Crowned in Ash and Silver

My mate Alpha Horton hated me, convinced I’d driven his beloved Chloe to her death. But it was his body that shielded mine from a silver bullet. Reborn, my mission is simple: break the bond he despises and finally set him free for Chloe.

The first day of my new life, I went straight to the pack's shaman and demanded to break my mate bond with Horton.

"A mate bond decreed by the Moon Goddess cannot simply be—"

"It can," I cut her off. "You know the ancient unbinding ritual, Rose. I've read the pack records."

A conflicted look crossed her face. "That ritual hasn't been used in three hundred years. And it requires the consent of both parties—"

"He'll consent."

At least, I knew from my past life how desperate he was to be free of me.

Rose, the pack shaman, sighed and pulled a heavy, dust-covered tome from a shelf.

"If you insist... But Sienna, once it is broken, it can never be undone."

"I know."

I remembered the fragments of his thoughts that had bled through our mate bond—the raw, unfiltered feed from his heart.

The tender longing for Chloe, the fury at being trapped, and the deep, visceral disgust for me.

"Why can't she just let me go?"

"Chloe is so kind. Why does she have to target her?"

"I'd rather die than be trapped like this."

Every word was a silver dagger to my heart.

In my past life, I had weaponized the Goddess's gift, forcing him to complete our mating ceremony. Afterward, I had used every trick in the book to ensure I was the only one by his side.

I wouldn't do that this life.

And I wouldn't let him die protecting me.

I took the petition scroll from the shaman, the parchment trembling in my hand.

Good.

We could both be free.

I had just stepped out of the shaman's hut when a familiar voice made my spine stiffen.

"Sienna."

I turned slowly. Horton was leaning against an oak tree, arms crossed.

Those golden eyes I had once been so mesmerized by now held only a chilling wariness.

He was still so tall, so perfect, so... angry.

"What fresh hell are you planning now?" He pushed off the tree, his powerful Alpha presence pressing in on me as he advanced. "Or are you planning on tormenting Chloe again?"

Chloe.

The first thing he ever spoke of was his concern for Chloe.

Seeing him alive—his body strong and whole, his golden eyes burning with anger—the memories of my past life crashed into me like a tidal wave: the image of him taking the silver bullet, his final, cutting words, the memory of his body growing cold in my arms...

Tears streamed down my face before I could stop them.

"Sienna?" My tears turned the disgust in his eyes to a flicker of confusion.

In that moment, I ran to him. I threw my arms around his waist and held on with everything I had.

His body was warm, solid, and so full of life.

It felt so good. He was alive.

This was the last embrace I could selfishly claim.

"What... what are you doing? Let go!" His body went rigid, his voice laced with alarm and revulsion.

But I just took one last, greedy breath, searing the scent of pine and rain into my soul.

"Horton," I released him, stepping back to meet his suspicious gaze, forcing a smile. "Everything you've ever wished for is about to come true."

He studied me, his expression hardening with scorn. "I've already mated you, just as you wanted. What more could you possibly desire? Trying to win my sympathy with tears? Sienna, drop the act."

I held up the parchment in my hand, wiped my tears, and kept my voice steady.

"Soon, you'll get what you want most. It is the will of the Goddess, and it is also my wish."

Horton scoffed and turned away, clearly not believing a word. After all, I had used "the will of the Moon Goddess cannot be denied" as the excuse to force him into our mating.

But this time was different.

I watched his retreating back, whispering softly.

"In three days, on the full moon, we will both be free."

And I would begin to fulfill my second wish for him.