Chapter 1

After the soul-extraction mission ended, I finally woke from my vegetative state.

Alpha Kael, my mate, embraced me with bloodshot eyes, "Elena, you're finally awake."

My eight-year-old son, Leo, also cheered happily, calling me mother.

Just as I celebrated the return of my life, the ward door was pushed open by a girl who looked seventy percent like me.

Kael shielded her behind him, "Elena, things between Sarah and me are innocent."

Leo quickly explained, "Mom, Aunt Sarah was just kind enough to take care of me and Dad for you."

After returning to the pack house, Kael and Leo treated me with utmost care.

But I could always feel that I didn't fit in.

Until I saw my mate and son making wishes with Sarah under the New Year fireworks, and the resentment in my heart finally erupted, as I smashed the entire house to pieces.

Leo sensibly bandaged Sarah's wound and muttered that I was being excessive.

Kael's face darkened, "Elena, stop being so unreasonably troublesome!"

I forced back the tears in my eyes and gritted my teeth, "In this pack, it's either me or Sarah—you choose one!"

……

The entire room suddenly fell silent.

Kael stepped forward, trying to pull me into his arms as he used to.

His face was filled with hesitation.

"Elena, Sarah has sacrificed a lot for this family. If it weren't for her... Leo and I might not have survived."

Leo's eyes were red as he tugged at my hem, acting spoiled.

"Mom, I want to stay with Aunt Sarah, please don't drive her away."

Looking at their deep affection for her, I felt a sharp pain in my chest.

I rushed into the room and threw the divorce papers I had prepared long ago at Kael.

"Since you can't choose, then we reject the bond!"

Kael retreated two steps, his voice trembling.

"I won't reject it..."

He kept saying he wouldn't reject the bond, saying he loved me, saying how much he missed me.

But all the layouts in the house had already been changed.

The blue-and-white curtains I liked were replaced by the deep gray ones Sarah preferred.

Even our mating photos were taken down and replaced with a portrait of the three of them as a family.

Sarah approached with tears, trying to grab my hand.

"Elena, things between Kael and me are pure."

"I'm just a placeholder he paid for; I've never dared to cross the line. If you don't like me, I can leave anytime."

I brushed her hand away with pure disgust.

"Since you're going to leave, why are you still here? Are you waiting for me to kick you out!"

Sarah bit her lip hard, and her tears finally fell.

Leo frantically dove into her arms.

"Aunt Sarah, I don't want you to go!"

Kael pulled me aside with a grim face.

"Elena, there's a limit to being unreasonable. Don't give Sarah a hard time during the New Year!"

Looking at how they protected Sarah.

I swung my hand away from Kael in despair, "If she won't leave, I will!"

Seeing me truly turning to leave, Kael panicked.

He reached out to grab me.

In my hurry to dodge, I accidentally pushed Sarah, who was trying to block me.

My own head slammed heavily against the nearby bookshelf.

Blood trickled down through my hair.

In a daze, I saw Kael frantically picking up Sarah.

Leo's eyes were also full of careness.

"Aunt Sarah, are you okay?"

My heart went cold.

I walked past them, step by step, heading outside.

Seeing this, Kael hurriedly put Sarah down.

"Elena, I..."

Before he could explain anything, my vision went black, and I fainted.

Before sinking into darkness, I summoned the system:

[System, was it a mistake for me to come back?]