Edward Sterling is playing in his university's freshman basketball tournament when my parents banish me abroad. My biological sister and my fiancée are both on the sidelines, cheering for him. That spotlight should've been mine. The jersey he's wearing, with a star player's autograph on it, was supposed to be my 14th birthday gift. Edward and I have been rivals for most of our lives. It never matters whether I'm right or wrong—the moment he plays the victim, my parents rush to defend him and scold me without hesitation. But I am their biological son! It's not until I die alone and sick in a foreign country that I finally understand one thing. If I ever get a second chance, I'll never again fight Edward for love that was never mine to begin with.
View MoreInstead, when my eyes met Damian Blackwood’s across the crowded clearing, he looked away.
I stood frozen in the middle of the Moonfire Ritual, surrounded by lanterns and murmurs, while my heart cracked in silence. The bond hit me like lightning—violent, unrelenting, unmistakable—but he turned his back before I could even breathe his name. No one else seemed to notice the way the air shifted around us, thick with the pull of destiny. Only I stood trembling, waiting for something he had already rejected.
I followed him. I don’t know why—I think some desperate part of me still believed he’d explain, that there was something wrong with the bond, not with me. He walked with purpose, his broad shoulders stiff beneath his black ceremonial jacket, deeper into the woods past the outer ring of firelight. My bare feet crunched over fallen leaves, and the wind carried the scent of pine and ash…and him. It was intoxicating and cruel.
“Damian,” I whispered, my voice breaking. He stopped, but he didn’t turn. “You shouldn’t be here, Selena.”
“I felt it.” My voice was shaking now. “You’re my mate.”
He exhaled slowly, like he’d been waiting for this moment just to crush it. “No. I’m not.” I blinked, stunned. “But the bond—”
“I don’t want it.” He turned to face me then, his eyes like polished obsidian—cold, unreadable. “I reject you, Selena Cross. I reject this bond. Go back to the ceremony and pretend this never happened.”
His words hit harder than any blow. My knees buckled, but I didn’t fall. I wouldn’t give him that. “Why?”
“Because you’re not Luna material,” he said flatly. “You’re weak. You always have been. An orphan omega with no standing, no power, no purpose.”
Each word cut deeper than the last. I had known him since childhood, worshipped him from afar, believed in his strength. But this… this wasn’t the boy I remembered. This was the Alpha he had become—ruthless, closed off, already shaped by war and expectations.
“I would’ve followed you,” I said, my voice hoarse. “I would’ve given everything.”
“I didn’t ask you to,” he replied. “And I don’t want it. I have plans, Selena. A future. One that doesn’t include you.”
I should’ve screamed. Should’ve begged, or cursed, or slapped him. But I just stood there, numb, letting the silence hollow me out. The bond still throbbed under my skin, a silver thread pulling me to him even as he severed it with every word.
“You’ll regret this,” I said quietly. He didn’t flinch. “No, I won’t.” Then he walked away.
I don’t remember how I got back to my room. The celebration went on without me, a blur of laughter, music, and moonlit joy I would never be part of. I curled into myself on the cold floor, still in my ceremonial dress, the hem torn and dirty. My chest ached, not just emotionally—but physically, like something inside me had splintered.
The mate bond doesn’t break cleanly. It lingers, festering, pulling at your soul until you either heal… or lose yourself.
That night, I didn’t sleep. I stared out the window at the forest beyond Dark Hollow, wondering how a heart could feel this hollow and still keep beating. I had no family, no rank, no future. My only tether had just cut me loose.
But something inside me refused to die. By dawn, the world had shifted.
I woke to a burning sensation in my veins, like fire moving beneath my skin. My reflection in the mirror looked the same—brown eyes, dark curls, pale skin—but something deeper had changed. My body felt tighter, like it was holding something back. My hearing had sharpened, my instincts clearer. I could hear the heartbeat of a bird outside. I could sense movement three houses away.
And the moon… gods, the moon still called to me. Louder now. Sharper. As if it hadn’t finished speaking.
A knock on my door made me jump.
I opened it to find Elder Rowan, the oldest seer in our pack. His silver hair flowed behind him like a river, his eyes unreadable.
“You need to come with me,” he said. “Now.”
“Why?”
“Because your power has awakened, child. And it won’t stay hidden much longer.” What power did Selena just awaken—and why is everyone suddenly afraid of her?
The air vibrated around me like a storm trapped in my skin. Damian staggered back, eyes wide—not with anger, but something sharper. Fear.
I didn’t understand what I’d done. I hadn’t moved, hadn’t spoken. But the wind was howling through the trees, bending the branches like they were bowing. The earth beneath my feet trembled, cracks spiderwebbing from where I stood. A strange warmth surged in my chest, ancient and hungry. My fingertips pulsed with light, a faint silver shimmer licking over my skin like flame without fire.
“What…” I whispered. “What’s happening to me?”
No one answered. Warriors who had stood ready to escort me off pack lands now kept their distance. Even Marcus, loyal as ever to Damian, hesitated with a hand on his weapon, unsure whether he was supposed to protect me—or protect the pack from me.
Damian’s voice came low, harsh. “Selena, stop this. Whatever this is—control it.”
But I wasn’t doing anything. The power wasn’t coming from me—it was waking up through me. And it wasn’t interested in being quiet.
Something deep in my blood called out, a language I’d never been taught but somehow understood. Not words. A warning.
They were right to fear me. Because I was no longer the omega they thought they could cast aside.
