Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Tanin sat up with a gasp, one hand pressed against her flat stomach and the other holding her throat.
She could barely breathe as she struggled with the feelings coursing through her.
Where she had felt cold, numb, and weightless only minutes ago, her body now felt full, warm, and very much alive.
Her heart pounded in her ears, a constant reminder of the new life she had been given. The smell of sex hung in the air, mixing with Damian's husky cologne. She had almost forgotten what he smelled like.
Her hands trembled as she looked to her side and watched the rise and fall of his chest. He was safely asleep. It was still early morning after her wedding, and she had just had sex with Damian.
The realization had her flipping back the blankets as she jumped from her bed in shock. Everything seemed surreal.
A few hours ago, she had died here, at the foot of this very bed, after catching her husband with Kitana, and now?
Tannin's hands shook badly. She slapped a hand over her mouth to hold in her sobs and staggered to the restroom.
Alone in the restroom with her back against the shut door, she finally tried to breathe well.
She had a second chance; she could not lose it.
How would things even work?
"It would be just like the previous life. Unless we can change it,"
Tannin jerked back from the door immediately. Her eyes growing wide as she whipped her head and looked around the bathroom.
Where had that voice come from?
"W… Who is there?"
"Shhh," the voice warned. "You'll wake him before we have a chance to make any plans."
Now she was definitely going crazy.
Her hands shook as she turned on the sink tap, splashing her face with cool water.
Some drops of water ran down, wetting the neckline of her silk nightdress as she stared at her reflection in the mirror.
The goddess had a funny sense of humor. She'd bring Tanin back, but this time as a mad woman?
"I'm offended," The voice drawled lazily. "There's nothing wrong with our sanity, Tanin."
Our?
Tannin blinked in shock.
The voice had come from inside her head.
"Finally," The voice quipped amused. "I was beginning to think you'd never realize. I'm your wolf, Tanin. My name is Emma."
Tannin pressed her palms to her cheek as her racing heart calmed and her stomach jolted in excitement.
It was her wolf. She now had a wolf who she could talk to.
Amused at her own foolishness, her lips split into a tentative smile. Of course, she wasn't mad.
"I'm here, you know," Emma chuckled in amusement. "You can talk back instead of having conversations with yourself."
Tannin dropped her palms and hugged her middle tightly as she whispered aloud. "I'm just not used to it."
"It's alright," Her wolf agreed. "We hopefully have more than eight months to get to know each other... But that's the thing. This is a new life, but everything is exactly the same—unless you change it."
Exactly the same??? Tanin's smile suddenly dropped, and her head felt hot.
"So you're saying Kitana can just kill me in this life again?"
"Would you let her?" Emma replied seriously. Things will be the same unless we change them. You have the power now. Find a way… or it's over. And this time—""
"There'd be no third chance for me, would there?" Tanin's hands began to shake again as her thoughts swirled.
"No," Emma agreed. "No being can cross the line between life and death more than once. Not even the goddess herself may gift you a third chance. If Kitana wins now, then— It's well and truly over."
Tanin stood silently in the bathroom, studying her face and mourning her old self as Emma's words rang in her head.
Exactly the same.
She just had her wedding night with Damian, that would mean—-
Tanin's palm went to her stomach as she began to tremble, and tears blurred her vision. She was pregnant.
How could this life begin when she hadn't even finished the last one? Yet there it was—a new heart beating inside her, a chance she wasn't even sure she deserved.
What sort of terrible mother could calmly allow Kitana kill her baby?
But now she couldn't be so calm again. Not just for herself but for the child she knew she carried.
"Don't worry," Emma's voice was thick with sadness as she whispered. "Wipe your cheeks, enough crying. Now it's time to change everything."
And change everything she would.
Several hours later, High Luna Tanin stood in the living area restroom as she spoke softly on the phone.
"Yes Jamal," She gently patted her slick back bun. "Deliver the printed copy this morning... What do you mean, am I sure? Of course, I'm sure! ... Uh-huh… Uh-huh… That'll be all, thank you,"
The call ended, and she dropped her phone, blowing air from her mouth in an attempt to ease her nerves.
