- 6 hours ago
After Reborn, I Rejected the Alpha
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00:04In my past life, I chose the strongest Alpha.
00:08He betrayed me.
00:13And got with my sister.
00:17Just so she could take my place as Luna.
00:20This time, I let her have my Alpha mate.
00:23Let's see how perfect their love really is.
00:31Luna, are you really choosing this Omega?
00:34The Alpha is meant to be your mate.
00:37No one knew this dying Omega was actually the Sealed Lichen King.
00:42Yes, I choose the Omega as my mate.
00:45As for that Alpha, he's yours.
00:48Every year, our pack holds a mating ceremony for wolves who have come of age.
00:56Alpha King, the strongest in the pack,
00:58had long been seen as my destined mate.
01:01But when I chose him, he didn't take a single step toward me.
01:05At the same time, my sister Lily was assigned a dying Omega.
01:09He couldn't even take human form.
01:11To everyone's surprise, my Alpha mate went to comfort Lily.
01:15Lily, your she-wolf is too weak.
01:18Even if Alpha Kale wants you now, you'll never be able to bond with him.
01:22She didn't react, pretending to be scared by my gaze.
01:25I know I can't compete with you, sister.
01:28I just- I've never seen an Alpha like Kale before.
01:31I took the dying Omega from her arms.
01:33I choose the Omega as my mate.
01:36If Alpha Kale refuses to bond with me, then I'll let him choose Lily.
01:41Someone protested-
01:42You're the future Luna.
01:43That Omega is worthless.
01:44But I knew Alpha Kale was never a good man.
01:49In my past life, to make Alpha Kale bond with me, I gave him everything.
01:55Rare herbs, blood tonics, ancient wolf relics.
01:59The pack's resources were never enough for him.
02:02I hunted alone just to keep feeding his strength.
02:05Every time I returned covered in blood, he barely looked at me.
02:08He only spoke to me when he needed something, like I existed to serve him.
02:13A year later, he became the most powerful Alpha in the Northwood.
02:18I kept telling myself he was just proud, until I saw him with my sister.
02:23He tucked her hair behind her ear with a softness I had never received.
02:29Something inside me shattered.
02:31Another she-wolf stopped beside me and sighed.
02:35You really shouldn't leave your Alpha mate with Lily every time you go hunting.
02:38He's practically hers already.
02:40I froze.
02:41I never asked her to stay with him, but she always comes to him when you're gone.
02:45That's what she tells everyone.
02:47I was out there risking my life for him, and Lily was stealing him from me behind my back.
02:53Doesn't she already have her own mate?
02:55You mean that dying Omega?
02:57He died in the second month.
03:01For a year, I never forced a bond with Alpha Kale.
03:04I realized it too late.
03:05Lily's Omega mate died, so she could bond with Alpha Kale in the next mating ceremony.
03:10The Alpha I raised for a year.
03:12I started targeting Lily.
03:14I hated her for taking him, and Alpha Kale was angry.
03:17So he lured me into the Forbidden Forest beyond the pack borders.
03:21Rogues poured in from every direction.
03:24And at the deepest part of those woods, there was a rogue queen.
03:27She had fallen into complete madness.
03:30Not even my entire pack could survive that.
03:32Alpha Kale could have saved me.
03:35But when I turned back, begging for help, I only saw Kale shift into his wolf form, carrying Lily on
03:41his back as he vanished into the night.
03:44This time, I want to see how can he complete his Alpha Awakening without me feeding him resources.
03:51The Elder couldn't understand why powerful Alpha Kale had chosen Lily.
03:55Her wolf had barely awakened, but no one dared force Alpha Kale to leave her side.
04:00Soon, the Elders began preparing the mating ritual.
04:03The ritual energy stirred the Omega Wolf.
04:05His tail wrapped tightly around my arm, as if afraid I would abandon him.
04:10Lily looked smug after gaining Alpha Kale.
04:13She glanced at my Omega and smiled.
04:15Looks like you two were meant for each other, sister.
04:18The moment she said it, everyone's expressions darkened.
04:21If our Luna hadn't stepped aside, Alpha Kale would never have chosen you!
04:26You should be kneeling in gratitude right now!
04:28I stayed in the pack for years.
04:30I had always protected the pack like family.
04:33They believed Alpha Kale should have been mine.
04:36How could they accept that Lily had stolen him?
04:42Alpha Kale grew restless, seeing Lily upset.
04:46Bonded wolves share strength with their mates.
04:48And Lily was weak.
04:50Kale had nothing to rely on.
04:51As for the Omega Wolf in my arms, once he realized I wasn't abandoning him,
04:57he finally passed out from exhaustion.
04:59I lowered him into the spring and infused a lunar glow from my palm.
05:05Aren't you worried I might kill you and replace you with a stronger wolf?
05:08He splashed water into my face with his tail.
05:11I flicked his forehead.
05:12Behave.
05:13You're my mate.
05:14I won't replace you.
05:17The next morning, something felt wrong.
05:20I turned stiffly and found a man sleeping beside me.
05:24He had entered my room without me noticing, which meant his strength was far above mine.
05:29He pushed himself upright, slowly.
05:32Messy silver hair fell over sharp brows.
05:35A pair of blue eyes watched me lazily.
05:37The Omega Wolf.
05:39He grinned, sharp canine teeth flashing.
05:42Then flicked my forehead lightly.
