Jensen

I loved the pup my parents adopted so deeply that I cared for him as if he were my own son. But I found out that he was actually the child of my Alpha mate and my sister.

I died on a stormy night.

I died while searching for moonlight flowers for Ethan. Ethan was the pup my parents had adopted, the one I'd always treated like my own son.

That flower was the birthday gift he wanted most, but in our entire town, only the northernmost cliff had them.

He tugged at my sleeve, his eyes brimming with tears.

"Sister, please, this is my one tiny request. You'll grant it for me, won't you?"

I could never refuse his pleading.

Just as I reached the cliff edge, the storm struck without warning.

Lightning split the night sky, and I spotted that beautiful moonlight flower.

The moment I plucked it, the rock beneath my feet crumbled away. Clutching that flower, I plummeted into the deep ravine.

I thought that would be the end.

But bathed in silver light, I saw the Moon Goddess.

"Mia, you are a kind little wolf. I grant you seven days—if you can receive one genuine declaration of love, you will gain a second life."

When I awoke, it was already noon the next day.

I stumbled and ran toward home.

The wounds from my fall had stopped bleeding, but the stabbing pain throughout my body still left me momentarily dazed.

I had actually been revived.

I wanted nothing more than to sprout wings and fly straight to my mate's side.

But just as I turned down a small path, a familiar voice drifted toward me.

"Mama, can sister not come home today either?"

I froze mid-step, instinctively looking over. Why was Ethan calling my sister Stella "mama"?

After the storm, the air had turned cool. I saw my mate Ryan and my sister Stella sitting together, with Stella holding Ethan in her arms while my parents sat nearby, smiling warmly.

Before them lay a picnic blanket with simple but appetizing packed lunches. Everyone wore fresh clothes, sitting together in perfect harmony.

As if they were the real family of five, and I was the outsider.

The thought struck me like a blow.

Just as I prepared to walk toward them, Stella smiled and stroked Ethan's head.

"Baby, didn't we agree you'd call me sister even at home?"

"But..."

"Ethan," Ryan interrupted him, "this is our secret, remember?"

Ethan pouted.

"But I want to sleep with daddy and mommy, just like last night."

I jerked my head up, my hand clutching the flower, trembling uncontrollably.

Though my mother looked somewhat displeased, she still nodded in agreement.

"Either way, you two are Ethan's biological parents. It's good for you to build more of a bond with the child."

My father was even more direct.

"That ungrateful daughter Mia can stay dead out there for all I care! Letting Ethan wander around at such a young age."

Stella smiled and tapped Ethan's nose.

"Little troublemaker."

Ethan giggled, then suddenly produced a moonlight flower from beside him like magic, announcing proudly:

"Mama, I hope you can be happy every day! And if possible, please give me a little sister!"

Stella gasped in surprise, covering her mouth, but the joy in her eyes was unmistakable.

My father seized the opportunity to speak up.

"Ethan's right. You two should have another while you're young. Mia can't produce any pups anyway, and it's not good for Ethan to be an only child."

Stella didn't agree directly, but looked at Ryan with shy affection.

"I'd be willing, but Ryan..."

He was silent for a moment. Then suddenly reached out to embrace her, just like he had embraced me countless times before.

"We can, but we can't tell Mia about our relationship. She will be the only mate of mine in name."