Ria slowly stood up, no longer paying attention to the little girl. Her mind replayed everything that had happened before this,her room, her bed and her eighteenth birthday,This had to be a dream.
A terrible, ridiculous dream.
She pressed trembling fingers against her forehead and slowly lowered herself back onto the tree root where she had awakened.
“Okay, Ria,” she whispered to herself forcing a shaky smile. “Go back to sleep and wake up in your bed The nightmare is over.”
She closed her eyes tightly and Suddenly someone grabbed her arm roughly.Ria gasped and her eyes flew open and noticed she is still in the same place and The same strange world.
“Have you gone deaf Charlotte?” an irritated female voice snapped. “Your husband ordered you to clean the rooms and you’re still sitting here doing nothing?”
Ria turned toward the woman gripping her arm.
She was tall and striking, with golden hair cascading down her back and sharp blue eyes filled with contempt.Ria slowly stood.
“I… I don’t belong here,” she said weakly, panic thick in her voice. “I don’t even know where I am,Married? I am not married.”
The woman burst into harsh laughter.
“Of course you don’t belong here,” she mocked. “You’re a worthless Luna.”
She released Ria’s hand dramatically and spun around before resting a possessive hand over her stomach.
“But unlike you,” she continued smugly, “I’m carrying the heir of this pack. Which means I need food, comfort and a clean room. So stop standing there and clean my chambers before Alpha Moon from the Royal Pack arrives. You know how important this alliance is.”
Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked away.
Ria remained frozen for several seconds.
“Pack?” she whispered in disbelief.
Completely confused, she slowly followed after the woman.
The enormous stone hallways stretched endlessly before her lined with silver torches and dark banners carrying strange wolf symbols.Voices echoed from an open room ahead.Ria hesitated before stepping inside.
“Oh, look who finally decided to show up,” a woman said lazily.
Ria looked up and froze instantly..
“Serene?!
Her voice echoed through the room.
The woman looked exactly like Serene… except older, fuller and dressed like royalty.
Ria stumbled backward in shock before rushing toward her.
“How are you here?” she breathed. “And why do you look—”
She stopped herself immediately for some moment and continued,
“How did you become so fat?”
Slap!
The blow landed hard across her cheek.Ria cried out as she lost balance and crashed onto the floor.
Pain exploded through her face.
Still dazed, she looked up slowly.
Alpha Klein stood beside the woman, fury burning in his eyes.
He approached Ria with terrifying calmness.
“Charlotte,” he said coldly, “you may disrespect yourself all you want but do not ever insult my Lunas.”
Lunas?
Ria’s stomach twisted.
“She is carrying my heir,” Klein continued sharply. “Something you failed to do despite countless chances.”
Ria stared at him in horror.
“No…” she whispered shakily. “No, this can’t be real, I was in London just Yesterday was my birthday and I went home,I remember going home.”Her breathing became uneven.
“I’m not married and even if I were, I would never marry someone like you.”
Klein’s expression darkened instantly.Before she could react he grabbed a fistful of her hair and yanked her upward violently.
Ria screamed.Pain shot through her scalp as tears filled her eyes.
“Stop.”
The command came from behind them. Instantly, Klein released her.
Ria collapsed back to the floor, clutching her head painfully.
Klein quickly straightened himself and forced a smile.
“Alpha Moon,” he said respectfully. “I didn’t expect you this early.”
Ria looked up weakly as a man stepped into the room.Tall,Dark-haired,Sharp jawline.
Cold gray eyes.Michael!!
Her breath caught instantly.
He walked closer and extended a hand toward her.Ria stared at him in disbelief.
“Michael…” she whispered.
He gently helped her to her feet.
“You gave me a gift yesterday,” she said frantically. “At my birthday party You remember me, don’t you?”
For one brief moment, Michael held her gaze.
Ria searched his face desperately, silently begging for recognition.But his expression remained unreadable.
Without answering, he slowly released her hand and stepped away.
Alpha Klein quickly gestured toward a chair.
“Please sit, Alpha Moon,” he said nervously before glancing back at Ria with irritation. “Forgive the embarrassment caused by my servant, Charlotte, She’s always causing trouble.”
Servant?Ria’s chest tightened painfully.
Klein continued speaking, trying hard to pull Michael’s attention away from her, but Michael remained silent.Still watching her.
Something flickered briefly across his face before he abruptly looked away.
Ria noticed it and somehow, that hurt more even more..Without another word, she turned and walked out of the room.
Her mind spun violently as she reached one of the open balconies overlooking the massive fortress grounds.
But halfway there, someone blocked her path.
Serene.
The woman immediately stepped back protectively, holding her stomach.
“Are you trying to hurt my baby now? she snapped. “
Ria stared at her silently.
“You need to understand something,” Kira continued smugly. “Nothing will ever make Alpha Klein choose you You’re barren, Charlotte. Completely empty.”
Her lips curled cruelly.
“You should leave instead of clinging to false hope.”
For several seconds, Ria said nothing.
Then slowly She smiled as Kira frowned slightly.
The softness in Ria’s expression vanished completely as she stepped closer.
“You know,” Ria said quietly, “you’ve always been like this Even in the other life I knew you in.”
Kira stiffened instantly.
“You always wanted what belonged to me.”
Ria let out a bitter laugh.
“So honestly? I’m not surprised to find you here as Alpha Klein’s precious Luna. Of course they’d choose someone like you to play the role of husband-stealing opportunist.”
Kira’s eyes widened.She looked genuinely shaken.
Ria leaned closer.
“But you can have him.”Her voice turned cold.
“I don’t know him. I don’t remember him. And I don’t even want to.”
She stepped back slowly.
“So congratulations, Serene… or rather Kira. Whatever name you’re using here.”
Ria turned and walked away.Kira remained frozen in place.Her heartbeat pounded violently against her chest as she stared after Ria in disbelief.
“What… what was that?” she whispered shakily. “Why did she suddenly change?”
“Luna Serene.”
A deep voice suddenly spoke behind her.Kira flinched hard as she turned immediately.
Alpha Moon stood there, watching her carefully as a calm smile rested on his face.
“My name is Kira,” she corrected quickly, lowering her gaze. “I don’t know anyone named Serene.”