Reborn into this life, I deliberately avoided any entanglement with Blake Nguyen.

When he was bullied by arrogant young wolves at the academy, I didn’t step in to stop it.

When he achieved the highest rank in the pack and led the ceremonial run, I declined invitations from my friends to watch, choosing instead to stay home.

When he brought his widowed sister-in-law, Saoirse Cox, to a pack gathering and faced ridicule, I didn’t intervene to smooth things over.

In my past life, he gave our only child to Saoirse to raise.

From then on, the boy refused to call me "mother," addressing me only by my full name, Lucille Parker. When he grew older, he even urged me to be "dutiful and understanding," suggesting Blake should honor both lineages.

But I never expected Blake, just like in my past life, to reject other mating offers and come to my family with a proposal.

That’s when it hit me—Blake must have been reborn too.

---

When my father sent for me to meet Blake in the pack hall, I was still reeling from the shock.

That day, I hadn’t gone to watch the ceremonial run, so Milena Thomas came to tell me about it.

"Lucille, you really missed out," she said, her voice tinged with excitement. "Blake is the youngest Alpha in history to achieve such a high rank. And he’s so handsome.

"He ran past the gathering in his majestic wolf form, and he glanced my way a few times. My heart nearly leaped out of my chest. Too bad I’m already mated. If you’d been there, it might’ve sparked something."

I kept my eyes on the thick gloves I was sewing. The northern territories were harsh, and I wanted to make sure they’d be warm enough.

Milena, seeing my disinterest, quickly added, "I’m sorry, Lucille. I shouldn’t have joked like that."

I finally looked up and gave her a small smile.

She immediately linked her arm with mine. "I mean it. Blake may be impressive, but his sister-in-law, Saoirse, is a handful.

"My mother took me to the Luna’s Moonlight Ceremony yesterday, and Saoirse showed up with Blake, acting like she was his mate. Several of the pack matriarchs were appalled."

It’s no wonder Milena thought Blake wasn’t the problem.

In my past life, I hadn’t seen it either.

Blake, who was always so strict about pack laws and refused to take a mistress, had an unspeakable relationship with his widowed sister-in-law, Saoirse.

If it hadn’t been for Saoirse’s infertility—caused by her overuse of contraceptives—Blake might never have let me bear our child, Harry Nguyen.

It wasn’t until my final moments that I heard Saoirse, tears streaming down her face, say:

"Blake, the thought of you lying beside Lucille in the sacred burial ground makes me wish I could die right now."

Blake’s voice was strained:

"My shared grave with her is just for show. When the time comes, I’ll make sure Harry buries me with you."

Harry, the child I had carried for ten months and nearly died giving birth to, chimed in eagerly:

"Mom, you can trust me. When Dad passes, I’ll find some random rogue’s body to bury with Lucille."

Saoirse finally smiled through her tears: "You’ve always been my good boy."

I was furious, my mind reeling, but as my consciousness faded, I couldn’t even utter a word of protest.

Blake and I had been mates for a lifetime.

Though we had our arguments and misunderstandings, we had always treated each other with respect.

I had only blamed him for worrying about his brother’s legacy, always trying to pass our son to Saoirse, which left me heartbroken.

But I never imagined he and Saoirse had been entangled all along.

I, his rightful Luna, had been nothing more than a convenient cover for them.

They had made a fool of me for an entire lifetime.

And now, here he was, proposing again.

Probably because, after looking around, Blake still thought I was the easiest to deceive.

---

Saoirse was the most beautiful female in the pack.

My brother and I had grown up with her, and we both fell for her as we came of age.

When my brother mated with Saoirse, I threw myself into my training, burying my pain in pack duties.

Only by losing myself in the pack’s ancient rituals could I forget that the one I loved was now my sister-in-law.

To earn the funds for my journey to the central pack lands, my brother joined a dangerous expedition.

But he never returned, lost to the wilderness.

Saoirse wept uncontrollably.

I vowed silently to rise through the ranks and to honor my brother by taking care of Saoirse.

