"Rhea, you're asking for death!"

Alpha Asher's reaction is violent. His wolf aura explodes. He shoves me with even greater force.

My head slams into the stair railing. Pain explodes, vision swimming.

I hear Asher's furious shout,that distinctive Alpha roar.

"Rhea, you're addicted to bullying people?!"

"Being around a vicious Omega like you makes the whole Pack house reek. You disgust me!"

I hold the wall, stand slowly, try to stop his increasingly vicious words.

"I'll move out. Right now. Don't worry."

"You better mean it."

Alpha Asher's anger lodges in his throat, like he didn't expect me to agree so readily.

He glares at me, then scoops Elena up and walks away, cradling her like some priceless treasure.

I touch the sticky warmth at the back of my head. It's blood,red, fresh blood. Not Wolfsbane juice.

Back when things between Alpha Asher and me weren't this bad, when we learned we were fated Mates, when we knew we'd bond eventually,I always clung to him.

He was rebellious. Snuck into bars to drink. I followed.

Later, he got into a territorial dispute with wolves from a rival Pack.

I tried to break up the fight. Got hurt by accident. Cut my finger.

In that instant, Alpha Asher turned into a vicious beast.

Beat a guy twice his size until he begged for mercy,all because someone made me bleed.

But the man who once panicked over a paper cut on my finger now hurts me for someone else. Calls me worthless. Tells me to die.

Doesn't matter anymore.

When the former Alpha couple returns and my transfer application gets approved, I can finally end this mistake of a Mate Bond.

I glance at the Omega servant nearby, force my lips into something resembling a smile.

"Can you call the Pack doctor for me? I can pay you."

The new young maid moves forward, but an older servant yanks her back.

Their hushed conversation, despite their efforts to whisper, reaches my wolf ears crystal clear.

"Are you insane?!"

"Don't you know Alpha Asher hates this woman?"

"If he sees you helping her, you'll lose your job and get exiled from the Pack!"

The young maid freezes, glances at me once more, then lowers her head and runs.

I shake my head, bitter smile on my lips. I crawl to the corner, pick up my shattered phone.

The former Alpha couple travels year-round, searching for ways to strengthen the Pack.

They're home maybe three or four days a month.

Alpha Asher's the only master here. He's said it more than once.

I'm not true Moonstone blood. My problems are my own.

So no one dares come near me.

Every time I come home, leftovers get dumped and tied up in the trash, even if I haven't eaten yet.

The plates on the table sit empty. Not even a mouthful of hot soup.

But I'm used to it.

I drag myself to the Pack's healing center.

The Pack doctor examines my wound, shakes his head. Says I have a head injury—not severe, but I need to stay for observation for two days. He applies herbal dressing.

After discharge, I return to the Pack house to gather my things. This time, no one stops me.

The servants watch coldly as I struggle alone, like I'm invisible.

That afternoon, I pack everything, load it onto a secondhand pickup truck.

I bought it with years of saved pocket money.

I'm going to the border. It's near Rogue territory, but it's freedom.

Three days after leaving the Pack house, Alpha Asher calls. His voice sounds drunk, background noise chaotic.

"Where are you?"

"Moonlight Bar. Top floor VIP room. Come pick me up."

I'm busy repairing the border cottage roof. The interruption breaks my focus. Irritation flares.

"Alpha Asher, what do you want?"

Silence on the other end. Like he didn't expect me to use his full name.

Even the playful noise around him quiets down.

I say hello again. No answer. I'm about to hang up.

Alpha Asher speaks suddenly, voice tinged with anger.

"Rhea, where are you?"

I set down the hammer, wipe sweat from my forehead, answer casually.

"Didn't you say living under the same roof with me made even the air disgusting? So I moved out."

"Don't worry. I won't come back. I already submitted the application to the Pack transfer administration center."

The man's breathing grows heavier. He laughs coldly.

"Rhea, since when are you so obedient?"

"Wasn't it you who used to cling desperately?"

"Since you're so fucking obedient, I told you to get out of my sight. Can you actually disappear for good?!"

"Rhea, I don't care what game you're playing. If you keep doing inappropriate things to Elena, I won't let you off!"

The wind on the roof is strong. It makes me cold. I stare at the distant forest.

After a moment, I realize how absurd Alpha Asher's words are.

His mocking voice continues.

"What, nothing to say?"

"Playing these little tricks every day,aren't you bored?"

"Apologize to Elena. Then I'll allow you to come back and sleep in the servant's quarters."

I speak slowly, voice so calm even my wolf Lucy seems surprised.

