My mate, Archer, and I hated each other for the thirty years of our forced bonding.

The most vicious curse we could hurl at each other was to wish the other into the abyss.

Later, as the Soul-Devouring Curse weakened me, I handed him a moonsilver dagger.

I watched as he plunged it into his own chest without a flicker of hesitation, all to set me free.

But in the final moments of my life, I heard him order the pack's healer to find the antidote, the Heartstone, for me at any cost.

"Find the one who cast the curse... and when she wakes up... don't tell her I traded my life for hers..."

Only then did I realize the animosity between us had all been a colossal misunderstanding.

After my rebirth, I was determined to avoid him.

I accepted a collaborative research project with a rival pack, ready to leave everything behind.

I would fly far, far away, so he could have a peaceful life with the one he truly loved.

————————

1

I opened my eyes to a warm embrace and the cool touch of fingertips gently applying moongrass balm to my temples.

When my gaze met Archer's bloodshot eyes, we both froze.

Just the day before, I’d nearly shattered our pack’s tenuous peace, my inner wolf raging as I tried to force him into a bonding ceremony.

Archer looked like he hadn't slept, a shadow of stubble darkening his jaw.

"Do it yourself."

The moment he saw I was awake, the concern in his eyes vanished, replaced by an icy distance. He shoved me away, that familiar, imposing Alpha presence rising like a wall between us once more.

"Archer..."

My voice was a raw whisper.

"What now?"

"Hold me again..."

The next second, I wrapped my arms tightly around him from behind.

I could feel his tense muscles under my palms, radiating a startling heat through the thin fabric of his shirt.

"Faye..."

He grabbed my wrist with a force that felt like it could shatter bone.

"A forced bond creates nothing but resentment."

"I know."

I pressed my cheek against his back, savoring the warmth of his body one last time.

"I've thought it through."

"Thought it through?" he scoffed, his voice ragged with exhaustion. "Don't you say that every time?"

He pried my fingers from his shirt one by one, pushed me back onto the bed, and strode away without a backward glance.

Just like in my previous life, he slammed the door shut on his way out.

But he didn't know.

This time, I had truly thought it through.

As the daughter of his late benefactor—the former Alpha of the Argent Moon Pack—I was his duty, a responsibility he could never escape.

But there was one thing I should never have been... his mate.

In this life, I finally understood.

I had to let go.

I contacted his Beta through our mind-link.

Faye, we’ve scouted the Sacred Spring.

You always wanted your bonding ceremony there, right? Should I book it?

Ask Lorelei. If she likes it, then book it.

His Beta’s confusion was palpable through the link. But… aren’t you the bride-to-be?

Not anymore.

After severing the mind-link, I contacted the director of the research institute.

"Are you absolutely sure you want to take on this collaborative project with the rival pack?" the director asked, sounding as if it were the tenth time.

I nodded. "My decision is final. I'm not backing out."

The director let out a sigh of relief and quickly stamped the transfer papers, as if afraid I'd change my mind.

"The client specifically requested you. We've had a flood of applicants for this project, but they insist no one else will do."

A pang of guilt shot through me.

This collaborative research project was originally designed specifically for me.

But before, I'd been so obsessed with Archer that I hadn't given it a second thought.

The director had no choice but to find a replacement.

But because they couldn't find a suitable candidate, the entire project had been delayed.

Just as I finished the last of the paperwork, I heard a sob from outside my office.

"I worked so hard, and Faye just swoops in and snatches the position right from under me."

"All my effort this past month... it was all for nothing."

It was Lorelei... the woman Archer had deeply loved in our past life.

The she-wolf who had sown discord between us for thirty years.

I opened the door to find Archer standing there, his expression grim.

He glared down at me, his potent Alpha dominance washing over me in waves, stealing the air from my lungs.

"Faye, give up this project."

I shook my head. "No chance."

"Faye..."

Archer's face was a mask of disbelief.

"I already agreed to our bonding. You've even arranged the ceremony venue."

"You don't even want this project. You're just doing this to spite Lorelei!"

Lorelei stepped forward, her eyes red and swollen.

