I was seven months pregnant with our pup, yet I was about to die on the sacrificial altar of my Alpha mate, Caleb.

He believed a vile lie—that the heart's blood of my premature pup could "purify" the bloodline of his adoptive sister, Lorelei. He conspired with the pack's shaman, using dark magic to rip the life from my child. On that ancient altar, as the silver ritual dagger plunged into my belly, I felt the life drain from the pup in my womb. And he? He turned to comfort a crying Lorelei, abandoning our child to die.

Then, my pack members told me coldly, "You owe this to Lorelei. It's time to repay her."

My Alpha said, "We can have another child. Is one pup's life more important than Lorelei's bloodline?"

Overwhelming rage and grief caused me to bleed to death as our mate bond shattered in excruciating pain. My soul floated above, watching them perform the blood sacrifice for Lorelei. They didn't even grant me the final rites of a wolf.

No one mourned me. No one went mad from my death.

They unceremoniously shoved my lifeless body into the morgue and celebrated Lorelei's "recovery."

When I opened my eyes again, I was back. Three months earlier, on the very day the entire pack had forced me to agree to sever our mate bond.

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1

I sat in the grand hall of the pack house, the once-familiar faces now just a blur. Lost in memory, I could almost smell the metallic tang of silver and blood clinging to the stone carvings overhead.

"Aurora, please... just agree to sever the mate bond," the pack's Luna, Caleb's mother, pleaded, her eyes brimming with tears. "It's Lorelei's only hope for survival!"

She sat across from me, clutching Lorelei's hand, gazing at me as if I were a selfish, heartless sinner.

Caleb's father, the former Alpha, stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, his face a cold, hard mask.

"Your selfishness is making Lorelei's condition worse. You owe her this," he said, his voice sharp. "She'll be lucky to make it to the next full moon. Can't you find it in your heart to give her a chance?"

I placed a hand on my burgeoning belly and glanced at Caleb, who sat opposite me. "And you? Are you willing to abandon me and our pup for her?"

He pinched the bridge of his nose, frustration etched onto his face. "Aurora, Lorelei is dying. I grew up with her. I have to protect her. Our lives were fine before you showed up—"

"Stop pressuring Aurora!" Lorelei interrupted, her voice trembling. "I know I'm not worthy of the Alpha's favor. Compared to Aurora, I'm nothing..."

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she collapsed into his arms, and he instinctively wrapped his arms around her.

"Even though the Vance family raised me and I grew up with Caleb, I'm still just an outsider in the end—"

"Lorelei, don't say that!" the Luna cried. "You will always be our daughter."

She wiped away Lorelei's tears, her heart aching. But when she turned back to me, the tenderness in her eyes had curdled into fury. "You're the outsider here, Aurora! How can you deny Lorelei her only chance to live? You're a heartless bitch!"

"This is for Lorelei," the former Alpha warned. "Don't be so selfish."

"Lorelei, trust me. I'll stabilize your condition," Caleb whispered to her, then glared at me. "Aurora, I thought you were better than this. It's a temporary separation, just to keep her stable. Are you really going to let her die?"

I stared at the decree of severance, my hands trembling. In my past life, and now in this one, they always chose Lorelei. A botched bloodline test at birth had us switched. I'd only been brought back to the Vance Pack last year.

At first, I thought I had finally found a home, a pack to call my own. But from the moment I returned, I was an outcast. My pack resented me for taking Lorelei's Alpha, for stealing the position they believed was rightfully hers.

And for what? They were the ones who scoured the globe to find me. Caleb was the one fated to be my mate.

In my past life, I tried to hold on, fighting with everything I had. But I still lost. I died. Even my pup was just a pawn in their twisted game.

I remembered begging them before that ancient altar, pleading for my child's life. But they still shoved me onto it.

A sharp pain lanced through my chest at the memory. Since they never wanted me, I would grant their wish.

"Fine. I agree to sever the mate bond."

Everyone stared, stunned. They hadn't expected me, so stubborn just moments ago, to agree so quickly.

