Willow,
I opened my eyes, feeling confused. My mind was foggy and disoriented. What is going on? I felt a light headache, but it was fading away quickly. The confusion I felt was unnatural. A few moments ago, I must have been alright to find myself in this condition. I looked around and had a Deja vu feeling.
The grainy sand hurt my knees kneeling on the ground; I knelt in the centre, covered in dust, wounds and blood, while the guards surrounded me, half in their beast form, ready to strike. Was I the enemy? I searched my mind for answers but couldn't find any. The environment seemed unfriendly, so I did the only logical thing. I ran.
They chased me, and I pushed myself. I was confused. Why was I the enemy? What did I do? Fragments of memories reeled in my mind, but I was too afraid and confused to make sense of them.
"Hey!" I heard a voice and some growls. The guards were still chasing me, so I ran faster. I needed to get away as quickly as possible and leave now.
I moved fast and ran with all my might. While I moved through the woods, two trees fell before me, bringing me to an abrupt halt, and before I could figure out how to manoeuvre through the mess, the guards caught up with me. Against my better judgement, I knelt and placed my hand on the back of my head to surrender.
They wore me silver cuffs, and I followed them back to where I was running from.
I was back on my knees, and a familiar voice approached. She moved through the guards and stood in front of me. How could this be? Everything came back to me.
FLASHBACK.
I was on my knees and my hands were tied behind my back. The place was crowded and noisy, but I couldn't hear them clearly. I felt like I was under the water and the voices around me were muffled. All of a sudden I heard myself gasping drastically as if someone just dragged me out of water. Now the voices came strident. I raised my head and I saw those familiar faces, they all looked ferocious like some kind of monster, monsters that screamed “execute her” and It was time for my execution. Luna Aida wore her black clothes and wept bitterly, her lover comforting her as she rubbed her belly, crying for justice. The crowd shouted obscenities and asked for my head. They wanted me dead. There was no pity in their eyes. All I saw was rage and judgement. There was no one to speak for me or come to my rescue. The one person that could stop this was dead, and I was taking the fall for his murder.
"Execute her! Execute her!" I heard the cries of the crowd. They wanted justice, and they believed my death would give it to them.
The executioners put me on my knees, ready to lay my head. I looked at Aida where she stood and wondered if there was a soul in her. She walked to where I knelt, eyes focused on mine, revelling in her victory over me. She had succeeded. She had wanted me dead and gone for so long. I was a problem, an obstacle, and now she would finally get what she wanted. I bowed my head in defeat.
Aida lifted my chin so I could see her face. She wanted me to see her victory and accept it. No one could see the smug look on her face except me. No one could see the evil grin on her lips. She had won, and she knew it.
"You were too stupid and naive to think you would win, Willow. Look around you. How does it feel knowing you are about to take your last breath?" She linked me and then slapped me. She dramatically stepped back and pointed at me.
"I hope you burn forever for what you have done. My child will grow up without a father because of you," She wailed, and I was angry. I had a resolve at that moment. If I could do this again, I wouldn't spare her. I will make her pay for this and expose the real culprit. The woman had no regard for life. She was a monster.
I remembered everyone's face before they laid my head to be chopped off. I cried to the goddess for redemption and for her to save me. I cried for another chance, and everything went dark.
END OF FLASHBACK.
It all came to me, and I watched Luna Aida stare at me with confusion. She and her lover plotted against me and execute me to hide their secret. I felt rage rising, but I had to be careful. I realised I had been sent back in time. To the very moment, I was arrested for trespassing. Everything was just as it was.
"Behave, Willow, we are on a clock," my wolf, Raya, warned me, and I bowed my head. Raya sounded cold; I was just as dead inside as she was. There was no time for emotions. My mind wasn't foggy anymore. It was clear, and I knew exactly what needed to be done. I needed to expose her and her lover. I also had to find the culprit that killed the alpha. I had been given a second chance and one year period to succeed. I did not plan to fail this time.
"Look at me," Luna Aida said, and I looked up at her. I tried to control a growl. She took everything away from me, including my life, to keep her secret. I bet she would have spared me if I did not know of her affair. I was about to speak when I heard another voice.
"Don't hurt her," He said, and that familiar scent filled my senses.
