The One Who Returned To The Past

Chapter 02

Everyone froze.

It felt like the whole room stopped breathing. Every eye turned toward Annika. They couldn't believed what they just heard from her. No one expected their kindhearted Luna to quickly reject their Alpha's idea.

Jackson stared at her like he didn't recognize her at all. But Annika remained firm in front of him. His eyes were wide and slowly opened his mouth to speak.

"But my wolf..."

Annika stared at her husband and smiled bitterly. He was obviously using the same words to justify his actions and decisions that involved his true mate.

In her past life, she had heard that phrase so many times it was already burned into her memory. He would say the exact words every time he wanted to defend that woman.

His wolf couldn't stop wanting her. His wolf needed her. His wolf always wanted to see his fated mate. His wolf was dying to be with his mate. His poor wolf needed this and that.

And it had become his shield and his way of justifying his betrayal to their marriage. He used those words against Annika so she would rendered speechless and helpless in the end.

He had once promised to reject Katherine too. Jackson asked Annika to gave him enough time to cut his bond with Katherine. Annika agreed since they had both agreed it was the right thing to do. She could also understand that her husband must be having a hard time doing it.

But in the end, he never cut his bond with that omega. Instead, Katherine became his secret mistress.

And Annika, the true Luna of the Black River Pack, was left to clean up the mess of their Alpha while trying to hold a pack together that was slowly breaking apart.

But this time, things would be different.

Annika straightened her back even though her chest ached with pain from both past and the present.

In her past life, she had thrown herself into work to avoid feeling anything. She devoted herself to fix all the problems in their pack, to keep the pack strong and to keep her heart numb. But that hadn't saved her until the end.

But Annika had been given another chance at life and she would not waste it.

"Katherine will not stay here." she firmly said.

Not this time. Not ever again.

"But, Anne... Look, she has nowhere to go. We can't just let her..."

"You can." Annika calmly interrupted him. "We already talked about this. We will find her a good pack to take her in. But she will not stay here. You need to reject her like we agreed."

Jackson blinked and startled by her words.

"But..."

"Have you forgotten your own words? You said we will reject our mates once they appeared in front of us." Annika continued. "You said our marriage is more important, remember?"

The pack members shifted nervously around them. They were glancing at one another but still staying silent. Katherine hid behind Jackson while pretending to be weak and scared.

But Annika ignored her.

Now that she was back in the past, Annika was starting to realize a lot of things. It now bothered her why Jackson had chosen to talk about this here.

Was he testing her? Was he trying to prove something?

But it didn't matter anymore.

"Annika..." Jackson said while pulling Katherine in his arm. "Please think about this. My wolf is restless. He is losing control. You know what that means, right? I cannot—"

"Jackson." Annika interrupted him again. "Our pack is strong. It is one of the strongest in the country. We are also living in a peaceful era. There are no threats so we have no reason to risk anything. You are a powerful Alpha. You always have been. And I've always believed in you."

Her voice trembled slightly but she kept going.

"Rejecting your true mate won't be easy, I know that. But we will get through it together. As a family. Remember?"

He hesitated. For a moment, she saw doubt flicker in his eyes.

"It's just... I just want the best for the pack." he muttered although his voice no longer sounded sure.

Annika took a small step closer.

"Then do it. If you truly want that, then do it now. The longer you wait, the harder it will be. You already broke your word once, Jackson. Don't do it again."

Jackson's jaw clenched. Then he slowly blinked his eyes. It was a sign that he was starting to give in.

Hope flickered inside her heart. Maybe she could really changed everything before it all happened again.

Soon, Jackson let out a sigh. Then he looked at Katherine.

"I'm sorry. I will make sure you are safe afterward. I promise."

Annika's fingers tightened around her dress. Could it really be that simple? Could all the pain, all the loss and all the blood from her past be avoided with one firm decision?

"I, Alpha Jackson Lark of the Black River Pack, reject—"

"Please, stop!"

