Chapter 1

My mate, Alpha Larry, marked my best friend, Chloe, betrayed me, and killed me and our unborn pup with a silver dagger.

Reborn on the day I was meant to choose my mate, I chose Larry's younger brother, Derek—an outcast in a wheelchair, with a wolf they said was broken.

The first thing I did after my rebirth was march into the Blackwood Alpha's office and declare my choice.

With the decision made, I walked out of his office.

But the moment I stepped out the door, my path was blocked.

Larry stood in the middle of the hallway, three of his followers flanking him.

They barred my way, all wearing the same arrogant smirk.

"Finished sucking up to my father already?" Larry asked, crossing his arms and looking down at me. "Working hard to secure your spot as the future Luna, are we?"

I stopped and looked at him calmly. "Move."

He clicked his tongue, shaking his head as he looked me up and down. "Look at you. The Silver Moon princess, gracing our pack with your presence. You're just desperate to marry me, aren't you?"

Larry slowly walked closer, unleashing the full force of his Alpha aura.

"The connection between us was destined by the Moon Goddess. You can feel it, can't you?"

I could.

That damned fated mate pull, wrapping around us like a chain.

But this time, I refused to be bound by it.

"Even after we're mated, I expect to be with whoever I please," Larry said, his smirk casual. "That's only fair, don't you think?"

A familiar, sharp pain lanced through my heart.

He'd said the exact same thing in my last life.

At our mating ceremony, in front of the entire pack.

Only this time, he was saying it sooner.

He… he was reborn, too?

Did he really expect me to accept this filthy mate bond again, just like last time?

"And you expect me to accept such an insult?" I sneered.

"Insult?" Larry raised an eyebrow. "It's called reality, Reina. Did you really think fated mates meant we had to be faithful?"

"Reina!"

A cloyingly sweet voice called out from down the hall.

Chloe came jogging over in a pink dress, looking fragile and sweet.

She stopped in front of us, feigning breathlessness, and gave Larry a soft look before lowering her head.

"I heard voices and was worried you two were fighting," she said quietly. "Reina, are you okay?"

Larry immediately moved to her side, his hand resting gently on her shoulder.

"It's fine. I was just discussing some post-marriage arrangements with the princess."

A flash of hurt crossed Chloe's eyes, but she quickly hid it.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have interrupted," she said, stepping back with red-rimmed eyes. "I was just worried... Larry, you know how intense you can be. I didn't want you to upset Reina."

A perfect performance.

The exact same script as my past life.

She always pretended to be the understanding friend while meddling in my relationship with Larry.

I was once so blind I'd considered Chloe my only friend in the Blackwood Pack.

But I wouldn't be fooled by her again.

"Chloe's right," he said, turning back to me with a frown. "As the future Luna, you need to learn some humility."

"Humility?" I couldn't help but laugh. "To you?"

"To your future Alpha," he corrected, his tone leaving no room for argument. "It is the will of the Moon Goddess."

Larry took a step forward, his aura pressing down harder. "Don't think being the Silver Moon princess gives you the right to be defiant. In the Blackwood Pack, I'm in charge."

I looked at him, then at Chloe playing the damsel by his side.

They thought they had everything under control.

"Larry, I think you've misunderstood something," I said calmly.

"Misunderstood?" he scoffed. "You came all this way to our pack to finalize our mating ceremony, didn't you?"

He turned to Chloe. "Go on ahead. My future Luna and I have things to discuss."

Chloe nodded obediently, casting a worried glance at me before she left.

Once she was gone, Larry's smirk turned into a full-blown sneer.

"Keep this up, Reina, and don't be surprised when I reject you at the ceremony."