Author: Momo Chan

The hospital billing office closed in ten minutes. I needed $10,000. I had $9,847.23. One hundred and fifty-two dollars and seventy-seven cents short. My son was in the ICU. Eighteen years old. Appendicitis that turned septic because we waited too long. Because I’d been trying to “budget responsibly.” I’d called everyone. My sister. My college roommate. The church. Anyone who might lend me two hundred dollars. Everyone said the same thing: “But Maya, your husband’s a Colonel. Surely he can—” Colonel Marcus Thorne. Decorated military officer. Six-figure salary. Benefits out the ass. And he told me, for the third time this week, that he couldn’t help. “I’m supporting someone, Maya. You know this. I have obligations.” Obligations. To Vivienne Park. The widow of his fallen comrade. I’d been hearing about Vivienne Park for eighteen years. She’s fragile. She needs help. Her husband died serving our country. And I’d believed him. I’d been the good military wife. Stretched every dollar. Worked three jobs while he was deployed. Raised our son alone. My mother—my beautiful, selfless mother—had been staying with us to help with Dylan while he recovered. When I told her I was $153 short, she didn’t say anything. She just left. Came back two hours later, shivering. January in Colorado. Seventeen degrees. She pressed two hundred-dollar bills into my hand. “Where did you—” “Pawn shop,” she said. Her lips were blue. “Sold my winter coat. The good one you bought me for Christmas.” “Mom, no—” “Dylan needs you. Go pay the bill.” I paid the bill. I brought Dylan home. I found my mother three hours later. Collapsed in the guest room. Hypothermia. She’d been too cold to call for help. By the time the ambulance arrived, she was gone. — I buried my mother on a Tuesday. Marcus didn’t come to the funeral. He was “busy.” Dylan came. Stood next to me. Silent. After, I went home to our base housing unit—the small, outdated one Marcus insisted we live in because “we need to save money.” I was looking for the insurance papers Mom had mentioned. Found them in Marcus’s desk drawer. Along with something else. FedEx receipts. Dozens of them. All addressed to the same person: Vivienne Park. New York, NY. I pulled them out. Read them. La Mer face cream – $350 Chanel No. 5 – $180 Cartier Love Bracelet – $6,500 Hermès Birkin Bag – $12,000 My hands shook. There was more. A jewelry box. Hidden under the insurance folder. Inside: A Rolex. Women’s. Rose gold. Still in the box. $25,000. Twenty-five thousand dollars. The same amount we needed for Dylan’s surgery. The amount Marcus said we didn’t have. I found a photo. Tucked into the jewelry box. Vivienne. Standing in Times Square. Designer coat. Perfectly styled hair. Skin glowing like she’d just come from a spa. On the back, in Marcus’s handwriting: My beautiful girl. Worth every penny. I confronted him that night. Walked into the living room where he sat watching ESPN. Threw the receipts on the coffee table. “What the hell is this?” Marcus glanced at the papers. Didn’t even flinch. “Vivienne needed those things.” “Needed? She needed a Birkin bag?” Dylan appeared in the doorway. “Mom, calm down. You’re being dramatic.” “Dramatic?” I turned to him. “Your grandmother is dead. She froze to death because your father wouldn’t give us $153. And he’s spending thousands on—” “On someone who deserves it,” Dylan interrupted. “Dad’s helping Vivienne. She’s educated. Cultured. She has a PhD from Columbia, Mom. She’s not like—” He stopped. “Not like what?” “Not like you,” he said quietly. “You didn’t even finish college.” The room tilted. “I didn’t finish because I was pregnant with you,” I said. “I dropped out to raise you while your father was deployed.” Marcus stood. Walked over. Patted my shoulder like I was a child. “Maya. Vivienne has needs. She’s building a career. She can’t do that without support.” “And I don’t have needs?” “You’re a housewife. What do you need besides groceries?” I stared at him. This was the man I’d married at nineteen. The man who’d promised to build a life with me. “I want a divorce,” I said. Marcus laughed. Actually laughed. “You can’t afford a divorce, sweetheart. What are you going to do? You have no degree. No work history. No savings.” He pulled out his wallet. Tossed three twenties on the table. “Here. Buy yourself something nice. Calm down.” Dylan nodded. “Mom, just drop it. Dad’s doing a good thing.” I looked at the money on the table. Sixty dollars. The same amount Marcus had given me eighteen years ago when Dylan was born and I hemorrhaged so badly I nearly died. The doctor had offered me an epidural. $1,200. Marcus said no. “We’re saving for Vivienne’s grad school applications.” I’d given birth without pain medication. Screaming. While my husband sat in the waiting room, texting another woman. I picked up the sixty dollars. “Keep it,” I said. “I’m done.”

I didn’t leave that night. I went upstairs. Locked myself in the guest room. And I cried. Not because I was sad. Because I was angry. Eighteen years. I’d given this man eighteen years. I’d been twenty when we got married. Brilliant. Top of my class. Full-ride scholarship to Yale. I was going to be a surgeon. Then I met Marcus. He was charming. Kind. He’d just enlisted. He promised me the world. “Marry me,” he’d said. “I’ll take care of you. You can still go to medical school. We’ll make it work.” I believed him. We got married. I deferred Yale for a year. Then I got pregnant. “Just one more year,” Marcus said. “Then you can go back.” But one year turned into two. Then five. Then eighteen. And now I was forty. No degree. No career. Nothing but a dead mother and a son who thought I was worthless. I sat there, staring at the ceiling, when I heard voices downstairs. Marcus and Dylan. “—can’t believe she’s making such a big deal out of this,” Dylan was saying. “Your mother’s always been dramatic.” “I mean, Vivienne’s amazing. She’s got a PhD. She’s published papers. She’s doing actual work in the world.” “Exactly. Unlike your mother.” I went cold. “I just don’t get why Mom’s so jealous,” Dylan continued. “It’s not like she could ever measure up to someone like Vivienne.” Marcus was quiet for a moment. Then: “You know your mother was supposed to go to Yale, right?” Silence. “What?” “Yale. Medical school. She had a full scholarship. Top student in her class.” My breath caught. “Wait, what? Mom? But she—” “She was brilliant,” Marcus said. His voice was almost… wistful. “Beautiful and brilliant. Everyone wanted her.” “So what happened?” Another pause. “I happened,” Marcus said. “I knew she’d leave me if she went to Yale. So I made sure she didn’t.” “How?” “Her acceptance letter came while she was visiting her sick grandmother in Oregon. I intercepted it. Told her she didn’t get in.” No—— How is that possible! “Then what?” “I gave it to Vivienne.” The room spun. “You what?” “Vivienne’s husband had just died. She was devastated. No education. No prospects. I felt bad for her.” Marcus’s voice was calm and rational. It was just a seemingly ordinary thing, but it changed my life. “Maya applied to Yale on her own—she’s smart enough to get in, no question. I got hold of her application draft, her test scores, all of it. Filed a new one under Vivienne’s name, used her ID, her SSN. Yale never knew the difference. They sent the acceptance letter straight to Vivienne.” “Holy shit. You faked her entire application?” “She’s fragile, you know? She couldn’t survive without this. But Maya—Maya’s strong. She didn’t need Yale’s fancy degree. She had me.” I couldn’t breathe. All this time. All this fucking time. “Vivienne doesn’t know, does she?” Dylan asked. “Of course not. She thinks she earned it.” “And you’ve been… supporting her? This whole time?” “Eighteen years,” Marcus confirmed. “Paid her tuition. Her rent. Everything.” “Does she know about Mom?” “She knows I’m married. She doesn’t care. We have an… understanding.” I waited for Dylan to defend me. To be horrified. Instead, he laughed. “Damn, Dad. That’s cold.” “Your mother would’ve wasted that scholarship anyway. She’s not like Vivienne. Vivienne actually uses her education.” “True. Mom’s just… I don’t know. A housewife.” “Exactly.” I stood up. Walked downstairs. Both of them looked up as I entered. “Maya—” Marcus started. “I’m filing for divorce,” I said. “And I’m reporting you for fraud.” Marcus’s face went white. “You can’t—” “Watch me.”

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Thanksgiving. My doctor husband told me for the umpteenth time that he’d been called in for emergency surgeries. He couldn’t come home with me to see my parents. But then I saw it on his assistant’s Instagram. There was Simon, at Jenny’s mom’s place, carving a massive turkey for her family’s neighborhood potluck. The caption read: *Mom says having a surgeon son-in-law is amazing. Look at how perfectly he carves the turkey.* I sneered. I liked the post. I left a comment: *Professional habits die hard.* My phone exploded. My colleagues were gossiping in every group chat, convinced I’d finally lose it on my husband. Simon’s call came through immediately. “It’s a big day for Jenny’s family. I’m just helping out. Why are you being so passive-aggressive?” “There’s no men in her household. They needed help with the potluck. I’m just lending a hand. What’s there to make a scene about?” “Delete that comment and unlike the post right now. Don’t make things difficult for Jenny at the hospital. You hear me?!” “When I get back, we’ll pick a date to visit your parents. Okay?” *When I get back.* *We’ll pick a date.* Simon only knew how to promise me the moon. I’d had enough. I was done waiting. After Thanksgiving, once the divorce papers were finalized, our seven-year marriage would be officially over. I didn’t give Simon any response. For the first time, I hung up on him. He lost it. My phone rang again. I declined the call and blocked his number—doing exactly what Simon always did to me when he was angry. I gave it all right back to him. Mom and Dad looked over, worried. “Paige, sweetie… you and Simon, are you two…” I met their questioning eyes and smiled. I took two bites of dinner like it was nothing. “We can’t make it work anymore. We’re getting divorced soon.” My mom sighed. She patted my dad, who was still frozen in shock, and forced a cheerful tone as she urged everyone to eat. My phone buzzed. Jenny had posted a long “apology” in the hospital work group chat: *Just kidding around with everyone! Thank you to Dr. Simon for being so understanding. If I’ve caused anyone any discomfort, please forgive me.* But the word “bragging” was written all over her face. Simon replied immediately: *Young people should have some energy. Nothing to apologize for. Anyone who’s bothered is just petty.* I wasn’t bothered. Getting rid of Simon? That was perfect. The moment the Director spoke, everyone knew which side to take. Replies flooded in: *The hospital is usually so dead. Jenny’s just sacrificing herself to liven things up. Thank god for her!* *Who knew the Director was so skilled with a scalpel AND a carving knife? Jenny’s so lucky!* *Hahaha, we all know there’s only ONE person at this hospital who’s that petty.* I scrolled through the endless insults. My chest tightened with a hollow ache. Half of these people—I’d trained them myself. They used to call me “Dr. Paige” with respect, hanging on my every word. Now I was just “that person.” All because Simon was the Hospital Director. Because Simon favored Jenny, she became the golden girl. Never mind that this hospital only existed because of my skills and my entire life savings. None of that could compete with Simon’s blatant favoritism. I laughed bitterly and turned off my phone. I steeled myself to enjoy this meal with my parents. But then Simon called my mom’s phone. She looked at me, helpless. I sighed. I answered. Before I could say a word, Simon’s emotionless voice came through: “Is Paige with you? Put her on. I need to talk to her.” For a split second, I regretted picking up. He’d called my mom’s phone to reach me, but he couldn’t even say “Mom.” My heart clenched. “What do you want?” Simon’s voice turned ice-cold when he heard me. “Jenny’s post-op patient is showing signs of infection. Get back to the hospital right now and do a second surgery.” His tone was commanding. Absolute. He ordered me around like a dog. Rage flared in my chest. The patient in question needed a complex cardiac septal bridge procedure. Even if I performed it, I couldn’t guarantee more than a fifty percent success rate. But Jenny, desperate to get promoted to Department Head, had shamelessly demanded I hand over the surgery to her. I knew her skills were nowhere near adequate. I refused outright. But Simon was obsessed with Jenny. Without a second thought, he transferred the patient to her. I argued. Simon said the “newcomer needed experience” and told me not to be so concerned with “personal gains and losses.” A human life. In Simon’s eyes, it was just a stepping stone for his mistress. Now that things had gone wrong, he wanted me to clean up Jenny’s mess. Did he really think I was that much of a sucker?

