Everything was cold.
Dark. Silent.
Freya opened her eyes, but all she saw was black. The kind of black that swallowed everything. She couldn't tell where she was. The air felt heavy, like it was pressing against her chest. Her breath came out in soft puffs, curling in front of her like smoke. It was freezing. She tried to take a step—nothing. Her legs wouldn't move.
Why couldn't she move?
"Lylah?" she called out, her voice shaky. "Lylah, where are you?"
Then she saw her.
Lylah was lying on the ground a few feet away. Her arms stretched out. Her face pale. Still.
"No!" Freya screamed. "Lylah!"
She pushed her body forward, tried to run to her, but her feet felt stuck. Like they were trapped in ice. Her arms wouldn't move either. She struggled. Fought. Nothing.
Tears spilled down her cheeks. She reached out, even if she couldn't move. "Please… please get up..."
Suddenly, light broke through the dark. A soft glow, like moonlight. She turned her head slowly.
A woman stepped out from the light.
She wasn't just glowing—she was the light. Her robe floated around her like mist. Her eyes held something deep—warmth, sadness… power. Her skin shimmered like stars.
She knelt in front of Freya, brushed her cheek with her fingers. Her touch was gentle. Warm.
"My poor child," she said softly. "How pitiful… They see your gifts as a curse. How foolish they are."
Freya looked at her, blinking through the tears. "Who… who are you?"
The woman smiled. "You already know."
"The Moon Goddess?" Freya whispered.
She nodded once.
"Please…" Freya's voice cracked. "Please save my friend. Save Lylah…"
The Goddess's eyes shifted to Lylah. "Your friend… She's such a lovely girl. Loyal. Brave."
"Please," Freya begged again. "She doesn't deserve this."
The Goddess looked at her again. Her smile was soft. "And neither do you."
She reached out, cupping Freya's face in her glowing hands.
"I'll give you two choices, dear one. Stay here in death … or go back in time. Back to a time before this. But if you return, you must change your future. You must fight for a better life."
Freya stared at her, confused. "Go back? What do you mean? Am I… am I dead?"
She nodded. "Yes, child. But death isn't always the end. Sometimes, it's the door to something new."
Freya didn't even think. "I want to go back. Please. I want to save her. I want to save Lylah."
"Then you must change your fate," she said.
"Will I see her again?" Freya asked, her voice shaking.
The Goddess smiled brighter this time. "If you return… yes. You will see her. But this time, you must be brave. Or you'll meet the same end."
"But how?" Freya whispered. "How do I change fate?"
Her light started to fade.
"That, dear child… is up to you."
And then—
Everything went dark again.
***********************************
The scent of warm linen filled Freya's nose. A soft bed cradled her body. Her eyes flew open as she gasped for air.
Light poured in through the thin curtains. Gentle. Familiar. She turned her head slowly.
She was in her room—in the West Wing of the pack house.
And sitting across from her, on the bed… was Lylah.
Her bright eyes locked on Freya's. She looked just as shocked. Just as real.
"Lylah!" Freya cried out.
She sat up quickly, heart pounding, and threw herself into her friend's arms. She held her tightly, like she might disappear if she let go.
"Are you okay?" she whispered, afraid to pull away.
Lylah laughed softly and wrapped her arms around her. "I'm fine, Freya."
Freya leaned back, eyes wide. She couldn't stop staring at her face. "I… I thought I was dreaming. We were—"
"—stoned," Lylah said, finishing the sentence for her in a quiet voice.
Freya's hands shook. "We're back?" she asked. "We're really back?"
Lylah nodded once, slowly.
Freya searched her face. "You're reincarnated too? You came back to the past?"
Another nod.
She swallowed hard. "So you remember everything? What happened to us?"
Lylah's eyes turned serious. She gave her one more quiet nod.
Freya sank down onto the bed beside her. Her breath came out in short, shaking waves.
They had another chance.
But time wouldn't wait.
This time… she would do everything she could to change their fate.
Freya quickly grabbed Lylah's hands. They were warm. Real.
"What time is it?" she asked, her voice shaking.
Lylah looked at her, calm as ever. "It's the early hours of the day, Freya. We were given a second chance… but we're back to a month before our execution."
A chill ran through her. Her stomach turned. "Lylah…" she whispered, gripping her hands tighter, "do you know why my brother would frame us for something so terrible?"
Lylah gave her a small, sad smile. "Yes, I do."
Freya blinked, heart racing. "Why?"
"Your brother doesn't like you, Freya. He never has," she said softly. "And me… he's always wanted me as a mate, but I've refused him again and again."
Freya's mouth fell open.
Lylah went on, voice steady, like she had accepted it all long ago. "My closeness to you makes him angry. I'm the only one allowed into your room. That's why it was easy for him to frame me—saying I taught you forbidden magic."
Freya stared at her, every word sinking deep.
"We have to do something," she said, breathless.
Lylah nodded, her fingers tightening around hers.
Lylah stood up suddenly, her eyes scanning the room like she could feel something Freya couldn't.
"I feel something's not right, Freya," she said quietly. "I don't think your brother framed me just because of his feelings… there's more to it. I can feel it."
Freya looked up at her, confused. "What do you mean?"
Lylah turned back to her, her face serious. "I think there's something else behind all of this."
Freya frowned, heart thudding. "And to find that out," she said slowly, "we need to stop this curse rumor. If we can prove I'm not cursed, but actually gifted, everything could change."
Lylah nodded. "Exactly. You're older than your brother—even if you were born minutes apart, you're still the firstborn."
"In our clan," Freya continued, "being a girl doesn't stop you from becoming the next leader. Women have ruled before."
Lylah sat beside her again, her voice soft but firm. "And your brother… he doesn't seem like someone who wants the throne. At least, not openly. But still… something doesn't sit right."
Freya stayed quiet, thinking.
"But before we worry about all that," Lylah said gently, placing her hand over Freya's, "I'll try to convince your mom to let you out of here. Just for one day."
Freya's eyes widened. "One day?"
She smiled faintly. "In that one day, I want to find out something."
Freya stared at her, unsure where she was going with this.
"You have step-siblings, right?" Lylah asked. "And your dad has other mates?"
Freya nodded slowly.
"Something's not adding up, Freya. I want to know what it is."