My mate, Alpha Declan, brought his pregnant childhood sweetheart, Cassia, back to the Pack's manor, and I didn't stop him.

Because I was reborn.

In my last life, I tried to stop them, causing Cassia to have a miscarriage. For that, Declan hated me to his very core.

He even planned to be with Cassia after the agony of our severed mate bond killed me.

Since the Moon Goddess has given me a second chance, this time, I've decided to let him have his way.

I will sever our mate bond with my own hands, create opportunities for them to be alone, and then quietly withdraw.

I gave them everything they wanted.

But why, after I finally walked away, did Declan hunt for me across the globe like a man possessed, begging me to return?

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1

The moment I stood in the foyer and saw my mate, Declan Rathborne, the Alpha of the Sterling Ridge Pack, stride in with that she-wolf, I knew I had been reborn.

"Anya, this is Cassia Lockwood," he said, his tone deceptively casual as he unfastened his cloak.

"A friend I grew up with. Her Pack was slaughtered by rogues, her parents are gone, and she's pregnant with a pup. She's all alone now."

His gaze swept over me, tinged with a warning. "She'll be living with us from now on. As the future Luna, you'll take good care of her."

Cassia glanced at me cautiously. "Hi, Anya."

"I hope I'm not intruding…"

My eyes fell to her neck. There, hanging on a chain, was a moonstone pendant glowing with a soft blue light.

It was the Pack's heirloom, passed down through generations—an honor reserved for the future Luna.

Now, it hung around her neck.

In my past life, the sight of that heirloom—which should have been mine—hanging on Cassia's neck had ignited a furious jealousy within me. I thought she was here to steal Declan from me.

The next morning, I offered her a sum of money and told her to leave. I said it wasn't right for her to stay here while pregnant with a pup.

I never imagined she would panic on the road that day and suffer a miscarriage.

She lost the pup, and the accident left her unable to ever conceive again.

After that, Declan lost his mind.

His eyes turned bone-chillingly cold. "Anya Dawnstrider, I've had enough. I can't believe you'd actually drive away a pregnant she-wolf."

He never smiled at me again. Not once.

From then on, I took care of Cassia every single day.

I cooked for her, cleaned for her, and handled everything.

I lived on eggshells, hoping Declan would eventually forgive me.

But the pressure and the weakening of my inner wolf finally broke me. I fell gravely ill as my inner wolf weakened. I thought that might finally soften his hardened heart.

But all he said was, "When you die, I'll be with Cassia. I'll take care of her. I'll help her move on from the pain of losing her pup."

Since the Moon Goddess had given me a second chance, I was determined to let them have each other.

So when Declan once again said Cassia would be living with us, I just listened calmly.

Declan seemed to be waiting for me to explode. When I said nothing, he frowned, a flicker of impatience in his eyes.

"Cassia's pregnancy is unstable because of the shock she went through. This moonstone has a calming effect on the spirit. I'm just letting her borrow it for a few days," he explained, a hint of guilt in his tone he failed to hide.

"It's fine," I cut him off, my voice as calm as still water. "If it has a calming effect, then just give it to her. The pup is innocent, after all."

My swift agreement caught him completely off guard.

Declan froze. Cassia froze too, a flash of astonishment in her eyes.

He had been pestering me about it for days, and I had refused him every time.

"You're not angry?" he asked.

I gave him a faint smile. "You're right. She's a poor thing who has lost her parents and is carrying a pup. We have a duty to protect the weak. Why would I be angry?"

Declan stared at me, his eyes fixed on my face. "You really don't care?"

Of course, he didn't believe me. He stared hard, as if searching for any trace of jealousy on my face. But he found none.

Everyone knew how deeply I once loved him.

Back then, I would flash my claws if another she-wolf so much as glanced at him. He was mine.

Now? I simply held out a parchment scroll I had disguised as a property transfer, folded to show only the signature line.

"I've taken a liking to a manor. I'd like to transfer it to my name as a place to recuperate. You know how busy Pack affairs have been lately. I need a little space."

He paused, then let out a self-satisfied chuckle.

"That's it? No other conditions?"

He signed it without a second glance or a shred of suspicion, using his Alpha's seal.

The moment that golden seal was imprinted, my wolf howled within me.

Freedom.

It was an application to sever our mate bond.

In seven days, when the red moon rose, the sacred mate bond between Declan Rathborne and me would be severed completely.

I stuffed it into my bag and walked out without looking back.

Declan blocked my path, frowning. "Where are you going? Didn't you say you weren't angry? Are you leaving?"

I looked him straight in the eye. "Didn't you ask me to take care of Cassia? I'm going to get her some supplies for her pregnancy."

His expression softened, and a flicker of guilt even appeared in his eyes. "Thank you, Anya. She likes sunlight rose-scented aromatherapy, and her pajamas must be pure silk. Also, she only drinks tea brewed with morning dew. Don't get it wrong."

A sharp pain lanced through my chest.

He remembered everything about her. Every scent, every habit. We had been together for three years, yet he had never bothered to learn these things about me, his own mate.

Yes. He really did care for her.

I nodded. "I'll remember."

I smiled and turned to leave.

Seven days.

In seven days, he would be nothing to me.

For the next few days, I played the part of the perfect hostess.

I mobilized the Pack's best resources to redecorate the guest room according to Cassia's picky tastes.

When I returned to the guest room with the latest style of silk pajamas, I saw Declan was there.

He was using his powerful Alpha energy to meticulously adjust the atmosphere in the room, all to soothe the pregnant she-wolf.

