Chapter 1

I lost our pup trying to save my fated mate, Alpha Austen. But he gave his adoptive sister, Seraphina, all the credit. He decided I was weak, unfit to be his Luna.

Later, he let her poison me. Stood by and watched as my wolf spirit shattered.

I died in agony. The last thing I heard was Austen, holding Seraphina in his arms.

"She brought this on herself," he whispered to her. "You were more than good to her. It's not your fault."

"No!"

I shot up, gasping, awakened from the nightmare. The room was familiar, yet strange.

This was the pack's main house, where I lived when I was still Luna.

I stumbled to the vanity, my own reflection staring back. My cheeks were healthy, flushed with life. No trace of the poison that had rotted me from the inside out.

I was... reborn.

Back to a time before my wolf had shattered, right after Seraphina had poisoned me for the first time.

A sharp cramp twisted in my gut. I felt the tiny life inside me.

This was before I lost my first pup.

The memory of Austen's betrayal, the way his scent mingled with Seraphina's, sent a familiar stab of pain through my chest.

I took a deep breath and got out of bed.

No time to dwell on the past. I quickly changed into a long black dress and threw on a cloak.

Twenty minutes later, I stood before a dilapidated hut deep in the forest.

"I need a Moon-Eclipse Potion," I said, my voice was flat. "One that severs a mate bond."

The witch pulled a black vial from a shelf. "The potion takes thirty days to work. On the night of the blood moon, the chains of your fate will be broken completely."

She pushed the vial toward me. "The price is a single drop of your heart's blood. Yours. A powerful healer's blood is potent."

Without hesitation, I bit my fingertip and let a drop of blood fall onto the vial's seal.

The moment my blood touched the glass, ancient silver runes flashed, and I felt a brief flutter in my chest.

"Remember," the witch warned, "hatred is the potion's greatest catalyst. Once you drink it, there is no turning back."

After leaving the hut, I contacted the Healers' Coalition in the neutral territories.

I informed them that in thirty days, Evelyn White would officially leave the Black Forest Pack and apply for membership.

The manor was buzzing with energy when I returned.

I searched my memory and remembered. It was the night of the pack's grand ceremony.

"Evelyn, you're here." Austen's voice came from the top of the stairs.

I looked up at him.

His strong body, his perfect features, those deep blue eyes I once drowned in.

Now, all I saw was the man I had to cut from my soul.

"Alpha," I said, my voice a mask of polite indifference. I gave him a slight nod.

He frowned, his eyes narrowing at my sudden distance.

"You don't look well," he said, taking a few steps closer. "Is it another headache?"

"I'm fine," I said, turning toward the balcony. "I just need some air."

Moonlight spilled onto the white stone railing.

I pretended to admire the night view, but the past flashed through my mind.

Seraphina, Austen's adopted sister. After being betrayed by her own mate, she had severed their bond with Austen's support and returned to our pack.

Austen pitied her, doted on her, and even tolerated her constant provocations and challenges against me.

When she caused my first miscarriage, Austen said she didn't mean it and refused to punish her.

After I miscarried a second time saving Austen's life, Seraphina stole my credit, making Austen resent me for my "cowardice."

When I was poisoned and lost my wolf and healing gift, Seraphina led the pack to shun me.

In the end, she killed me.

I only learned the truth in my final moments. She hadn't just poisoned my body. She'd used dark magic to poison my very soul, making my wolf shatter from within.

In my past life, Seraphina had given me the first dose of poison just yesterday.

Footsteps sounded behind me.

"Austen, I feel so weak..."

That familiar voice made me turn.

Seraphina, in a pale pink dress, leaned pitifully into Austen's arms.

Her hand was pressed to her chest, her face pale, as if she might collapse at any moment.

Austen's Alpha presence immediately enveloped her, a gentle force soothing her distress.

"It's okay, Sera. I'm here."

The same pose, the same words, the same gentleness.

In my past life, this scene had torn my heart to shreds.

But this time, I walked toward them with a smile.

"Seraphina, are you alright?" I asked, my voice dripping with false concern. "Do you need me to check on you?"

Austen's body tensed for a moment when he saw me, as if he wanted to explain.

But Seraphina just pressed closer to him.

"I'm just a little tired," she said, shaking her head weakly. "I'll be fine as long as Austen is with me."

"That's good," I said, pulling the vial from my purse. "As it happens, I have a special blessing potion here."

Austen's attention was immediately caught. "What kind of potion?"

"It’s an essence of moonpetal flowers." I held the vial to the moonlight, the liquid shimmering with a soft, silver glow. "It enhances an Alpha's bloodline. It will help you soothe Seraphina."

Austen took the vial, his eyes hesitating for a second.

But perhaps out of guilt for being caught comforting Seraphina, he didn't question it.

He tilted his head back and drank it all.

"It's sweet," he said, setting the empty vial down. "The moonpetal flavor is strong."

I'd always known Austen loved moonpetal nectar, so on my way back, I had added it to the bond-severing potion.

A memory hit me, sharp and cruel. A full moon night, ten years ago.

An eighteen-year-old Austen stood on this very balcony, awkwardly handing me a freshly picked moonpetal.

"Evelyn, will you be my Luna?" he had asked, his face as red as a boy's, his voice nervous but sincere. "I swear, you will be my only mate. I will protect you with my life."

The flower had shimmered in the moonlight, just like the love in his eyes.

"I will," I had said, standing on my toes to kiss his lips. "Forever."

Now, with lips tainted by that same flower, he had just drunk the poison that would end our "forever."

The sweet memory was a cruel contrast to the betrayal before me.

"Evelyn?" Austen's voice pulled me back to reality. "What's wrong? Your eyes are red."

"The wind," I said, lowering my gaze to hide my emotions. "I'm going back to my room to rest. I've been tired lately."

"I'll walk you," he offered.

"No need," I said, taking a step back. "Seraphina needs you."

I turned and walked away, my steps steady and firm.

Behind me, I heard Seraphina's whisper. "Austen, I think Evelyn has a problem with me."

"Don't overthink it," Austen's voice was a bit distracted. "She's probably just tired."

A cold smile touched my lips.

You'll never know, Austen. What you just drank wasn't a blessing. It was the beginning of our end. A curse.

I touched my belly, my thoughts a silent promise. In thirty days, when the blood moon rises, the chains on our souls will be shattered. Austen, this is what you owe me.