Chapter 1

"Ivy. This whole playing-hard-to-get routine is pathetic."

"You think picking Damien — that useless nothing of a brother — is going to force me to give up Celeste?"

He strode up to me.

"Celeste didn't pass the screening. She's falling apart right now."

"You're a warrior. Are you really going to stoop to fighting an Omega that fragile for attention?"

I looked at him calmly.

The burning pain of the silver pit from my previous life still lived in my skin.

I could still see Julian's face at the edge of that pit. No hesitation, no pity. Just annoyance.

I didn't cry. I didn't argue.

I just tightened my grip on Damien's arm a little more.

Julian's eyes flicked down to my hand on Damien. For a second, I saw the rage and jealousy there.

"Remember this. The Luna position is yours. That's enough."

Then he pulled a mint out of his pocket — I always ate these when I was nervous.

He grabbed my hand, pressed the candy into my palm, and his voice softened.

"Eat it. You always want one when you're nervous."

"Let me help Celeste through this year of training. Then I'll take you up north for a holiday. Stop making a scene."

I lowered my eyes and looked at the mint in my hand.

In my previous life, it was exactly these little gestures — the slap, then the sweet — that fooled me into thinking he actually cared.

I raised my hand.

And right in front of him, I dropped the mint on the ground.

Julian's face went white with rage.

He stared at me, jaw clenched.

"Ivy. Enough. How much longer are you going to drag this out?"

Damien — silent the whole time — suddenly laughed.

He caught my wrist and pulled me back against his chest.

"Julian. Are you deaf, or do you just not speak human?"

Damien's voice was rough, and his eyes were ice.

"Ivy said it. She's going to the Royal Academy with me."

"She picked me as her mate."

Julian scoffed like he'd heard the joke of the century.

"Damien. You can't even fully shift into your wolf form. You think you get to pick up my leftovers?"

That was the label that had followed Damien since he was a child.

Eighteen years ago, at the twins' naming ceremony, the pack's old witch had declared in front of everyone: the younger brother, Damien, was born weak, his bloodline failing. The older brother, Julian, was a natural-born Alpha.

Julian's supremely confident gaze settled back on my face, like he already had the outcome in hand.

"Ivy. The application closes tomorrow at sunset."

"I'm giving you one night to cool off."

Just then, from behind one of the garden columns, came a delicate, tearful whimper.

Celeste was standing there in a little white dress, eyes rimmed red.

"Julian… d-did I make Ivy upset again?"

"I'm sorry, it's my fault — I'm just so weak, I couldn't even pass the screening. I'll go, I don't want to be a burden…"

She covered her face and made to run off.

Julian's expression snapped.

He shot me a vicious look.

"If anything happens to Celeste, that's on you."

He turned and went after her at a run.

Leaving only his retreating back.

On his way out, he stepped right on that mint. He didn't even look.

In my previous life, that exact view of his back broke my heart for a full year.

This time, it just seemed absurd.

I watched them go without so much as a ripple inside me.

Then a strong arm tightened around my waist.

Damien's warm thumb was rubbing circles into my side, harder than it needed to be.

He rested his chin in the crook of my neck.

His breath was hot against my ear.

"Ivy. What you said just now — about going to the Royal Academy with me."

"Was it real? Or were you just trying to piss him off?"

I turned my head.

And met the obsession and possessiveness in his eyes.

I reached up and gently smoothed the crease between his brows.

"Of course it was real."

"This time, I only want you."

Something dark flickered in Damien's eyes.

He stared at me for a long moment, then leaned down and bit my earlobe.

"Good."

"You said it. Remember that."

"If you lie to me, Ivy, I'll drag you down to hell with me."

The edge in his voice sent a shiver through me.

But I smiled anyway.

"Tomorrow morning, nine o'clock. We'll go submit our applications at the admissions center."

"See you there."