I fall in love with my father's friend, an Alpha 20 years my senior.

I'm only eight when I first meet him. It happens at a banquet for the upper echelons of the werewolf pack. My father brings me with him.

Layson Romanov instantly catches my eye. He stands tall at six feet and two inches, and his toned figure shows through his black suit. He exudes a natural dominance.

My father introduces me to him, and he caresses my hair with a smile. Then, he gives me a pink dress adorned with pearls and pink diamonds. "You'll look beautiful when you're old enough to wear this."

Back then, I didn't understand what he meant.

…

Ten years later, I put on that dress and enter his room. He's drugged after falling into someone's trap, and his wolf is out of control. His usually calm eyes are filled with mania.

I know that he'll go insane—even lose his life—if he doesn't have an antidote. So, I give him my pure, untainted body. I become his antidote.

We later marry, and he loves me as my father would've done. However, when I'm four months pregnant, I discover that his personal secretary, Grace Parker, is also pregnant.

"I'm sorry to have put you through this, Grace. Everyone knows I only married Charlotte out of duty. I'll make sure our child is my only heir," he says.

It all makes sense now—no wonder Layson refused to mark me despite us being married. Grace is the one he loves.

I'm heartbroken. I ingest a large amount of wolfsbane, leading to a miscarriage. I ultimately die of blood loss.

Intense regret washes over me as I breathe my last breath.

When I open my eyes again, I find that I've been reborn. I'm taken back to the day Layson is drugged…

Charlotte's POV

"Come here." Layson Romanov's voice was low and firm, leaving no room for refusal.

In the yacht's luxury suite, the air felt stiflingly hot. Layson's loosened collar looked messy. He had left a few buttons of his shirt undone, revealing his firm chest. His usually deep and calm green eyes now burned with scorching desire.

In my previous life, he had tempted me in this same way.

Right now, I simply stood by and watched this man who was normally so noble and untouchable.

I once believed I could become his greatest love. I paid no heed to the fact that he was my father's friend or that he was 20 years older than me, or even the mockery from my family. I flung myself into becoming his so-called "antidote".

I loved him with all my heart, yet all I got in return was a tragic end—I died along with my unborn baby. Even love became a luxury I could no longer afford.

Right before I died, I found out that Layson had secretly been in love with his personal secretary, Grace Parker.

They had long been fond of each other. I was only an intruder who barged into their romance and took Grace's rightful place, becoming a burden to him.

Perhaps the Moon Goddess pitied me, for she granted me a second chance at life.

In this lifetime, there was only one thing I wanted to do, and that was to let them be together.

Without a moment of hesitation, I took out my phone and dialed Grace's number.

Ten minutes later, Grace arrived in a hurry, her gaze filled with wariness.

"Charlotte, what on earth are you playing at? Don't you like His Majesty? Why call me over instead of seizing the opportunity?"

When I heard her say that, I couldn't help but give a bitter laugh.

In my previous life, everyone knew that I clung to Layson. Wherever he went, I would appear at his side.

Back then, I thought he truly loved me. When my father was away at war for five years, Layson would take me to his castle, look after me with care, and grant me anything I desired.

I was naive enough to think that it was only our differences in status and age that separated us. Otherwise, why would a man as reserved as him indulge all my whims?

But reality made it clear that he didn't love me.

So, I merely shook my head. "I don't like him anymore. I'll never like him again. You and he grew up together and have always liked each other. You only lack a chance to be together. Tonight is the perfect moment."

Just then, a muffled sound came from the room, filled with suppressed pain.

"He's about to be overwhelmed by the drug. If you don't go in, he might not make it."

Grace still hesitated.

I simply stepped aside and pushed her into the room. I gave her no chance to back out and shut the door at once.

Not long after, I heard Layson's ragged breathing and Grace's soft moans. Their sounds of passion grew clearer, one after another, like sharp blades slicing into my heart.

So, this was what heartbreak felt like. It felt as though I had been hollowed out. I crumpled to the floor right by the door.

