My son was kidnapped by a pack of rogue wolves.

Two days later, the patrol team found his body.

His limbs were broken, his entire body covered in bruises, not a single patch of fur left unmarked. I held his lifeless form and howled in anguish.

My mate Damien, Alpha of the Stormfang Pack, swore the killers would pay.

All evidence pointed to Sera, Damien's nominal Omega assistant, but in reality his mistress.

As the pack's Luna, I publicly revealed the investigation results and evidence before all pack members.

Under pressure from the pack, my mate was forced to execute his Omega assistant.

A year later, I became pregnant again. But during my tenth anniversary Luna ceremony, my mate locked me in a burning chamber as punishment.

That's when I learned the truth—he hated me for forcing him to kill his Omega assistant. He wanted me dead for revenge.

In the flames, I felt the child in my womb slip away, and my own strength began to fail.

After my rebirth, I still couldn't change my son's tragic fate.

But when I chose to abandon my role as Stormfang Pack's Luna, the entire pack fell to their knees, begging me not to leave.

In my previous life, my pup was killed by my Alpha mate Damien’s Omega assistant——actually his mistress. For revenge, I forced him to execute his Omega assistant.

A year later, I became pregnant again. But during my tenth anniversary Luna ceremony, my mate locked me in a burning chamber as punishment.

That's when I learned the truth—he hated me for forcing him to kill his Omega assistant. He wanted me dead for revenge.

My baby and I were burned alive. When I opened my eyes again, I went back to two days before my son died.

After my rebirth, the first thing I did was dispatch my most trusted Gamma guard unit. I ordered them to protect my son Ethan around the clock in rotating shifts.

I hoped this would avoid the dangers from my past life and change my son's tragic ending.

But two days later, the patrol team still brought back my son's body.

Ethan lay ice-cold in my arms.

His limbs were twisted at unnatural angles, clearly broken by brutal force. His small body was covered with massive bruises, barely an inch of healthy fur remaining. I didn't know how to react anymore. The overwhelming grief and ice-cold rage nearly froze me solid. The pain I'd already endured in my past life was playing out again.

After the patrol team left, my Alpha mate Damien called.

I answered the phone. Before I could speak, his voice came through.

"A few days ago, Sera was frightened by two rogue wolves in the forest and couldn't sleep all night. I temporarily reassigned your and Ethan's Gamma guards to protect her instead. You and your son have always been in the core area's safe house—it's impenetrable, there wouldn't be any danger. From now on, let them stay close to protect Sera."

I finally understood why Ethan died again in this life. The Gamma guards who should have been protecting him around the clock were all reassigned at the crucial moment. Only Damien, as Alpha, had the authority to do this.

To protect his Omega assistant, he withdrew Ethan's guards, letting my five-year-old son die brutally.

I remembered my past life—during my tenth anniversary Luna ceremony, he stood beside me as I endured the fire trial, watching coldly, even severing our bond in front of everyone. I could almost feel again the agony of having our mate bond broken.

And this time, he personally reassigned Ethan's guards, causing my son's death.

I couldn't help but roar into the phone.

"How could you withdraw Ethan's Gamma guards? He's only five years old! You pulled away his protection, and the rogue wolves found him! Your decision killed him!"

My words left Damien speechless.

But moments later, he laughed mockingly.

"Don't be ridiculous. Ethan's always been in the core area—how could he possibly be in danger? How could he be dead?"

Then Sera's voice came through the phone.

"Alpha, is the Luna jealous because you've been staying by my side these past few days? Is she lying about Ethan being harmed to get your attention? After all, the pack territory hasn't received any alerts about rogue wolf invasions."

"I told you we shouldn't have reassigned all the Gamma guards. I'm only slightly injured it doesn't matter. "

Hearing Sera's words made me sick.

She always liked to retreat to advance, playing the victim.

Making Damien exhaust himself tormenting me and my son for her sake.

Damien comforted her gently.

"It's fine. You're my assistant, accompanying me on border patrols. Now that you're injured, it's only right that I assign people to guard your safety."

Damien had never spoken to me with such tender care.

He was even harsher with our son.

On the other end, Sera sounded delighted.

Soon I heard intimate kissing sounds through the receiver.

