See You Again? No, See You Never

"There was a clear sign at the entrance to the party. "Thalia Emberwood and cockroaches are not allowed inside."

I was Thalia Emberwood. Seeing my name next to cockroaches, I couldn't help laughing because I was reborn.

Today was Damon Hale's coming-of-age ceremony. In my past life, this was the day he subjected me to public humiliation.

He was the heir of the Shadowmire pack's Alpha. As for me, I was just an Omega orphan rescued by the Alpha from a pack war.

When we were pups, he always insisted I was his future mate and promised me the grandest marking ritual at the Moonveil Ceremony.

For years after, he cared for me in every way and gave me hope for a new life. But everything changed when he turned 14 and his stepsister, Raven Cross, appeared.

Still, thanks to the Moon Goddess' mercy, our wolves recognized each other no matter how far apart we were.

As rain suddenly poured from the sky, I stood at the entrance to the party when one of his buddies blocked my way. "Go home, Thalia. Damon has made it clear that you're not allowed in."

I forced a smile.

In my past life, I stood in the rain all night and hoped he'd soften. Yet he sent his wolf guards to beat me unconscious, and I woke up two days later.

When his Alpha father found out, he furiously ordered Damon to mark me immediately.

I waited two years for the marking ritual and spent a third of my savings on that wedding. But on the day of the ceremony, Raven drank wolfsbane and took her life.

Damon acted as if nothing had happened and went through with the marking ritual, but never touched me afterward. He coaxed me into believing he'd lost millions in a failed investment and begged me for help, knowing that the Alpha would strip his heir status if he found out.

I handed over the rest of my savings, gave him my salary card, and took on extra jobs. But after marking me, he spent nights with other she-wolves and left my wolf in agony.

Each time I begged him to sever the bond, he would sneer and retort, "Don't ever think of escaping my side, you vicious thing. You'll pay for this for the rest of your life."

Later, he accused me of murder and condemned me to a death sentence executed under the pack law. Before I died, I learned he'd always believed I'd poisoned and killed Raven.

But fate gave me another shot at life.

This time, I was free and would never again beg for his love. I would live for myself and stay far away from the mate pull.