I refused immediately: “I can’t come back. Let whoever screwed up deal with it themselves. If you can’t stand watching, YOU do the surgery. After all, you’re her guarantor.” “I’m eating dinner with my parents. They made a huge spread because they thought you were coming. If we don’t finish it, it’ll go to waste. If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up.” I was about to end the call when Simon exploded: “TRY hanging up on me! Paige, have I been giving you too much leeway lately?!” His voice was so loud it hurt my eardrum. Even my mom, who was hard of hearing, flinched and turned to me with worry on her face. I forced down my anger. I walked outside with the phone pressed to my ear and hissed back: “What the hell are you yelling at me for?” Silence on the other end. Then Simon’s voice came through, just as furious: “I know you’re pissed because I bailed on you. But I promised I’d make time to visit your parents with you. What more do you want?!” “You’re doing Jenny’s surgery whether you like it or not. Otherwise, we’re done.” Perfect. I didn’t want to be with him anymore either. I was about to tell Simon we were getting divorced when I heard Jenny’s voice in the background: “Simon! The food’s ready. Mom’s calling you to eat.” I heard Simon cover the phone. His voice turned gentle—sickeningly so. “I’m just handling some hospital business. I’ll be right there. Tell Mom I’m coming.” I laughed. “Director Simon has a new mom now, huh? You’ve been on the phone with me this long—aren’t you worried about keeping your ‘mom’ waiting?” “Oh, right. After all… I’m the petty one.” Jenny must not have walked far. Simon hissed at me in a low, furious voice: “Jenny’s village is small and gossip spreads fast. I’m her boss. What’s wrong with helping her save face? Do you have to be so sarcastic?” “I’m telling you, Paige—you have three days to do that surgery. Otherwise, get the hell out of MY hospital!” He hung up. I stood outside my childhood home. The wind blew cold against my face, but inside, I felt hollow. I’d just decided I wouldn’t be anyone’s scapegoat ever again. Then my phone rang. It was the Chief of Medicine. Someone had filed a complaint. They claimed I’d performed surgery while intoxicated and caused a medical malpractice incident. He told me to get back immediately to deal with it. In that moment, I thought I was losing my mind. I could barely breathe. “Chief, you’ve got it wrong. That patient had congenital ventricular hypertrophy. He was already critical when he came in.” But the Chief sent me a copy of the complaint. My head was ringing. I didn’t even finish dinner. I rushed back to the hospital in a panic. The Chief looked at me with reproach. I demanded to confront my accuser. He didn’t respond. He just brought in a witness to testify against me. The witness was the anesthesiologist from that surgery. She was Jenny’s best friend. It all clicked.

Fury surged through me. “Chief, she’s one of Jenny’s people! Jenny and I have bad blood. This could easily be a setup!” I had no proof. My defense was weak and pathetic. A sharp, angry voice cut me off: “ENOUGH!” Simon stormed into the room. He looked at me with pure disgust. “What ‘bad blood’? You’re the one who hates her! Who’s been trying to sabotage her!” “Dr. Paige! I thought you were just petty, but at least professional in surgery. I never imagined you’d be this shameless!” “Do you have any idea how serious a false accusation like this is?! I never thought you’d gamble with a patient’s LIFE! Someone like you doesn’t deserve to be a doctor! You don’t deserve to be my wife!” I froze. My throat felt like a thousand needles had pierced it. After a long silence, I managed to speak: “Simon… in your heart, do you really think I’m the kind of person who would kill a patient out of jealousy?” Simon’s chest heaved. His eyes were dark and unreadable. “What else am I supposed to think?” “I saw the evidence. The fridge at home is full of empty beer bottles.” One sentence. It sealed everything. The Chief issued my termination letter on the spot. My colleagues spat insults at me. I gathered my belongings in a daze and headed for the door. But before I could leave, the patient’s family members burst in and kicked me to the ground. “You deserve to die! Why did you kill my son?! Who told you to drink?!” The woman kicked me over and over. She slapped me across the face. My vision blurred. Someone dragged her away. I crouched on the floor, picking up my scattered belongings. Then I heard Jenny’s voice behind me. “Dr. Paige, you got exactly what you deserved!” I turned around. Jenny stood there with that hateful face of hers, smirking like a victor. She feigned shock as she looked at the cardboard box in my hands. “Oh my! Did you cause a malpractice incident? Are you resigning to take responsibility?” She was the one behind all of this. And now she was playing innocent. I sneered. “Sorry to disappoint you. I just realized working with people like you is beneath me. So I quit.” Jenny’s smile widened. She raised her voice, pointing at me with a condescending air: “Dr. Paige, you’re a doctor who just caused a malpractice incident. You resigned. You ran away. But when the patient’s family comes back to cause trouble, it’s the HOSPITAL’S reputation that suffers.” “I think you should get on your knees and apologize to everyone here. Otherwise, why should WE have to deal with the consequences YOU caused?” She looked around, waiting for others to chime in. I felt nothing but bitter amusement. I turned to leave. But Jenny wasn’t done. She rushed forward to block me. I tried to step around her. In that split second, she threw herself to the ground. Simon’s voice rang out immediately: “Jenny! Are you okay?!”

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I am the only true witch in the world, able to commune with the dead and deliver their final messages. In my past life, Mrs. Ashford knelt at my doorstep, begging me to contact her late father-in-law and learn his true last will. Six months later, Grayson Ashford, the second son of the Ashford family, proposed to me with a wedding that made headlines across the country. He had defeated all other heirs to the family fortune, rising from his position as the overlooked younger son to take control of the Ashford billion-dollar empire. I thought he was grateful that I had helped change his fate. But when I performed another séance, he deliberately tampered with my ritual tools, trapping my soul forever in the realm of the dead. To prevent my coven from discovering what he’d done, he burned down the entire sanctuary where I practiced. “What sacred coven? I see nothing but a den of frauds.” “If you hadn’t interfered, Yasmine would have been the one to cross over that day.” “After being cast out from the Ashford family, her failed ritual drove her to madness and suicide. What right do you have to still be alive?” “Aren’t you supposed to be a true witch? Surely you can return safely even without your tools.” Only then did I realize—for the sake of his adopted sister Yasmine, my husband hated me this much. I lost my way in the underworld, and the death’s guardians beat my soul to oblivion with ninety-nine strikes. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day Mrs. Ashford knelt before me. I immediately helped her to her feet, and under her expectant gaze, I said. “Your adopted daughter Yasmine is also a medium, isn’t she? I’m sure she can do this just as well.” “Those are just folk rituals. They can’t truly communicate with the dead.” Mrs. Ashford sighed deeply, her well-maintained face seeming to age ten years in an instant. Mr. Ashford Senior had died in an accident, leaving no time to create a will. The entire Ashford fortune was hidden in locations around the world, known only to the family head. In my past life, only through the will I’d retrieved had Grayson inherited the family’s true wealth. The agony of my soul’s destruction still felt fresh, making my entire body tremble. A Ferrari suddenly pulled up beside us, and Grayson angrily grabbed his mother’s arm. He glanced at me with deep disgust in his voice. “Mother, Yasmine is a medium too. Why must you beg an outsider?” I was somewhat surprised—this hadn’t happened in my previous life. Grayson had stayed at home His appearance here now meant he had also been reborn. I just hadn’t expected that after five years of marriage, I was nothing more than an outsider in his eyes. No wonder he had been so ruthless in destroying me to avenge Yasmine. Mrs. Ashford collapsed into his arms, weakly shaking her head. “Folk magic cannot compare to a true witch, not even close.” Yasmine quickly stepped out of the car, looking at me with challenge in her eyes. “Don’t worry, Mom. My mentor is a priestess, far more reliable than some witch.” “The eldest priestess herself praised my natural talent after only three years of training.” “For Grayson’s sake, I’ll risk my life to bring back Grandfather’s will.” I laughed coldly. Crossing to the realm of death requires proper authorization. Yasmine’s so-called training was nothing but illegal spiritual trespassing. Grayson’s gaze toward me grew even more contemptuous. “Rowan, how dare you let my mother kneel at your door!” “Once I inherit the Ashford fortune, I’ll make you pay back a thousand times over.” Mrs. Ashford frowned. “That was my own choice. You will not disrespect Miss Rowan.” Grayson sneered. “Mother, she’s just a liar. Why defend her?” He stepped forward and, without warning, slapped me hard across the face, his eyes cold as ice. “I’ll protect Yasmine throughout her entire ritual.” “Rowan, don’t ever dream of marrying into the Ashford family or getting your hands on money that doesn’t belong to you.” I froze. So in my past life, Grayson had suspected me of embezzling part of the inheritance. No wonder he used such cruel methods to scatter my soul. I closed my eyes, trying to forget those memories, when the jade talisman at my waist suddenly grew hot. My heart tightened as I looked toward the Ashford estate and glimpsed the psychopomps in the air above. The spirit guides were arriving—Mr. Ashford’s soul was about to dissipate completely! Remembering the burning sanctuary and my mentor’s tragic death in my previous life, I lowered my eyes, turned around, and closed the door, leaving the three of them outside. This lifetime, Grayson’s fate has nothing to do with me.

Just as the door was about to close, it was violently forced open. The next second, I was knocked to the ground by a group of large men who barged into my home. They ransacked my living room, throwing the ritual tools onto the floor. I struggled to get up and tried to retrieve my torn enchanted slippers, but was kicked in the chest and fell back, coughing up blood. Those slippers had been sewn by my mentor before she died. She said that no matter how far I traveled in the underworld, these shoes would always bring me back to the living world. They weren’t just magical tools—they were the only thing she’d left me. But now, they’d been torn to shreds and tossed disdainfully at my feet. A polished leather shoe stepped on my outstretched fingers, grinding them mercilessly. I glared at Grayson. “You called these men here!” “I already let Yasmine take the séance. What gives you the right to do this!” Yasmine clung to Grayson’s arm, giggling. “Grayson, you’re so clever. Without her tools, how can she keep up her fraudulent act?” Grayson looked down at me with contempt, pressing harder until I heard my bones crack. Then he scooped Yasmine up in his arms, keeping her pristine white heels away from my blood. “New outfit. Don’t let this trash stain it.” “Didn’t you look down on Yasmine? When she succeeds, you won’t even be worthy of licking her shoes!” I bit my lip hard, refusing to cry out in pain, though a smile tugged at my mouth. “Grayson, you’d better use this time to offer more incense at your grandfather’s altar.” “The spirit guides have arrived at death’s threshold.” “His soul will scatter completely soon.” The moment I finished speaking, Grayson kicked me viciously. His eyes were bloodshot as he waved at the thugs. “You bitch! How dare you curse Grandfather!” “All of you, teach this woman a lesson!” The next second, fists and feet rained down on me, battering me like a broken punching bag. But this physical pain was nothing compared to the ninety-nine strikes that had destroyed my soul! Thinking of the spirit guides growing more solid above the Ashford estate, I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Yasmine’s crude black magic couldn’t dare show itself before the true guardians of death. Grayson, without that will, billions in assets are forever beyond your reach. I wanted to see how he’d still swagger around after inheriting nothing but an empty shell of a company! Seeing me stop struggling but bleeding more heavily, afraid they might actually kill me, the men backed away nervously. Grayson pointed at me, roaring, “Keep going!” “Rowan, aren’t you supposed to bridge life and death? Stop playing dead!” The next moment, I heard his agonized scream and an ice-cold voice. “Everyone stop right now!”

