Returning to my room, I saw the wedding dress hanging on the rack again, but this time, it didn’t bring me joy—only pain. The vibrant red, once a symbol of hope, now felt like it was stained with the blood of my past.

In every life, I had been the loyal daughter of a respected Delta, destined to suffer. At six, I lost my father. The Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack granted me the title of Luna’s ward, a hollow comfort. At ten, my mother, the pack’s healer, was taken from me. At sixteen, I met Isaac Garcia, the Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack, and felt the mate bond for the first time. At eighteen, I became his Luna, believing I was fulfilling my destiny.

In the first life, I poured everything into helping him secure his position as Alpha, only to die on the battlefield, sacrificing myself to protect his reputation. In the second life, I avoided that fate but was captured by rogues while accompanying him to a neighboring pack. They tortured me, and I died in agony.

This time, I was determined to break the cycle. From a young age, I begged Augustine, my mentor, to train me in combat. My hands bled from the relentless training, but I didn’t stop. When I met Isaac, I fought by his side, earning him victories and accolades, elevating him to Alpha faster than in my previous lives. But last night, everything shattered. All my efforts felt like a cruel joke.

I finally understood why Augustine always said the trials of love were the hardest to endure. If this was my fate, so be it. I wouldn’t fight it anymore.

The next morning, I went through the motions of the mark ceremony, just as I had in my past life. After the final ritual, I was led to our shared room, but instead of waiting for him, I tore off the ceremonial veil and slipped out the door.

I saw Isaac striding toward the pack’s training grounds and followed him. Behind a cluster of trees, I found him with Halle Crawford, the daughter of a neighboring Alpha. He pulled her into his arms, their kisses desperate and hungry.

“Halle, quiet,” he murmured, his voice low but carrying through the night. “Someone might hear.”

“Let them hear,” she replied, her voice filled with arrogance. “I’m the daughter of an Alpha. Who would dare challenge me?”

Her eyes met mine, and a cruel smile spread across her face. My tears fell, but she only laughed louder, her voice mocking me.

“Alpha,” she purred, “do you love her or me?”

Isaac didn’t hesitate. “You, Halle. Only you. I’ve only ever loved you.”

“Then why keep her by your side for two years?”

“Because of you,” he admitted, his voice tinged with frustration. “Every time you pushed me away, I needed someone who reminded me of you. Her scent… it was the closest I could get to yours.”

My heart shattered, the pain so intense I tasted blood in my mouth. Even that—the one thing I thought was ours—was a lie. He had never loved me. I was just a shadow, a placeholder for someone he truly desired.

I turned away, my legs trembling as I stumbled back to my room. The mate bond, once a source of strength, now felt like a chain, binding me to a man who had never truly been mine.

At sixteen, I stood by the bridge, humming a melody under the moonlight. The crisp night air carried my voice, soft yet clear, as it mingled with the distant rustle of leaves.

When the last note faded, there he was—Isaac Garcia.

His presence was commanding, his aura unmistakably Alpha, though he carried himself with a casual grace. His eyes, sharp and piercing, locked onto mine with an intensity that made my heart skip a beat.

“Your voice,” he said, his tone low and smooth, “it’s like the howl of the wind through the mountains—haunting, unforgettable.” He stepped closer, his scent—a mix of pine and something uniquely his—washing over me. “I’m Isaac Garcia. And you, Aria Herrera, have captivated me.”

In that moment, the world seemed to shrink to just the two of us. My wolf stirred within me, a quiet whisper of recognition, but I pushed it aside. All I could think of was him, of the way his presence seemed to anchor me in a way I hadn’t felt since losing my parents.

But now, as I stood hidden behind the shadows of the packhouse, I watched him with Halle Crawford in his arms. Their kiss was deep, passionate, a display of intimacy that felt like a knife twisting in my chest. I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms, as I fought to keep my breathing steady. My wolf whimpered, a sound of pain and betrayal that echoed in the recesses of my mind.

When they finally parted, Isaac’s voice was soft, almost tender. “It’s late, Halle. I should return to my mate.”

Halle’s laugh was light, but her eyes gleamed with triumph. “Of course, Alpha. Don’t keep her waiting.”

She didn’t leave, though. I knew she was waiting for me, and I stepped out from the shadows, my head bowed in a show of submission.

“Omega,” she said, her tone dripping with mockery. “It’s not polite to spy on your superiors.”

“My apologies, Luna,” I murmured, keeping my eyes downcast.

She smirked, her voice laced with venom. “Remember your place, Aria. He’s mine in every way that matters.”

I waited until her footsteps faded before I moved, my body trembling with a mix of anger and resolve. I returned to the room where Isaac and I were supposed to begin our life as mates. The air was heavy with the scent of pine and the faint trace of Halle’s wolf scent—sharp and commanding, like betrayal.

I picked up the discarded veil from the floor, the fabric dusty and forgotten, and placed it over my head. Moments later, Isaac entered, his presence filling the room. He moved to lift the veil, his expression soft, almost loving, as if the past hour hadn’t happened.

“Aria,” he whispered, his voice warm. “You’re mine now. I’ve waited so long for this.”

His fingers brushed under my chin, tilting my face up to meet his. His eyes, still as mesmerizing as the first time I’d seen him, searched mine. But this time, I saw beyond the charm, beyond the facade.

As he leaned in, his lips inches from mine, I pushed him back, my hands steady despite the turmoil inside me.

“Alpha,” I said, forcing a smile. “We haven’t had our marking ceremony yet.”

His lips curved into that familiar, charming grin. He reached for the glasses I’d prepared, his movements smooth and unhurried. He wrapped his arms around me from behind, his breath warm against my ear as he brought the glass to my lips. I drank, the liquid bitter on my tongue, and watched as he downed his own glass.

Within moments, his body slumped, the wine laced with a sedative taking effect. I struggled to drag him to the bed, my strength waning with every step. Beneath the sheets lay Halle, unconscious from the blow I’d delivered earlier.

I lit the incense, its scent heavy and cloying, filling the room with an artificial warmth. My hands trembled as I adjusted the blankets, my heart aching with every breath.

I took one last look at Isaac, the man I’d once thought would be my everything, and stepped out of the room. The night air hit me like a wave, cold and unforgiving, as I walked away from the life I’d thought I wanted.