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🔥 I died nine times—each time by his hand. Alpha Damien of the Crimson Pack. The most dangerous man I'd ever known. I once dreamed of a peaceful life with my mate and twin sister… but fate had other plans. They shattered my world. Now, in my tenth life… ------------------- I had died nine times. And every single time, it had been by his hand. Alpha Damien of the Crimson Pack. The most dangerous man I had ever laid eyes on. The scene had always begun the same way, his sword pressed to my throat, his cold blue eyes pinning me where I knelt. The final strike had always come, his blade slicing through flesh, blood spilling down my chest as I drew my last breath. You might have wondered why, if I had gone back nine times, I couldn’t stop it. Why I couldn’t change the ending. The truth was cruel. I remembered nothing of my past lives until that very moment, until I saw Damien’s blade at my throat. That was when it all crashed back, the nine deaths, my life flashing before my eyes, again and again. My chest heaved. My hand clamped over the wound in my stomach, trying to hold in what was already spilling out. Around me, the battlefield was silent except for the groans of the dying. All my men were gone. Damien towered over me, tall and merciless, his armor slick with blood. There wasn’t a scratch on him. His face was blank and emotionless as always, those cold blue eyes slicing into me without a hint of pity. He looked at me the way one looks at a wounded animal, seconds before delivering the final blow. The cold-blooded monster was about to end my life. “Aww,” someone jeered behind him, a faceless soldier who had watched me die too many times. “She is still fighting to live. How sad.” Another soldier laughed. “Hahaha. Sad indeed. The mighty Luna, leading her people into war, while her mate sits in his castle, drinking and his pleasures. How dumb is she?” A third voice chimed in. “Do we even need to kill her? Look at her. She’s beautiful. We could take her back, keep her as our slave. Imagine that, the Luna of Mooncrest on her knees for us.” Dirty words were thrown at me. My fists trembled against the dirt, nails digging into my palms. My throat ached, my breath ragged, but I stayed silent. On any other day, I would have spat blood in their faces, and cursed them. I was the Luna. I would not allow anyone to insult me. But I’d learned. Every time I rose to defend my honor, Damien cut me down. That was one of the ways I died. And Gods, I was so tired. So I let them speak. Let them drag my name through the filth. I didn’t raise my eyes, or waste my strength. My silence enraged one of them. Boots crunched against the blood-soaked ground as he stormed closer. “Who the are you to ignore me, you whore?” His hand lifted, ready to strike me across the face. But before his palm could fall, Damien turned his head and fixed his gaze on him. The soldier froze immediately. His hand dropped at once. Not even his own men defied him. I lifted my gaze just enough to look at them, then lowered it again. My voice came out quiet. “Kill me.” Silence. They all paused, eyes widening. One muttered in disbelief, “Did she just… ask us to kill her?” Another scoffed, uneasy. “She was fighting like a demon moments ago. Why the sudden change?” Damien’s sword never moved from my throat. His head tilted, curiosity glinting in his icy stare as he studied me. “You wish for death?” His voice was calm, almost amused. “Why?” I didn’t answer. My gaze stayed fixed on the ground, the blood pooling at my knees. “Why, Luna of the Mooncrest Pack?” he pressed again. Why? Because I was tired. Because every life, every struggle, every desperate fight had always led me here. I was weary of struggling against fate only to meet the same end. I swallowed. My lips trembled, but the truth slipped out anyway. “Because I’m tired of fighting,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “You’re going to end it, no matter what I do… so just be quick with it.” I felt his gaze burn into me. I didn’t dare look up. If I saw his eyes now, if I faced him in this state, I would despise myself for being so weak. The blade pressed closer to my throat. I swallowed hard, my pulse racing. Gods, I was terrified. I didn’t want to die again. But what choice did I have? I closed my eyes. Please, let it be quick this time. Every other time had hurt too much. The weight of the sword shifted. I braced myself for the cut, but instead, I heard the sound of the blade lowering. My eyes flew open. I froze. Huh? Around me, everyone was silent. Damien’s soldiers were also confused as they stared at their alpha. He stood there, blade resting at his side, his face as cold and unreadable as ever. “W-what are you…?” My voice shook as I looked up at him in disbelief. His eyes narrowed. “You want to die?” His lips curled, but it wasn’t a smile. “That is rather amusing. The