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00:00I was reborn. Back to the night I unbond my chest before the Alpha here. Thank the moon goddess. I
00:07still had not told him my secret. Cassian's death was spread with portraits of the finest women in all of
00:12Silver Air Pack. Just like in my last life, he waved me over.
00:15Saren, look at these. Who would be my future Luna?
00:19In my last life, I was so jealous that I confessed everything. Born with the moon curse, I became male
00:26by day, female by night. My wolf was chained deep inside. No shifting. No mate bond. Only the mark of
00:35my true mate could break the curse. The moment Cassian learned the truth, he swore I was the woman he
00:41loved most. I got what I wanted. He marked me.
00:46From that day on, I stayed in my female body, and I thought the curse was gone for good. I
00:52happily took my place as his future Luna. My wolf stayed silent. I brushed it off as fallout from the
00:59curse. But later, he fell for another woman. Ten years he froze me out. Our pups didn't survive the pack's
01:05struggle for power. In this life, I refused to mate with him. Never. So I pointed to Alora Ashfield, the
01:12woman he later favored most.
01:14Her. Alora Ashfield. She's your best move.
01:18Cassian went still. He hadn't expected me to choose Alora.
01:22That woman's too rigid. Every talk with her feels like a council meeting. I won't like her.
01:28That didn't matter. He would, later. On the day I died in the Luna's Tower, he told me,
01:33If I could live this again, I'd rather never have known what you are. Then I would have married Alora.
01:41I came back to myself and spoke.
01:43Lord Ashfield is head counsellor of the Council of the Pack Council. If you marry Alora, the whole Pack Council
01:50stands with you. Your claim to the throne will hold.
01:54Cassian looked up. His eyes locked onto mine. After a long silence, he said,
02:00I see.
02:01I knew my words sank in. Even in my past life, he had meant to marry Alora anyway, after weighing
02:08his options.
02:09Tonight was only his way of testing my reaction. He wanted to see if I still cared.
02:15I served as his beta for five years. Shared the same tower. I ate at the same table. He knew
02:23nothing about my curse. He thought I was just a man.
02:26Beneath the disguise, I was a woman. One who often helped him with strategy. Over time, I fell for him.
02:33Even he started to feel something different for me.
02:36But in his eyes, I was still a man. As the alpha hare, he needed pups to carry on the
02:42Valamont bloodline. So whatever he felt for me, he could only bury it.
02:46He would never get the chance to say it out loud. Just before I walked out, Cassian let out a
02:52sigh.
02:52Saren, if only you had a twin sister. If she were anything like you, I'd find a way. Whatever the
02:58cost.
02:59Under the moonlight, I saw the look in his eyes. It was dark, heavy, and dripping with regret. His jaw
03:05clenched tight. His Adam's choggle bobbed. I smiled.
03:10Too bad she doesn't exist.
03:12I knew how he operated. Once the marriage was locked in, he would cut me out of his life. If
03:18anyone found out the alpha hare fell for a man who couldn't give him an heir, the pack council would
03:23dethrone him. The pack would shake. The Valamont family would be ruined by his scandal.
03:27A future king could not afford to hesitate. A king who hesitates is already dead.
03:33I stood outside the iron gates of Blackthorn Manor, looking up at the carved family crest. My heart mummered against
03:41my ribs.
03:42During my ten years as his Luna, Cassian claimed the Blackthorns held too much power in the pack council, said
03:48we threatened the crown's independence.
03:50He issued a pack dissimilation order, stripped our titles, and exiled us to the borderlands.
03:56My father, Lord Gregor Blackthorn, was a fierce warrior his whole life. His dying words burned with hatred.
04:02I spent seventeen years forging you into something that could sit at the highest table, and you threw it all
04:08away for a man who will never choose you over his crown.
04:11From that day on, I lived with regret. Thank the moon goddess. She had given me one more chance.
04:18I sat in my study all night, by dawn. The news broke. The alpha king issued a royal decree.
04:24Cassian and Alera Ashfield were officially engaged. At the same time, my own order arrived.
