In my previous life, my Alpha mate hated me for ten years because his childhood sweetheart committed suicide by taking silver poison after he marked me.

I worked tirelessly to fulfill my duties as his Luna, enduring his indifference with patience. But all he ever did was sneer coldly at me.

"How I wish it had been you who died instead."

The words pierced my heart like silver claws.

But when the rogue wolves invaded our territory, he still threw himself in front of me to take the killing blow.

As he lay dying in my arms, he used what little strength remained to push away my hand that was trying to comfort him.

"Sage," he whispered, "if only I had never met you in this lifetime..."

At his funeral, the pack elders wept uncontrollably.

"Alpha Kieran, this is all our fault. We never should have forced you to bond with your fated mate. If we had honored your wishes and let you bind with Elena instead, would today's outcome have been different?"

Even the Alpha King, who had once supported our union, no longer stood by me.

Nearly every pack member blamed me.

"The Alpha saved you three times. He was such a good man. Why did you always bring him nothing but disaster? Why wasn't it you who died instead?"

Everyone regretted that Kieran had bonded with me.

Even I regretted it.

Finally, unable to bear the pain any longer, I ended my own life before the Moon Goddess's statue with the silver dagger Kieran had given me.

But the Moon Goddess granted me another chance, sending me back to before Kieran and I were bonded.

This time, I decided to fulfill Kieran's wishes, give up my status as his fated mate, and leave completely to make everyone happy.

In my previous life, my Alpha mate hated me for ten years because his childhood sweetheart committed suicide by taking silver poison after he marked me.

After my rebirth, I decided to fulfill Kieran's wishes, give up my Luna status, and leave completely to make everyone happy.But things seem to have changed a bit?

"Sage, you're really something. You actually got all the pack elders to go on strike and force me to bond with you. Do you think becoming my mate will bring you happiness?"

Kieran's familiar voice reached my ears. I opened my eyes in a daze, staring blankly at him.

He stood before me, hands casually shoved into his suit pants pockets, his eyes filled with open mockery.

He looked much younger than I remembered from ten years later in my previous life.

This was Kieran just after coming of age, having awakened his Alpha wolf.

The Moon Goddess had truly given me another chance.

I suppressed the bitterness in my heart and stared at him longingly.

"You don't want to bond with me because the person you truly love is Elena, right?"

Kieran let out a bitter laugh. "So what if it is? But my wolf has claimed you. You're my fated mate. The elders and my parents all favor you becoming my future Luna. Can you change their minds?"

I said seriously, "I can."

My parents had died protecting the Alpha King. When the King learned I had a fated mate, he announced that if Kieran bonded with me, he would waive Stormfang Pack's taxes for twenty years and provide support with hunting grounds and mining resources. He even promised to attend our mating ceremony.

For a small, remote pack like Stormfang, this represented enormous benefits and supreme honor.

But I could also ask the Alpha King to grant me one wish.

Kieran froze for a moment, then gave an angry laugh.

"You're using the Alpha King to pressure me. For the pack's benefit, all the pack members including my parents are forcing me to bond with you. I can't resist them at all. And now you're saying you can easily change their minds?"

"Sage, I don't have time for your games. Go invite the Alpha King yourself and tell him our mating ceremony date has been set. I'll wait for you here."

With that, he turned and walked toward a shaded area under the trees.

Today was supposed to be the day Kieran and I got engaged. We were meant to have an audience with the Alpha King and invite him to attend our mating ceremony.

But this time, I didn't plan to do that.

Seeing the disgust in his eyes, my heart felt as if needles were stabbing it.

In my past life and now, I had loved Kieran for many years.

He had risked everything to save me multiple times. I mistakenly believed he had feelings for me too. Combined with his wolf choosing me as his fated mate, I happily requested the Alpha King's blessing and became his mate, thinking I had found true love.

It wasn't until his childhood sweetheart died tragically and he grew increasingly cold and distant toward me, even coming to hate me, that I suddenly realized he might not love me at all.

My love was his torment.

His dying words—that he wished he'd never met me—had completely shattered me.

After praying to the Moon Goddess countless times in my past life, I finally earned this chance to start over.

In my past life, Kieran had saved me three times. So this time, I wanted to grant his three wishes so he would have no regrets, and then I would leave him completely.

After that, we would go our separate ways. He wouldn't die at thirty-five because of me, and we would both be free to find our own destinies.

The Moon Goddess had told me that rebirth came at a huge price. I had only three days to change the past, but if Kieran could live, I wasn't afraid of any cost.

I met with the Alpha King and told him I was giving up my mate status with Kieran. I asked him to attend Kieran and Elena's mating ceremony instead, while still securing the promised resources and support for Stormfang Pack.

