Second Chance, First Love

Enough Evidence

ONE YEAR AGO

RAGNA

I could barely breathe with him this close, his weight almost fully pressed against me as we lay tangled on the bed. What had started as playful wrestling had somehow transformed into him hovering above me, his face mere inches from mine and our breaths mingling in the space between us.

“Don’t lay on me, you are heavy.” I teased, the smile on my lips betraying me.

“Really?” Raven lowered himself a little more till he was just a breath away from me. “Because.... I thought you loved me crushing you with all my charms.”

"You're such an i***t!" I gasped between giggles, playfully punching his chest with my fist.

He let out a loud laughter, the sound reverberating through his chest where my hand rested. Our eyes locked immediately and the laughter faded, replaced by just a simple smile. His hand came up to cup my cheek, his thumb brushing softly across my skin.

"But in all seriousness," he whispered, his voice dropping to that tone that made my stomach flutter, "I need you to know that no matter what happens, no matter what tries to tear us apart, I will never leave you. If you run to the ends of the earth, I'll follow. If you hide in the deepest ocean, I'll learn to breathe underwater. If you disappear into the stars themselves, I'll find a way to fly." His thumb traced along my cheekbone. "You're stuck with me, whether you like it or not. You will be the Luna of this pack when I ascend the throne in two days.”

“And if I run to the heavens themselves?” I chuckled and he laughed before placing a kiss on my forehead.

“I’ll find you still. That's a promise, and I don't make promises lightly."

Somehow, it felt so good listening to those words as it rekindled hope in me. I was just an Omega who had no idea of who my parents are or what my identity is yet I would be Luna in two days? We had just discovered we were mates eight months ago and i initially thought he was going to reject me since he was the next Alpha and i was just an Omega but he accepted me immediately, reminding me my condtion did not define me.

We stared at each other, the world shrinking down to just this moment, just us. His eyes held mine with an intensity that made time seem to stop. I could see myself reflected in those depths. The love and devotion in his eyes were bold, assuring me everything would be fine.

Everything was perfect until....

Pain suddenly lanced through my skull like lightning. I gasped, my body going rigid beneath him as the vision gripped me, pulling me away from our perfect moment and into something that felt like danger.

The sight hit me, ripping me from the warmth of his embrace and pulling me into what seemed like a nightmare.

“Saija, what’s wrong?” He questioned but I only heard it from a distance.

“Your mother....” I gasped and tried to push him off me.

“You don’t have to worry about that.” He placed a kiss on my forehead. “She knows how much I love you so it’s just a matter of time before she accepts us. You really do not have to worry about anything.”

“No....” I pushed him off violently, ignoring the fact that he tumbled off the bed and could have possibly gotten injured. I could see her clearly, his mom. She was trapped in a room, blood gushing out of her mouth. She was in danger yet only I could see it.

“No!” The words tore from my lungs as another wave of vision crashed over me, blood filling the floor like a pool. “She....she’s in danger. Your mom.... she’s going to die tonight. I....I have to find her.”

I didn’t give him a chance to speak before running, my bare feet slapped against the floor as I raced to her room. Behind me, I could hear Raven’s voice but I couldn’t stop running as the visions were getting even clearer. The doors to her room slammed against the walls as I burst through them, my heart racing so violently I thought it might explode,

“Luna Louisa!” I screamed, taking the marble stairs three at a time. “Where are you?”

The silence that answered was more terrifying than the screams in my head. I followed the copper scent of blood like a hound, my bare feet slipping on the polished floors as I raced toward the Luna’s private chambers. The door stood ajar and what I saw through that narrow gap made my soul shatter into a thousand pieces.

Luna Louisa laid crumpled on the rug, her silver hair fanned around her head. There was blood..... so much blood gushing beneath her still form, seeping into the patterns of the carpet and staining them.

“No, no, no.” I whispered, dropping to my knees beside her. My hands hovered over her body, afraid to touch, afraid to confirm if my visions were actually right.

“Luna, please.” I begged, gathering her into my arms. Her head lolled against my shoulder and I felt the warm wetness of her blood soaking through my dress. “Stay with me. Stay with me, help is coming.”

But even as I spoke, I could feel her life ebbing away like water through my fingers. I tried to grab her as her fingers brushed against something cold and sharp on the floor. It was a silver blade, its edge shining with fresh blood. Without thinking, I grabbed it as if removing the weapon could somehow undo the damage it had already caused.

That was the moment the doors exploded open.

“Mother!”

Raven’s anguished roar filled the chamber as he burst through the doorway, his father; Alpha Magnus and what seemed like half the pack thundering behind him. The sight that greeted them was one I knew would haunt me forever: me, covered in the Luna’s blood, cradling her dying form while clutching the murder weapon in my trembling hand.

The silence that followed was deafening. Time seemed suspended as dozens of eyes fixed on me with growing horror. I could see the exact moment when shock transformed into accusation and grief became rage.

I opened my mouth to explain, to tell them about the vision, to beg them to understand that I had tried to save her but the Luna chose that moment to draw her final breath.

“I.... I tried to stop her but she insisted on getting rid of the Luna!” Cassandra, Beta Roman’s daughter, spoke and a gasp escaped my lips. I looked guilty and I knew that was enough to damn me.