Chapter 2

Under the weight of countless shocked stares, I turned and strode away. No hesitation. No regrets.

Having been reborn, the very first thing I wanted to do was initiate the Lunar Verdict at that high-profile inauguration ceremony and sever the mate bond between me and Alpha Isaac.

But I couldn't get into the banquet. I would have to find another way.

Returning to my quarters in the pack house, I stripped off the starlight gown I had painstakingly crafted to match the color of Alpha Isaac's eyes.

I was known throughout the Sterling Ridge Pack as Alpha Isaac's pathetic shadow.

When it came to anything concerning Alpha Isaac, I was always the first to notice, the first to give without asking for anything in return.

I would arrange every tiny detail for him, just hoping for a single glance in my direction.

More than once, Alpha Isaac had complained about how tiring it was to manage the pack, saying he wanted to relax in the northern mountains.

So, coordinating with his schedule, I secretly prepared all the alchemical potions and supplies needed for a trip to the northern mountains.

Because he said the moonlight there was the purest, most suitable for a wolf's run.

But in my last life, Alpha Isaac never went to the mountains with me.

He chose to vacation on a southern island with Fallon instead.

I, on the other hand, was ordered to stay behind and organize the pack's old archives.

That night, rogues attacked the pack. I was scratched while protecting the archives, and the wound became a festering silver burn.

I spent two months in the healing center. When he returned, he just complained that I reeked of medicine.

That feeling, of your life plunging into hell while your mate finds you disgusting—I would never experience it again.

Getting away from Alpha Isaac was the first step.

I quickly packed my alchemical materials and my few belongings, preparing to head downstairs.

Alpha Isaac burst in, his black formal wear disheveled, reeking of alcohol.

Seeing my suitcase, he sneered. With a flick of his wrist, a wave of his Alpha power ripped the suitcase from my grasp and slammed it violently against the wall.

The suitcase burst open on impact. My alchemical materials and a few items of clothing scattered across the floor.

My brow furrowed. "Isaac, what are you doing?"

"Ayla, I should be asking what you're doing!"

"Running away from home? Ayla, how old are you?"

"What's next? Starve yourself? Let your wolf waste away just to threaten me?"

Alpha Isaac's breath was ragged, his eyes filled with disgust as he hurled accusations at me.

"Ayla, you're not a pup anymore. Stop thinking you can threaten me into accepting you by leaving the pack!"

I stared at my ruined luggage on the floor. The last flicker of hope in my heart died out.

"Who said I was threatening you?"

People like him and Fallon—one a hypocrite, the other cruel—were living just fine.

I had been lucky enough to get a second chance at life. Why would I waste another ounce of emotion on them?

Alpha Isaac scoffed, his eyes full of contempt, as if he was certain I couldn't live without him.

Fallon drifted in after him, a vision of delicate innocence in a white dress.

"Ayla, if you wanted to attend the inauguration, you could have just talked it out with Isaac. You have a mate bond; he wouldn't really keep you out."

"Running away like this is fine once. Twice is just being theatrical."

Fallon's words were laced with insinuation, mocking the foolish things I had done in the past to win his attention.

Alpha Isaac's gaze grew even more disgusted, now edged with a hint of murderous intent.

My memories churned.

I suddenly remembered something.

After Alpha Isaac got together with Fallon, his attitude toward me changed completely.

It was as if I were something filthy.

In my anger, I had once prayed to the Moon Goddess, begging her to sever this painful bond.

Fallon twisted this into me cursing their love.

From then on, Alpha Isaac hated me, ignored me, and refused to communicate through our mind-link.

Fallon's little clique isolated and bullied me during training, and he turned a blind eye to all of it.

I met Alpha Isaac's gaze, my voice steady. "You're overthinking it. I'm not threatening you. I'm packing my things because I'm moving to the workshop at the border. I'm applying to leave the pack."

Alpha Isaac snorted, as if I were making up a clumsy excuse to save face.

Fallon tugged on Alpha Isaac's sleeve, her voice sickeningly sweet.

"Isaac, why don't we let Ayla stay? She's just an Omega. The border is too dangerous. What if she runs into rogues?"

Isaac's brow furrowed, as if weighing the pros and cons. After all, his parents, the former Alpha couple, still cared about my well-being.

I refused again. "No, thank you. I've already filled out the application."

Isaac's handsome features twisted into a derisive sneer. "Did you hear that? She wants to go to the border and die!"

"Ayla, stop this nonsense. Your inner wolf is so weak, you wouldn't survive three days out there."

Fallon sighed and stepped forward, feigning intimacy by linking her arm with mine.

Out of Isaac's line of sight, she twisted her hand, and a poisoned needle hidden in her ring pricked my flesh.

My wolf, Fen, roared in anger. A sharp pain shot through me. I instinctively shoved Fallon away.

She staggered back a few steps and collapsed onto the floor, looking up at me with a wounded expression.

"Ayla, you... I was just trying to show you I care..."