Lucian Thalor—my father, the Alpha—once ruled with iron and instinct. When my husband brought home a rogue woman named Elise and her daughter, Daisy, claiming they needed sanctuary, my father saw only spies. He threw them into the dungeon without hesitation.

Dominic Varyn, my husband, knelt outside the Packhouse for three days and nights, pleading for their lives. Dad burned with rage and swore to wipe out his entire bloodline.

In my past life, to save Dominic's family, I forced him to leave with me. Elise and her daughter? They were hanged.

Dad let Dominic go because of me, and after that, Dominic and I lived in peace and harmony, deeply in love—or so I thought.

I believed he had moved on, but I was dead wrong. Ten years later, he turned around and allied with our enemies. He led troops into our pack and beheaded my father.

And then, he made me kneel and apologize to Elise's ashes. He made me thank her before strangling me to death in front of everyone.

I'd never forget the look in his eyes—filled with hatred, burning like fire.

"You killed Elise and Daisy. You don't deserve to live!

"I'm the new Alpha of the Red Moon Pack now. Elise will always be my Luna. And you? You're nothing but a traitor. You deserve to die!"

I closed my eyes in despair, but the next second I found that I had been taken far back to the day Dominic was kneeling outside my father's door.

This time, I made a choice I'd let him go.

***

My father's Beta was beside me, trying to reason with me. "You should talk to Dominic. The Alpha investigated for two months and confirmed that Elise was a spy. Dominic's still defending her. He's basically slapping the Alpha in the face!"

I caught the hidden warning in the Beta's words in my last life. Dad might take it out on his entire family if Dominic kept kneeling.

I was the Alpha's daughter, so I would've been fine. But the Varyn family had always treated me with kindness. So I thanked the Beta, gave the order, and dragged Dominic away by force.

That was what triggered everything that came after.

But this time, as I stared at Dominic kneeling in the dirt, I pressed my lips together and my tone was calm.

"I know you mean well, but once Dominic sets his mind to something, no one can change it."

Our voices carried across the courtyard, and Dominic must've heard. Without turning around, he shouted, "I brought Elise and Daisy back with me. They're just poor rogues; they're not spies!

"Don't waste your breath trying to talk me down. I promised Elise I'd protect them no matter what."

The Beta was stunned. "Dominic, you are Ms. Thalor's husband. You're a Delta of the pack. How can you defend a spy? Elise already admitted it—defending her is insubordination?"

Dominic stood up, slowly straightening his back.

When he turned to face us, the love that used to fill his eyes was gone. All that remained was venom.

"Alpha, sitting high and mighty on his throne, accused an innocent mother and daughter of protecting his daughter's pride. And I'm the one overstepping by standing up for them?

"You people in power are always good at torturing the weak. Who's to say Elise wasn't forced to confess to stop the pain?"

My fingers started to tremble. That glare was the same one he gave me when I was being strangled in my past life.

"He's been reborn, too," I thought, the realization hit me.

The Beta's brow furrowed deep. "Dominic, if the Alpha hears what you just said..."

Dominic looked about to argue again, but maybe he remembered he was only a Delta now. He swallowed the words and turned away, heading for the dungeon.

Only after his figure vanished did I finally exhale. In a low voice, I asked, "Where's my dad right now?"

An hour later, I walked out of my father's study.

I'd asked him to let me reject Dominic as my mate. He was thrilled.

"That's my girl. Knows right from wrong."

I clenched my right fist.

Last time, the pack was destroyed because of me. This time, I'd stay far away from Dominic no matter what.

But as I steadied myself, the Beta ran toward me again, panicked.

"Quick! Something's happened? Dominic said something to that spy. Now she's screaming and trying to take her own life!

"He tried to grab the knife from her, but it ended up stabbing him in the stomach."

I rushed to the dungeon.

Blood was pouring from Dominic's abdomen, but he bit down the pain, one hand gripping the wound, the other comforting a crying Elise.

Daisy was sobbing beside them, too.

The moment Elise saw me, she flinched like she'd seen a ghost. Then she dropped to her knees.

"Ms. Thalor, please forgive me! I never meant to hurt Dominic.

"Do what you want to me—kill me, torture me—I won't fight back. But please... Please spare my little girl. She's only five."

Dominic's heart ached just watching her. He helped her up, then turned on me with fury in his eyes.

"The Alpha hasn't even sentenced her yet. Who the hell are you to try and kill her?"

