Besotted

My prophecies made my mate, Alpha Kane, a king. And on the day of his coronation, he murdered me. All because his first love, Scarlett, was exiled and died after trying to poison me.

The world shattered as the silver blade slid into my heart.

The last thing I saw was Kane’s triumphant, hateful stare.

I gasped, my eyes flying open. I was breathing hard.

No fatal wound in my chest. No stench of blood in my nose, only the pine scent of the sacred fire on the Moonlight Altar.

This wasn't the silence of the grave. It was the low, ritualistic chant of the packs.

"Saintess Mira, please choose your mate."

The Elder's aged voice echoed the one from that fateful night, eight years ago.

My hands trembled as I looked down at them. They were flawless.

Eighteen years old. The Choosing Ceremony.

I… was reborn.

Memories flooded back, a torrent of pain and hatred that swallowed me whole.

The Great War between the North and South had broken out. My gift of prophecy had pushed me into the role of Saintess, the key to the North’s future.

The Elders demanded I choose a mate from the best Alphas of the great packs.

He would be my partner, and with my prophecies, he would lead the North to victory.

And I, of all people, had chosen Kane.

All because he appeared like a god, saving me from a rogue beast when I was just a girl.

I was so naive. I thought the strange pull between us was fate.

I gave him everything: my loyalty, my body, and my prophetic power, which drained my own wolf spirit with every use.

But I was blind to the desire and love in his eyes when he looked at Scarlett, his childhood Beta.

After Kane and I bonded, Scarlett's jealousy grew like a venomous snake.

She humiliated me, shamed me, and ultimately, tried to poison me.

When the Elders exiled her for her crimes and she was torn apart by the Bloodmoon Pack, Kane just held me and whispered, "She brought it on herself. It has nothing to do with you."

I believed him.

I kept giving him prophecies, burning my spirit to help him win battle after battle.

Until he finally stood at the peak of power, crowned King of the North.

Then, in my happiest moment, he shoved that silver blade into my heart.

"If it weren't for you, Scarlett never would have gone mad with jealousy! She never would have died!" His voice was colder than the blade. "You have the gift of prophecy, so why didn't you save her? You're useless to me now. Go die."

The searing pain of a torn heart, the shiver of a soul betrayed—it was all still so fresh.

"Saintess, please place a drop of your blood on the token of your chosen."

The Elder held out a silver needle.

I pulled myself from the memories, my gaze sweeping over the daggers on the altar. Each one represented the strongest Alphas of the North.

Kane's dagger, inlaid with gold and gems, glittered in the firelight. As fake and flashy as he was.

My eyes skipped right over it, landing on an overlooked spot in the far corner.

It was a dagger carved from obsidian.

Its hilt was rough, unadorned, radiating a raw, primal wildness.

It belonged to Oliver, the Alpha of the Shadowwood.

A cursed Alpha.

Legend said his bloodline was tainted by dark magic.

Any mate who bonded with him would have their gifts and wolf spirit unconsciously drained, until nothing was left but an empty shell.

To choose him was to choose a slower, more painful death.

In my last life, I wouldn't have gone near that ominous dagger.

But now, a cold smile touched my lips.

With my back to the Elders, I pricked my finger without a second thought.

A single, crimson drop of blood fell, landing squarely on the night-black obsidian hilt.

A ghostly purple light pulsed from the dagger, instantly absorbing my blood.

The choice was made.

By tradition, the final result would be revealed by the power of the Moon Goddess herself at the bonding ceremony, in three days, on the full moon.

The ceremony ended. As I turned to leave, Kane blocked my path on the trail to the dens.

"Mira. We need to talk." His voice dripped with a smug confidence, certain I would fall at his feet.

"We have nothing to talk about," I said flatly, trying to walk around him.

He grabbed my arm, his grip so tight I thought he'd break the bone.

He slammed me against a tree, his hot breath on my face. "Listen, I know you chose me. Who else in the entire North could you possibly choose? But you better remember this..."

I stared at him, my expression cold. He looked like a pathetic clown.

"Even after we bond, my heart will always belong to Scarlett." Kane's eyes were ice, full of warning. "So get rid of any stupid ideas. Don't even think about taking what's hers. And don't you dare pull your 'Saintess' rank on my mate. Got it?"

That was strange.

I didn't remember him saying any of this before my choice in my past life.

But I pushed the confusion aside.

"I understand," I nodded obediently. "What you're worried about will never happen."

My calm composure made him frown. A flicker of confusion crossed his face. "You're... different tonight."

"Am I?" I gave a slight smile. "Maybe I've just grown up. Seen things more clearly."

He studied me for a moment, then finally let go. "Just remember your place, Mira. Don't cause trouble for me."

"Of course."

I turned and walked away, leaving him and his ridiculous ego behind me.

In the moonlight, I could barely contain my glee.

Oh, Kane. You'll never guess. I've already cut you out of my life.

In three days, in front of every pack, I'm going to personally smash your arrogant pride to pieces.

This time, without my prophecies to guide you, let's see how you survive the war.