The third time Ignacio, a Delta warrior from our pack, defended Nyla, the news exploded across the pack’s social media channels. Photos of them flooded the pack’s announcement board, where the comment section buzzed with outrage, rallying behind me.

Nyla, an Omega, was accused of shamelessly pursuing him, while Ignacio faced criticism for failing to see through her act. But only I could perceive the genuine sincerity and pain in Ignacio’s gaze, though it didn’t change the truth: he had chosen her over me, his mate.

After I publicly rejected our mate bond, I decided to leave the pack and seek a new life elsewhere. My friends, especially Aniyah, a fellow Delta, struggled to comprehend my decision.

“Chaya, are you seriously letting that Omega affect you?” Aniyah asked, her voice laced with frustration.

I shook my head. It wasn’t about fear. Nobody knew this was the third time I had relived this life. No matter how many attempts, the result remained unchanged. Someone who doesn’t love you will only see a mate bond as a chain.

So, separated by pack territories and forests, I wished Ignacio his freedom.

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Within an hour of the photo surfacing, comments had stacked up like a towering skyscraper. The top comment was brimming with outrage:

“Nyla Cruz, have you no shame? Stop hanging on to someone else’s mate!”

The photo captured a stunning Omega with blushing cheeks, eyes shimmering with unshed tears. She wore Ignacio’s jacket, timidly hiding behind him, my former mate.

Ignacio’s expression was fierce, staunchly protective. This was the third time he had stood up for Nyla, and it landed on the pack’s announcement board. The comment section roared:

“If there’s a problem, report it to the Alpha; tears won’t solve anything.”

“The pack provides training grounds, yet she opts for rogue-infested territories. What’s she playing at?”

“The rogue territory is just steps from the pack borders, well-patrolled too. Yet she plays the damsel in distress for Ignacio to rescue. Never seen such pretense.”

“Ignacio can’t tell right from wrong, easily swayed by her charade.”

That day, I waited at the pack’s ceremonial hall for ages. All I received was a mind link:

“Chaya, Nyla was frightened and needs company. I’ll stay with her tonight; I can’t come to you.”

The hall was reserved for our marking ceremony, and securing it had taken a month’s effort.

That night, Nyla updated her pack profile. The photo showed her cozying up to Ignacio, beaming in front of our usual hunting grounds:

“Hunt night with my crush. His idea~”

The comments were full of enthusiasm:

“Go for it, girl! From my experience, he’s definitely interested. You should make a move!”

Nyla replied with a coy emoji: “Maybe.”

I stared at it for a long time before contacting the pack’s Gamma:

“Please cancel the reservation.”

Ignacio knew how challenging it was to secure the hall. He understood how much effort I had put into arranging that day. But when it came to choosing between the ceremonial hall and the hunting grounds, Chaya and Nyla, he opted for the latter.

The first time I saw Nyla Cruz was at the pack’s annual gathering, held in the grand hall of the Lycan Palace. As soon as the striking Omega stepped into the center of the room, I instinctively turned to look at Ignacio. Sure enough, his gaze was fixed on her, his usually sharp and aloof expression softened, his attention unwavering.

Nyla wore a crimson ceremonial dress, the color of her rank as an Omega, but she carried herself with a confidence that defied her station. The chatter around us buzzed with excitement, highlighted by waves of gasps and murmurs of admiration. The Beta of the pack, standing at the front, introduced her with a playful lilt in his voice. “Nyla Cruz? When I first saw the guest list, I thought this was a Lycan Prince’s name. Names can surprise you.”

Nyla smiled graciously, a hint of pride in her eyes as she addressed the crowd. “Who says Omegas can’t rise above their station? Like an eagle, I aim to reach the highest peaks.” Her words were met with another round of applause, though I noticed the narrowed eyes of some of the higher-ranking pack members.

“Nyla? So that’s Nyla Cruz?” Ignacio murmured beside me, seemingly unaware of anything else around him. His eyes were fixed on her, filled with admiration that made my chest tighten.

During the ceremonial segment, Nyla playfully pointed at Ignacio. “Now, let’s invite one of our pack’s finest warriors to join me for…” The Beta unfolded a piece of parchment and announced the chosen activity: “A wolf’s hunt!”

Ignacio stood up with confidence, his broad shoulders and muscular frame commanding attention even in a room full of warriors. His cheeks slightly flushed, he quickly made his way to the center of the room, amid laughter and cheers from the crowd. He was so focused on Nyla that he seemed to forget I was sitting right there next to him.

Nyla pretended to stumble slightly, placing a hand on Ignacio’s arm to steady herself. Then, with a boldness that made my stomach churn, she leaned in and planted a kiss on his left cheek. She glanced in my direction, her smile a clear challenge, as if she knew exactly what she was doing.

After that night, Nyla’s reputation as a flirt spread quickly through the pack. Aniyah, my best friend and a fellow Delta, was indignant. “Of all the wolves to choose, she picks someone else’s mate. I bet she did it on purpose. Everyone knows you and Ignacio are the perfect pair. The Moon Goddess herself blessed your bond.”

I tried to brush it off, but the memory of Ignacio’s gaze fixed on Nyla lingered in my mind. My wolf stirred uneasily in the back of my consciousness, a quiet growl of discomfort that I couldn’t ignore. I wanted to believe Ignacio’s attention was just a fleeting moment, but deep down, I feared it was something more.

The pack’s whispers didn’t help. “Did you see the way he looked at her?” one of the Omegas murmured as I passed by. “Like she was the Moon Goddess herself.”

I clenched my fists, trying to hold onto the belief that our bond was stronger than this. But as the days passed, Ignacio’s growing fascination with Nyla became harder to ignore. The perfect mate I thought I knew seemed to be slipping away, and I wasn’t sure how to hold on.