Reborn to reign in the Alphas

Introduction

Eila lay crumpled on the cold, unyielding floor, her fragile frame wracked with silent sobs. She clutched her abdomen as waves of agony radiated through her, her trembling hands stained crimson. A pool of blood spread beneath her-her silent witness to the life she had lost. Another baby gone, another hope cruelly extinguished. Her body shook as she mouthed words that wouldn't come, her voice stolen by pain and despair.

"Why, Moon Goddess? Why me?"

Her question hung unanswered in the suffocating air, just as it had so many times before.

Three years had passed since her life had been handed over to a man she never wanted. Three years of bruises hidden beneath silken sleeves, of whispered insults that sliced deeper than any blade, of hollow promises to bear an heir that her body refused to fulfill. Each month, her strength dwindled, her hope withered, but this... this loss was worse than any before. It was as if the Moon Goddess herself had forsaken her.

Eila's mates-Leonard and Percival-had been sent away months ago, torn from her by an Alpha who feared the unraveling of his schemes. They had awakened their wolves, and with it, the truth of their bond to her. The recognition had been immediate and undeniable, their yearning to claim her a blazing fire. But they were gone now, ripped from her side, leaving her in this wretched house with a husband who had hit her again-this time hard enough to steal the life she had carried.

No one believed her. Not the servants who looked at her with disdain. Not her husband, who spat venomous words about her inability to give him an heir. Not her family, buried beneath their own struggles and sorrows, unable to see her silent cries for help. She had nowhere to turn.

Her vision blurred with tears as she curled into herself, her sobs finally breaking free. "I tried," she whispered to the empty room. "I tried so hard."

And just as the darkness threatened to swallow her whole, a loud crash shattered the silence. Her head shot up as the window of her bedroom burst open, glass raining down onto the floor. Two figures leapt through the frame, their movements fluid, their eyes blazing with fury. Leonard and Percival.

They were here.

The twins rushed to her side, gathering her into their arms with a gentleness that unraveled the last threads of her resolve. Their warm, protective embraces surrounded her as their voices overlapped in a chorus of comfort and anger.

"Don't worry, Eila," Leonard murmured, his voice breaking.

"We're here now," Percival added, his tone sharp with promise. "Nobody will hurt you again. We'll take you away from this horrible place."

But it was too late. Their voices were a distant echo in the storm of her mind. Eila could feel herself slipping, her heartbeat slowing, her soul worn thin from the burden of pain. Even as their arms tightened around her, as they begged her to stay, she felt herself fading-beyond them, beyond this life.

A broken prayer escaped her lips, soft as a breath. "Moon Goddess... please, give me another chance. Let me be with them... in a better life."

And then, there was nothing but stillness.

3 years ago:

Eila Johnson sighed as she tied her apron around her waist, staring at the mountain of dishes in the sink. The day had started like any other-chaotic, noisy, and utterly overwhelming. As the eldest of ten siblings, her life was a constant juggle of responsibilities. To make matters worse, her partner-in-crime, Meera, was missing again.

"Probably hiding in her corner with that tattered book," Eila muttered to herself, scrubbing a particularly stubborn pan.

No sooner had she thought it than chaos erupted in the form of her youngest siblings, Adam and Aaria, barreling into the kitchen like tiny tornados. Their cheeks were puffed up, and their eyes were full of indignation.

"Eila!" Adam wailed, tugging at her skirt. "There are no cherries! How can we survive without cherries?"

"You promised cherries yesterday!" Aaria added, crossing her arms dramatically.

Eila pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Cherries? You two have eaten nothing but biscuits and jam for a week. Can't you be creative for once?"

"Creativity doesn't solve hunger!" Adam declared, pointing at her as though delivering a profound truth.

"Fine, fine. I'll handle it," Eila said, knowing full well the pantry was empty. She'd reminded their father to pick up groceries the previous night, but he'd come home late and, as usual, drunk.

Just as she was contemplating what to do, a loud crash came from outside, followed by familiar laughter. She peeked out the window and spotted the triplets-Drake, Gabe, and Sean-sneaking away from the school grounds.

"Of course," she groaned.

The trio had a knack for mischief and a shared mission to avoid school at all costs. Leaving the crying twins momentarily, she marched outside, hands on her hips.