And then I saw him—Elder Rowan—emerging from the trees, robes whipping in the wind. His face was pale. His gaze locked onto mine with something like recognition. Or dread.
“She’s not just a wolf,” he said quietly, more to himself than anyone else. “She carries the bloodline we buried long ago.”
My heart dropped. “What bloodline?” No one answered. But Damian’s silence said enough. He knew. They all knew. So why had they kept it from me?
And what, exactly, had they awakened?
Mom stopped sobbing abruptly, disbelief painting her face.Dad's expression was dark, and even the usually overbearing Juliana didn't dare to say anything.I couldn't be bothered to lecture them."I've given up the engagement. In three days, I want proof of my removal from the family. Once I receive my scholarship, I'll transfer the money to your account as repayment for raising me all these years."Seeing Dad about to speak again, I smiled faintly. "Of course, if you'd rather become enemies with me and make it a fight to the death whenever we meet, that works too."Although I said it with a smile, everyone could hear the cold, deadly edge in my tone.I was no longer the same as in my previous life.I had grown. I was the top scorer in the college entrance exam, and I was a student of Brightford University.I had endured all these years just for this moment.Dad shut his mouth, looking defeated.I didn't spare them another glance as I walked out of the ward.Right before I s
Not even glancing at Edward, I looked at Mom and Dad.Dad nodded, a little pleased. "Nick, you've finally matured. At the end of the day, Ed is family, just like us. There's no need to make things ugly. It just makes us a laughingstock. I'll tell everyone that the engagement was originally between Lia and Ed.""Don't be in such a hurry. I haven't even stated my conditions." I pursed my lips. "First, I want you to officially remove me from the family. Second, cut all ties with me. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other."Mom froze. "Nick, do you know what you're saying? Is it that serious? What's the big deal? Why are you always making a fuss? Ed has always been in poor health."As his older brother, it's your job to be patient with him, to protect him. What are you doing now? Threatening us? Nick, you're such a disappointment!"I felt sick.At this point, there was no need to consider their feelings anymore."Fuss? When have I ever made a fuss? Did I throw a fit wh
"I don't want Nick to be mad at me anymore."After saying that, Edward coughed a few times."Nick is an adult. He can take care of himself. On the other hand, you worry me because of your health." Mom's tone was full of affection and concern."Mrs. Sterling, I'm here for him," Aurelia said, looking at Edward tenderly.Edward's ears turned red, and Mom completely forgot Aurelia was my fiancee as she smiled dotingly."You guys are such a perfect match."Aurelia sat beside Edward's bed, her face flushed as she leaned down and kissed his cheek.That very scene didn't go unnoticed by me and Melissa.Melissa's eyes widened, and she cried sharply, "Aurelia! How shameless can you be?"In my previous life, I hadn't made it into a good university. Now, I was a finance student at Brightford, while Edward was just in a vocational college.Neither Edward nor I achieved much in the previous life, but Edward was clearly more favored. To gain connections with our family, Melissa still had Au
I stared at the seafood feast on the table.Seeing that none of them looked even the slightest bit surprised, I asked quietly, "I've lived in this house for over ten years. Edward's only been here a short while, and you've forgotten I'm allergic to seafood?"All of them fell silent. Even Juliana kept her mouth shut.Back then, they had been so worried about me. Dad had even shouted about cutting ties with my uncle's family. Juliana had cried while clinging to me, saying she would give me her favorite doll.Edward had just been hiding in the corner at the time. How could he not have known?Seafood never appeared on our table again since my seafood allergy was discovered. Even when they ate out, they wouldn't order it.But now, they had all forgotten about it. In their eyes, only Edward existed.Mom and Dad looked a little ashamed.Edward, anxious and teary, uttered, "I'm sorry, Nick. I didn't know. It's all my fault. Don't blame Mom and Dad. I'll leave now."He staggered toward
Faced with Juliana's heartbroken accusations, I felt utterly fed up.I hadn't said a word, and she was already throwing so many accusations at me.Even though we were born of the same mother, Juliana sided with Edward in both lifetimes, never mine.The endless yelling in my ears pushed me past my limit. Without hesitation, I raised my hand and slapped Juliana across the face.Her head jerked to the side, and she froze.Right at that moment, my parents rushed in. "Nicholas, what are you doing?"Mom pulled Juliana into her arms, full of concern. Even Edward stumbled up from the floor to comfort her.Dad looked at me in disappointment. "Nicholas, I don't know what you've been doing out there, but you dare hit your sister now? I think you don't even see us as family now! This house is more peaceful without you. The moment you walk in, everything's in chaos!"I met his eyes fearlessly and questioned in a mocking tone, "When was this house ever mine? My dear family turned the room I
It wasn't until they left that Mom realized it was my birthday and sent me some money. She even lied to me, saying she and Dad were working overtime.But then I saw Edward's story, and when they came back, I lost it.Edward cried and said he wanted to go back to the orphanage, so Dad pinned my head down and made me apologize to him.Snapping out of the memory, I tapped on his story.Edward was holding up a lightstick, flashing a peace sign at the camera.There was also a family photo of the four of them, with the concert venue in the background. Yes, the four of them, without me.All of them were smiling happily.They said they were working overtime so they couldn't celebrate my birthday, and they sent me a bit of money.Yet, on the same day, they took Edward to a concert without bringing me along. They even lied to me.This happened in both lifetimes.I suddenly felt a little sick.…Time flew by. I got into a key high school as I had hoped, and I successfully applied for
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