Morning sunlight spilled through the thin curtains of Omeira's small room, dust motes dancing slowly in the golden beams. She had barely slept. Not because of fear—fear had been burned out of her long ago—but because she spent most of the night trying to understand the truth:
She was alive again.
Back in the past.
Back before the rejection.
Back before the killing.
Her fingers brushed the wooden floor beside her bed. Everything was just as she remembered—old, worn, and forgotten by the pack. Nothing had changed except her.
Light footsteps approached outside.
Lila again.
Omeira didn't move.
The door swung open without knocking, exactly as she expected. Lila entered with a too-bright smile plastered on her face, the kind that hid jealousy behind sweetness.
"Oh good," Lila said, placing her hands on her hips. "You're awake. You looked horrible yesterday. I hope you're feeling better."
Omeira didn't answer.
Lila continued, "The pack is talking about last night. Your absence wasn't… unnoticed." She paused, then tilted her head. "Especially by the Alpha."
A strange glint passed through her eyes—annoyance masked by amusement.
So Kael really did react.
Interesting.
Lila waited for a response. When none came, she sighed dramatically. "Honestly, Omeira, why weren't you there? Kael kept glancing at the stairway. He must have expected us to walk down together." She smoothed her silver dress. "And I looked stunning."
Omeira stared at her blankly.
"Is that so?" she said softly.
Lila blinked at the calmness in her tone. "You don't seem excited. Are you still sick?"
"I'm fine."
"Well," Lila sniffed, "you need to hurry and get ready then. Alpha Kael is holding a post-ceremony gathering this afternoon. Everyone who didn't attend last night is expected to be there." She smirked. "And I already told them you'll make up for your absence."
Of course she did.
Lila needed Omeira there—for what reason, Omeira already knew.
She remembered this day clearly from her past life.
This was when Lila 'accidentally' spilled red wine all over Omeira's dress in front of the pack. The embarrassment had ruined her reputation even further.
Not today.
Omeira stood. "I'll be there."
Lila paused, surprised at how easily she agreed. Then she smiled again—too eagerly. "Perfect! Make sure you don't embarrass me, alright?"
Omeira didn't answer. She slipped past her sister and left the room, her mind already three steps ahead.
If she wants to play the same games again… I'll let her. But this time, the outcome won't be the same.
---
The gathering took place in the training courtyard. Wolves filled the space—young warriors, female hopefuls, elders observing quietly.
Kael stood near the stage, speaking with his Beta. His posture was rigid, his expression unreadable. But the moment Omeira stepped into the courtyard, something shifted.
Kael's golden eyes flicked toward her.
Then froze.
Rowan noticed immediately. "There she is," he said.
Kael didn't respond at first. He watched Omeira—watched her walk, watched the strange confidence in her posture, watched the quiet strength she carried today that wasn't there before.
"She wasn't sick," Kael muttered.
Rowan blinked. "You sound bothered."
Kael ignored him again.
Omeira kept her gaze forward as she approached the gathering, refusing to acknowledge the stares. In the past, she would have shrunk back, hiding behind Lila. Now, she walked with the kind of presence that made even passing warriors look twice.
Lila saw it.
And hated it.
She rushed to Omeira's side, gripping her arm tightly as if to remind her who was in control.
"You're late," Lila hissed quietly.
"I'm here now," Omeira replied calmly.
Lila shot her a glare, then quickly shifted her expression into something sweet as she approached Kael.
"Alpha Kael," Lila said in her honeyed voice, "thank you for hosting this. My sister wasn't feeling well last night, but she's perfectly fine today."
Kael didn't look at Lila. His eyes were fixed solely on Omeira.
"So I see," he murmured.
Omeira met his gaze briefly—and looked away without lowering her head.
Kael's jaw clenched.
"She looks… different," Rowan whispered beside him.
Kael didn't answer, but the tension in his shoulders said enough.
---
Refreshments were eventually brought out—fruit, pastries, and a tall pitcher of red berry wine. The pack moved around, chatting freely.
This was the moment Lila had been waiting for.
She took the pitcher in hand, smiled sweetly at the nearby wolves, then walked toward Omeira with purposeful grace.
"Oh sister," she said loudly, "let me pour you a drink. It's the very least I can do."
Several wolves turned to watch. Just as Lila wanted.
She lifted the pitcher—too fast, too high.
Omeira remembered this moment from her past life.
The wine.
The crowd.
Her humiliation.
But this time—
The instant Lila tilted the pitcher to 'accidentally' spill it, Omeira stepped back smoothly.
The wine splashed straight down Lila's own silver dress.
Gasps erupted throughout the courtyard.
Lila froze, staring down in horror as red liquid soaked her front, dripping like blood across her shimmering gown.
"Lila!" someone exclaimed. "Are you okay?"
Lila's lip trembled. "I—I didn't— I wasn't—"
Omeira blinked innocently. "Sister… you should be more careful. People might think you drank too much already."
Snickers rippled across the crowd.
Lila's face burned red.
Before she could recover, Kael approached—drawn by the commotion.
"What happened?" he demanded.
Lila immediately pointed at her sister. "O-Omeira bumped into me—"
"No," Omeira said calmly, meeting his eyes. "She didn't."
Lila's eyes widened in shock. "W-What are you saying?! You—"
Kael cut her off.
"I saw the angle," he said coldly. "You lifted the pitcher too recklessly. Omeira barely moved."
Lila's face crumpled, humiliation turning her eyes glossy.
Kael's gaze shifted back to Omeira, lingering longer than necessary.
"You avoided the spill," he said, almost under his breath. "Quick reflexes… surprising."
Omeira didn't respond.
But Kael watched her for a moment longer—long enough to feel that strange tug in his chest again.
This girl…
This omega he'd ignored for years…
Something about her was shifting.
And Kael felt himself reacting to it without understanding why.
---
The gathering continued, but the energy had changed. Whispers followed Omeira—not mocking, but curious. Respectful, even.
Lila tried to salvage her dignity, but the stain on her gown drew too much attention.
Omeira eventually stepped aside, choosing a quiet corner near the courtyard entrance. She finally had a moment to breathe.
The timeline is already different, she thought. Small shifts… but shifts nonetheless.
As she watched the pack, she didn't notice Kael moving toward her until he was only a few feet away.
She stiffened slightly.
Kael crossed his arms, studying her for a long, silent moment.
"Why weren't you at the ceremony last night?" he asked.
Not cold.
Not dismissive.
Just… curious.
Omeira lifted her chin. "I didn't feel like attending."
A flicker of something—annoyance? intrigue?—crossed his eyes.
"You're usually present at all pack events," he said. "It was… noticeable when you weren't."
Her brow lifted slightly. "Noticeable to who?"
Kael didn't answer that.
He couldn't.
Rowan called for him from across the courtyard, pulling him away before he could say more.
But before Kael left, he gave Omeira one last lingering glance…
And for the first time in two lifetimes—
she didn't look away.