The familiar scent of vanilla and cinnamon hit me as I stepped through the front door of the Wren family townhouse. Home. Or at least, what had passed for home in my previous life. The warm lighting from the crystal chandelier cast everything in a golden glow, but the scene unfolding in the living room made my stomach clench with recognition.

"Axel, you actually left my sister to come keep me company," Maren's voice drifted from the plush cream sofa, sweet and melodic with just the right hint of guilt. "Won't she be angry?"

I froze in the entryway, my hand still on the brass doorknob. Through the archway, I could see them—Axel perched on the edge of the coffee table, leaning toward Maren who was curled up on the sofa like a delicate flower. She wore one of those oversized sweaters that made her look impossibly small and vulnerable, her honey-blonde hair falling in soft waves around her face.

"I can spend time with her anytime," Axel replied, his voice carrying that gentle tone he reserved only for her. "But when your cramps are this severe, how could I leave you alone?"

The words were a knife between my ribs. In my previous life, I'd heard this exact conversation through the thin walls of our bedroom while I waited in that silk nightgown, counting the hours until he'd remember he had a wife.

Maren's laugh tinkled like wind chimes. "But after you marry my sister, will you still treat me this well?"

"Of course." Axel's response came without hesitation. "If your sister ever treats you poorly, I'll divorce her."

The casual way he said it—as if our marriage was nothing more than a contract he could tear up on a whim—sent ice through my veins. I pressed my back against the door, memories flooding back like a dam bursting.

We'd been eight and ten when the Wren family took us in, two orphaned wolf pups whose parents had died defending the pack borders. I remembered that first night, how Maren had crawled into Cordelia Wren's lap during dinner, tears streaming down her cherubic face as she whispered about missing our mama. Within a week, she'd become the family's little princess.

I'd tried a different approach—helping with chores, studying hard, being the responsible older sister. But responsibility, I'd learned, was far less charming than helplessness.

By the time we were teenagers, Cordelia had made her preferences crystal clear. "Maren would make such a lovely Luna," she'd sigh while watching Maren practice piano. "She has such a gentle spirit. Perfect for supporting an Alpha."

But Maren had been cleverer than any of us realized. When Axel finally worked up the courage to confess his feelings—to her, not me—she'd given him that sad, wistful smile and said, "I could never compete with my sister for your affections. She's loved you for so long."

The perfect deflection. She'd made Axel choose me while keeping herself positioned as the noble, selfless sister who'd stepped aside for love. What none of us understood then was that she was simply waiting. Axel was just a warrior's son at the time—promising, but not the Alpha heir she'd eventually set her sights on.

"Ivy?" Axel's voice snapped me back to the present. He was standing now, concern creasing his brow. "How long have you been standing there?"

"Just got in." I forced my voice to remain steady as I headed for the stairs. "Don't mind me."

Maren's eyes met mine over the back of the sofa, and for just a moment, I caught something that made my breath hitch. A flash of calculation, quickly masked by her usual sweet smile. "Sister, you look tired. Did the paperwork take long?"

She knew. Somehow, she already knew what I'd done.

"It was fine." I climbed the stairs without looking back, my heart hammering against my ribs.

In my room—the same room I'd shared with Axel in my previous life—I pulled out my laptop and navigated to the Crescent Ridge University website. The prestigious institution's homepage featured sprawling Gothic buildings and students who looked confident, powerful. Awakened.

Crescent Ridge wasn't just any university. It was where the most promising wolves went to unlock their dormant potential, to transform from ordinary pack members into something extraordinary. The admission requirements were brutal: top academic performance, leadership experience, and a personal statement that could convince the review board you were worth their investment.

In my previous life, I'd been accepted. Full scholarship, early admission, the works. But I'd turned it down to stay here, to be Axel's perfect Luna-in-waiting.

What a fool I'd been.

I pulled up the application portal, my fingers flying across the keyboard. The deadline was in two weeks—tight, but manageable. My grades from high school were still on file, and my volunteer work with the pack's youth programs would count as leadership experience.

A soft knock interrupted my research. "Ivy?" Axel's voice carried through the door. "I brought you some dinner."