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My grandfather sat behind his oak desk. Two silver daggers gleamed between us. One for me. One for my sister Jessica. “One of you goes to the Werewolf Council and help me with pack politics.” Grandpa’s voice was gravel. “Be my heiress. The other deploys to the Northern Pack. Rogue territory. Fighting from the ground up.” Pack tradition. When fate couldn’t decide, we let the daggers choose. But I’d lived this before. I rebron. In my first life, I’d won. I’d taken the Council seat. Be an Alpha heiress. I’d married Alpha Carter. I thought I had everything. While my sister Jessica deployed. The memory hit like claws through flesh. Jessica’s broken body in that intelligence photo. Hands shattered. Tongue severed. Brutalized by Rogues because of bad intel. And the letter she’d sent Alpha Carter before she died. My husband, Alpha Carter, looked at me with those ice-blue eyes. Told me it was my fault. That my selfishness killed her. Then he made me pay. His contacts feeding me false coordinates. Sending me into a Rogue ambush. Two shattered femurs. Months of interrogation in darkness so complete I forgot what sunlight looked like. But that wasn’t enough. He used his father’s power to fabricate treason charges against my grandfather. Falsified reports. Planted evidence. My grandfather died of a stroke in a prison. Branded a traitor. “I want you to know what it feels like,” Carter whispered, standing over my hospital bed. My legs held together with silver pins and prayers. “To lose everyone you love.” Then he pulled out a blade. Ninety-nine stab wounds. The healer counted. I didn’t make it to one hundred. But somehow, impossibly, I woke up six months earlier. Standing in this same den. Staring at these same daggers. I reborn. And not this time. “Grandpa.” I dropped to one knee before he could finish. “Permission to speak.” His eyebrows rose. “Granted.” “I volunteer for deployment. Send me to the Northern Pack. Let Jessica take the Council position and be Alpha heiress.” Silence crashed through the room. Jessica’s mouth fell open. “June, what are you—” “I’ve made my decision.” I locked eyes with my grandfather. Read the confusion there. The concern. He knew I’d been obsessed with Carter since our first shift. Knew the betrothal was my idea. “I want to serve Pack. Earn my reputation.” Grandpa studied me. Then slowly nodded. “So be it.” Relief hit so hard I nearly collapsed. I’d saved her. Jessica would be safe at the Council while I fought Rogues. Carter couldn’t use her death against me. She wouldn’t die. I was standing when the door slammed open. Alpha Carter filled the doorway. He looked past me. “Jessica!” Three strides and he crushed my sister against his chest. His hands shook on her shoulders. “You’re alive. God, you’re alive.” What? “I thought—” His voice cracked. “They said you were dead. The mission failed and I thought—” Then he dropped to one knee before grandpa. “Grandpa, I’m asking—begging—you to release me from my betrothal to June.” The words tumbled out like confession. “I know our families arranged it. I know what it means. But I don’t love her. Never have. It’s always been Jessica.” Ice water flooded my veins. He’d been reborn too?! In his timeline, Jessica died on that mission. Now, finding her alive, he was making a different choice. The choice he’d wanted all along. I should have felt devastated. Heartbroken. “Carter—” I reached for his shoulder. He slapped my hand away. “Don’t touch me.” His lip curled. “Don’t you dare. You think I don’t know? You think I don’t remember? Everything you did. Everything you cost me—” His voice dropped to lethal quiet. “I loved her. And you took her from me!” In his timeline, he blamed me for Jessica’s death. Nothing would convince him otherwise. Grandpa’s voice cut through. “June has already volunteered for the Northern Pack. The betrothal is dissolved. You and Jessica are free to mate.” Carter’s head whipped toward me. Shock replaced rage. Then his arms tightened around Jessica. Triumph flickered across his face. “Finally,” he breathed into her hair. “Finally, I get to mate the woman I actually love!” Jessica’s eyes met mine over his shoulder. I saw it then. The small, satisfied smile. She’d known. Somehow she’d known exactly what this would do. But I was done. “Congratulations,” I said flatly. I walked out without looking back.

Three days later I was at the pack market. Getting Grandpa’s favorite coffee when I saw them. Carter and Jessica. Standing in the home goods section. Surrounded by shopping bags and new-mate bliss. I should have left. But Carter was holding up a mating dress. Couture. Thousands of marks. Jessica clung to his arm. Pointed at an expensive sound system. “Babe, I know we’re supposed to keep it low-key.” Her voice carried. “But it’s our mating ceremony. We can’t show up looking like Omegas, right?” In my first life, I’d begged Carter to go dress shopping. Begged him to help plan. To give a damn about our ceremony. He’d blown me off every time. Training exercises. Border patrols. A hundred excuses. I’d picked my dress alone. Paid for everything alone. Carried it all alone while he couldn’t be bothered. Now he grinned at Jessica like she hung the moon. Credit card already out. “Whatever you want, baby. You deserve everything.” The coffee suddenly weighed a thousand pounds. I turned to leave. Jessica’s eyes locked on mine. “June!” She waved. All sunshine. “Oh my God, what are you doing here?” She threaded her arm through Carter’s. Pulled him toward me. “We’re picking up things for the ceremony.” She chirped. “It’s in two days! You’re coming, right? You have to. You’re my sister.” Poison honey. “I’ll be busy,” I said carefully. “Prepping for deployment.” “You can spare a few hours.” Jessica’s smile sharpened. “Unless you want me to tell everyone how you feel about Carter. How pathetic that would look.” Carter’s jaw tightened. Said nothing. Jessica’s gaze dropped to my jacket pocket. Where the corner of our father’s locket was visible. My father’s locket. The only thing left after he died fighting Rogues. Old. Scratched. Worthless to anyone but me. Inside was a tiny photo. Me, Mom, and Dad. “Actually,” Jessica said, voice going syrupy. “We’re short on the sound system. June, that locket looks vintage. Why don’t you contribute it? As a gift for us mating?” My blood turned to ice. “No way.” “Come on, sis. It’s just a locket. You’re not even coming, so you owe us a present.” “It’s not for sale.” Carter stepped forward. Expression dark. “Jessica asked nicely, June.” “And I said no.” Jessica’s face crumpled. Tears springing instantly. “Oh my God. You’re doing this because you’re jealous. Because I’m mating Carter and you can’t stand it. Everyone in pack know you have a crush on Carter!” “That’s not—” “I just wanted one thing from my sister. And you can’t even do that? You’d rather hoard some old broken locket than support my happiness?” People stared. Carter’s hand shot out. Grabbed my wrist. “Give her the locket.” “No.” His boot caught my stomach. I went down hard. Air punching out. Coffee exploding across the floor. Before I could recover, Carter’s hand was in my pocket. Yanking out the locket. “Carter, don’t—” He tossed it to Jessica. She caught it with a smile that made my skin crawl. Popped it open. Pulled out the photograph. “Oh, how sweet,” she cooed. “A family photo.” Then she tore it in half. The ripping sound cut through me like silver. “Jessica! No!” I lunged. Carter shoved me down. She kept tearing. Until father’s face was confetti on the market floor. Something inside me snapped. I surged up and slapped her across the face. The crack echoed. Jessica stumbled back. Hand flying to her cheek. Eyes wide. Then her expression shifted. Calculating. When she spoke, her voice carried. “I was trying to take out the picture so it wouldn’t get damaged! June, you can’t give me a death photo as a mating gift! That’s sick! Are you trying to curse us?” Murmurs rippled through the crowd. “Trying to steal her sister’s mate…” “Death photos as gifts…” “Shameless…”

Then her expression shifted. Calculating. When she spoke, her voice carried. “I was trying to take out the picture so it wouldn’t get damaged! June, you can’t give me a death photo as a mating gift! That’s sick! Are you trying to curse us?” Murmurs rippled through the crowd. “Trying to steal her sister’s mate…” “Death photos as gifts…” “Shameless…” I knelt. Gathering torn pieces of my father’s face with shaking hands. Vision blurring. Carter stood over me. Voice cold. “Don’t think I’ll ever pity you again, June. You have no idea what I’m capable of.” I looked up at this man I’d loved for eight years. This man who’d murdered me in another life. “I know exactly what you’re capable of,” I said quietly. Then I stood. Brushed past them both. Walked out. Behind me, Jessica called sweetly, “See you at the ceremony, sis!” I didn’t look back. I went to the pack healer. Got my wounds cleaned. Started packing for the Northern Pack. I had a war to win. This time, I’d survive it. — I returned to the pack house just after sunset. Medical tape tight around my ribs where Carter’s boot connected. Grandpa was at the Carter’s Pack. Finalizing ceremony arrangements. The house was empty. Except it wasn’t. Jessica sat at the dining table. Picking at leftover venison. Looking like she hadn’t just destroyed the last piece of my father I had. “Hey,” she said brightly. “Dinner’s in the kitchen if you want some.” I stared. Then walked past toward my room. My door was open. I never left it open. Drawers pulled out. Clothes scattered. Papers everywhere. The locked box where I kept Mom’s things—her pack medallion, the diary she kept during pregnancy— The lock was broken. The box was empty. “No.” The word strangled out. I tore through the room. Throwing clothes aside. Checking under the bed. In the closet. Anywhere she might have hidden it. “No, no, no—” I found Jessica in the kitchen. Humming. I grabbed her collar. Slammed her against the wall hard enough to rattle frames. “Where is it?” My voice didn’t sound like mine. “Where’s my mother’s diary?” Jessica’s eyes were bright. Almost giddy. “Oh, that old thing?” “WHERE IS IT?” She smiled. “I burned it. In the stove. About an hour ago.” Her head tilted toward the wood-burning stove. “Your mom made great kindling. Really got the logs going.” The world tilted. I was on her before I knew it. Fist connecting once, twice, three times. Her blood tasted like copper and rage. My hands found her throat— “Why?” I was screaming. Shaking her. “I gave you everything! The Council job! Carter! What more do you want?!” Jessica shoved me off. Gasping. When she looked up, her expression was transcendent with hate. “You want to know why?” She laughed. Broken and raw. “Because I’ve been reborn too, you stupid bitch. And in my first life, I was the one at the Northern Pack. I was the one captured. Do you have any idea what they did to me, June?” Ice flooded my veins. “They broke my hands. Shattered every bone. Used silver on me until I couldn’t shift. Raped me until I forgot what it felt like to be whole.” Tears streamed down her face. Voice steady. “And I was there for six months before they killed me. Six. Months.” “Jessica—” “You did this to me!” She screamed. “You and Grandfather rigged that dagger throw! You wanted the safety. So you made sure I’d be sent to hell!” “That’s not true! The throw was random—” “LIAR!” She lunged. Grabbed my hand. Slapped herself with it. Hard. Before I could process, something massive hit me from behind. I went down face-first. Skull cracking against hardwood. Stars exploded. A boot crushed into my spine— Then a chair smashed across my shoulders. Pain erupted everywhere. I couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t see. Could only hear Carter’s voice roaring above me. When my vision cleared, he was kneeling beside Jessica. Cradling her face. Checking her injuries with tenderness he’d never shown me. In his other hand, he held a broken plate shard. Edge sharp enough to cut. He pressed it against my throat.

