The Sacrificed Luna

Chapter 3

“Vanyaaaaaa! Wake up, girl, or you’re going to be late for your own party!” A voice broke through the darkness.

Mom? I opened my eyes and saw the familiar walls of my childhood bedroom.

How did I survive the attack? Where’s Carrier? And the baby? I tried to reach out for Verona, but my wolf was silent.

I threw off the blankets, determined to find my child, no matter the cost. Carrier took him, so I’d have to find Carrier first. For the first time in my life, true hatred had taken hold of me.

As soon as my feet touched the floor, though, the door opened.

“What are you waiting for?” Mom clapped her hands happily. “Everyone is already here! It’s not every day a young woman turns 18.”

Wait…turning 18? I tried to remember my 18th birthday. Mom was wearing the same long flowered dress that day!

I turned her head slightly to check the mirror. Gone were the tired dark eye circles from months of morning sickness. So too were the fine lines at the corners of my eyes and lips. It was like I’d aged backwards 10 years.

Not “like” – I HAD aged backwards 10 years. I had been reborn in my 18th birthday! Oh, thank you, Moon Goddess, for this second chance! Tears of gratitude filled my eyes, and Mom saw.

“Oh sweetie! You must be overwhelmed! I was, too, on my 18th.” She started tearing up as well. I slid into her arms like I did when I was a kid and hugged her.

“OK, that’s enough!” She laughed and wiped the tears from my cheeks, then her own. “We can get sentimental later. Not when everyone is waiting. Where’s your dress?”

We quickly worked together to get my hair, makeup and outfit all ready, then hurried to the party.

The yard was full of people: friends I hadn’t seen in years, faces missing following border fights, family that had returned to the Goddess...I didn’t just have a second chance at life, but to spend time with those I loved and missed.

One face stood out though. The one I missed most of all.

“MASON!” I ran to my brother and threw my arms around him, squeezing him as tightly as I could. Fresh tears streamed down my cheeks and I hoped my mascara was waterproof. “They let you come? What about the border patrol?”

“Easy, sis!” He smiled and ruffled my hair. “Of course, I came back. Wild horses couldn’t keep me from my baby sister’s 18th birthday and first shift!”

“Vanya! You look incredible!” I cringed when I heard Carrier’s voice. Just the sound of my name on his lips was like hearing nails on a chalkboard. But I knew that if I wanted to get my revenge, I’d have to play nice for now.

He came into my view, younger, leaner, and cockier. He wasn’t even Alpha yet, but you couldn’t tell from his attitude. He leaned in to kiss me, but I pulled away. There was no way I was going to let that disgusting murderer touch me!

“What? I'm not allowed to kiss my beautiful girlfriend on her birthday?” He tried to play it off with a joke. But knowing what I knew now, his affection was obviously insincere. I couldn’t believe I’d been so blind!

“Sorry. I forgot to brush my teeth”, I replied coolly, hoping my excuse was believable. Carrier shrugged. Naturally, he didn’t care.

“Well, I have your gift, but you have to wait until later.” I winked at me and rejoined the crowd. I shuddered as I remembered what I’d seen in my former life.

“Are you OK?” Nellie, Mason’s mate, came up to me once Carrier left. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost!”

I had seen a ghost. A ghost of my previous life, and the pain and hatred it had caused.

I put on the brightest smile I could muster. There was no point in trying to explain, but I was formulating a plan. I’d been given a second chance, and I wasn’t going to waste it. I would get my revenge on Ted and Carrier, and live for myself this time! I was going to find my true fated mate!

“I’m fine! Just a little overwhelmed.” I hugged Nellie, then continued to greet my guests, but I kept one eye on Carrier the whole time. I saw him flirt with other she-wolves, then briefly disappear with Ted. He was so brazen – how had nobody found him out?

Later in the afternoon, everyone gathered at the long table that held a tall, tiered cake, decorated with blue and gold, my favorite colors. Throughout the day, I’d been quietly anticipating this moment. The moment when I’d take a new path that would lead me to happiness and vengeance

“…Happy birthday to youuuuuuuuu!” The song ended, and I blew out the 18 candles on the huge cake. While everyone was applauding, Carrier got on one knee and opened a small blue box.

“Vanya, will you marry me?”

I looked at the huge diamond, and into Carrier's brown eyes. Even when he was supposed to be madly in love, I could now see that he never wanted to marry me. I hated him so much for what he’d done to me and my baby. I hated him for shaming me in our own home, and most of all, I hated him for making me believe that he loved me.

I no longer saw the gorgeous and powerful heir that she had fallen in love with. The party vanished as my mind flashed with the memory of my mate being f****d by his Beta in his office.

This time, I wouldn’t make the same mistake.

“Well…?” Carrier said, shifting uncomfortably on his knee. “What do you say?”

I looked around at the faces around me. My friends were grinning and mouthing ‘Say yes!’ behind Carrier. Mason and Nellie were smiling and holding hands, happy for their little sister. Even my parents looked pleased. Carrier had everyone fooled with his cruel trick, not just me!

Then, I spotted Ted, who couldn’t hide the contempt that was written all over his face. I looked back to Carrier and said what I should have said in my former life:

“No.”