Chapter 1
The agony of flesh being torn apart still burned in my memory.
But I had been reborn.
I tremblingly touched the face in the mirror.
Whole, unmarked. Was this real?
Just moments ago I had been struggling on death's edge, and now I stood in an 18-year-old body. Everything felt too surreal.
The entire pack still thought I was that naive Seraphina, forever living in the shadow of my pureblood sister Zorvaya.
They didn't know I had seen the darkest truth.
The door suddenly burst open, and Zorvaya walked in carrying a cup of hot tea.
"Seraphina, don't stress yourself." Her voice carried an air of superiority. "Given your... situation, the Moon Goddess would be more forgiving."
Looking at her flawless smile, I was nearly sick to my stomach. This face, this expression—I had witnessed it countless times in my past life.
"About fated mates and all..." Zorvaya gently stroked my shoulder. "It's not something you absolutely have to follow. If you find Alpha Torin too domineering, choosing a gentler Alpha would be a good option too. I'll stand by you either way."
Stand by me? I nearly laughed out loud.
In my past life, I had been blinded by these very words.
I had given up other opportunities and chosen my fated mate Alpha Torin, only to become a tool to mask his true feelings.
The truth hadn't surfaced until Zorvaya's birthday celebration.
When the rogues' claws had targeted her, that man who had claimed to love me for years hadn't hesitated to push me toward the pack.
As I collapsed in a pool of my own blood, the wolf claws having torn deep gashes across my flesh, I watched Torin cradling Zorvaya protectively while she clutched her belly in panic.
"Save Zorvaya! Quickly, save her! The child in her belly..." Torin had immediately rushed her to the medical room.
No one had paid attention to me lying in a pool of blood. In everyone's eyes, only Zorvaya had mattered.
"It's all my fault," Zorvaya had said weakly. "If I hadn't gotten pregnant, Seraphina wouldn't have been lashing out in jealousy..."
What? She had actually claimed I was lashing out in jealousy?
"Seraphina, I'm sorry... I'll make it up to you in the next life." Torin had given me one last look, his eyes full of guilt.
Next life?
You got me killed, and you still wanted me to give you a chance in the next life? Dream on!
When I had opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day of the mate selection ceremony.
"Zorvaya, you really are such a good sister to me." I set down the teacup, watching the guilt flash through her eyes. "Always so considerate."
"Of course, we're sisters." Her smile seemed forced. "Seraphina, you're talking strangely today. Are you feeling alright?"
Of course I was different. I had already died once.
"Let's go, Zorvaya." I straightened my ceremonial dress. "Let's attend this... selection ceremony."
The main hall blazed with light, pack members assembled in their ceremonial robes.
On the high platform, my stepmother Luna Marwen sat elegantly in the main seat, with Torin and Jovyn seated on her left and right respectively.
Torin looked particularly handsome that night, his golden hair gleaming in the candlelight.
Jovyn remained his usual cold self, his black eyes revealing no emotion.
"By the Moon Goddess's decree, Seraphina and Alpha Torin of Ironvein Pack are fated mates." Mother's voice echoed through the great hall. "But according to tradition, a Luna has the right to choose her own Alpha. Seraphina, you may choose to accept the fated mate bond, or..." She looked toward Jovyn.
Jovyn frowned, disgust flashing in his eyes.
"Choose Alpha Jovyn of Blackspine Pack."
All eyes focused on me.
Zorvaya nervously bit her lower lip, Torin's eyes flickered with complex emotions, while Jovyn remained coldly indifferent.
I slowly walked to the front of the platform.
"Everyone," my voice carried clearly throughout the hall, "I thank Zorvaya for her advice earlier. Since she thinks Alpha Jovyn is more suitable for me..."
Zorvaya's face instantly turned deathly pale.
"Therefore, I reject the fated mate bond and choose Jovyn as my Alpha."
The hall instantly erupted in noisy discussions.
"Seraphina!" Zorvaya's voice trembled. "You clearly know that Jovyn and I..."
"Know what?" I tilted my head, feigning innocence. "Didn't you just tell me to choose freely?"
Torin suddenly stood up, shock and... wariness flashing in his eyes. "Seraphina, what exactly are you thinking?"
SLAP!
A resounding slap struck my face.
Marwen trembled with rage: "What do you think this ceremony is? Acting so willfully in front of all the packs—do you want to make Grimhold Pack a laughingstock?"
"Look how many tears Zorvaya has shed for you, and you still want to hurt her like this?"
I covered my burning cheek but smiled even brighter: "Didn't you just say I had the freedom to choose? How was it that once I made my choice, it made the pack a laughingstock?"
"Seraphina, please don't do this..." Zorvaya cried pitifully. "I just wanted to make you happy..."
Just as everyone's attention focused on our argument, Torin made a decision that shocked the entire hall.
He walked directly toward Marwen: "Luna Marwen, I'd like to make a proposal. I'm willing to transfer the mining rights to three silver mines controlled by Ironvein Pack to Grimhold Pack as an exchange."
The air seemed to freeze.
"The condition is," Torin looked tenderly at the weeping Zorvaya, "I want Zorvaya to become my Luna."
My heart plummeted.
No, this was wrong.
In my past life, he had maintained his devoted facade for years, only revealing his true nature at the very end.
He would never abandon his act so directly—unless he knew the pretense was already meaningless.
What could cause such a drastic change?
Our eyes met, and complex emotions flashed in his gaze before he quickly looked away.
These emotions... there was something familiar about them, something that shouldn't exist.
Could it be... had he also been reborn?
Upon hearing "mining rights to three silver mines," Marwen's eyes immediately lit up. That represented enormous wealth, enough to let the family dominate this territory.
"This..." her tone noticeably softened. "Alpha Torin, your devotion to Zorvaya is truly touching..."
Zorvaya appeared "moved" beyond words: "Torin... for me, you would..."
But in the next second, Alpha Jovyn, who had remained silent, finally spoke.
He slowly stood up, his face showing a mocking smile: "Wait, you all seem to have forgotten to ask my opinion."
"Seraphina, do you think I would want trash like you?" His gaze swept toward me, eyes full of disgust. "A pathetic half-blood dares to dream of becoming my Luna? Absolutely pathetic!"
