Chapter 357
Ella POV
“Everything happened so differently the first time around, I said, my voice quieter now, almost reflective.
Amanda’s glare didn’t waver, but I could see the flicker of confusion in her eyes.
“David and I were married. The ceremony was beautiful, and I couldn’t have been happier. I got a little tipsy—I suspect now that he put something in my drink, because I hadn’t had that much. When I passed out in our room, he snuck out… to celebrate your birthday with you.”
Her nostrils flared.
“I had no idea, of course,” I continued. “I wouldn’t find out for years. I became Luna of his pack, and eventually, David announced he was running for King.”
Amanda’s expression twisted in anger. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“Be quiet and listen.” My voice was sharp enough to cut through her outrage.
She glared but said nothing.
“You and David continued your affair, but I was too focused on my father’s sudden illness to notice. And then he died.”
The words lodged in my throat, but I forced them out. “I was too distraught to step in, so David took over my pack as well. That gave him the edge he needed in the election–along with the scandal surrounding Alexander. Rumors, revelations about his past… At the time, he was single. Eventually, he married Fiona, but it wasn’t enough to save his reputation. And so David won. He became King. I became the Luna Queen.”
Amanda let out a scoff, but I saw how tense she had become.
“But David hated being King,” I continued, voice colder now. “He liked the title. He liked the way people threw themselves at his feet. But he didn’t care about the responsibility. So I took on most of the work, and for the most part, the kingdom ran smoothly. Except for the rogue incursions at the border.”
Amanda’s fingers twitched.
“They kept increasing. And for some reason, David refused to do anything about it.”
“This is a ridiculous fantasy,” she snapped.
I ignored her. “I had no way of knowing at the time that it was because David had enlisted the help of the northern rogues to win. He had been working for them all along. His whole plan was to hand the kingdom over to the North.
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Amanda’s mouth opened, but no words came out.
“I was unknowingly getting in his way. Or maybe,” I said, tilting my head, “it was because you found out you were pregnant.”
Her free hand instinctively flew to her stomach.
I had her attention now.
“Either way, you and David decided it was time for the next step. You had my mother arrested–along with the other leadership of my pack. Then you accused me of being traitor.”
Amanda’s face paled.
+25 BONUS
Chapter 357
“A trial would have caused too much scandal. Too many questions about David. So you took matters into your own hands.” I leaned forward slightly. “You, Amanda.”
She finally met my gaze, eyes darting over my face as if searching for deception.
“You forced poison down my throat. And you laughed as I died at your feet.”
Her lips parted.
“I was so heartbroken. Betrayed by my best friend and my husband. If you had just told me the truth–that the two of you were fated–I would have stepped aside. But David wanted the power my pack could offer, so he convinced you to go along with his plan. And you hated me for it. You hated me for taking what you thought was yours, even though I never meant to take it.”
I inhaled slowly, steadying my voice. “You murdered me in cold blood.”
Amanda shook her head violently. “None of this makes sense. What you’re saying is delusional!”
“Everything went black as I died,” I said, looking past her now, lost in the memory. “And then… when I opened my eyes again, David was on his knees, proposing.”
Amanda inhaled sharply.
“And I hit him with that bouquet of flowers and ran.”
For the first time, Amanda looked shaken.
“He had just had me murdered,” I whispered. “And now, suddenly, I was back. Years in the past. Reliving it all.”
I met her gaze again, holding her there.
“But this time, I wasn’t going to let things happen the way they had before. I knew what you were. I knew what you were planning. And I had the ability to stop you.”
Chapter 358
Chapter 358
