Defying Fate

1. Reborn

Lyra

I blinked my eyes harder, trying to adjust to the darkness that surrounded me. Every inch of my body ached forcing me to groan, only that no sound came out.

Memories flooded my mind, bitter memories of betrayal from the two people I trusted with my life.

Damon, my boyfriend ànd Selene, my best friend.

The feeling of cold steel penetrating my body and the burning pain of acid being poured down my throat made me gag and cold tears ran down my face.

That, however, does not compare to the pain of knowing that it's your loved ones who turned against you. And for what? For power?

It all started when, against countless warnings, I chose him as my matev Damon.

He fooled me into believing that he loved me when all he needed was my help and powers to become what he always desired to be; the Alpha.

I groaned again, the force of the pain forcing me to roll on my stomach as everything replayed in my mind like a broken record. The darkness was slowly closing in on me, a clear reminder that I was dying or perhaps…already dead.

“My child."

A sweet voice called and I perked my ears. My mother? But that didn't sound like my mother's voice at all.

A sudden assault of light flashed before me and illuminated a fairy: that's what came to my mind when I saw her. Her beautiful silver hair resembled mine, or at least mine before Selene convinced me to dye it. Her white flowing gown was a contrast to her sea blue orbs sitting proudly in her eye balls.

My eyes widened at the realization. The Moon Goddess? The woman of legends?

Werewolves are believed to be descendants of the Moon Goddess. Growing up, we were taught so much about her that it's easy to recognize her.

The Moon Goddess herself stood before me and for a moment, I didn't know whether to smile or be afraid.

Her luminous form cloaked in starlight and her eyes held a sadness I couldn’t understand.

“Am I... dead?” I whispered, my voice trembling.

That would explain why I was seeing her. After death, werewolves are believed to ascend and meet our ancestors before the cycle of rebirth starts.

“Yes,” she said softly, her words carrying a heavy weight, pressing down my heart.

I smiled, albeit deprecatingly. What was I expecting? To be a lucky damsel and be alive after the ordeal I suffered in the hands of Damon and Selene?

“But it is not the end,” she added but I ignored that part.

I felt tears prick my eyes and my nose went sore.

“They stole everything from me—my powers, my trust, my life. Why would you let this happen? Why did you abandon me?” I accused the beautiful woman before me.

I didn't know where I got the balls to question her considering that all my mother ever taught me was to respect the will of the Moon Goddess.

“I did not abandon you, Lyra. You are my chosen one. Your strength comes from the trials you endure. And now, it's time to be what you were meant to be,” she said, confusing me.

"And what's that supposed to be?” I asked and she gave me a gentle smile.

"For that to happen, you have to make a choice.”

“A choice?”

The Moon Goddess stepped closer, her ethereal glow enveloping me in a warmth I so much needed.

“I can grant you a second chance to rewrite your fate. But that will come with a price; defy your fate, the one you accepted in your previous life.” She offered and I frowned.

Defy my fate?

“What happens if I don't agree to it?” I asked in curiosity.

"Your soul will enter the world of the dead and as you know, after rebirth, you will start a new life with no memories of the old at all.”

I hesitated, the weight of her words sinking in. A second chance? Could I truly change my fate, or was I doomed to repeat my mistakes? My heart burned with anger at the memory of Damon and Selene’s betrayal. No, I wouldn’t let them win. Not this time.

“I accept,” I said firmly, my voice steady despite the fear gnawing at me.

The Moon Goddess smiled faintly. “Good. Remember, Lyra, you were not chosen because you are invincible. You were chosen because you are capable of rising after every fall. Trust yourself. Trust the bond that will find you.”

“The bond?” I asked, confused.

Her form began to fade, her voice echoing as the darkness dissolved around me.

“In time, you will understand. Now, wake up and reclaim what is yours.”

***

I gasped, my eyes flying open. The familiar ceiling greeted my eyes and my heart raced.

I recognized where I was at a glance: I was at my parents house, in my room. That realization had me rushing to the vanity table. Staring at the reflection in the mirror, I gasped. Silver messy hair and deep blue ocean eyes.

The conversation I had in my mysterious dream and my appearance jolted me to a realization. I had been reborn?

Tears of joy gathered in my eyes and I let them fall, freely.

I wiped my tears when someone knocked on my door. A moment later, my mother entered; a smile plastered on her face.

“Good morning, my Princess?” She greeted me and the tears I had wiped earlier streamed down.

“What's wrong Princess, feeling unwell?” She asked with concern and I threw myself in her arms, sobbing bitterly.

My mother had warned me severally that Damon and Selene were not good friends. I never listened to her warnings though - even moving out of the house to avoid her ‘nagging’.

At the end of the day, she died because of me. I killed my mom.

To stop her from interfering with their plans, Damon and Selene poisoned my mother. Back then, I blamed someone else for her death while the culprits laughed behind my back. That's among the many things those two confessed to before killing me.

Now that I know, I will never allow anyone to wrong my mother… or me.

Pulling away, my mother wiped my tears.

“Did someone make my precious baby cry? Who bullied my baby? Tell me and mama will make them pay," she asked and I smiled amidst my tears, smiling.

“I just missed you, Mama," I replied.

My mother smiled at me sweetly, gently pinching my cheeks.

"Look at you behaving like a baby. Didn't you kiss me good night last night? It's only been a few hours without seeing me.” She admonished me with an indulgent smile.

I resigned myself to staring at her with a smile, choosing not to answer. She wouldn't know that my stubbornness cost her her life.

“Freshen up and come downstairs, breakfast is ready." My mother announced, ruffling my locks affectionately.

She started walking to the door but halted midway, “ by the way, your friend is downstairs. She is waiting for you," I tensed hearing her words, my fists clenched.

The look on my mother however told me that she didn't like Selene for me, she always wore that face in the past when Selene came looking for me.

“I know Mama, she is not trustworthy and definitely not a good friend. I will keep that in mind,” I told her with a smile and she sighed before walking away.

In the past, I would get all defensive whenever she warned me about Selene. That made us fall out. This time, I swore to never make her sad.

I watched as my mother closed the door behind her, a calculative smile plastering on my face.

“Two people deserve my wrath and two people deserve my love in this life. I will make sure that they don't look at me with disappointment.” I promised myself.

If my guess is right, then my rebirth happened exactly one year ago when Damon asked me to be his girlfriend publicly.

“This time, I will be the mastermind. I will make you disgusting pigs pay for your betrayal and the pain you caused me,” I said and then wore a sweet smile for Selene.