Chapter 1 Death Renders Love Pure

Today was supposed to be my wedding day, yet it became my funeral.

I thought my soul would be consumed by eternal darkness, only to discover that the Moon Goddess's blessing had given me a second chance.

..

Evelyn's POV

A warm force was soothing my body, which was raw and aching from the wolfsbane burning in my veins.

Was it the Moon Goddess coming to receive her pitiful believer?

Or had Wyatt Smith, who had just left, come back?

Not long before, Wyatt and Judy Nash had shown up at my place to announce that they were going to mark each other as mates.

I'd asked Wyatt for help, hoping he'd give me some money for treatment.

Judy interrupted my pleas, saying harshly, "Again with the money? Wyatt's given you plenty. Do you expect him to keep supporting you forever?"

With a pained expression, I looked at Wyatt, who stood to one side. "The money you gave me doesn't even add up to what I used to give you for your living expenses. You were just a driver's son—if it weren't for me supporting you, you'd never have become Alpha of the Silvermoon pack!"

Furious, Wyatt clutched me by the throat and shot back, "You supported me? Have you forgotten, Evelyn? After your father's death, it was I who helped you keep the pack members under control. If it'd been left in your hands, the pack would've been swallowed up by other packs by now!"

Then, he flung me down before remarking, "If you hadn't suddenly gotten infected with wolfsbane, I would've marked you. Alas, you were the one who went in and out of those filthy places and got infected with the highly contagious wolfsbane. Who would dare to mark a she-wolf like you?"

I wanted to tell him that I hadn't done anything like that, that it wasn't like that. But the wolfsbane was tormenting my body, and all I could do was weakly shake my head.

When I tried my best to get up and stop Wyatt from leaving, Judy blocked me. She toyed with her red nails as she eyed me, smug and triumphant.

"Do you know why you and your father suddenly got infected with the rare and highly contagious wolfsbane?" she asked.

I stared at her in agitation.

Chuckling, Judy explained, "It's because Wyatt didn't want to mark you, so he specifically got someone to gather the toxins before adding them to food and feeding them to you and your father.

"That way, with the pity and support of everyone in the pack, he can refuse to mark a filthy bitch like you. Hahaha!"

"No… That can't be…"

The anguish and emotional turmoil drained the last of my strength. I blacked out.

…

And now, I felt the warmth as I regained consciousness.

I forced my eyes open and, after seeing Bennett Morris treating me, a tide of remorse washed over me. He had once been my fated mate, but I'd refused him because I'd been attracted to Wyatt. When I saw him now, I realized how foolish I'd been.

Why had he come? Was he here as my previously arranged mate, to see how pathetic I'd become? Or had he come as the Alpha King to drive a filthy Omega like me out of the pack?

I didn't know how to react to Bennett's dominant, powerful presence. Flustered, I tried to hide my battered and ruined body in the tuft of dry grass behind me.

However, at the very next second, I was yanked into a warm embrace. Was Bennett… holding me?

Why did he do that?

Bennett seemed to be trembling slightly, as if holding in his emotions.

"I'm sorry," he said shakily.

He clumsily used his power to treat my body, which was already rotting away. His tone was as imperious as ever as he said, "You need to get treated, Evelyn."

Bennett proceeded to slice open his wrist and let his blood drip into my mouth.

His warm blood, charged with Lycan power, flowed into my body, but at the very next moment, it vanished as though it'd leaked right back out of me.

"Ben… Ben…" I used the last of my strength to call out to him. "It's no use. The wolfsbane has already seeped into my bones. I'm beyond treatment. My father, the previous Alpha, died because of a wolfsbane infection, too."

When I recalled Father's solemn, tragic death, I took a deep breath and tried to push Bennett away, but to no avail.

Bennett didn't speak. He simply cut his arm again, determined to use his blood to save me. He'd always been like that. The love of one in power was silent but unwavering.

Father had once told me, "Eve, don't judge wolves by appearances. Watch what they do."

Only now did I understand what he meant.

I choked back the sorrow and pushed Bennett away with all my remaining strength before mocking him cruelly, "Don't act like a hero now. If you loved me so much, why didn't you come to steal me away back then?"

On the inside, I was apologizing to them. I wasn't trying to hurt him on purpose. I just didn't want to watch all who loved me end up leaving.

I could feel the way Bennett stiffened, but moments later, to my shock, he kissed me fiercely and domineeringly. I tasted blood in his mouth.

He was kissing me in a stubborn, steadfast attempt to feed me his powerful blood.

No. I couldn't let him do that. He'd get infected!

Panicked, I tried to shove him away, but his strong arms kept me pressed against him. I couldn't get away.

In desperation, I pressed my lips firmly against his. When he froze, I used the opportunity to free myself from him. Then, while he was dazed, I summoned my wolf to take my own life.

My wolf was intrinsically connected to me. She didn't want to see me suffer in agony either.

My tears soaked into the dry grass. The moonbeam fell, allowing me to see the heavy grief in Bennett's eyes. My wolf howled in sorrow.

I prayed to the Moon Goddess. If I were to live again, I vowed never to fall for the wrong person—my driver's son—and be forced to watch as everyone who loved me disappeared one by one.

…

I was awakened by the commotion around me.

When I opened my eyes, I found myself in school.

The Moon Goddess had taken pity on me and blessed me with a second chance at life. She'd allowed me to return to my schooling days.

"Hey! Why are you daydreaming?" Wyatt snapped as he kicked my table unceremoniously. "You spend all your time with your head in the clouds. Judy's exhausted because of the cheerleading squad's performance, pig. Hurry up and get some food for her. I don't want to have to repeat myself!"