The Reborn Luna's Revenge

"You're nothing but a weak, pathetic excuse for a Luna!" Michael's words hit me harder than his fist ever could. Blood dripped from my split lip as I lay on our bedroom floor, my body too weak to stand. The room spun around me. "Get up, Ava," he growled. "The investors are coming for dinner. Make yourself presentable." I touched my swollen belly. Three months pregnant, and he didn't know. How could he? He hadn't touched me in months, too busy with his mistress, Sophia. The last thing I remembered was the sharp pain in my abdomen. Then darkness. When I opened my eyes again, everything was different. The pain was gone. The blood was gone. And I was standing in front of a mirror, staring at myself from three years ago. My heart raced. This couldn't be real. "Luna Ava, Alpha Michael is waiting for you in the conference room," a voice said behind me. I spun around to see Beth, my assistant. Beth who had died two years ago in my timeline. Beth who was now very much alive. "What day is it?" I whispered. "March fifteenth, Luna. The day of the merger announcement." My legs nearly gave out. March fifteenth. Three years before my death. The day Michael first brought Sophia to our pack as his "business advisor." The day my nightmare began. But this time, I knew what was coming. "Tell Alpha Michael I'll be there in five minutes," I said, my voice surprisingly steady. Beth nodded and left. I turned back to the mirror, studying my younger face. No bruises. No hollow cheeks from barely eating. My eyes still had life in them. I was the daughter of the Silver Moon Pack's former Alpha. I had given up everything to marry Michael and unite our packs. In my first life, I'd been too naive, too trusting. I'd believed his promises of love and partnership. This time would be different. I walked into the conference room with my head held high. Michael sat at the head of the table, his dark eyes scanning documents. Even now, knowing what he would become, my traitorous heart skipped a beat. He was devastatingly handsome – tall, broad-shouldered, with jet-black hair and sharp features that belonged on a magazine cover. "You're late," he said without looking up. "By thirty seconds," I replied coolly. His head snapped up, surprised by my tone. In my previous life, I would have apologized immediately. "The Northern Pack representatives will be here soon," he said, studying me with those calculating eyes. "I need you to—" "Smile, look pretty, and keep quiet?" I finished for him. "I know the drill, Michael." He frowned. "What's gotten into you today?" Before I could answer, the door opened. My blood turned to ice as Sophia walked in. She was exactly as I remembered – stunning red hair, emerald eyes, curves in all the right places. The woman who would eventually take everything from me. "Michael," she purred, her hand briefly touching his shoulder. "The Northern Pack just arrived." In my previous life, I'd ignored the way they looked at each other. The subtle touches. The knowing smiles. I'd been such a fool. "Sophia, this is my Luna, Ava," Michael said, his tone dismissive. "Ava, Sophia is our new strategic advisor." "Advisor," I repeated, tasting the lie. "How interesting. What are your qualifications, Sophia?" Both of them looked shocked. The old Ava never questioned anything. "I have an MBA from—" Sophia started. "That's not necessary right now," Michael cut her off, his jaw clenched. "Ava, we need to focus on the meeting." "Of course," I said sweetly. "After all, appearances are everything, aren't they?" The meeting went exactly as I remembered. The Northern Pack wanted to invest in our territory's new casino development. Billions of dollars were at stake. Michael charmed them effortlessly while I sat silently, the perfect ornamental Luna. But this time, I paid attention to every detail. Every document. Every number. Every secret look between Michael and Sophia. After the representatives left, Michael cornered me in the hallway. "What the hell was that about?" he demanded, his hand gripping my arm. I looked down at his hand, then back at his face. "Let go of me." "You're my Luna. You don't speak to me that way." "I'm your wife," I corrected, yanking my arm free. "And I'll speak however I choose." His eyes flashed dangerously. "You seem to have forgotten your place." "No, Michael. I've finally remembered it." I turned to walk away, but his next words stopped me cold. "Your father would be disappointed." My father. The man who'd arranged this marriage before his death, believing Michael would protect me. If only he knew the truth. "My father is dead," I said quietly. "And his opinion died with him." I left Michael standing there, his face a mask of fury. In my previous life, that look would have terrified me. Now it only strengthened my resolve. That night, I couldn't sleep. I knew what was coming. In two days, Michael would announce Sophia as his official advisor. In a week, they'd start their affair. In a month, he'd start hitting me. But not this time. I had three years of knowledge. Three years of secrets. Three years of knowing exactly who would betray us and when. A knock at my door interrupted my thoughts. I opened it to find James, Michael's beta and younger brother. In my previous life, he'd been one of the few who'd shown me kindness. "Luna Ava," he said, concern in his green eyes. "I wanted to check on you. Michael seemed upset earlier." "I'm fine, James." He hesitated. "Is everything okay between you two?" I studied him carefully. Could I trust him this time? In my previous life, he'd tried to warn me about Sophia, but I hadn't listened. "James," I said slowly, "what do you think of Sophia?" His expression darkened. "I think she's trouble." "Why?" "Call it instinct. There's something about her that doesn't feel right." If only I'd listened to him before. "Keep an eye on her for me," I said. "Quietly." His eyebrows rose. "You want me to spy on your husband's advisor?" "I want you to protect this pack," I corrected. "That's your job as Beta, isn't it?" He nodded slowly. "I'll see what I can find." After he left, I sat at my desk and opened my laptop. If I was going to change my fate, I needed to be smart. I started researching everything – pack law, business contracts, offshore accounts. Things the old Ava never bothered to learn. My phone buzzed. A text from Michael: "Don't ever embarrass me like that again." I deleted it without responding. Tomorrow, everything would change. Tomorrow, I would start taking back my power. As I finally drifted off to sleep, one thought echoed in my mind: Michael had no idea who he was dealing with now. I wasn't the same naive girl he'd married. I was a woman who'd already died once. And I'd rather die again than let him destroy me a second time.