I glanced at the clock. Nearly nine PM. They'd been talking for hours.

"I'm not hungry," I called back. "I ate out."

Silence. Then the doorknob turned, and Axel stepped inside carrying a bowl of what smelled like Cordelia's famous chicken soup. His hair was mussed, and he wore that slightly guilty expression I remembered so well.

"You ate out?" He set the bowl on my nightstand, frowning. "But you never spend money on restaurants. You always say it's wasteful."

The casual way he catalogued my habits—my frugality, my self-denial—made something twist in my chest. "Things change."

"I guess." He shifted awkwardly, glancing at my laptop screen. "What are you working on?"

"College applications."

His eyebrows shot up. "College? Ivy, we're getting married in three months. I thought we agreed you'd focus on Luna training with my mother."

Agreed. As if I'd had any real choice in the matter.

"About that." I closed the laptop and turned to face him. "I need you to pay me back for the wedding expenses I covered."

Axel's face went pale. "The wedding expenses?"

"The deposits on the venue, the caterer, the flowers. It was about three thousand dollars from my savings." I kept my voice level, businesslike. "I have the receipts if you need them."

"Ivy, that money..." He ran a hand through his hair, not meeting my eyes. "I used it to buy Maren those limited edition sneakers she wanted. The ones for her birthday."

Of course he had. Three thousand dollars—money I'd saved from years of part-time jobs and careful budgeting—spent on shoes for his precious adopted sister.

"I see." I stood up, moving toward the door. "Then I'll need you to get it back from her, or pay me back yourself."

"Ivy, come on. Don't be like this." His voice took on that pleading tone that used to make me cave instantly. "You know how much those shoes meant to her. She'd been saving up for months, and I just wanted to surprise her."

"And I wanted a wedding." The words came out sharper than I'd intended. "But I suppose we can't all get what we want."

Axel stared at me as if I'd grown a second head. "What's gotten into you today? First you're weird at the registration office, now you're being petty about money. This isn't like you."

Petty. There was that word again.

I looked at him—really looked at him—and saw not the love of my life, but a man who'd never truly seen me as anything more than a convenient choice. A safe option. The responsible sister who'd never ask for too much.

"You're right," I said quietly. "This isn't like me at all."

I stepped back and closed the door between us, the soft click of the latch sounding like the end of everything I'd once believed in.

The flash of the camera felt like lightning against my retinas, each burst of light a reminder of the elaborate charade I was performing. The photography studio smelled of vanilla candles and artificial flowers, all carefully arranged to create the perfect romantic backdrop for couples who actually loved each other.

"Beautiful, beautiful!" The photographer, a thin man with an overly enthusiastic smile, gestured wildly with his hands. "Now, Alpha Axel, put your arm around her waist. Ivy, lean into him like you can't bear to be apart."

I forced my body to relax against Axel's side, feeling the familiar warmth of his chest through his crisp white shirt. In my previous life, I would have melted into this moment, treasuring every second of his touch. Now, it felt like playing dress-up in someone else's life.

"Perfect! One more shot, and then we'll try the second outfit." The photographer reached for a garment bag hanging nearby, unzipping it to reveal two gowns. "We have the classic white for the bride-to-be, and this gorgeous gold number for—"

He stopped mid-sentence, his face flushing as he noticed the small name tag still attached to the golden dress. My stomach dropped as I read the elegant script: *Maren Thorne*.

Axel cleared his throat, his arm tensing around my waist. "You wear the white one," he said quickly, not meeting my eyes. "The gold one isn't... it's not important."

Not important. Just like I wasn't important enough to be the only woman in his engagement photos.

I stared at that golden dress, remembering how in my previous life, this exact scenario had played out differently. Maren had "accidentally" shown up at the studio, claiming she was shopping nearby and thought she'd surprise us. The photographer had suggested she join us for a few shots—"just as family"—and somehow those family photos had ended up being the ones Axel treasured most.

The sales associate hurried over, her face apologetic as she quickly removed the name tag. "So sorry about that mix-up. Sometimes our inventory gets confused."

Mix-up. Right.

"It's fine," I said, my voice steady. "I'll take the white."