05:45Rude.
05:46I have a name.
05:47Ronan.
05:48Ronan had been badly injured when the elders found him.
05:51He suppressed his real rank and shifted into a weakened Omega form.
05:56That was how he survived.
05:58I stared at him silently.
05:59A wolf capable of changing his rank at will.
06:03Which meant Ronan's real strength was far beyond ordinary alphas.
06:07And the enemies chasing him were even more powerful.
06:11I covered my face.
06:12Oh, great.
06:14So your enemies are going to kill me too?
06:17What kind of cursed life was this?
06:20I had barely escaped Kale's disaster.
06:22Now another dangerous wolf appeared.
06:25Ronan suddenly leaned closer.
06:27Our bond is complete now.
06:32You're my Luna.
06:33Ronan turned out to be absurdly powerful.
06:36My wolf carried water affinity.
06:38And his power matched mine perfectly.
06:41He taught me how to absorb moon energy through water.
06:43The results were terrifyingly effective.
06:45Most days, I trained inside the spring behind my cabin.
06:48And Ronan stayed nearby watching me.
06:50Usually stretched lazily across the tree above the water.
06:53The wind scattered pink flower petals across the surface.
06:56I looked up at him through the drifting blossoms.
06:58Eyes closed.
06:59Silver hair moving with the wind.
07:01His shirt hung loosely open at the collar.
07:03Way too attractive.
07:04Then someone ruined the moment.
07:06Lily peeked nervously outside the courtyard.
07:08Aurora?
07:09I sighed and climbed out of the spring.
07:11Before I could grab my coat,
07:12Ronan jumped down from the tree and wrapped it around my shoulders himself.
07:15Lily froze the moment she saw him.
07:17What do you want?
07:18But instead of answering me, she stared directly at Ronan.
07:21Who is he?
07:22I smiled sweetly and grabbed Ronan's hand.
07:25You know Ronan already.
07:26He's the dying omega wolf from the mating ceremony.
07:29The one you said matched me perfectly.
07:31A flicker of regret crossed Lily's face.
07:34I almost laughed.
07:35What are you here for?
07:37At this hour, shouldn't everyone be training?
07:40She hesitated awkwardly for a long time.
07:43Only when I started forcing her out did she finally speak.
07:47After hearing her request, I laughed coldly.
07:50You want me to feed Kale my resources?
07:53Ronan's fingers tightened around mine.
07:56He looked deeply annoyed.
07:58I smiled at him reassuringly before turning back to Lily.
08:01Figure it out yourself.
08:02I don't owe you anything.
08:05Lily immediately became emotional.
08:07You do owe me!
08:08Half a year ago, you took Ronan away!
08:11And dumped Kale onto me!
08:13You can't act like this has nothing to do with you!
08:16What shameless logic.
08:17Still, it explained a lot.
08:19Half a year had passed, and Lily had never once left pack territory searching for resources.
08:25Powerful alphas consumed terrifying amounts of resources.
08:29She gave everything to Kale.
08:31Her own wolf stopped growing completely.
08:34The wolves who entered training beside her had already surpassed her.
08:38Meanwhile, her wolf remained weak.
08:40But what did that have to do with me?
08:42She kept talking endlessly.
08:44If Kale never completes his alpha awakening, it will hurt the entire pack!
08:49You should help him for the sake of our pack!
08:51I lost patience completely.
08:52With one motion, I forced her outside the courtyard.
08:55Then I grabbed Ronan's hand and walked back inside.
08:59If you can't afford him, break the bond.
09:02Other she-wolves would gladly take Kale from you.
09:04But of course, she would never agree to that.
09:07My little sister had always been ambitious.
09:10Months passed.
09:11I wolf finally broke into the next rank.
09:14The elders began treating me like the future Luna Queen.
09:17At the same time, they had spent enormous resources securing an alliance with Southpac.
09:22I was assigned to send the resources.
09:24By the time I returned to my pack, I saw Ronan leaning silently against a tree.
09:29The moment I approached, he grabbed the back of my neck and forced me to look at him.
09:35Do I not treat you well?
09:36Why are you trying to give me away?
09:38I blinked in confusion.
09:40What are you talking about?
09:41That woman came looking for me again.
09:43She said you wanted her to stay with me while you were away.
09:47Do you regret bonding with me now that you're stronger?
09:50The heart sank instantly.
09:52Before I could explain, Ronan suddenly lowered his head against my neck.
09:56His breath brushed lightly across my skin.
09:59Then I felt his tongue graze the side of my throat.
10:03My entire body shivered.
10:04You smell like another alpha.
10:07So you already found my replacement?
10:10Then he straightened slowly, towering over me.
10:14Eyes glowing faintly blue in the dark.
10:17Doesn't matter.
10:18I'll rip his throat out.
10:20You only need one wolf.
10:22I smacked him across the head instantly.
10:25He looked genuinely offended.
10:27You hit me for him?
10:28I grabbed his arm and dragged him toward the lower training grounds.
10:31That alpha belongs to the Alliance pack.
10:34If you start a fight with him, the elders will kill both of us.
10:37Ronan finally stopped acting insane and obediently followed beside me.
10:41Most wolves were still training outside the territory, so the grounds were unusually quiet.
10:46A few younger wolves greeted me nervously.
10:48Then one of them casually mentioned something.
