Chapter 3

From the moment I was born, my fate was tightly bound to Joey's.

We were the model mate pair that everyone in the pack envied. I had once loved him so deeply that I couldn't pull myself out.

We had sworn before the Moon Goddess statue that we would love only each other for a lifetime.

That was the first time I ever saw him cry.

After that, we lived inseparably, our days sweet and peaceful.

Until one day, while we were out on patrol, rogues ambushed us halfway through the trip. I stayed behind to cover his escape and was taken by them.

Joey collapsed in a pool of blood, watching the wolves disappear into the distance. Filled with rage and grief, he swore he would rescue me no matter what.

But he broke that promise.

During the three years I was gone, he fell in love with someone else and forgot that I was still suffering out in the wastelands, waiting for him.

In my last life, Joey's breathing grew weaker and weaker against my back. Right before he died, he used the last of his strength to speak.

"Rosalind, I did love you once, but that's in the past. During the three years you were gone, my heart felt like it was being cut every day. Courtney stayed with me through that pain. She filled the emptiness Russ felt without a mother. These past three years, she's become the most important one in my life. Consider my life a repayment to you. If there's another life, please don't stand in the way of my happiness with Courtney."

With his voice barely above a breath, he whispered one last sentence.

"Courtney, I'm coming to you."

Then, he died on my back.

The sky opened up with a torrential downpour. Rainwater, blood, and mud mixed together.

Yet, I felt nothing but endless desolation.

Holding Joey's body, I cried out in anguish.

"Why? I was your mate. I was the one who stood by you, the one who saved your life! But in the end, your heart only held Courtney, the she-wolf who stayed with you for three years. We loved each other so much. Why couldn't we make it to the end?"

But a corpse couldn't answer my questions. I could only hold Joey as his body slowly went cold and finally stiffened.

Joey would rather die and reunite with Courtney than live out his life with me.

In this life, I refused to keep lying to myself.

Since being with Courtney was what he wanted, I would grant him that wish.

"That was all in the past. I don't love him anymore. And right now, the one Joey loves is Courtney. As long as she stays in this pack, he won't forget her. Are you really going to exile her to the wastelands?"

The moment my mother heard the word "exile", she panicked and pulled Courtney into her arms, her voice shaking.

"Exile? How can you be so heartless? Courtney is my daughter, too! Sending her away would be no different from killing her."

She kept soothing Courtney, who cried softly in her arms, showering her with the kind of tenderness she had never once shown me.

I let out a bitter smile and shook my head.

Even a biological mother could abandon her own daughter. How could I ever believe Joey's lie about loving only me for a lifetime?

But it didn't matter anymore. After tonight, I would finally be free.

I would be rid of these family members who never loved me.

Just then, Courtney wiped her tears and walked toward me. When she was a few steps away, she suddenly covered her nose and mouth in disgust.

"I know you resent me for taking your place. It's understandable that you'd hate me. But as Luna, showing up in front of everyone dressed like this isn't just embarrassing yourself. You're embarrassing the entire pack."

As she spoke, she took my hand and put on a gentle expression.

"Why don't I take you to change into something clean? Joey's given me so many clothes that my closet can't even hold them all. If you don't mind, you can pick a few to wear. Consider it my apology to you."

Whispers spread through the crowd. Every word was filled with disgust toward me and praise for Courtney's kindness.

I had seen this kind of tactic countless times before.

In my last life, it was exactly Courtney's manipulations that turned everyone against me.

But now, I had seen through it all. I no longer cared what they said.

The Moon Goddess had given me a second chance. In this life, I would live for myself.

Right then, the statue on the altar stopped crying, as if it were telling me that I would never shed tears for anyone again.