Chapter 3

Evelyn's gaze shifted from my clothes to the family crest hanging around my neck. Jealousy flashed across her face for only a moment before smugness returned.

"So, it looks like you're doing pretty well for yourself.

"But don't celebrate too soon. Lydia values discipline above everything else, and Oscar is a complete lunatic. The moment you break one of their rules, they'll throw you out."

I simply replied, "Oh."

Clearly dissatisfied with my reaction, she immediately started bragging about her own family.

"It's different for me. My parents treat me really well, and Evan tutors me every day. We've even been admitted early to the best academy in the pack.

"Evan and I are going to live happily ever after. As for you–" Evelyn lowered her voice. "You'll be kicked out by the Alpha family and die outside their territory."

She was convinced that the Alpha family had been responsible for her death in our previous life.

Yet she had never once stopped to think about what she herself had done back then.

"Evelyn."

Evan Jackson approached with a lunchbox in hand.

She immediately threw herself into his arms and whined that she was exhausted.

Evan gently wiped the sweat from her forehead and offered to hand out the flyers in her place. Yet he remained seated while saying all of that, making no move whatsoever.

He looked exactly the way he had in my previous life when he promised to give me a good life.

Then he noticed me.

His eyes narrowed.

"Evan, she's the little sister I told you about," Evelyn explained deliberately. "She's part of the Alpha family now."

Evan instinctively shielded Evelyn behind him. His expression turned cold.

"Stay away from her."

I looked at him, and the remnants of affection from my previous life disappeared completely.

All I could feel was my heart pounding.

It made sense. Our choices had changed this lifetime.

So had our fate.

Without saying a word, I turned around and walked into the shopping mall.

By the time I returned to the estate, it was already dusk, and my hands were full of shopping bags.

Oscar was lounging on the sofa in the living room. The moment he saw me, he sneered.

"You've only been part of this family for a year, and you're already spending the family's money to satisfy your own desires?"

Lydia frowned. "Oscar, she's your sister."

"I never acknowledged that."

Ignoring his taunt, I first handed Lydia a moon-silkworm silk shawl. I then distributed gifts to the elder who had taught me and to the butler as well.

They were all visibly touched. Each of them thanked me and praised me for being thoughtful and considerate.

Oscar alone looked displeased. He let out a dismissive snort.

Smiling, I retrieved a custom-made silver bow and walked over to him.

"Oscar, this one's for you."

His expression froze.

"I heard Mother say you enjoy hunting. I had this bow customized based on the design sketches on your desk. See if it feels right."

He accepted it. His eyes lit up briefly before he stubbornly barked, "Who told you to snoop through my things?

"Don't think this means I'll acknowledge you."

He returned to his room and never came back out.

That very night, however, he placed the bow in the most prominent spot in his bedroom.

Standing outside his door, I couldn't help but smile to myself.

Oscar immediately slammed the door shut. "What are you looking at? We're going to be late."

Chuckling softly, I followed after him.

It was our first day at the academy. I had originally planned to take public transportation. Before I had gone more than a few steps, Oscar's car stopped beside me.

"Get in." He tapped impatiently on the steering wheel. "Mother told me to bring you along. It's not because I wanted to."

Smiling, I climbed into the passenger seat.

The seat had already been adjusted to fit my height.

During the drive, Oscar repeatedly warned me not to address him as my brother in front of anyone. I was also never to use the Alpha family's name to cause trouble.

I agreed to every condition.

As long as I could graduate smoothly and gain access to more resources, I'd agree to anything.

When we arrived, a red carpet stretched across the academy entrance. A grand welcome banner had been prepared for him. Even the guards lowered their heads respectfully as he passed.

The Alpha family's heir occupied a unique position.

I had seen it in my previous life as well. Oscar never needed to prove who he was. His face alone was enough to make countless werewolves wary.

The moment we entered the campus, I saw Evelyn and Evan surrounded by a crowd of students.

Just like before, Evan was an outstanding student. He had ranked first on the entrance examination.

Since Evelyn had also been reincarnated, gaining admission to the academy had been effortless for her. For werewolves born into ordinary families, that alone was enough to inspire envy.

My own examination scores had been high enough to place me in the same class as them.

Oscar, however, was different.

Even if he finished dead last, he would still be assigned to the academy's best class.

The moment Evelyn spotted me, she walked over with a smile.

"What a coincidence. The Alpha family really is impressive. Even a loser like Oscar got into the academy without taking the entrance exam."

Oscar wasn't there to hear it, but her words still irritated me.

"Do you realize you'll be punished for openly insulting the Alpha family's heir?

"Evelyn, even if we're related by blood, I won't cover for you."

I smiled as I spoke, yet my words were deliberately harsh.

Her face instantly turned pale.

Hearing the commotion, Evan came over and pulled Evelyn behind him.

"I already warned you. Stay away from my sister. If I ever find out you've hurt her, I'll kill you."

Pretending to be innocent, Evelyn tugged at his sleeve. "Evan, don't be like that. My sister would never hurt me."

Evan sighed. "You're just too kind."

I ignored them.

In the past, Evan's behavior would have hurt me. Now, I no longer cared.

The opportunities and resources I wanted were all concentrated in these precious years.

My only goal was to keep working toward my future.

The following semester passed in relentless study.

As for my relationship with Oscar, it wasn't nearly as strained as before.

He was still too stubborn to admit anything, but every afternoon after class, he'd wait for me so we could go home together.

In the mornings, he'd hand me breakfast. Sometimes it was a slice of cake. Other times, it was fruit and yogurt.

Every single time, he'd casually remark, "Don't get the wrong idea. I just happened to buy extra.

"I'd never buy food specifically for you."

I never argued. I simply accepted his kindness and believed he really had bought too much.

That illusion lasted until one day during combat training. Rumors suddenly spread through the class that I had entered the academy solely because of my family's influence. The other students looked at me with open contempt.

Standing at the front of the classroom, I didn't know what to say.

Oscar rose to his feet. For the first time, he lost his temper in public.

"The Alpha family may have gotten her into this academy, but they didn't take the entrance exam for her.

"She earned her scores. If anyone disagrees, challenge her. And if you lose, I'll use every bit of influence I have to throw you out of this academy."

His overwhelming presence silenced the entire classroom.

He then turned to face me and snapped, "You're hopeless. All you do is let people bully you."

I lowered my head without responding.

In my previous life, Oscar and I had never crossed paths. Everything I knew about him had come from Evelyn.

She had always said Oscar was arrogant, conceited, and an unfit heir.

She claimed that after his accident, the family had no choice but to abandon him.

But now, I realized he wasn't the person she had described at all.

The thought that I wanted to save him materialized.

That afternoon, as usual, I waited for Oscar outside the academy gates. Thirty minutes had passed, but he still hadn't shown up.

I went back to the classroom to look for him, but he was nowhere to be found.

Just as I was about to head home alone, a classmate told me, "He went to the Spring Hunt."