STEPUNCLES ALPHA'S PUNISHES ME EVERYNIGHT

UMN

My heart thundered, and for a brief, agonizing second, I expected to fee

. Warm air. The scent of old

ling as I touched my arms, my ribs-smooth, unbroken. No bruises. No blood. No deep, agonizing wounds from my fa

... w

window. The shelf stacked with old books I had once treasured. The tiny crescent mo

turned his

t me in stark disbelief. My skin was smooth, untouched by pain. My eyes

e cliff edge, her words echoing in my ears: "No one will ever believe you." I remembered the sicken

body I'd inhabited befo

burst from my lips. "I'm back." I wasn't dead

my knees. "Thank you," I whispered, hands pres

ing-this time, I wouldn't waste it.

on my own, erased in an instant. But the memories remained-Agatha's betrayal, the pack

stiffened, recognition washing ove

dy humming with awareness. A strange calm settled over me as I walked down the fa

arer, angrier. Then, as I reached the front ent

lden curls damp, her dress clinging to her frame like she had just been pu

ng around

with his usual calculating gaze, as if dissecting the situation. Dante, brows fu

distant. These men who had once been my world. Who would

sed them. Even

wouldn't fall for it this time. Not again. Death it

aking slightly as she buried her face

what she was doing. This was the first moment she had turned them

med, cried, begged them to believe me. And they ha

t down. I wasn't that naive girl anymore. I had died with their betra

this

would rewri

d ruined everythin

es, my supposed family-had f

egged. Cried. And it had only

this

shed

nfidence flowing through me. Inside, my heart hammered against my ribs, but I kept my expression neutral.

to the air lik

ckly smothered it with another sniffle. I savored that brief moment o

whimpered, clutching onto Dante's

hment. My muscles tensed, preparing for the verbal assault that would follow. Bani

inst

is s

. he s

s ok

usion washing o

h

before I could stop it, d

t the moment I had been waiting for. "Accidents happ

lting his head at me. "You're i

was very, very wrong. The script had changed complet

this isn

me away. To give me a reason to le

arder. The action felt wrong under my hands, despite

d yelp, landing in th

Surely, they would rage, punish me, do

es, looking more exasperated than

e I was some kid throwing a tantrum. "Litt

emories clashing violent

ht into his chest, one arm slung lazily over my shoulder. The warmth of his body

pping a finger against his chin. "Maybe she'

ushing to my fac

n compass. This wasn't right. This wasn't how it happened l

omforting me? Teasin

flickered between the three of them, then to me, like she couldn't comprehend what just ha

the club,

lan was crumbling around me, leaving me standing in unfamilia

was gentle, not the sharp command I expected. His eyes

aid, completely serious, desp

ng with mischief. "And I'd ra

wasn't the man who had stood silently while I

but the bastard was smirking too, his

cond

men-these wolves who had once been my executioners-were

currence before stepping forward and-gods help me-hugging me. His scent-

urmured, inhaling deep

ircuiting. The memory of his rejection in my past

s of being hated, being blamed, being punished

ing on? Was this some cruel joke? A test? Had the Moon Goddess not just

ing harshness into my voice. "You're a

y unfazed. "And you're a

IVE

her smirk so many times before, but never had I seen her thi

e Moon, before we decide your punishment is something you won't recover from." His

er voice, her face twi

going to punish her?!

were being annoying. "You're wet, Ag

Are you kidding me?! If

s cut her off with

art pounding, my hands shaking. I bac

e hell.

nished. Thrown out. Made to kneel. Blamed. But now? Now they

adn't just sent me back in time. She'd sent me somewhere else e

they l