"Relax, it'll be alright. But are you sure—" Emma tried talking.
"Shhhh," She snapped at her wolf as she closed her eyes and tried to pick up sounds from the living room with her heightened senses.
Damian had finally left their room. His low voice sent delicious shivers down her spine as he conversed on the phone.
She wiped her sweaty palms down on a napkin and picked up her phone.
"Are you sure?" Emma asked again.
"Shhhhh," She snapped back as she pulled open the restroom door and slinked into the hallway.
The voices sounded louder now— the entire family was present in the living room for breakfast.
"Good morning, Lycan," Greetings went up to Damian.
"Where's your wife? Where's Tanin?" She heard her mother-in-law ask.
"Isn't she here?" Damian's slightly surprised voice made Tanin's stomach rack with nerves. "She left quite early—I thought she had gone to the kitchen to oversee breakfast."
Her lips hardened in a thin line. She couldn't even blame him because that was exactly what she had done in her previous life.
Woken up before dawn to make sure breakfast was ready.
"Well, I haven't seen—"
The Dowager was still replying when Tanin took a deep breath, pushed open the double doors, and walked into the living room.
Deafening silence and a light gasp greeted her.
Damian stood to her right, looking for all purposes like he had seen a ghost.
His eyes narrowed, confusion flickering behind his usually confident gaze as his lips parted to speak, but no words came.
Opposite him on the settee, his mother, Dowager Amelie, and her two daughters stared at Tanin like she had grown an extra head.
Her stomach flipped, but she swallowed, breathing in the delicious warm smell of bread as she smiled brightly at the family members present.
"Good morning everyone," She inclined her head slightly to Damian. "Husband,"
Her voice seemed to break the spell in the room as the maids standing by the wall all jolted out of their shock and lowered their heads. "Good morning, High Luna,"
They chorused in unison, spitting out the title nervously.
Tanin was nervous too. In her closely fitted suit, red lipstick, and tight bun, this was the most different she had ever looked. But she needed this. A new look for her new personality.
"You look nice?" Dowager Amelie raised a brow, her lip twitching as she got over her shock. "Any special plans we should know of?"
Tanin was suddenly catapulted back to a time when her mother-in-law had loved her before Kitana ruined everything.
Her eyes watered slightly as she ducked her head with a smile. "Good morning, Amelie Mum. Nothing special; I'll just be going to the office with the Lycan today."
At her words, Damian finally seemed to be released from the spell that held him. He pushed his phone into his pocket as he shook his head. "You're not going anywhere."
Her stomach jolted, but Tanin had expected it. She let out a small breath, focusing on Damian's mother instead,"
"It's the morning after our joining ceremony. Too soon for us to be separated. What sort of message would it send to the pack?"
"She's right, Dee," Lyra, his sister, spoke up. "I don't think any of you should go to the office today. Stay home with us, let's celebrate."
"Yes," His mother chipped in. "Either stay home with her or take Tanin with you. She got all dressed up, I can't say no to her,"
The look of irritation that crossed Damian's face was enough to make Tanin amused.
He glanced at his wristwatch impatiently, then swept a quick look over her with a sigh. "Fine, let's go. I have a meeting in twenty minutes."
Tanin's heart skipped a beat, but she knew why he had agreed.
He loved his family violently and had done it to make them happy.
Her heart continued to pound even as they walked out of the palace doors together. Damian on the phone and her eyes looking everywhere.
Not because she was in awe of the palace, No. She knew the place like the back of her palm. But because she was waiting for a document.
The black car to convey them pulled to a stop as guards hopped down and opened the door.
Damian stepped back for her to slip in first.
She was about to enter when a guard came rushing towards her.
"H…High Luna," He stuttered, panting, as he stole a fearful glance at Damian.
"Lycan," He bowed in reference, then produced an envelope and turned back to Tanin.
"For you… From Lawyer Jamal,"
Damian's eyes widened as Tanin's lips pulled into a satisfied smile. She would be damned if she let her past life repeat itself.