His Twisted Claim

I opened my eyes to the sound of my heart beat. For a moment, I thought I was in the afterlife. My chest rose as air rushed into my lungs forcefully. The scent of pine wood, smoke and earth flooded my senses. Familiar. Too familiar. My finger dug into the ground beneath me. Grass. Wet cold grass. This was real. A shiver ran through my entire body as panic flooded my senses. This wasn't possible. I remembered the cold stone floor of the execution ground. I remember the feeling of the chains around my ankle. I remember the faces of the hundreds of wolves watching me in silence as I was executed. And him. I remember him. My mate. My alpha. The man who killed me. My breathing became ragged as the memory slammed into me. Alpha Devric Whitethorn was standing before me. His eyes, as cold as the night breeze. They were unfamiliar. Not the man I knew. The entire pack was gathered around us in a circle. His voice was as sharp as blades, ringing across the execution field. “Celina Brooks, Luna of the whitethorn pack… you are hereby guilty of treason and the murder of my brother.” The accusation had scattered something deep inside me. I tried to speak. To tell him the truth. To tell him I didn't have anything to do with those accusations. But I couldn't find my voice. The memories faded just as they came. My hand slowly rose to my chest. My heart was beating. Beating. I swallowed. Hard. That couldn't be right. I felt the blade pierce my heart. The cold steel slicing through me. So how was my heart still beating? My palm roaming over my chest, searching for any injuries. There was none. I sat up slowly. My hands trembled slightly. The moon was the only source of light in this forest. The trees stretched far ahead before me. I pushed myself to my feet. My legs were shaky as I stood. I looked around. My breath caught in my throat. I knew this place. No. That can't be right. This was the Southern trail to Whitethorn’s territory. I recognized it. I'd recognize it anywhere. I hadn't passed this route in years. I heard noises coming from the distance. My head snaps in its direction. Laughter. Those were young children's voices. My blood ran cold. As I walked towards the noise. The view became clearer and clearer. My body locked in place as I started up ahead. The pack house stood there. The wood glittering under the moonlight. The lanterns were hung high above the balcony, where they always were. But the pack house wasn't the thing that froze me. No. It was the banner hanging from the door. A deep crimson cloth embroidered in white thread that formed a wolf's head. The whitethorn crest. Untouched. Positioned exactly the way it was when I arrived at the pack, right before the crest changed. My throat went dry. Three years. Three years ago was when I arrived. The thought slid into my mind, my heart started to race. I staggered backwards in shock. No. That couldn't be. This had to be a dream, or a sick nightmare or something. I looked around. This was the same pack house I was murdered in, except this was it from three years ago, right before everything was renovated. The wind blew against me and I smelt him. The scent struck my nose like lightning. Cigar. Winter air. A very familiar colon. My mate. Devric Whitethorn. My body reacted before my brain could process. My wolf stirred beneath my skin. The bond was still there. Our mating bond was still alive. Bonds were meant to die down when one of the mates dies. I am supposed to be dead. My stomach twisted in agony at the thought of such a possibility. I took a sharp inhale of that scent again. My legs carried me forward without permission. Each step I took towards the pack house felt heavy. Like I was being tugged by fate towards something I wasn't ready for. Voices drifted from the open courtyard. Voices I knew so well. The pack wolves. The ones I have lived beside since I got here, the same ones that stood and watched as I got executed. I walked closer right before I saw him. Devric stood beneath the lanterns, talking with several warriors near the training grounds. My breath seized. He looked exactly the same. Tall. Broad shoulders. Dark brown hair that fell slightly across his forehead. His jaw looked just as sharp and merciless as I remember. Alpha Devric whitethorn. The most powerful and most feared Alpha in the northern territories. He was dressed in midnight black. As black as the night sky. Three years earlier. This was three years earlier. Before the accusation. Before the execution. Before I became Luna. The realization hit me like a blow. I had been given a second chance. I had been reborn. My nails dug into my palms. I remember everything. Every moment leading up to my execution. The lies. The betrayal. A quiet laugh escaped my lips. So this was the Moon Goddess's idea of mercy. Fine. She wants to send me back… also fine. But I wasn't about to stand here and watch as I got framed again. My eyes drifted back to Devric. He turned slightly as one of the warriors said something. For a split second his gaze swept across where I stood. My heart slammed against my chest. His eyes narrowed on me. He shouldn't recognize me yet. At this point in time, I was nothing more than one of the ordinary who had just arrived at the pack house. I wasn't anything yet. Not his Luna. Not his mate. His expression showed a flicker of curiosity. His wolf. Wolves could sense things before people did. I quickly stepped into the shadow before he could have a closer look at me. I could hear my pulse in my ears. This was how I reacted anytime he looked at me. He made my heart flip every time, but this time I knew it was out of fear. I had been reborn. And I wouldn't walk blindly towards my doom this time. My gaze hardened as I stared at the pack house. The place I once called my home. I inhale the night wind. Three years. A cold smile touched my lips. That was more than enough time. More than enough time to pay him back in full.