Cassia sat on the bed, looking up at him with a wide smile, then reached out and used her sleeve to wipe the beads of sweat from his forehead.

"Declan, you're so good to me… If only my future mate were half as gentle as you."

Declan didn't pull away. He just sighed, letting her touch him. "Don't worry about that. I'll take care of you both."

I stood in the shadows of the hallway, my composure unshaken as I watched the scene unfold.

In my past life, I would have stormed in and confronted him.

Now, I just tapped on the doorframe.

"Excuse the interruption."

Declan jumped back a step, looking at me with a hint of embarrassment, like a child caught doing something wrong.

"Anya, Cassia is very sensitive to energy fluctuations. Others can't adjust it properly, so I had to help. Don't get the wrong idea."

My chest tightened.

Ever since the mate bond locked us together, I had handled everything. The housework. The Pack's general affairs. I even laid out his clothes every night.

And now he was personally adjusting the energy flow for her.

I gave a small nod, my voice soft. "Of course. She's carrying a pup and needs her rest."

His shoulders relaxed. He leaned in and kissed my forehead. "You've changed. When did you become so… understanding?"

I cut him off, placing the silk pajamas on the table. "If there's nothing else, I'll be heading back."

Then he added, as if he had just remembered.

"Oh, Cassia's birthday is in a few days. Her parents just passed away, and I want to throw a small celebration for her at the manor to cheer her up."

He let out a soft sigh.

I told myself not to care. Not to compare anymore. But it really hurt.

My birthday was around the same time. In the past, Declan would clear his schedule a month in advance, personally pick out my gift, and throw a lavish party.

And this year? He forgot.

Despite it all, I still nodded. "That's a good idea. I'll make the arrangements and ensure it's to her liking."

Declan paused, a flicker of confusion in his eyes.

We used to fight constantly over Cassia. Now I was planning her birthday? This change was unsettling to him, but he couldn't put his finger on what was wrong.

He opened his mouth, then just nodded. "Arrange it however you see fit. She's quite far along in her pregnancy, so don't make it too complicated."

I swallowed the bitterness. "Alright."

His gaze softened. He seemed to want to follow me back to our room, but I gently held up a hand to stop him.

"Go and keep Cassia company. Unpacking must be exhausting for a she-wolf so far along in her pregnancy."

Declan frowned. "You really don't mind me being alone with her?"

I used to bristle at any she-wolf who got close to him.

Now, I just shook my head. "Of course not. She's my Pack sister now. It's only right that you take care of her."

This time, I wouldn't stand in their way. Not even once.

His expression warmed. "You've finally matured."

"Cassia has been through a lot. We need to protect her."

"Don't go back to being that jealous person."

No. The jealousy was gone.

I would personally hand Declan over to her—beautifully wrapped—so they could live the life they wanted.

For the next two days, I threw myself into planning her birthday. I was in charge of every detail.

Expensive decorations, bards, even the moon orchids were picked fresh from Moon Goddess Peak and delivered. No expense was spared. The manor was transformed, looking like a scene pulled from a legend.

On the night of the birthday party, the Pack manor was ablaze with lights.

All the Pack's high-ranking members and our nearby allies came. They looked at the lavish decorations and praised my generosity.

The guests poured in, their eyes wide with wonder.

They couldn't understand why I would go to such lengths for a she-wolf from a fallen pack, let alone call her my Pack sister.

I smiled, pretending not to hear the whispers, and then gave Declan a gentle nudge.

"Let Cassia have the first dance. Tonight is her night."

When it was time for gifts, Declan made an announcement that sent a shockwave through the room.

Declan walked onto the stage and publicly announced that he was granting Cassia the right to use the Rathborne family's ancestral Moonlight Hot Springs.

It wasn't just a hot spring. It was the most spiritually potent sacred site in the Sterling Ridge Pack. The very source that had made the Rathborne family renowned.

The entire hall erupted in murmurs. Everyone turned to look at me, their eyes filled with pity and curiosity.

Cassia covered her mouth, her eyes welling with tears. "Declan, this is too precious… Anya will be angry."

"You deserve it," Declan said firmly, not even looking at me. "You need to heal."

Then it was my turn.

I walked forward, holding an exquisite velvet gift box.

"Happy birthday, Cassia."

Inside was a calming bracelet I had commissioned. The materials were rare and the craftsmanship was delicate. Nothing too special, but it was an appropriate, if simple, gift.

At least, that's what I thought.

Cassia took the box, a vicious glint in her eyes. In front of everyone, she eagerly lifted the lid.

"Ah—!"

A blood-curdling scream tore through the ballroom.

A Silver Moon Snake, its fangs coated in wolfsbane, shot out from the box, hissing as it lunged.

She shrieked, stumbling backward, and fell right into Declan's arms.

With lightning speed, Declan struck, sending the snake flying.

Cassia clutched her stomach, her face contorted in fear.

"Anya, why would you do this to me…"

"Anya!" Declan roared, scooping her into his arms, his eyes as cold as frost.

"And I actually thought you had changed."

"I never imagined you could be so vicious! To plot against a pregnant she-wolf in front of everyone."

His voice dropped, laced with killing intent.

No, he had it all wrong. The box was supposed to contain a bracelet. Not a snake.

I opened my mouth to explain, but a sharp, searing pain shot through my hand.

The snake, though knocked away, wasn't dead. It had crawled back and sunk its wolfsbane-laced fangs deep into my palm.

"No… it wasn't me…" I argued weakly, feeling the poison coursing through my blood toward my heart.

"Shut up!" Declan cut me off, his gaze like ice. "If anything happens to Cassia or the pup, I will never forgive you."