04:30Cassian pulled strings for me. In two months, I was departing for the south. My new title was Territorial Warden
04:37of Ashenmore.
04:38I marched to the Hare's Tower at once. But Cassian shut me out. He sent a messenger instead. I'd been
04:45looking forward to seeing him.
04:46We're Blood Oath brothers. My closest ally. Looking out for you is part of the deal. No thanks needed.
04:51He called me his closest ally. No thanks needed, but he didn't know. In my past life, I was his
04:58Luna for a decade. And taking me out was the only thing on his mind.
05:03Ashenmere was rich and laid back. Far from Silvercrest's power games. For me, that was all upside. Even my father
05:10downed a few extra shots at the family dinner. He raised a toast.
05:13Two years governing your own territory. That'll prove to everyone what you're capable of.
05:17By this time in my last life, I had already survived my mating night with Cassian. The curse shattered. I
05:22was fully female again. Snow dumped from the sky.
05:25Cassian stood outside the alpha king's hall. He used his raw alpha bloodline to block a king's command, never backing
05:31down.
05:31The alpha king was furious. He would not accept a moonbound. A cursed woman who could not shift as his
05:39son's future Luma.
05:40The throne or a woman. Tell me you can see the difference.
05:44Cassian dropped to one knee. He never let anyone see his emotions. His face always showed nothing. But at that
05:49moment, a tear slipped out.
05:51Father, if I can't have Saren Blackthorn, the crown means nothing to me.
05:56In the end, the alpha king gave in. But after that day, they bled my father's power dry in the
06:01shadows.
06:02In just a few months, his hair turned gray. Now, none of that would happen.
06:07From that day forward, I threw myself into preparing for my post.
06:12As for Cassian, he was busy locking down his future Luna. He stopped calling for me.
06:18Kale Valamont, the second prince. And I knew each other fairly well.
06:22He was notoriously idle. Never took anything seriously.
06:26But out of nowhere, he showed up at my door to question me.
06:30You two were inseparable. He personally arranged the Ashmore post for you.
06:34I'm genuinely jealous. So why haven't I seen you together lately?
06:37I smiled but said nothing. But I knew it. From here on out, Cassian and I were only going to
06:43drift apart.
06:44That was all.
06:47Not long after, Kale told me.
06:49Cassian and Allura were making a public appearance at the Lakeside party for the Moonfire Festival.
06:54He pushed me to tag along.
06:57And watch.
06:59Honestly, Saren, is something wrong with your head?
07:01You've been icing Cassian out for way too long.
07:04If you don't show your face soon, he's going to forget you.
07:08That was exactly what I wanted. I turned him down.
07:11I'm not going. I'm departing for Ashenmore in two months.
07:16I've got too much to do.
07:17Kale backed off at the time.
07:20But on Moonfire Festival night, he sweet-talked me out of my tower.
07:23Cassian has never, not once, been close to a woman.
07:27Aren't you the least bit curious what he's like with Allura?
07:30Honestly, I was not curious.
07:32Because I had already seen her.
07:33He would neglect everyone for her.
07:35She was frail and could not carry pups.
07:37Until the day I died in my last life, the royal family had only the son and daughter.
07:41I gave him back when he still loved me.
07:43He would sneak her out of the palace at midnight.
07:45Just to watch plays.
07:47For ten years, every noblewoman in Silverhouse learned to ride.
07:50Only because Allura thought it was fun.
07:52A dull ache hit me deep under my ribs.
07:54My pups.
07:55Forget it.
07:56I would not be having pups in this life anyway.
07:59With that, I turned to leave.
08:01Kale grabbed my arm and waved at someone in the distance.
08:04Cassian!
08:06I froze in my tracks.
08:08Wasn't he supposed to be at the lake now?
08:10How the hell had we run into him halfway there?
08:13Then I felt a gaze land on me.
08:15Heavy.
08:16Burning.
08:16And gone just as fast.
08:19The crowd was packed.
08:20Silver bonfires lit up every maskin in the square.
08:23On Moonfire Festival night, the air was thick with the scent of unmated wolves.
08:28All of them chasing and testing one another.
