Blood of the Silver Moon

Reborn

The next time I opened my eyes, I wasn't in the darkness, or the hospital. I was in a familiar space, my father's office, our main castle. My father's scent of burning cedar wood and cinnamon filled the room. It was familiar and strong. Wanting to leap for joy I looked up to see a stress-riddled alpha king looking over the picture of the suitors the elders had found for her. He looked up at her and at her face, knitting his brows.

"Are you okay, Amara? We don't have to do this right now, my angel." Alpha Marcus put down the pictures and began to stand. I looked down at my hands to see the smiling face of my scumbag husband looking up at me. He had the soft eyes I had once fallen in love with over and over again, ignoring the toxic, narcissistic behaviors I had glanced over time and time again. "Amarissa?"

"I'm back?" I whispered to myself. This was the day I told my father I had made my choice, only six months into the timeline the elders had given us. He reached for the picture in my hand and I recoiled. I was given a second chance and wouldn't squander the opportunity the moon goddess had given me. Looking down at my hands and then around me, I looked at my father and stood up slowly. "I am not choosing anyone now or ever. Can you host a council meeting in five days? Give me time to gather things?"

"Y...yes. Amarissa, are you okay?" My father stood coming around the desk to take my hands and make sure I wasn't taking ill.

"I have never seen things clearer, father. Just gather the council and don't tell anyone anything yet, but I am not marrying anyone. Especially Lukas Blackpaw. He needs to think I am though. Please, just trust me?" I asked half hoping he could see how desperate I was for him to accept and understand me. He let out a sigh of relief and pulled me into a hug.

"I thought I would never get the chance to hear you say those words. Thank the moon goddess you're starting to see he isn't the one for you." He hugged me tightly and I returned the squeeze. When I backed up, i grabbed his hand before he could walk away.

"Hey, if cousin Henry or his daughter give you anything or the maids bring you anything from them, don't eat it. I over heard from the maids that the elders are planning a way to get rid of you...using wolfsbane and silver to weaken you." He looked confused, but I didn't offer him anymore context. "Just promise me?"

"Of course, my angel. I will only eat the food prepared for me by those you trust." He gave me a kiss on the head and I returned one on his cheek before walking out of the room. While I walked way I hit a number on my phone waiting for Krystan, my father's gamma, to answer.

"Princess, what can I do for you?" He picked up, formally addressing me. I kept walking to my car and spoke quickly.

"Put a P.I. on my fiancé Lukas Blackpaw and my cousin Rose Shaw. I want it all...and send me the pack historians. Not the ones the elders have employed but the ones that never leave the library. I want them in my hotel by nightfall." I put my phone on the Bluetooth and waited while he wrote everything down.

"Is there anything else?" He asked enthusiastically and waited for my reply.

"Make sure I have dinner waiting for me at the hotel room." I hung up and drove to the pack library first. Inside i pulled every book I could find on our history, laws, bylaws, changes in history, all of it. I pulled it all and loaded my car. Then I called Lukas.

"Hey baby, how are you?" His voice was sickening I had to hold myself back from gagging. I could hear Rose in the background, moaning low. I had caught them in the middle of the act. I cleared my throat and forced myself to pretend I was still in love with him now.

"Hey baby I am okay. Look I am going to be out here on business for a little bit longer. About a week. Is that okay?" I asked and I could almost year him cry for joy and Rose did to.

"Yeah, yeah, see you in a bit. Bye." He hung up and I tried not to crush my phone under my anger. Letting out a deep breath, I drove to the my hotel, getting the bellhops to bring the materials up to my room where five scholars were waiting and ready. I pulled up the food that was left nad smiled at them.

"Who is ready for some deep, deep research?"