As I changed in the small dressing room, I caught my reflection in the mirror. The white gown was beautiful—flowing silk with delicate beadwork that caught the light. I looked like a bride. I looked happy. I looked like everything Axel was supposed to want.

But I could see the truth in my own eyes. This wasn't my fairy tale. It never had been.

The rest of the session passed in a blur of poses and fake smiles. Axel played his part perfectly, his hands gentle on my shoulders, his smile warm for the camera. But I noticed how his phone buzzed constantly in his pocket, how his eyes kept drifting toward the studio's large windows that faced the shopping center next door.

Waiting for her to appear.

"That's a wrap!" the photographer announced finally, reviewing the shots on his camera's display. "These are going to be stunning. You two are such a beautiful couple."

Beautiful. If only he knew how much effort it took to create that illusion.

As we gathered our things, Axel's phone rang. His face immediately brightened as he answered.

"Hey, Maren." His voice took on that soft, protective tone that used to make my heart race with jealousy. Now it just made me tired. "Yeah, we just finished. Where are you?"

I didn't need to hear her response to know what came next. In three... two... one...

"Oh, you're at the mall too? What a coincidence." He looked at me with those puppy-dog eyes that had once been my weakness. "Would you mind if we met up with her? She's having a rough day, and—"

"You two go ahead," I interrupted, slinging my purse over my shoulder. "I have errands to run."

The relief that flooded his features was almost comical. "Are you sure? I mean, we could all hang out together—"

"I'm sure." I headed toward the door, not bothering to wait for his response. "Tell Maren I said hello."

I walked through the mall's main corridor, the familiar sounds of shopping and conversation washing over me. Teenagers clustered around the food court, couples browsed store windows, families herded excited children toward the toy store. Normal people living normal lives, unburdened by the weight of loving someone who would never love them back.

The restroom was tucked away in a quiet corner near the department store, and I was grateful for the momentary solitude. As I washed my hands, I caught sight of my reflection again. The careful makeup from the photo shoot was still intact, but underneath it, I looked exhausted.

Four more days. Just four more days until my acceptance letter arrived, until I could finally tell everyone the truth and leave this suffocating life behind.

I stepped out of the restroom and froze.

A man stood at the far end of the corridor, partially hidden in the shadows between two storefronts. Tall, broad-shouldered, with dark hair that looked like he'd run his hands through it. But it was his eyes that made my breath catch—deep green, like pine forests after rain, and focused entirely on me.

The air around him seemed different somehow. Charged. Dangerous. He carried himself with the kind of quiet confidence that spoke of power, real power, not the borrowed authority that came with pack politics.

Our eyes met across the distance, and something electric shot down my spine. He didn't look away, didn't pretend he hadn't been watching me. Instead, he gave the slightest nod, as if acknowledging some unspoken understanding between us.

Then, as quickly as he'd appeared, he melted back into the crowd, leaving me standing there with my heart hammering against my ribs.

I told myself it was nothing. A stranger, a coincidence, a trick of the lighting. But as I made my way back through the mall, I couldn't shake the feeling that those green eyes were still watching me.

By the time I arrived home, the sun was setting, painting the Wren family townhouse in shades of gold and amber. I could hear voices from the living room—Axel and Maren, their laughter mixing with the sound of some romantic comedy playing on the television.

I climbed the stairs quietly, hoping to avoid another awkward encounter, but Cordelia's voice stopped me halfway up.

"Ivy, dear, perfect timing." She emerged from the kitchen, her silver hair perfectly styled despite the late hour. "I have wonderful news."

Something in her tone made my stomach clench. Cordelia's wonderful news usually meant complications for me.

"This weekend, we're going to hold the official Luna transition ceremony," she announced, her smile bright and sharp. "All the pack elders will be attending, along with representatives from the neighboring territories. It's time to make your role official."

The blood drained from my face. A formal ceremony meant public vows, binding pack magic, witnesses from across the region. It meant no escape.

I looked toward the living room, where I could see Axel's profile illuminated by the TV's glow. He was listening to something Maren was saying, his attention completely absorbed by her animated gestures.