10:51Lily and Kale went toward the Forbidden Woods earlier.
10:53My expression darkened immediately.
10:56Why would Kale go there again?
10:57We followed their scent deeper into the forest.
11:02And soon, we heard shouting.
11:04Ronan already completed his awakening.
11:07You can't blame everything on me!
11:09I already gave you all my resources!
11:12I can barely strengthen my own wolf anymore!
11:15You want me to leave the territory and hunt alone?
11:17I'm not Aurora!
11:18I almost laughed.
11:20Kale truly loved her.
11:22In my previous life, he barely spoke a word to me for an entire year.
11:26Now he stood there listening to Lily scream at him without leaving.
11:29What a difference love made.
11:31But I wasn't here to reminisce.
11:32I stepped out slowly.
11:34Lily, I've been looking for you.
11:36Kale instantly moved in front of her protectively.
11:39His gray eyes locked onto Ronan beside me.
11:42Lily's face went pale the moment she saw us together.
11:45Still, she forced herself to stay calm.
11:47What do you want, Aurora?
11:49I patted Ronan lightly.
11:51He smirked lazily before dropping onto a fallen tree beside me.
11:55Then he pulled me directly onto his lap.
11:57Pure provocation.
11:59Lily stared at him instinctively, completely ignoring Kale beside her.
12:02I smiled coldly.
12:04I'm just curious.
12:05Why are you approaching my wolf behind my back?
12:08Kale's expression darkened instantly.
12:10Lily panicked.
12:12No!
12:12You misunderstood!
12:14Ronan rested his chin lazily against my shoulder.
12:16She's lying.
12:18She said I was supposed to belong to her.
12:21I tilted my head slightly.
12:23And what did you do?
12:24Ronan grinned, blue eyes gleaming with amusement.
12:27She walked into my territory without permission, so I threw her out.
12:30She's weak.
12:31I barely had to touch her.
12:33I reached up and patted his face approvingly, then stood slowly.
12:37If I remember correctly, you never wanted Ronan.
12:40He was dying when we found him.
12:42If he'd ended up with you, he probably wouldn't have survived.
12:45That's not true!
12:46I would have treated him well!
12:48Beside her, Kale's expression became terrifying instantly.
12:51Only then did Lily realize what she had implied.
12:54You're trying to turn Kale against me!
12:55I stepped closer, calmly.
12:57If you keep interfering with bonded wolves, we'll settle this before the elders next time.
13:02Inside our pack, trying to steal another wolf's bonded partner was a serious crime.
13:07In severe cases, the bond would be forcibly broken, and the wolf responsible would be exiled permanently.
13:15Lily couldn't afford that risk, especially now.
13:18Because Kale looked furious enough to tear the forest apart.
13:22On the way back, my mood improved considerably.
13:24The resentment buried in my chest from my previous life finally eased a little.
13:28But Ronan looked strangely irritated the entire walk home.
13:32Normally, he would shift into his wolf form and carry me through the mountains just to show off.
13:36This time, he refused.
13:38The moment we entered the courtyard, he suddenly grabbed my wrist.
13:41You know Kale too well.
13:43I didn't bother hiding it anymore.
13:45There was history between us, and it ended badly.
13:49Do you want to hear it?
13:50Ronan immediately looked away, then shifted halfway.
13:53I don't care, I'm stronger than him anyway.
13:55You're never bonding with another wolf.
13:57I laughed softly and touched his face.
13:59Relax, there won't be anyone else.
14:01He gave me complete loyalty, so I would return the same.
14:05That was only fair.
14:08Kale was practically bottomless.
14:11No matter how much power he consumed, it was never enough.
14:16Which meant one terrifying thing.
14:19If Kale ever turned against our pack, the pack would never survive it.
14:28I had considered killing him before.
14:31More than once.
14:33But every time I tried explaining my previous life to the elders, or even to Ronan,
14:39it was like something silenced the words before they left my mouth.
14:43No one could hear it, as if Moon Goddess refused to let me speak.
14:50And without proof, killing Kale would only make me look insane.
14:54Especially when Moon Fang still viewed him as their future hope.
15:01So for now, I could only watch him carefully.
15:06Contain him.
15:08Prepare for the worst.
15:10Because in my previous life...
15:14Kale...
15:14Help me.
15:22I never survived this year.
15:24After reaching the new rank, I originally planned to rest for a while.
15:29Ronan refused immediately.
15:33Aurora, you're progressing too slow.
15:36Fetching strength is exhausting.
15:38I nearly exploded.
15:40The elders literally called me the most talented wolf of my generation!
15:45And that was how the most talented wolf got dragged across half the continent completing missions.
15:53Unlike my previous life, every rare resource went directly into me instead of Kale.
16:00Years passed quickly.
16:02Ten years disappeared in the blink of an eye.
16:05My strength rose steadily again.
16:08By then, I had become one of my pack's leaders.
16:11Even the elders started relying on me more and more.
16:15One night, an elder watched the younger wolves training below the cliffs and...
16:20Quietly.
16:22We thought Kale would make Moonfing stronger.
16:24But even after all these years, he still hasn't completed his Alpha Awakening.
16:30I answered calmly before she finished speaking.
16:32He needs far more resources than our pack can provide.
16:35I had already realized that long ago.
16:38Our pack was never one of the wealthiest packs.
16:41Most ambitious wolves would rather join richer territories.