After a while, Damien spoke into the phone again, continuing to berate me.

"You're completely unreasonable! For your pathetic jealousy, you could sink this low? Using our son's 'death' to get my attention? I never thought that as Luna, you'd be so narrow-minded and use such despicable methods! You've disappointed me completely! Not only are you negligent in your duties, now you're going insane!"

"And Ethan—you've raised him to be weak and incompetent, nothing like an Alpha heir should be!"

"Sera needs rest. I don't have time for your tantrums! When I finish handling things here, I'll put Ethan under Sera's care. You should reflect on yourself properly."

Without waiting for my response, Damien hung up.

He always belittled my Ethan, even though Ethan was so outstanding. Though only five years old, he already showed maturity beyond his years. Every day he strictly demanded himself to complete combat training, tracking skills, and academic studies, even when those courses far exceeded what someone his age should handle. Yet he never complained.

But Damien was always blind to Ethan's efforts, often publicly degrading him as unworthy of being an Alpha heir.

When I cried from Damien's neglect, Ethan would stay by my side, wiping away my tears.

The phrase Ethan said most often was that he wanted to grow up quickly so he could protect Mommy properly.

But this sweet, understanding child had left me again.

My heart turned to ash. I pulled out my phone and made a call.

" I don't want to be Stormfang Pack's Luna anymore. I want to be Alpha." I would avenge Ethan.

After I cremated my son's body, the Stormfang Pack elders and Damien's parents finally arrived in haste.

Marcus and Helena saw their grandson, who had been running around so lively just days ago, now contained in a small square box. Their grief was overwhelming.

I clutched the box tightly with bloodshot eyes and bowed deeply to Marcus and Helena.

"Former Alpha and former Luna, thank you for your care over all these years."

Seeing me perform such a formal ceremony, Marcus and Helena tried to stop me.

But I insisted on completing the entire ritual. Then I raised my head, my voice ice-cold and clear:

"This bow is for both little Ethan and myself. From today forward, I have no connection with the Stormfang Pack or the Blackwood family."

Marcus and Helena knew me well. They understood this decision was irreversible.

Marcus clutched his chest while Helena beat her breast in anguish.

"What sin have we committed? My dear grandson, the Stormfang Pack's only heir, killed by my own son's actions."

"Roxanne, we've failed you, failed little Ethan, and failed your parents."

When my parents died in the territory wars years ago, they entrusted me to their closest friends—Marcus, who was Stormfang Pack's Alpha at the time.

Marcus and Helena raised me as their own daughter. Damien and I grew up together. They knew Damien wasn't mature or steady enough, so they hoped I would stay by his side to help him manage the pack.

Out of gratitude for their kindness and our childhood bond, I agreed to become Damien's mate and serve as Stormfang Pack's Luna in managing pack affairs.

Through my six years of effort, Stormfang Pack finally transformed from an unknown small pack into one of the top 10 powerful packs in the northern territories.

As for Damien—his affair with Sera, his neglect of little Ethan—I endured everything, hoping to preserve our family, hoping time and responsibility would change him.

But it was all wishful thinking. All these years, my efforts meant nothing.

Marcus still wanted to convince me to stay, his voice filled with pain and authority: "Roxanne, you must stay! I'll personally drag Damien back! I'll give you and little Ethan justice! He must pay for his stupidity!"

I shook my head gently, holding little Ethan's urn as I turned to leave.

They didn't need to give me justice.

I wasn't the one who died—Ethan was.

But Ethan was already gone. No amount of justice could change that.

When I returned home, I had just placed little Ethan's urn on a temporary shelf covered with dark velvet cloth. Beside it, I arranged a few of Ethan's belongings: his favorite little jacket, a worn leather ball, and several drawings he'd made.

That's when Damien came home.

Before I could speak, he stormed toward me, radiating fury. With a violent sweep of his hand, he knocked the folded jacket and drawings to the floor. He kicked the ball, sending it rolling into the corner.

"What the hell do you think you are, running to complain to my parents and the elders?"

"I just assigned a few extra Gamma guards to protect Sera, and you made up lies about Ethan dying to gain sympathy?!"