"Drake! Gabe! Sean!" she called.

The three froze mid-step, resembling guilty pups caught in the act. Sean attempted a charming grin. "Hey, Eila! Fancy seeing you here!"

"Fancy seeing you skipping school, you mean," Eila retorted. "Don't 'hey' me. You're going to the market."

"The market?" Drake echoed, horrified. "That's manual labor!"

"You want dinner or not?" she asked, arching an eyebrow.

The triplets exchanged glances, then reluctantly nodded.

"And take Don and Daria with you. They've been holed up in their room all day, and they could use some air," Eila added.

Gabe groaned. "They're worse than us! Daria's going to lecture us about efficiency, and Don's going to correct our math while we calculate the bill."

"Then it'll be educational. Win-win," Eila said, shooing them off.

With the house temporarily quieter, Eila returned to her chores. By mid-afternoon, Meera finally reappeared, her face flushed with excitement.

"Eila! You won't believe what I just heard!"

"Let me guess. The baker's raising prices again?"

"No! Someone in our neighborhood is entering a flash marriage!"

Eila paused mid-scrub. "A flash marriage? Are you sure?"

Meera nodded vigorously. "I overheard Mrs. Kline talking about it at the well. It's that girl from down the road-what's her name? Oh, yes, Clara! Apparently, the groom was rejected by his mate and couldn't arrange anything better."

"Poor Clara," Eila said, frowning. "Flash marriages rarely end well. Can you imagine being married off to someone so desperate they don't even wait for a proper arrangement?"

Meera shivered. "It's terrifying. You're turning sixteen soon. What if-"

"Don't," Eila interrupted. "I don't have time to think about my future, let alone a mate or marriage."

Meera leaned against the counter, eyeing her sister. "But you've thought about it, haven't you? What if you don't find your mate and end up with some crusty old wolf?"

Eila chuckled despite herself. "Then I'll scare him off with my cooking. Problem solved."

They both laughed, though a hint of worry lingered in the air. In their world, a mate bond was sacred, but life didn't always go as planned-especially not for a family like theirs.

By evening, Eila had completed most of the day's chores. The younger twins, Adam and Aaria, were fed and tucked into bed, their earlier tantrum forgotten. The triplets returned from the market, surprisingly unscathed, though Drake complained about Daria's relentless lecturing the entire time.

"It was like grocery boot camp!" he whined as they sat down for dinner.

"That's because you tried to pay the butcher in marbles," Daria replied coolly, sipping her water.

"They looked valuable!" Drake defended.

"Focus on eating," Eila said, rolling her eyes.

As the clock neared eight, Eila began plating dinner for her parents. She couldn't wait to share the day's gossip with her mother, though she suspected her father would dismiss it as nonsense.

When the front door creaked open, signaling her parents' arrival, Eila hurried to greet them. Her mother, Ethel, looked exhausted but managed a smile.

"How was your day, darling?" she asked, hugging Eila briefly.

"Eventful," Eila replied. "Meera has some wild news about Clara from down the road."

Her father, Armaan, grunted in response, already making his way to the dining table.

Meera burst in before Eila could continue. "Mother, Clara's entering a flash marriage! Can you believe it?"

Ethel paused, frowning. "A flash marriage? That's unusual. Poor girl. Do you know the groom?"

"Not yet," Meera said. "But we can probably find out tomorrow!"

Eila laughed. "You sound more excited than sympathetic."

Before the conversation could continue, there was a knock at the door. Everyone froze. Visitors at this hour were rare.

Eila exchanged a glance with her mother before opening the door cautiously. Standing on the porch was a pack messenger, his expression grave.

"Miss Johnson," he said, bowing slightly. "You are summoned to the Alpha's residence tomorrow morning."

Eila blinked, her heart racing. "Me? Why?"

The messenger handed her a sealed letter. "I'm afraid I don't have details. You'll need to be there at sunrise."

As he turned to leave, Eila's family erupted in questions.

"Why would the Alpha want you?" Meera asked, wide-eyed.

"Did you break something?" Drake chimed in.

"Maybe they need more maids," Ethel suggested, though her tone was uncertain.

Eila stared at the letter in her hand, her mind swirling with possibilities. Whatever awaited her tomorrow, she knew her life was about to change in ways she couldn't yet imagine.