His Mate in One Life, His Regret in the Next

After the banquet, Mother found me standing alone in a corner. Tears shimmered in her eyes.

"Tessa, I knew you were a good and sensible girl."

I said nothing.

All I could think about was my death in my previous life. Mother had received word that I was dying, yet she had refused to visit me even once.

I looked up as Ivy approached. Nathan was still across the room, speaking with his father.

"I'm sorry, Tessa," she whispered, her eyes already red. "Mother told me about North Ridge. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have to go."

When we were little, Pine Hollow was attacked by a rival pack. While escaping, my parents carried Ivy to safety but left me in the car.

The attackers took me, then abandoned me beside a road when I became too much trouble. A kind human woman found and raised me.

My parents only brought me home years later, when Pine Hollow's decline left them needing two daughters for two alliances. Otherwise, they might have forgotten me forever.

Ivy covered her mouth and began to cry.

Nathan returned just then and immediately pulled her into his arms.

"What's wrong?"

She shook her head against his chest.

"I just wish Tessa weren't upset with me."

"Don't cry. None of this is your fault."

He bent to kiss her forehead. When he raised his eyes to me, all the tenderness in his expression had vanished, leaving only disgust.

"I've made my choice," he said. "Don't make Ivy feel guilty for it."

Mother wiped away her tears and came over with a wineglass in her hand.

"This is something worth celebrating. Ivy can finally form a mate bond with the man she truly loves."

Father had already begun discussing the ceremony date with Nathan. After a moment, he glanced at me as if only then remembering I was there.

"Nathan, there's also something about Tessa—"

"Nathan, you promised we'd choose our wedding bands tonight." Ivy slipped her hand into his. "The jeweler is waiting on the terrace."

He looked down at her, and his expression softened.

"All right. Let's go."

She led him away before Father could finish.

Once the terrace doors had closed behind them, Father turned to me.

"Since Ivy's mating ceremony will take place this month, Tessa can leave for the North Ridge Pack on the same day. Their Alpha has agreed to hold your mating ceremony that evening."

Mother clearly approved. In front of the guests, however, she put on a hesitant expression.

"Wouldn't that be a little unfair to Tessa?"

Father laughed.

"Her prospective mate is North Ridge's Alpha. He may be old and sick, but his territory, status, and wealth are beyond an ordinary wolf's dreams."

He looked at me with exaggerated affection.

"Tessa, your father is so happy for you."

The pack elders and guests gathered around with their glasses. I heard them whispering.

"The old Alpha of North Ridge? He's supposed to be a brutal man."

"I heard he's almost sixty and barely leaves his bed anymore."

"Poor Tessa. Her family only brought her home a few years ago, and now she's already being sacrificed for an alliance."

In my previous life, I would have hidden in my room and cried.

This time, I simply picked up another glass of wine and took a slow sip.

When we left the banquet, Nathan and Ivy walked ahead of us. Mother and Father followed beside them, eagerly discussing every detail of Ivy's mating ceremony.

No one noticed that I had been left behind.

I watched Nathan open the car door, crouch to arrange Ivy's skirt, and help her into the back seat. Ivy lowered her eyes with a sweet smile and kissed him on the cheek.

"Ivy, now that we've seen how much Nathan loves you, your mother and I can finally stop worrying," Father said. He patted Mother's hand before leaning into the car to say something else to Ivy.

It was exactly the same as before.

They never saw the daughter walking behind them.

I looked down at my dress. The hem dragged across the floor because it had belonged to Ivy. Mother said altering a new dress would take too long, so I could wear one Ivy no longer wanted.

Everyone praised Ivy for being generous enough to lend me her clothes.

No one had ever asked whether I wanted her castoffs.

Nathan finally noticed me as he closed Ivy's door. He frowned and walked over.

"Tessa, you don't have to look so miserable. Just because I'm marrying Ivy doesn't mean no one else will want you."

Then he lowered his voice.

"Once the ceremony is over, things can settle down. You'll get used to it."

He believed I would stay here and learn to accept whatever he gave me.

"I understand," I said calmly.

Nathan studied me, unsettled. The Tessa he remembered would have cried, argued, and begged him to reconsider.

After a brief silence, he turned and climbed into Ivy's car. Father helped Mother into another vehicle.

Once the convoy had disappeared, a message appeared on my phone.

[We forgot you weren't in the car. Call a ride and come home on your own.]

I had grown accustomed to being forgotten in my first life.

By the time I reached home alone, Ivy was waiting eagerly inside. A moonstone engagement ring glittered on her hand.

"Tessa, Nathan formally proposed to me after we left. He said he was grateful to the Moon Goddess for giving us another chance to choose."

She stroked the ring, unable to hide the triumph in her eyes.

"Thank you for letting us be together."

I smiled at her and returned to my room.

After closing the door, I looked at the suitcase I had already half packed.

Three days remained before I left the Pine Hollow Pack.

This time, I would give them the life they had always wanted.

Then I would leave for good.