look in your eyes… you’re terrified of death, yet you beg for it. I’ve never seen anyone like you before.” I swallowed, my throat dry. Damien tilted his head, studying me like a puzzle. Then, he said, “Very well. I’ll give you a chance to live. If you can survive today, you’ll keep your life.” My heart stuttered. I wasn’t sure I’d heard him right. “Jason,” Damien called. “Yes, Alpha,” replied a striking man with blonde hair, his beta. “Hand me my bow.” Jason obeyed swiftly, placing the weapon in Damien’s hands. The Alpha strung an arrow, then leveled it at me. “I’ll give you one minute to run,” he said. “Then my men and I will fire. If you can escape, we won’t hunt you down.” The soldiers laughed. Their eyes lit with delight. To them, I wasn’t a Luna anymore. I was their prey. My chest tightened. Every instinct screamed at me to stay down, to let it end here before they could play their cruel game. But this had never happened before. Not once in my nine lives had he ever spared me, let alone offered me a way out. My body shook. My mind told me to give up. But somewhere deep inside, I still had hope. I didn’t want to die. I wanted to live. Damien’s head tilted slightly, his blue eyes glinting. “If I were you,” he said. “I’d be running.” My teeth sank into my lip. My legs felt heavy, but I forced them to move. Then I turned and ran. Behind me, his voice counted down. When the first arrows whistled through the air, I didn’t stop. Even as they tore into my flesh, even as pain seared through me, I kept running. I ran because for the first time in all my lives, I had a chance. 2| Alpha Damien doesn’t spare anyone Selene I staggered forward. My legs felt like they no longer belonged to me, but I forced them to move. I couldn’t stop. My breaths came fast, my vision blurring, but I pushed through the haze. I did it. I really did it. I escaped death. Even though I was still bleeding, broken, hanging by a thread, I knew if I got treatment, I could make it. I could heal, and live. The thought made a faint smile tug at my lips. I looked up and saw the gates of the castle. My home. It was guarded by familiar men in armor. Relief flooded me so hard it nearly dropped me to my knees. ‘We did it, Mira. We’re almost home.’ Mira didn’t answer. My wolf had been silent since the battle. She was a white wolf, one of the strongest in existence, yet when I needed her most, she had vanished just like every other time in my past lives. Still, I knew she was there, watching, helping in her own way. If not for her, I would already be dead. I didn’t understand her silence, but I told myself that once I was healed, she’d come back to me. My body swayed as I stumbled toward the gate. One of the guards narrowed his eyes, then shouted, “Huh? Something’s approaching! Raise your arrows!” “Who are you?! State your business!” I threw up a trembling hand, my voice hoarse. “Hold! Don’t shoot. It’s me, I’m Luna Selene.” The men froze, blinking at me in shock. I couldn’t blame them. I must’ve looked nothing like myself, covered in blood, staggering like a beggar at death’s door instead of the graceful Luna they were used to. I braced my hands on my knees, gasping for air, then forced myself upright. My eyes locked on them. “What are you waiting for? Open the gates. Tell Adrian I’m back.” The guards didn’t move. Instead, they exchanged looks with one another. And then, slowly, they lifted their bows and aimed them at me. I blinked, disbelieving. My heart stumbled in my chest. “W-what are you doing?” I stared at the men, my body swaying, my chest burning with every ragged breath. One of them stepped forward, his voice hard. “On your knees. You’ve been ordered to be taken into custody.” My eyes widened. “W-what do you mean, taken into custody? What are you doing? Can’t you see I’m injured?” My voice cracked. “I’ll die if I’m not treated. Call Adrian this instant! If Adrian knew what you were doing, he would never tolerate this disrespect!” A guard scoffed, his lips curling into a mocking smile. “Yeah, right. On your knees, Selene Bloodrose.” The full name hit me like a slap. No one dared call the Luna by her full name. I frowned, confused. This was wrong. They knew who I was. They knew my title. And yet, they dared point arrows at me? I opened my mouth to demand answers, but the gates creaked open. I turned, relieved to see Adrian stepping out. He looked as breathtaking as always, long black hair tied back neatly, his red robes flowing, a golden crown glinting atop his head. My Alpha, my mate. The reason I fought this war to begin with. At his side walked my twin sister, Sienna. She was one of the few people who had always stood by me, supported me, and loved me no matter what. Walking behind them were more guards. Adrian’s steps were slow. He stopped in front of me. My knees nearly buckled, but I exhaled in relief. Thank god. I smiled. “A-Adrian… thank god you’re here. These men are