When Destiny Brings A Second Chance Mate

Chapter 18

SOVIA’S POV

Ding Dong!

My heart sank into my stomach as I heard the bells from the Moon Chapel.

It was right at the center of Babel State. I could hear every sound echoing over and over.

Today was my wedding to that monster.

Two days ago, Zadekiah had turned me down.

My mother must have gotten hold of the information. Guards patrolling along the hallway had increased.

Everywhere I went, eyes were on me.

She wasn’t wrong because last night I had planned to run away.

Obviously it failed, because now I was here—trapped against my will.

Now I didn’t have the luxury to hope that a miracle was going to happen.

The door opened. I shut my eyes, hearing footsteps lining up from behind me.

“My lady—it’s time to get dressed.” Nanny Nicola placed the wedding dress on the table.

It was still the same stupid dress from my past life.

I had tried to get Janova to pick something else that day, but he was so adamant on this one.

Does it mean past events cannot be changed?

“Alright,” I whispered, rolling a hand over my arm and hugging myself.

My mother had kept Lydia away from me. She must have noticed that we were getting a little too close. I hadn’t seen Vanessa, except for the few times she was asked to call me down to breakfast and dinner.

I stood like a statue as the maids kept padding me with different layers of clothes.

The corset snatched my waist so hard I could barely breathe.

“You look beautiful, my daughter.” My mother placed a kiss on my cheek. My wolf stirred with discomfort. I pushed the lump down my throat. “Thank you, Mother.”

She took my face, smiling even more, fingers stroking with tenderness.

In my previous life, she had done the same gesture. “Smile, Sovia. A woman’s mating ceremony is the happiest day of her life.”

And she wasn’t wrong. At that time, I was grinning ear to ear at everyone.

Five years down the line, I realised it was all fake.

“Everything is useful about you. Your family treasury, your grandfather’s business.” I lifted a brow at her, remembering what Janova said to me.

I knew the Henric bloodline was wealthy, but those words never sat well with me.

Did he marry me to get access to my grandfather’s business?

Strange, because even I didn’t have access to it either— except my mother was hiding something.

My mother was still smiling. Suspicion crept into my spine.

“Mother — you should head out now. I’ll be getting down shortly.”

She chuckled, pinching my cheek. “Silly. You’re already prepared. Let’s go. We wouldn’t want to keep Prince Janova waiting. The marriage must happen today.”

Before I could respond, she grabbed my wrist and pulled me forward. I stumbled after her.

In Babel State, for women to be considered of legal age was twenty. They could wed their mates and also… claimed their inheritance.

But there was a problem with this system: the husband had legal grounds to the inheritance as long as you were married into their family.

My heart jumped. A wave of excitement flooded my chest. Was that what this was?

I had some inheritance stashed away, and my mother wanted to get her hands on it through Janova?

It was insane, but it was the only conclusion.

I looked up to see my father standing at the Moon Chapel entrance.

Red hair slicked backward, his suit clung to his body.

Seeing me approach, struggling to lift my dress, he gave a low smile.

“Here, let me help.” My father crouched, helping with the length and setting it carefully so I could walk easily.

He's always been cold. Distant. He never spent time with me as much as he did with Lydia.

A part of me loved the attention, but everyone was watching, giggling and smiling.

They all thought I was the luckiest girl. Doting parents, marrying the most handsome man in Babel State—the future crown prince.

It was a dream come true.

But this is a nightmare.

My mother leaned to my ear. “Don’t do anything stupid and ruin everyone’s day.”

I frowned, because that was the plan. No way would I let myself be manipulated into this sham a second time.

I inclined my head, voice turning cold as I gripped my bouquet of white diamond roses glittering between us.

“You’re selling your daughter off, the least you can do is be less shameless.”

She gripped my wrist, digging her nails into my skin. “Smile. You’ll be the future Luna Queen of Babel State. Cheer up.”

“And what makes you think Janova is going to be Alpha King?”

My mother’s gaze dropped. I beamed a smile.

They took everything from me—there’s no way I’ll let them get what they wanted.

Anything they desire—I’ll crush it and toss it right into the wind. Snuff every layer of hope they have before it materializes.

I scoffed, determination twirling from within, taking my father’s hand as we started walking down the aisle.

The marching tone was slow, soft, and steady. The kind you only hear at royal ceremonies.

I looked toward the altar and there he was—Janova.

When he smiled, it felt like we were back in our old life, back when he was my everything.

I squeezed the rose as heat burned against my vision.

My father handed me over to Janova. My heart pounded with fear because a few more seconds and my fate would be sealed.

My wolf stirred uneasily, a low whine vibrating in my chest at

the familiar scent that once made my knee weak

Janova’s hand stroked gently over mine. His eyes softened as he whispered, “My Luna, we’ll soon be bound as husband and wife.”

Goosebumps raced through my skin. The words sounded romantic in our past life. Now they were more of a threat. A death sentence.

Gazing at the crowd, I searched for that man for nothing.

Zadekiah didn’t show up. Even in the past, It was the same

My eyes landed on Blossom, a few paces from the altar. She sent a small wave with a smile like she was cheering for me.

Janova pulled me further to the altar before I could respond.

We stood side by side facing the high priestess, dressed in a pale white robe with crystals adorned on her hair clips that trailed between her hair length. Her face radiated with warmth as she smiled.

She held out the book containing ancient laws and customs.

“We are gathering here today to witness the mating union between…”

Her voice faded as I stared into space.

Was I going to let this happen? Be tied to Janova again?

Divorcing a royal member was nearly impossible. An Alpha King was a death sentence.

I stared at Janova hard. My chest pounded from the anxiety as he kept squeezing my palm.

My wolf howled restlessly within me.

Moon Goddess, may this not get me killed.

“Prince Janova Lockham, are you willing…”

“I am.” Janova snapped before the priestess finished her words.

The priestess cleared her throat. “Someone’s eager to bed his mate.”

The hall crackled with laughter.

I frowned.

Foam soaked at the back of my tongue. Sweat dripped from my palm, burning hot as the priestess fixed her gaze on me.

“Lady Sovia Henric, are you…”

“I’m not.” I clipped.

A dreadful silence settled. All eyes widened. Some flickered with confusion.

“What is happening?”

Janova growled, grabbing my arm. “What are you doing?”

My father stood up, chair creaking on the floor. “Sovia Henric…” He warned.

The dirty plan played inside my head, twisted and cruel.

“Janova…” I rasped, letting my face fall with false pretense. I pinched my side so hard tears swamped my face.

I blinked, forcing the tears to roll.

“So… Sovia… What's going on? Are you crying?” Janova stuttered, trying to get a view of my face.

I sniffed. “I’m sorry. But I can’t marry you because…”

“Because of what!” He asked, voice laced with impatience.

I placed a hand on my stomach, and met his eyes. My wolf howled restlessly inside me as Janova took a step back, head tilting in confusion.

I stepped forward “I’m pregnant…”

Janova’s nose flared. “And the father?”

“It’s… it’s your brother—Prince Zadekiah.”

“What?”

The door creaked open with a loud, noise. instinctively everyone's attention shifted.

I swallowed, squeezing my stomach.

A figure emerged from the blinding sunlight. My knees nearly buckled.

"why was he here?"