Chapter 1

"Mate with me, Sloane. You know you're the only she-wolf I'll ever love."

The bonfire roared in the center of the assembly square.

Declan, my fiancé of two years and the Alpha heir of Nighthowl, was on one knee.

He held wild roses in one hand, and the Nighthowl Luna’s moonstone necklace in the other.

He was still pale from the marrow transplant he gave Chloe a month ago, but he wore a confident smile.

He thought I’d never say no.

He actually believed that offering his "love" and the Luna title would make up for his broken body, and that I would willingly walk to him.

After all, we had been arranged to mate for two years.

Mating with him was a duty I was expected to fulfill.

Even though he ditched me at important pack meetings for Chloe.

Even though he ignored my warnings and gave away his precious Alpha marrow.

He thought I would just put up with it all.

The pack warriors behind him started cheering.

"Say yes! Say yes!"

Someone urged me, "Come on, Luna, just say yes!"

"Yeah, haven't you been waiting to mate with Alpha Declan?"

"What are you waiting for? You guys are perfect for each other!"

In my past life, at this exact same monthly bonfire, I caved.

He told me I was his true love. Seeing his weak yet "devoted" look, I thought of our alliance and compromised. I thought I was strong enough to carry our future.

But at what cost?

He used his "fragile health" as an excuse to quit fighting and patrolling. I carried the burden of two packs all by myself.

By day, I negotiated with greedy merchants at the crystal mines. By night, I shifted and fought rogues at the border in a bloodbath.

And him? He rested comfortably in the manor I paid for.

Even his mother pointed at my face and scolded: "Since you're mated, it's your duty to carry your husband's burdens!"

Without his Alpha marrow, his healing slowed to a crawl. His Alpha blood grew weak. We visited every pack healer and tried for ten straight years. We never got a single pup.

Before I even turned forty, I dropped dead at the border.

Utterly drained. Worked to death.

Right after I died, Declan and Chloe completed the marking ceremony.

He moved her into my manor.

They lived a lavish life using the resources I died to protect.

The exhaustion and suffocation of that past life still lingered in my bones.

"Sloane?"

Declan's weak voice pulled me back to reality. Seeing me stand still, he frowned. His tone carried a hint of entitlement and hidden annoyance.

"I know you're still mad at me. But Chloe's surgery was a success, I couldn't just watch her die. My heart is completely yours. You love me, so why can't you be a little more understanding?"

He took a deep breath and raised his voice, as if declaring his greatness to the whole pack.

"I swear, I will love you with my life. Put on this Luna necklace, and we mate tonight!"

I looked down at the glowing moonstone in his hand.

I felt nothing.

My mind was completely clear.

No screaming. No angry tears.

I simply took a step back, putting distance between us.

"The arrangement is off."

"You can't even give me an heir. Why would I tie myself to a cripple who can't shift to protect his own territory?"