talking nonsense. They won’t let me in, they say I’m to be taken into custody. I know it must be a mistake.” I clutched at my bleeding side. “But I don’t mind, I'm just so tired, Adrian. I need treatment. Please, just—” I stopped when something caught my eye. I blinked. My sister was wearing a golden, embroidered robe with the mark of Luna. The Luna robe. My heart stuttered, and my blood ran cold. “W-what… what is this?” My voice was no more than a whisper. I forced my gaze to Adrian, searching for reassurance. “Why is she wearing that?” He didn’t move, didn't even react to the state I was in. He only stood there, eyes unreadable. My lips trembled as I licked them, tasting blood. “Adrian… what’s going on?” Adrian’s eyes met mine. “How did you manage to survive?” I blinked. My breath caught in my throat. “W-what?” “How did you survive, Selene? And where are the troops that were sent with you?” My mouth went dry. I swallowed hard, my body swaying on my feet. I didn’t know what to say. My thoughts were muddled, spinning with exhaustion and blood loss. Sienna’s voice rang out beside him. “Sister, the Alpha asked you a question. Why are you so quiet? Do you not have an answer?” She tapped her chin as if in thought, her lips curving. “Or… could it be that you used your troops as a distraction and escaped by yourself?” My eyes widened. I stared at her in disbelief. “W-what are you saying, Sienna?” A distraction? I would never do that.” One of the guards sneered. “What? You mean she abandoned them? Used her own soldiers to cover her retreat?” He spat at the ground. “Coward.” I shook my head desperately. “No! I said that’s not true! I didn’t use anybody to escape!” Adrian’s voice was merciless. “Then how did you escape? Why would that cold-hearted demon let you live?” I wanted to scream at him that I was dying, that he could at least let me rest before forcing me to answer, but I bit the words back. All I could do was force out the truth through trembling lips. “I… I don’t know,” I whispered. “He just let me go. Everyone else is dead, but he didn’t kill me.” Sienna laughed. A mocking chuckle that didn’t sound like my sister at all. “But why would he let you go, sister? From what I’ve heard, Alpha Damien doesn’t spare anyone. He kills everyone who stands in his way. Oh, unless…” She gasped dramatically, her hand flying to her mouth in shock. “Unless you let him and his men inside you. Is that why he let you go?” My blood boiled at her vile remark. “Enough!” I snapped, my voice thundering with my Luna command. Sienna stumbled back, her smug smile faltering. Even in my state, I could still put her in her place. “Don’t make such disgusting assumptions!” I roared, my chest heaving. “I would rather die than let them touch me!” I turned toward Adrian, my gaze desperate, and pleading. “You have to believe me, Adrian. That’s what happened.” For a moment, he only stared. His cold green eyes searched mine, but there was no warmth there. “It doesn’t matter.” My breath hitched. “W-what?” “It doesn’t matter what happened out there. What matters is that you weren’t supposed to make it out alive, Selene.” The ground tilted beneath me. “What are you saying…?” “I thought I was sparing you,” he continued. “I thought it would be kinder to let you die in battle than to reject you before the entire pack and bury you in shame. But you didn’t die in battle. So I have no choice but to do this.” “I, Adrian Blackthorn, Alpha of the Mooncrest Pack, reject you, Selene Bloodrose, as my mate.” 3| Reject me already, Selene Selene Everything felt like a dream. A terrible nightmare I couldn’t wake from. I didn’t know what was worse, dying at the hands of a monster, or hearing my mate say that. Adrian was my mate, the Alpha of the Mooncrest Pack. I was a daughter of the priestess family, a family that served the Moon Goddess directly. I had always been different. My hair was proof of it, half black, half white. A curse, they said. The priestesses were supposed to bear only white hair, the mark of purity. But I was an outcast before I had even learned to walk. It didn’t matter to me. All I had wanted was happiness. I wanted a bond with my mate. When I found out my mate was the Alpha himself, I was overjoyed. I felt our bond. Even when Adrian barely noticed me, even when he was cold, distant, and indifferent, I was still happy. Because he was mine. And I believed that one day he might love me back. So I gave him everything. I worked, I bled, I devoted myself to being the perfect Luna. I did my duty so well I lost myself in it, and the few people who truly cared for me. I went to war for him against Alpha Damien, the demon who killed me life after life. And not once, did I ever blame Adrian. Even knowing it was always his orders, that led me to my death. Even then, I was happy that he was safe. How foolish. All my sacrifices, my love was all for nothing. I escaped death, only to suffer