Elise sobbed harder, clutching his shirt tightly. "Dominic, please don't be mad at Ms. Thalor. I'm the one who upset her. It's my fault. I'll take whatever punishment."

"I'm the one who brought you both back to the pack. How is it your fault?"

Dominic, blood all over his hands, pulled her close and stared me down. "Rowena, when I brought Elise and Daisy here two years ago, I told you I just wanted to help people who'd suffered. That was it.

"But you let jealousy cloud your heart. You teamed up with the Alpha to frame them and tried to kill them. Don't you feel the slightest bit guilty?

"Do you think this whole pack exists to feed the Alpha's ego and crush everyone else like cattle?"

I hadn't even said a word, and he'd already decided I was the one who framed her.

Thinking back on the past two years of swallowing my pride, I couldn't help but let out a cold laugh. "Dominic, the way you're charging at me like this, you're starting to sound like your grandfather back when he was conquering battlefields."

Dominic stopped clutching his wound and straightened up.

"Our family's man stands tall. We don't waste our lives chasing after love and sentiment.

"Even without you, Rowena Thalor, I can still make a name for myself. I don't need you to build a legacy."

I didn't know exactly what he went through after I was hanged in that last life, but judging from how he was acting now, he must've spent some time as Alpha before he died.

And now he's back, reborn with the pride of a man who once ruled over everyone.

"Classic Dominic," I said, voice sharp. "Brave, ambitious, and way too full of himself."

He heard the sarcasm in my voice, but before he could respond, Elise suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood right onto Daisy's dress.

His expression changed instantly. Forgetting about his own bleeding stomach, he bent down and wrapped her in his arms.

"Elise, what's wrong? I'll take you to the doctor, right?"

"There's no need, Dominic," Elise said coolly. "Seems like I am just running out of time."

"Don't talk like that," he snapped. "As long as I'm around, you'll live a long, healthy life."

I'd had enough of their overly dramatic love scene. I turned around and walked out.

What I didn't expect was that before nightfall, Dominic brought Elise and her daughter back.

With a small army of doctors trailing behind him.

The courtyard outside the guest wing was buzzing with maids and servants. High-grade herbs and medicines were being delivered like water flowing from a stream.

I sent someone to snoop around. A little while later, they came back with a report. Dominic begged my father for help.

"Beta said Dominic brought his grandfather's ashes and swore on the lives of the entire Varyn family that Elise wasn't a spy.

"You know, Finn Varyn? He is Dominic's grandfather who once helped your father rise to power. The Alpha never forgot that debt, so he agreed for now."

I stood there, watching the lights flicker through the guest room windows. Then I sat down and wrote a letter to Dad.

By the next evening, I was in my study with a maid beside me, helping me study. That's when Dominic barged in and ordered everyone out of the room.

His own maids, Elise and her daughter, followed him in. They walked in like honored guests and settled themselves onto the cushioned seats.

I felt my patience snap.

"Dominic, in case you forgot, this is my home. Not yours."

Dominic stood there with his hands behind his back, giving orders like he owned the place. "Elise doesn't have a title. That's why she keeps getting mistreated. I want you to write an official statement declaring her your adopted sister."

My brows furrowed. "I'm the Alpha's daughter. Do you want me to claim her as a sister so she gets the same status as me? If that's what you want, you should go ask my father. Let's see if he thinks she's worth it."

Today, Elise was wearing an embroidered gown fit for a noblewoman. Daisy had a gold longevity pendant around her neck.

But the second Elise opened her mouth, she started crying again.

"Please don't mock me, Ms. Thalor. I've never asked for status. I want to stay by Dominic's side.

"Dominic, if Ms. Thalor doesn't want to, then forget it. Daisy and I will leave the estate. We'll find a run-down shack somewhere and live out whatever days we have left. Daisy, come on. Let's go."

Daisy blinked and then burst into tears harder than Elise.

"Mommy, I don't wanna go. I like it here. I wanna stay with Daddy!"

"Be good, Daisy," Elise whispered. "This will always be Ms. Thalor's home, not ours."

Dominic immediately bent down and scooped the little girl into his arms. Gently, he wiped Elise's tears away. "Stop saying stuff like that. As long as I'm here, this is your home too."

I let out a sharp laugh.

"This is my house. If you're desperate to play daddy, you should pack up and leave together."

His eyes narrowed coldly. With a wave of his hand, two of his soldiers stepped forward and grabbed me by the shoulders. They forced me to my knees in front of them.