Katherine screamed and dropped to her knees while dramatically clutching her chest. She was sobbing so hard her whole body shook.

"Please! I-I'm still weak! If you reject me now, I will die! Please, Alpha! Please, Luna! I will do anything!"

Jackson froze. His hands clenched into fists.

Seeing him like this, Annika's heart sank in betrayal once again.

"I will serve you both! I-I can become your slave! Just please, don't kill me!"

Her tears glistened perfectly. Her voice trembled at all the right moment. If Annika hadn't already lived this once before, she might have pity her too.

"Please, my Luna!"

Katherine crawled forward and grabbed the hem of Annika's dress.

"Don't kill me! Spare me! I'll be your servant forever! I will spend the rest of my life serving you!"

Annika stared at her before she smile.

"Oh, dear. There's no need for this. No one will kill you. You will be safe. But not here."

"Please, my Luna!"

Before Annika could speak another word, a low growl filled the room. It was deep and dangerous.

"Enough of this!" Jackson roared.

His eyes glowed red. His wolf was taking over.

"That's enough!"

"Calm down." Annika sharply said.

But another growl erupted from him.

"I said enough!" Jackson shouted again.

Then he bent down and scooped Katherine into his arms.

"She will stay here! We will find another way to do that!"

Silence fell over the room.

Everyone watched as their Alpha carried the trembling omega toward the stairs.

Annika didn't have to ask where he was taking her. She already knew. He would bring her to the room next to his office. It was the room that would soon filled with Katherine's scent.

Katherine's head rested against Jackson's shoulder. Her face was hidden in his neck. Annika's gaze fell to the mark on her own. It was faded but still there. It was the mark he had given her when she was nineteen and foolishly in love.

Katherine turned her head just before they disappeared upstairs. Her tear-streaked face twisted into a victorious smile.

And with that, Annika understood.

Nothing had changed.

No matter how hard she tried, the story was still repeating itself again.

"Anne!"

Clea, her best friend, called her from behind.

"Are you okay?"

When she looked at her, Annika suddenly remembered a vivid scene. Clea was lying dead and soaked in her own blood. She was also victim of Katherine's schemes in her past life.

Without thinking, Annika hugged her tightly.

"Oh, Anne. It's all right,” Clea murmured while gently rubbing her back. "He will soon realize he's the wrong one."

But Annika knew better. Jackson would never abandon that woman.

When Annika finally stepped back, her expression was calm, her voice steady.

"I'm fine."

Charlie, the pack's Beta, looked at her sympathetically before raising his voice.

"Everyone, go back to your duties!"

Clea frowned.

"Let's go to your room. You need to rest."

"No." Annika quietly said. "I need some alone time to think."

"Alone? After what just happened?"

Annika smiled at Clea.

"Someone has to take care of the pack. Because apparently, our Alpha is obviously... busy."

Clea stared at her for a moment and sighed.

"You are such a workaholic."

Annika just smiled.

"Everything is going to be fine, Clea. Trust me."

When Clea finally left, Annika locked herself inside her office. She shakingly reached for a bottled water and drank all of it.

Her breathing was uneven. Her heart raced. Everything felt too heavy. It was too much.

She pressed her palms against the desk and closed her eyes. She was really back in the past. It was not just her hallucination. It was her reality.

So she needed to think. She needed to plan. She needed to find a way to protect the people she loved.

Soon, the walls felt like they were closing in. She needed some fresh air.

Annika left the office and stepped outside into the cool forest air. She quietly walked in the quietest part of the forest.

Annika stripped down and ready to shift. She wanted to feel the wild strength of her wolf again. So she closed her eyes and called for her wolf.

But nothing happened.

"Ruby?" she whispered.

Silence.

"Ruby!" she called again but louder this time. "Ruby, please show up!"

But still nothing. Soon, panic rose in her chest. She could feel her wolf somewhere deep inside. But it was faint. It was distant and unreachable.

Something was wrong.

Annika just stood there in the quiet of the woods. And soon, she finally understood something.

This second chance was not going to be simple.