Chapter 3 Awakened under a Second Moon

Chapter Three

I woke up gasping for air.

My lungs burned as though I had been drowning, my chest heaving violently as I clawed at the sheets beneath me. My heart thundered so loudly I was certain it would burst straight through my ribs. For a moment, I couldn’t see nor think straight, all I knew was pain..expected pain that never came.

I froze…

There was no agony tearing through my chest. No lingering burn of a broken mate bond. No blood in my mouth. No weakness dragging me toward darkness.

I was still alive! The realization hit me slowly, cautiously, like something too fragile to touch.

I lifted my hands in front of me, staring at them with wide, disbelieving eyes. They weren’t shaking. They weren’t scarred. My skin was smooth.

My body felt… light.

And I sat up abruptly, breath still uneven, and the room came into focus but not the one I had died in. I swung my legs off the bed, my bare feet hitting the floor. No pain shot up my spine. No weakness dragged me down. 

My reflection caught my eye as I passed the mirror bringing me to a pause. The woman staring back at me wasn’t the one who had stood before Mark.

She was younger, untouched by years of exhaustion and quiet grief. My eyes still held the hopeful light I had lost long ago. My hair fell loosely down my back, untrimmed by practicality, unweighted by despair.

“Is this really possible…” I whispered.

My gaze darted around the room wildly until it landed on the desk by the window. The calendar, my legs carried me toward it immediately. My fingers trembled as I reached out, gripping the paper like it might disappear if I looked away.

The date stared back at me. It was five years earlier, the exact day I discovered Mark was my mate. Thank you moon goddess… Thank you for this second chance.

The door opened softly behind me. “Tessa?” My entire body went rigid as I turned slowly.

My mother stood right there, alive and well, her hair neatly braided, worry etched lightly across her familiar face. 

“Are you alright?” she asked gently. “You sounded like you were having a nightmare.” The sight of her broke something inside me. 

I rushed forward and wrapped my arms around her, holding on as if she might vanish at any second. She stiffened in surprise before returning the embrace, her hand rubbing my back soothingly.

“I’m here,” she murmured. “It’s alright.”

Tears streamed down my face silently as my body shook against hers. I was overwhelmed with an array of emotions.

When I finally pulled back, a familiar pull stirred deep within my chest, faint at first, then unmistakable. The mate bond was awakening.

Five years ago, I felt joy and immense gratitude when this happened. I had believed fate had chosen me. Now? 

I felt nothing but disgust, I backed away instinctively, my hand clutching my chest wishing that I could tear the bond out before it fully formed.

The bond pulsed once more, stronger.

I would never become Mark’s Luna.

The celebration was already in full swing when we arrived. Lanterns glowed softly against the darkening sky, music weaving through the air as pack members gathered in clusters, laughing and talking animatedly.

I kept my gaze forward, my expression carefully neutral, even as my heart began to race. 

 The bond hit me again so hard I nearly stumbled, a sharp ache spreading through my chest as my breath caught painfully. 

I saw Mark headed towards me, confident, entitled, as if the bond itself had granted him ownership.

The crowd parted easily for him. My pulse thundered in my ears as he drew closer, the bond screaming at me to submit, to turn, to accept.

The future Alpha seems to have found his mate, murmurs began rising as other wolves sensed what was happening.

People turned to look at me, some curious, some excited, some already smiling as though this was a story they had been waiting to witness. The pack gathered instinctively, closing in, forming a loose circle around us.

They expected me to bow my head and accept my place.

The mate bond throbbed painfully in my chest, urging me forward, my body reacted despite my mind screaming in protest.

My fingers curled slowly at my sides, nails biting into my palms. The bond could scream all it wanted. I would not yield!

Mark stopped in front of me, eyes dark with triumph, already reaching for me as if the choice had been made, but I took a step back and said.

"I reject you." The words rang out, clear and unshaking. Shock rippled through the crowd. Mark's smug smile vanished instantly.

"I, Tessa," I continued, my voice carrying across the gathering. “reject Mark as my mate. I sever this bond of my own will." 

The mate bond screamed as it snapped, pain exploding through my chest but I tried to stay tall, meeting his gaze without flinching.

Gasps tore through the crowd, very disbelieving, followed by a wave of frantic whispers. 

Mark staggered a bit, also affection by the mate bond rejection. 

Mark staggered, also affected by the mate bond rejection, his face draining of color before twisting into anger. 

He roared feeling humiliated , the sound filled with rage and wounded pride.

"You ungrateful little omega!" he shouted, his voice cracking as he pointed at me. "You should be happy that you were mated to me. How dare you even think of rejecting me?”