16:45Since I was too busy to pay attention to Ronan lately,
16:47he started entertaining himself instead.
16:50Which usually meant trouble.
16:52One evening, the moment I returned to my cabin,
16:54Ronan thrown me over his shoulder.
16:56What are you doing now?
16:58I found something interesting.
17:02The interesting thing
17:04turned out to be Lily and Kale arguing in the woods.
17:07You can't blame everything on me!
17:09You were the one who insisted this pack would make you stronger!
17:12If it weren't for you, I would have joined the Northern Healer Packs years ago.
17:16Now nobody will take me because they all think I belong to this pack.
17:19You think I knew this pack was this poor?
17:21They barely give us enough resources every month.
17:23Kale, you were supposed to bond with Aurora.
17:27You pushed her away yourself!
17:30She's the Alpha King's chosen heiress!
17:32She could have given you everything you needed.
17:34If you'd stayed with her, you would have completed your awakening years ago!
17:38My fists clenched instantly, so that was the truth.
17:42I had always wondered why Kale chose Lily so stubbornly.
17:45Now I understood.
17:46They had known each other from the beginning.
17:48In my previous life, even if I hadn't supported Kale,
17:51they would have found another fool eventually.
17:54Something terrifying clicked into place inside my mind.
17:57Anyone bonded to Kale would eventually die.
18:00Because there were only two ways to break a bond.
18:02Either the wolf willingly severed it,
18:04or their bonded partner died.
18:06But in my previous life, Kale and I had never officially bonded.
18:10So why did he still want me dead?
18:12Then the answer hit me so hard, my blood ran cold.
18:15Once Kale completed his Alpha Awakening,
18:17our pack would lose all value to them.
18:19And what better way to earn sympathy from stronger packs
18:22than surviving the destruction of their own territory?
18:25A powerful awakened Alpha.
18:27A tragic survivor She-Wolf.
18:28No pack would reject them after that.
18:30Just innocent victims looking for refuge.
18:33What a disgusting plan.
18:34Beside me, Ronan clearly had no idea what I was thinking.
18:38He had shifted into wolf form and was lounging happily across a tree branch overhead,
18:42completely entertained by the drama.
18:45Honestly, maybe I should start taking him on more missions again.
18:48He was getting bored enough to enjoy gossip.
18:51But I was grateful he brought me here tonight.
18:53Because for years, I blamed myself for Moonfang's destruction.
18:57I thought my jealousy caused everything.
19:00I thought if I hadn't targeted Lily, Kale never would have turned against me.
19:04But now I understood.
19:05The destruction of Moonfang had been planned from the beginning.
19:09This time, they'll pay for it.
19:11I still hadn't decided how to deal with them when another problem appeared.
19:14One night, Kale showed up outside my cabin.
19:17His gray eyes stayed fixed on Ronan,
19:19who is currently relaxing, half-submerged in the spring behind me.
19:27You're still this weak after all these years?
19:30Yeah.
19:31My mate spoils me too much to make me train alone.
19:38What's your excuse?
19:45Where do you even learn this nonsense?
19:47Ronan climbed out of the water
19:49and immediately wrapped himself around me from behind,
19:52soaking wet.
19:54I just want that mutt to understand something.
19:56There's no place for him between us.
19:58And what exactly are we?
20:04That depends on what you want us to be.
20:06Suddenly, a movement sounded behind us.
20:08I instinctively turned.
20:09He already left.
20:11So stop worrying about him.
20:14I need to know why he came here.
20:17Kale doesn't do anything without a reason.
20:19He regrets choosing Lily.
20:21That's obviously why.
20:22But when I finally looked toward the gate,
20:24Kale was already gone.
20:26Suddenly, a terrifying thought crossed my mind.
20:29This life, I had completely avoided getting involved with him.
20:32If Kale truly regretted Lily,
20:35there were countless stronger wolves in Moonfang
20:38he could approach instead.
20:39The elders would gladly support him.
20:42So why come to me?
20:43Unless Kale remembered everything too.
20:46The realization hit me instantly.
20:48Without even explaining to Ronan,
20:50I ran straight toward the Forbidden Woods.
20:53No one was there.
20:54For one brief moment, I relaxed.
20:57Then I turned around,
20:58and my heart nearly stopped.
21:00Not far from the boundary,
21:02a strand of gray fur was caught against the rocks.
21:05Kale had definitely been here,
21:07which meant he remembered the previous life too.
21:10And if that was true,
21:12then everything was about to become far more dangerous.
21:15Lately, whispers had started spreading through the pack.
21:19About Kale.
21:20Unfortunately, my name kept getting dragged into them too.
21:23Anyone with eyes could see what was happening.
21:26Kale and Lily had fallen apart.
21:28An alpha-like Kale had always attracted attention.
21:31At first, Lily followed him everywhere
21:33like she had won Luna Goddess Blessing.
21:36But now, Kale refused to stay near her,
21:38publicly walked away from her more than once during training.
21:42Their bond was cracking right in front of everyone.
21:44And somehow, it became my problem.
21:47Because while Kale rejected Lily,
21:49he wouldn't stop hovering around me.
21:52Every time I appeared,
21:53his gaze locked onto me immediately.
21:56Every patrol,
21:57every gathering,
21:58every training session.
22:00Once, he crossed the entire field
22:02just to pull me away from a collapsing sparring post
22:04before it hit me.
