Lunaris Ascending

Chapter One

To Rewrite a Fate

***

The carriage rattled over the uneven stone path, each jolt a harsh reminder of the second chance I had been given. I stared out at the city before me: Ortheos, the Werewolf Kingdom, steeped in centuries of history and prosperity, forever basking in the moon goddess’s blessing.

We were currently in the First Ring of the city, Solmire—home to the most powerful noble houses, my own included, and the Royal Family itself.

And it looks exactly as it did: three years ago…

The confirmation of my return sent a ripple through me, but excitement quickly began to overshadow the initial shock. I remembered little about my death and the events leading up to it, but two facts remained crystal clear;

First: My cruel bastard of a husband, the Prince, had hunted me down after I finally summoned the courage to leave him. Had he killed me? It made the most sense, given the hazy fragments of memory.

Second: There had been a voice in the darkness before I woke—speaking of destiny. Of a second chance. A chance to change my fate.

I sat rigidly, fists clenched in my lap, breathing out slowly. My thoughts swirled around the slivers of memory I had, each one sharpening my resolve.

One thing was certain: I would not fall into the Prince’s clutches again. Marrying him was not an option in this new life.

An ambitious thought—almost laughably so—considering I was currently en route to the Royal Palace for the official announcement of our engagement.

Avoiding this fate would not be easy.

House Dain was the most powerful noble house in the Werewolf Kingdom, second only to the Royal Family. Our legacy, forged over generations, secured us a place at the pinnacle of Ortheos. It was only natural that a daughter from our family would be chosen as the next Luna Queen.

An added advantage? That daughter was the heiress to House Dain—me.

In my past life, I’d been honored by the opportunity. Grateful. Naïve.

A fool, blind to the trap laid before me and the years of torment that followed. The Prince had broken me in ways I still couldn’t bear to recall. But I needed those memories now. I needed the pain. I needed the rage.

Because this time, I would not be the lamb led to slaughter.

I can do this…I can change my destiny…

Through the small window, the Royal Castle loomed, its towering spires casting long, skeletal shadows in the midday sun. It was the same as it was three years ago. Nothing had changed.

But I had.

This was my prison once, a place of nightmares that still haunts my memories…but never again. Not in this life or any other…

Clenching my fists tight, I turned my gaze to the grand entrance as we approached, my breath hitching at the sight of it as a sharp pain shot through my skull. My vision blurred as an onslaught of flashes filled my mind.

Darkness.

The cold bite of iron shackles against my wrists.

The Prince’s laughter echoing off the stone walls.

The searing pain of a silver whip lashing across my skin, my voice hoarse from my screams.

Hatred. Vengeance consuming my very soul as I vowed to escape.

I returned with a gasp, jerking back against the carriage seat. The violent memory was gone as quickly as it had come, leaving behind a pounding heart and a bitter taste in my mouth. Sweat pooled over my forehead as I tried to calm my fast-beating heart, ignoring the phantom pain on my back as best as possible. I had not anticipated the flashbacks to be so vivid, but I filed the information in the back of my mind for the future.

Calm down, Astraea… It's just a memory, albeit a violent one, but a fragment of your past life all the same…

The carriage lurched to a stop, confirming our arrival, and the footman swiftly and efficiently opened the door.

This is it…the beginning of your future. You can do this…Remember who you are: the heiress of House Dain. You have been trained for this moment. You know how to play the game better than anyone…

Letting the reassurance wash over me, I schooled my expression into one of practiced indifference as I stepped out, lifting my chin as the guards flanking the castle gates bowed in greeting.

In my last life, I had never wielded the full weight of my title. I’d focused on being the perfect wife, the ideal Luna Queen.

Submissive.

Loyal.

Obedient.

Not this time.

This time, I would wield every weapon in my arsenal.

Nobility thrived on appearances. Especially House Dain. Our strength came not only from the power in our blood as werewolves, but from centuries of ruthless strategy and political maneuvering.

I had to be calm. Calculated. The obedient Astraea I once was—at least for now.

I know I was a little off balance earlier today with mother, but I cannot afford to make any mistakes here…

Straightening my back, I channeled the confidence that had been ingrained into me. As I ascended the grand marble steps, my attendants followed behind me, silent and efficient.

The familiar scent of polished marble and incense filled my nostrils, every step triggering a memory from my past life, but thankfully, none were as brutal as the one from the carriage.

The double doors of the throne room loomed ahead. They opened with ceremony as I approached, revealing a sea of nobles gathered for the King’s announcement.

Every eye turned toward me.

Many of them had accepted the invitation, eager to witness as two of the most powerful Houses in the Kingdom were united.

I also know that many of them are here with hopes that I make a mistake bad enough to set their daughters up to take what supposedly ‘belongs’ to House Dain, and inasmuch as I am tempted to give them what they think they want, I would never bring shame to my family and my House…even if I know that my parents would do anything for me– including breaking off the engagement and taking up the backlash that came with it.

