Chapter 2
Alice
"My child!" I bolted upright, chest heaving, lungs screaming for air like they might explode.
My hand flew to my belly.
Flat. Nothing. No wound, no charred skin, no blood.
I held my hands up to the morning light, turning them over. Smooth skin. Unmarked. No shackle burns. No scars from the flames.
My eyes swept the room.
No dark forest. No Victoria's twisted face. No black-robed witches. Instead—beige wallpaper, dark wood furniture, silk curtains the color of champagne. A crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling.
And beside it, carved into the beam, an emblem: a wolf in profile, wreathed in laurel.
The Gray family crest.
This was my home. My room at Gray Manor.
But how? I died in those flames...
The door slammed open, crashing against the wall.
"Alice! Why the hell are you still in bed?" A shrill voice cut through the air. Mother stood in the doorway, three maids behind her. She wore deep purple, hair pinned without a strand out of place, makeup perfect and cold. Right now, she was glaring at me with a furrowed brow.
"Do you have any idea what time it is?" She stormed in, voice rising. "You know how important today is? And you're lying here in a daze? You want the whole family to look like fools because of you?"
My eyes went wide. I couldn't speak.
That face. That voice...
"Look at yourself!" Mother reached the bed, staring down at me with accusation burning in her eyes. "Get up and get ready! Now!"
I stared at her, mind reeling. Was this some dying memory? But why did it feel so real?
"What are you waiting for?" She turned to the maids. "Get in here! Dress her! Move! We're running out of time! Stop dragging your feet!"
The three maids rushed forward. They didn't care that I hadn't processed what was happening. One yanked off my covers. The other two grabbed my arms and hauled me out of bed.
"Wait, wait." I tried to resist.
No one listened. They started stripping off my nightgown, cold fingers pulling at the fabric with no gentleness, nails scraping my skin and leaving stinging red marks.
"Ah—"
One maid yanked the corset tight. Too tight. I gasped.
Pain.
Real pain.
Not a hallucination.
"Alice!" Mother's voice cut through again. "Wake up! Today is your one shot at something better in this life! If you screw up at this wedding, if you embarrass this family—"
She stepped close and grabbed my chin, fingers digging in hard enough to hurt. "You know what happens."
No love in her eyes. Just cold calculation and threats. To her, I was a tool. Something to trade for family advancement.
"I... I hear you." The words came automatically.
"Good." She released me and turned away. "Make her presentable! Don't let that ugly face of hers scare His Majesty!"
The door shut. The maids kept working. White wedding dress. Elaborate updo. Thick foundation.
I stood there, letting them move me like a doll, one thought circling my mind: This was real. The touch was real. The pain was real. Mother was real.
I... I'd been reborn. I was back on the day I married Cedric.
Three days ago at the pack's mating ceremony, the Moon Goddess had played a cosmic joke. She'd bound me—the ugly omega everyone despised—to the most powerful man in the kingdom. King Cedric.
I thought it was the beginning of happiness.
I'd loved him since I was seven.
I got lost in the forest that day. Wild beasts chased me. He saved me. Carried my injured body back to the pack.
From that day, I dreamed of becoming his queen. But my face bore a massive birthmark. Everyone said I was cursed. So I buried that longing deep. When the line of fate wrapped around Cedric and me, I nearly went mad with joy. I thought destiny had finally smiled on me.
But it wasn't the start of happiness. It was the beginning of my nightmare.
"Done," a maid said. "Lady Alice, we'll be leaving soon."
My brain was still foggy, but as they turned to lead me out—
I snapped awake.
No! I couldn't walk that path again. Couldn't marry him. Couldn't relive that agony. I had to leave. I would not marry Cedric! I shoved past the maid, grabbed my skirts, and ran for the door.
"Lady Alice?" The maid's cry rang out behind me.
I didn't care. I just ran. Down the stairs. Toward the main doors—
"What are you doing? Stop her!" Mother's voice boomed from the side, full of fury.
Guards at the entrance grabbed me. I fought, desperate to escape this place of suffering.
Mother charged over and seized my arm, nails nearly piercing my skin.
"What the hell are you doing, Alice!" Her voice shook. Her face went red with rage. "You're trying to run? You stupid girl! Do you have any idea what you're doing?"
"I won't marry him!" I thrashed against their grip, begging. "I won't! Mother, please let me go—"
She raised her hand like she'd strike me, but stopped at the last second. Her hand trembled in the air. Something flickered in her eyes.
"If it weren't your wedding day..." She spoke through clenched teeth, slowly lowering her hand. "I'd beat you to death."
She yanked me back inside.