“Carter, no—” Jessica grabbed his wrist. Not to stop him. To slow him. “Not yet. Not here.” The pressure eased. But the hatred in his eyes didn’t. “Touch her again,” he said quietly, “and I won’t hesitate to kill you. Not again.” Again. He remembered killing me. And he’d do it again without losing sleep. They left me bleeding on the kitchen floor. I lay there. Staring at the stove. At gray ashes visible through the grate. Somewhere in that dust was my mother’s handwriting. Her thoughts. Her love. Gone. When I could move, I crawled to the stove. Opened it with shaking hands. Sifted through ashes. Nothing left. Just carbon and grief. I didn’t wait for Grandpa. I packed my gear. Wrote him a note. Left for the Northern Pack with ribs screaming and blood crusted in my hair. I couldn’t stay another second. And I had an Omega to find. — The Northern Pack was exactly as miserable as I remembered. I arrived two weeks early. Skeleton crew. The guard at the gate checked my orders. Gave me a long look at my bandaged head. Directed me toward the healer’s tent. I made it halfway before my vision grayed out. I collapsed. When I woke, I was on a bed. And someone enormous sat beside me. Not tall. Enormous. Three hundred pounds maybe. Packed onto a six-foot frame. His gear stretched tight across chest and belly. His face was round. Boyish. Dark eyes watching me with cautious intelligence. “You’re awake,” he said. Voice surprisingly soft. “You’ve been out six hours. Healer says concussion and two cracked ribs. Maybe internal bleeding. But they won’t know until they get you to a real facility.” I sat up too fast. Immediately regretted it. “I’m fine.” “You’re definitely not fine.” He held out a canteen. “Drink. You’re dehydrated.” I took it. Studying him. “Who are you?” “Shane.” He smiled slightly. “I work the kitchens. They asked me to sit with you since medical’s short-staffed.” Shane. Shane, who in my first life had been mocked as “the fat Omega” until he quietly disappeared three months before the northern pack was overrun. But Jessica had mentioned him once. With unusual venom. Called him a “useless waste”. “Shane,” I said slowly. “What’s your last name?” His expression shuttered. “Why?” “Because I had a vision about you.” That got his attention. Eyes narrowed. “What kind of vision?” So I told him. Not everything. But enough. The attack coming in six weeks. The one that would slaughter half the pack if we weren’t prepared. I knew things I shouldn’t. I’d lived this before. And I knew his bloating was from an elixir. That because his father wanted to keep him safe after a combat injury. That he was wasting away when he should be fighting. Shane stood abruptly. “I need to report this.” “Wait—” “You’re either a spy or mentally ill. Either way, you need to be detained—” I rolled off the bed. Grabbed his arm. “My name is June Reeves. Three generations of pack leaders. My father was Alpha James. KIA fighting Rogues. Posthumously awarded the Silver Fang. My mother was Luna Sarah. Field healer. Died in a training accident when I was twelve.” I pulled out my pack medallion. Threw it at him. “I trained as a combat healer before leadership academy. I know the elixir you’re on. A kind of dote. Probably for spine damage. It’s causing fluid retention and metabolic changes. I can help you manage it. Get you back to active duty.” Shane caught the medallion. Staring. Then at me. “Why would you help me?” Because I wanted to survive. And I wanted revenge.

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Our family only had enough money to send one person to college. Ma and Pa made us flip a coin to decide. Before the coin even landed, I tore up my acceptance letter. “Ma, Pa—I’ll stay home. Let Caleb go to college.” Because in my last life, I won that coin toss and made it to university. There, I ran into Sarah—the girl next door from when we were kids. We fell in love. Got married. Had a baby. But back home, Caleb lasted less than three years before he was accused of sleeping with Mrs. Higgins, the Mayor’s wife. Unable to bear the rumors, Caleb downed a bottle of poison. Before he died, he wrote Sarah a letter. He said I’d rigged the coin flip. That I’d destroyed his life. After that, Sarah’s attitude toward me changed completely. That’s when I realized—they’d been having an affair all along. On our tenth wedding anniversary, she poisoned my dinner and dragged me to Caleb’s grave. “I was supposed to meet Caleb! You destroyed him! You destroyed me!” “Why weren’t you the one accused? Why weren’t you the one who died?” She forced me to kneel and beg forgiveness at his headstone. She spread rumors that I was an abuser, a cheater—ruined my reputation—then poured poison down my throat. “Every sin you made Caleb suffer, I’m making you suffer twice over!” I thought of our child—not even three years old yet—and begged her to spare me for the sake of our marriage. But she just watched me convulse, watched me suffocate, until there was nothing left. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day of the coin flip. This time, I gave up college. And I gave up Sarah. — “Ma, Pa—I’ll stay home. Let Caleb go to college.” Ma, Pa, and Caleb all stared at me in shock. “Are you serious? You know how hard you worked for this. You’re just gonna throw it away?” I took a deep breath. “Yeah. I’m serious. Let Caleb go.” They stared at me for a long moment, then sighed and accepted my decision. I climbed down from the bunk bed. Suddenly, we heard Mrs. Dixon’s voice from outside. “Hey! Someone from out of town’s here looking for you!” Before Pa could even get up, the door burst open. A girl rushed in, her eyes locked on Caleb like he was the only person in the room. She threw herself into his arms. It was Sarah. Her voice was choked with emotion, like she was holding onto something she’d lost once before. “I made it. I made it in time.” She turned to my stunned parents, her voice urgent. “Mr. and Mrs. Harper—I’m here to keep my promise. I’m here to marry Caleb.” Ma and Pa blinked in confusion, then squinted at her, trying to place her face. “You’re… Old man Westbrook’s daughter? My God, look how grown up you are!” Sarah grabbed Caleb’s hand and nodded. “I’ve loved Caleb since we were kids. Please let me be with him.” Before Ma and Pa could respond, Sarah snapped her fingers. A crew of people started hauling boxes and bags into the house. “This is my dowry. Once Caleb and I are married, we’ll move to the city together. He’ll go to college, and I’ll take care of everything.” I stood frozen, watching it all unfold. Sarah had been reborn too. I lowered my eyes, hiding my shock. “Sarah—” Before I could finish, she whipped around and glared at me with pure hatred. “Don’t even think about it, Ethan. I’d rather marry a homeless man—a criminal—than ever be with you.” “I’m watching you. You won’t pull any tricks this time.” Ma cleared her throat, confused. “Ethan already gave up his spot. He tore up his acceptance letter.” Sarah froze. Disbelief flashed across her face. “What kind of scheme are you running now?” Pa pointed to the shredded paper on the floor. “He’s not lying. Look—he tore the damn thing to pieces.” Sarah followed his gesture and saw the torn letter scattered on the ground. For a moment, she looked genuinely shocked. But she recovered quickly, muttering under her breath: “Fine. At least you’ve got some conscience left.” Then she turned back to Caleb, clinging to his arm and cooing sweetly: “I’m so happy, Caleb. You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this.” Hearing that soft, affectionate voice made my hands tremble. In my past life, Sarah only ever used that tone with me. Every time she did, I felt like I’d die for her if she asked. “Caleb, baby, come help me pick out stuff for the wedding!” Without waiting for an answer, Sarah dragged Caleb toward the door. As she passed me, she paused, gave me an unreadable look, then left. After they were gone, Ma and Pa sighed and said they were heading out to work. I stopped them. “Ma, Pa—I’m thinking of leaving. Going out of state to find work. It’ll help ease the burden on you.” This meant I’d be gone for a long time. We wouldn’t see each other much. Pa took a drag from his hand-rolled cigarette and sighed. “If that’s what you want, go ahead. We’re too old to tell you boys what to do anymore.” They left without another word. No sadness. No goodbyes. That’s how they’d always been. They didn’t do emotions. But I knew the truth. Between me and Caleb, they’d always favored me. In my last life, they knew how badly I wanted to go to college. So they rigged the coin flip to make sure I won.

Before it got dark, I headed into town to pick up some supplies for the trip. That’s when I ran into Sarah and Caleb. They were shopping for wedding decorations. In my past life, Sarah and I got married in the city. Because it was a once-in-a-lifetime event, I saved up and bought the most expensive ring and make her a custom wedding dress. But when I showed it to her, she wrinkled her nose in disgust. “What century are we in? You seriously expect me to wear this old-fashioned crap?” “My dad just got reinstated as a judge. There are going to be important people at our wedding. You think I’m gonna let them see me in this?” But now—now—I watched her gush over cheap polyester ribbon like it was spun gold. She looked so damn happy. My chest ached like I’d chugged a gallon of vinegar. The sight of them together—smiling, touching—felt like needles in my eyes. I turned to leave. “Ethan! Wait up!” Caleb called out to me. He had his arm around Sarah’s waist as they walked over, grinning like he’d won the lottery. “You shopping too? Hey, listen—Sarah and I set a date. Three days from now. You better be there.” “I’m leaving for work soon. I might not make it—” “What are you talking about? You’re my brother. You have to come.” Caleb clapped me on the shoulder, half-joking: “If you don’t show up, I’m slaughtering Buster and serving him at the reception.” My eyes went wide. Buster was our old dog—ancient, loyal. He’d been with our family for over a decade. Ma and Pa always said Buster worked his whole life for us. Killing him would be cruel. He deserved to retire in peace. Buster and I were close. When he got sick, he’d only eat if I was the one feeding him. I used to come home from school and see him waiting for me at the edge of the property, every single day. I’d loved that dog like family. I forced myself to nod. “Fine. I’ll be there.” I didn’t want to stay another second. I turned to leave. But Caleb blocked my path, grinning. “Hey, Ethan—Ma and Pa always liked you more. They even gave you the token from Sarah’s family—the one from when we were kids, you know, the ‘engagement’ thing.” “Now that Sarah and I are getting married… I’m gonna need that back.” I froze. I’d worn it for years. It felt wrong to give it up. I opened my mouth to say something, but Caleb cut me off: “You’re not gonna say no, are you?” His voice dropped, taking on an edge. “Are you jealous? Is that it? Because Sarah’s marrying me instead of you?” “You’re my brother. I’ve always given you everything you wanted. But Sarah’s different.” “We’re in love. She’s all I have…” Sarah’s expression went ice-cold. She lunged forward and ripped off my necklace. The cord snapped. Pain shot through my throat. I gasped, and when I touched the back of my neck, my hand came away slick with blood. “I knew it. You’re pathetic. You’d even try to keep a stupid charm?” I looked up at her, my voice shaking. “I’m not being greedy. Sarah’s dad wrote me a letter once. He gave this to me—” The memory of my father-in-law—the only one who treated me like a son—made my throat tighten. In my last life, after Sarah killed me, he was the only one who kept digging into my death. When he found out the truth, he disowned her. This life, I’d never see him again. “Stop lying! You think I don’t know what kind of person you are?!” My throat burned. I tried to explain, but the words died in my mouth. What was the point? She’d never believe me. Sarah held out the necklace, her voice hard and commanding. “Apologize to Caleb. Then put it on him yourself.” I took a shaky breath, my voice barely audible. “You want me to apologize?” “Yes. Consider it your chance to atone.” I closed my eyes. Swallowed the tears. “Fine. I’m sorry.” “Caleb… this is my fault.” I bowed deeply. Caleb’s eyes glinted with satisfaction. When I straightened, he put on a fake sympathetic face and pulled me upright. “Sarah’s just protective of me, man. She didn’t mean it. Don’t take it personally.” “You’re my brother. I’m not actually mad at you.” He turned his back to me, waiting for me to fasten necklace around his neck. I reached up and started tying it. But before I could finish, Caleb suddenly lurched forward. His face went red. His voice came out strangled: “Ethan—let go—I can’t breathe—” I immediately released the cord. Before I could check if he was okay, Sarah slapped me so hard I hit the ground. Caleb clutched his throat, his eyes wide with shock, his voice hoarse: “Ethan… I’m your brother. You’d really try to strangle me over a girl?” “Fine. Fine. I won’t marry her. I won’t go to college. I’ll give you everything—just don’t kill me.” His voice was loud. People started gathering, whispering. “Did you see that? He tried to kill his own brother!” “Probably jealous. His brother’s smart, good-looking, about to marry a rich girl…” “Keeping a stupid necklace for himself—what kind of person does that? He should be ashamed.” I ignored the crowd, ignored Caleb’s smug expression. I just bent down and picked the necklace out of the dirt. Sarah walked over and stepped on my hand, grinding her heel into my fingers. Pain shot up my arm. She leaned down, her breath warm against my ear, her voice soft and venomous: “Don’t try anything clever, Ethan. I hate you. Even if Caleb didn’t exist, I’d never choose you.” “And if you want to taste poison again… keep pushing me.”