22:05Lily looked at me afterward
22:07like she wanted to rip my throat out.
22:09The elder found the entire thing hilarious.
22:11Kale really looks like
22:13one of those tragic alpha males
22:15from romance novels.
22:17He ignores you at first,
22:19then realizes too late
22:21that you were the one he wanted all along.
22:24The moment she said that,
22:25Ronan lifted his head.
22:27The room temperature seemed to drop instantly.
22:29If I hadn't grabbed his wrist fast enough,
22:31the elder's wolf probably would have started a fight.
22:34She burst into laughter instead.
22:37Oh, relax.
22:39Your mate's terrifying.
22:40The elder leaned back in her chair.
22:42Honestly, Lily can't handle Kale anyway.
22:44Maybe we should just dissolve their bond
22:46and let him choose you instead.
22:49Across the room,
22:50the elder's beta nearly choked on his drink.
22:52Absolutely not.
22:53I immediately said,
22:54Ronan's arm slid around my waist possessively.
22:57I already have a mate.
22:58That's enough for me.
22:59The elder sighed dramatically.
23:01What a waste.
23:02Then her expression finally turned serious.
23:04But Kale's behavior is becoming a problem.
23:07An alpha who rejects his own bond
23:10destabilizes the entire pack.
23:12She tapped her fingers against the table.
23:14And Lily hasn't advanced for almost 10 years.
23:16The council is considering sending them
23:18beyond the Northern Territory for field demissions.
23:20I understood what she really meant.
23:22They were protecting me.
23:23Because if rumors spread
23:24that I was trying to steal another she-wolf's alpha,
23:27the entire pack would turn vicious.
23:29At least this way,
23:30Kale and Lily would leave.
23:32The council had already started giving up on Kale.
23:34Not because he was weak,
23:36but because Ronan was stronger.
23:38During sparring,
23:39the two of us together could already force the elders.
23:41Inside the council hall,
23:43Lily broke down the moment she heard the decision.
23:46Unlike most rogues,
23:47the pack provided safety,
23:48shelter,
23:49food,
23:50protection.
23:51Lily had once survived alone outside the borders.
23:54She knew exactly how cruel the wild could be.
23:57She refused to leave.
23:58And somehow,
23:59she blamed me for everything.
24:01In tears,
24:02she accused me in front of the elders.
24:04If my sister wants Kale so badly,
24:06she could have just said it.
24:07I would have given him to her.
24:11Then her eyes shifted viciously.
24:14But if she takes Kale,
24:17shouldn't she give me Ronan instead?
24:18Before anyone else could react,
24:20the elders shut her down immediately.
24:22No!
24:23Keep your mate,
24:24and stop embarrassing yourself.
24:30Everything I heard afterward came from the guards stationed outside the hall.
24:34Because while they dealt with Lily,
24:36I was somewhere else.
24:38Several wolves had vanished from the pack.
24:42They're rogues.
24:43They hadn't fully integrated into the territory yet.
24:46We're usually kept there temporarily under supervision.
24:50But overnight,
24:52three disappeared.
24:53Without a trace,
24:55the warrior looked pale.
24:57I reinforced every entrance myself.
24:59If anyone crossed the borders,
25:01I would have sensed it.
25:02Ronan stood behind me with his arms crossed.
25:05There's no foreign scent.
25:07I scanned the compound slowly.
25:10The holding grounds were built into the cliffs beneath the northern forest.
25:14The tunnels were protected by old blood barriers.
25:17No rogue could enter unnoticed,
25:20which meant only two possibilities remained.
25:23Either someone inside the pack helped them,
25:27or someone inside the pack killed them.
25:30I turned slowly.
25:32Can wolves kill their own kind?
25:34The warrior looked horrified.
25:37What kind of question is that?
25:38But Ronan answered.
25:41Yes.
25:42His voice was calm.
25:44Wolves slaughter each other all the time.
25:47A chill crawled down my spine.
25:49There are forbidden blood rituals.
25:51If a wolf devours enough of his own kind,
25:55he stops being a wolf altogether.
25:58Wild wolves didn't have access to healing herbs or sacred relics.
26:02Out beyond the borders,
26:03strength came from one thing only.
26:05Blood.
26:05The fastest way for a rogue wolf to grow stronger
26:08was to consume another wolf's core.
26:11Ten years ago,
26:12Ronan had nearly died to one of them.
26:14The stronger the victim,
26:15the faster the killer evolves.
26:16And once they've tasted that kind of power,
26:18they always come back for more.
26:19That night,
26:20we laid a trap around the holding grounds.
26:22Nothing happened.
26:22It may not even be a wolf.
26:24We'll watch again tonight.
26:25But the moment I stepped outside,
26:27a patrol beta came sprinting toward us.
26:29Luna!
26:31Something happened at Black Hollow!
26:33My stomach dropped instantly.
26:35Ronan shifted without hesitation.
26:36In seconds,
26:37the massive wolf was already racing through the forest with me on his back.
26:40The moment we arrived,
26:42Ronan froze.
26:43There's blood.
26:44One of the younger pack members collapsed in the dirt,
26:46clutching something soaked red against his chest.
26:49I recognized him immediately.
26:50He joined our territory two years ago with his mate.
26:53She used to sleep in the sun outside the barracks,
26:55lazy and spoiled and adored by everyone who passed by.
26:59Now all that remained was torn fur and blood.