this. My breaths came shallow. And then I felt our little bond shattering. My knees buckled, my body shaking. A tear slipped down my cheek, then another, until I couldn’t stop them anymore. “Say it, Selene,” Adrian growled. I lifted my head, trembling, my lips parting, but what came out was a broken whisper. “D-Damien…” “Say it,” he repeated, harder this time. “After you say it, you’ll be treated. Then you’ll be exiled from this pack. That is all I can do for you.” I stared at the man I had loved for so many years. My vision blurred with tears, my heart screaming as I looked down at my hand, still clutching the wound that refused to stop bleeding. My voice cracked as I whispered, “After everything I’ve done for you… after all the love I’ve given you, how could you do this to me?” My body shook. “I went to war for you. I gave my life, my soul, my dedication to you.” “Why would you do this to me… when all I’ve ever given you is love?” For a moment, something flickered in Adrian’s gaze. But as quickly as it came, it vanished. His expression hardened again. He opened his mouth, as if to speak, but Sienna stepped forward first. “Adrian didn’t mean it, Selene.” My brow furrowed. Adrian. The way she said his name was too intimate. My stomach twisted. Why was she saying it like that? The truth struck me. I turned my eyes on them both, my heart pounding so loud I could hear nothing else. When Sienna caught my stare, she smirked, lips curving in triumph, as if she was happy I’d finally pieced it together. My breath hitched. My head shook violently. “I-Impossible,” I whispered. “Impossible, you wouldn’t do this to me. You wouldn’t…” Neither of them spoke, or denied it. Sienna placed her hand on Adrian’s arm, claiming him. “Yes,” she said. “Whatever you’re thinking is correct, sister.” She leaned closer to him. “Adrian and I are together. We have been for a long time. We only kept it hidden to spare you, and avoid hurting you, but we couldn’t hide anymore. We love each other too much. I know you’ll understand, Selene. You’ve always been the understanding type.” Her voice was sweet, but I could hear the venom beneath it. And just like that, whatever fragile pieces of hope or humanity I had left shattered into dust. My mate, and my sister. The two people I had loved, trusted were together all along. And instead of facing me, they had thrown me to Damien’s claws, hoping he would tear me apart in their stead. Adrian sighed, his face bored, as though everything was nothing more than an inconvenience. “Don’t waste my time. Reject me already, Selene.” Before I could respond, Sienna turned her gaze to him, her hand still resting on his arm. “Wait,” she said softly. “Let me talk to my sister first. She might listen to me.” Adrian’s jaw tightened, as if he disliked the delay, but finally he gave a short nod. “Make it quick.” She walked towards me and took my hand in hers, her fingers cool against my blood stained skin. She leaned closer, tilting her head as though she was comforting me. My stomach churned. I wanted to yank my hand away, and shove her back, but I was too weak. “Sister, you shouldn’t be so down, after all, it’s not like you could’ve kept him forever.” She whispered. My body flinched. Her breath was warm against my skin as she continued. “Finally, I can get rid of trash like you. Do you know how annoying you’ve always been to me? How could someone like you, a cursed wolf, end up with Adrian as a mate, when I should’ve been the one?” “Sienna…” “That’s why I did everything to seduce him and make him mine. And it wasn’t hard, you know. He already hated the sight of you. He only kept you because you were useful. But now, you’re not useful anymore. So you should just die. It will be better for everyone. Besides… your wolf is already poisoned.” My eyes snapped to hers in shock. She smirked. “Yes, Selene. I poisoned Mira. That’s why your precious wolf has been silent all day. She’s slowly dying. And once she’s gone, you’ll be nothing. You’ll never rise again or fight. You’ll be worthless.” I couldn’t breathe. I just stared at her, my world crumbling piece by piece. Even if I survived today, even if I somehow escaped this humiliation, Mira would still die. And with her, I would too. My sister’s poison had already decided my fate. 4| I was no longer the same Selene Selene “Hahahaha.” The sound came out of me before I could stop it, echoing across the courtyard. The guards and Adrian froze. Even Sienna’s eyes widened as she stiffened. She tried to move away, but I moved faster, my hand shooting up, clamping around her throat. I dragged her back into me, my blade pressing against her pale neck. “Ah! What are you doing?! Let go!” she shrieked, clawing at my wrist. I didn’t answer. Instead, I pressed the blade harder until a thin red line slid across her throat. “Selene!” Adrian barked. “Let her go this instant!” I only laughed again. His Alpha voice was