My sister was lively, so our mother named her Joy.

I was more reserved, so she called me Grace.

Our parents were Omegas in the Evans Pack.

Our father, Cristian Cruz, a high-ranking Beta, died protecting the Alpha’s son during a pack training accident, his ribs crushed by a rogue’s attack. He didn’t last long after that.

My sister and I were born into servitude, destined to live under the Alpha’s rule. In this life, no one but the Alpha could decide our fate—not even a mate.

I was relieved I wouldn’t meet the same end as my past life, where my mate, a rogue, had betrayed me and left me for dead.

The cost of this relief was a lifetime of servitude, and the same fate for any children I might have.

From the moment we could walk, we were taught how to serve the Alpha’s family.

The first words our mother taught us weren’t “Mom” or “Dad,” but “Luna.”

“The Luna gives us everything. She is our moon, our guide.

“In the Evans Pack, we obey only her. If the Luna commands us to die, we die.

“If the Luna is in danger, you must protect her with your life, no matter the cost.”

Whenever she said this, my sister, Alayah, would roll her eyes behind her back.

I’d stifle a laugh, only to be met with our mother’s sharp glare.

During the day, I listened to our mother’s lectures. At night, Alayah whispered rebellious ideas into my ear.

“Don’t listen to Mom. If the Luna’s in trouble, the Deltas will protect her. Don’t throw your life away for nothing.

“Save as much money as you can. If we ever get a chance to leave the pack and live as rogues, that’s the best thing we could do.”

Mother was busy caring for the young pack heir, so it was just my sister Alayah and I, growing up side by side.

I often heard her muttering about "Wi-Fi" and "smartphones." I had no idea what a smartphone was, but I knew about nets.

In my past life, when times were hard, I’d gone hunting a few times. So, on our tenth birthday, I decided to make her a hunting trap as a gift.

At first, she didn’t understand what it was. After I explained, she burst into laughter, clutching her sides.

She pinched my cheeks, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "My little sister is just too adorable."

I frowned and swatted her hand away. If we were counting lifetimes, I was probably older than her.

With a flourish, she pulled out two meat pies from a bag. "You can’t have a birthday without a birthday treat," she declared.

I blinked at her, correcting her gently. "Those are just meat pies."

She stuck out her tongue at me and pulled out two candles she’d scavenged from somewhere. "I say it’s a treat, so it’s a treat," she said firmly, shoving the candles into the pies.

She then ordered me to close my eyes and make a wish. By now, I was used to her quirks, so I obeyed, closing my eyes with genuine sincerity. My wish was simple—I wanted my sister to always be happy and safe.

When I opened my eyes, she was grinning at me.

"Did you make a wish?" I asked.

She nodded, her smile softening. "My wish was to take you to my time," she said, her voice wistful. "Then I could take you to eat real birthday treats, go to pack runs, and enjoy the full moon feasts."

She listed off a string of things that sounded magical and delicious, her excitement infectious. But then her voice trailed off, and her expression grew somber.

"You’d love it there," she murmured, almost to herself.

I was hanging on her every word, so when she stopped, I nudged her. "Why’d you stop?"

"You really want to hear more?" Her eyes lit up again, and when I nodded, she launched into a detailed description of her world.

That night, she told me about things I could hardly imagine—pack gatherings, howling ceremonies, and so much more. It was as if she’d opened a door to a whole new world for me, one I could barely comprehend but desperately wanted to explore.

My sister, Alayah, had always been lively, her presence vibrant and unique.

When Itzel, the Gamma’s mate, became pregnant, Rory, the Alpha’s son, began casting meaningful glances her way. Alayah couldn’t help but notice the way his eyes lingered, the unspoken implications hanging in the air.

One night, instead of teasing me as she usually did, she turned to me, her expression unusually serious.

"Do you think Rory truly loves Itzel?" she asked.

I replied with admiration, my voice tinged with envy, "Of course. When Itzel was struggling with morning sickness, Rory had her favorite sweets delivered and called in the best healers to care for her."

Alayah tapped my forehead lightly, her lips curving into a faint smile.

"Fool, do you think giving orders is the same as love? If he truly loved her, would he still have chosen mates on the side?"

She sighed, her gaze distant.

"A wolf’s heart can be divided among many. That’s just the way it is."

I frowned, confused. "But isn’t it natural for wolves to have multiple mates? It’s always been that way."

"Just because it’s always been that way, does that make it right?" Her question struck a chord, something deep within me stirring uncomfortably.

She ran her fingers through my hair, her touch soothing yet heavy with unspoken thoughts.

"I heard a few days ago that Rory gave one of his chosen mates to a friend who frequents the pack gatherings.

"If I were to be passed around like some object, I’d rather die.

"I’d rather find a simple, honest wolf to mate with. I’d never stoop to being a chosen mate."

I whispered softly, "Being the mate of an ordinary wolf isn’t easy either."

In my past life, I had been killed by my mate simply for speaking too much with a familiar face. He accused me of being unfaithful, and his jealousy cost me my life. Countless females like me had suffered the same fate.

Alayah nodded thoughtfully, as if considering something. "You’re right. Maybe we just shouldn’t mate at all."

I chuckled, though the sound was hollow. "That’s impossible. Father and Mother would never allow it, and neither would the Alpha."

After all, we were Omegas, and the Alpha often gifted us to pack members he favored, using us as tools to strengthen alliances. No one cared about our feelings.

Alayah sighed, resting her chin on her hand. "Even a thousand years from now, they’ll still be pushing us to find mates. It’s just how things are.

"I wish I could save enough money to ask the Alpha for his blessing. Then I could take you away from this pack."

Her words lingered in the air, a fragile hope that seemed so distant yet so desperately needed. In that moment, I felt the weight of our world pressing down on us, and I wondered if we’d ever truly escape it.