My heart was racing as Alpha Christopher approached because I knew exactly what would happen. I braced myself for it. The universe made sure I would relive every moment again.
"Why did you run?" Christopher asked me sternly, and I dared not look into my mate's eyes.
"Are you dumb?" Aida asked me, and before I could speak, a guard hit the back of my head, and I fell forward, hitting the ground. There was malice in the blow. I guess they were angry I made them run.
"Don't do that again," Christopher warned the guy, and he apologised to his alpha. Christopher was friendly sometimes, and I knew this was the extent of his kindness.
"Why did you run?" he asked me again, and I managed to get back on my knees with my head bowed.
"I was afraid," I managed, and there was silence. I fought the mate's scent and locked away the longing in my heart. It was the bane of my life, and I knew I would have to live without it to survive.
"Very well then. What is your name, and why did you trespass?" He asked me the same question he had asked in the past, and I knew I had to answer so I did not get him angry. I guess my running did not alter much.
"My name is Willow Brooks. I am a lone wolf. I was travelling with my mother when Lycans attacked us. She is gone, but I managed to escape," I said, and people gasped at the mention of Lycans. Werewolf hated and feared Lycans, and I could not blame them; they were faster, stronger and more domineering than werewolves. They were like siblings that got the better genes.
"She is trouble, alpha. We have to throw her out," I heard a voice I never wanted to hear again. The treacherous Beta Mark Gilbert.
"No, we can't leave a defenceless lone wolf to survive on her own." Alpha Christopher said, repeating the same things he said in my past life.
"After here is the werewolf King's kingdom. Unless you return the way you came, and I doubt you want to. There is no need for you to be afraid. I will give you refuge here as long as you swear your loyalty to me, keep our laws, and follow our way of life, or else I might have to execute you for trespassing." He said, and he had stylishly made the obvious decision for me. I was determined to expose Aida and Mark. I was determined to succeed and redeem myself. I looked at the alpha and accepted the only choice available. I will try again.
Willow. I remained on my knees and swore my loyalty to the alpha, and the moment I was done, the head maid led me to a room allocated to me. People returned to continue their work. As I followed the woman who would soon introduce herself as Ingrid, a bitch and traitor, I planned my next move. I knew Christopher would make a show of the rejection to please his luna. I wasn't going to give them the opportunity to embarrass me like that again. I was given a modest room, the same as before. A single bed, a wooden chair by the only window where I could see the training field and garden, and a desk with another chair for paperwork, if any. The double-door metal locker that would hold nothing but my ugly work clothes stood tall next to the door that led to the bathroom. Luna Aida kept my work clothes ugly for her selfish reason. So while all the servants dressed nicely in lovely A-line skirts and fitted blouses showing their cleavage and curves, my clothes were oversized long dresses, somet
Willow, Christopher held his chest, and I touched mine but remained on my feet. His eyes asked me why but I did not care. He was going to do it to please his Luna anyway, so this was the first step to ending it. "Why?" Christopher linked me, and I knew it was because he did not want his luna to hear. It would have been great to tell him it was because I knew that was what he was going to do, but that would be stupid, so I said the only plausible thing I could think of. "I was late, you are already with someone, and it is clear you love each other. I would not want to come between the two of you or cause any problems between you and her highness," I said, and he was stunned, and I saw he was conflicted. "I accept," he said with difficulty, but the bond did not break completely. We were somehow still tied together, and I wondered why. "We have to do this publicly for everyone to see," Aida said, and Christopher shook his head. "There is no need," he said with difficulty, "she isn't
Willow. I finished in the garden. I noticed the Gamma paid attention to me, and Christopher didn't like it. I pretended not to notice. "See me in my office, Willow, in two hours", I heard Christopher's voice in my head. I did not know what to expect. This was different, but I remained focused on my mission. "Okay, Alpha," I said and walked away. The moment I entered my room, I exhaled. I could not believe how things went out there. He was bothered. The way his men stared at me bothered him, and it made him angry. Was he mad at them or me? I did not do anything wrong. Normally since he is hitched, I should try and find a second chance mate but here he was, being protective of me. "We need to be focused, Willow," Raya said, and I agreed. I was done for the day, so I decided to take a short nap. I woke up feeling pain in my chest. The pain was excruciating and blinding. It was incredible, but I dared not scream. I held my lips together, and tears streamed down my cheeks. They said cry