I buried my love for her deep within me, at the foot of my brother’s memorial stone.

She would always be my respected sister-in-law.

Father was the Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack, a respected leader known for his fairness and wisdom. He had always admired those who worked hard to rise through the ranks, especially someone like Blake Nguyen, a Delta from a modest background.

I followed my maid to the grand hall where Father was waiting, his smile warm as he greeted me. “Lucille, this is Blake Nguyen, one of our pack’s most promising warriors.”

Blake’s piercing gaze locked onto mine, his presence commanding and intense. “Lucille,” he said, his voice low and steady.

I didn’t meet his eyes, instead dipping my head in a respectful nod. “Father, the Luna of the Silver Moon Pack, Andrea Thomas, is expecting me. Her car is already outside.”

Andrea Thomas had been my mother’s closest friend before she moved to the northern territories with her mate. She had recently returned to the city to arrange a marking ceremony for her daughter, Milena. As the Luna of a powerful pack, her influence was undeniable, and Father knew better than to interfere with her plans.

He nodded, and I quickly excused myself.

Andrea waited for me in her sleek black car, her expression softening as she saw me. “Lucille, I’ve missed you,” she said, her voice warm. We drove to the sacred pack site, where we lit a candle in memory of my mother.

As the flickering flame danced in the quiet chapel, Andrea turned to me, her eyes glistening with emotion. “Lucille, I still remember the promise your mother and I made—to see our children marked. If you’re willing to leave the city for the north, I’ll speak to Alpha Thomas about arranging a bond with Jared, our Beta. I’ll treat you as my own daughter.”

I reached into my bag and pulled out a pair of thick, handmade gloves. “My mother spoke of this promise before she passed. I’d be honored to join your pack in the north. These gloves are for Jared, a small token of my gratitude.”

Andrea’s face lit up with joy. “I knew you’d understand. The north is a simpler place, and our pack values loyalty above all. Jared may not be the most talkative, but he’s a good man. He’ll treat you well.”

I smiled faintly, my heart heavy with memories of the past.

In my previous life, Andrea had made the same offer, but I’d been too blinded by my feelings for Blake to accept. Back then, I’d thrown a floral-scented token to Blake during a pack run, a gesture that had sealed our fate. When Andrea came to arrange the bond with Jared, I’d hesitated, letting my father accept Blake’s proposal instead.

Andrea had been disappointed but kind, giving me a generous gift and promising, “Lucille, you’ll always have a home in the north. If you ever need anything, just send word.”

I’d been grateful but haunted by guilt, especially when the northern territories were threatened by rogue attacks. I’d donated half my dowry to support their defenses, an act that had strained my bond with Blake for months.

But this time, I wouldn’t make the same mistake. I wouldn’t let Andrea’s kindness go to waste.

---

Later, when my sister-in-law accompanied me to the city, she often spoke of the Alpha’s daughter, Lucille Parker.

“She’s everything a Luna should be,” she’d say, her admiration clear. “Intelligent, graceful, and kind. You should meet her.”

When I finally did, I understood why everyone spoke so highly of her. She was the embodiment of strength and elegance, the kind of female who commanded respect without uttering a word.

She defended me when others mocked my humble background and stood by my sister-in-law when she was ridiculed. Her presence was like a calming breeze, soothing and steady.

So when I was named the pack’s top Delta and led the pack run through the city, my eyes searched for only one face in the crowd.

Lucille.

And when she tossed me that floral-scented token, my heart soared.

She became my mate, and for a time, I thought it was the beginning of a perfect bond.

But fate had other plans.

After discussing the matter, Milena returned from watching the mark ceremony at the front of the temple.

She excitedly showed off the blessed necklace in her hand: “The healer personally blessed this. It’ll definitely bring harmony to my future mating bond.”

Milena, having grown up in the northern territories, spoke about her potential mating without the bashfulness of females from the central packs.

Andrea chuckled, scolding her lightly before turning to encourage me:

“Milena might be cheeky, but she’s not wrong. It’s rare to encounter a healer performing such a ritual. Lucille, you should go and ask for a blessing too.”

