Anika's POV:
My last memory was the sight of Chalmers's face, contorted in a mask of horror and disbelief I had never seen before. He was screaming my name, lunging toward the furnace at the crematorium. Then, everything went dark.
A blast of cheerful music and the high-pitched shrieks of children ripped me from the darkness. I gasped, my eyes flying open. My head throbbed.
Colorful balloons and streamers filled my vision. A giant banner hung across the room: "Happy Birthday to Our Little Prince Nate!"
I froze. Nate's birthday party? That was a year ago.
A small, warm hand tugged at the sleeve of my dress. A soft voice, a voice I thought I would never hear again, trembled with concern. "Mommy? Are you okay? You look sick."
My head snapped down.
I saw her face. The face carved into my soul. Kira. My daughter. She was staring up at me with her wide, worried hazel eyes.
She was alive. She was warm. She was real.
A strangled sob escaped my lips. I dropped to my knees and pulled her into my arms, crushing her against me with a force that made her squeak in surprise.
I could feel the warmth of her small body, the steady, rhythmic beat of her heart against my chest. I buried my face in the crook of her neck, greedily inhaling her sweet, milky scent.
Tears streamed down my face again, but this time, they were tears of pure, unadulterated joy.
"Mommy?" Kira's voice was muffled against my shoulder, a little scared now.
I loosened my grip, cupping her face in my hands. I scanned every inch of her, my eyes drinking in the sight of her perfect, unblemished skin, her bright, curious eyes.
I was back.
The Moon Goddess... she had actually given me a second chance.
My gaze swept across the party. I saw Harriet Mercer, preening in a pink dress, laughing with the other Pack mothers. She was the center of attention.
I saw Nate, surrounded by a mountain of presents, smugly showing off a new toy to the other wolf cubs.
And I saw him. Chalmers. Standing a few feet away, watching Harriet with that familiar look of warm approval.
The pain, the bitterness, the suffocating rage of my previous life flooded my senses.
A cold, sharp smile touched my lips.
Good. Everything was still in time.
I looked at Nate, and a secret I had uncovered after Kira's death surfaced in my mind. In my past life, while sorting through my meager belongings, I had found an old diary of Harriet's. It detailed everything. Nate wasn't her adopted son. He was her biological child, the product of an affair with another Alpha.
Harriet Mercer. You used a bastard child to play house with my husband, to steal his affection and his resources, and in doing so, you let my daughter die.
Chalmers Mccormick. You blind, arrogant fool. You doted on another man's child while your own flesh and blood faded away.
This time, I would make you all pay.
I took Kira's hand and stood up, my spine straight and rigid.
Kira sensed the change in me. "Mommy," she whispered, "your eyes are scary."
I looked down at her and forced a reassuring smile. "It's okay, baby. From now on, Mommy will protect you. I won't let anyone hurt you ever again."
Just then, a commotion broke out. A young cub, running too fast, had bumped into Harriet, spilling a glass of bright red juice all over her pale pink dress.
The little boy looked terrified, on the verge of tears as he stammered apologies.
Harriet smiled graciously, saying, "It's alright," but a flicker of annoyance crossed her eyes.
Chalmers immediately strode over. He didn't spare a glance for the frightened child. His gaze landed on me, his brow furrowed.
"Anika," he said, his voice carrying an edge of command. "Take care of your guests. Come and help Harriet clean this up."
His tone was casual, as if he were speaking to a servant.
I looked at him. And I smiled. In my past life, at this exact moment, I had rushed forward, apologizing profusely, and had been "forgiven" by a magnanimous Harriet.
But this was not my past life.