My tears flowed without my control, yet I felt strangely relieved. I had finally broken free from the fate of my previous life.

I ran back to my own room and spent the whole night sleepless.

At dawn, my father, Arthur Winston, called right on time.

"Charlotte, I've already arranged a spot for you in Silvermoon City. That's where all the young elites from every pack gather. Would you like to go?"

Over the past few years, my father had been busy expanding his territory and hadn't been able to take care of me, so he entrusted me to his good friend, Layson, the ruler of the North. I ended up staying under Layson's care for several years.

I used to foolishly believe that his kindness toward me, his protection, and even his occasional stares were some form of special affection. By now, I finally understood that Grace was the true love he had cherished all along.

"Yes, I'm willing to go," I said.

After I spoke, my father seemed momentarily taken aback on the other end of the line, then his tone turned excited.

"My darling, you've finally come round. In Silvermoon City, you can study and explore, and you can even look for a partner. I've already contacted Carlson Bennett from the Blazing Sun pack. He has a strong bloodline and is about your age, and you'll both attend the same academy.

"Charlotte, it's not wrong to want romance. But the right person matters. Give yourself a new chance."

Hearing my father's words made my tears flow again.

In my past life, he had also tried to persuade me, but I wouldn't listen. In the end, I wasted my life away.

I pinched my palm, letting the dull pain of my nails biting into my skin clear my mind.

In this lifetime, I would never let myself remain trapped in Layson's shadow.

"Dad, I'll do whatever you say. I'm going to Silvermoon City. I'll arrange the entry permit later."

Charlotte's POV

I hung up on my father and wiped away the tears from the corners of my eyes. I didn't want to show any sign of weakness.

I disembarked from the yacht early and took a car back to the castle by myself. I packed my papers and wanted to head out right away to arrange my entry documents for Silvermoon City.

"Charlotte, who told you to come back alone? What if you had run into a pack of rogue werewolves? Do you have any idea how long I searched for you? You're getting more disobedient by the day!"

Layson pushed open the door and confronted me. His tall figure towered over me, and the string of love bites on his neck stood out so glaringly.

He still carried Grace's scent on him, which drifted into my nostrils.

Even though I already knew they had been intimate, I still couldn't stop the sorrow from welling up inside me. I avoided meeting his gaze. I pretended not to react, but he knew me too well. Besides, my eyes were a little red.

He instinctively helped me fasten the coat I hadn't put on properly.

Then, he said in a calm tone, "Charlotte, Grace and I are together now. She'll soon be my wife and the queen of this pack. Since you're living here, you need to respect her. So, stop talking nonsense about marrying me, and don't get any foolish ideas."

I lowered my eyes and said calmly, "I understand, Your Majesty."

The air seemed to freeze in an instant.

Layson paused, frowning, his intense gaze locked on my face. He hadn't heard me address him like that in a long time.

When I was a kid and first brought to his castle, I used to sweetly call him "Your Majesty". Later, once I understood the feelings I had for him, I refused to use that title anymore.

Sometimes, I called him "my Alpha Daddy" or "Daddy", and sometimes, I was bold enough to call him directly by name, "Layson".

Those were all ways I used to act spoiled with him. We were closer than most lovers, but everything felt different now.

Layson noticed my unusual attitude. Just as he seemed about to say something, a soft voice sounded from behind him.

"My dear Majesty, I've brought my luggage over. Which room should I stay in"

I looked up and saw Grace walking over. She smiled brightly at Layson.

When he saw her, he pulled her into his arms and said softly, "You like sunlight, and Charlotte's room faces south. It has the best light and is closest to my room as well, so I'll have her move to a guest room on the second floor. You can stay there from now on."

A flicker of satisfaction crossed Grace's eyes, but she spoke with a pretense of hesitation. "How can I accept that? After all, Charlotte has been staying in the castle for several years. Maybe I should stay in the guest room on the second floor instead."

She made it as if she wanted to go downstairs at once, but in the next second, Layson scooped her up in his arms.

