REBIRTH OF THE TRUE LUNA

CHAPTER 2: SECOND CHANCE

They all stared at her in shock.

“Leah, but you know my wolf—” Zev started with the same old excuse again, and she wanted to laugh. She had heard it in her past life. Whenever he wanted to spend time with Nina, he mentioned the wolf. He never rejected her as he promised, and soon she became his lover.

Leah was in a lot of pain, but she tried to remain composed. She truly cared about her people. This was another mistake of hers. Now that she had a second chance, she wouldn't make the same mistake twice. She had to send Nina away before it was too late.

Back then, Zev had told her that it was her decision and that her choice was wrong. Letting Nina stay behind for the sake of the group had been a grave mistake. Many people died because of it. And not just her. Leah’s eyes met her best friend Gwen's, and tears were about to spill.

Gwen was one of those who had lost her life as a result of Nina's plan. Leah had doubts before, but now she was certain. She would rebuke this evil once and for all.

“I said never,” she repeated, looking coldly at Zev. “I will find a good pack to take care of her. But she must not stay here. You will have to send her away.”

One question ran through her mind: why did Zev want to have this conversation in public? But now was not the perfect time to think about that. She had more important matters to deal with.

“Leah,” Zev said, his expression suddenly serious, stepping forward to face Nina, who had hidden behind him and was fidgeting. “Think about this. I found her myself and personally brought her here knowing she was my fated mate. I can't risk—”

“Zev,” she said quietly, “I also have my reasons. It's not like I’m asking for you to throw her out. I believe in your decisions, I always have. I know it won't be easy giving up your true mate, but we have been living just fine before all this. So like I said before, I will find a good pack for her.”

“I only want what's best for the pack,” Zev whispered, and Leah felt a glimmer of hope.

“If you want what's best for the pack, I suggest you do it now,” she insisted. “The longer you drag this on, the harder it will be. In fact, from what I can see right now, she’s already your weakness.”

Sighing, Zev turned to Nina and said quietly, “I'll make sure you are taken care of. I promise.”

Leah hadn't realized how tightly she was clutching the fabric of her dress. Could it have been that easy? Does this mean, if she had said no then, all those mishaps and deaths would have been avoided?

“I, Alpha Zev Sanders of the Crimson Moon Pack, reject…” her husband began in a low voice of determination as Nina knelt before him and began to cry.

“Please, no!” she groaned. “Please, don't do this, I'm still too weak! If you reject and send me away now, I might die! Please!”

Zev froze. He could not bring himself to continue his speech of rejection, staring wide-eyed at the pitiful girl kneeling before him.

“Please, Alpha!” she began to sob. Leah could have given her an applause. If she hadn't known who was kneeling in front of everyone, she would have bought the act immediately.

“I will be whatever you want me to be, Luna Leah! Please don't send me away! You can't do that!” Leah felt an electric shock upon hearing her name. She looked at Nina and stared at her with a gaze that stated—stop exaggerating, I know what your plans are.

“Please, Luna!” The girl continued to beg, still on her knees. "My fate is in your hands! I don't want to die!"

No one said anything, and the only sound in the room was Nina's pitiful sobs.

“My dear,” Leah decided to try one last time, “No one is going to kill you and there is no need to shed tears. We will take care of you, but not just here.”

“Please, Luna Leah!” Nina crawled towards Leah, grabbing the edge of her dress way faster before she could react.

“We—” Leah started to say, but a loud growl stopped her mid-sentence.

“That’s enough!” Zev roared, looking at Nina with his eyes glittering red, indicating his wolf was out.

“Zev, calm down,” Leah said firmly, yet another growl emerged from him as he was already furious.

“Not another word!” Zev appeared next to Nina in no time, lifting her from the ground and carrying her in his arms. “She is staying! We’ll find a way around it!”

He went up the grand staircase and led his mate to one of the guest rooms. Leah knew exactly which room he would take her to: the third floor, the second room on the right. It was the room he would eventually move into. Nina’s head was buried in Zev's neck as he carried her away, and Leah was sure it was no coincidence that she was now breathing on his neck, where a mate mark should be.

She couldn't help but touch her neck where Zev had marked her when she was eighteen. As she looked up again, she caught Nina’s eyes staring back at her in disdain. Leah knew she had lost today just like the last time.

Nothing had changed. What she said and did that day had nothing to do with the outcome of what happened. It was like a bad movie on repeat.

As Alpha Zev was finally out of sight, Gwen walked towards her. “Are you okay?”

Leah looked at her best friend, her dearest friend whom she had lost before. Without thinking, she threw herself into Gwen’s arms. After her parents died, she was the only person besides Zev she could trust with anything.

“Alright, alright,” Gwen stroked her long, chestnut brown wavy hair. "Everything will be fine. I'm sure he'll reconsider.”

She suddenly moved away from Gwen, realizing how the current situation may look to the pack members around. She had already lost her husband. There was no need for her to embarrass herself too.

“Let’s go to your room instead,” Gwen suggested. “We can talk about everything there.”

No, Leah did not need this conversation. She remembered it very well. Because they had already had it.

What she really required now was time alone to think. She needed to strategize and come up with a new plan.

She couldn't save her marriage, but she could still save her best friend Gwen, her pack, and her life.

“I can't talk right now,” she smiled at her friend, holding her hand, not believing that she was still here. "Let's talk about this another time. I still have a lot of work to do.”

“Next time?” Gwen’s eyes widened. “Are you serious?”

“Yes,” Leah smoothed out the wrinkles in her dress. “Right now, our Alpha is… busy and there is a lot pending.”

She gave her friend another warm smile and added, “Everything will be alright, Gwen.”

Leah locked the door to her room and tried to control her heavy breathing. It was too much! It was all too much for her. She needed to clear her head and think about it all. She needed a good plan.

But the room was too stuffy. And she needed air.

There was only one thing that could help her — to shift into her wolf form.

Leah went out into the woods surrounding the pack house, took off the heavy jacket she was wearing and tried to transform.

But she couldn't.

“Silver, are you there?” She spoke to her wolf for the first time since her sudden rebirth less than two hours ago, but there was no answer. It was unsettling. Silver had been there her whole life.

“Silver.” Leah called out again, but she was silenced. Enraged, she ran as fast as she could. She was still superfast and strong, which could only mean that her wolf was still present somewhere. She wasn't weak, but what was going on?