27:02The elder was already there handling the scene.
27:04When she saw me,
27:05her expression hardened.
27:06Her core was removed cleanly.
27:08One strike,
27:09too fast for her to even cry out.
27:10The boy only noticed because their bond suddenly snapped.
27:13But by the time he found her,
27:15she was already dead.
27:16A cold feeling crawled down my spine.
27:19Almost instinctively,
27:20I searched the crowd for Kale.
27:23And there he was,
27:24standing beside Lily,
27:26quietly.
27:27Ronan's hand covered my eyes.
27:29Don't look at him.
27:31You know it was him?
27:33Yes.
27:34I've seen wolves like this before.
27:37The smell coming off Kale is the same.
27:40I immediately told the elder everything.
27:42But instead of acting,
27:44she shook her head.
27:45Not yet.
27:46We need proof.
27:48Countering him now will only make him hide deeper.
27:52After the murder,
27:53the council quietly began monitoring Kale.
27:55Not because of my accusations.
27:58Because they noticed it, too.
28:00His power had grown far too quickly.
28:03But nothing happened anymore.
28:07Two years passed.
28:09Eventually,
28:10the pack stopped talking about the murder altogether.
28:12It became just another ghost story whispered during night patrols.
28:16But I never forgot what Ronan said.
28:18Kale smelled like a rogue blood eater.
28:21And the longer we failed to expose him,
28:23the more guilt I felt toward the boy who lost his mate.
28:25At one point,
28:26I even asked the elder to imprison Kale temporarily.
28:28She refused immediately.
28:30You think the council doesn't know something is wrong with him?
28:33But suspicion isn't enough.
28:35If we cage an alpha without proof,
28:36the entire territory will split apart.
28:38He still has supporters.
28:39And the moment the pack loses faith in its leaders,
28:42everything collapses.
28:43That night,
28:44I sat alone in my room meditating.
28:45Then,
28:46a pair of glowing red eyes flashed past my window.
28:49I jerked upright instantly and ran outside.
28:51Moonlight flooded the courtyard.
28:52Ronan was gone.
28:53I rushed toward the spring near the cliffs.
28:55Floating across the surface,
28:56a single dark gray wolf hair,
28:58like a message.
28:59Find me if you want him back.
29:01I immediately reached through the mating bond
29:03to track Ronan's location,
29:04the Forbidden Forest,
29:05near the sealed ruins.
29:06My expression changed instantly.
29:08What was Kale doing there?
29:09I crossed the distance fast,
29:11sprinting through the woods.
29:12The moment I arrived,
29:13violent shockwaves exploded through the trees.
29:15Ronan and Kale were fighting.
29:17And for the first time,
29:18fear hit me.
29:19Kale had become monstrously strong.
29:21Far stronger than he should have been.
29:22Moonlight flashed across his silver eyes
29:24as he dodged Ronan's attacks
29:26through the forest with terrifying speed.
29:28Then,
29:28I saw Lily.
29:29She sat near the ancient boundary stones,
29:31completely motionless.
29:32She was dead.
29:33The wolf core inside her body,
29:34gone.
29:35For a moment,
29:36my entire mind went blank.
29:37Then thunder rolled overhead.
29:39Lightning flickered violently across the sky.
29:41Ronan's voice turned cold beside me.
29:43The moon goddess
29:43is passing judgment.
29:45I stared at Kale in horror.
29:47There was no denying it anymore.
29:48He had slaughtered his own mate.
29:50You really are pathetic.
29:51In my last life,
29:52you and Lily spent ten years
29:53using this pack as your stepping stone.
29:55You manipulated everyone.
29:57You fed on wolves behind their backs.
29:59This time,
30:00I gave you exactly what you wanted.
30:02A chance to stand beside her openly.
30:04And you killed her anyway.
30:06You don't understand.
30:08I was close.
30:09That was when I realized
30:10he'd been carving symbols
30:11into the earth the entire time.
30:14Breaking the seal.
30:15The ground trembled violently.
30:17Howls echoed through the forest.
30:19Ancient things were waking up.
30:20At the same moment,
30:21lightning split the clouds overhead.
30:23The entire sky turned silver.
30:25Kael stood beneath it,
30:26smiling like a madman.
30:27From every direction,
30:28alarm fires ignited across the territory.
30:30The elders had noticed
30:31the barrier collapsing.
30:32The moment they saw the broken seals,
30:35their expression changed completely.
30:36And somehow,
30:37Kael still wasn't afraid.
30:38If anything,
30:39he looked happier.
30:39He said softly,
30:40almost lovingly,
30:41You can't stop this,
30:42so come with me.
30:43Let's die together this time.
30:44Fear hit me hard,
30:45because I remembered it.
30:46In my last life,
30:48this was exactly how I died.
30:49Torn apart while Kael protected Lily
30:51and left me behind.
30:52Then suddenly,
30:53a hand landed on my shoulder.
30:54Rowan,
30:55his blue eyes glowed in the dark.
30:56You want to drag her into death with you.
30:59He laughed once.
31:00Who the hell gave you permission?
31:03I wasn't alone anymore.
31:05Ronan attacked first.
31:07The forest exploded beneath his weight
31:08as he lunged.
31:09I raised both hands instantly,
31:11reinforcing him with protective marks.
31:13Every wolf fought differently,
31:15and their mates adapted beside them.