I remembered how in my past life, Caleb and Lorelei had planned a lavish blessing banquet. They had invited Alphas from other packs, all while I was to be tucked away in a corner to witness it. I had thought about protesting then, but the memory of their joyous smiles broke my heart all over again. Everyone was celebrating—except me.

This time, I knew what severing the bond would bring. Why cling to something so pointless?

"Aurora..." Caleb hesitated, his eyes on me. "Are you sure?"

I snatched the ceremonial knife and, without a second thought, pricked my fingertip, pressing a bloody seal onto the decree. The crimson stain bled across the parchment like a fresh wound, severing the sacred bond between us.

I let out a soft, bitter laugh. "Yes. Since you all feel I've taken something that wasn't mine, I'm giving it back. I know how much you all cherish Lorelei."

After everything, I finally understood. Blood ties meant nothing. The scales always tipped in Lorelei's favor, even though she was the impostor who had stolen my life.

The former Alpha and the Luna exchanged a startled look, a flicker of hesitation in their eyes.

Guilt flashed across Caleb's face. But before he could speak, Lorelei stepped forward.

"Aurora," she whimpered, hiding behind him. "I'm so sorry..."

Seeing her cough, Caleb immediately pulled her into his arms to comfort her. I just turned and left.

At the blessing banquet they held for Lorelei, I was granted the privilege of watching the grand celebration—a small reward for my cooperation.

Light danced on the pristine marble floors as pack members moved deftly, arranging every detail with practiced precision.

Overhead, massive crystal chandeliers cast a warm glow, while florists placed arrangements of moonflowers and silver-leafed anemones—each an exquisite symbol of blessing for the chosen mates.

Caleb stood before me, dressed in a white formal suit. The hand that once bore our mate mark was now bare, soon to receive a new one.

Conflict warred across his features. "Aurora, you have to understand. Lorelei... she's my childhood friend. She's dying. I can't say no. Once she's stable, I swear, I'll give you an even grander bonding ceremony."

His gaze softened with a fabricated sorrow. "I still love you."

Love? I had foolishly believed him once, convinced myself he must have had his reasons.

The light in his eyes when we first met had seemed so genuine. We were happy after we bonded. When he sensed my pregnancy through our mate bond, he'd actually wept with joy.

But then I remembered how he sacrificed my pup for Lorelei in my past life. Now, I couldn't bring myself to believe a single one of his lies.

I steadied my voice and met his gaze. "We have already severed the mate bond. Save those words for your new mate."

He froze, but I continued with a cold smile, "Congratulations, my dear former Alpha."

Without another glance at his furrowed brow or clenched jaw, I turned and strode away.

After leaving the banquet, my mind was made up. This time, I would survive, and so would my pup.

I didn't return to my rooms in the pack's core territory. I went straight to the station.

In my previous life, staying had led to a dead end. This time, I had to leave before they could harm my child. They were ruthless, and I had nothing left to lose.

But I had underestimated Caleb.

The moment he discovered I was gone, he ordered the pack to seal all territorial exits. My scent was tracked, and every bus ticket and train reservation I'd booked was canceled.

I was a bird in a gilded cage, and the walls were closing in.

In the end, I had no choice but to hide in a small human motel on the edge of the territory. The landlady, seeing my pregnant belly, took pity on me and charged half the rent. But I knew the peace wouldn't last.

Sure enough, two days later, Caleb appeared at my door.

"Aurora, what are you doing in a place like this?" he asked, standing in the doorway with a gentle expression. His impeccably tailored suit was jarringly out of place in the run-down motel.

I looked at him coldly. "Is there something you need, Mr. Vance?"

"What are you talking about, Aurora? We were all worried sick about you."

A hint of sadness flickered in his eyes. "I want to take you home. Let's be a pack again."

My heart skipped a beat.

A pack? Had my compliance in this life finally changed something?

But his next words plunged me back into the abyss.

"Actually..." A flicker of unease crossed his face. "It's about Lorelei. Our shaman... he found an ancient ritual. He says the heart's blood of a powerful unborn pup could cure her."