Chapter 3: The Monster Became King

Selena's POV 

The first time I heard them call Vanessa “Luna,” I nearly ripped someone’s throat out.

“She looked stunning beside Alpha Kael during the victory ceremony.”

“The Moon Goddess truly blessed the Silver Night Pack with a powerful pair.”

“Luna Vanessa is so graceful.”

Each word felt like poison poured directly into my ears.

I sat frozen inside Greyhaven’s crowded tavern while laughter and conversation buzzed around me. The smell of roasted meat and cheap ale filled the air, but all I could taste was bitterness.

Luna! That title belonged to me.

My fingers tightened around the edge of the wooden table until it creaked dangerously.

In only three months, they had erased me.

A travelling merchant continued speaking proudly near the fireplace. “Alpha Kael defeated the Black Fang rogues alone. Alone. Do you know how insane that is?”

Another man whistled lowly. “They say his aura can force weaker wolves to submit instantly now.”

“I’m not surprised,” someone added. “Silver Night Pack has become the strongest territory in the region.”

The Lunar Essence…my power. That monster used my essence to rise higher while my body rotted somewhere beneath Moon Cliff.

Rage burned so hot inside me that I felt my skin creaking open.

I pushed away from the table abruptly and stormed outside before I lost control.

The evening wind slapped against my face as I stepped into the narrow streets of Greyhaven. Lanterns flickered above the market while distant music echoed through the city.

But none of it mattered to me because Kael was thriving, Vanessa was living my life, and I was trapped inside another woman’s body with nothing.

A bitter laugh escaped my lips. The Luna who once commanded an entire pack could barely afford bread now.

How ironic.

I leaned against the stone wall of a quiet alley, trying to steady my breathing. But memories kept attacking me.

My wolf whimpered painfully inside me. “I know you're hurt,” I whispered shakily. “I’m hurt too.”

Silence unexpectedly surrounded me. Then a strange warmth spread beneath my skin.

I stiffened as the feeling grew stronger.

Silver light flickered faintly across my fingertips again. My body froze. “What the…”

The glow pulsed once before disappearing. My eyes fell on my hands, my heart pounding against my chest.

That wasn’t normal wolf energy. That was Lunar power. But how can I still have some power in me when Kael stole the essence?

“Unless…” A terrifying thought struck me. “He didn’t take all of it!”

I shook my head in disapproval because I felt empty after he took my power.

But come to think of it, what if part of the essence survived because my soul survived?

Before I could think further, sudden footsteps echoed nearby.

I quickly hid my hands beneath the cloak as two drunken wolves stumbled past the alley entrance.

“Did you hear?” one of them slurred. “Alpha Kael’s visiting Greyhaven next week.”

My entire body went rigid.

“He’s meeting the royal council,” the other replied. “Probably planning another conquest.”

They laughed and continued walking. But I remained frozen.

Part of me wanted to run, but the bigger part wanted to sink my claws into his heart.

I squeezed my eyes shut and took a deep breath. I shouldn't act recklessly, not yet.

Kael didn’t know I was alive; that was my advantage, and I intended to use it.

***************

Over the next few days, I learned everything I could about Seraphina Winters.

It wasn’t much, but I learned that she had no family, no close friends, and no wolf pack.

She worked in Greyhaven’s textile district until the factory closed months ago. After that, she disappeared from public life completely.

The city healer, Miriam, watched me carefully during dinner one evening.

“You’ve changed,” she remarked suddenly.

I glanced up from the soup. “What do you mean?”

“You don’t look afraid anymore.” Her comment caught me off guard. She stirred her tea slowly. “Before the river incident, Seraphina barely spoke above a whisper.”

Well, this body once belonged to someone else. Someone broken enough to throw herself from a bridge.

“What kind of person was she?” I asked with a furrowed brow.

Miriam’s expression softened sadly. “She was lonely.”

Painful emotion tugged in my chest because I understood that feeling now more than ever.

Miriam studied me carefully. “Sometimes I look at you and feel like someone else is staring back.”

I nearly dropped the spoon. Did she suspect the truth? No one would even believe this madness.

“Near-death experience changes people.” I forced a weak smile, but she didn’t look convinced.

That night, I couldn’t sleep.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Kael standing above Moon Cliff, watching me fall.

I eventually gave up my sleep and stepped outside into the moonlight.

Greyhaven slept peacefully beneath the silver sky.

I wandered toward the forest beyond the city walls without thinking; it was like something was drawing me in. The deeper I walked into the trees, the stranger I felt.

The warm air hummed around me. It reminded me that I was alive.

My pulse quickened when all of a sudden, pain slammed into my chest.

I gasped sharply and collapsed onto my knees.

Silver light exploded beneath my skin. “What the hell!”

The ground beneath me trembled violently. The branches shook, and the wind spiralled through the forest in unnatural waves.

My breathing became ragged as energy surged through my veins. This was different from what I felt earlier; it was stronger and wilder than before.

Ancient whispers echoed faintly inside my head. “Guardian…”

The word sent chills down my spine. My eyes widened as glowing silver markings slowly appeared along my arms.

Not the Luna markings I once carried. These symbols were unfamiliar to me, yet beautiful.

The forest around me suddenly fell silent. Even the wind stopped, and the wolves nearby hid from me.

Fear crept into me. What was happening to this body?

The silver glow finally faded after a while, leaving me breathless against the forest floor. I stared down at my trembling hands.

Seraphina wasn’t ordinary. The realisation hit me like a blow.

And whatever power that was inside her, it recognised me.

A twig snapped nearby. I instantly whipped around to see a hooded figure standing between the trees, watching me silently.

Moonlight revealed the glowing golden eyes beneath the hood. It wasn't human, neither was it a wolf.

My heart skipped a beat. No, several beats.

The stranger spoke only one sentence before disappearing back into the darkness. 

“The Moon Goddess returned you for a reason.”

Silence crashed over the forest again. I remained frozen for some moments after the figure vanished.

The stranger’s voice replayed in my head. “The moon Goddess returned you for a reason.” Returned me? Not saved me?

The realisation hit me coldly. This wasn’t just a survival; it was a second chance.

And revenge no longer felt enough, I wanted more.

I wanted Kael to lose everything he had worked for and achieved. His throne, power, reputation and his precious pack 

I wanted him to feel exactly what I felt the moment he watched me fall.

A mischievous smile appeared on my lips for the first time since my rebirth.

Then somewhere deep inside me, my wolf whispered something dark and hungry.

“Bring the king to his knees.”