The Luna Who Lived Twice

Blaire’s POV “Don’t move.” I stopped. I didn’t think twice before I did. My heart was thudding like a drum. I thought I was finally free. I thought I would stay hidden here. The wind on the rooftop blew my dress violently against my legs. It wasn’t the cold air that made me shiver. It was the hard, cold metal pressed against the side of my head. One click away from blowing my head to smithereens. My breath hitched. “I—I wasn’t trying to listen,” I explained. “I swear.” His arm locked around my shoulders, pulling me back against his chest. “You think you’re so clever,” Zach said. “N-no, I was just trying to-” “To what?” He cut in. “Run?” Tears burned in my eyes. “I—I only c—came to bring w-wine,” I choked. “I didn’t mean to hear anything.” He laughed, but there was no humor in it. It made my stomach twist. I gulped. “You heard everything,” he said. “Didn’t you?” “No,” I said quickly. I lied. I heard everything. The council room flashed in my head and my throat tightened. “And you expect me to believe that,” he chuckled. “You were never meant to be my Luna, Blair. You’re nothing but a tool to me.” My heart shattered. “J-Zach,” “Any last words?” He pressed the gun harder. My heart hammered faster. “No…no…” His finger tightened on the trigger. “No!” And then, I woke up. I gasped and sat upright. My chest rose and fell rapidly as I sucked in air like I had been drowning. My hands flew to my head, checking if I was okay or not. I was relieved when there was no blood and my head was still intact. I looked around. I was in bed. My bed? A minute ago, I was on the palace rooftop. It didn't add up. Was I dreaming? My heart pounded. “This… this isn’t possible.” I slid out of bed and stumbled on the mirror. The girl in the mirror looked… different. She was younger…healthier. I scanned my body again. And her scars were gone. And my hair… It was grey. It wasn’t brown like it had been yesterday. I let out a scream. My hands trembled as they ran through it slowly. It wasn’t a dream. It was real. A knock sounded on the door. My chest rose and fell repeatedly. “Blair?” a voice called. “You’ll be late if you don’t hurry. Alpha’s convoy has arrived.” My blood turned cold. The voice sounded familiar. Wait…the Alpha’s convoy? Why was it here? I had no idea what was going on. I opened my door. It was my aunt. My eyes widened. I moved away from my aunt to the palace a few years ago. Why am I back here now? And why was Alpha's convoy here now? It felt like Déjà vu. “Blair…hurry!” My aunt screeched as her eyes scanned me. “You’re not even dressed yet.” “U-uhm…” I wanted to ask her a million questions, but I couldn’t get any words out. I took a deep breath. She didn’t say anything about my hair. She acted as though it was normal. I knew it was not. Something was wrong. She dashed into my room, ignoring me. “Your bags aren’t even packed yet,” she pinched her temple. “My bags?” I walked up to her. “Yeah, your bags!” She yelled. “Why are you acting so oblivious?” I wished I was doing it on purpose. “I—I don’t know…” I managed to say. “P-please explain.” “Explain?” Aunt Dee arched her brow. I nodded. “Are you telling me you forgot you're moving to the palace and becoming Alpha Zach’s political Luna?” I blinked. “What?” I whispered. I stopped moving. I looked down. My finger had no ring on it. My eyebrows furrowed. I was Zach’s fiancée. And I moved to the palace a year ago. What was happening? “W—what’s today’s date?” I stammered. “Are you seriously asking?” Aunt Dee rolled her eyes before checking her phone. “January 2nd 2022.” “2022?” My eyes widened. No…no…no. What the hell was happening to me? “Mother!” Another shriek came from downstairs. Annabel, my aunt’s daughter. “They’re waiting!” She yelled again. Aunt snapped at me. “Hurry!” She ran to my wardrobe and threw a dress at me. “You have ten minutes,” she said before shutting the door. I dropped the dress and walked to the calendar sitting on the table beside my bed. January 2nd 2022. This was the day I first went to meet Alpha Zach for a political meeting. The rooftop flashed in my head again. The way the man I was supposed to marry held a gun to my head caused shivers down my spine. But he pulled the trigger. If he did, I wouldn’t be here. Or was I dead? I pinched myself. “Ow!” I yelped. Definitely real. I stepped back slowly. D—Did I go back in time? Certainly not. But what if I did?