Echoes of a Hated Moon

Alpha Scott hated me, his fated mate, more than anything. All because I was just a human, a useless creature without claws.

His heart belonged entirely to his childhood sweetheart, Joanna.

After Joanna died in an accident, he hated me for ten years.

But when an enemy pack’s bomb exploded in front of our den, he saved me.

Before he died, covered in blood and lying in my arms, he used his last ounce of strength to push away my trembling hand.

"Elena, if only the Moon Goddess had never let us meet..."

At the funeral, the former Luna—Scott's mother—grabbed my collar, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Scott, it's my fault. I never should have forced you to accept this human. If I had supported your choice of Joanna, would any of this have happened today?"

I didn't answer. Because she was right.

After being dragged out of the funeral, I climbed Skyfall Ridge—the pack's sacred ground—alone and leaped.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day the Moon Goddess designated me as Scott's mate.

This time, I decided to sever all ties with Scott, to give everyone what they truly wanted.

I was Alpha Scott's fated human mate. He hated me for ten years, yet he died saving me in an explosion. Driven to suicide by the pack, I reopened my eyes to find myself back on the day the Moon Goddess designated me as Scott's mate.

"Human!? A weak human is my mate? What kind of sick joke is this!"

Scott's roar echoed across the Moonlit Plaza.

I stood frozen, my heart pounding. I was back, back to the Moon Hunt Festival from ten years ago—the day my destiny and Scott’s intertwined.

"Alpha, this is the Moon Goddess's decree," the Head Elder reminded him softly.

"To hell with the Moon Goddess's decree!" Scott ripped off the ceremonial badge pinned to his chest. "I will not accept a useless female without even claws as my Luna!"

The werewolves around us whispered amongst themselves. Joanna stood a short distance away, a smug smile playing on her lips. She was noble and elegant, a blue-blood, Scott's childhood sweetheart.

I took a deep breath. This time, I wouldn't make the same mistakes.

"I request to perform the Severing Ceremony." My voice was clear and firm, causing an uproar in the plaza.

Scott’s expression froze, his golden eyes flashing with disbelief. "What?"

"You heard me, Alpha." I looked him straight in the eye. "I want to cut the bond between us. I ask the Elder Council to allow Scott and Joanna to mate, to strengthen the pack alliance."

The plaza erupted into chaos. This was unprecedented—a mate chosen by the Moon Goddess actively requesting to sever the bond?

"Ha!" Scott laughed mockingly. "I didn't expect you to have some self-awareness."

My heart felt like it was being stabbed, but I fought back tears. I remembered the Moon Goddess's words: "Within one day of your rebirth, you must remedy his three greatest regrets from his past life to change his fate. But rebirth always comes with a price."

The first regret: Regretting being mated to Elena.

I would grant him his wish.

"The Severing Ceremony requires preparation," the Head Elder said with a frown. "It will take at least three days."

"Then let's not waste any time." Scott looked at me coldly, then turned to leave.

I instinctively reached out and grabbed the hem of his shirt. "Wait..."

"What now?" he snapped, turning back impatiently.

"Before... before we officially sever the bond, could you take me to Skyfall Ridge to see the aurora just once?" I asked, mustering my courage. This was one of my biggest regrets from my past life; he had never agreed.

Scott frowned, a flicker of confusion in his eyes. I knew what he was thinking—why was I being so compliant, even proposing the severing myself, yet making such a request?

Unexpectedly, he nodded. "Tomorrow night. Don't keep me waiting."

I stood rooted to the spot, watching him walk away.

"You're such a silly girl," a gentle voice said from behind me. It was the Old Shaman, the pack's wiseman.

"Why do you say that?"

"Because your eyes betray you," the Old Shaman said meaningfully. "Even as you decided to sever the bond, you're still deeply in love with him."

I couldn't deny it.

"Scott's father has asked me to start preparing for the Severing Ceremony tomorrow," the Shaman sighed. "They've been looking forward to this day for a long time."

"I know."

The Shaman handed me a wooden box. "These are the scrolls and materials needed for the Severing Ceremony. Study them well; the ritual requires your complete focus."

"Thank you," I said, taking the wooden box.

As I walked out of the plaza, I heard a few werewolves whispering behind me:

"She actually knows her place..."

"A useless human like her, fit to be our Luna?"

"The Alpha and Joanna are a match made in heaven!"

I quickened my pace, tears finally streaming down my face.

Late that night, I opened the wooden box the Shaman had given me, studying the complex runes and ritual requirements.

"The Severing Ceremony... No, I won't perform the Severing Ceremony," I muttered to myself. "I'll use the Alliance Blessing Ceremony instead."

The Alliance Blessing Ceremony would allow Scott to form a political alliance with Joanna's family even without me as his mate.

He could have everything he wanted, without me needing to be there.

I pulled out the human ID and the long-distance bus ticket from the bottom of my suitcase. I had prepared these ??? thing after my rebirth.

Looking at my exhausted reflection in the mirror, I whispered, "Tomorrow, it will all be over."