Chapter 2

I looked calmly at Killian.

“Killian, Katherine is your brother’s mate. How can you do this to him?”

“Kaden fought for the pack and was ultimately killed by a pack of strays. Every wolf in this territory respects him for his loyalty and bravery.”

“Who dares to mistreat the mate he left behind? Can’t the Alpha of the Greystone Pack even protect his own daughter-in-law?”

“Or is it that since Caden’s death, everyone in your pack has come to look down on her? If I join the Greystone Pack, I will personally ensure she receives the respect she deserves.”

“Besides, when news of Kaden’s death reached the pack, I heard Katherine was so overcome with grief that she fainted on the spot. Everyone praised her loyalty—and how long has it even been?”

“And now you want to marry her? Have you thought about the consequences?”

Killian was blinded by emotion, but the Alpha of the Greystone Pack was not.

So the moment Killian said he was taking Katherine away, he was beaten senseless.

But as soon as he could stand, he crawled to my father’s doorstep.

Killian held Katherine tightly, looked up at me, his voice full of sincerity.

“Elarra, she was meant to be mine. It was the Moon Goddess who made a mistake; that’s why she became my brother’s destined mate.”

“Now, because of this, she can never be anyone else’s partner. I cannot abandon her.”

“In the Greystone Tribe, without a husband to rely on, she’ll be the subject of constant gossip. With her frail body, she simply couldn’t bear it.”

Katherine wiped away her tears.

“Miss Elara, I should die. That would be the easiest solution. But Killian won’t let me; he insists I stay by her side.”

“Fate has been so unfair to both of us. You’re about to marry into the Greystone Tribe. Or could you let me stay by Killian’s side? I swear, I’ll never compete with you for him—you’ll always be his one and only partner.”

“I don’t want anything else. I just want to stay by his side.”

After she spoke, her voice choked up, and her body swayed as if she might collapse at any moment.

Tears fell one by one, each landing with perfect timing.

Their performance of grief was so convincing that the crowd began to whisper, filled with sympathy.

“Poor Katherine. Her husband died right after they were married. He left her with nothing.”

“Couldn’t Elara just let them be together?”

“But if she accepted Katherine’s proposal, who knows who would be in charge of the Greystone Clan in the future? A man blinded by love will always choose the woman he favors, not his destined mate.”

The murmurs grew louder.

My wolf inside me let out a cold laugh.

In my previous life, the scene Killian and Katherine staged right here at this door completely crushed what little dignity I had left.

I had been stubborn back then, refusing to reject him.

Katherine used her death to turn my bonding ceremony into a disaster, giving Killian a reason to remember her forever—and to hate me forever.

In this life, everything starts anew. I will not let them succeed.

“Killian, what are you doing?”

A shrill shout rang out from behind me, and the crowd parted to make way.

It was Luna Victoria of the Greystone Clan.

I’d summoned her before leaving.

She arrived just in time.

She glared at Killian, her eyes brimming with disappointment.

“You are the heir to the Greystone Clan. Your every action reflects on the pack’s honor. Do you have any idea what you’re doing?”

Katherine cowered behind Killian, trembling all over, and called out softly, “Luna.”

Luna slapped Katherine across the face.

“Ever since the day you joined the pack, I’ve treated you like my own daughter. But the moment my Caden died, you turned around and seduced my youngest son. You want to be the heir’s mate? Fuck off.”