31:17Fast alphas needed strategists.
31:19Brutal fighters needed defense.
31:21Pack hunters needed coordination.
31:23In my last life,
31:24Kael never fought beside me.
31:26We moved like two halves
31:27of the same heartbeat,
31:29something Kael would never understand.
31:31Lightning churned overhead
31:32like a living thing.
31:34Then,
31:34his expression changed,
31:36because no matter how fiercely he attacked,
31:38he couldn't break through Ronan's defense.
31:40And a Ronan?
31:41Every strike aimed to kill.
31:43Kael finally realized
31:44I wasn't going to die for him.
31:46No!
31:48This is wrong!
31:50You were supposed to die!
31:52We were supposed to die together!
31:56Together!
31:58I lowered my hand slowly.
32:00Ronan flashed back to my side immediately.
32:03Then he grinned at Kael,
32:04mocking him.
32:05Kael froze.
32:06I pointed upward.
32:07The lightning above us
32:08was fully formed now,
32:10a pillar of silver wrath.
32:12Goodbye forever.
32:17The lightning struck.
32:19A blast thicker than a tree trunk
32:21crashed directly onto Kael.
32:23He didn't even have time to scream.
32:26Punishment from the moon goddess
32:27left nothing behind.
32:29But we didn't have time to breathe,
32:31because the real nightmare
32:32had just begun.
32:34The rogues imprisoned beneath the northern forest
32:36were far worse than Kael ever was.
32:39Most couldn't even be killed,
32:41only sealed away.
32:43Especially the things sleeping
32:44at the deepest point below the mountain,
32:47the ancient rogue queen.
32:49A creature so powerful,
32:51the previous alpha king
32:53sacrificed himself just to contain it.
32:55Now, the barriers were breaking apart
32:58faster than the elders could repair them.
33:00Cold, corrupted energy
33:02seeped through the forest like poison.
33:04What reward I'd get for saving your life.
33:10What's in there?
33:12Rogue queen.
33:14You stay outside.
33:15I have to go in.
33:16I'm coming too.
33:17Aurora, it's dangerous.
33:20I know.
33:21In my last life,
33:22this is where I died.
33:23I watched Kael leave me behind
33:25while the creatures tore me apart.
33:28So I'm not abandoning you either.
33:31Without another word,
33:32we ran straight through
33:33the collapsing barrier together.
33:35Wind roared past us.
33:38Who the hell just ran inside?
33:40You senile idiot!
33:42That was the Luna!
33:43The deeper we entered the forest,
33:45the thicker the fog became.
33:47Ronan was no longer
33:49in his smaller wolf form.
33:50Now he looked enormous beside me.
33:53Powerful enough
33:54that even the rogues
33:55hesitated to attack immediately.
33:58What are we looking for?
34:00The Lycan queen.
34:01Aurora.
34:03I can smell my mother here.
34:05I froze.
34:06All this time,
34:07I'd assumed Ronan was the child
34:09of some rogue alpha bloodline.
34:11He'd always avoided
34:12speaking about his family.
34:13Now I finally understood why.
34:15He did carry wolf blood.
34:17His mother
34:18was the Lycan queen itself.
34:20That explained a lot.
34:22Why he fought like a monster.
34:24Why every elder in the territory
34:26feared him instinctively.
34:28Why his temper was so terrifying.
34:30Because he is the Lycan king.
34:33Ronan's voice dropped lower.
34:35She wasn't evil.
34:37She only lost control
34:38after a blood eater
34:39killed my father
34:40and devoured his core.
34:42The madness consumed her after that.
34:45I didn't know how to comfort him,
34:46so I simply touched his hair lightly.
34:49Honestly,
34:49there also wasn't much time
34:51for emotional conversations.
34:53The rogues around us
34:54were beginning to move.
34:55Ronan set me down,
34:57then shifted back
34:58into human form beside me,
35:00placing himself between me
35:01and the darkness instinctively.
35:03If things go bad,
35:04I'll throw you toward the exit.
35:06I'll hold them off.
35:07You run.
35:08If Kale was right about one thing,
35:10if dying here really means
35:12I start over again,
35:13then maybe it's not
35:14the worst outcome.
35:15You once told me
35:16I could only ever belong to you.
35:18I meant it.
35:20So if you don't want
35:21these creatures tearing me apart,
35:23fight like hell
35:24to keep me alive.
35:25We fought back to back
35:26desperately,
35:27and then
35:28something became horribly wrong
35:30inside me.
35:31My rank was about to evolve.
35:33Now, of all times,
35:34a breakthrough
35:35during this level of corruption
35:36could destroy my mind completely.
35:39Ronan sensed it
35:40immediately through our bond.
35:42This is my fault.
35:44I wanted to see my mother
35:45too badly.
35:46Then, suddenly,
35:48everything stopped.
35:48I froze.
35:50Ronan spun around instantly,
35:52thinking I'd been attacked,
35:53but he realized it too.
35:55Every creature had vanished.
35:57Silence swallowed the forest.
35:59A massive pair of crimson eyes
36:01opened deep within the fog.
36:03My entire body went cold.
36:05I pointed into the darkness.
36:07Is that her?
36:08Legend spoke of the rogue queen,
36:11an ancient beast
36:12older than the moon goddess herself.
36:13A human, half monster.
36:15A creature large enough
36:16to swallow entire armies whole.