"Faye, I worked so hard for this position. I won't be in your way after I leave, you don't have to worry..."

"Effort doesn't equal competence. We both know you falsified your research data. You aren't qualified for this role, period."

Lorelei froze, her eyes growing redder.

She had applied for the project, hoping Archer would go with her. But I had used every desperate trick in the book, even hurting myself, to force Archer to bond with me. Mindful of the debt he owed my father, Archer had reluctantly agreed. In a fit of pique, Lorelei had decided to leave on her own.

But she wasn't capable enough. In my last life, her application failed.

But Archer frowned.

"You won't even give her a chance. How can you be so sure she can't handle it?"

I brandished the transfer papers in my hand.

"Because the director has already signed and stamped them. For me."

"Faye..."

Archer clenched his fists, his eyes filled with deep disappointment.

"I knew you were spoiled, Faye, but I never thought you were this malicious."

"You have plenty of opportunities. This one means everything to Lorelei!"

"You'd rather waste a valuable position just to spite her!"

He looked at me coldly.

"Listen to me. We can have the ceremony, but my wolf will never, ever acknowledge you."

"I know."

I nodded calmly.

I had already been through this once.

Archer ignored me. He wrapped an arm around Lorelei’s shoulders and turned to leave, his voice a low, comforting murmur.

"It's okay. I'll help you find other opportunities. Don't cry."

That was the kind of gentleness I had yearned for my entire past life but never received.

I couldn't have it then, and I wouldn't beg for it now.

I thought I wouldn't see him again for a while.

But when I opened the door to my lab, he was there.

Without a word, he strode past me and went straight inside.

My strength hadn't fully returned.

On the lab bench sat a restorative potion, its contents still glowing faintly with power.

For a moment, a tangle of emotions washed over me.

In a daze, I remembered my past life.

He had loathed me, yet he had also patiently cared for me. He did it all because my father, on his deathbed, had repeatedly made Archer promise to take care of me.

So, no matter how fiercely we fought, whenever I was injured, he would never hesitate to transfer his life force to me.

He was the kind of man who couldn't bear being indebted to anyone.

He was repaying his debt to my father with every fiber of his being.

And I was always foolishly hoping he would give me his heart as well.

Suddenly, something clicked. I glanced at the date, and my heart seized.

The abandoned industrial park. The thought slammed into me. I had to get there. Now.

I bolted from the lab, not even bothering with my coat.

It was pouring rain outside, and I ran out without an umbrella.

Following my memory, I arrived at the abandoned industrial park where Lorelei had been attacked in my previous life.

Sure enough, a dozen rogue Omegas had her cornered. It was a debt collection, not a territory dispute.

"Think you can just walk away from your parents' debts? The grace period I gave you is up."

"Can't come up with the money? Then pay with your body!"

"Stop!"

I cracked a discarded steel pipe over the man's head and hauled Lorelei to her feet.

"Ah!"

The ground was slick with rain, and Lorelei fell hard.

Before I could haul her up, the dozen rogues swarmed us. I had no choice but to throw myself in front of her.

"Run! I'll hold them off!"

"I... I..."

Lorelei seemed terrified, hugging herself and shivering.

"Run!"

I struggled to fend off their attacks.

Even with years of training, I couldn't hold off a dozen adult werewolves on my own.

"I can't last much longer! Go get the pack guards!"

"I... I'm scared... I can't move..."

Lorelei's voice was trembling uncontrollably.

I kicked away an approaching werewolf, buying a precious second. When I turned back to pull her up, she suddenly screamed and gave me a hard shove.

A gleaming silver-laced blade plunged deep into my abdomen.

"There's... there's blood?"

The lead Omega clearly hadn't expected me to impale myself on his weapon.

He hadn't intended to kill anyone, and the hand holding the weapon trembled.

I stared at Lorelei with wide eyes.

She was clutching her head, her gaze darting away from mine.

"I... I'm sorry... I was so scared..."

I gritted my teeth, wrenched the weapon out, and swung it at them. The searing pain from the silver fragments nearly drove me mad.

They were already shaken, and seeing my frenzied state, the men scattered and fled.

I staggered, almost losing my footing.