Chapter 1

In my first life, Alpha Damon Hawthorne rescued me, made me his mate, and poisoned me.

When I woke in the forest years earlier, I rememberedWhen I woke in the forest, I remembered enough to change one thing: this time, I would get my friend Selene to safety, let him find her, and leave.

He chose her. I asked for my freedom.

Then he broke my betrothal to another man and told me I had always been his.

Chapter 1

The night I came back to life, I sent Selene toward the Moon Temple and told her help would be waiting.

We had been running from the wolves hunting the last survivors of her family pack. She was my friend as well as my mistress; I was the Omega who served her.She was my friend as well as the lady I served; I was her Omega attendant. I remembered this forest, this cold, and what had happened here the first time. Alpha Damon Hawthorne had found me near the temple. I had mistaken being rescued for being loved.

This time, I wanted him to find her.

But Selene looked back.

She ran toward me and caught my arm. "You said someone would come for me. But what if no one does? What if they kill me before I get there?"

Her golden eyes narrowed. "Or is this your way of saving yourself? You want me dead?"

I pressed my lips together. In my first life, I had suffered before Damon reached me. I remembered the silver burns and the pain that had nearly silenced my wolf. I couldn't promise Selene she would make it to the temple alone.

"Fine," I said. "I'll go with you."

I took her hand and pulled her between the oaks. We followed the stream, hoping the water would confuse our trail. The temple was only a hundred yards east. I could get her there. Then I could leave before Damon decided I owed him my life again.

The hunters howled behind us.

I shoved Selene behind me. "Run!"

Three men came out of the trees, their claws extended. Rogue Alphas. Whoever had sent them wanted the Silvermane bloodline finished, and Selene was still alive.Whoever had sent them wanted Selene's family, the Silvermanes, wiped out, and Selene was still alive.

I lunged at the nearest man. I couldn't beat three Alphas, but she needed time to get away.

A boot caught me in the ribs. I hit the ground, tried to rise, and felt a blade slice my arm. The silver burned. Another strike came toward my face.

I shut my eyes.

Steel rang above me.

When I looked up, Damon Hawthorne stood over me, his sword braced against the rogue's blade. His warriors rushed past him and dragged the attackers back. Damon glanced toward the trees, then stepped over me.

Selene stood against an oak, too frightened to move. She saw him and put a hand to her mouth.

"Damon?"

He stopped, staring at her. Then he crossed the remaining distance and gathered her into his arms.

"I'm here," he said. "I've got you."

She clung to his coat and cried.

I pressed my hand over the cut on my arm. One of his warriors knelt to check it while the others bound the hunters. I could still hear Selene crying, but Damon had found her. She was alive.

For a moment, despite the pain, I could breathe. He was holding the woman he'd come for. I wouldn't take her place this time.He had come for her, not for me. For the first time in either of my lives, I owed him nothing.