This Time, I Choose No One

All my life, I have been trapped in the shadow of my sister, Selene.

She was the Silver Moon Pack's Daughter of Moonlight, blessed by the Moon Goddess, the prize every Alpha coveted.

What she didn't know was that this time, I had been blessed as well. I was reborn on the night of my mating ceremony.

Just as in my past life, she smiled that sweet, harmless smile, insisting on giving me the first choice of a mate, maintaining her perfect facade of a generous and doting sister in front of everyone.

This time, however, I wouldn't give her the chance.

In my last life, I genuinely believed she had my best interests at heart.

I foolishly gave her the first choice and chose Alpha Damien of the Black Forest Pack, a man who suffered from Moon Sickness, sending him into frequent, uncontrollable rages.

I gave up my birthright within the pack and became the balm for his violent wolf, staying by his side every moment like a full-time caretaker, even though he never offered me a single ounce of a mate's affection.

It was not until a Rogue wolf attacked during the celebration for Selene's heir that he attempted to use dark magic to steal her unborn pup's spirit.

In that instant, the Alpha who everyone believed had been lost to madness for years was suddenly lucid.

He lunged forward to protect Selene, but in his haste, he accidentally pulled me into the path of the dark magic. The spell struck me instead, crippling my wolf spirit.

As I collapsed, I saw him pull my sister into his arms, shielding her with his body from the final blow.

Only then did I finally understand. He had never truly suffered from Moon Sickness. His pack had never seen him as a discarded monster.

He had feigned madness only because he knew he could never have Selene's love and refused to bond with anyone but her.

In my final moments, he apologized to me. "Forgive me, Elara."

"I deceived you. But I could never let anything happen to Selene. I'll repay you in my next life."

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the night our father ordered us to choose our destined mates.

This time, I chose no one. And this time, they were the ones on their knees, begging for my love.

...

"You choose first, my dear sister."

"You are mediocre. You need a strong mate to protect you."

Selene cooed in that sickly sweet voice, playing the part of the loving older sister, just as she had in our past life.

Her eyes, however, betrayed her. They were glued to one person.

Liam was the powerful heir to the formidable Blood Stone Pack, and his strength far surpassed that of the supposedly mad Damien.

It was an open secret that she and Liam were already entangled, and that Father intended for them to mate.

In my last life, to protect her perfect love story, I chose Damien Kane, even though he was violent and a danger to everyone around him.

I thought I was being considerate and selfless, thinking of the bigger picture. I never imagined I was stepping into a hell with no escape.

Even now, the memory of the dark magic searing through me still echoed in my very soul.

That vile spell had shredded my flesh, and I had collapsed in a pool of my own blood on the cold stone floor.

Damien's healers rushed in but didn't even spare me a glance.

They swarmed around Selene, who had only a minor scratch, treating her as though she were on the brink of death.

All I could remember of my fading consciousness was her, huddled in Damien's arms, crying and trembling. "Damien, it hurts… It's all my fault. I shouldn't have dismissed my guards just to spite Elara..."

The pack elders showered her with praise, lauding this "purest Daughter of Moonlight" who, even when injured, couldn't bring herself to blame her illegitimate younger sister.

She soaked up their sympathy while I lay on the bone-chilling stone, feeling my wolf spirit slowly fade.

Only when my wolf was gone, when my life was flickering out, did she finally snap back to reality with an exaggerated gasp.

"Save Elara! What are you all doing? Please, go to her!"

Her tears streamed in perfect paths down her cheeks.

In the moment of my death, I finally saw my dear sister's true face.

So when our Alpha father asked me who I wanted, I offered a faint smile.

"Since my sister Selene is being so considerate, I'll accept her kind offer."

"I want Liam."

"What did you say?" The fake smile on Selene's face froze, and tears instantly welled in her eyes.

"Elara, you know that Liam and I..."

In the corner, Damien, whose eyes had been vacant, snapped his head up and stared at me in shock.

Immediately, a terrifying wave of an Alpha's command crashed over me.

My father's hand cracked across my face, the sharp slap drowning out the murmurs of the crowd.

"Know your place! Liam is the heir to a powerful allied pack."

"Do you think someone like you is worthy of him? He needs a mate truly blessed by the Moon Goddess!"

"Besides, you know how your sister feels, yet you dare to provoke her in public. Are you trying to kill her?!"

The taste of blood filled my mouth, but I couldn't help but laugh.

I straightened my spine and met his gaze directly.

"Father, if you had already made your decision, why pretend to give me a choice? Are you afraid of being called biased?"

Selene's eyelashes fluttered dramatically, her tears tracing perfect, glistening paths down her cheeks.

"Elara, don't say that. Father loves you too. How can you stab him in the heart with such words?"

As we argued, Damien, who had been in a daze, suddenly seemed to regain his full senses.

"Alpha Richard, I propose a trade."

"I am willing to offer half of the Black Forest Pack's resources, including our rare mineral mines and medicinal herb fields, as an offering for her hand."

"There is only one condition: give me your eldest daughter, Selene."

I stared at Damien, an incredulous rage burning inside me.

I never would have imagined that the monster who had feigned madness for three long years would choose to step forward at this exact moment.

He met my gaze from across the crowd, but for a moment, his usually arrogant eyes flashed with a hint of regret before he looked away, almost shamefully.

Something felt wrong. After thinking it over, I suddenly understood. He had been reborn, too.

So even though he had watched my wolf spirit be shattered in our past life, in this one, he still couldn't allow Selene to belong to anyone else.

To have her, he had thrown down his biggest bargaining chip.

Half the resources of the Black Forest Pack. The moment my father heard the offer, the fury in his eyes was instantly replaced by greed.

He had always planned to use his daughters to forge alliances. This was an offer with no downside, one he could never refuse.

Moreover, the Black Forest Pack was far stronger than the Silver Moon Pack. To be chosen by Damien was like a gift from the heavens.

"Done!" Father didn't hesitate for a second. "Since Alpha Damien is so devoted to Selene, this union is settled. Elara, you will be mated to Liam."

The moment he finished speaking, Liam shot up from his seat.

He scoffed, his voice dripping with contempt. "Mark you? Save your breath!"

"For a pup with a weak wolf and a pathetic presence like you?"

"Elara, take a look in the mirror. How could you ever compare to Selene!"