08:31I turned around.
08:33Met Cassian's eyes.
08:34He had no intention of speaking to me.
08:37Instead, he started talking to Kale.
08:40They walked ahead, leaving me half a block behind in a blink.
08:45I noticed Alara was not at his side.
08:49Later, I learned this appearance had been arranged by the Alpha King and Luna Queen.
08:53But at the last minute, Cassian had stood Alina up.
08:59I had no interest in tailing them.
09:02So I turned the other way.
09:03Back in the day, Cassian never let me me out of his sight.
09:07Now, he would not care whether I stayed.
09:10Or went.
09:11He had Kale now.
09:12Alara too.
09:13And one day, he would have his pups.
09:16Still thank the Moon Goddess.
09:19I was no longer that jealous and neglected Luna.
09:22I wandered deep into the festival.
09:24Played a couple of street games.
09:26On the way, I happened to save a girl from a few rogues.
09:31She wore a silver mask.
09:33Her hood pulled low.
09:34Her voice cheeky with sobs.
09:36Hard to hear clearly.
09:37I was supposed to meet someone tonight.
09:39He didn't come.
09:40I did not think much of it.
09:42Tossed her a few comforting words.
09:45But the second we parted ways, someone slammed into me.
09:49Kale bear hugged me, pounding his fist into my back.
09:52I quickly grabbed his wrist.
09:54What happened?
09:55Kale gave a huff.
09:56You impossible creature.
09:57You vanished on us.
09:58We've been tearing this place apart looking for you.
10:00I laughed.
10:01It's not like we never got separated before.
10:03I'm a Blackthorn.
10:04What's going to happen to me?
10:05I told him the same thing.
10:07But you know Cassian.
10:08He heard about the rogues and nearly lost his mind.
10:11He stepped aside.
10:13Cassian was standing behind him.
10:15He just stared at me.
10:16Unmovable.
10:17I noticed his eyes.
10:18The color was darker.
10:20His wolf was on the razor's edge of shifting.
10:22The way Kale was holding me, it looked way too intimate.
10:27Kale, of course, noticed nothing.
10:28His arm tightened around me, and his voice turned teasing.
10:32I've seen the finest women in the velvet den, and your waist is narrower than any of theirs.
10:37It's a damn shame you're not a woman.
10:39The moment the words left his mouth, my body went stiff.
10:43Damn it.
10:44It was nighttime.
10:46I was back in my female body.
10:48The moonstone pendant held the illusion in place.
10:50The wolf's babe's scent blocker suppressed my pheromones.
10:52But physical contact this close.
10:55His hand was on my waist through my thin shirt.
10:58He could feel it.
11:00The curves were all wrong for a man.
11:02I prayed he wouldn't notice.
11:05Cassia suddenly let out a cold laugh.
11:07He stared at me.
11:09His eyes had fully shifted to deep amber.
11:13Saren Blacktharn as a woman?
11:15No one in Silverest would dare take her.
11:17Then he turned.
11:20And strode away.
11:22Without a glance back.
11:26I knew Cassian inside out.
11:28He was furious.
11:30Good.
11:31That was exactly how it should be.
11:33It pushed us back to where we belonged.
11:35A prince and his beta.
11:37Nothing more.
11:37Before all this, we had played chess and traded letters.
11:40I was smaller than the other men.
11:42The noble brads picked on me.
11:43He was the only one who ever protected me.
11:45We were young.
11:46Too close for our own good.
11:48We were the only ones who truly knew each other.
11:50But I had lived one life more than he had.
11:52I understood now.
11:54Being with him meant ten years of ice.
11:56Endless blood and tears.
11:58I had no power now.
11:59All I could do was stay far away from him.
12:01If the chance ever came.
12:03And my blade was sharp enough I would kill him.
12:05But that afternoon, a clerk from the steward's office came to me.
12:09My appointment to Ashenmere was still missing one final formality.
12:13The heir's seal.
12:14Without his highness's heir's seal, the office cannot release the final transfer papers.
12:18I ran into an obstacle.
12:20But then I got lucky.