He knew. Of course he knew about the ceremony. They'd planned this together, probably discussed it while I was changing clothes at the studio.

"That's... sudden," I managed.

"Not sudden at all," Cordelia replied, her eyes glittering with satisfaction. "We've been planning this for months. Axel just wanted it to be a surprise."

A surprise. Like everything else in my life, decided without my input, presented as a gift when it was really a cage.

I nodded and continued up the stairs, my mind racing. Four days until my acceptance letter. Three days until the ceremony. The timing couldn't be worse—or perhaps it was exactly what I needed.

In my room, I pulled out my laptop and opened a new document. If they wanted a ceremony, I'd give them one they'd never forget.

It was time to tell the truth.

The night before the ceremony, I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, counting down the hours until my freedom. Tomorrow, everything would change. The acceptance letter from Crescent Ridge had arrived that afternoon—full scholarship, early admission, everything I'd dreamed of. I'd hidden it in my jewelry box like a secret treasure, a golden ticket to a life that was finally mine.

A soft knock at my door made me sit up. "Ivy?" Maren's voice was barely a whisper. "Are you awake?"

I didn't answer, but she pushed the door open anyway, her silhouette framed by the hallway light. She wore a white silk nightgown that made her look ethereal, angelic. Her honey-blonde hair fell in soft waves around her shoulders.

"I can't sleep," she said, stepping into my room without invitation. "Tomorrow feels so... final."

Final. If only she knew.

"It's just a ceremony, Maren." I kept my voice neutral, watching her fidget with the hem of her nightgown. "Nothing that hasn't been decided already."

She moved to my window, gazing out at the moonlit garden below. "Do you ever wonder what would have happened if things were different? If I had... if Axel had chosen me instead?"

The question hung in the air like a blade. In my previous life, I would have reassured her, told her that fate had brought us all to where we belonged. Now, I just felt tired.

"He did choose you," I said quietly. "Every day, he chooses you."

Maren turned, her eyes wide with something that might have been surprise or guilt. "Ivy, I—"

But whatever she was going to say was interrupted by the sound of footsteps in the hallway. Heavy, familiar steps that belonged to only one person.

Axel appeared in my doorway, his hair mussed from sleep, wearing only pajama pants. His eyes immediately found Maren, and I watched his expression soften in that way that used to make my heart ache.

"Maren? What are you doing here?" His voice was gentle, concerned. "It's past midnight."

"I couldn't sleep," she repeated, and suddenly there were tears glistening in her eyes. "Axel, tomorrow's ceremony... should I really be there? Watching you and my sister stand together, making vows..." Her voice broke on the last word. "My heart hurts so much."

Without hesitation, Axel crossed the room and pulled her into his arms. "Hey, hey, it's okay," he murmured, stroking her hair. "Don't cry, Maren. You're the most important person in my life. Nothing will ever change that."

I sat there in my own bed, in my own room, watching my fiancé comfort another woman with promises he'd never made to me. The scene was so familiar it felt like déjà vu—or perhaps just the echo of a thousand similar moments from my previous life.

But this time, I didn't feel the crushing weight of jealousy or the desperate need to compete for his attention. This time, I felt nothing but a strange, detached curiosity. How had I ever thought this was love?

"I should go," Maren whispered against Axel's chest, but she made no move to pull away.

"Stay," he said softly. "Just until you feel better."

They settled onto the small loveseat by my window, Maren curled against Axel's side like a broken bird seeking shelter. Neither of them seemed to remember I was still in the room.

I lay back down and closed my eyes, listening to their whispered conversation—reassurances, gentle touches, the kind of intimate comfort that should have belonged to me. In a few hours, the sun would rise on the day that was supposed to make me Luna. Instead, it would be the day I finally set myself free.

---

The morning of the ceremony dawned crisp and clear, autumn sunlight streaming through the tall windows of the Wren family estate. The main hall had been transformed into something from a fairy tale—white roses and gold ribbons everywhere, crystal chandeliers casting rainbow prisms across the polished marble floors.

Guests began arriving early, their expensive cars forming a parade up the circular drive. Pack elders, neighboring Alpha families, business associates—everyone who mattered in our world was here to witness what they thought would be my coronation as Luna.

