Chapter 2

When I thought about their twisted faces from my past life, my fists clenched on their own.

But the Moon Goddess had given me a chance to start over. I wasn't going to repeat that tragedy.

Before coming back, I had already sent word to a witch deep in the forest. By tomorrow, she would deliver the potion to sever my bond with Joey.

Since Joey still couldn't forget Courtney even at the moment of his death, I would grant him his wish.

I walked up to Courtney and studied the fragile-looking she-wolf in front of me. I smiled faintly and said, "You must be the acting Luna Joey chose. You're very pretty, and you suit him well. Why don't we…"

I hadn't even finished saying "break the mate bond."

Joey rushed over as soon as he heard the commotion and pulled Courtney behind him.

"What are you trying to do to Courtney?"

I had barely survived and returned alive, yet there was no joy in his eyes. Instead, there was only bone-deep coldness.

Out of habit, he shielded Courtney behind him and instinctively bared his sharp wolf claws at me.

Only when he noticed how badly injured I was did a flicker of pain cross his eyes.

His tone softened slightly. "Rosalind, I know you've suffered. But Courtney is the acting Luna I brought in to take care of Russ. You can't use your authority as Luna to bully her."

I hadn't done a single thing, yet Joey was already convinced I was the one hurting Courtney. Who mattered more to him was painfully obvious.

"That's not what happened…"

Before I could explain, a sharp pain shot through the back of my hand.

Russ's pointed wolf fangs sank deep into my skin. Blood ran down my fingers and dripped onto the ground.

He released me and stood in front of me, glaring with hatred.

"Who are you? How dare a beggar like you bully my mom! You'd better grovel and apologize to my mom, or I'll let you feel how sharp my fangs are!"

The fearless way he stood there really did resemble an Alpha heir.

It made memories surface against my will.

The pack had rules. To become an Alpha heir, one had to pass brutal trials.

That year, Russ was only five. The elders dragged him to the training grounds for testing. No matter the heat or wind, he wasn't allowed to rest.

My heart ached watching him.

So every night, I trained with him. I ended up covered in bruises from sparring.

Joey would carefully apply ointment for me, holding me in his arms as he said softly, "Having a mate as gentle and devoted as you makes this life worth it."

Russ used to cling to me as well, calling me the best mom over and over.

That warmth felt as if it were still right in front of me. Yet after just three years apart, everything had changed.

Joey had a new she-wolf and had completely erased me from his heart. The techniques I personally taught Russ were now being used against me.

A bitter ache rose in my chest.

But with the lessons from my past life, I didn't scream or make a scene. I calmly accepted it all.

I looked at the family standing in front of me, all wary and guarded, and said evenly, "You've misunderstood. Joey, I didn't come back to compete with Courtney for anything. I came to break our mate bond."

When Joey heard those words, something unreadable flashed through his cold eyes.

Before he could say anything, my mother grabbed my hand. Her eyes were filled with tears.

"No way! You and Joey are destined mates! You've loved him since you were little. How could you possibly break the mate bond?"