I stared at him coldly, watching his familiar rage on Sera's behalf, watching him trample the few remaining things of little Ethan. My heart felt nothing but icy regret—regret that even with a second chance at life, I still trusted him and failed to protect my little Ethan.

Seeing my prolonged silence, Damien assumed I was admitting to my "false accusations." His fury intensified as he pointed at my nose.

"Remember your place!" he roared. "I am your Alpha! You need to understand your duties as Luna. You have no right to question me, and certainly no right to use such despicable tactics!"

He stepped closer, his eyes filled with disgust: "Even little Ethan... was nothing but a product of that mistake! You used that accident to secure your position as Luna! You need to understand that!"

He was referring to years ago, after a pack celebration when he lost control while drunk, forcibly marking and claiming me, resulting in my pregnancy with little Ethan. Afterward, he denied all responsibility, even implying that I had deliberately seduced him or exploited that incident to solidify my position in the pack. No matter how I explained his forceful behavior that night, he never showed love for little Ethan.

My entire first half of life was bound by identities and responsibilities—"the Blackwood family's adopted daughter," "Stormfang Pack's Luna," "Damien's mate"—while carrying the humiliation from that forced encounter and Damien's accusations.

Now, with this second chance, though I couldn't save little Ethan's life, I decided to leave this place and find freedom.

I no longer looked at Damien. I silently crouched down, carefully picking up the little jacket and drawings from the floor, dusting them off, and placing them back beside the shelf.

Seeing me completely ignore his rage and focus only on those "insignificant" items, Damien felt surprised and irritated. His violent aura subsided slightly, thinking perhaps his words had been too harsh.

So he rarely tried to ease the tension.

"Alright, I know you're worried about Ethan's safety. But Sera is also an important pack member. I just borrowed Ethan's Gamma guards for a few days. I'll reassign protection for you and Ethan afterward."

"Actually, you have feelings for Ethan too, right? You wouldn't want Ethan to die either." I suddenly turned to look at Damien. He didn't know that across two lifetimes, little Ethan had already died twice.

My tone was firm, leaving no room for Damien's hesitation.

But he thought I was being difficult.

"Are you out of your mind? Why do you keep insisting Ethan is dead? I told you I won't believe such tricks."

With that, he yanked off my Luna ring.

"Sera's injury won't heal. This ring has the finest healing gemstone embedded in it. I'm taking it for Sera to use."

I stared at him in shock.

Damien guiltily looked away.

"It's just temporary. Don't act so materialistic. Next week at the auction, when I... buy her something better, I'll return this to you." He even added, "Don't worry, she doesn't like used things. Don't be petty about it."

He acted as if it was perfectly reasonable, as if that wasn't our mating ring, didn't represent my Luna status.

Before I could respond, his gaze fell on the dark velvet cloth and the simple, cold urn sitting on it. Beside it lay the little jacket and drawings he had just scattered.

Damien's brow furrowed deeply, his face showing genuine confusion and barely perceptible unease for the first time.

"What is this?"

Little Ethan finally had his Alpha father's attention.

But only after death.

I choked back a sob and slowly answered him.

"It's little Ethan's—"

My words were cut off by Damien's phone ringing. I saw the caller ID displayed "Sera." He glanced at it and hurriedly rushed away.

I watched his retreating figure, not hesitating for even a second, and continued speaking to the empty room: "Ashes."

Damien had left too quickly to hear.

I didn't want to deal with more lies and pretense. I especially didn't want to watch him put on a fake performance in front of little Ethan's urn.

Though maybe that was just my imagination.

More likely, tomorrow he'd just frown coldly, say "useless," and forget completely.

I submitted my mate bond dissolution request to the Alpha Council. Taking only little Ethan's urn and my pathetically few personal belongings, I went to Stormfang Pack's core council hall to find the elder responsible for pack affairs.

"I want to return to Silvermane Pack. I'm here today to hand over my duties." I placed a simple written statement before the elder, my voice calm and emotionless.

The elder looked shocked and troubled: "Luna, this... this requires the Alpha's consent and a council decision... and about little Ethan..."

"Little Ethan is dead." I interrupted him, my gaze unwavering. "My statement is here. Handle the subsequent procedures according to pack law. From this moment, I am no longer Stormfang Pack's Luna."