powerless over me. At this point, nothing was more dangerous than a woman who had lost everything. “Keep your mouth shut!” I screamed back. His eyes widened, shock flashing across his face. He hadn’t expected me to fight his command, and dare defy him so openly. Sienna trembled in my grip, her voice trembling as she stammered, “W-what is wrong with you, Selene? You’re scaring me. Stop this.” Her fear should’ve softened me. But now, I only laughed again, my eyes wide as the blade dug deeper into her skin. “I’m scaring you?” My voice broke. “I’m scaring you?! When all this time, I’ve been the one terrified, terrified of dying, terrified of failing. I’ve faced death more times than you can count, and when I finally escaped fate itself, here you are. My sister, my mate. The people I trusted most are trying to kill me too.” I leaned closer, my voice low and venomous. “So tell me, Sienna, between the two of us, which one is more frightening? The two-faced bitch who smiles while stabbing me in the back, or the crazy bitch with nothing left to lose?” I slid the blade just enough to cut. “Ah!” she screamed, thrashing. “Adrian! Help me! She’s really going to kill me, do something!” Adrian's voice softened. “Relax, stop moving, or you’ll only make it worse. She won’t hurt you, Sienna. I know her.” “O-okay…” she stammered, but his words did nothing to calm her. She could see this was my final breaking point. We were twins, after all. He turned his gaze to me, trying to reason. “That’s enough, Selene. I know you’re angry. But you’re rational. You’re not the type to do something this foolish. I never said I’d kill you. You can still be forgiven. Just let her go.” “All my men have their arrows trained on you. I could order them to shoot without touching Sienna. So end this yourself. Put the blade down.” I stared at him, my chest heaving, my hand trembling against Sienna’s throat. I scoffed. “You think I’m scared of death? No, Adrian. I have died so many times already. Death and I are old friends. Your men can shoot if they want, I just survived a deadly game of arrows. None of this scares me anymore. I’m not afraid of dying, but I swear to you, I will take someone down to hell with me.” My grip tightened on the blade. I was ready to end at least one life before mine was taken. “No!” Adrian’s voice tore through the air. In that split second of hesitation, Sienna’s elbow rammed into my open wound. Pain exploded through me. I groaned as my knees buckled beneath me. She tore herself from my hold and stumbled into Adrian’s arms. “Are you okay, Sienna?” Adrian’s voice was full of concern, his hands running over her as if she were made of glass. She panted dramatically, clutching at him. “I—I’m fine. That was close… she was really going to kill me.” Adrian’s face darkened as he looked at me, disgust burning in his eyes. “You’re insane, Selene. I’ll have you punished for this. If Sienna had lost her child because of you, I would have made sure you regretted it.” I blinked. Her child? My gaze dropped to where Sienna’s hands clutched her stomach. Slowly, my eyes lifted again, meeting both of theirs. They didn’t even flinch. They just stared back at me. A hollow laugh bubbled in my throat, but I swallowed it. Instead, I forced myself upright, ignoring the agony tearing through my body. My blood dripped onto the stone beneath my feet, but I stood tall. “You know what?” My voice came out calm. “I don’t even blame you. I blame myself for being so blind, and stupid. For wasting my love and loyalty on the two of you.” They looked at me confused, as if they didn’t understand where I was going with this. I gave them a broken smile. “If I were ever given another chance, Adrian, and Sienna, I would make sure to become your worst nightmare. I’d take everything from you. I’d make your lives as miserable as you’ve made mine. I’d strip you bare until you had nothing left. And most of all, I’d make sure you never have the one thing you truly crave.” “I, Selene Bloodrose, promise you this, if I must make a deal with the devil himself, I will haunt you for the rest of your lives.” The sky rumbled, and then thunder split the air with a violent crack, making the guards flinch, making even Adrian’s face twitch as the sky darkened above us. The goddess had heard me. And so had the devil. “And to answer your rejection, Adrian…” I whispered, my eyes locking on his. “I hope this answer is to your satisfaction.” Before he could understand, I lifted the blade high. His eyes widened, as if, for the first time, he realized what I was about to do. “Selene—!” He moved fast, but I was faster. My hand drove the blade into myself, piercing through flesh. I gasped, and the world went silent. I fell to my knees, my head dropping forward as warm blood dripped onto the stone below. My vision blurred, the red pooling beneath me. I saw Adrian and Sienna, both frozen, their faces pale with shock, but I couldn’t hear them. Their lips moved, but the sound was gone, swallowed by the roaring in my ears. ‘Mira…’ I whispered inwardly, searching for my wolf. ‘Are you here?’ For a long moment, there was only silence until she answered. ‘Yes, Selene. I’m here. I’ve always been here. Every time you die, I die with you. I’m here with you on your final day.’ A shaky smile curved my lips as tears slid down my cheeks, mixing with the blood. ‘I’m sorry,’ I told her, my heart aching with guilt. ‘I’m sorry for being so stupid, and not protecting us. For not protecting you.’ Her voice was warm, though I could feel her fading too. ‘It’s okay, Selene.’ My strength was leaving me. I could feel it draining. My body was numb, my breaths shallow. But I forced the words out one last time, my plea to the heavens. Moon goddess, I don’t know if you can hear me, but if you are, please, give me one more chance. I don’t want to die unfairly. I don’t want to die betrayed again. Tears blurred my sight as I gasped for breath. Give me a chance to be reborn. Give me a chance for revenge. But this time, let me remember early. Don’t let me stumble in the dark again. Don’t let me die without knowing who my enemies truly are. Please, give me a tenth life. Thunder rolled above, rattling the heavens before everything went dark. **** I couldn’t breathe. It was as if something heavy was pulling me down, dragging me deeper and deeper into endless water. My chest burned. I tried to open my eyes, but the water forced them wide on its own, blurring everything around me. So was this it? I was dead. My grandmother’s words came to me. “When people die, child, their sins follow them. Everyone has their own hell waiting for them.” This was mine? Was this suffocating abyss my punishment? Had the Moon Goddess ignored me after all? I wasn’t given my tenth life. How ironic. Maybe the ninth really was the last. A bitter laugh bubbled in my throat, swallowed immediately by the water. My limbs ached, so I stopped moving. I had wanted to give those traitors a taste of their own medicine, and make them pay. But it seemed fate wasn’t on my side. Still, if this was hell, why did it feel like I could really die here? Why was my brain urging me to swim? “Miss Selene!” The voice was muffled. “Miss Selene!” What was going on? Was this really hell? I jerked my eyes open. Someone was calling my name from the shore. I looked around, my body sluggish, and froze. I wasn’t in some endless void. I was in a river. My breath caught in my throat as I came to a realization. I knew this scene. Eight years ago, Sienna had fallen into the water with me. We were both drowning. My heart pounded as I turned, and there she was, Sienna was thrashing in the water. “Help!” she mouthed. The surface rippled, then, someone jumped in. My older brother, Cross. He brushed me aside, his strong arms reaching for Sienna, carrying her back up, and ignoring me. I blinked. It was exactly the same. Eight years ago, I nearly died here. And if I remembered correctly, a few moments after Sienna was safe, another splash echoed. My second brother, Kane, jumped in after me. He couldn’t let me die, not when they still had use for me. He would pull me out only after ensuring Sienna was safe. After a while, someone finally drove into the water. Kane. A smile curled my lips. I had actually come back! And this time, I remembered everything. Kane swam toward me, frowning, but when he tried to carry me, I pushed him away. Forcing strength into my limbs, I swam up on my own. I saw the shock on his face, but I ignored him. This time, I would not be the helpless girl waiting for scraps of affection. This time, I would not let anyone use me. I was no longer the same Selene. I would make the world bow before me. 5| Let’s see how long she can keep it up Selene The moment my head rose above the surface, air hit my lungs. I gasped, pulling it in greedily, trembling as the cold bit into my skin. My wet hair clung to my face, strands sticking to my lips, but none of it mattered. I was alive. Oh gods, I was alive. I was not only alive, but I remembered. I remembered every scream, every life, every betrayal, every time I’d died. Even the moment I drove my own knife into my chest because of my mate and my sister. All of it flashed through my mind, but instead of breaking me, it made me smile. A wild smile stretched across my face as I ran a trembling hand over my wet hair, pushing it back. My chest hurt from breathing, but I laughed like a madwoman. I finally had a chance. “Oh my god! Miss Selene!” The voice cut through my laughter. My heart dropped at the familiar sound. Impossible. I turned to the shore, and there they were, faces I hadn’t seen in years. The servants, my brothers, Sienna. Kane was already crouched beside her, Cross holding her as she coughed while they fussed over her, but none of it mattered. All I could see was the woman staring at me. Evelyn. My