Sarah pulled Caleb away, leaving me kneeling in the dirt. I lifted my mangled hand and carefully wiped the mud off the necklace. The pain in my hand was nothing compared to the pain in my chest. I slipped the necklace into my pocket and whispered: “I’m sorry, Mr. Westbrook. I’m breaking my promise.” When I got home, Ma and Pa were already asleep. Only Caleb was still up, sitting at the table. He smiled at me. “You’re back late. Come on, I saved you some dinner.” He pushed a pot of stew toward me. The smell of meat hit my nose, but dread twisted in my gut. I looked at Caleb’s face—that barely-hidden smirk—and my chopsticks clattered to the floor. I stood up and bolted toward the barn. “Don’t bother,” Caleb called after me. “That is Buster.” He pushed the pot closer. “Poor old guy was too tough to chew. I couldn’t finish it. You should eat up, though.” His voice echoed in my ears. The smell of meat made my stomach lurch. I doubled over and vomited until there was nothing left. Caleb watched me, satisfied. “I know you’re leaving for the city soon. No one’ll be around to take care of an old dog. Figured we might as well put him to use. Give you a good send-off. Thought I’d do something nice for you, you know?” I clenched my fists, my eyes burning red, my voice raw: “Why? I gave you the college fund. I gave you everything. Why are you doing this to me?” “We’re brothers!” Caleb’s smile vanished. His face went cold. “Hah. You’ve got some nerve asking me that. You think I don’t know? Ma and Pa rigged the coin flip. Both sides said ‘stay home.’” “You know what I went through? Mrs. Higgins tried to sleep with me. When I said no, she told everyone I raped her.” “The Mayor and his guys beat me so bad they broke my spine. I couldn’t walk. Couldn’t control my bladder. I was a cripple.” “You know what it’s like to lie in bed and watch your legs rot? To get bedsores so deep you can see bone? Maggots crawling in the wounds?” “But you? You got a career. A government job. A Senator’s daughter for a wife. All of that should’ve been mine.” His voice dropped to a hiss. “So this time, you’re going to suffer everything I did. Watching you in pain is the only thing that’ll make me feel better.” I stood there, stunned. I’d loved this kid his whole life. And he hated me this much. “You were reborn too. You know I didn’t know about the coin flip.” “I didn’t know what would happen to you. If I had, I would’ve given you the spot.” “Caleb—just tell me. What did you say in that letter? The one you sent Sarah before you died?” Caleb smirked. “Oh, you wanna know?” He stepped closer, leaning in like he was about to tell me a secret. “I told her—” Suddenly, he threw himself forward—right into the pot of scalding stew. The hot liquid splashed all over his arm. He screamed. Before I could react, someone rushed in and smashed a shovel into the back of my skull. Once. Twice. Three times. My vision blurred. My head throbbed. Warm blood poured down my face, turning everything red. I couldn’t hear what Sarah was yelling at me. I just saw her scoop cold water from the bucket and pour it over Caleb’s burned arm. The world went quiet. Then I felt it—a rope tightening around my neck. The air disappeared. My face turned purple. I kicked weakly, my body too weak to fight. My vision went dark. I let my hands drop. Maybe it’d be better to just die here. But then Caleb grabbed Sarah’s arm and pulled her off me. Air rushed back into my lungs. I gasped, desperate, greedy. Sarah’s voice was ice-cold in my ear. “I warned you. I killed you once. I can kill you again. And again.” “I was going to let you live. But now?” She grabbed my hair and slammed my face into the floor in front of Caleb.

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After Mom died, Dad couldn’t look at anyone else. He spent his days with Aurelius instead—the Sacred Spirit Wolf, our pack’s guardian sent by the Moon Goddess herself. I thought if I took Aurelius away for a while, Dad might finally move on. So I brought the magnificent golden wolf with me to Seattle for three years of graduate school. When I finally heard Dad had found someone new, I was thrilled. Monica, he said. A sweet omega from one of the smaller packs. She looked a bit like Mom, apparently. I booked the first flight home. The whole pack was gathering at the estate tonight—Dad wanted to introduce Monica to everyone, make it official. I couldn’t wait to meet her. I should have known better. The second I stepped through the door of our old manor with Aurelius at my side, they were waiting. Monica and three of her friends, blocking the entrance like a wall of perfume and barely concealed hostility. I recognized Monica from the photo Dad sent. She did look like Mom—same honey-blonde hair, same delicate features. But where Mom’s eyes had been warm, Monica’s were cold calculation. “Well, well.” Her voice dripped with false sweetness. “The little homewrecker finally shows her face.” I blinked. “I’m sorry, what?” The slap came out of nowhere. My head snapped to the side, cheek exploding in pain. Before I could even process what happened, her foot connected with my stomach. I doubled over, gasping. Aurelius growled low beside me, but I held up a hand. Not yet. “Monica, I think there’s been a misunderstanding—” She grabbed my hair, yanking my head back. “Oh, you think? You think you can seduce my mate and play innocent?” Her nails dug into my scalp as she shook me violently. “Silas is MINE. The whole pack is gathering tonight to meet me—his future Luna. His parents are here, the Council, everyone. And you thought you could just waltz in and steal him?” She slapped me again. And again. Blood filled my mouth. I tried to speak, to explain, but one of her friends stuffed something in my mouth—a sock, rank and disgusting. “Shut up, you little slut.” The redhead sneered. “You think because you’re young and pretty you can steal someone’s mate? Silas loved Monica so much he gave up everything for her. Even stopped visiting this musty old manor.” Monica’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction. “He only noticed you because you look a bit like me. Don’t feel special, honey. Girls like you? We deal with dozens every year. Silas never cares.” I couldn’t breathe through the gag, couldn’t explain. The panic was setting in. Then I smelled it. Lighter fluid. Monica pulled out a silver lighter, her smile turning deadly. “Let’s see how pretty you are when I’m done with you.”

The flame caught on my shirt instantly. I screamed against the gag as fire raced across my chest, crawling up toward my throat. The heat was unbearable—like my skin was melting off my bones. They held me down as I thrashed, laughing as the flames spread to my hair. “Burn, bitch!” Monica’s voice rang with glee. “Burn!” I couldn’t shift. The smoke, the pain, the shock—my wolf was paralyzed with terror. Then Aurelius moved. The massive golden wolf launched himself from across the room, his sacred aura blazing like sunlight. He landed on top of me, smothering the flames with his thick fur. One powerful swipe of his tail sent two of the women flying into the wall. Their screams filled the manor. “A WOLF!” “WHERE DID IT COME FROM?!” They scattered like frightened mice, tripping over each other in their panic. Aurelius gently nosed the gag from my mouth, his ancient amber eyes filled with concern. Before I could thank him, I saw Monica grab something from the mantle. A crystal decanter. “NO!” I threw myself over Aurelius. The decanter shattered against my skull. Pain exploded through my head, warm blood trickling down my face. Aurelius went very still beneath me. Then he smelled my blood. His eyes flashed gold—not the warm amber I knew, but molten fury. The temperature in the room plummeted as his power filled the space, heavy and ancient and utterly terrifying. Even Monica backed up, fear finally cracking her composure. “You think I’m scared of some mangy wolf?” Her voice shook. But Aurelius wasn’t just any wolf. He was the Moon Goddess’s chosen guardian, blessed with her divine power. He’d saved our pack from the Silver Fire thirty years ago. Predicted the rogue attack that would have wiped us out. Led Dad to the silver mine that made us the wealthiest pack in the Northwest. And right now, he was pissed.

Aurelius stalked toward Monica, each step deliberate and predatory. She stumbled backward, her friends huddling behind her. “Monica, maybe we should go,” one of them whimpered. “You’re supposed to meet Silas’s parents soon anyway. Make a good impression.” “Yeah, and I heard his daughter Elena is coming home from Seattle. They say she adores you, wants to call you Mom at the ceremony.” That made Monica pause, her expression softening into something smug. “You’re right. After tonight, I’ll officially be Luna of the Silver Moon Pack.” She shot me one last venomous look. “You got lucky, homewrecker. But stay away from MY mate.” They turned to leave. Aurelius blocked the door. One flick of his massive tail and it slammed shut, the lock clicking into place. Monica’s face went white. “It—it closed the door. Wolves can’t—” “It’s not natural,” the redhead whispered. Aurelius began to circle them, taking his time. He wasn’t going to hurt them—I knew him well enough. He was just making a point, scaring them a little for what they’d done to me. But then the brunette pulled something from her purse. A small vial filled with silver-white liquid. My blood turned to ice. “No—” She threw it. The liquid hit Aurelius square in the chest. Where it touched, his golden fur turned black, smoking and sizzling like acid on metal. He howled—a sound of pure agony that made my heart shatter. “IT’S WOLFSBANE!” Monica’s voice turned triumphant. “Mixed with silver nitrate! The wolf’s afraid!” Aurelius collapsed, convulsing as the poison spread through his system. His sacred aura flickered and died, leaving him vulnerable and in pain. “Stupid mutt.” Monica advanced, pulling out another vial. “You thought you could protect this whore? I’ll dissolve you.” “DON’T TOUCH HIM!” I finally ripped the gag free, stumbling forward. “Monica, I swear to the Goddess, if you hurt him—” “You’ll what?” She grabbed my hair, slamming my head into the floor. Once. Twice. Three times. Stars exploded across my vision. Blood poured from my nose. “You’re in no position to threaten anyone.” She kicked me in the ribs. “Now tell me—how did Silas afford to buy you this fancy manor? Does he know you’re just using him for his money?” “I’m not—” I spat blood. “I’m his daughter. I’m Elena!” Monica froze for half a second. Then she laughed and stomped on my face. “Nice try, sweetheart. But Elena’s been in Seattle for three years. Why would she come back now?” She pulled out the silver nitrate. “I’m done playing. First the wolf, then you.” Aurelius, even poisoned and dying, tried to protect me one last time. He lunged at Monica’s leg, sinking his teeth into her calf. She screamed. “YOU FUCKING MUTT!” She poured the entire vial over his head. His howl of agony would haunt me forever. The other women joined in, grabbing whatever they could find—vases, fireplace pokers, decorative stones—and beating him while he writhed on the floor. “STOP!” I sobbed. “PLEASE, STOP!” They didn’t stop until he went still. Silent. Dead. Monica turned to me, her smile grotesque. “Your turn.”

The silver nitrate hit my face like liquid fire. I screamed until my throat bled as my skin bubbled and burned, the poison eating through flesh and nerve endings. Red turned to black, black turned to nothing. No feeling. No sensation. I couldn’t even cry—the acid had melted my tear ducts shut. Monica circled me like a predator admiring her kill, phone out, taking photos from different angles. “Perfect,” she murmured. “This’ll remind the next little bitch what happens when you try to steal someone’s mate.” Her phone rang. The ringtone made my stomach drop—Dad’s special one. Her entire demeanor shifted. Voice going soft and sweet. “Hi, baby!” “Where are you?” Even through the speaker, I could hear the warmth in Dad’s voice. The trust. “The pack’s getting restless. Alpha Gregor keeps asking about you.” “I’m so sorry!” She bit her lip, playing the flustered girlfriend perfectly. “I wanted to make something special for tonight. You said Alpha Gregor loves wild game, right? I’ve been preparing this traditional feast—I want him to love me as much as you do.” I could practically hear Dad melting. “That’s so thoughtful, sweetheart. But don’t stress yourself out. Just get here when you can.” “I’ll be there soon. Love you!” She hung up and turned to her friends, the sweet mask dropping instantly. “Where’s the venison you were supposed to get?” The redhead winced. “Monica, I tried, but the hunting grounds are restricted this time of year. Pack rules. If I got caught—” Monica slapped her so hard the crack echoed. “Idiot! Tonight’s the biggest night of my life! Every pack leader in the state is here! How am I supposed to impress them without proper game?” “I told you I needed that meat for the ritual feast!” Ritual feast. That’s what she was planning—the traditional offering a new Luna makes to prove her worth to the pack. A display of strength, skill, and devotion. With wild game she didn’t have. The brunette, seeing an opportunity to get back in Monica’s good graces, pointed at Aurelius’s still form. “What about… that?” Monica followed her gaze. I watched understanding dawn on her face, watched that cruel smile spread. “You’re right.” She grabbed Aurelius by the scruff. “Fresh meat is fresh meat. And wolf is supposed to be a delicacy, isn’t it?” I tried to scream. Tried to move. But my body wouldn’t respond, the silver still coursing through my system. She dragged him toward the kitchen, and I could only watch in helpless horror. The next thirty minutes were torture. The sounds of butchering. The smell of sacred flesh being seared and seasoned. The laughter as Monica and her friends joked about the “exotic game” they were preparing. When she finally emerged, she was carrying an enormous silver platter. Steam rose from the carefully arranged meat, garnished with herbs and vegetables like this was some fancy restaurant dish and not the desecrated body of the Moon Goddess’s chosen guardian. “Gorgeous,” one of her friends breathed. “Girl, you’re going to blow their minds.” Monica beamed. “I know. Alpha Gregor’s going to beg Silas to make me Luna after tasting this.” She glanced at me, taking in my ruined face and broken body. “What should we do with her?” The redhead kicked me lightly. “Kill her? She saw everything.” “No.” Monica’s smile turned wicked. “Bring her. I want her to watch me become Luna. Want her to see exactly who owns Silas now.” They shoved me in a tarp and dragged me to the trunk.

