\[Elise’s POV\]
I stare at the Goddess while she waits for me to decide what my next path will be. Of course, remaining here where there was no more suffering or pain was ideal, but I couldn’t just leave Serenity and those who I cared for back on earth to fend for themselves. However, even if I went back there, I wouldn’t be able to be a part of their world like I had been.
A pang of pain shoots through me as William’s face appears in my mind, and the thought of him with another woman slams into me. Even if I were beside him again, I couldn’t tell him that I was me and that I would be so much younger than him.
“Have you made a choice?” The Goddess asks when I meet her waiting gaze.
“I…” I begin, knowing what would be the right thing to do. “I have.”
Even if I went back there, where no one truly knew it was me, I could be with those I cared for once more, and I could keep my promise to Serenity. I would also get to redo the childhood that I was never given until it was time to attend the academy.
‘Puberty again.’ Anna huffs, taking me by surprise. ‘Can you imagine?’
‘A small annoyance in order to protect those who I care for.’ I shrug, not too upset about it.
“I…” I continue, making the decision that would lead me down a new path. “I’ll go back.”
At my words, a smile spreads across Selene’s face as radiant light begins to radiate from her.
“Then it shall be done.”
As she speaks, I can feel my body being pulled, and before I can fully process what is happening, I’m being sent crashing into darkness.
“Save Serenity and everyone who is depending on you.” Is the last thing I hear before my world ceases to exist and my new life begins.
Sixteen Years Later
My name is Eleanor Roswell. I'm the beloved daughter of Vincent and Kathy Roswell. My father is the beta of Blue Moon, a strong pack on the northern borders of the US. I'm sixteen years old and will soon be attending The Academy for Upper-Ranking Wolves to begin preparing for taking over my father's position in Blue Moon. At least, that is what everyone else thinks, but that isn’t the true reason.
You see, I have a secret. One that I can't tell a soul because if I do, I will die before I accomplish what it is I’m meant to achieve.
You see, my name may be Eleanor, but my past name was Elise.
Elise was born to a tyrant of an alpha and a weak mother who couldn’t protect her or her twin sister. She was given away at birth to suffer in an orphanage along the sea, where she was beaten and bullied day in and day out. When she was adopted by a farming family, she thought that things were looking up, but they were much worse than the orphanage, so much worse.
When she shifted for the first time, her parents, who happened to be humans, attempted to kill her, but she managed to escape and lived on the streets until she was able to join some mercenaries. With them, she learned to home in on her innate abilities as the daughter of an alpha and to use weapons.
Life was looking up once more for Elise—that is, until she met Alexander. She fell head over heels for him and did everything he wanted, including helping him try to use her twin sister for power. In the end, she realized that she was nothing more than a pawn, so she killed Alexander and became a prisoner of her twin sister's pack, Emerald Moon.
When her twin and her mate had their first child, she witnessed a horrible vision of what could happen to her newly born niece and swore to protect her at all costs. It was because of this promise that she met many new people and even began to fall in love again, but that love brought about her death and led her to be reborn as me.
Even though I was born Eleanor Roswell, I am Elise Gregory because the moon Ggoddess granted me a second chance. And I refused to let that chance slip by. That was my true purpose for going to the academy. My niece, Serenity, is already a student there, and I need to be by her side to protect her from what is to come.
You see, when I turned thirteen, all my memories of the past came crashing back, reminding me of who I truly was, or rather am, but along with them came a terrifying vision of the future. It doesn't seem to happen until Serenity is an adult, and that is why I need to find her, befriend her, and stay by her side.
I need to protect her at all costs, just like I swore in my last life. By every means possible, I would ensure that a dark and terrifying future wouldn't come to be.
Now, I stand in front of the The Academy, staring at its brick walls that are covered with many windows. Inside are the elite of the elite, and soon I will be joining them. I was both determined and nervous at the same time as I prepared to step inside, where my purpose waited for me.
‘Stop lolly-gagging.’ Anna huffs. ‘Get your ass in there and find Serenity.’
‘Right.’
Sighing, I hoist my back over my shoulder and begin to move, heading up the stairs and then pushing up the double doors that hide the world within.
“This is it.” I whisper as the sound of laughter and chattering mixes with the scent of hormones and musk. “Let’s get this mission started.”
I step into the building and watch as too many damn teens roam by. They all laugh and joke; some taunt others, and if I look closely, I can see some forcing others to complete their deeds.
‘Ugh.’ I grumble. ‘Maybe I should have waited until Serenity finished here and then...’
I don’t finish my words before I feel a familiar essence, and as I turn my gaze in the direction it is coming from, it is almost as though I’m seeing Denali as she was in her teens.
‘There’s our girl.’ Anna murmurs. ‘She’s a beauty.’
Nodding, I continue to take in my niece as she heads straight for me.
As she moves, all eyes come to rest on her, but they quickly leave as a large man with a stoic expression on his face follows closely behind her.
‘Who is he?’ I hiss, letting my gaze travel from his buzzed head down his overly large body. ‘And why is the big lug letting him hang around her?’
‘I guess you’ll find out.’ Anna responds. ‘Now snap out of it and introduce yourself to your niece.'
Collecting myself, I move forward, and when I reach Serenity, I stop and watch as she looks at me curiously with the same deep blue eyes as Denali.
"Sorry, do you need something?" She asks me.
"No," I respond, holding out a hand. "I just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Eleanor, and I hope that we can become good buddies."
TO BE CONTINUED