12:21Ashford Hall was throwing a feast to celebrate Lord Ashford's achievements in the pack council.
12:25I got the wax sealed invite in my past life too.
12:28Back then I was waiting to marry Cassian.
12:29Rumors about me were everywhere.
12:31At the time I had not wanted to go out and face any of it.
12:33But this time, my eyes lit up.
12:35If Ashford was hosting a feast, Cassian would be there.
12:39At the feast, I saw Alara.
12:42She sat beside Cassian.
12:44She already had that graceful, untouchable posture of the future Luna.
12:49I sat across from them, just watching them cozy up.
12:53It was like a glimpse of a past life.
12:55The Alpha King and his precious Luna, madly in love.
12:59Halfway through the feast, I lifted my glass and walked toward them.
13:03Your Highness.
13:04Cassian kept his eyes on the stage.
13:07He ignored me.
13:08Your Highness.
13:09He glanced sideways.
13:11He finally turned his head.
13:12What is it?
13:13I laid out my request.
13:14This is a feast for my fiancé's father.
13:17I don't want to deal with this now.
13:19Catch me another day.
13:20I took a breath and was about to press the matter.
13:22Suddenly, a mind-controlled, poisoned rogue lunged from the shadows.
13:27And instinctively reached for me.
13:29I saw his move and dodged away at once.
13:31I shoved Alara beside him, but I wasn't fast enough.
13:34I collapsed on the floor.
13:36He let out a cold laugh.
13:38Loyal to a fault.
13:40You'd rather get hurt yourself to save my future Luna.
13:44That's a baiter's duty.
13:46I thought he was losing his mind.
13:48In front of the whole court, he ignored his future Luna, trying to save me instead.
13:54If word reached the pack council, what would the elders think of him?
13:59Hunt the assassin down.
14:00A second later, Cassian barked orders to hunt the assassin down.
14:04Then, he unclipped his heir's seal from his belt.
14:07He handed it to a nearby guard.
14:09Go to the healer's wing.
14:11Bring every royal healer here.
14:12No.
14:13Cassian looked down at me and said coldly,
14:16You're bleeding out, and you're still playing tough?
14:18Or do you want me to do it myself?
14:21The healers couldn't come.
14:23It was nighttime.
14:25If they treated the wound, my female body would be exposed.
14:28The moonstone pendant could only fool the eye.
14:31If someone touched my skin, the illusion would crack.
14:35And Cassian definitely could not touch me either.
14:38My finger pointed at Kale.
14:39He stood nearby with panic all over his face.
14:42Kale knows battlefield first aid.
14:44Let him do it.
14:45Cassian's face dartened.
14:47After a long silence, he sneered.
14:49Guess I'm just in the way.
14:51I was taken to a guest room in Asheville Hall.
14:54Kale carried me through the door.
14:55I only had the strength for one sentence.
14:58Don't let anyone else in except you.
15:00When I woke up, hours had passed.
15:02The Alpha King had summoned Cassian.
15:04He was already gone.
15:06Kale sat at the table, sipping tea.
15:08He heard me move and slowly spoke.
15:11So, are you a man or a woman?
15:14I was born under the moon curse.
15:16Male by day, female by night.
15:18My wolf is chained.
15:19And only a mate's mark can break it.
15:21You're not going to tell my brother?
15:23I always knew something didn't add up.
15:26Now it does.
15:27Tell him, and the Luna's crown will be yours.
15:30Not in this life.
15:31In my last life, I had already tasted the price of that choice.
15:36Hadn't I?
15:37Kale fell silent for a moment.
15:39Oh, right.
15:40Allura came by earlier.
15:42He tossed a jar of healing salve to me.
15:44She told me to give this to you.
15:47I had never expected this.
15:49I fought her my whole past life.
15:51Now, I had saved her life.
15:54Sleepiness washed over me.
15:55I fell back asleep.
15:57Later that night, my father sent a carriage for me.
16:00The carriage rolled over the cobblestone streets.
16:03The carriage rolled over the cobblestone streets.
16:06I pulled back the curtain.
16:08Coachman had been knocked unconscious.