After some consideration, the Alpha King agreed to my request and signed a special document for me.

I knew Kieran's three regrets—they were written in his diary, which he had read every day in my past life.

"Regret bonding with Sage. Regret not resisting the pack and family's arrangements. Regret not saving Elena."

Now his first regret was resolved.

I came out with the document signed by the Alpha King and handed it to Kieran.

He looked at me with disdain, clearly thinking I had successfully trapped him into marriage, reaching to open the document.

But I pressed down on his hand and smiled gently. "Look at it tomorrow. There will be a surprise."

Kieran glanced at me. "Boring. Whether I look today or tomorrow, isn't it all about our mating ceremony? You're acting strange today. Are you so excited about becoming my mate that you've lost your mind?"

I was indeed happy.

Because I finally got to see you alive again.

I smiled. "I think you're the best person in the world. Anyone who becomes your mate would be very happy."

"Let's go home." He snorted coldly and turned to leave. If I didn't know better, I might have thought he was being shy.

On the drive back to Stormfang Pack, we passed through the bustling commercial district. I rolled down the window and heard several girls by the roadside excitedly discussing something.

"I heard that today is the day Cupid snuck out of Mount Olympus, and you can see the once-in-a-century aurora from the observatory on the northern mountain peak! Legend says that mates who see the aurora together will receive Cupid's blessing and live in health, peace, and love until they're old and gray!"

This brought back memories from my past life. I had heard similar news and begged Kieran to take me to the observatory, filled with anticipation.

Back then, Kieran had looked at me with cold mockery.

"These legends are just fairy tales for children. How old are you now? Why do you still believe in such things? Do you think two complete strangers who happen to see the aurora together can stay together for life? There's only interest and coercion between us, no love. Neither Cupid nor the Moon Goddess will bless us."

Those words shattered my beautiful fantasy.

That icy look from my past life still made me shiver.

I quietly rolled up the window.

But this time, Kieran's tone was indifferent as he spoke.

"Want to go?"

"I can take you to the observatory to see the aurora tonight. After we're bonded, I won't have time to accompany you to visit your parents' graves, so consider this compensation."

I looked up at him in surprise. It was unexpected, yet somehow not surprising.

Kieran had always been like this—sharp-tongued but kind-hearted.

Even though he didn't love me, he still risked his life to save me three times.

The first time was when I first shifted. I couldn't fully control my wolf yet and nearly fell into a silver thorn trap set by hunters. Kieran saved me but fell into the trap himself, sustaining injuries all over his body. The tendons in his right leg were corroded by silver poison. The healer had to cut away the rotting flesh to save his leg, and he almost lost his qualification to inherit Stormfang Pack.

The second time was during a patrol of new territory. I was caught in a mudslide containing silver ore. Kieran rushed into the danger zone and tore apart massive logs with his bare hands to save me, only to be buried by a second collapse. If the patrol team hadn't arrived in time to dig him out, he would have died.

The third time, hostile rogue wolves invaded Stormfang Pack's core territory. He took the attack meant for me. I escaped without a scratch, but the rogue wolf's claws pierced his chest.

Kieran was perfect in every way, except he didn't love me.

I knew that after today, our paths would never cross again.

Even if we went up to the observatory and saw the once-in-a-century aurora, we wouldn't spend our lives together as the legend promised.

But I still held back the tears gathering in my eyes and forced my brightest smile.

"Yes, let's go see the aurora together."

Halfway home, someone flagged down our car.

It was Marcus, the Gamma whom Kieran had assigned to look after his childhood sweetheart Elena. Marcus looked panicked as he approached our vehicle.

"Alpha, Elena hurt her hand. She's asking for you specifically."

Kieran's brow furrowed immediately, and he got out of the car without hesitation.

"Elena's injured and needs me. Go home first. I'll pick you up tonight for the observatory."

I nodded. "Okay."

He looked somewhat surprised. "You used to hate it most when I went to see her. Why are you being so understanding now?"

I opened my mouth to respond, but he let out a cold laugh before I could speak.

"Right, I forgot. We're about to have our mating ceremony soon. She can't threaten you anymore."

He left the car and walked away, never seeing the pain and bitter smile in my eyes.

The truth was, I had never actually tried to stop him from caring about Elena.

There was just that one time when Kieran's parents and I witnessed Elena kissing a strange middle-aged wolf on the street. They even went to a seedy hotel together afterward.

Later, using the Alpha King's intelligence network, I discovered Elena had multiple sugar daddies. She was far from faithful.

That's when I desperately tried to prevent Kieran from getting too involved with her.

