Chapter 1

"He is the only true heir to my throne. I must take him back."

That day, the Alpha King descended upon our remote little pack with his royal soldiers.

He pointed at Jasper—the man I had saved a year ago in the wilderness, my fated mate—and with those words, he shattered my entire world.

I remember feeling this tight knot in my chest, because I'd always known Jasper was different.

When I'd saved him from falling off that cliff last winter, I could feel something about him. I guessed it was his Alpha blood, but I wasn't totally sure back then.

Now, his secret was out in the open.

And me? I was still scrubbing dishes in the corner, because that was an Omega's duty, while everyone else cheered and celebrated.

But Jasper… he stayed calm. He looked the Alpha King dead in the eyes and said,

“I’m taking my pup Liam and Amelia back to the Shadowfang pack.”

Yes. Amelia. Not me.

In my last life, only their favorite she-wolf, Amelia, also the Beta's daughter, got to leave with them.

When I broke down and asked Jasper why, his answer was cold and simple:

“Her status suits me better than yours.”

And just like that, my mate and my pup abandoned me.

But this time—when Jasper spoke those same words again—under the mocking stares around me, I took a deep breath, forced a smile, and whispered my blessing:

“Oh, well. I wish you both a happy future. I still have work to do.”

I had already made up my mind.

I was gonna work hard, save enough money, and get out of here, start a fresh life somewhere else.

But tell me this, if I was so unworthy, then why, after I finally walked away, did he come begging me to return as his Luna?

...

As I expected, it played out exactly like it had in my last life.

Jasper went looking for Amelia, all eager, and invited her to come with him to the Shadowfang pack.

Amelia put on that fake "oh-I'm-so-honored" act, the same as before, and my pup Liam, my sweet, stubborn pup, begged her like his life depended on it.

"Amelia, please, please come to the pack with us! I can't leave you!" he'd pleaded, tugging on her hand like a little wolf desperate for his favorite treat.

Amelia pretended to be shy, tilting her head just so, her eyes darting toward Jasper. "But, Liam… Lydia is your mom, and she's also Jasper's mate. Shouldn't you invite her too? Am I right, Jasper?"

She knew exactly what she was doing , tossing me into the conversation just to play the innocent.

Before Jasper could open his mouth, Liam blurted out, "I don't want her! She's just an Omega. She's so weak! It'd be a shame to bring her to that pack. My dad's gonna be the Alpha King! And you should be his Luna!"

I watched Amelia go all blushy, staring up at Jasper like he hung the moon.

And Jasper… he just stood there, smiling at her.

The same smiles, the same words, the same reactions, exactly like the first time I lived through this.

Back then, I already knew Jasper had feelings for her.

He hadn't chosen me out of love.

He'd chosen me because I saved his life that day at the cliff… and because fate decided I was his mate.

That was it. The rest? Convenience.

After we were mated, I stayed busy with pack work, cleaning, cooking, keeping everything running.

I barely had time with Liam or Jasper.

When Liam was bullied for being an Omega's pup, Amelia had stepped in.

She was the Beta's daughter, respected by everyone just under our Alpha.

I'd been grateful to her for chasing those bullies off… until Liam brought her home.

That first day she stepped into our house, she didn't even greet me.

Her gaze locked on Jasper, and she smiled, "Jasper, you're… different from most of the wolves in our pack."

From that day on, Liam invited her over again and again.

And every time she came, Jasper would sit there in silence, watching her.

I was his mate, I could feel his heartbeat quicken when she was near.

He felt for her.

I kept quiet for Liam's sake, wanting to keep our family together.

I thought maybe it was just a crush that would fade.

Then came the ceremony celebrating our pack's victory over a neighboring pack.

I spent hours preparing the main dish, and our Luna was thrilled.

She even gave me a pearl necklace as thanks.

I was so happy, I couldn't wait to share it with Jasper and Liam.

But when I found Jasper, he wasn't looking for me.

He was sitting there, running his hands over a fur coat, Amelia's coat. I could even smell it.

My stomach twisted.

"Amelia came here this noon?" I asked.

He looked startled, then quickly hid the coat. "Yeah… she just dropped by to visit Liam. She was wondering when he might get his wolf."

But Jasper’s wolf betrayed him.

My wolf Lily blurted out the truth: *He's lying! His wolf Jacob told me, it was he asked Amelia to come when you were washing dishes. He even told Liam to leave them alone. But Jacob told me Jasper didn't touch Amelia. He just stared at her. And that’s because Jacob tried to control Jasper!*

My wolf wasn't hurt.

But me? I felt like my chest had been crushed. Still, I didn't call him out. I turned to Liam instead.

"Hey, Liam, look what Mommy got for you," I said, holding up the pearl necklace. "Isn't it pretty?"

Liam pushed it away so hard it fell to the floor.

"Where'd you steal it from? I don't want it."

I picked it up, forcing a smile. "No, it's from the Luna. See? It's rare. A gift for you, my pup."

He finally took it. But the next day, I saw Amelia wearing it.

I never thought Liam would hand it over so fast.

That necklace wasn't just a gift, it was my hard-earned recognition.

And now it was hanging around her neck.

I forced my voice to stay level, even though my chest was burning.

"Take off the necklace. That's mine. It was a gift for my son."

Before I could step forward, a couple of pack members blocked me and shoved me to the ground.

"You filthy Omega! How dare you lay hands on the Beta's daughter?"

“I need my necklace back,” I said, my voice shaking as I struggled against their grip.

My fingers dug into the dirt, trying to push myself up, but the weight on my shoulders forced me down again.

Someone ran to tell Jasper.

Soon, he arrived with Liam in tow.

I grabbed my son by the shoulders. "Why did you give my gift to Amelia? Do you think so little of me?"

Liam just clung to Amelia's hand, shaking mine off with clear disgust. "It looked better on her."

Jasper sighed, patting my back like I was a child throwing a tantrum. "It's just a necklace, Lydia. Don't make it a big deal. You’re really letting me down."

Then they turned and left. My mate, my son, and the she-wolf they adored, leaving me sitting in the dirt.

I wanted to scream at them, curse them, something.

But the words stuck in my throat.

I knew I'd changed since giving birth to Liam, the sleepless nights, the endless chores. My body wasn't the same.

My face had lost its softness.

Meanwhile, Amelia was still slim, glowing like a wolf in her prime.

And then, just like in this life, the Alpha King came to our pack.

His eyes found Jasper instantly.

"This is your mate?" the Alpha King asked, pointing toward Amelia.

I held my breath, waiting for Jasper to correct him.

But the King went on, "Mating with Silvermoon's Beta's daughter is a fine choice. It'll strengthen our bond."

It wasn't a question.

It was an order, the Alpha King's will.

I didn't dare speak. I just stood there, silent, tears sliding down my face, as they prepared to leave.

Jasper mind-linked me before he walked away. *I'll visit when I can. The bond between us will always be there.*

And then he was gone, taking my pup with him.

When Jacob left, Lily felt the pain like a knife to the heart.

I collapsed, weak, and spent days in bed.

Lily begged me over and over, *Go to him. See him. Don't let him go.*

But I knew… in his heart, he already had.