Kensley, my adoptive mother and an Omega, accidentally stepped on a landmine while clearing the pack's territory.

Leighton Gilbert, the Gamma of our pack, urged me to find my mate, Jaxson Mendoza, a Delta warrior who had experience with explosives. But I shook my head, refusing to go.

In my past life, I had run ten kilometers to the nearest town to drag Jaxson away from his date with Camryn Lawrence, a manipulative Beta, and begged him to save Kensley. Kensley was saved, but Camryn was later killed by her ex-mate in a rogue attack.

Jaxson had praised me in front of others, but on the anniversary of Camryn’s death, he used the same landmine to blow me to pieces.

“Why didn’t you die instead? Go to hell and atone for Camryn!” he had screamed.

Now, reborn, I let Jaxson and Camryn enjoy their lavish meal at the finest diner in town. But when he found out what had happened at home, he would regret it deeply.

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“Aura, don’t come any closer! Stay away from me!”

The familiar voice snapped me back to reality. Kensley stood before me, tears streaming down her face, but she was determined to push me away.

“I’m old and clumsy. If this thing goes off, I don’t want it to hurt you,” she said, her voice trembling.

Leighton, standing nearby, quickly pulled me back.

“Aura, isn’t your mate a Delta with bomb disposal training? Where is he? Go get him!”

The urgency in his voice made my chest tighten. I dug my claws into my palm to keep from crying.

“He’s in town with Camryn. Even if I go, he won’t come back…”

The group of young Deltas who had followed Leighton exchanged awkward glances.

Jaxson’s affair with Camryn was no secret in the pack.

Today was our marking anniversary, but Jaxson had taken all our pack’s resources, claiming he needed to buy Camryn a gift and take her to the best diner in town.

The air grew heavy with tension. One of the young Deltas, Conner Wallace, sighed and stepped forward.

“Aura, we’re fast. We’ll go find Jaxson for you.”

“You stay here with Kensley. Don’t worry, we’ll handle it.”

Before Leighton could say anything, the group sprinted off. I lowered my gaze, finally accepting that this was my second chance.

Kensley, knowing full well what her son had done, looked at me with guilt in her eyes.

“Aura, I’m sorry. I failed to raise him right. This is my fault.”

“When he gets back, I’ll make him cut ties with that she-wolf!”

I choked back a sob.

Even after Camryn had rejected Jaxson twice, he still blamed me for her death. How could he ever cut ties with her?

As we tried to comfort each other, the group of Deltas returned, panting and drenched in sweat.

All eyes turned to them, but there was no one behind them.

Jaxson hadn’t come.

Conner, still catching his breath, spoke with barely concealed anger.

“Jaxson’s lost his mind. He’s at the department store with Camryn, buying her gifts and expensive clothes.”

“We tried everything to convince him, but he wouldn’t listen.”

“Do you know what he said? He said you sent us to lie because you didn’t want him spending money on Camryn.”

“How can a son ignore his own mother’s life in danger? Even if he doubted us, he should’ve come back to check!”

Another Deltas chimed in, his face red with fury.

“And that Camryn—she’s a real piece of work. She twisted our words and made it seem like we were conspiring with you. What a vile she-wolf!”

I clenched my fists, the anger and hurt bubbling inside me.

This was the mate I had once given my heart to. And this was the life I had been reborn into.

The group of young Deltas, Conner Wallace, had been venting their frustrations without a care until they suddenly remembered that Kensley, Jaxson’s mother, was standing right in front of us.

Kensley’s eyes welled up with tears, her lips trembling as she struggled to speak. “Did Jaxson really say that?” she finally managed, her voice barely audible.

“Aura, I’m sorry. I’ve ruined your life. I’m useless. I’ll give you my life as an apology!” she choked out, her emotions spiraling out of control.

In the heavy silence that followed, I clenched my jaw and dropped to my knees in front of her. “Mom, this isn’t your fault. Jaxson’s the one who’s lost his way. I’ve never blamed you!” I said firmly.

“If it weren’t for you giving me food when I was a child, I would’ve starved to death. I don’t want your apology. I want you to live!” I added, my voice cracking with emotion.

When I was young, my parents had died in a rogue attack, leaving me orphaned and alone. It was Kensley who took me in, fed me, and raised me as her own. She was the only family I had left.

Jaxson had once been in love with Camryn Lawrence, a Beta, but she had left him for a stronger mate, crushing him. After that, he turned to me, and Kensley, who had always admired my resilience, urged me to accept him. I had bonded with him out of gratitude, but then Camryn returned.

Jaxson demanded a rejection, but Kensley refused to allow it. The whole pack was in an uproar, and with Camryn’s manipulations, Jaxson became convinced that I was the one holding Kensley back. He resented me deeply and, to get back at me, he began indulging in reckless pack runs and lavish pack gatherings with Camryn.

My emotions churned inside me, but I forced myself to stay calm for Kensley’s sake. When she finally settled, I reached out and took her rough, calloused hand in mine.

“Mom, you’re not well. You can’t hold on much longer,” I said softly. “Let me take your place, okay?”

As soon as the words left my mouth, the crowd erupted in protest.

“Aura, think carefully! That’s a rogue trap from the last pack war. If it goes off, you’ll either die or be left crippled for life! You’re throwing away your future!” one of the Deltas shouted.

“You’re young and strong. Don’t risk your life like this!” another added.

Kensley’s tears kept flowing. “Aura, I raised you because your parents saved me from the rogue attack! I’m already halfway to the grave. If I die, so be it. Don’t get involved!” she pleaded.

But I held her hand tightly, refusing to let go. “I can’t watch you die. If you won’t let me take your place, then I’ll stay here with you. We’ll face this together,” I said firmly.

After a long, tense moment, Kensley finally relented. “Fine,” she whispered, her voice breaking.

The Gamma, Leighton Gilbert, seeing that he couldn’t dissuade me, ordered the group to retreat to a safe distance. Back when things were good, Jaxson had once told me how to replace someone who had triggered a rogue trap. I used that knowledge now, guiding Kensley through the process as I carefully shifted my weight onto the trap.

My legs felt like jelly, and fear clawed at my chest, but I forced myself to stay steady. I had nothing left to lose. Kensley was the only person who had ever truly cared for me, and I couldn’t let her die.

After an agonizing silence, Kensley and I successfully switched places. She wiped her tears and looked at me, her expression fierce. “Aura, wait here. I’ll go find that ungrateful son of mine myself!” she declared.

As I stood there, the crowd’s gaze shifted from pity to admiration. The young Deltas who had been venting earlier now stepped forward.

“Aunt Kensley, we’ll go with you. You need to teach Jaxson a lesson. He’s gone too far this time,” they said, their voices firm.

With that, they escorted Kensley away, disappearing down the path.

Leighton and I waited in silence for what felt like an eternity before they finally returned.