She was betrayed, reborn, and given a second chance-not for love, but for justice. Will her vengeance consume her, or will she rewrite her destiny? Betrayed by her mate and best friend, Lira's life ends in a pool of her own blood and broken dreams. Her mate's rejection and the loss of her unborn child shatter her soul. In her dying breath, she calls upon the Moon Goddess for justice. The goddess answers, granting her rebirth-but not as the weak mate she once was. Now reborn as Nora Moonblood, Luna to ruthless and fearsome Alpha of their pack, Lira must navigate a web of loyalty, revenge, and new love. With her past life's memories intact, she sets out to unravel shocking truths about her past, her death, her present and forge a path of vengeance. Will she bring her betrayers to justice or find healing in her new life?
The goddess's light shines brightest when shadows grow darkest. In death, I find her whisper, and in her whisper, the promise of vengeance.
*********
I sit alone in the cold, hollow silence of the Beta quarters, my hands cradling the gentle swell of my belly. Three years. That's how long I've tried to win Cain's heart. Tried to make him see me as more than an obligation, more than the mate the goddess destined for him. Three years of love poured into a man who looks at me like I'm dirt under his boots.
The fire crackles softly in the hearth, a weak attempt to warm the void he left when he stormed out earlier. He didn't even look at me before he slammed the door. Not a word. Not a touch. Not even the acknowledgment that our child, his child, grows inside me.
My chest tightens as tears sting my eyes.
You have to stay strong for the pup, Lira. My wolf, Red, whispers the mantra she says to me daily.
But strength feels like a cruel joke when the father of my pup treats me like a ghost.
The sound of muffled laughter cuts through the stillness, pulling me from my thoughts. It's faint, but it's coming from the direction of Cain's study. A knot forms in my stomach as I rise, my bare feet padding silently across the floor.
The closer I get, the clearer the voices become. One of them is Cain's, deep and commanding even in his rare moments of amusement. The other is higher, feminine. Familiar. My pulse quickens as I push the door ajar, the sight before me shattering the fragile walls of my world.
Cain is there, his shirt half-unbuttoned, his arms wrapped around her. Claire. My best friend. The woman who stood beside me during my mating ceremony.
My breath catches, a choked sob escaping my lips before I can stop it. Their heads snap toward me.
"Cain..." My voice trembles as I step inside, my hands shaking. "What are you doing?"
Claire smirks, a cruel twist of her lips that turns my stomach. Cain doesn't bother to pull away from her. His icy gaze pierces me, filled with disdain rather than the guilt I hope to see.
"Lira," he says flatly, as though I'm nothing more than a bothersome servant.
"How could you?" My voice cracks. "I've given you everything-my love, my loyalty, our child-"
"Stop." He cuts me off, his tone sharp and dismissive. "You've given me nothing but weakness."
I stagger back as if his words are a physical blow. "Weakness?"
Claire laughs, the sound like shards of glass scraping against my ears. "Face it, Lira. You're pathetic. Did you really think he'd stay tied to someone like you? You couldn't even give him a strong heir."
The room spins. I clutch my belly protectively, the pup kicking as if sensing my distress. "Cain, please," I whisper, tears streaming down my face. "For the sake of our pup-"
Cain steps forward, his expression unrelenting. "I reject you, Lira," he says coldly. "You are no longer my mate. Claire is stronger, smarter, beautiful, useful and everything you're not. She's the one I want."
Before I can process his words, he pulls Claire closer, baring her neck. My stomach churns as his fangs elongate, sinking into her skin. The bond I've clung to for three years snaps like a frayed string, leaving me hollow.
"No!" I scream, lunging toward him, desperation driving me. "Cain, don't do this! Our pup-"
Claire shoves me back with surprising force. "Don't you dare touch him," she sneers. Her hand flies out, slapping me hard across the face. The impact sends me sprawling to the ground. My head hits the edge of the desk, and pain explodes through my skull.
I taste blood as I gasp for air, clutching my belly. The scent of iron floods my senses, and I look down to see crimson pooling beneath me.
"Please," I choke out, my vision blurring. "Cain, save the pup... Save our pup..."
Cain's cold gaze meets mine one last time before he turns away, pulling Claire with him.
"Let her die," Claire says over her shoulder, her voice dripping with venom. "She and that bastard pup aren't worth saving."
The door slams shut, their laughter echoing down the hall as my world fades to black.
The full moon hangs high in the sky, its light filtering through the shattered window. My blood seeps into the floor, staining the wood with the last vestiges of my life.
The pain dulls as darkness creeps in, but I fight to keep my eyes open. "Goddess," I whisper, my voice barely audible. "If you can hear me... give me the strength to avenge my pup. Let me be their reckoning."
The moonlight grows brighter, bathing me in its glow. My chest rises and falls in shallow breaths as the world around me disappears.
*********
A sharp, piercing noise jolts me from the void. It's distant at first, then grows louder, pounding against my skull like a relentless drumbeat. My eyes flutter open, and a blinding light makes me squint.
Where am I?
The air smells different-cleaner, crisper, tinged with the faint scent of wildflowers and something I can't place. My body feels... strange. Lighter. Stronger.
I try to sit up, but my limbs feel foreign, as though they don't belong to me. My hands tremble as I lift them into view. The skin is smooth, unblemished, and oddly pale.
My hair...
I reach up, fingers brushing against locks that are no longer the fiery red I've known all my life. They're silver, shimmering like threads of moonlight.
Panic sets in as I glance around, my vision still blurry. The room is grand, far more luxurious than anything in the Moonblood pack. Velvet drapes cascade from the high ceilings, and the floor beneath me is polished marble.