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The car pulled onto the emergency shoulder of the highway, and I figured Ethan needed to use the bathroom. “Sophie’s asleep. Keep it down.” I pulled the little blanket up over my daughter’s shoulders. Ethan didn’t look back. His fingers tapped the steering wheel. “Claire. Take Sophie and get out.” I stared at him. “What?” From the back seat, Vanessa’s voice came out soft and smooth. “Ethan, it’s fine. We can squeeze.” Her daughter Madison immediately started crying. “I don’t want to sit next to that dirty kid! She was coughing on me!” Ethan turned around. His eyes were colder than I’d ever seen them. “You hear me? Get out.” “Beth’s already on her way. She’ll be here in thirty minutes.” “You two wait here.” December 28th. The interstate. Twelve degrees. I climbed out holding my three-year-old daughter. I watched him start the engine. The taillights got smaller in the snow. Until they were gone. The snow came down harder. I stood at the guardrail on the shoulder, trying to use my body to block the wind. “Mommy, where’s Daddy?” Sophie asked. Her cheeks were already red from the cold. “Daddy went ahead to Grandma’s.” I forced a smile. “Aunt Beth’s coming to get us.” “But it’s cold.” I wrapped her inside my coat and wound my scarf around her head. My phone was at thirty percent. I called Beth. Once. Twice. Three times. She picked up. “Claire? What’s up?” There was noise in the background. A karaoke bar, by the sound of it. “Beth, your brother sent you to come get us. Where are you?” “Oh, right.” A pause. “Yeah, he did mention that.” “But I’m out with friends right now. Can’t really leave.” “Just hang tight. I’ll head over later.” “Beth, it’s freezing on the highway. Sophie can’t take this.” “God, Claire, you’re so dramatic. What’s a little wait?” “Ethan said Vanessa and Madison couldn’t handle the cold. They had to get back right away.” “You’re both fine. You’re not gonna die from waiting.” She hung up. I stood there holding the phone, my fingers too stiff to move. I called Ethan. Straight to voicemail. Again. Same thing. Sophie shivered in my arms. “Mommy, I wanna go home.” “Soon. We’ll be home soon.” I kissed her forehead. My eyes burned. Four years of marriage. And this was the first time I understood how far Ethan could actually go. Willing to leave his own wife and daughter stranded on the interstate in a snowstorm. Because Vanessa’s kid didn’t want to sit next to mine. Headlights appeared in the distance. I waved like my life depended on it. A black SUV slowed and stopped in front of us. The window came down. A young guy. “Need help?” I grabbed onto it like a lifeline. “Can you take us to the next rest stop? That’s all I need.” He looked at Sophie in my arms and frowned. “Get in.” “Thank you. Oh my God, thank you.” I reached for the door handle. “Claire?” I froze. Another head leaned out from the back seat.

It was Ethan’s cousin, Jake. He looked at me. Then at the empty stretch of highway behind me. “What are you doing out here? Where’s Ethan?” I gave him the short version. Jake’s face went stone hard. “He lost his mind? He left you and Sophie out here?” “Vanessa’s kid is a person. Isn’t his own daughter?” He swore a few times, then turned to the driver. “Mike, let them in. We’ll make it work.” The front was already full. The back seat next to Jake was packed too. “There’s no room,” the driver said. Jake was already getting out. “Then you guys go. I’ll wait here.” “You can’t do that.” “Go!” Jake pushed me toward the car. “Sophie’s lips are turning purple. She can’t stay out here.” I got in the back with Sophie. The heat hit me like a wall. My frozen body started to sting. Jake shut the door and knocked on the window. “Claire, call me when you get to the rest stop. I’ll have my brother come get you.” “Jake, it’s freezing. What are you going to do?” “I’m a grown man. I’ll survive. Take care of the kid. Go.” The car pulled away. I watched Jake through the back window, standing in the snow, getting smaller. My throat tightened. My husband left us on the side of the road. And the person who saved us was someone who barely owed us anything. Sophie fell asleep in my arms. Her little face was still that wrong shade of red. I pressed my hand to her forehead. Burning hot. “Can you go faster? My daughter has a fever.” The driver nodded and sped up. I grabbed my phone to call Beth again. No signal. Mountain stretch. “How far to the rest stop?” “Twelve miles. But in this weather, at least thirty minutes.” Thirty minutes. I held Sophie tighter and kept touching her forehead. Hotter and hotter. “Baby. Hey. Wake up. Don’t sleep.” Sophie’s eyes cracked open, dazed. “Mommy, I don’t feel good.” “I know. We’re almost at the hospital. Hold on.” Then she started coughing. Hard. Her whole face went purple. I patted her back. The tears came. “Please, faster. Please.” “This is as fast as I can go! The road’s icy!” Sophie’s coughing got worse. Her breathing turned into a wheeze. “Mommy. I can’t breathe.” I pulled her coat open. Her chest was heaving. I recognized it. Acute pneumonia. She’d had it once before, when she was two. We almost lost her then. “Sophie. Look at me. Keep your eyes open.” “I’ll tell you a story. About the little bunny.” Her eyelids drooped. Her breathing went thin. I slammed my palms on the window. “Help! She’s not okay! Somebody help!” But it was a highway. Just snow and wind and nothing else.

We finally pulled into the rest stop. I ran into the convenience store with Sophie in my arms, barely able to make a sound. “Is there a doctor? My daughter needs help. Please.” The clerk looked terrified. “There’s no doctor here.” “Call 911. Now.” “The cell tower’s down. We can’t get through.” My legs gave out. I caught myself on the counter. Sophie had gone quiet in my arms. The motel manager at the rest stop dug around and found a box of fever reducers and some antibiotics. “Try giving her these?” My hands shook so badly I couldn’t get the packaging open. Sophie lay across my lap. Her breathing was barely there. I crushed a tablet and tried to get it into her mouth. She didn’t have the strength to swallow. It dribbled out the side of her lips. “Baby. Swallow it. Please.” The manager looked away. “I could drive you to the county hospital. But in this snow, the road might be closed.” “Drive. Right now. Please.” I pushed every dollar in my wallet into his hands. “Please.” He clenched his jaw. “Alright. Let’s go.” The car crawled through the snow. Every bump made Sophie’s body go a little more limp. I held her hand and kept talking. “Sophie. You know how you’ve been asking about Disney World? Mom’s gonna take you.” “We’ll ride the biggest carousel they have.” “And you wanted the Elsa dress, right? We’re getting it.” “And Universal Studios. They have the Transformers ride. You love those guys.” Her lashes fluttered. But her eyes didn’t open. My phone suddenly buzzed. Signal. I called Ethan. It rang a long time. He picked up. “Yeah.” Background was quiet. He was home. “Ethan.” My voice had nothing left in it. “Sophie’s really sick. It’s serious.” “Where are you?” Perfectly calm. Like we were talking about the weather. “On the way to a county hospital. You need to come.” “Claire.” He cut me off. “Didn’t Beth pick you up?” “She never came. She didn’t come at all.” “That’s not possible. She posted on Instagram that she was on her way.” I pulled up her profile. Ten minutes ago. A selfie. Highway in the background. Caption: “Going to get my sis-in-law. Big brother, you’re welcome.” Location: a hundred miles from where we were. She hadn’t moved. She lied to Ethan. She lied to me. “You see it?” Ethan said. “She’s almost there. Just wait a little longer.” “There’s no time. Sophie’s dying. Our daughter is dying, Ethan.” “Claire.” His voice dropped. “Don’t say stuff like that. It’s Christmas. Don’t be dramatic.” “Vanessa and her daughter just got here. My mom’s happy. Don’t ruin it.” “Once Beth picks you up, take Sophie to a walk-in clinic. Kids get fevers all the time. It’s not a big deal.” “Stop being hysterical.” He hung up. I sat there holding the phone. All the blood in my body felt cold. The manager glanced back in the mirror. “That your husband?” I nodded. “Son of a bitch,” he muttered, and hit the gas. “Hang on. I know a shortcut. We’re not letting this kid go.” He turned onto a mountain road. The snow was worse out there.

Sophie’s breathing was almost nothing. I pressed my fingers to her chest. A heartbeat. Barely. “Sophie. Don’t scare Mommy.” “Mommy messed up. Mommy should’ve known better.” “Mommy should never have married him.” “Mommy is so sorry she let this happen to you.” I was crying when I reached into my inside pocket and pulled out a small metal device. The size of a button. My dad gave it to me. He said: “Claire, if there’s ever a day when Ethan’s family treats you badly because Sophie’s a girl, press this.” I pressed it. No sound. But I knew the signal went out. Dad said once I pressed it, his people would be there within three hours. Three hours. Could Sophie last three hours? The county hospital. I ran through the ER doors with Sophie. My voice was gone. The nurse took one look at Sophie and called for backup. “Acute pneumonia. Heart rate dropping. We need a team now.” They pulled her out of my arms and through the doors. I stood behind the glass and watched them put a tube down her throat and hook her up to monitors. That tiny body on that big bed. She looked like she could disappear at any moment. I slid down the wall in the hallway. My phone rang. Ethan. I picked up. Said nothing. “Claire, where are you?” Impatient. “Mom wants to eat dinner.” I opened my mouth. Nothing came out. “Say something.” “Hospital.” I pushed out the word. “Sophie’s in surgery.” “What? Why are you at a hospital? Where’s Beth?” “She never showed up.” “That’s impossible. She just texted me. Said she picked you up.” I opened the family group chat. Twenty minutes ago. Beth: “Ethan, got her. On our way back now.” A photo attached. Blurry interior of a car. Passenger seat. A woman’s back. Wearing a coat just like mine. That was a photo of me. From before. She had it ready. She planned this. “She’s lying,” I said. “Ethan, you need to come to the hospital. Right now.” Silence. “Ethan.” “Claire.” A pause. “Are you actually in the hospital, or are you just pulling this because you’re upset Vanessa’s here?” I couldn’t breathe. “You think I’m making this up?”