I stood in front of my bedroom mirror, adjusting the formal white dress Cordelia had chosen for me. It was beautiful—flowing silk with intricate beadwork that caught the light. The perfect dress for the perfect Luna-to-be.

Except I wasn't going to be Luna. Not today, not ever.

A knock at my door interrupted my thoughts. "Ivy, dear, it's time," Cordelia's voice called. "The guests are seated."

I took one last look at myself in the mirror, then picked up the small jewelry box from my dresser. Inside, nestled next to my acceptance letter, was a simple silver locket—the only thing I had left of my real parents. I fastened it around my neck, a talisman for the new life I was about to claim.

The main hall fell silent as I descended the grand staircase. Hundreds of eyes tracked my movement, but I kept my gaze fixed straight ahead. At the front of the room, Axel waited in a perfectly tailored black suit, looking every inch the Alpha he was destined to become.

Maren sat in the front row, wearing a soft blue dress that made her look like a spring sky. She gave me an encouraging smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

The pack registrar, an elderly man with silver hair and kind eyes, stepped forward with an ornate leather folder. "Ladies and gentlemen, we gather today to witness the formal bonding ceremony between Alpha Axel Wren and his chosen mate."

He opened the folder and began to read from the official documents. "According to the binding contract filed with the Silvercliff Pack registry, the union to be recognized today is between Alpha Axel Wren and..."

The registrar's voice faltered. He looked down at the papers, confusion creasing his weathered features. "I'm sorry, there seems to be some confusion. The name listed here is... Maren Thorne."

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. Cordelia's face went white, then flushed deep red. "What did you say?"

"The contract clearly states Maren Thorne as the intended mate," the registrar repeated, his voice growing stronger. "Signed and sealed by both parties."

Axel's head snapped toward me, his eyes wide with shock and something that might have been betrayal. "Ivy... what did you do?"

I felt the weight of every gaze in the room, but I kept my voice steady and calm. "I gave you what you've always wanted, Axel. I gave you her."

The silence that followed was deafening. Then Cordelia's voice cut through the air like a whip. "This is impossible. There must be some mistake—"

Her words were drowned out by the sudden wail of sirens—the pack's emergency alert system. The sound was ear-splitting, urgent, designed to penetrate every corner of the territory.

Then came the howls. Wild, savage, nothing like the controlled communication of pack wolves. These were the voices of rogues—wolves who'd abandoned civilization, who lived only for violence and chaos.

The massive windows at the back of the hall exploded inward in a shower of glass and splintered wood. Gray shapes poured through the openings—enormous wolves with matted fur and wild eyes, their lips pulled back to reveal yellowed fangs.

Panic erupted. Guests screamed and scattered, formal wear and dignity forgotten in the face of primal terror. The elderly registrar dropped his folder and ran, official documents scattering across the marble floor.

In the chaos, I saw one of the rogues—massive, scarred, with eyes like burning coals—launch itself directly at Maren. She sat frozen in her chair, her face white with terror.

Axel moved without thinking, his Alpha instincts overriding everything else. He threw himself forward, tackling Maren and sending them both tumbling to the floor just as the rogue's claws raked through the air where she'd been sitting.

But the wolf's momentum carried it forward, and its claws—meant for Maren—found a different target.

The pain was immediate and overwhelming, like fire racing across my back. I felt myself falling, the world tilting sideways as warmth spread across my dress. The marble floor rushed up to meet me, cold and unforgiving.

Through the haze of pain and shock, I could hear Axel's voice, desperate and frantic. "Maren, are you hurt? Are you okay? Talk to me!"

I tried to speak, to tell him I was the one bleeding, but no sound came out. My vision blurred, darkness creeping in from the edges.

Then, cutting through the chaos and pain, I heard something impossible. A voice in my mind, deep and rich like aged whiskey, carrying the scent of pine forests and summer rain.

"Found you, my true mate."

The voice wrapped around me like a warm embrace, and for the first time in two lifetimes, I felt truly safe. As consciousness slipped away, I held onto that voice, that promise, that hope.

Somewhere in the darkness, my real life was finally about to begin.