Chapter 1

Mira looped her arm around Ronan, pressing herself against him.

“Ronan,” her voice was sickly sweet, “mark me.”

She tilted her head toward me, a smirk curling on her lips.

“Someone like Lyra—”

“She doesn’t even deserve to stand beside you.”

I met her gaze, calm and silent.

Mira suddenly grabbed my wrist and yanked it up.

The scar—raw and unmistakable—was exposed to everyone.

“See this?” she laughed. “She took that for me.”

“So,” she leaned closer into Ronan,

“a woman with scars—how is she supposed to be your mate?”

Ronan chuckled. “I don’t like flaws.”

A faint smile tugged at my lips.

In my last life, Ronan only rose to Alpha because I cleared every path for him.

Too bad I learned too late—

I was nothing but a flaw to him.

They kissed right in front of me, shameless and slow.

Ronan’s fingers traced the back of her hand, his gaze drifting down her body.

【What a stupid little thing. Easy to play.】

My pupils tightened.

That voice—

It was his.

I lowered my voice immediately.

“What did I just hear?”

My inner wolf stirred, whispering inside me.

“It’s real, Lyra. This time… you can hear their thoughts.”

I drew in a quiet breath and looked up.

Ronan and Mira were still flirting, still smiling.

Inside his mind, his voice went on—

【Play along for now. When I’m bored, I’ll break her slowly.】

Mira kept glancing at me, her face glowing with victory.

As if today she had already become Ronan’s destined mate.

As if tomorrow she would stand as Luna.

I smiled.

Mira, what you stole from me isn’t a man.

It’s a monster who will ruin you piece by piece.

She leaned into Ronan again, smug as ever.

“Lyra, you don’t seriously think Alpha Kael is someone you can reach, do you?”

“You’re not even worthy of being marked by him.”

“A lifetime untouched—sounds perfect for you.”

“Only a wolf like Ronan—strong, powerful—can give someone real safety.”

Ronan squeezed her waist, the two exchanging knowing looks.

I nodded lightly. “You’re right.”

“I’m not worthy of Ronan.”

Mira’s smile widened.

But my eyes were on the bottle in her hand.

Ronan spoke softly, almost tender.

“I brought this back from the mountains.”

“It’ll keep your wolf’s coat smooth. Shining.”

Mira shot me a look full of provocation.

“This is what it means to be cherished.”

“Without Ronan, you’ll never taste anything like this.”

She tipped her head back and drank it in one go.

Then waved the empty bottle at me—

like a trophy.

I said nothing.

Just watched it.

I knew this moment too well.

Last life, I held that same bottle.

Drop by drop.

Day after day.

The slow poison he mixed into it—

Even if Mira hadn’t stabbed me,

I wouldn’t have lasted three months.

I spoke softly. “Drink more.”

Inside her mind, she sneered—

【I’ll only get younger. You’ll rot away like trash.】

I nodded. “That way it works faster.”

In my last life, all Mira saw was me becoming Luna.

She never saw what it cost.

And when she couldn’t have it, she drove a blade through me.

This time, before my eyes had even fully opened—

she rushed forward and took Ronan.

What was I supposed to do?

At least Kael was only cold.

Distant.

Ronan would pretend to love you…and then kill you slowly.

The air shifted.

A sudden stillness fell.

A breeze swept through, and the guards around us lowered their heads in unison.

Footsteps touched the stone—light.

But no one dared move.

I looked up.

Kael stood on the rock not far away.

Like a wolf watching from higher ground.

Cold.

Detached.

Taking in everything below.

I turned—

And he was already in front of me.

Our eyes met.