The Alpha I Dumped Is Now Begging Me to Return

Jettie POV:

I shot up in bed, gasping for air. A phantom pain flared in my chest, sharp and agonizing. My hand flew to the spot, but my fingers met only smooth, unbroken skin. There was no wound.

I looked down at my hands. They were slender, pale, a girl's hands. They held none of the calluses from years of sword practice, none of the caked blood from my final moments.

My gaze swept the room. It was mine. My chamber in Hamilton Castle. Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. Everything was warm and peaceful, a stark, impossible contrast to the cold, damp dungeon.

I threw back the covers and stumbled to my dressing table. The mirror reflected a young face, a fifteen-year-old face. My silver-white hair cascaded over my shoulders, my ice-blue eyes stared back at me. But the innocence was gone, replaced by the haunted, cold look of someone who had died once already.

I was reborn?

The ridiculous thought surfaced, and the Moon Goddess's words echoed in my soul—another chance.

I reached up, my trembling fingers tracing the line of my cheek where Anais had cut me. The skin was flawless. It was all a nightmare.

But the pain of betrayal, the searing hatred for my family's murderers, it was all too real, carved into my very soul. It was no dream.

I had to know the date. What day was it?

My eyes landed on the calendar on my desk. Written in elegant script were the words: Silvermoon Year, 27th day of the Harvest Moon.

My heart hammered against my ribs. The 27th... The Moon Festival was on the 28th.

I had come back to the day before it all began. The day before my world was destroyed.

A wave of hysterical joy and profound terror washed over me. I had a chance. I had a chance to change everything.

I scrambled to my wardrobe, yanking open the doors and pulling at my nightgown, checking my own body. Smooth, whole, untouched. My virtue was intact.

In my past life, it was at the Moon Festival banquet that I was framed for adultery, for betraying the royal family. That was the beginning of their plot.

I forced myself to be calm. I took a deep, shuddering breath. They had planned it all together—Anais, Lady Elara, and Caiden.

My fists clenched, my nails digging deep into my palms. The sharp sting of pain kept me grounded, kept me sane.

"Caiden... Anais... Lady Elara..." I whispered the names to my reflection, the hatred in my eyes so intense it felt like it could shatter the glass.

"This time," I vowed to the girl in the mirror, "I will not be your pawn."

"What you owe me, what you owe my mother, my brother, and the entire Hamilton Pack, I will make you repay it. A thousand times over, in the most painful way imaginable."

A soft knock came at the door. "My lady? Are you awake? Breakfast is ready."

It was Cora's voice. My loyal maid, who had been beaten to death in my past life for trying to protect me.

A sudden heat stung my eyes, and I fought back tears. I took another deep breath, forcing my voice to be steady. "Come in."

Cora pushed the door open and saw me sitting at the dressing table. She looked surprised. "My lady, you're up so early today."

I looked at her young, vibrant face, and a storm of emotions churned within me. This time, I would not let her come to harm.

I stood and walked toward her. In my past life, I had barely given this fellow Omega a second glance.

I took her hands in mine. Cora froze, her body stiff with shock.

"Cora," I said, my gaze intense and serious. "From this day forward, I need your help. Your absolute loyalty, your absolute trust. Are you willing?"

My stare was sharper and more serious than she had ever seen. She was stunned for a moment.

Then, without hesitation, she dropped to one knee. "My life is yours, my lady. Whatever you ask, Cora will follow you to the death!"

I pulled her to her feet, a flicker of strength kindling within me. "Good. Then our first task is to prepare a 'gift' for tomorrow's Moon Festival."

A cold smile touched my lips.