But he knew nothing about any of this. After she died, he suffered for ten years.

If I had to choose, I'd rather see him with Elena than watch him endure endless torment and die for my sake.

I went to the Werewolf Affairs Division first to handle my travel permit application. As a core member of Stormfang Pack, I needed official documentation to freely visit other territories.

Only then did I return home.

Kieran's parents had prepared dinner themselves, cooking a whole table of dishes—all my favorites.

Out of habit, I took off my jacket and draped it over Mrs. Blackwood's shoulders.

"It's getting cold. You need to take care of yourself."

Mrs. Blackwood looked at me with a smile so wide she could barely contain it.

"Sage, you're always so thoughtful. Does the Alpha King know about your engagement to Kieran yet? We've waited so long for this day. You're finally going to bond with Kieran. Soon I'll be able to call you my daughter-in-law."

Mr. Blackwood noticed Kieran wasn't behind me and his face darkened with anger.

"That boy didn't come home with you again? You're about to have your mating ceremony, and he still doesn't know how to cherish you. When he gets back, I'm going to give him a piece of my mind!"

The genuine warmth from Kieran's parents filled my heart with bittersweet pain.

After my parents died in battle, I became an orphan. The Blackwoods were my parents' close friends, and they took me in without hesitation, raising me, loving me, giving me everything.

I had always been obedient. But this time, I was going to defy them.

I looked at them both seriously.

"Uncle, Aunt, I'm giving up my fated mate status with Kieran. I won't be bonding with him."

"I've already applied for travel documents. I'll be leaving in a couple of days to study with other packs. I won't be here to care for you both anymore, so please take good care of yourselves."

Mrs. Blackwood froze, then immediately became anxious.

"Your parents died in battle, and you've grown up right here with us. Stormfang Pack is your home. Why would you want to leave? Where could you possibly go?"

"Did Kieran hurt you because of that Elena girl? Is that why you're giving up your fated mate status and refusing to bond with him?"

"Don't think like that, sweetheart. He does care about you. Otherwise, he wouldn't have risked his life to save you twice. Every birthday, he searches far and wide for special gifts for you."

"I know you love Kieran too. You taught yourself to become a healer just so you could help him. You stayed by his side day and night, treating his wounds and giving him emotional support."

"If you two become mates, you'll definitely be happy together!"

"Besides, that Elena is a bad woman. We can't let her win. Please don't leave out of spite!"

Mr. Blackwood quickly chimed in. "Kieran is just being stubborn. Once you hold the mating ceremony and become true mates, he'll definitely be devoted to you."

In my past life, they had said the exact same things.

In the end, I lost my mate, and they lost their son.

Unfortunately, forcing something that wasn't meant to be only led to lifelong regret for everyone.

I gently wiped away the tears from Mrs. Blackwood's eyes and spoke softly.

"Aunt, you can't force a square peg into a round hole. Kieran has never actually loved me. I shouldn't force him to bond with me."

"I had a dream last night. I dreamed that he and I became mates, but he refused to see me. He spent all his time handling pack business and wouldn't even come home."

"Whether he was sick or injured, he wouldn't let me take care of him. He said I brought him more pain than happiness."

"In the dream, he even died at thirty-five trying to save me."

Saying this, my heart ached so much I could barely breathe.

Mrs. Blackwood was stunned. "But... that was just a dream, sweetheart. Kieran would never..."

I sniffled and forced a weak smile.

"Uncle, Aunt, dreams are warnings from the Moon Goddess. Kieran doesn't have to love me, and we don't have to be mates. But I want him to live a long, full life."

"Besides, there are signs pointing to this. Kieran yearns for freedom and hates being constrained. He despises walking a path that's been laid out for him."

"If it weren't for our arranged engagement, he would be much happier pursuing love freely. But he's a born leader, destined to inherit the pack and shoulder an Alpha's responsibilities."

"It's the same situation now. If it weren't for his parents' arrangements, he wouldn't become my mate."

"I'm the source of all the problems. It's all my fault. I don't want to keep making the same mistake."

I bowed deeply to Mr. and Mrs. Blackwood three times.

"My travel arrangements are already finalized. Please grant me this. I will never forget your kindness in raising me, and I will spend my life trying to repay you."

Mr. Blackwood pressed his lips together and helped me stand up.

Mrs. Blackwood wiped away her tears and pressed a bank card into my hands.

"You're a good child. It's Kieran who doesn't have the blessing to make you Stormfang Pack's future Luna."

"Since this is what you've decided, I'll respect your wishes. But remember, no matter what happens, this will always be your home."

Tears suddenly rolled down my cheeks as I hugged Mrs. Blackwood.

