Chapter 1

Aria's POV

The silver bullet's agony vanished instantly.

I snapped my eyes open to find myself sitting on the stone throne of the Moon Altar, wearing the silver robes that marked Alpha King bloodline. Moonlight poured like water through the ancient temple where hundreds of werewolf nobles sat in circles around me. Everything was exactly as it had been two years ago.

I was reborn.

My gaze automatically drifted across to where Kael Frostbite sat in the Frostbite clan section. That face I had once loved but which had ultimately betrayed me looked especially cold under the moonlight.

He seemed to sense my stare and slowly lifted his head.

Our eyes collided in the air.

His deep blue eyes flashed with complex emotions—shock, pain, anger, and deep recognition. The final moments of our past life replayed silently between us: me in a pool of blood, our dead child, and his cold expression as he pulled the trigger.

He was reborn too.

We stared at each other like this, as if engaged in a silent battle.

You think I'll repeat the same mistakes? his expression seemed to say.

That depends on how stupid you are, I responded with the same look.

My inner wolf growled angrily, sensing this incredible rebirth and the hostility from Kael.

"Clan members!" The Alpha King's commanding voice broke our stare-down. "Tonight, under the full moon, we witness the destined mate bond ceremony blessed by the Moon Goddess!"

Solemn responses echoed from below. All eyes focused on Kael and me—according to Silvermoon Kingdom's ancient laws, only Alpha King bloodline could rule the kingdom, and whoever bore an Alpha King heir would become the next ruler.

As the kingdom's last Alpha King bloodline, I should have been Kael's only path to the throne.

In our past life, he chose me for exactly this reason.

"Under the Moon Goddess's witness," the Alpha King's voice grew more solemn, "Kael of the Frostbite clan, do you accept the mate bond destined by fate?"

Silence fell. Everyone held their breath.

Kael slowly stood, his gaze locking onto mine again. Those eyes held none of the love from our first meeting in the past life—only deep disgust and resolve.

"I REJECT this false arrangement of fate!"

Like thunder crashing!

Immediately, searing pain exploded from my chest. The agony of our mate bond being forcibly severed made us both turn pale, our inner wolves crying out in pain.

But this time, I felt none of the despair from my past life. I simply watched coldly as Kael endured the same suffering.

"Impossible!" "This is blasphemy against the Moon Goddess!" "Unprecedented betrayal!"

The crowd erupted instantly with heated discussions.

"Kael!" the Alpha King roared. "Give me an explanation!"

Kael fought through the tearing pain and pointed at me: "Because she, Aria Silvermoon, is a BETRAYER! Her bloodline has been tainted. I will not accept an unfaithful woman!"

"Then what is your choice?" the Alpha King's voice turned icy.

Kael turned toward the noble seats, his gaze stopping on Maya: "Maya. She is my true choice."

My half-sister Maya gasped in "shock," covering her mouth while excitement gleamed in her eyes. In our past life, she had borne an Alpha King heir, making Kael believe she was his lucky charm.

What a perfect misunderstanding. What a foolish choice.

"Maya." Kael knelt on one knee before Maya. "Will you become my mate?"

"I... I accept!" Maya nodded "shyly."

Stupid man, I sneered internally. He had no idea that without my secret help, his broken body couldn't produce any bloodline.

Just as the crowd buzzed with chaos, a deep, magnetic voice rang out:

"Since the Moon Goddess's first choice has been rejected, please allow me to accept this honor."

Everyone turned to see Ethan Moonwhisper slowly rising from the Shadowpine clan section. His deep blue eyes locked onto me with the focused intensity of a predator.

He walked step by step to the altar and extended his hand toward me.

"Aria Silvermoon. Will you accept my mate bond?"

The hall fell silent again. Even the Alpha King looked surprised at this usually low-key Shadowpine leader.

I felt my wolf howl excitedly inside me as she sensed Ethan's powerful call.

"I accept." I placed my hand in his, turning to look at Kael's instantly livid face. "After all, the Moon Goddess's gifts shouldn't be wasted."

This game had only just begun.