Chapter 1

For seven years, Kade, the pack's Commander, and I were mates who hated each other.

He hated me for forcing the mating bond on him. It caused the woman he loved to be married off to the North, only to die a brutal death.

That was until the night our territory fell, and he took a fatal silver bullet for me. Through the flames, his dying words were that he never wanted to be my mate in the next life.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day the alliance bride was chosen.

This time, I stepped forward and became that alliance bride.

"You want to go North in her place?"

My father stared at me like I was joking.

Out of all his daughters, I was the only one who never hid my dislike for Ruby.

People in the pack always said that if Ruby tripped on the stairs, I would only step aside so she could fall harder.

Going North to that bloodthirsty pack and becoming a brutal Alpha's political toy should've been out of the question for me.

My father leaned back in his chair. "Just a few days ago, you did everything you could to make me announce your mating bond with Kade."

I paused and answered calmly. "No need. I'm giving up the bond. Let Ruby have my place."

My father didn't ask why. He just studied me.

Between Ruby and me, he always favored the younger one.

Or rather, he favored the one who played the victim and fed his ego.

In my previous life, if I hadn't fought and made a scene, if I hadn't forced the mating bond on Kade, I bet my dear father would have packed me into a car and sent me North in her place without hesitation.

But now, he pressed the intercom on his desk.

"Change the marriage agreement," he ordered.

When I walked out of the packhouse, a blizzard was raging outside.

The wind whipped ice crystals across the parking lot. They stung my face.

Kade stood in the snow.

He wore no coat. A thick layer of snow settled on his shoulders. His boots sank into the drifts, rooting him to the ground.

In my previous life, he stood in the snow for two days and two nights just like this, forcing my father to revoke the order sending Ruby North.

Meanwhile, I used my status as the Pack Princess to threaten him into acknowledging our mating bond, forcing him to mark me.

But this time, I only stopped beside him and tilted my umbrella slightly to shield him from the snow.

The snowflakes stopped falling between us, and he looked up.

Our eyes met briefly before he frowned and looked away, as if my very presence was torture.

"Have you thought about the war our pack will face if this marriage is called off?" I asked calmly.

His voice was deep through the wind and snow. "I'm the best warrior here."

"I'll never accept using her as a bargaining chip for peace."

I scoffed. "Kade, peace comes with a price. You can stand here as long as you want, but it won't change my father's decision."

He glared at me, resentment deep in his eyes. "If you hadn't secretly provoked the Alpha, this marriage would never have fallen on Ruby!"

I pulled my umbrella back. "If that's what you think, then that's a shame."

I turned and walked away, ignoring his confused look.

I had no intention of telling him the truth. The alliance treaty had already been changed.

This time, I was the one going North.

In my previous life, he suffered humiliation and torment because of me.

This time, I would let him hate me a little longer.

After all, when the wedding day came, the woman standing in front of him waiting to be marked would be my sister. He would be ecstatic.

As I walked, memories from my previous life rushed into my mind.

Snarls, blood, and fire.

He had shifted into his wolf and blocked the hallway, charging straight into a hail of silver bullets alone. He bought me time with his own life.

My chest tightened.

In my previous life, I used every trick to keep Kade by my side.

But even though he gave his life for me, his heart had died long ago on that Northern border, along with her.

Kade, you paid my debt with your life once.

This time, I'm letting you go. I hope it gives you everything you ever wanted.