"Thank you so much."

As long as I refused my fated mate status with Kieran and didn't bond with him, the tragedy of my past life wouldn't repeat itself. He would live a long life, and his parents wouldn't be heartbroken or come to hate me.

In this life, everyone would find happiness.

Kieran's second regret from his diary was now resolved.

I wanted to address his three regrets within these three days, completing everything he hadn't been able to in his past life.

There was one last regret to address. Would it go smoothly?

That evening, I went to the observatory.

Everywhere I looked, there were pairs of mates seeking destiny's blessing for a lifetime together.

"Sage."

A familiar voice suddenly reached my ears. I turned around joyfully, but saw only Kieran's furious expression.

He grabbed my wrist roughly, his eyes red with rage.

"You know I despise people who abuse their power most. Just because I didn't take you home, you went to my parents and turned them against Elena. They humiliated her terribly."

"Now she's so devastated she's tried to kill herself with silver poison. She's dying. Are you satisfied now?"

My wrist felt like it was about to snap under his grip, and my face went pale from the pain.

In my past life, Elena had committed suicide by swallowing silver powder a month after Kieran and I became mates. Kieran could only watch helplessly as she died.

That's when he truly began to hate me, and that hatred lasted until the moment of his own death.

But in this life, I hadn't completed the bonding with him. I'd given up my fated mate status. So why was Elena still trying to kill herself?

I had been wondering how to fulfill his third regret.

Now, the opportunity had presented itself.

I looked at him. "So you came to find me to save her?"

Since childhood, my constitution had been special. My blood and organs were universally compatible with any wolf. It was because of this rare trait that I hoped to become the werewolf world's chief healer, using my abilities to save more of our kind. I had also hoped it would help me better assist Kieran.

Because I often donated my blood to save others, my body was weaker than most wolves. Apart from Kieran, who had grown up with me, no one else knew about this.

Hearing my words, Kieran froze, as if he hadn't expected me to say that. His voice turned even colder.

"You think I wouldn't dare ask? This is what you owe her anyway. If you hadn't run to my parents, Elena wouldn't have been humiliated and wouldn't have poisoned herself. You should make amends."

He dragged me to the pack's medical center.

The chief healer, Dr. Harrison, had just finished examining Elena. He discovered the silver poison had entered her vital organs, and only a kidney transplant could save her.

The nurses looked worried. "There's no way to find a compatible donor in such a short time. Even if we're lucky enough to find suitable organs, we don't know if the patient can hold on that long."

Elena lay unconscious in the emergency room. Dr. Harrison immediately ran compatibility tests between Elena and me, and the results came back quickly.

Dr. Harrison looked pleased. "The test results are in. Miss Sage's organ tissue is highly compatible with Miss Elena's. Her special constitution makes her an ideal donor."

"However, kidney transplant surgery carries extremely high risks. Donating a kidney under these circumstances... I'm not sure if Miss Sage's body can handle it."

"No!" Kieran's expression changed, his brow furrowing deeply. "Her body is already weaker than most wolves. If she donates a kidney under these conditions, she won't be able to handle it. Isn't there any other way?"

Dr. Harrison shook his head. "There's a severe shortage of kidney donors, and Miss Elena's silver poisoning has invaded her entire circulatory system. Without a compatible kidney, she will die. Transplant surgery is the only hope. The donor will survive the operation but will suffer permanent damage to her life force and strength."

"However, Miss Sage as the donor won't die, but Miss Elena, who's been poisoned with silver, will certainly die without the transplant. Alpha, you need to make a decision."

Kieran pressed his lips into a thin line, his gaze falling on Elena.

I could see his internal struggle and looked at Dr. Harrison. "I'm willing to save her. Please arrange the surgery as soon as possible."

Dr. Harrison looked at Kieran. "Alpha, this..."

I interrupted him. "It's fine. I can recover. Saving someone is what matters most."

Kieran stared at me intently, then finally nodded reluctantly.

"I'll owe you a favor. I'll definitely make it up to you."

The surgery began.

To prevent my wolf from automatically healing the wound, I was injected with a mild wolf suppressant. Due to my special constitution, anesthesia had almost no effect on me. I could clearly feel every movement of the surgical instruments.

Through the excruciating pain, I remembered when I was eight years old and my parents died in battle. Other pups bullied me, saying I was an unwanted orphan.

Kieran had chased them away and patted my head gently.

"Don't be afraid. I'll protect you."

And he had kept his word.

Until his dying breath in my past life, he was still standing in front of me, shielding me.

I couldn't help but love him.

But more than that, I wanted him to live and spend his life in peace. That's why after my rebirth, I had to give up everything, including becoming his mate.