"You're going to be the queen of this pack from now on. This is your home. There's no way I'd let you stay in a guest room."

Grace leaned against him, giving me a smug look. "But Charlotte has lived in that room since childhood. Forcing her to move all of a sudden might be unsettling for her."

"Why would it be unsettling? She's only spoiled because of me. She needs to get used to the fact that I'm getting married and that there's a lady in this home now. She has to understand that she's just an outsider."

Yes, he was right. I really was an outsider.

"I understand. I'll pack my things and move out right away."

Before long, I would be leaving this place for good, and I was never coming back.

This castle was Layson and Grace's home now, not mine.

Charlotte's POV

Over the next few days, I went through all the formalities to leave the pack and head for Silvermoon City.

I left early and came back late every day just to avoid running into Layson. No matter how hard I tried, I still witnessed his clear fondness for Grace.

She loved swimming, so he had all the cherry blossom trees we planted together removed to build a private pool for her. When Grace felt unwell, he canceled an important meeting and stayed with her throughout the night. If she casually mentioned liking a piece of jewelry, it would appear on her dressing table the very next day.

All the gentleness, care, and appreciation he once showed me, he now devoted to Grace without holding back.

I no longer clung to him or threw tantrums the way I used to. I quietly watched it all, like an outsider.

While waiting for the paperwork to go through, I began packing my belongings.

First, I organized my luggage. Then, I gathered the sketches I had drawn of Layson, the love letters I had written him, and the albums I had made to confess my feelings. I tore them up and placed them into a large cardboard box, planning to throw them all away.

When I walked out the door with the rubbish in my arms, I happened to run into Layson, who had just returned to the castle. He was carrying a small box of pastries, probably something he had bought for Grace.

I lowered my gaze, pretending I hadn't seen him, and prepared to pass by without looking.

But then, Layson suddenly grabbed hold of my wrist.

He gripped me tightly, his voice low and dangerous. "Charlotte, have you been hiding from me these past few days? Is this your new trick?"

"I have not."

He leaned in closer, studying my evasive expression.

"You're not hiding from me? Then why do you leave early and come back late every day? Why do you turn away the moment you see me and refuse to speak? Aren't you avoiding me?" His voice sounded deep as he stared me down with a powerful sense of oppression. "Why? Just because I'm with Grace now?"

"No, that's not it. Your Majesty, you're with your fated mate. I should be happy for you. I truly wish you both happiness and may the Moon Goddess bless your love forever. And don't worry. I don't like you anymore. I won't call you anything inappropriate ever again."

I spoke in a calm, even cool tone, as if stating a perfectly reasonable fact.

Yet Layson's expression darkened in an instant. "You don't like me? Charlotte, are you trying to get my attention in another way?"

He watched my face as though scrutinizing me. When I tensed up slightly, he sounded even more sure of himself.

"You confessed to me once, and I turned you down. You hovered around me every day, and I ignored you. Now, you've changed tactics and are trying to play hard to get?"

He moved step by step toward me. Then, he spotted the box in my arms and let out a cold laugh.

"You wrote so many letters to me and secretly drew countless portraits of me, and you followed me around for five long years. Now, you say you suddenly don't like me anymore? Charlotte, don't you think that's ridiculous?"

I lifted my head and silently watched the man before me. Yes, it sounded absurd. I had truly loved him, so nobody would believe I no longer cared.

But it was the truth.

"Your Majesty, I loved you for a long time, but you never felt the same. In fact, you even hate me. So, I've already let go."

After I spoke, I moved around him and dumped all the items related to him into the bin.

When I looked up, I saw that Layson's expression had grown colder, his gaze deep and unreadable. While I stood there uncertain, his cold voice suddenly fell on my ears.

"Keep pretending. Charlotte, I watched you grow up. I know exactly what you're thinking. I do spoil you, but we'll never be together!"

I never understood why he couldn't love me. Was it because he was my father's friend? Because he was 20 years older than me? Or were those just flimsy excuses so he could have both of us at once?