Chapter 3

The truth hit me when the assembly invitation arrived.

Mother’s words were just a trap to test my sister’s heart.

Queen Luna wanted to hunt down the secret lover.

She gave no one the chance to decline.

Moonlight washed over the sacred lake. Sky and water blurred into one.

This was my first time seeing Aidan in this life.

He wore silver-white Pack robes, his dark hair tied back with a leather cord. His eyes were cold and distant.

Nobody could have guessed.

Losing the woman he loved had turned him cruel and paranoid.

Serafina crushed my hand. Sweat slicked her palm.

“They say the Queen already knows about Aidan.”

“Will she think I’m... shameless?”

I shook my head. “No. Queen Luna is generous. She won’t look down on you for this.”

She let out a long breath, but her face stayed tense.

Aidan brought someone with him.

A man in a dark green warrior tunic leaned against an ancient tree. He was striking, but lazily indifferent to the bustling assembly.

He straightened when he caught my eye and adjusted his perfectly neat collar.

Serafina didn’t recognize him.

“Who is he?”

Aidan kept his voice flat.

“My cousin, Sentinel Captain Kael.”

“You guard your reputation. We need a witness when we meet.”

“In case anything happens...”

Serafina managed a tight smile.

“You are so careful.”

“Ayla covered for us all this time. We never made a single mistake.”

An ice-cold gaze fell on me.

“No mistakes?” Aidan let out a soft laugh, with rare mockery.

“You have a pure heart. You have no idea how deep a wolf’s ambition runs.”

The blood drained from my face.

He was reborn too.

In our past life, Aidan humiliated me countless times. He never believed my fall on the stairs was an accident.

“Isn’t that exactly what you are?” His fingertips brushed my ear and cheek before stopping at the corner of my eye. “You used to stare at me with those wet eyes right in front of your sister. A calculated seduction...”

“And now you can’t even stand admitting you’re her replacement. Ha.”

No matter how hard I sobbed, he just covered my eyes. His voice dropped to a rough growl.

“Too late.”

Those vile memories rippled through my mind. My head spun. I could barely breathe.

Serafina missed the hidden meaning.

“Aidan, what are you talking about?”

I pulled my hand free, lowered my eyes and rushed out.

“The Queen is about to announce it. Don’t worry anymore. I’m going for a walk.”

She frowned.

“Hey—”

I bolted. She never got the chance to grab my sleeve.