Chapter 3

I looked at Stephen in surprise.

But his eyes were dead serious.

“You came back too?” I asked.

He nodded.

A wave of relief washed over me. It meant everything that had happened in my past life was real.

If I hadn’t insisted on stopping the mate bond ceremony, my life would have ended up the same as the last time.

Suddenly, a thought hit me.

“What about Harry? Do you think he’s also back from the past?”

Stephen shook his head. “I’m not sure. But it doesn’t seem like it. If he were, he’d definitely wait until he stole my Alpha’s position before making his relationship with Teresa public.”

Stephen and I talked for a long time that day.

We hadn’t been close before, but we chatted like old friends into the night, mostly about how to prevent the tragic ending of our past life from repeating itself.

After all, Harry had poisoned Stephen’s wine, weakening him so he could challenge and defeat him in combat. Then Harry claimed to be the new Alpha and expelled Stephen from the pack.

Now, even though Harry was with Teresa and had lost the Beta’s position, he might eventually try to do that again.

So we decided to team up against him.

A few days later, it was the birthday party of Nora, a highly respected elder in our pack.

She was supposed to be the witness for Harry’s and my mate bond ceremony, and she had always liked me.

At the birthday party, she took my hand tightly.

“I’m sorry,” she said, “I misjudged Harry. I never would have agreed to be your witness if I’d known he already had a pup with another she-wolf.”

She shook her head in disappointment.

I covered her hand with mine and said, “It’s okay, Nora. You’re still the one I respect the most in the pack.”

Just then, Harry appeared at the ballroom door.

The entire room fell silent instantly.

He held a gift in his hand and walked up to Nora.

“Happy birthday, Nora. And Ivy,” he turned to me, “I know you’re still angry, but I really hope you’ll give us another chance.”

The band played on as Harry pulled Nora onto the dance floor for a waltz. He was dressed in a burgundy suit.

He mingled among the guests as if he were still the respected Beta he once was.

During a slow song, he suddenly grabbed my arm and pulled a small box from his pocket.

“Ivy, I’m sorry,” he said loudly enough for everyone to hear. “I was wrong about Teresa, about the pup. It was all my fault. But I beg for your forgiveness.”

He opened the box to reveal a bracelet. “This was my mother-wolf’s wedding bracelet. Please, can we try again? Be with me?”

Harry stared at me, as if he had never done anything wrong.

Just then, his mother-wolf, Emily, walked over to me in an evening gown.

“Oh, Ivy, let it go,” she said. “You two are meant to be. Our family’s business still needs your parents’ help, and you’ve known each other since childhood. It’s only right for you two to become mates. About that pup and his mistress? He’s a Beta. Many she-wolves will naturally be drawn to him. You must know you’re still the most important one to him. Hurry, forgive him now.”

The crowd murmured.

Some even began to cheer, urging me to forgive him.

Harry’s father, Jack, stepped forward. “Ivy, you’ve known Harry since you were little, you know what he’s like. Forgive him, or at least give him a month to prove himself. Nora will agree to this.”

I looked at Nora. She looked conflicted.

Even the band started playing the classic mate bond ceremony music.

The entire pack’s eyes were on me.

Suddenly, a voice cut through the noise. Stephen stepped out of the crowd.

“Don’t forget, mate bonds are sacred in our pack,” he said. “Harry already had a pup with another she-wolf. How can he start a mate bond with Ivy?”

The crowd fell silent.

“To survive in this pack, you must uphold the trust and purity of werewolf mate bonds,” Stephen continued, his gaze fixed on Harry and his parents. “If you can’t, you’re free to leave.”

Harry’s parents bowed their heads.

Stephen turned to Nora. “Our pack has never tolerated such disrespect for mate bonds, has it? If we make an exception now, what will others say about us, a pack full of cheaters?”

Nora nodded quickly. “You’re right. Let the Alpha decide this matter.”

“No. Nora, you’re the most respected!” Harry pleaded. “You can help me make Ivy forgive me.”

Nora glanced at Stephen, then waved a hand.

“I’m too exhausted. I need to go back to my room.”

Before Harry could speak, servants helped Nora leave the ballroom.

Harry turned to me. His eyes were burning with resentment, with exactly the same look he’d had the day he’d tied Stephen and me to the cliff.

He still hated me.

For the rest of the party, Nora didn’t return. Harry tried to chat with the guests, but most avoided him.

After the party, I drove home.

I’d just parked my Maserati and stepped out when I sensed a figure behind me.

I turned.

The werewolf threw a handful of herbal powder at me.

It was the sleeping powder. It made me cough.

My vision started to get blurred. Then everything went black.