The Beta's Rejected Daughter (Fiona) novel Chapter 2

My eyes opened, and I woke to silence.

Not the silence of death, but the kind that felt alive as cool air filled my lungs. My skin was whole with no chains or burns, and I was in my room.

“I died, right?” I whispered to myself, eyes flickering around as I snapped my head to the side.

Something glimmered beside my pillow, and I picked it up.

It was a crescent moon pendant, crystal and silver, pulsing like a heartbeat. The moment my fingers touched it, a voice brushed my mind like wind through leaves.

“You have seen your end. The choice is yours.”

My memories surged back to everything as it replayed like a scene in my head…

The fire, screams, and Lydia’s final smile when she saw me burning.

That must be a warning vision, or maybe the moon goddess answered my prayers and gave me the second chance I cried out for.

Sunlight filtered through the window, and I began to hear servants laughing downstairs; everything was exactly normal as it was before my death.

The world around me appeared normal except for me. I was no longer the timid, weak girl I used to be.

“I won’t let that death be my fate,” I murmured to myself as my gaze drifted to the mirror beside my bed.

The same tired reflection stared back from the mirror, but something new burned behind my eyes.

Resolve.

A sharp knock shattered the quiet, so I quickly hid the pendant under my bed.

“Fiona!” My father’s voice barked. “Are you going to sleep all day? Get up there! We are having very important visitors today!”

Lydia’s laughter followed, drifting down the hall sweetly but poisonously to my ears.

Visitors?

Could it be the Alpha and Luna?

Is it all repeating just like the vision?

If so, I should be ready because I already knew how the story would end, and this time, I would not allow anyone to accuse me wrongly or burn me alive.

I inhaled slowly as I opened the door, our eyes locking for a minute.

My father stood there with his arms crossed, disappointment etched deep into his face. “What have you been doing? Sleeping like a princess, huh?”

I let out a little smile because words like this weren’t hurting me anymore. “I wished I was a princess, though.” I replied calmly.

His eyes narrowed, and his face contorted, but before he could say anything, Lydia appeared at the top of the stairs in a soft blue gown, golden hair glowing in the light like a saint descending from heaven.

“Father,” she said gently, “don’t be upset with Fiona, please. She probably overslept because she works too hard.”

The concern in her eyes was flawless, and before now, I would have believed she really cared, but not anymore. I already knew this was her scheme to appear spotless and perfect so they would choose her and hate me.

“Thank you for worrying about me, Lydia,” I said, my smile thin without reaching my eyes, and something about it gave her a hint, as I saw her expression twitch just for a second before the mask returned.

Mom stepped out from the dining hall, her face instantly softening at Lydia. “Come eat, darling. I made honey cakes for you.”

Then she looked at me, and the warmth in her eyes vanished.

“And you, can’t you fix your hair at least? Even without a wolf, you could at least try not to look so embarrassing to this family.”

Anger flared inside me, but my voice remained steady. “The only embarrassing thing here is how you treat your real daughter.”

A loud silence filled the room, everyone shocked with their mouths left agape.

“What did you say?” Dad was the first to break the silence.

“The truth.” I replied almost immediately, and this time confusion twisted in their eyes, staring at me like I had grown horns.

Father’s voice hardened. “Get on your knees and apologize to your mother now.”

“Huh?…” I frowned. Why?” My reply left him shaken because clearly this wasn’t who they knew me as.

The usual fear and stupidity weren’t there anymore.

“I didn’t do anything wrong, so what am I apologizing for?”

The stillness thickened, Lydia’s smile cracking for a fraction of a second before she lowered her lashes, playing hurt.

Mom snapped at that moment, “I always knew you had become so bitter, jealous, and envious because of Lydia! Don’t you see she saved this family’s honor after you put us to shame? You should be grateful!”

The words struck, but they no longer shattered me like before.

Dad didn’t say any other word as he walked away.

Lydia held Mom’s arm gently. “Mother, please… Fiona doesn’t mean anything she is saying. She might just be having a bad day.”

Of course she would defend me because it made her shine brighter, while I would be seen as the bad egg.

I almost laughed but swallowed hard and kept quiet.

Soon everyone was at the dining table for breakfast, and my three brothers were already seated, their reactions telling me Dad had told them everything that happened. I was the last to show up for breakfast.

Damon, the eldest, sat rigid beside Father, shoulders squared like a soldier. His gaze was sharp; judgment had already been passed.

“Fiona,” he called curtly. “I don’t know what got over you.”

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