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Labor Day weekend, my wife canceled our trip at the last minute. “Emergency case,” Chloe said. “I can’t go with you.” That afternoon, Justin posted an Instagram story. Justin Reyes. The intern Chloe brought in six months ago. The video showed Chloe standing in front of a house. Hands on her hips. She was yelling at a group of middle-aged women like a street fighter. The caption said. “Having a lawyer wife is amazing!!! Finally, someone who can fight for me!” I laughed,then I commented. “Wow. Great talk skills. Very professional ” The firm group chat exploded. Everyone started screenshotting. Forwarding. Betting on when I’d file for divorce. Thirty seconds later, Chloe called. “What the hell is your comment supposed to mean?” Her voice was sharp. Still out of breath. “You’re making Justin look bad in front of everyone at the firm!” “Those women have been spreading lies about him. I was helping him. But YOU wouldn’t understand.” “You were born with a silver spoon. You have no idea how hard life is for a foster kid” “Delete your comment. Now. We’ll go on vacation at Thanksgiving instead.” Thanksgiving? I let out a cold laugh. Then hung up. I wasn’t waiting until Thanksgiving. What she didn’t know was that I’d already filed for divorce. In three days, the judge would finalize it. In three days, I’d be free. For the first time in seven years, I hung up on Chloe. She probably lost her mind. Sure enough, my phone started buzzing nonstop. I blocked her number. Deleted her contact. Finally. Peace. “Mr. Hart, the rooftop is ready. Should we postpone the fireworks display or-” I glanced at the empty lounge chair beside me. “Don’t postpone. I’ll watch alone.” The hotel manager looked at me like I was pathetic. I didn’t care. I opened my phone. The firm’s group chat was going crazy. [Justin Reyes has been promoted to Admin] Justin Reyes @Everyone.[ Hey guys, really sorry about that post earlier. Just messing around. Didn’t mean to cause drama. My bad.] I nearly laughed. That’s not an apology. That’s damage control. Then Chloe jumped into the chat. [Justin doesn’t need to apologize. Anyone with a brain can see it was a joke. Some people just love starting problems.] The ass-kissing began immediately after Chole stand for Justin. Derek: Seriously, people are way too sensitive these days. Mia: Chloe literally came to the group chat for Justin. That’s romantic. Ryan: Haha, someone’s Big Mad. They all saw which way the wind was blowing. Chloe favored Justin. So they kissed his ass. Even the associates I personally trained were throwing me under the bus. And me? The guy who invested the entire trust fund into this firm? The guy who spent seven years clawing his way to senior lawyers? I was the punchline. I put down my phone. Took a sip of wine. Tried to enjoy the view. Then my phone rang again. Not Chloe. Her assistant. Karen. I answered. “Ethan, where’s the litigation brief you were supposed to send me? The client’s been asking.” “Which case?” I frowned. I’d cleared my entire caseload before the long weekend. There was nothing left. Karen sounded annoyed. “The intellectual property case.” I paused. “That case? Justin took it over.” “Yeah, but he’s back in his hometown for the weekend. Chloe reassigned it to you. The client needs the brief tonight.” I rolled my eyes so hard it hurt. Justin was an intern. Interns don’t handle cases. But Chloe spoiled him. Gave him whatever he wanted. And of course, he screwed it up. Now they wanted me to clean up his mess. “Chloe never told me about this. And also-my wife just died. I’m at her funeral. Can’t help you.” I hung up. Turned my phone to airplane mode. A few minutes later, the hotel staff walked over. Holding the front desk phone. “Mr. Hart.your wife is on the line.” I wanted to shout. I took the phone. Chloe’s voice was ice-cold. “Ethan. Are you trying to piss me off?”

I stared at the fireworks bursting over the ocean. Kept my voice flat. “If you just want to say this, hang up.” “Ethan, I admit it’s my fault to cancel the trip. But you’re the one who cursed me to death. That’s pretty low, don’t you think?” “Add me back on your phone. Right now. Or you’ll regret it.” I clenched my jaw. I was about to tell her I’d already quit. But then I heard Justin’s voice in the background. Crying and whining. Sounded like he lost an argument and was running to Chloe for backup. I was speechless. “What, done protecting your innocent foster boy? Got time to threaten me now?” “Oh wait, my bad. I’m the one marinating in jealousy, right?” Chloe’s voice went sharp. “Justin grew up in the foster family. Life was hell. He’s my intern. I’m helping him. What’s your problem?” Justin’s voice got closer and clearer. “Chloe… I can’t argue anymore. Help me out, please~” The whining got louder. Like he was right next to her now. Chloe’s tone changed instantly. Soft. Gentle. “Wait for a bit. I’m on a work call. I’ll come help you in a second.” Then she turned back to me. Her voice went arctic. “You have three days. Holiday ends Tuesday. I want that brief on my desk by 9 a.m.” “If I don’t get it, pack your thing and get out.” The line went dead. I stood there holding the phone. Feeling like an idiot. I actually thought I could fix us. I thought one vacation could save our marriage. But the truth? It was over the moment she signed the divorce papers without even reading them. I watched the fireworks for a while. Drained my wine glass. Walked along the beach for hours. Finally went back to my room to shower. I turned off airplane mode. My phone exploded. Messages flooded in. Everyone from the firm. Random files. Random requests. Everyone telling me to finish the brief and handle the client. They were probably losing their minds. But I was done. I was quitting. And in three days, I’d have my divorce papers. Why should I care? I ignored everything. Left the group chat. And submitted my resignation. Reason for leaving: I quit. HR called two minutes later. “Ethan, I can’t approve this. I need to ask Chloe first.” “Fine. Ask her.” I hung up. Charged my phone. Mentally prepared for an all-night screaming match. But less than a minute later, HR called back. “Chloe approved it.” I froze. Checked the email. Every step had been approved. Including Chloe’s signature. She really was more ruthless than I thought. But honestly? Good. It made things easier. The burden lifted off my shoulders. For the first time in years, I felt alive. I spent the next three days going wild. Partied. Explored. Didn’t think about work once. On the fourth day, I went home. To sell the house. The massive villa had zero warmth. Like a freezer. Cold. Oppressive. Honestly, it felt less welcoming than the hotel I’d just left. This wasn’t even our home, just a house. Our actual home, the one I bought outright when we got married had been mortgaged to the bank years ago. Chloe needed it to open her firm. This place? Chloe bought it with her bonus from a huge case. Put it in both our names as the “new home.” But I was never here. Always at the office pulling all-nighters. Chloe was even busier. This past year, she’d been flying all over the country with Justin. “Business trips,” she called them. But based on Justin’s TikToks, they were just sightseeing together. I pushed down the bitterness. Called a realtor. The realtor moved fast. Found a buyer within hours. The price was low. But I didn’t care. I just wanted to cut ties with Chloe as fast as possible. Closed the deal. Signed the papers. The buyer gave me three days to move out. The next morning, I went to the firm to wrap up my exit paperwork. Everyone stared at me. Whispered. Clearly, the whole firm knew I was leaving. I ignored them. Packed up my desk. Picked up my coffee mug. It had a photo printed on it. Me and Chloe. Smiling. Taken the day we opened the firm. We both looked young. Exhausted. Dark circles under our eyes. But happy. Starting out was brutal. Only the two of us could handle court. So we worked like cows. Barely slept. Terrified of losing a single case. But we survived. We survived that hell together. Too bad some people can only share hardship. Not success. I tossed the mug in the trash. Picked up my box and turned to leave. But Justin grabbed my arm. “Hey! Ethan, you still haven’t given me the Apex brief.” I stumbled. Nearly dropped the box. Justin’s face was young. Innocent. Pitiful. He glanced at the box in my hands. His eyes went wide. “Wait… did you get fired?”

Slander without hesitation. I gave him a cold look. “I quit. It’s called resigning. But I guess you’d better watch what you say. Defamation has legal consequences.” Justin looked embarrassed. But he didn’t let go. “But Chloe said you were supposed to turn in the brief today…” “Go ask whoever told you that. I don’t have it.” I turned to leave. But Justin grabbed my arm again. I didn’t want him touching me. I yanked my arm back. Justin went with the momentum. Stumbled backward. Fell two meters away. Hit the ground hard. “Ah-!” “Justin!” Perfect timing. Chloe walked in. She saw the whole thing. Rushed over and helped Justin up. Checked him for injuries. Once she confirmed he was fine, she turned on me. “What the hell is wrong with you? Do you hate Justin that much?” “Are you trying to kill him? Apologize. Now.” Justin looked pitiful. Struggled to stand. “Chloe, it’s not his fault. I was bugging him about the Apex case. He just got annoyed…” But Chloe wasn’t listening. She remembered the case. Her eyes went cold. “It’s Tuesday. Ethan, where’s the brief I asked for? Why isn’t it in my inbox?” “Didn’t you see? I already quit. Why would I send you anything?” I frowned at her. “What do you mean quit? Ethan, if you wanted to leave, you should’ve done it a month ago. What, you’re threatening me with resignation again?” I almost laughed. A month ago, I tricked her into signing the divorce papers. I did mention quitting then. She remembered that clearly. But she was the one who approved my resignation. And now she’s acting like she didn’t? I didn’t feel like arguing. Adjusted my grip on the box. Started walking. Chloe stepped forward. Slapped the box out of my hands. Papers scattered everywhere. “Fine! You want to leave? Go. But these files are company property. They need to be reviewed first.” The other associates craned their necks to watch. Loving the drama. My chest heaved. My nails dug into my palms. I wanted to wipe that smug look off her face. But I forced myself to stay calm. “Fine. Review them. I don’t need them. I’m leaving.” I dropped the last word and walked out. But I heard someone laugh behind me. “Pfft. Thought he’d put up a fight. Turns out Chloe just kicked him to the curb. Does he even realize who runs this place?” It was Ryan. The associate who’d been kissing Justin’s ass the hardest. I changed direction. Walked straight to his desk. Grabbed his iced latte. Dumped it over his head. “No wonder you failed the bar five times. The examiners probably couldn’t stand how full of shit you are.” Ryan sat there. Frozen. Dripping with coffee. I dusted off my hands. Walked out. I got into the elevator. My anger was still burning. But then my phone buzzed. A message from Justin. It was a zip file. 2GB. I opened it. Photos. Videos. Justin and Chloe. In bed. My stomach turned. Then another message from Justin. “Ethan, bet you didn’t know. Chloe’s wild as hell in bed. You already quit. Do the right thing and divorce her. Have some dignity.” I stared at the screen. 2GB. How many times did they do this behind my back? My hands shook. I felt humiliated. Like they’d been playing me for a fool this whole time. But after a minute, I took a deep breath. And smiled. Opened a resale app. Listed the zip file for $6.66. Then sent it to a gossip blog. You want to flaunt it? Fine. Let me make you two famous. I didn’t care about the money. I just wanted them to burn. And even if Chloe figured out it was me, so what? She’s the one who cheated. I left the office. Headed straight to the courthouse. Made it just before they closed. Walked out with the finalized divorce papers. Finally. Free. When I got home, my stuff was already packed. The movers had done their job. I was about to unlock the door when I heard voices inside. Someone was yelling. Chloe’s parents were here.

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I grew up in the Silverpine Pack, the grandson of Elder Thorne. After graduating from the Pack’s War Academy, my grandfather summoned both my brother Mason and me to his study for the Choosing Ceremony. The rules were simple. We would draw lots. The winner would join the Royal Guard-a prestigious position with safety and honor. The loser would be sent to the Border Patrol, defending the frontier against rogue invasions, starting from the bottom as a grunt soldier. Before anyone could react, I dropped to one knee. “Grandfather, I volunteer for the Border Patrol. Let Mason join the Royal Guard.” The room fell silent. In my past life, I had drawn the winning lot. I joined the Royal Guard and married Elena Ashford, the Alpha’s daughter, just as my family had arranged. But my brother Mason was sent to the Border Patrol instead. During a rogue invasion, he made a reckless call and was captured. They shattered his legs, tore out his tongue, and buried him alive. Before he died, he sent Elena a letter. Everything changed after that. Elena turned on me with a viciousness I had never seen. I discovered then that she and Mason had been lovers for years. Elena fed me false intelligence, leading me straight into rogue’s trap. The rogues broke both my legs. “You killed Mason with your selfishness!” she screamed as I bled out on the ground. “Now you’ll join him in hell!” But she didn’t stop there. She framed my grandpa for treason. He died of a stroke in the prison alone and disgraced. “I wanted you to know what it feels like to lose the one you love,” she whispered before plunging a silver blade into my chest ninety-nine times. I died broken, betrayed, and filled with rage. The Moon Goddess gave me a second chance. I woke up the morning of the Choosing Ceremony, and this time, I knew exactly what I had to do.