They did that in my past life, showering me with love that I never thought possible after all the pain I had endured. They had been broken when they learnt the truth of my suffering, blaming themselves for putting me in the clutches of the Prince.

Their vow to protect me had been true as they used every single ounce of their influence to pull me out of the Palace. They had helped me escape– a feat that seemed impossible– and they had paid the ultimate price with their lives. A price they had accepted wholeheartedly.

Their death had been the catalyst of a fierce battle between the Nobles, with those supporting our faction opposing the Royal faction. There was a lot of death and destruction in the wake of this, the same that probably, ultimately, led to my own death.

I refuse to let them sacrifice their lives for me again…I will protect them, just as they protected me. And, to do that, I will find another way out of this, one in which my family and my House continue to stand at the pinnacle of power and influence…one in which my parents are safe…

My gaze strayed to them presently as they stood near the front, their faces carefully neutral as befitting the Heads of House Dain. They had come earlier, setting the stage for my arrival as they mingled with the rest of the Houses and the King himself.

Beside them stood my siblings, my younger brother and the second born son of House Dain, Azerion Dain, and my younger sister and the last born daughter of House Dain, Evadne Dain.

My gaze met my sister’s own, and I held back my surprise at the venom concealed behind Evadne’s well-practiced smile. How could I have ever missed that before?

She wants to kill me.

My lips curled in the faintest hint of amusement.

Not if I get to you first, little sister.

“Presenting Lady Astraea Dain, daughter of Lord Enzo Dain and Lady Ayla Dain, Heiress to the esteemed Noble House Dain,” the herald called, his voice echoing across the room.

I stepped forward, past my family, each movement measured, every breath steady.

The throne came into view. King Valerius of Ortheos sat upon it, unreadable as ever. His sharp eyes tracked me as I sank into a flawless curtsy.

“I am honored to be in your presence, Your Majesty. Thank you for allowing this beautiful day to come to pass,”

The words stung as I said them. Every syllable tasted like ash. But I had learned my lesson. This was a game—and I would play it better than anyone.

“Rise, Astraea,” the King said smoothly. “We are honored to be graced by such a startling beauty. You truly are the realm’s delight. The Celestial Rose, indeed.”

My breath hitched at the sound of the nickname that I had been dubbed so by the Kingdom and nobility, an uneasiness I couldn’t explain even if I tried sweeping across my body as I did as he asked.

His calculating gaze swept over me, lingering just a moment too long. A chill ran down my spine as I subtly watched him.

The King had always been a mystery to me, even in my past life. Whilst I was certain that he probably knew about what the Prince did to me, he had been too preoccupied with strengthening his power and dominance over the Kingdom to care much about my suffering. He was cold and calculating, that much I was certain of, but I also knew that there was probably so much more to him than meets the eye.

And until I amass more information, I am going to listen to my gut and be extremely wary of the man…He did, after all, order the killing of my parents at the behest of the Prince in my past life…

Speaking of the literal devil, Prince Lysander, my betrothed, stood beside his father with an air of arrogance and great achievement around him.

The sight made my stomach turn.

Golden-haired, blue-eyed, dressed in the finest silks, he looked every bit the perfect Prince the Kingdom adored.

But I knew better.

I knew what lay beneath that charming smile. I had the scars to prove it, after all.

The King raised a hand, silencing the murmurs in the room.

“Let us begin. Lady Astraea Dain, you stand before the court today as the future Luna Queen of Ortheos.”

I bowed, a perfect display of deference despite the fire that scorched my veins and lit my soul from the very inside. It was a foreign feeling, one I latched onto to help me through this farce of a summons.

I will NOT marry him.

“My son is eager to strengthen the bonds between your house and the crown,” the King continued, his voice laced with something I couldn’t quite place, and yet I filed it away to mull over later as I focused on keeping my cool. “And I trust you will be a loyal, devoted bride.”

My fingers twitched at my sides despite my best efforts to hold back my true emotions.

Loyal?

Devoted?

What a f*****g joke.

I forced a demure smile, noting silently my need to work on keeping my rage in check for the future. I couldn’t afford any slip-ups, and a well-trained eye would probably be able to see beyond my walls.

Not the royals, though, and definitely not the self-absorbed Nobles.

“It is an honor, Your Majesty.”

I caught the smirk that flickered across Lysander’s lips that seemed to fuel my rage further, but I held myself together, channeling all the restraint that had been ingrained in me as a daughter of House Dain.

He thinks he has won, huh? Well, let him bask in what he believes to be Victory before I shatter his dreams and destroy him.

I felt my little sister’s gaze on me even without turning around, her barely restrained rage clear in her brown eyes.

Seethe, dear sister. It’s my turn now.

I lowered her head just enough to hide the gleam in my eyes as the rush of excitement, vengeance and more flooded my being. This was my second chance. It was my turn to finally find happiness, and I would do everything to ensure that I did.

Even if it means destroying all my enemies.

This is only the beginning…

***