Chapter 2

Serafina reached out. She pressed her palm to my forehead.

My skin burned. It wasn’t a fake fever.

“Alright.”

“I’ll stay here. Let me fetch the Pack healer.”

My chest tightened.

“Are you... skipping your meeting with him?”

She let out a soft sigh.

“I can’t go alone. Not without you.”

Exactly.

Serafina guarded her reputation above all else. She would never risk meeting the Future Alpha alone.

I rolled over and closed my eyes. From this day on, whatever was between her and Aidan had nothing to do with me.

My sickness dragged on for days.

Spring rain fell relentlessly outside.

Serafina lost her excuse to leave the estate. She sat on the porch, polishing her hunting bow and plucking the string in irritation.

Mother guessed as much.

She assumed Serafina caught a different sickness. Mating fever.

“Do you know who your sister fancies?”

Mother trimmed moonflowers by the hearth with a silver dagger. She watched me through the rising smoke.

Nothing slipped past her.

But I lied anyway.

“I have no idea.”

Mother smiled faintly.

“I heard the Future Alpha chose his Mate. He meets her in secret. He covers his tracks well. Queen Luna sent trackers, but they found nothing.”

“Why hide?” She sighed. “Her rank matches his. If she holds his favor, a Mating Ceremony is certain. I’m getting old. I’ll never understand young females.”

I bit my lip.

I didn’t know either.

Serafina was always proud and reserved. What she had with Aidan felt more like politics than romance.

They discussed the Pack’s future. They drew territorial borders.

Aidan occasionally mentioned me and joked that I was a restless wildcat.

Serafina never mentioned a Mating Ceremony.

But the day I was forced to mate with Aidan changed everything.

She wept openly. She glared at him with pure hatred.

“You actually chose her.”

“Ayla is my precious sister. You better treat her right.”

Aidan couldn’t look at her. He stared at me through the ceremonial veil.

He muttered a low, “I will.”

She really was heartbroken that day.

Mother kept talking.

“The Future Alpha needs an official Mate. Queen Luna decided to grant his wish. She will expose his lover at the Full Moon Assembly. She will announce their mating.”

In my past life, the Queen caught me before this assembly ever happened.

But she never knew she caught the wrong girl.

That single mistake ruined everything.

Serafina died mateless. Aidan broke my spirit for good.

Mother studied my face.

“I thought it would do you good to socialize. But since your sister’s heart is taken, I will decline the invitation for her.”

She turned to leave.

I chased after her. I spoke fast.

“Don’t decline it for her.”

She looked back, and understanding flashed across her face.

I took a deep breath.

“Decline it for me.”

She froze.

“You?”

She probably didn’t understand.

They were in love. Their story had already started.

Why hide?

I didn’t care anymore. In this life, I would never cross paths with Aidan again.