personal maid. Her face was exactly as I remembered. She was crying harder now, her hands trembling as she called to me. “Miss Selene, what are you still doing in the water? Come out before you get sick. Please, come out!” I stared at her, my lips parting. “Evelyn…” I whispered. Her name felt strange in my mouth after all these years. For a moment, I couldn’t move. “Miss Selene, please come here.” I snapped out of it before finally swimming toward the shore. The water was heavy, but my limbs moved. I pulled myself out, drenched and shivering. Evelyn rushed to me immediately, wrapping a thick blanket around my shoulders. Her arms came around me in a desperate hug. “Thank god you’re okay,” she breathed, voice trembling. “I was so worried about you. Are you okay, Miss?” Her warmth made me smile. I wanted to hug her back. But before I could, she pulled away abruptly, her eyes lowering to the ground. “I–I apologize for hugging you,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean to touch a Moonborn.” She looked terrified, as if I might strike her. My heart dropped when Evelyn stepped away from me. The blanket she had wrapped around me suddenly felt cold, as if her warmth had been snatched back with her retreat. I couldn’t even blame her. How could I? This was my fault. In my past lives, I had never cherished the ones who truly cared. My sweet, loyal Evelyn, I pushed her aside, ignored her kindness, and clung to snakes like Sienna, mistaking that for love. And yet, despite everything I did, despite all the times I wounded her with my selfishness, Evelyn never abandoned me. She stayed, and loved me. And in every lifetime, she died for me. Now, I remembered everything. I knew who my real enemies were. I swore I would never make the same mistake again. Evelyn deserved better. And I would make sure she got it. “Moonborn?” A voice sneered from behind me, shattering the moment. “What is this bitch saying? How is a curse a Moonborn? Miss Sienna is the true Moonborn. She is the true descendant of the priestess.” I slowly turned. The servants stood there, smug, their lips curled in disdain. They didn’t even bother to hide it. “Look at her, staring at us. Every time I see that cursed hair, I feel sick. She should have drowned.” I blinked. What was going on? How could I hear what they were saying when their mouths weren’t even moving? My eyes darted between them, my heart hammering. This wasn’t mindlink. Only the Alpha and Luna had the right to grant that bond. These were just servants. Then how— “Huh, why is she looking at me like she can hear what I’m thinking?” one woman muttered, smirking. “Imagine if she could read minds. Hah… that would be dangerous for everyone.” I gasped before I could stop myself. “Is that it? Can I really read people’s minds?” The maid’s face drained of color. She stumbled back, stammering, “H-how—?” “You!” Her panic was cut short by Kane’s voice. The servants instantly lowered their heads as he strode forward, but his gaze never left me. His eyes blazed with fury, and I found myself straightening instinctively under the weight of it. Before I could speak, his hand lashed out. The crack echoed through the courtyard. My head snapped to the side, cheek burning hot. Kane’s fist clenched in the fabric of my drenched dress, dragging me closer until his breath was hot against my face. His growl vibrated in my bones. “How dare you harm Sienna?!” The slap burned. He struck me with everything he had, never mind that I was young and dripping wet. In my past life, he had done the same. My face had swollen so badly I spent a week in the hospital before it healed. He wanted to break me, but I didn’t cry or even flinch. Pain had been my tutor across lifetimes. Compared to what I’d endured, this was nothing more than a bruise I could swallow. I turned my head slowly and met his gaze as if nothing had happened. “What do you think you’re doing?” I asked, my voice low. Kane’s face went blank for a moment. He looked surprised at how calm I was. ‘What is this? Why is she so calm?’ he thought, his lips unmoving. When my silence continued, he exploded. “What am I even doing? What are you, stupid? Are you blind? Can’t you see what you did to Sienna? You’re not even scared or ashamed. Why would you push her in the river? Are you jealous that she’s better than you? If anything happens to my sister, I will kill you.” He ranted while I watched with indifference. My eyes dropped to Sienna, who was still unconscious as Cross tried to wake her. ‘Ha. She deserved that slap. This will prove no one loves a cursed girl like her. I’ll stay unconscious long enough for big brother Kane to kill her. She should just die.’ Sienna’s thought echoed in my head. I almost laughed. A smirk tugged at my lips. My sweet sister, playing the victim while scheming in silence. Let’s see how long she can keep it up.

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