I turned to leave, but my former deputy, a loyal Gamma warrior named Ryan, blocked my path. His face showed anger and confusion.

"Luna... no, Roxanne," he lowered his voice, full of indignation, "You're leaving because the Alpha gave 'Silver Moon Hunting Grounds' management to Sera, aren't you? That territory you spent three years fighting Shadow Claw Pack to secure for us! Why should that Omega who only follows the Alpha around take over? What does she know about hunting management?!"

I was slightly stunned. "What did you say? Sera took over Silver Moon Hunting Grounds?"

I was genuinely bewildered. Though I knew Damien favored Sera, handing over such important strategic resources and hunting territory—an area requiring rich experience and combat instincts to manage—to an Omega assistant with no fighting ability still exceeded my expectations.

Ryan grew more furious: "It happened this morning! The Alpha gave the order directly! That woman came in acting all high and mighty, giving random commands, completely disrupting the hunting team's original deployment! The brothers are furious! She's completely unqualified!"

Just as he finished speaking, Sera's voice came from the council hall's side door, deliberately pitched high: "Ryan! What are you doing here, slacking off and gossiping? Why hasn't the eastern patrol route of Silver Moon Hunting Grounds been modified according to my instructions? Can you handle the consequences if important matters are delayed?"

Ryan glared angrily: "Sera! Your patrol routes are completely unsuitable! Do you even understand—"

Sera scoffed, crossing her arms as she walked over. Her gaze swept contemptuously over Ryan before landing on me, her smugness barely contained though she tried to restrain it. She was a "manager" now.

"Silver Moon Hunting Grounds is now under my complete authority, personally appointed by the Alpha. If I say the routes need changing, they must be changed! If you don't follow my requirements, it proves the hunting team is negligent!"

She paused, turning her attack directly on me. "Of course, Ryan was trained by you personally. If he's incompetent, shouldn't you, as Luna, discipline him properly? After all, subordinate incompetence reflects poorly on the superior, don't you agree?"

Her words were barbed, directing the blame toward me.

The pack members gathering around murmured in displeasure, angry at Sera's arrogance and disrespect toward me.

Damien walked in just then, obviously having heard the commotion. His brow was furrowed, radiating Alpha authority.

Sera immediately changed her expression, putting on a wronged yet understanding look as she quickly moved to Damien's side: "Alpha, please don't be angry. I was just urging Ryan to complete his work on time, since Silver Moon Hunting Grounds is so important. But maybe... maybe my approach made Luna and Ryan misunderstand, thinking I was making things difficult... I really just want to do the job you gave me well..." She even lowered her head slightly.

Damien's sharp gaze swept over Ryan and me before obviously softening when it landed on Sera. Then he looked at me, his tone turning icy with reproach: "What are you causing trouble about here again? Didn't I tell you to reflect at home? Sera has taken over your work, so go back. Don't interfere with Sera managing her new responsibilities."

I quietly watched them, watching Sera's performance and Damien's undisguised favoritism.

Ryan couldn't help but speak up: "Alpha! It's Sera who's being unreasonable, insisting on changing—"

"Shut up!" Damien harshly interrupted Ryan, his powerful Alpha aura making Ryan's face go white instantly, the rest of his words stuck in his throat. Damien's gaze locked on me again. "Roxanne, control yourself! And control your former subordinates! Sera managing Silver Moon Hunting Grounds is my decision. She's careful, responsible, more suitable for coordinating resources than some people who only understand brute force! If you have objections, I'll have no choice but to strip your Luna authority over pack affairs!"

The surrounding pack members fell more silent, but dissatisfaction hung thick in the air.

Behind Damien, Sera gave me an extremely subtle but malicious smile.

Seeing my silence, Damien assumed I was admitting guilt and became even more forceful: "Since you're here, perfect timing. Ryan disrespected the new manager—according to pack rules, he should be punished. Considering his past service, he'll clean the western beast pens for one month!"

He paused, his gaze cutting into me like a blade. "And you, as his former direct superior, failed to teach properly and allowed your subordinate to be offensive! I order you—now, immediately, publicly apologize to Sera! For your and your people's rudeness!"