Chapter 1

Vivian Bennett, the research assistant on our project team, claimed she had a condition that made her wolf go out of control. She was the clumsy beauty who couldn't tell one serum from another whenever an episode hit.

She couldn't tell experimental serums apart from discarded ones, so whenever I wasn't looking, she poured ethanol into my experimental samples.

By the time I noticed it, all that was left in the test tubes was a clump of blackened, hardened gunk.

"I just saw how hard you were working every day and wanted to help... I guess clumsy people like me shouldn't even try."

She cried so pitifully that anyone watching would have thought I was the villain.

Marcus Thorne, our project lead, and Caleb Hayes, our team leader, both came over and persuaded me to let it go.

"Vivian didn't do it on purpose. Her father is a pack elder, and her family has always spoiled her. She's never worked with healing serums before, so of course she wouldn't know any better. As a researcher on the team, you should be more understanding."

"Don't take it out on her just because she had a family who loved her and you didn't."

As a result, not only did I fail my associate researcher evaluation, but I also had to find new experimental samples and make the serum all over again.

Later, Vivian poured a bottle of highly concentrated wolfsbane extract into the experimental samples for a joint project between several research institutes.

When the project team tried to hold someone accountable, she shifted the blame onto me. She even took it to social media, claiming that I had bullied her at the institute and forced her to take the fall.

I was publicly condemned across the entire industry and fired from the institute. I even faced a massive lawsuit for damages, and in the end, I was so hopeless that I jumped off a building.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day she first secretly ruined my experimental results.

This time, I didn't fight. I simply placed my ID badge on the ultra-low-temperature freezer that held the cure for silver poisoning, which Marcus had spent three painstaking years developing.

…

There was a faint, all-too-familiar hissing sound. It was Vivian pouring ethanol into the test tubes of my wolf-healing serum. The moment the serum came into contact with the ethanol, its protein stability was compromised.

The sharp smell of alcohol was so strong that it made my throat tighten. I stood at the lab doorway and watched her pour the entire bottle of ethanol over my serum tubes.

In my past life, I had rushed over to snatch the test tubes away and gotten into a huge fight with Vivian. However, she had turned the tables on me, and the whole institute was notified that I had bullied a coworker.

This time, I didn't move. Instead, I leaned against the doorframe and quietly watched her pour out the last drop.

Vivian turned around and met my gaze. Her hand trembled, and the empty ethanol bottle hit the floor with a sharp clink.

"Luna, I'm so sorry. My wolf went out of control again, and I couldn't tell the healing serum from the alcohol."

She lowered her head and twisted her hands together as her voice began to tremble.

I stared at Vivian.

"If you couldn't tell them apart, why pour the ethanol in at all? Why didn't you just drink it instead?"

Just then, Marcus and Caleb walked into the lab. The latter strode over and immediately stepped in front of Vivian.

"Luna Baldwin, what's with the attitude? Vivian didn't do it on purpose."

Caleb stood there like a guard dog protecting its master, raising his chin.

"She just wanted to help you. What's wrong with that? This is what she gets for being nice? Would it kill you to be a little more understanding?"

I walked over and glanced at the wolf-healing serum, which had already begun to clump into cloudy flakes.

I said, "This is the independent project I'm supposed to submit next week. It directly affects my review for the associate researcher position."

Then, I turned to Vivian. "My bottle was clearly labeled 'Wolf-Healing Experimental Serum.' If you can't tell serums apart, can't you at least read the label?"

Vivian's eyes instantly reddened, and tears fell into the liquid one after another. "I knew those were your test tubes, but whenever I have an episode, my mind just goes blank."

She grabbed the hem of Caleb's shirt, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably.

"Mr. Hayes, I really didn't mean to ruin Luna's work. I'll compensate her for the loss."

Caleb was absolutely heartbroken. He glared at me and hissed, "You heard her, didn't you? Vivian already offered to compensate you. Why are you still making such a big deal out of this?"

Marcus stepped forward with his hands clasped behind his back, acting like a leader who had everything under control.

He said, "That's enough. Coworkers should get along. There's no need to fight over something so small."

He glanced at the clumped serum and added. "Luna, Vivian's situation is special, and everyone at the institute knows that. You're a researcher, so if the serum is ruined, just make it again. I'll give you a one-week extension on your evaluation."

I looked at Marcus. "Dr. Thorne, these are samples of a wolf-healing serum I've been researching for three months. They've been through multiple experiments. It's not something I can replace by simply mixing a few potions together."

Marcus frowned, clearly displeased. "Luna, don't be so harsh. Are you trying to drive your coworker to the breaking point?"

Seeing that both Marcus and Caleb were taking her side, Vivian chimed in quietly, "It took everything I had to apologize. What more do you want? Clumsy people like me just can't do anything right.

Caleb quickly backed her up. "Don't be sad, Vivian. Luna gets the researcher allowance every year, so this little loss is nothing to her. Luna, can't you be the bigger person for once?"

In my past life, no matter how far Vivian went, the three of them had always ganged up on me and forced me to give in. I wondered if they would still be just as united once their own interests were on the line.

"Fine. Since Dr. Thorne puts it that way, I forgive Vivian."

I stopped arguing, bent down to pick up the ruined glass test tubes from the rack, and walked toward the trash can.

Saying even one more word would have been a waste of breath.

Marcus nodded, satisfied. "That's more like it. Helping each other out is what the Nightfall Pack Research Institute is all about."

Caleb smiled too. "See? Was that so hard, Luna? You didn't have to make Vivian cry."

Vivian stood behind Caleb with her head down, but I could clearly see a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

In my previous life, I had been too angry to notice. This time, I saw everything clearly.

She wasn't sick at all. She had been targeting me on purpose all along.