you putting up a wall between us all of a sudden? There’s no reason for..." His words cut off abruptly, and my heart stuttered at the way his expression changed. His eyes darkened, his entire body tensing. "Have you fallen in love with someone else?" His question caught me off guard. Love? I almost laughed at the absurdity. I had been too busy drowning under the weight of this engagement to even think about love. But maybe… maybe this was my way out. "Yes." I lied through my teeth. Jay’s entire body went still. His gaze bore into mine, searching, demanding, but I kept my face impassive. "You... with who?" His voice was dangerously low, a quiet growl rumbling in his throat before shaking his head. "No, it doesn’t matter." He let out a humorless chuckle. "I know your feelings for me, Melody. And our engagement is in six days. We even invited the Alpha King." His words struck something deep inside me. Did he know of my feelings? Of course, he did. I had spent years hiding behind my father, using my position to push this engagement forward. And he had never reciprocated those feelings. Not once. But he had never hesitated to use them to his advantage. Jay leaned forward, his voice a whisper, laced with something dark and possessive. "You promised me, Mels. And I have no intention of letting you go." His eyes glowed with an emotion I couldn’t name, but it sent a shiver racing down my spine.