Grandpa and Mason both stared at me, stunned. “You have made your decision?” my grandfather asked slowly. “You were the one who insisted on marrying Elena. I arranged the engagement with Alpha Kane because of your feelings for her.” The pain of dying in my past life still lingered in my bones. I lowered my eyes and steadied my breath. “I have decided. I will go to the Border Patrol.” Grandfather studied me for a long moment, then sighed and nodded. “Very well.” I stood up, relief washing over me. But before I could leave the room, the door burst open. Elena stormed in and threw herself into Mason’s arms, clinging to him like he was her entire world. “Mason! You’re alive, thank the Goddess…” she sobbed, tears streaming down her face. Then she dropped to her knees before Grandfather. “Elder Thorne, I want to marry Mason. I know I was engaged to Liam, but I have no feelings for him! Please, I beg you-cancel the engagement and let me be with Mason!” Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. She had been reborn too. Hearing her admit it out loud still stung, even though I had expected it. I masked the shock and bitterness in my eyes and reached out to help her up. She slapped my hand away, her voice dripping with disgust. “Don’t touch me! I have always loved Mason! You will never have me!” I met her fierce gaze. For a split second, I saw the same expression she wore when she murdered me in my past life. My chest tightened. Grandfather intervened. “Liam has already chosen the Border Patrol. Go speak with your father. We will prepare for your mating ceremony to Mason.” Elena froze for a moment, then her face lit up with joy. She threw herself back into Mason’s arms. “I can finally marry you!” The love in her eyes was overflowing. I watched in silence. Once, that tenderness had been mine. Now, everything had changed. Elena grabbed Mason’s hand and dragged him toward the door, eager to see her father and plan the mating ceremony. But as she passed me, she glanced back with a look full of meaning. After they left, I helped Grandfather back to his room. “Grandfather,” I said quietly, “if I meet someone suitable at the Border Patrol, I will marry her.” Grandfather let out a long sigh and waved his hand, exhaustion in his voice. “Do as you wish.” I watched his hunched figure disappear into his room. My throat tightened. I knew he did not want me to suffer. In my past life, after I married Elena, he kept me close at the Pack so he could protect me. He had always tried to shield me from harm.

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I’d just returned from managing our overseas operations when I got a call from Grandma saying she’d arranged an engagement for me. The woman was Victoria Quinn, daughter of New York’s wealthiest family. According to Grandma, she was beautiful and well-mannered. I’d been worrying whether taking one of our custom Rolls-Royces would be too flashy when Victoria’s people said they’d send a car. I agreed and got in. Halfway there, the driver suddenly pulled over and killed the engine. He stepped out and locked me inside. The temperature outside was at least 104癋. The sealed car turned into an oven, and within minutes I was drenched in sweat, my breathing labored. After thirty minutes with no sign of the driver, I didn’t hesitate anymore. I wrapped the clothes around my fist and punched through the window to save myself. I’d just bought a bottle of water and hadn’t even opened it when someone knocked it from my hand to the ground. The driver had returned and started cursing at me. “You broke the window? You piece of trash! Do you know how much this car costs?” I forced down my anger. “No amount of money is worth more than a human life.” “If you hadn’t locked me in the car in this heat, I wouldn’t have needed to break the window to save myself.” Faced with my accusation, he remained arrogant. “Your worthless life isn’t worth the cost of a tire.” “Quinn Enterprises owns this entire city. Even if you’d been cooked to death in there today, nobody would’ve cared!” I froze for a moment, then pulled out my phone and called my fianc閑. “I heard your family can commit murder in New York without consequences. Is that true?” …… I made this call purely to confirm whether this was the driver acting on his own or on my fianc閑’s orders. If it was the former, I could reluctantly continue with the engagement. It would honor for my grandmother and her good intentions. Victoria’s cold voice came through the phone. “You’re ten minutes past our agreed meeting time. I don’t tolerate tardiness from anyone, Mr. Cross!” The words caught in my throat. It took me a long time to recover, and I was about to explain why I was late. “Beep beep…” A busy signal came from the other end. She’d clearly hung up. I was stunned again. This was the gentle, well-mannered woman Grandma had described?!

Seeing this, the man across from me became even more arrogant. His mocking smile stretched practically to his ears. “I thought you were someone special to Ms. Quinn. Turns out she doesn’t care about you at all.” The man pointed at the shattered window. “I suggest you pay up now. If Ms. Quinn finds out you broke her car, I’m afraid you won’t live to see tomorrow.” To avoid putting pressure on the woman, I’d specifically worn casual clothes today and removed anything that showed my status. Now it had become their reason to look down on me. I stared at him directly. “I’ll pay for the damage, but first you need to apologize to me.” Being locked in a car in this heat for nearly thirty minutes-if it had been an ordinary person without training, they might have died on the spot. I was only asking for an apology. That was already merciful. The man pointed at me and laughed. “Ha ha… Did I hear that right? You’re asking me to apologize?” “Do you know who I am?!” He leaned closer, his tone smug. “Listen carefully, you nobody. I’m the personal assistant to the one and only Victoria Quinn of Quinn Enterprises!” The moment he finished speaking, the surrounding crowd gasped. They looked at me with sympathy. “This guy’s having the worst day. Of all people to offend, he had to offend someone from Quinn Enterprises!” “Anyone who runs into Ms. Quinn’s people can only bow and scrape. He’s actually demanding an apology-he has no idea what he’s up against!” I frowned. So he was just a assistant. Given his arrogant attitude, I’d thought he was the Quinn family head. At the same time, I noted to myself that just hearing the Quinn name made people this afraid. They were clearly more than just a business company. It seemed very necessary to have someone investigate them thoroughly. Meanwhile, the man kept yelling at me to pay for the window. I maintained my position. “You apologize first, then I’ll consider paying.” I pointed at a security camera nearby. “If you won’t apologize, I’ll just call the police.” I pulled out my phone and started dialing. For what he’d just done, charging him with attempted murder would be completely justified. The man suddenly swung his hand at my phone, his eyes vicious. “You wouldn’t dare!” Out of defensive instinct, the moment his hand touched my phone, I grabbed his wrist first and twisted. “Ow!” The man cried out in pain. “You nobody! You actually dare lay hands on me!” I snorted coldly. “You call that laying hands? If I wasn’t concerned about proper conduct, your arm would already be broken.” The onlookers gasped again. “My God, has this guy lost his mind? He actually dared to attack Ms. Quinn’s assistant.” “If it were me, I’d be on my knees begging for mercy right now. Maybe he could save his life. Otherwise he’s in for serious trouble.” The man had been somewhat wary of my skills and hesitated to fight back. But hearing the crowd’s comments, he suddenly gained confidence. He grabbed a stone from the ground and hurled it at me. “I’ll beat you to death today, you piece of trash!” Suddenly, a sharp voice came from behind. “Stop!” Surrounded by security guards, an elegant woman with a graceful figure and beautiful face walked over. She first approached the man, her tone annoyed. “Derek, what’s going on? I sent you to pick someone up and you’re getting into a fight?” Then she turned to look at me, lifting her delicate chin. “You’re Ethan Cross?” Her voice was melodious, but her tone was cold. I smiled and extended my hand toward her. “Hello, I’m Ethan Cross. Very pleased to meet…” Before I could finish, she impatiently cut me off. “Enough. I don’t have time for your nonsense.” “I’m here to tell you that our engagement is canceled.”

I froze instantly. As far as I knew, this engagement had cost the Quinn family significant effort-old Mr. Quinn himself had sent an elaborate collection of heirloom jewelry to my family. Of course, everything had been returned, but it showed the Quinn family’s sincerity. For her to cancel it now so casually-wasn’t that a bit rash? I looked into Victoria’s cold eyes. “Cancelling an engagement isn’t a small matter. Does your grandfather know about this?” Hearing me mention her grandfather, Victoria’s already impatient face grew even uglier. “You think bringing up my grandfather will make me back down?” “Let me tell you something, Ethan Cross. I will never marry a nobody like you.” “I suggest you drop these ridiculous delusions and go back to wherever you came from!” I was instantly amused by anger. What a Quinn family heiress-truly arrogant enough. “Since Ms. Quinn looks down on me, then this engagement is over. I just hope you won’t regret it.” After all, this engagement benefited the Quinn family most. With my family’s status, marrying her was practically charity. Hearing my words, Victoria looked like she’d heard the funniest joke in the world and laughed until she shook. “Did I hear you correctly? I’ll regret it?” “Regret not marrying a nobody like you? Ha ha ha…” Mocking laughter erupted from the crowd as well. “Where does this nobody get the confidence to think he’s worthy of Quinn Enterprises’ CEO? What a joke.” “Exactly. Ms. Quinn is the goddess of every man in New York. If she actually married this nobody, I’d be the first to object.” Derek also jumped out to mock me. “Shameless nobody, get out of here. Stop being an eyesore to Ms. Quinn.” As he spoke, he reached out and touched Victoria’s back. “Ms. Quinn, don’t be angry. Don’t stoop to the level of these lowlifes.” Faced with Derek’s sleazy behavior, Victoria not only wasn’t angry but gave him a sweet smile. “Don’t worry. I won’t waste my energy on garbage like him.” Watching their intimate exchange, I felt a wave of disgust and immediately realized the whole locked-in-car scenario was Victoria’s deliberate power play to force me to cancel the engagement myself. It seemed she never intended to go through with this marriage from the start, and here I’d come to meet her in good faith. At the same time, I felt secretly relieved. At least I’d seen her true colors early-it was damage control. Otherwise, with my real identity and family background, if I’d regretted it after we were actually married, getting rid of her wouldn’t be so easy. I looked directly at Victoria. “Fine. I agree to cancel the engagement.” Victoria lifted her chin proudly. “Smart choice.” She turned to leave. “Wait.” I stopped her. “Since the engagement’s off, shouldn’t you return the betrothal gifts?” Victoria looked confused. “Betrothal gifts? What betrothal gifts?” A moment later, something seemed to occur to her. She opened her Herm鑣 bag and pulled something out, holding it toward me. “Here. Your junk. Take it back.” Her lips curved in a mocking smile, her elegant face full of contempt. I clenched my fists, staring at what she called “junk” in her hand, my breathing growing heavy. I hadn’t expected the dignified CEO of Quinn Enterprises to be so ignorant, treating such a precious item like garbage. I could only hope that when she learned the truth later, she wouldn’t regret it. I took a deep breath, forcing down the rage inside, and reached out to take it. “Oops!” Victoria’s hand suddenly loosened, and the item fell to the ground, rolling into a storm drain nearby. My breathing stopped. I looked up at her in fury. “You!” “Sorry about that. My hand slipped.” Victoria raised an eyebrow at me carelessly, her bright eyes full of mockery and satisfaction. Without bothering to argue with her, I ran frantically to the drain and dropped to my knees, reaching into the dark, filthy opening, feeling around desperately. But dirty water kept flowing in. I scraped all ten fingers raw, but still couldn’t find it. Clearly, Victoria still didn’t realize the severity of what she’d done. She laughed and pulled out several hundred-dollar bills from her bag. “Here, take this money and buy another one.” “Keep the change. Consider it my compensation to you.” Hearing this, my anger surged again. I shot to my feet and knocked the bills from her hand. “Do you have any idea how important that was to me? Its value can’t be measured in money.” “Even if you gave me all of Quinn Enterprises, it wouldn’t be enough to replace it!” My eyes were bloodshot, my clenched fists white at the knuckles, cracking audibly. Before Victoria could react, the people around us were already dying of laughter. “Calling him a nobody was right. That piece of junk-I could buy a whole bag of them for ten bucks online. He treats it like treasure. Pathetic.” “Exactly. Ms. Quinn giving him that much money is basically charity. He actually refused it-so ungrateful!” Derek stuck his finger right in my face. “You’ve got some nerve! You want all of Quinn Enterprises? And you claim you’re not after money?!” Seeing I wouldn’t back down, Victoria lost her temper too. “It’s just a piece of junk. Is it really worth this fuss? Look at your disgusting, aggressive face.” She opened her Herm鑣 bag again and pulled out twice as much cash as before, throwing it in my face. “Wasn’t that enough? This should definitely cover it!” She even spat on the ground. “Ptui! Greedy, shameless trash. Absolutely revolting!” At this point, I couldn’t take it anymore. I grabbed Victoria’s arm, my voice harsh. “Do you know what you just threw away?” “That was my grandfather’s heirloom pocket watch-it represents our family’s highest honor!”

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