Chapter 1

In my previous life, at the moment before my death, I heard the voice of the Moon Goddess.

The voice sounded as if it came from somewhere far away. It was gentle yet hollow, like moonlight falling across ice.

"Your fate wasn't meant to end this way. If you're willing, I can grant you another chance."

When I opened my eyes again, a sharp, pungent smell mixed with the rich scent of banquet food rushed into my nose.

I was standing at the entrance of Blackstone Manor's banquet hall. Inside, the lights were bright, and chatter was buzzing.

The warm yellow light spilled through the crack of the door and landed at my feet.

I looked down at my hands, now youthful and smooth, with no calluses caused by paperwork on my fingertips. There was no indent from the wedding ring of the Shadowfrost pack from my previous life either.

I had been reborn. I had returned to the time when Kyle Abbott and my sister, Selena Madden, were discussing their engagement.

I pushed open the door of the banquet hall.

Kyle sat beside the main seat, surrounded by gift boxes and wolf-bone goblets.

My father, the current Alpha of the Blackstone pack, was talking to the Elders around him.

My mother sat on the other side of him, with Selena leaning against her shoulders. Around Selena's neck was the platinum chain that symbolized the engagement.

This was a scene where a marriage pact between the two packs was being formally sealed.

Mother spotted me first, causing the smile on her face to freeze abruptly. "Why are you only coming back now? Look at you, all disheveled. What do I always tell you?"

I was about to explain, but before I could get the words out, Father slammed down on the table heavily.

"All you know how to do is cause trouble! Hurry up and go back to your room."

No one cared about me, nor did they pay me any mind.

Selena stood up and handed me a clean towel, whispering, "Go back to your room. Father and Mother are furious right now."

I accepted the towel and glanced at Kyle out of the corner of my eye. He sat next to Selena, holding a crystal wineglass. From start to finish, he never once looked up.

I lowered my head, clutched the towel, and retreated to the hallway.

Through the heavy oak door, the sounds of lively conversation drifted out. Mother was discussing the scale of the bonding ceremony with Selena, while Father was talking about the details of the union between the two packs with Kyle.

I returned to my room. Just after I washed up, I heard footsteps approaching outside the door, followed by Kyle's lowered voice.

"Selena, that sister of yours is scheming, vicious, and doesn't know her limits. Keep your distance from her from now on."

Selena sounded displeased as she replied, "Don't talk about her like that. She's my sister."

She paused, then added, "By the way, are there any suitable warriors in your pack? Introduce one to Layla."

Mother cut in, saying, "There's no need to introduce anyone to her. She has high standards. Why are you worrying about her?"

Father chimed in as well. "Exactly. Once you marry into the Shadowfrost pack and become the Luna, you should focus on helping Kyle manage the pack and living your own life well."

Kyle nodded. "Right. Don't worry about her. Besides, she's not worthy of the warriors in our pack."

I dug my nails into my palms as memories of my previous life suddenly surged up in my mind.

After I married Kyle, I moved with him into the Shadowfrost pack's penthouse in Novey. Although Kyle had marked me, he never publicly acknowledged me as his Luna.

In werewolf society, an Alpha's mate automatically gained Luna status after being marked. However, that required the Alpha to confirm it before the pack.

Kyle did nothing. He only said, "This is my mate", in a light, indifferent tone—like he was presenting a new piece of furniture.

The wolves of the Shadowfrost pack saw this and naturally assumed their Alpha didn't approve of me.

Some called me "Ms. Layla" to my face instead of "Luna Layla".

Some whispered behind my back, "She's just someone the Alpha settled for after a mistaken marking."

I was mocked to my face and quietly ostracized by others, yet Kyle never once spoke up for me. The way he looked at me was always indifferent.

In that apartment, I was like a piece of decor he had no choice but to keep.

Later on, he was ambushed during a pack conflict and was hit by a silver spike. The healer said he could die at any moment.

I stayed by his side for nine whole days, feeding him medicine and cleaning his wounds. I didn't even dare to close my eyes at night.

The day he woke up, he looked at me for a long time before finally saying softly, "Thank you for your hard work."

From then on, Kyle changed. He started speaking up for me at pack meetings, and when someone made things difficult for me, he would step in front of me.

The relationship between us gradually warmed, like a river thawing after a long winter. I thought life would slowly get better after that.

Later, I became with pup. I was filled with joy, thinking we would finally become a real family.

Then word came from Londres that Selena had died while giving birth. She and the pup were both gone.

When the news arrived, I had been with pup and unable to travel far, while Kyle happened to be away.

By the time I got in touch with him, he had already lost his mind. He burst into the apartment, eyes bloodshot and demanding answers. His pupils were constricted as he kept shouting over and over, "It was you! It's all your fault!"

I tried to explain, but Kyle wouldn't listen at all. He shoved me away, causing me to fall to the ground. My abdomen ended up hitting the corner of the table, and the pup died on the spot.

He stood there frozen before finally coming to his senses. But by then, it was already too late.

Afterward, I pieced together the full truth from what others told me—Selena hadn't been living well after moving to Londres and getting married. Her mate drank heavily and abused her, and she had been in poor health ever since she became with pup.

Her death during labor was the result of prolonged abuse over time.

What was more, a week before she died, Selena had sent a letter—filled with pleas for help—to the Shadowfrost pack.

The letter was assumed to be the Luna's private correspondence by Kyle's Beta, who casually placed it in my study.