In her previous life, Alayna Griffin suffered the worst betrayal: her mate, the Alpha of the powerful Blackridge clan, marked her before rejecting her for another, leaving her alone and humiliated. Wrongly accused by her manipulative rival and persecuted by the pack, she died in an accident while carrying the clan's heir. But the moon offers her a second chance. Returning to the past, before everything changed, Alayna is determined to never be a victim again. This time, she will take revenge on the lies, regain control of her destiny, and claim her place as the true Alpha. However, an unexpected danger looms: Kael Storm, the most fearsome Alpha on the continent, begins to take an interest in her. His heart of ice hides secrets darker than the night itself. Why does Kael persist in protecting Alayna? What lies behind his piercing eyes and ruthless aura? Will the pack survive the flames of vengeance... or will Alayna burn her wings by defying the laws of pack and destiny?
Chapter 1 Chapitre 1
Alayna suddenly opened her eyes, breathing short, as if she had just escaped drowning. Everything seemed strangely familiar, and yet terribly different. Her hands shook as she clenched the sheets between her fingers. A soft light came through the thick curtains of his room. This light... she knew this feeling, this place. The delicate scent of lavender hung in the air, a reminder of a bygone era. Her heart was pounding as she slowly turned her head towards the wall. There, a frame, a photo of her at eighteen, smiling shyly, was placed on the dresser.
- No... she whispered, sitting up suddenly.
She jumped out of bed, her bare feet meeting the soft carpet. Her reflection in the dressing room mirror froze her. Her long blonde hair cascaded around her face, her complexion slightly pale, but intact, without any trace of scars or marks she had worn like trophies in her previous life. She raised a trembling hand to touch his face, feeling the softness of his skin.
- What...what's going on?
His voice resonated, but it seemed younger, clearer. Everything in this room screamed the past. The decoration, the objects, even the smell. She rushed to the window and pulled aside the curtains. Outside, the garden of his childhood stretched as far as the eye could see. His mother's rose bushes, carefully tended, the bushes trimmed... everything was as before.
She stepped back, her breath coming short. It was impossible.
Her heart exploded in her chest when she heard a voice coming from the hallway:
- Alayna , hurry up! You're going to be late for your workout!
It was his father's voice, loud, authoritative, like a whiplash. His throat tightened. She hadn't heard that voice in years. He was dead, murdered during an attack on their territory. But there, her voice was alive, resonant, full of that coldness that she knew so well.
She took a step back, stumbling against the edge of the bed. The door opened suddenly, revealing an imposing figure.
- Alayna , I told you to get up! You're not going to waste your time daydreaming today!
She looked up at him. It was him, her father. Younger, less marked by wars and losses, but still the same man. His severe features, his piercing gaze. Her body tensed automatically, like a reflex she couldn't control.
- Dad... she breathed, her voice trembling.
- Don't call me that with that pathetic tone. Come on, get moving.
The door slammed behind him, leaving her alone. She stood still, her legs refusing to move. She took a deep breath, trying to calm the tremors that shook her.
- It's impossible... I'm dead. I saw my own end.
She remembered everything with chilling clarity: the betrayal of those she loved, the dagger stuck in her back, the pain, the darkness... then nothingness. But now, here she was, standing in this teenage bedroom.
She sank onto the edge of the bed, hands in her hair. Was it a dream? A second chance? If this was real, then it would all start again. She knew what awaited her: plots, lies, and above all, loss. A thought struck her like a bolt from the blue: her baby.
She instinctively put a hand to her stomach, but it was flat, lifeless. She closed her eyes, tears burning her eyelids. In her previous life, she had discovered her pregnancy too late, after everything had been taken away from her. She had lost this child before she could even protect him.
- Not this time, she whispered, her jaw clenching.
She stood up, her eyes shining with new determination. She refused to be a victim again. If she had returned to the past, it was for a reason. This time she was going to change things.
She opened her bedroom door and walked towards the bathroom. Under the harsh light, she examined her reflection. Every detail confirmed that she was in the past. A dull rage rose within her. It was all a cruel joke, but she would use it.
When Alayna came down to the dining room, the tension was palpable. His father, seated at the head of the table, was reading a report, while his mother, quieter than ever, prepared tea. The woman already seemed broken, crushed by her husband's demands.
- You're finally here, his father growled. Eat, we have a lot to do today.
Alayna observed every detail of this familiar scene. How many times had she experienced this moment? How many times had she lowered her head to avoid her father's harsh remarks? This time she raised her chin.
- I want to talk about patrols, she said firmly.
His father raised an eyebrow, visibly surprised.
- Since when do you have a say?
- Since I'm a future Alpha.
The silence that followed was icy. Even her mother stopped in her tracks, her gaze fixed on her. Alayna felt a heat rising within her, but she remained calm.
- I thought a lot, she continued. Our borders are poorly monitored. This is a weakness our enemies could exploit.
- Our enemies? repeated his father with a mocking smile. You think you know everything, don't you?
Alayna crossed her arms, refusing to give in to his dismissive tone.
- I just want to prevent what happened to the northern pack from happening to us too.
She knew that this pack had been attacked in her previous life, and the consequences had been disastrous. If she could convince her father to act now, she could avoid this tragedy.
- Very good, his father finally said. Show me what you're worth.
This response was unexpected. Alayna felt a mixture of satisfaction and apprehension.
Later that day, she found herself overseeing patrols with several warriors. Although some of them looked at her skeptically, she ignored their whispers. She tried to stay focused, analyzing every detail, every weakness in their defenses.
- You seem different today, remarked Theron , a loyal warrior.
- Maybe I finally understood my responsibilities, she replied with a slight smile.
But deep down, she knew it was just the beginning. She had to rebuild everything that had been destroyed and protect those she loved, even if it meant confronting the demons of her past.
As night fell, Alayna returned to her room. She stood in front of the window, looking up at the stars with new determination.
- I won't let anyone stop me, she whispered.
And thus, the first stone of his new destiny was laid.
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