Forced to Kneel for His Dead Lover

"Florian, if you become betrothed mates with her, I'll jump off this building. I would rather die than live without you."

I widened my eyes upon hearing Jessica Chaste's familiar cries. I scanned my surroundings and noticed there were werewolves in exquisite clothing all around me. It was obvious that I had returned to the day of the marking ritual.

I had once thought this was the happiest day of my life. Who knew it would become the beginning of my nightmare?

Florian Reed stood beside me, staring at Jessica, who was standing on the rooftop, his face grim. But he didn't say a word. He grabbed my hand, wanting to continue with the ritual.

In my last life, I nearly cried with excitement when he chose me so decisively. But after everything I had been through, I had become much more rational.

I realized how hard he was gripping me, exposing the anxiety he was feeling within. Maybe Jessica's devotion had already won him over.

But the pack couldn't accept an Alpha who betrayed his mate. Florian had no choice but to give up Jessica, and after she died, his guilt only grew until it drove him mad.

He started repenting for his sins day and night before the Moon Goddess' statue, treating everyone else with endless gentleness. The only thing he gave me was coldness, and because of his cruelty, our pup lost its chance to survive.

There wasn't a single werewolf who didn't marvel at how deeply he loved Jessica, and some of them even thought I was the third party who had stopped them from being together. They looked at me like I was an unforgivable criminal, their contemptuous stares cutting me deep.

But Florian was the one who fell in love with me at first sight and pursued me for three years. I simply followed my heart and chose to be with him. Why did they put all the blame on me in the end?

It wasn't fair.

Since I had a second chance at life, I wasn't going to make the same mistakes I made in my last life. I would break off my relationship with Florian for good.

I stopped in my tracks and told Florian, "That's so dangerous. Florian, go talk to her. She only listens to you."

Florian looked surprised, but I saw the smile creeping onto his face. "Olivia, do you know what you're talking about? Pushing your own betrothed mate toward another she-wolf during a ceremony like this? What do you think the werewolves will say about you?"

I had been through it, so I knew. But compared to the pain Florian had caused me, those rumors meant nothing.

I shook my head. "Florian, none of that matters. All I care about is your true feelings for me."

I raised my voice on purpose so everyone could hear me. "Even if the person standing there weren't your childhood friend, I would still stop the ceremony. You're the Alpha of the werewolf pack. It's your duty to protect every werewolf. Nothing is more important than a life!"

Everyone was in awe of my graciousness and how well I saw the bigger picture. Some werewolves even went to Florian's parents to praise them for having such good judgment and choosing the right mate for their son.

His parents, who had always thought I was beneath him, smiled at me for the first time.

Florian was so moved that he wanted to hug me, but I refused. When he looked at me in confusion, I urged him, "Go. Don't waste any more time standing here."

He immediately rushed toward the rooftop without looking back.

As I watched him disappear from sight, I couldn't help clenching my fists. In my last life, Jessica's death drove Florian mad, and he forced me to atone for it. Now, I chose to let him go and make up for what he lost.

The marking ritual came to a halt, but it didn't end. So, I stood in the same spot, waiting for Florian to return.

But two hours soon passed. Florian and Jessica were nowhere to be seen.

People started chattering around me, and almost everyone looked at me with pity. I lowered my head awkwardly and pretended I hadn't noticed anything.

At long last, Florian appeared. When our eyes met, he turned his head to the side in a panic, the lipstick mark still lingering on his cheek.

Jessica had her arm linked with him, looking all happy, as if she were the bride today, not me.

The thought had barely crossed my mind when Florian proved me right. He stood in front of me with a conflicted look, trying to muster up words but failing multiple times.

"Olivia, Jessica said that if I go through the ritual with her today, she'll never show up in front of us again. I… I agreed to it."

He quickly added, "Don't worry, it's not real. I'm only playing along. I won't really mark her."