Willow, I woke up in the middle of the night with a troubled heart. While I thought of the past, specific questions gnawed at my mind. Why was I framed? I wasn't having an affair with Christopher; he did not show me love or interest. Why did Aida hate me so much, and why was Christopher Killed? These were questions I would have to find answers to succeed. Getting Aida and Mark out of Christopher's life was a daunting task that a crybaby good girl would not be able to achieve. I needed to succeed. I did not know what would happen if I succeeded, but I knew what would happen if I failed. I knew Aida wasn't good for him. I also knew he didn't love her. Their marriage was arranged by the werewolf king, and Christopher had to honour it because he was under the monarch. It was a way of the monarch showing he favoured Christopher, but I knew better. Christopher was the strongest werewolf alpha. The only reason he wasn't king was that he wasn't from the royal bloodline. The werewolf king mu
Willow. His scent filled my senses. The emotions were overwhelming. I had loved him in my past life, and I still did. I was never able to have him, and it hurt like hell. I removed the sheets from the bed, and he turned to look at what I was doing. "What do you want to do?" He asked, concerned. "I have to wash it. It has been stained." I said, and he was silent. "Is there anything you want to wash?" I asked him, and he shook his head. I piled up the dirty clothes and cleaned up the room. I made sure I stayed away from the dresser and vanity table. He remained in the room until I finished cleaning. When I was about to leave, he stopped me. "Were you seeing someone before you came here?" he asked me, and I shook my head because I knew I could be honest about that. "It has always been my mother and me. We often rendered herbal treatment services to people, but it had always been us. Our lifestyle did not allow me to date," I said, and he nodded. "Hopefully, you find this place com
Willow I woke up sweating and panting. Fate was making sure I did not forget what happened to me. I relived my execution and judgement in my dream, which did not feel pleasant. It felt like it had just happened, and I had just returned. Feeling the blade fall and everything going dark, the damnation brought back painful memories, and I began to weep. Why did that happen to me? Why didn't I live a normal life? I wept. I was glad that I was ahead of my foes, but the fact that they had won once still broke me. I remembered Christopher lying in his vomit in his office and Aida screaming. I had forgotten his words to me when I served his tea, but my dream had helped me remember. When I served the tea, he told me he would make everything right and that he knew the truth. I did not know what he meant by it, but he looked at me lovingly for the first time, and I had butterflies in my stomach. How could I have forgotten something so beautiful? The trauma had taken over completely. I sat up and
Christopher. Ingrid's words surprised me, but they made some sense. That was the only reason why she was pleading with Aida. I would be mad if this was true because she had put my pack in disarray. I could not go to meetings and train as usual. The three days were hectic, and the news about the loss of the pregnancy was heart-wrenching. I prayed for her sake that Ingrid was lying, but again, Ingrid had tried to frame Willow, someone she shouldn't have an issue with. Only Aida knew Willow was my fated, and that was because I told her. There was a possibility Ingrid was telling the truth. "Speak!" I ordered Ingrid, who had fear in her eyes. "You will allow her to tell more lies?" Aida said, trying to stop me. "Just now, you said you believed her. Why did you switch all of a sudden?" I asked Aida, and she was silent. There was no way this could be done in private because it was already a public show and the pack members deserved an explanation. Ingrid wiped away her tears but remaine
Christopher. I got a summon from the werewolf king two days after the incident. I did not need to guess what had happened. My wife must have reported me to her father, and he was calling me to settle the matter. There wasn't an issue to resolve, but I needed to honour his invitation, or it would be seen as disrespectful on my part. I stepped out of the shower in the morning and saw Aida lying naked on the bed, trying to get me to sleep with her. I was yet to forgive her for humiliating us in the pack. "I can't get pregnant like this, Christopher," She teased, and I smiled. "I guess you feel guilty for your actions. Unfortunately, I am not in the mood. Since you have decided to report me to your father, there is no need for reconciliation," I said, and her smile dropped. It was quite low of her to think that she could do this and everything would be okay. I left her to go to train in the garden. While I walked, I wondered what Willow was up to. Since the incident, she had stayed a