Chapter 2

Isabella's words cut into me like a blade.

In my past life, her words had shattered my resolve, driving me into silence and surrender. But this time, I would not repeat the same mistake.

"Cold and heartless?" I turned to face the pack. "No. I am simply fighting for my own future."

Alpha Arthur's voice rumbled through the hall. "Elena, Victoria speaks with reason. You are too emotional now. This is not the time to make such a decision. I will grant you three days to reconsider—"

"There's no need." I cut him off. "Alpha Arthur, my decision will not change. Liam is dead, and I will not sacrifice the rest of my life for a corpse."

Victoria reeled as if struck, staggering back several steps. "You… how dare you speak of my son that way?"

"I am only speaking the truth. If Liam truly loved me, he would never want my soul chained to endless suffering. He would want me to find happiness again."

Liam's face darkened as he strode toward me. "Elena, you've gone too far!"

"Too far?" I laughed coldly. "Tell me, where were you when Liam died on the battlefield?"

His expression faltered, panic flashing in his eyes before anger smothered it.

"I was commanding the rescue at the rear! If not for me, even Liam's body would have been lost!"

"Is that so?" I gave him a pointed look, my voice laced with irony. "Then I suppose I should thank you… Jacob."

Luna Victoria seized the moment, her voice sharp. "Elena, I will ask you one last time. Do you truly mean to betray the mate bond you shared with my son?"

I met her gaze steadily. "I have betrayed nothing. The Moon Goddess herself decreed that when one mate dies, the other may choose to sever the bond. I am choosing life."

Then I turned to Arthur. "Alpha, I request that my plea for a new mate be made openly before the pack."

Liam's voice cracked in alarm. "You can't—!"

Gasps rippled through the hall. Such a request was unheard of in wolf pack history.

Arthur's face was solemn, but he nodded. "Elena, since this is your decision, I will honor it. However, the alliance between our two packs still stands. If you wish to choose a new mate, it must be from among our wolves."

I lifted my chin, scanning the sea of faces before me. Shame burned in my chest, but I forced my voice to ring clear.

"Who among you is willing to stand beside me, before the Moon Goddess, and become my mate?"

Silence.

One by one, heads bowed, avoiding my gaze.

A hollow ache spread through me. Had even the Moon Goddess abandoned me?

Liam's mocking voice slithered through the quiet. "See, Elena? No one would ever choose a cold, heartless woman like you. Give it up."

His certainty churned my stomach.

Then, from the back of the hall, a deep voice rang out, "I will."

Every head turned.

Kael stepped forward, each stride steady and commanding. The strongest warrior of the Black Moon Pack—silent, formidable—now stood at my side, his presence dominating.

Victoria's eyes widened in outrage. "Kael, do you even know what you're saying?"

"I know exactly what I'm saying. Elena is the purest bloodline of Silver Creek. She deserves protection, not the chains of false morality."

Liam's rage boiled over. "Kael, don't be a fool! Her mate has barely died, and she already seeks another. You would still want a woman like her?"

"Too much?" Kael's eyes were like ice as they met his. "All I see is a woman fighting for her freedom. Liam is dead. Must Elena be buried with him?"

He turned and bowed respectfully to Arthur. "Alpha, I am willing to claim Elena as my mate."

Isabella rushed forward, her voice trembling. "Kael, you don't understand. Elena—"

"I understand perfectly," Kael cut her off. "Liam's last words were to entrust Elena to me. I am only fulfilling that promise."

The revelation struck like a thunderclap. The two had indeed fought in the same place. If Liam had entrusted Elena to him, her choice was beyond reproach.

But I knew the truth. Those words were Kael's invention. In my past life, Liam had never spoken those words.

Arthur fell silent, thoughtful. At last, he nodded. "If Liam entrusted her to you, then Elena's request must be honored."

Kael dropped to one knee before me. His eyes, dark and steady, locked on mine.

"Elena, before the Moon Goddess, will you accept me as your mate? I will protect you until my final breath."

My heart trembled. His gaze held no hesitation, no deceit.

Without thinking, I nodded. "Yes."

Liam had no ground left to stand on.

That very moment, Kael and I signed the Mating Decree.

Arthur raised a weary hand. "Enough. They have suffered enough pain. So let it be. I am old, and now, with one son lost, I can no longer bear the weight of Alpha. Three days from now, we will hold the Alpha Succession Ceremony. Jacob shall be named the new Alpha."

Jacob. My sister's mate. Now Liam's stolen name.

Inside, my thoughts turned dark. In my past life, even until my death, Liam never ascended as Alpha.

Yet in this life, everything had come so much sooner.

As I left the hall, Liam brushed past me. His voice was low, venomous, meant for my ears alone.

"Elena… you will pay for what you did today."