"Someone!" she shouted. "Watch the lady! Take her to her room! If she tries to run again, break her legs!"
Several maids swarmed me, grabbing and dragging.
"No! Let go!" I kicked and fought. "I won't marry him!"
They hauled me back to my room and shoved me into a chair. Mother followed, pulling a small vial from her robes.
Pale blue liquid inside.
"Alice! This family didn't raise you to be an embarrassment!
" She thrust the bottle into my hand, voice cold as a blade.
"Tonight, you'll drink this. The family went to great trouble to find this potion.
It'll help you conceive the king's child quickly.
Once you have a child, your position as queen is secure. The family gets more power."
She leaned down, almost nose to nose with me. "You better not disappoint us! Get pregnant fast! Otherwise, you're completely useless!"
Child.
The word hit me like lightning. My body went rigid. All struggle stopped.
Child.
My child.
The one I'd hoped for. The one I'd lost.
My fingers slowly tightened around the vial.
"Yes," I whispered. "A child. I still have a child... my child..."
If I ran, I'd never conceive him. I'd lose him forever. But if I stayed, if I married Cedric again, I could have my baby.
This time I'd protect him. No one would hurt him. I'd take my baby and leave this pack. Leave Cedric. Leave everyone who caused me pain!
"What are you mumbling about?" Mother frowned, then huffed. "Fine. Pull yourself together!"
She turned to the maids. "Take her to the ceremony. Watch her. Don't let her make a scene."
I didn't resist anymore. I just clutched that vial tight. For my child, I would stay.
The outdoor sunlight was blinding.
Maids flanked me as I walked the white carpet stretching from the manor to the altar in the center of the square. White roses lined both sides.
Should've been beautiful. But I heard the voices. Whispers like hissing serpents from every direction.
"Moon Goddess above, look at her face..."
"That birthmark... disgusting..."
"How could the Moon Goddess choose her? Must be a mistake..."
"Poor His Majesty, having to marry that creature..."
I lifted my head and stared straight ahead.
Talk.
Say whatever you want.
This marriage wouldn't last anyway. Once I was pregnant, I'd leave immediately. Never come back.
I climbed the long steps and finally stood on the altar. Then I saw him.
Cedric wore his ceremonial robes, perfectly tailored to his tall frame. Dark blue eyes currently looking elsewhere—at the sky, at the distant mountains, anywhere but at me.
His jaw was tight, mouth turned down. His whole face screamed "I don't want to be here."
The moment I saw Cedric, the previous life flashed through my mind—him picking up Victoria without hesitation and leaving.
Never even glancing back at me or our child!
Leaving us to burn in those flames. Complex emotions surged through me.
Anger. Hatred. And an absurd impulse to rush forward and drag him to hell with me.
But no. I still needed to conceive the child. I had to endure. I took a deep breath, pushed down every emotion, and walked to his side.
The priest stood between us, holding a thick tome. He cleared his throat and began the prayers. "Under the witness of the Moon Goddess, we gather here to perform the sacred union of these fated mates..."
"Speed up the ceremony," Cedric suddenly cut in, voice low and cold. "Don't waste time. I have business to attend to."
He didn't even glance at me. My heart squeezed.
Damn it. I'd been through this once already. Why did my heart still hurt?
"May the Goddess bless this pair, grant them an eternal bond..."
The priest continued. I listened to those familiar words while images from my past life flooded my mind. I'd been so excited to become his mate. So hopeful about our future. I'd prepared for this wedding for so long. In the end, it just made me everyone's joke.
I smiled bitterly. When the priest got halfway through, Victoria's maid, Carol, would burst in, crying that Victoria was deathly ill.
Then Cedric would leave without hesitation. In my past life, I'd desperately tried to stop him. Grabbed his sleeve, begged through tears for him not to go.
He'd shaken off my hand and said coldly, "Victoria is sick. I have to see her. She's your sister. How can you be so heartless?"
Past me kept lying to herself. Thinking if I just gave enough care and attention, I'd earn his notice and love. Nothing but a joke.
This life, I would never fall for him again. If he wanted to leave for Victoria, I wouldn't stop him.
"Now," the priest looked at me, "Alice, do you accept Cedric Hilphia as your mate? If you do, please place your hands together and swear before the Moon Goddess."
I watched Cedric extend his hand.
I didn't move.
Just said coldly, "I do."
Silence fell. The guests gasped.
"Didn't you hear the priest?" Cedric's voice held suppressed fury.
I looked up at him. He stared at me, eyes flashing dangerously.
"I heard him. That's why I answered I do." My voice stayed calm.