"Fine. I promise, Alpha Asher. I'll leave completely."

I hang up before he can respond. Turn off my phone.

I settle into the border cottage.

No busy Pack center life here. No one mocking me.

My transfer paperwork to Shadow Claw Pack comes through.

I submit a job application to Shadow Claw Pack through their online portal.

With my research on ancient wolf language, I quickly receive an offer to translate old texts.

Having independent work,that was what I wanted most last lifetime.

I'm nervous as hell, but the acceptance email arrives fast.

I passed. Shadow Claw Pack is known for tolerance. They don't care about my origins.

I sit in my beat-up pickup, excitement bubbling as I head toward the new territory.

Getting away from Alpha Asher makes me giddy. Even Lucy's tail wags happily in my mind.

Just as I reach Shadow Claw Pack's border, Alpha Asher's voice forces its way through the Mind-link.

Only with an unbroken Mate Bond can he harass me across distances like this.

"Rhea, where are you?"

My good mood evaporates like cold water dumped over flames. My head throbs.

"What do you want? I'm busy."

Alpha Asher's voice grows colder. "My parents are back. They're calling you home for dinner."

I return to Moonstone Pack by evening.

Four people sit at the table.

The former Alpha couple, Alpha Asher, and Elena. Everyone's expression looks off.

While I was gone, they must've argued about something.

I walk in, face neutral. Don't bow to Alpha Asher.

Alpha Asher's gaze sweeps over me. For some reason, he throws down his fork and heads upstairs.

"Not eating. Meat's too salty. I'm sick of it."

Elena chases after him. As she passes me, she lifts her chin smugly.

I sit beside the former Alpha and Luna without a word.

They awkwardly make excuses for Alpha Asher, say he's stressed from the succession.

I look at the two people who've been like parents to me.

Last lifetime, when they learned Alpha Asher sent me to the black market and that my wolf had been stripped away, they tried to rescue me.

But Pack authority belonged to Alpha Asher by then.

As retired elders, they couldn't truly interfere with the new Alpha's decisions.

I don't blame them. I blame myself for being stupid. For mistaking trash for treasure.

I speak softly, voice firm.

"Father. Mother. I've thought about this for a long time."

"Asher and I aren't compatible. Not just because he doesn't like me, but because I'm tired of chasing too."

"Rather than becoming bitter mates torturing each other, we should give each other freedom."

"Let's sever the Mate Bond through the ceremony. I'm willing to accept the Reject."

The former Luna's face goes rigid. Tears glisten in her eyes. The napkin in her hand drops to the floor.

"Rhea, does it really have to come to this? The pain of rejection lasts a lifetime."

I nod firmly. "Better to suffer once than drag it out."

Resolving the issue I've carried since rebirth, I don't want to hesitate anymore.

My whole body feels light. Just saying it out loud makes the air feel cleaner.

Before I leave, I return to my old room, wanting to grab a photo album I forgot last time.

Elena blocks my path. Stands at the top of the stairs.

"Rhea, can you give Asher back to me?"

"I already have his mark. We haven't completed the final ceremony yet, but we truly love each other."

Her eyes redden. She looks pitiful. Heavy perfume wafts from her body.

I frown, instinctively step back, don't want her scent on me.

Elena's smile turns strange. A small silver dagger suddenly appears in her hand.

She grabs my hand, drags the blade viciously across her own arm. Blood gushes out immediately.

"Rhea, don't kill me!"

"Help! Asher! Rhea's trying to kill me with a silver knife!"

"It hurts!"

Elena screams, collapses to the floor, clutching her arm. Blood flows freely. The silver's burn makes her face go white.

Alpha Asher runs out of his study. Sees this scene. His wolf nearly tears free.

He slaps me. The force splits my lip. Blood fills my mouth.

"Rhea, you're fucking evil!"

"People said you were jealous, and I thought they exaggerated. But now I've seen it with my own eyes. What excuse do you have?!"

"If it weren't for you, Elena and I would've been together ages ago. Why do you keep getting in our way?!"

The former Alpha couple emerge from the dining room, shocked by the scene.

Elena sobs louder. "My hand... will I still be able to shift?"

Alpha Asher demands viciously, "Dad, Mom, see? This is the Mate you chose for me. A murderer!"

After the pain comes dizziness, ears ringing. Lucy roars in my mind, wants to tear them apart.

Watching Alpha Asher's grief-stricken face, like the whole world betrayed him, I don't even think.

I slap him back. Twice. With everything I have.

"Don't worry. Starting today, I'm not your problem anymore."

"I, Rhea, reject you, Asher, as my Mate."