Chapter 2

Halfway home, someone flagged down our car.

It was Marcus, the Gamma whom Kieran had assigned to look after his childhood sweetheart Elena. Marcus looked panicked as he approached our vehicle.

"Alpha, Elena hurt her hand. She's asking for you specifically."

Kieran's brow furrowed immediately, and he got out of the car without hesitation.

"Elena's injured and needs me. Go home first. I'll pick you up tonight for the observatory."

I nodded. "Okay."

He looked somewhat surprised. "You used to hate it most when I went to see her. Why are you being so understanding now?"

I opened my mouth to respond, but he let out a cold laugh before I could speak.

"Right, I forgot. We're about to have our mating ceremony soon. She can't threaten you anymore."

He left the car and walked away, never seeing the pain and bitter smile in my eyes.

The truth was, I had never actually tried to stop him from caring about Elena.

There was just that one time when Kieran's parents and I witnessed Elena kissing a strange middle-aged wolf on the street. They even went to a seedy hotel together afterward.

Later, using the Alpha King's intelligence network, I discovered Elena had multiple sugar daddies. She was far from faithful.

That's when I desperately tried to prevent Kieran from getting too involved with her.

But he knew nothing about any of this. After she died, he suffered for ten years.

If I had to choose, I'd rather see him with Elena than watch him endure endless torment and die for my sake.

I went to the Werewolf Affairs Division first to handle my travel permit application. As a core member of Stormfang Pack, I needed official documentation to freely visit other territories.

Only then did I return home.

Kieran's parents had prepared dinner themselves, cooking a whole table of dishes—all my favorites.

Out of habit, I took off my jacket and draped it over Mrs. Blackwood's shoulders.

"It's getting cold. You need to take care of yourself."

Mrs. Blackwood looked at me with a smile so wide she could barely contain it.

"Sage, you're always so thoughtful. Does the Alpha King know about your engagement to Kieran yet? We've waited so long for this day. You're finally going to bond with Kieran. Soon I'll be able to call you my daughter-in-law."

Mr. Blackwood noticed Kieran wasn't behind me and his face darkened with anger.

"That boy didn't come home with you again? You're about to have your mating ceremony, and he still doesn't know how to cherish you. When he gets back, I'm going to give him a piece of my mind!"

The genuine warmth from Kieran's parents filled my heart with bittersweet pain.

After my parents died in battle, I became an orphan. The Blackwoods were my parents' close friends, and they took me in without hesitation, raising me, loving me, giving me everything.

I had always been obedient. But this time, I was going to defy them.

I looked at them both seriously.

"Uncle, Aunt, I'm giving up my fated mate status with Kieran. I won't be bonding with him."

"I've already applied for travel documents. I'll be leaving in a couple of days to study with other packs. I won't be here to care for you both anymore, so please take good care of yourselves."

Mrs. Blackwood froze, then immediately became anxious.

"Your parents died in battle, and you've grown up right here with us. Stormfang Pack is your home. Why would you want to leave? Where could you possibly go?"

"Did Kieran hurt you because of that Elena girl? Is that why you're giving up your fated mate status and refusing to bond with him?"

"Don't think like that, sweetheart. He does care about you. Otherwise, he wouldn't have risked his life to save you twice. Every birthday, he searches far and wide for special gifts for you."

"I know you love Kieran too. You taught yourself to become a healer just so you could help him. You stayed by his side day and night, treating his wounds and giving him emotional support."

"If you two become mates, you'll definitely be happy together!"

"Besides, that Elena is a bad woman. We can't let her win. Please don't leave out of spite!"

Mr. Blackwood quickly chimed in. "Kieran is just being stubborn. Once you hold the mating ceremony and become true mates, he'll definitely be devoted to you."

In my past life, they had said the exact same things.

In the end, I lost my mate, and they lost their son.

Unfortunately, forcing something that wasn't meant to be only led to lifelong regret for everyone.

I gently wiped away the tears from Mrs. Blackwood's eyes and spoke softly.

"Aunt, you can't force a square peg into a round hole. Kieran has never actually loved me. I shouldn't force him to bond with me."

"I had a dream last night. I dreamed that he and I became mates, but he refused to see me. He spent all his time handling pack business and wouldn't even come home."

"Whether he was sick or injured, he wouldn't let me take care of him. He said I brought him more pain than happiness."

"In the dream, he even died at thirty-five trying to save me."

Saying this, my heart ached so much I could barely breathe.

Mrs. Blackwood was stunned. "But... that was just a dream, sweetheart. Kieran would never..."

I sniffled and forced a weak smile.

"Uncle, Aunt, dreams are warnings from the Moon Goddess. Kieran doesn't have to love me, and we don't have to be mates. But I want him to live a long, full life."

"Besides, there are signs pointing to this. Kieran yearns for freedom and hates being constrained. He despises walking a path that's been laid out for him."

"If it weren't for our arranged engagement, he would be much happier pursuing love freely. But he's a born leader, destined to inherit the pack and shoulder an Alpha's responsibilities."

"It's the same situation now. If it weren't for his parents' arrangements, he wouldn't become my mate."

"I'm the source of all the problems. It's all my fault. I don't want to keep making the same mistake."

I bowed deeply to Mr. and Mrs. Blackwood three times.

"My travel arrangements are already finalized. Please grant me this. I will never forget your kindness in raising me, and I will spend my life trying to repay you."

Mr. Blackwood pressed his lips together and helped me stand up.

Mrs. Blackwood wiped away her tears and pressed a bank card into my hands.

"You're a good child. It's Kieran who doesn't have the blessing to make you Stormfang Pack's future Luna."

"Since this is what you've decided, I'll respect your wishes. But remember, no matter what happens, this will always be your home."

Tears suddenly rolled down my cheeks as I hugged Mrs. Blackwood.

"Thank you so much."

As long as I refused my fated mate status with Kieran and didn't bond with him, the tragedy of my past life wouldn't repeat itself. He would live a long life, and his parents wouldn't be heartbroken or come to hate me.

In this life, everyone would find happiness.

Kieran's second regret from his diary was now resolved.

I wanted to address his three regrets within these three days, completing everything he hadn't been able to in his past life.

There was one last regret to address. Would it go smoothly?

That evening, I went to the observatory.

Everywhere I looked, there were pairs of mates seeking destiny's blessing for a lifetime together.

"Sage."

A familiar voice suddenly reached my ears. I turned around joyfully, but saw only Kieran's furious expression.

He grabbed my wrist roughly, his eyes red with rage.

"You know I despise people who abuse their power most. Just because I didn't take you home, you went to my parents and turned them against Elena. They humiliated her terribly."

"Now she's so devastated she's tried to kill herself with silver poison. She's dying. Are you satisfied now?"