The next moment, Dominic stormed over, grabbed a fistful of my hair, and slammed my head down against the floor.

"Rowena," he roared, "apologize to Elise. Now."

He forced my head down the first time, and the impact left my forehead swollen and throbbing.

Then came the second.

It felt like he was ripping my scalp clean off. Everything spun as he yanked me up again.

Blood trickled from my forehead, dripping into my eyes. My vision blurred, and cold sweat poured down my back.

"Dominic, are you insane? I'm the Alpha's daughter! How dare you treat me like this!"

He pressed harder on my head. Before I could even catch my breath, he slammed me down a third time.

"So what if you're the Alpha's daughter?" he snapped. "At the end of the day, you're still my woman. You should've listened to me without question.

"Let me clarify, Rowena, I am asking you to make Elise your adopted sister. I was doing you a favor. Since you won't do it, fine. You're not my mate anymore. Elise will be my new wife."

I struggled to break free, but the two soldiers gripping my arms just pinned me down harder.

In the background, I heard Elise's gentle, pitiful voice. "I'm not worthy to marry you. Ms. Thalor, please don't be upset with him. He didn't mean it. He was joking."

My vision was changing. I gasped for air as I gritted. "Keep dreaming, Dominic.

"Let go of me. I swear, once I return to my father, none of you are leaving this alive!"

He scoffed, amused. "You think I'm scared? Go ahead, tell him. The Varyn family helped the Alpha take the throne, and we can do it again. And this time, I'll be the one on top. Elise will be my Luna. And you, Rowena? You'll go down in history as the traitor who destroyed her pack."

I stared at him, horrified. "You're actually insane. Do you even hear what you're saying?"

"You don't believe me?"

Right then, Elise stepped forward with Daisy in her arms, looking at him like he'd hung the moon.

"If Ms. Thalor doesn't believe you, I do.

"Dominic, I've believed in you since you saved us two years ago. I know you'll rise to power."

Dominic finally let go of me and pulled them both into his arms.

"Now this is what a real mate looks like. She sees me, understands me, and believes in me.

"And you, Rowena, enjoy your last days of luxury. I'll be generous. I'll ensure they find your body in one piece for our five years of marriage."

He left, hand in hand with Elise, holding Daisy, with a trail of maids, servants, and soldiers marching behind him through the night.

Before going, they looted everything valuable from the estate. All they left me with was a pair of shattered bangles.

My maid ran in to find me. I was still frozen, staring at those broken pieces.

Two years ago, when Dominic returned victorious from war, he brought Elise and her child back.

Elise had beautiful eyes and a delicate face but was dressed in rags. Daisy was adorable, but pale and frail.

My heart ached for what they'd been through. I immediately cleaned and set up a wing of the house for them, and I even gave Elise a pair of gold bangles for protection and good luck.

But that one act of kindness led to two full years of chaos.

Every time Elise cried, Dominic assumed I was bullying her. He never gave me a chance to explain.

Now, he doesn't even pretend to believe me.

My real mistake wasn't two years ago. Maybe it was five years ago when I fell for him at that flower banquet, begged my father to approve the match, and unknowingly planted the seed that would destroy my pack.

In the end, this is all my fault.

"Ms. Thalor," the maid said urgently, "almost all the guards and servants followed him. The ones who didn't were beaten to death. I'm the only one left."

She helped me to my feet. "Take my crest. Go summon the Royal Guard. We leave immediately. I don't care where he runs—drag Dominic and Elise back from the ends of the earth if you have to."

She bowed and turned to go, but she suddenly stopped. She smelled something burning.

Thick smoke started pouring into the room. Within moments, it spread everywhere.

She ran to the door, which was sealed shut from the outside.

I rushed to the windows. I pushed one. Nothing. Tried another. Still stuck. Finally, I got one open just in time for someone to hurl a flaming torch straight at me. It hit my dress and caught fire instantly.

She screamed and yanked me back. "Delta's trying to burn us alive!"

Before her words even finished echoing. A flaming sword came flying through the open window and slammed straight into her chest.

It all happened so fast that I didn't even have time to blink. One second, she was standing there. Next, she was dead on the floor.

Flames licked at my arms. I couldn't even reach her body. I just gritted my teeth and beat at the fire, cursing Dominic.

He wanted to cut off my escape, slow me down, and give himself more time to disappear with Elise.

Then something else rolled into the room. I turned, too late to dodge. It wasn't a torch.

It was a barrel of Frost Fang Pack's custom-made explosives.

Boom!