Chapter 2

Though my father was shocked by my choice, it was a public declaration he couldn’t reverse.

And Isabella, who feigned concern for me, couldn’t wait to flaunt her victory. It only took two days.

“Clara, does this ring look fit for a future Queen?”

Isabella’s voice grated through my phone’s speaker like nails on a chalkboard. She held up her left hand, a diamond the size of a pigeon’s egg flashing for the camera. The comment section on her social media was already flooded with praise and envy.

“Jacob spoils me so much,” Isabella said, her voice dripping with smugness. “He says the most powerful Alpha deserves the most dazzling mate. Unlike some others, who chose a monster that has to hide in the shadows. And I will be the one to bear the heir to the Alliance, continuing that glory.”

She made a throat-slitting gesture at the camera.

“You’d better be careful. After all, when a monster gets hungry, it’ll eat anything.”

I switched off the phone, my face impassive.

The old me would have been tormented by such taunts, would have doubted my choice.

But now, I just wanted to laugh.

Jacob spoils her?

I remembered scenes from my past life.

“You useless thing! You can’t even carry a child!”

Jacob’s fist crashed into my face, blood trickling from my lip. We had been mated for three months, and I still wasn’t pregnant.

“What good are you to me?”

He grabbed my hair and slammed my head against the wall.

“The Wolf Clan needs an heir, and you’ve given me nothing!”

That cold, violent reality was something Isabella would soon experience for herself.

The doorbell rang.

I went to the door. The butler had already signed for a small box.

Not jewelry, not flowers, and certainly not a tacky diamond like the one Isabella was showing off.

Inside the box lay a key.

It was forged from a black metal, its design simple yet futuristic, etched with ancient draconic runes.

A card inside gave an address: The Sky Tower Penthouse, the very pinnacle of the city.

I closed my hand around the key, feeling a strange warmth emanate from it.

Half an hour later, I stood before the entrance of the legendary residence.

The entire top floor, with 360-degree floor-to-ceiling windows, overlooked the whole city.

The security system’s scanner recognized my biometrics, and the heavy metal door slid open without a sound.

“Welcome home, Ms. Clara.”

The home AI’s voice was warm and respectful.

There were no lavish decorations, but every piece of furniture was priceless. The most stunning feature was the projection in the center of the living room, displaying real-time financial data from around the globe.

It was then I realized the scale of Damien’s wealth was far beyond my imagination.

“Do you like it?”

His voice came from behind me.

I turned. He was standing on the balcony, his golden, slitted eyes watching the sunset.

“It feels very safe,” I said.

It was the truth. The security here was on par with a top-tier military base. Anyone who wanted to harm me could never get close.

“Good,” he said simply. “I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

Before I could reply, the doorbell rang again.

The security monitor showed Isabella and Jacob. She was clinging to his arm, her face a mask of triumph and pride.

“We’re here to visit Clara,” Jacob said to the camera, though his eyes were scanning the residence.

I glanced at Damien. He nodded.

The door opened again.

Isabella stormed in on her high heels, her eyes greedily taking in everything.

“Wow, Clara, this place is huge,” she said, her tone laced with sarcasm. “But it feels so cold. Like a beautiful tomb, devoid of any life.”

Jacob followed her, his gaze more direct. He was calculating the value of the property.

“Mr. Wyatt,” Jacob said, nodding toward the man in the corner. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Damien didn’t respond. He didn’t even look at him.

Isabella, ignored, scowled. “Mr. Wyatt, are you so out of touch that you don't show basic courtesy to the future leader of the Alliance ? Or has the Dragon Clan fallen so far that you've forgotten all decorum?”

she snapped.

Damien finally turned.

His golden, slitted eyes fixed on her, and the temperature in the room dropped instantly.

“No one touches my things.” His voice was quiet, but then he added, his gaze flicking to Jacob, “The Silver Moon Clan’s recent mining investments in South America seem to have run into… a few snags. Perhaps you need me to ‘clean them up’ for you?”

Isabella instinctively took a step back, hiding behind Jacob.

Jacob’s face paled. He had clearly felt the threat from a true apex predator.

“We just came to see Clara,” Jacob said, forcing a smile. “After all, she’s Isabella’s sister.”

I looked at them, suddenly recalling a detail from my past life. The obsessive, fanatical gleam in Jacob’s eyes whenever he spoke of an heir. His "love" for me had always been built on my ability to bear him a child.

Now, that obsession had been transferred to Isabella.

“So, you want a child?” I asked abruptly.

Isabella blushed but quickly recovered her smug expression. “Of course. It’s my duty, and my honor. I’ll have one for Jacob very soon.”

Her hand rested on her still-flat stomach.

“The wolf bloodline must continue,” Jacob added, that familiar fanaticism in his eyes. “A powerful Alpha needs a powerful heir.”

I almost laughed out loud.

Isabella was so foolish. She thought Jacob loved her, but he only loved what she could give him.

“Well then, I wish you the best of luck.” I stood up and took Damien’s arm. “It’s getting late. We’re going to rest.”

Isabella wanted to say more, but Jacob was already pulling her toward the door.

“We won’t disturb you then,” Jacob said. “We should have dinner sometime.”

I saw them to the door, watching as the elevator’s glass doors slid shut, hiding them from view.

Isabella’s voice drifted back faintly, “Jacob, I promise I’ll have our baby soon. I’m so much better than Clara. I’ll give you the perfect heir!”

I couldn’t hear Jacob’s reply, but his expression was one of satisfaction.

I watched the elevator doors close, the pain of my past life replaying in my mind.

My foolish sister. Reborn, and still obsessed with nothing more than rely on men and bearing his heir.