Chapter 2

Arthur’s Alpha power crashed down on the square.

The air grew thick, heavy with menace.

The younger wolves instinctively backed away.

I had prepared myself for this, but the suspicion in his eyes still stung.

"I'm not going to do anything to her," I said coldly, my gaze fixed on Calista, who was hiding behind him. "I'm not interested in her. I came back to—"

I wanted to say that I was here to say goodbye, to sever our mate bond for good.

But I was cut off by a sharp cry.

"Don't you touch my mom!"

Leo's cry ripped through me. He charged, a gleaming dagger in his small hand.

The blade arced through the air. A silver flash aimed for my heart.

I dodged easily, but the tip of the blade still grazed my arm.

Blood dripped onto the stone floor.

I felt no pain. Only shock as I stared at Leo.

"You won't hurt my mom!" Leo's eyes burned with a hatred you'd reserve for a killer.

I looked down at the dagger.

An obsidian blade, silver inlays, a wolf's head for a pommel.

Every detail was burned into my memory.

I had designed this dagger for him when he was a baby. I drew the plans myself and commissioned the best dwarven smith to forge it.

I spent a whole month on the design and waited six more to get the finished weapon.

He couldn't even talk back then.

Arthur had held me and said, "Leo is so lucky to have a mother like you. He'll love this dagger when he grows up. He'll be a truly great Alpha."

Now, my son was trying to kill me with it.

A sharp pain shot through my heart, but I refused to let the tears fall.

"Nice dagger," I said, my fingers brushing the cut on my arm. "Your form is sloppy," I said, my voice dangerously soft. "You left your whole left side open. I could have killed you twice."

Leo raised the dagger in a rage, ready to strike again, but Arthur grabbed him.

"Enough!" Arthur's voice was stern.

He barked an order, and his guards dragged a snarling Leo away.

Then, he turned to me.

"Samara," he began, his voice hesitant. "I never... I thought you were dead. For a moment, I thought you were here to hurt Calista."

His tone softened when he saw I wasn't a threat. "But since you're back... And you’re a rogue with nowhere to go. I’ll allow you to stay. Calista and I are not yet formally bonded. You can both be my mates. I will have you both. We will be a family."

A bitter sting filled my nose.

The exact same words as last time.

In my past life, I had my doubts.

If he could still feel our bond, why did he hold a funeral for me and make Calista his Luna?

But it didn't matter anymore.

I scanned the hall.

Everyone was watching this drama unfold. Some looked at me with pity, others with contempt, and some with pure amusement.

Not a single person was on my side.

In my past life, this would have shattered me. I would have screamed and defended myself, citing ancient laws to prove my status.

This time, I just smiled.

Twice they had cut me off. Now, I finally had my chance.

I looked at the perfect family he’d built on my grave. "Arthur," I said, my voice ringing with cold clarity. "I came back for one thing and one thing only. Before the Goddess and this entire pack, I, Samara, sever our mate bond."

The entire hall fell silent.

Even the bloody light of the Moonstone seemed to pulse to a stop.

"What did you say?" Arthur staggered back a step, shocked. "You are my mate, blessed by the Moon Goddess! The bond is sacred! You can't break it!"

Sacred?

He dared to speak of the Goddess's blessing now?

After taking my sister to his bed? After marking her as his Luna? After leaving me to die?

I remembered that last snowy night in my past life, after Calista had died.

The beast tide was upon us. All the pack members were hiding in the castle.

Arthur forced a sword into my hands.

"Samara, you go and draw their attention," he had said, his voice cold as ice. "You are our strongest warrior. Only you can buy us time."

I was naive enough to think he was trusting me with the pack's survival.

It was only when I was being torn apart by wolves, poisoned and dying, that I saw the celebratory torches being lit in the castle. I finally understood.

He never intended to save me.

He had always resented me.

So be it.

I would not make the same mistake this time.

"I can't defy the Goddess's will," I said, staring into his eyes. "But I can refuse to accept it. I'm serious. You already have a new Luna. Our mate bond should have been severed long ago. From this day forward, I, Samara, have nothing to do with you."

I started toward the altar, intending to shatter the moonstone that symbolized our union.

But Calista suddenly rushed forward, crying, and grabbed my arm.

"Samara, don't! We can be together..." she pleaded, tears welling in her eyes. "Arthur and I haven't formally bonded. You are his true mate. But I love him so much, I’m willing to... to share him. For you, sister. For us!"