Chapter 1

"Is it really that hard for you to just sign your name?" Adrian Westwood asked, glancing at his watch, his voice laced with impatience.

I kept my eyes down, letting my thoughts drift as I stared down at the Luna registration form from Arlanta.

In the southern packs, every Luna had to sign the registration form and send it to the Alpha King. It was both a tradition and an honor.

In my previous life, I'd signed my name so excitedly, then jumped up to hug Adrian, unable to hide my joy.

But he just pushed me away, grabbed the paper, and walked out.

It wasn't until much later that I realized he had been rushing to the neighboring pack to buy a calming tonic that could soothe the wolf for Hazel Quinn.

Now, in this life, I held the form and replied flatly, "Got it."

Adrian wore a black cloak over a fitted shirt that clung to his abs.

Hazel always said he looked powerful like that—that he had the makings of an Alpha King.

"Don't worry," I said coolly. "I'll hand the registration form to the envoy myself."

He finally looked relieved and nodded. "Since we're fated mates, I'll go through with the marking ceremony, but I need you to stop giving Hazel a hard time. I don't want her reputation getting dragged down."

I hadn't done anything. But in his eyes, Hazel could do no wrong, and I was always just the bitter mate who couldn't stand his adopted sister.

He turned and walked away while I took a deep breath, trying to soothe the wolf inside me—she was furious.

The night we finally completed the marking ceremony in my previous life, Adrian said Hazel wasn't feeling well and left to check on her. He never came home that night.

Just three days after the ceremony, he left on a two-year trip to Southlands for inter-pack diplomacy.

He could recommend one person to attend Eldren University, the most prestigious university in the region.

However, he wrote a letter of recommendation for Hazel, saying she had never seen the world outside our pack and that Arlanta would be a great place for a young she-wolf to grow.

By then, humans and werewolves already coexisted under a peace treaty. I'd wanted to go to learn from their ancient wisdom and become a better Luna for our pack.

However, Adrian dismissed my request outright.

On the day I gave birth, Adrian was by Hazel's side, comforting her because she had just ended her own mate bond and returned to the pack.

When I was gravely ill, my daughter, Isabelle Westwood, sat by my bed and whispered, "Mom, maybe it's time to let go. Aunt Hazel is so much better than you in every way, but Dad stayed with you for so many years. Shouldn't you be grateful?"

As I thought of all that, my heart ached in ways I couldn't put into words.

But this time, I refused to walk the same path.

At the signature line for Luna on the registration form, I wrote Hazel's name without a second thought.

If Hazel were who Adrian wanted from the start, then I would let them be together.

I stamped the form, sealed it up, and handed it to the envoy before stepping outside.

Breathing in the fresh air, I felt a sense of relief.

Hazel's father, Jonathan Quinn, died in the war. So, she'd been taken in by Adrian's parents ever since she was a pup.

She'd always had a way with elders, so much so that Adrian's parents treated her better than their own son.

In my previous life, Adrian's mother, Eleanor Lawrence, would often pray to the Moon Goddess, asking her to make Adrian and Hazel fated mates.

But when Adrian turned 18 years old, his wolf chose me. He fought it at first, resisting so strongly that he even defied his Alpha father's orders.