The kidney removal was completed. I fell unconscious due to my body's weakness and the overwhelming pain.

In my delirium, I heard his words from before his death in my past life: "Sage, if only I had never met you in this lifetime..."

Tears streamed down my face as I smiled weakly. "Kieran, in this life, I won't cling to you anymore."

When I woke up again, daylight was streaming through the windows. I had been moved to a private room next door. Sharp, tearing pain shot through my chest and abdomen, and I felt completely drained.

Another day had passed. It was almost time for my planned departure.

I could hear the excited chatter of nurses outside my window.

"Last night's aurora at the observatory was absolutely stunning!"

"Once in a century! Legend says couples who see it together will love each other until they're old and gray!"

My heart filled with regret. Such beautiful northern lights, and I had missed them after all.

What a shame. I had missed such a beautiful sight.

Not long after, Kieran entered carrying a bowl of stew.

It was made from snow mountain antelope that he had personally hunted—extremely difficult to track and my favorite when I was young. I hadn't expected him to remember.

For a moment, I was stunned that he still remembered.

Kieran gazed at me, his tone unusually gentle.

"Does the wound hurt badly? Do you need painkillers? Elena is out of danger now. It's all thanks to you."

I nodded. "Good."

Seeing my pale complexion, his brow remained furrowed with concern. "I spoke too harshly yesterday. Don't take it to heart. But Elena is innocent. You shouldn't have involved her in our affairs. Don't go to my parents with complaints anymore."

Hearing his words, my heart felt bitter.

But I didn't defend myself with grievances like I had in my past life. I just forced a small smile.

"Mm, there won't be a next time."

Kieran helped adjust my blanket.

"I couldn't take you to see the aurora last night. When... when you recover and after our mating ceremony, I'll take you to Northern Europe for our honeymoon. We can still see the northern lights there."

I was startled but smiled softly. "No need."

"You don't have to make up for last night. I saved her willingly."

Kieran paused, his expression complex.

"I've already made the arrangements. Once you're recovered and we've held our mating ceremony, we can leave."

I stared at Kieran steadily without saying another word.

He sat quietly by my bedside, checking my wounds. In his movements, I caught sight of the ugly scars on his right leg—wounds he'd gotten the first time he saved me. Even now, his right leg still ached on rainy days, a condition that even his Alpha wolf abilities couldn't heal.

My throat tightened with emotion, and I asked with heartache, "Do you regret becoming like this to save me?"

Kieran's expression remained calm.

"There's nothing to regret. I would have saved any pack member. I'm the pack's Alpha. Protecting pack members is my duty. I'm responsible for every member."

My eyes dimmed, and my voice grew even softer.

"That mudslide... when you rushed into the silver mud zone to save me, would you have done the same for anyone else?"

"Yes."

So there was nothing special about me after all.

Tears gathered in my eyes, but I forced myself to smile.

"Kieran, thank you for saving me time and again."

"I lost my parents when I was young and desperately wanted a family. That's why I forced you to bond with me. My selfishness must have caused you a lot of pain."

But starting tomorrow, it wouldn't happen anymore, because I was about to leave.

He wouldn't have to abandon Elena anymore or be forced to bond with me.

We wouldn't torment each other for ten years, and he wouldn't die at thirty-five because of me.

In this life, he would be fine.

I thought I saw panic flash across Kieran's face. He opened his mouth as if to say something but was interrupted by a nurse who rushed in frantically.

"Alpha! Miss Elena is awake! She's emotionally agitated and insists on seeing you! She won't cooperate with treatment!"

Concern immediately appeared on Kieran's handsome face. He glanced at me and stood to leave.

"Wait for me to come back."

"Alpha," I called out to him, forcing my brightest smile. "I'm sorry. And I wish you happiness and a long, healthy life."

Kieran looked surprised and inexplicably uneasy. "Why are you saying such things out of the blue? I'm just going to check on Elena. I'll be back soon. Be good and eat your food. When I return, I have something to tell you."

With that, he turned and left.

I got out of bed.

Dr. Harrison came for a follow-up and prescribed strong recovery medication. I thanked him: "I'll take it on time. Please tell the Alpha that I'm leaving and ask him to take care of himself."

By the time Kieran had finished comforting Elena and rushed back to my room, he found it empty. He questioned the Gamma guard on duty.

"Where is Miss Sage? She just had surgery. Where did she go?"

Before the guard could answer, a patrol member covered in blood burst in: "Alpha! Rogue wolves ambushed the departure convoy! The regular wolves only suffered minor injuries... but Miss Sage, who just had kidney transplant surgery... lost too much blood... didn't make it..."