I'm not in the Beta quarters. I'm not even sure I'm in the same realm.
A soft giggle breaks through my haze, followed by a chorus of whispers.
"She's awake!"
"No, don't touch her yet!"
"But I want to see her eyes!"
The voices draw closer, and I turn my head slowly, each movement sending a dull throb through my temples. Three small figures come into focus-children.
Two boys and a girl, their faces filled with a mix of wonder and excitement. They're not much older than five, their wide eyes glistening like stars.
"Mama is awake!" the girl exclaims, her voice bright and full of joy.
The word hits me like a bolt of lightning. Mama?
Before I can react, the darkness rushes back in, pulling me under once more.
Bound by a contract, torn by the past, and tested by fate--is a second chance at love worth fighting for? Vanya Moon never imagined she would marry the man who once broke her heart. But when Rex Patterson, a billionaire with icy charm, offers a deal to save her brother's failing business, she has no choice. Their marriage is strictly business, yet old feelings resurface-passion, pain, and a love neither can forget. As hidden truths emerge and family pressures mount, their fragile bond is tested. When Rex discovers Vanya's secret-twin sons he never knew-he must fight to win her trust and reclaim their love. Will their second chance be enough to heal the wounds of the past?
Melanie married Ashton out of gratitude, but she quickly found herself entangled in a web of relentless challenges. Despite these struggles, she stayed true to her commitment to the marriage. In the hospital room, Ashton indifferently attempted to draw her blood, disregarding her discomfort. This callous act was a harsh revelation for Melanie, awakening her to the grim reality of their relationship. Resolved to prioritize her own welfare, she decided to sever ties. With newfound resolve, Melanie filed for divorce. In the process, she unveiled her concealed identities, leaving everyone in shock. Throughout these turbulent times, Melanie realized that Derek, Ashton’s uncle, had been discreetly protecting her all along.
The night before her engagement, Valerie was tricked by her boyfriend and stepsister into spending the night with a stranger. After the night together, the man vanished. Later, her boyfriend accused her of cheating, revealing his affair with her stepsister. Pressured by her father, Valerie married an unconscious man in place of her stepsister. Valerie exposed the scheme, sabotaged her father's ambitions, and transformed herself. When her husband woke and chased her to the airport, she calmly refused him, saying, "It's over between us." He held her firmly. "You married me, so you must commit."
She was a world-renowned divine doctor, the CEO of a publicly traded company, the most formidable female mercenary, and a top-tier tech genius. Marissa, a titan with a plethora of secret identities, had hidden her true stature to marry a seemingly impoverished young man. However, on the eve of their wedding, her fiance, who was actually the lost heir to a wealthy dynasty, called off the engagement and subjected her to degradation and mockery. Upon the revelation of her concealed identities, her ex-fiance was left stunned and desperately pleaded for her forgiveness. Standing protectively before Marissa, an incredibly influential and fearsome magnate declared, "This is my wife. Who would dare try to claim her?"
Rumors claimed that Fernanda, newly back with her family, was nothing more than a violent country bumpkin. Fernanda just flashed a casual, dismissive grin in response. Another rumor suggested that the usually rational Cristian had lost all sense, madly in love with Fernanda. This frustrated her. She could tolerate gossip about herself, but slander against her beloved crossed the line! Gradually, as Fernanda's multiple identities as a celebrated designer, a savvy gamer, an acclaimed painter, and a successful business magnate came to light, everyone realized they were the ones who had been fooled.
As a simple assistant, messaging the CEO in the dead of night to request shares of adult films was a bold move. Bethany, unsurprisingly, didn't receive any films. However, the CEO responded that, while he had no films to share, he could offer a live demonstration. After a night filled with passion, Bethany was certain she'd lose her job. But instead, her boss proposed, "Marry me. Please consider it." "Mr. Bates, you're kidding me, right?"
My name is Katia, and I am just trying to survive until my fated mate arrives. Which may be easier said than done. Rejectection is the last straw. Whispering my acceptance of his rejection. I run through the pack house, out across the manicured lawn into the forest. "I'm sorry, my sweet girl," I say to my wolf. I'm sorry you have been stuck with me and have had to suffer everything I have. She whispers," it's not your fault, Katia. We came to a cliff with a waterfall. The hurt keeps pounding at me. I need it to stop. My sweet girl, and I just want peace, I keep running and leap off the cliff. Spreading my arms wide, with tears streaming down my face, I fall, not making a sound, waiting for sweet oblivion where we feel nothing ever again. "I love you, my sweet girl! Until we meet again, "My wolf replied just before we hit the water, "I love you too, Katia. I have never regretted a moment with you." The Snow Moon pack is having their last barbecue of the summer next to the waterfall on their land. The adults are laughing and joking while watching the pups play. The alpha, beta, and gamma are swimming with some of the older children and playing a game of Marco Polo. Someone yells, "Oh my goddess, someone just jumped over the waterfall!" Everyone is frozen as they watch what looks to be a child falling arms spread wide, no one makes a sound. The small body hits the water like a plane crashing into the side of a mountain. The alpha, beta, and gamma, spring into action, swimming towards the area the person went under. The alpha is screaming his wolf is going crazy repeating, "Find her. Find her...find her!" They dive and the beta surfaces with a small person in his arms. Alpha takes the girl from his beta, laying her on the ground. The men are shocked by what they see. She is covered in scars and injuries. Her body is twisted and broken. The Beta asks, "Who could have done this to someone so defenseless?" Alpha drops to his knees, repeating, "MATE...MATE...MATE!"