Chapter 1

I nodded obediently, and that alone stunned Alexander Parker. He hadn't expected me to agree to his request so readily.

In the dim candlelight, his face was flushed an unusual red, yet his eyes were clear. There wasn't a trace of drunkenness in them. I sat quietly beside him, just as I always had, well-behaved and compliant.

Alexander leaned closer, his expression unusually grave. "Willow, did you understand what I just said?"

I nodded again, still docile. "I did."

In my previous life, I had clung to him and refused, telling him never to ask for such things again. I loved him too much to let him form a mate bond with someone else.

In this life, though, my heart didn't stir at all. It felt as trivial as commenting on the weather.

Alexander frowned, clearly dissatisfied with my obedience. He was about to say more when my brother, Christopher Sage, barged in. "Guess who I just saw—Stella Lockhart, your childhood sweetheart! That guard, Ryan, is trying to get her to drink—"

Before my brother could finish, Alexander shot to his feet. "That's ridiculous. Stella's carrying a pup. How can she be drinking?"

With that, he strode out of the private room in long, urgent steps.

Christopher was shocked. "I thought he hadn't talked to her in seven years. How did he know she was carrying? Could he be the father of her pup?"

I nodded, going along with his words. "Probably. Looks like Alexander will have a mate soon."

A wave of shouting erupted outside, followed by the sharp crash of shattering glass. I stayed in my seat, calmly eating the fruit from the platter, as if I couldn't hear a thing beyond the door.

Christopher seemed even more surprised and couldn't help teasing me. "Lolo, your beloved Alexander is fighting someone out there. Aren't you going to help?"

In the past, I had been like Alexander's shadow, following him wherever he went. Christopher had even grown jealous over it more than once.

Every time I was on the verge of blurting out the truth, Alexander would gently stroke my hair and speak before I could. "In Lolo's heart, I'm more like her big brother than you are. That's an honor for me. You can't possibly envy that, Chris."

Slowly, I came to understand what Alexander truly wanted. He didn't want our relationship to be known. I was only ever meant to be his secret lover.

I savored the sweetness of the fruit, then shook my head. "I'm just a frail Omega. Even if I went out, I wouldn't be any help. I'd only get in the way."

If this were the past, I would've rushed out without a second thought. I would never have cared about my own safety.

Christopher spoke with relief. "That's the right way to think. I mean, look at you, all skin and bones. You're meant to be protected."

He told me to stay put in the private room while he went out to help. I remained there for a long time. Only when the noise outside finally subsided did I rise and step out.

Outside the private room, Alexander was carefully shielding a she-wolf in his arms. It was his childhood sweetheart, Stella. She leaned weakly against him, her eyes rimmed red like a startled rabbit.

He held her tight, an unspoken tenderness filling his gaze, one he didn't even realize himself.

Christopher walked over to my side, buzzing with gossip. "Lolo, I guess we were right this time. Seems like we'll be attending their mating ceremony soon!"

His voice was neither loud nor soft, but it carried far enough for Alexander to hear.

He jerked his head up. When he saw me standing beside Christopher, a flicker of guilt crossed his eyes. He hurried to explain, "A mating ceremony? No. You've got it all wrong. I was just helping Stella out—"

I smiled faintly and shook my head, cutting him off. "I understand, Alexander. Ms. Lockhart doesn't seem well. You should send her home first."

Alexander froze. "What did you just call me? And you want me to send her home?"