36:18She looked nothing like a wolf anymore.
36:20Her body towered over the forest
36:21like a living mountain.
36:22Thick black fur mixed with
36:24scale-like scars across her skin,
36:25as though corruption had warped her
36:27into something unnatural.
36:28Her face still carried traces of humanity,
36:30but barely.
36:31The moment she saw us,
36:32instinct took over.
36:33She lunged.
36:34Every nerve in my body
36:35screamed at me to run,
36:36but I couldn't move.
36:37All my life,
36:38people praised Kale's alpha bloodline
36:40as something legendary.
36:41But standing in front of this creature,
36:43I finally understood.
36:44Kale had never been a true monster.
36:46The terror crushing my chest now
36:47wasn't fear born from reason.
36:49It was instinct.
36:50The instinct weaker creatures feel
36:51when something ancient,
36:52higher on the food chain,
36:53looks at them.
36:54She stopped inches
36:55before tearing me apart.
36:56Mother,
36:58don't touch her.
36:59The beast froze.
37:00Then slowly,
37:01she backed away.
37:02The ground shook beneath her steps.
37:04Suddenly,
37:04she began shaking violently,
37:06like something inside her
37:07was tearing itself apart.
37:08It's me, Ronan.
37:11Ronan.
37:12Her voice echoed through the valley.
37:14Every creature nearby
37:14immediately went silent.
37:16For one brief moment,
37:17the madness in her eyes faded.
37:19Kill me.
37:22A glowing core slowly emerged
37:24from her chest,
37:25the source of a wolf's life.
37:26She pushed it toward Ronan.
37:27Ronan caught it with trembling hands.
37:30I can't.
37:32The giant wolf convulsed again.
37:34She was losing control too quickly.
37:36Then suddenly,
37:37the core floated out of Ronan's hands.
37:39Luna wolf,
37:41you do it.
37:41I caught the core instinctively.
37:44My mind went blank.
37:45Logic told me
37:45there was no saving her anymore.
37:47That ending her suffering
37:48was mercy.
37:49But emotionally,
37:50this was Ronan's mother.
37:51And before I could even decide,
37:53pain exploded inside my body.
37:55My rank was advancing.
37:57Power surged violently
37:58through my veins,
37:59spiraling out of control.
38:00I had to make a choice immediately.
38:03Ronan's hand over mine.
38:05I looked up.
38:06It was the first time
38:07I had ever seen him cry.
38:09He stared at his mother silently,
38:11then whispered,
38:12Goodbye, Mom.
38:13The core shattered in my hands.
38:15The giant wolf exhaled slowly.
38:18Relief softened her monstrous face
38:20for the first time.
38:21Finally.
38:22Then her body collapsed.
38:24At the same moment,
38:25thunder exploded overhead.
38:28Do breakthroughs usually look like this?
38:31It looks more like it wants to kill you.
38:35Ronan,
38:36I think I'm doomed.
38:37What are you scared of?
38:38If the sky falls,
38:39I'll hold it up first.
38:40I brought you in here.
38:42So even if it kills me,
38:43I'm getting you back revived.
38:47Of course,
38:48the massive energy
38:49also attracted
38:50every rogues nearby.
38:52They gathered around us
38:53hungry.
38:54Unfortunately for them,
38:56the lightning still needed
38:57somewhere to land.
38:58And since it couldn't hit me,
39:00it started hitting
39:01the rogues instead.
39:03Thirty-six lightning strikes later,
39:05the storm finally disappeared.
39:07Morning light flooded the forest.
39:09Ronan and I walked out alive.
39:11Thanks to the chaos
39:12we caused inside,
39:14the Elders had enough time
39:15to repair the barriers completely.
39:17Within a month,
39:18the entire northern territories
39:20heard rumors about me.
39:23Aurora,
39:24seeing the moon goddess
39:25favor you like this
39:26puts my heart at ease.
39:29We agree you're perfectly suited
39:32to become the Pax Luna Queen.
39:33The surrounding Elders
39:34immediately applauded.
39:35You just want to retire.
39:36She means well,
39:37but she's stubborn.
39:39You protecting her is a blessing.
39:42From today onward,
39:44you are the Lunar Queen.
39:46You may lead
39:47all rescued wolves
39:48within the territory.
39:50After our territory
39:51gained fame,
39:52humans and supernatural clans alike
39:55began bringing us
39:56expensive relics and requests.
39:58One of them
39:59was a memory mirror,
40:01a forbidden artifact
40:02capable of showing
40:04someone's previous life.
40:05Naturally,
40:06I looked,
40:07and what I saw
40:08was the aftermath
40:09of my death.
40:10After I was devoured
40:12in the Forbidden Forest
40:13during my first life,
40:15Ronan's mother
40:15woke up completely.
40:17After that,
40:18everything burned.
40:20By then,
40:20Ronan had already been
40:22forcibly bonded to Lily.
40:24His mother smelled
40:25Lily's scent
40:26on his remains.
40:27Kale threw her
40:28directly toward the monster
40:29to save himself.
40:32I didn't feel satisfaction,
40:35not revenge,
40:35only relief.
40:37Suddenly,
40:38the mirror
40:38disappeared from my hands.
40:40I reheated the wine
40:41three times already.
40:42What are you even staring at?
40:44And for the first time
40:45in both my lives,
40:47everything finally felt peaceful.
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