Reborn, I rejected my mate who used my womb to impregnate his lover's pup

On the night of our binding ceremony, my mate Elijah Langley's childhood friend Alice posted on social media, standing at the edge of a bridge, ready to jump.

Elijah was desperate to run to her, but his father, Ulric, blocked him hard.

"If you don't stay and finish this bonding tonight, the Langley family will kick you out for good!"

Elijah gave in, but the next day, word spread that his childhood sweetheart had fallen to her death.

His reaction? Ice-cold. Not a single tear.

Thirty years later, as I lay in bed, worn out from a lifetime serving the Langley family, Elijah stood over me with our pup, pouring sulfuric acid all over me.

"Freya Crowe, if you hadn't clung to this stupid bond, I could've been happy with Alice forever!"

"Here's the truth: our pup? He's from Alice's eggs, through IVF! How does that hit you? You spent your whole life raising a kid for the she-wolf I loved most!"

As the flames shot up, I let out a final, painful gasp.

When my eyes opened again, I was reborn-back to that terrible night of our binding.

"If you don't stay and finish this bonding tonight, the Langley family will kick you out for good!"

Ulric's harsh voice pulled me out of the burning memory.

I shook, my senses all messed up.

Looking around the fancy bonding room, it hit me-I was really back!

Elijah's bloodshot eyes locked onto mine, full of raw hate.

"Don't think making me stay will make me love you. I'll hate you till the day I die!"

His clenched teeth and venomous stare, like I was his worst enemy, mixed with the memory of him burning me alive in my past life.

Cold sweat broke out, my hands shaking.

Ulric turned to me, his face softening.

"Don't take it to heart, Freya. Elijah's just spouting nonsense 'cause he's worked up."

"I've watched you grow up-you're top-tier in character and smarts, way better than that Alice!"

"Leaving Elijah with you puts us at ease."

Ulric's warm, fatherly smile came with a pat on my shoulder.

"Keep an eye on him. The binding starts in half an hour."

As soon as he limped out with his cane, Elijah threw a water glass at me.

"Even with that bridal makeup, you're ugly as sin. Compare yourself to Alice? Makes me sick!"

The glass smashed into my forehead, shards cutting my skin.

Warm blood trickled down.

I didn't move or make a sound.

Seeing the blood, Elijah froze, a tiny flash of guilt in his eyes.

"Why didn't you move?"

Before I could answer, his face twisted back into scorn and disgust.

"Oh, right. You'll walk around with that cut, playing the poor victim for my parents!"

"Freya, you're nothing but a low, shameless she-wolf!"

His hatred crashed over me, and I realized how pointless all my past sacrifices had been.

My parents worked for the Langleys. In a car crash, they saved alpha Langley's life but died themselves.

After that, five-year-old me was taken in by alpha Langley as a foster pup, raised in their home.

For twenty years, the Langley alpha pair treated me like their own. Elijah, at first, stuck to me like glue, calling me Freya in that sweet, kid-like voice.

Then Alice showed up. Her wild, rule-breaking ways hooked Elijah, dragging him into her messes.

Ulric, seeing trouble and scared Alice would ruin him, rushed to set up our bonding.

I'd just gotten my PhD, with a spot secured at the great pack's home base, but I gave it all up for this.

Over the next thirty years, I poured my knowledge and energy into the Langley pack's drug business, single-handedly lifting them from the top ten in Isolara to the top three in Quorland.

And what did I get? A body broken from overwork, burned alive, no grave to rest in.

To Elijah, this bond stole him from his precious Alice. But for me, wasn't it a sacrifice to pay back the family's kindness?

That thought made my resolve firm up.

Looking at Elijah, still glaring with hatred, I calmly opened the door.

"If your heart's not here, this bond means nothing. Go."