After my past life, I no longer held any illusions about a harmonious mating bond.

As long as Jared treated me with the respect due to his Luna, I would strive to fulfill my role as his mate—raising our pups and managing the pack’s affairs.

But when I thought of how he had sacrificed his life defending the northern territories in my past life, I stood up under Andrea’s hopeful gaze. I decided to ask the healer for a protection charm for Jared—

The Beta who guarded our pack deserved to live a long life.

Yet, on the way, I unexpectedly ran into Blake.

He was dressed in a crisp white shirt, his presence as striking as ever. No wonder he was the Alpha who turned heads wherever he went.

But the mere thought of his past entanglement with Saoirse made my stomach churn.

Blake seemed unaffected by my cold demeanor, blocking my path.

“Lucille, I accompanied my brother’s widow here for the ceremony. Unfortunately, there’s no private room left in the temple. Could I trouble you to let her share your mother’s space?”

“No,” I replied without hesitation, my voice icy.

Blake, however, looked as though he’d received some great news, his eyes lighting up with a mix of surprise and relief.

I immediately felt uneasy and sidestepped him, continuing on my way.

But before I could get far, Blake called out again: “Lily.”

I froze.

That was the name he’d given me in our past life, a name only he used.

He had also returned.

Blake, seeing me pause, grew even more animated:

“I knew it. You’re back too. Lily, your father said he’d ask for your opinion. Once you agree, we can be together again.”

I turned to face him, my eyes narrowing with thinly veiled anger:

“Before today, we were strangers. Alpha Blake, please maintain some dignity.”

Blake’s expression faltered for a moment.

After a brief silence, he shook his head and smiled with renewed confidence:

“You can’t fool me. You’ve always been gentle and kind, especially toward my brother’s widow. If it hadn’t been for… well, I wouldn’t have considered letting Harry stay with her. You wouldn’t have carried that resentment.

“Don’t worry. This time, I’ll make sure Harry stays with you, raised under your care.”

When I didn’t respond, Blake’s voice softened further:

“Saoirse didn’t come today. I was just testing you.”

I was momentarily stunned.

The Blake before me seemed like a completely different person.

In my past life, when I had tearfully told him how Harry refused to call me “Mother” and instead addressed me by my full name, he hadn’t been so understanding.

Back then, he’d been impatient: “I told you to let Saoirse adopt him, but you refused. Now he doesn’t acknowledge you. What’s the point of forcing it?”

I had opened my mouth to retort but found myself speechless.

Harry had been barely a month old when Blake, under the guise of letting me recover, took him to Saoirse’s quarters.

If Saoirse hadn’t been whispering poison into Harry’s ear, he would never have refused to call me “Mother.”

Later, Harry even suggested: “Uncle has no heir. If you won’t let me be adopted, then let Father take on a second mate and marry Aunt Saoirse.”

At the time, I hadn’t known about their affair, nor that I would never be able to have another pup. After much deliberation, I’d finally agreed to the adoption.

It wasn’t until my dying moments that I discovered Saoirse had been bribing the pack staff to slip contraceptives into my food.

With that in mind, I no longer cared to understand why Blake had changed his tune.

This life, I wanted nothing to do with him.

I simply smiled at him: “Alpha Blake, I have no idea what you’re talking about. In case you weren’t aware, I’m already in talks for a mating arrangement. My father’s comment about asking for my opinion was merely a formality.”

Blake’s confident smile cracked at the edges.

---

After our mark ceremony, I became pregnant quickly.

I cherished Lucille deeply, promising her I would never take another mate.

But on the anniversary of my brother’s death, Saoirse had too much to drink.

She mistook me for him, shedding her clothes and pressing herself against me.

I knew I should have refused.

Perhaps it was because Lucille and I hadn’t shared a bed in so long…

Or maybe I, too, was drunk.

More likely, it was because my lingering feelings for Saoirse had reignited.

Whatever the reason, we spent the night as mates.