16:12I stepped out of the carriage.
16:15Cassian stood not far away.
16:16His voice was low.
16:19Saren, didn't you say you needed my hair's seal?
16:22I nodded quickly.
16:23Taking that hit was worth it.
16:25He had come to bring it up himself.
16:27Leave by the end of the month.
16:29What?
16:31He had come just to kick me out early?
16:34He stayed silent for a moment.
16:36Gave me a slight sideways glance.
16:38Saren, I'll arrange a marriage alliance for you.
16:41The mating ceremony is on the 17th.
16:43Once it's done, you take her and leave.
16:45Get far away from Silverhead.
16:47I was already injured.
16:49Hearing that nearly made me pass out on the spot.
16:51Do I have to?
16:52He nodded and said calmly.
16:54Yes, you have to.
16:56Why?
16:57He didn't answer.
16:59I watched him in silence.
17:00After a long time, he stepped closer.
17:03He walked right up to me.
17:04He didn't stop.
17:05I stumbled back two steps.
17:07Before my waist nearly hit the carriage wall,
17:10he slid his hand behind me to cushion the impact.
17:13He didn't pull his hand away.
17:15He leaned in close to my ear.
17:17I caught his scent.
17:19Cedar, storms, and campfire smoke.
17:23It was so strong.
17:24It felt like an invasion.
17:26He lowered his voice.
17:28You're too smart, Saren.
17:31You figured it out a long time ago, didn't you?
17:33My wolf won't let me touch Alara.
17:35It never has.
17:37It only wants you.
17:38How absurd.
17:39The alpha heir.
17:41In love with a man who can't even give him pups.
17:43I stopped breathing.
17:45He actually said it.
17:47Today, I chose you over her.
17:49Tomorrow, I'd do it again.
17:51Every time.
17:53The night wind howled.
17:55His words struck like thunder.
17:57My heart pounded wildly.
18:00In my last life, he fell for Alara barely six months after marking me.
18:04He clearly didn't love me that much.
18:06So why now?
18:07Why was he saying this?
18:09Thought I was a man?
18:10At last, he said.
18:12So yes.
18:13You have to marry.
18:15He needed me to have a wife.
18:17That way, he could kill his own hope.
18:23Cassian moved fast.
18:25He picked a bride for me in record time.
18:28Her family, looks and bloodline.
18:32Every one of them was top tier.
18:34Kale tracked me down.
18:35He flashed a wicked smirk.
18:38So what's the plan?
18:39Bait each other's hair and pretend nothing's weird?
18:42I rolled my eyes.
18:43If you won't help, at least don't mock me.
18:45He raised a brow.
18:47Hypothetically, if someone who wasn't your fated nightmare happened to fall for you,
18:51would that count?
18:52Asking for a friend?
18:54I grabbed an ink will off the desk, smashing it at his feet.
18:57Shut up.
18:58But it triggered a memory.
18:59In my past life, after I became Luna, I had seen Kyle once.
19:04He told me he was going to work at the Northwand frontier.
19:08Not long after that, I heard news of his death.
19:11Are you planning to join the army at the Northford frontier?
19:14You need to think that through.
19:15Absolutely not.
19:16I'm not setting foot in that frozen hell, over my dead body.
19:19Well, in my last life, you did go.
19:21And you really did die.
19:22But he was driving me insane.
19:25Sticking to me like glue lately.
19:27Maybe I should beg my father, too.
19:29Get me a post in Ashen Mall.
19:31If I go there, we can keep being brothers.
19:33If he didn't know my secret, I swear I would have cut him off forever.
19:37But soon enough, an idea came to me.
19:39I had kale spread word outside.
19:41I suffered from mate-bond rejection syndrome.
19:44A super rare condition that meant I could never form a bond with anyone.
19:48The rumor blew up for two days.
19:50That omega bride got scared.
19:52I might cling to her.
19:53Before long, she locked down another marriage to escape me.
20:00Kale and I were both pleased.
20:03He said he wanted to buy me a drink.
20:05I could hold my liquor.
20:07I considered him a friend.
20:08So I said yes.
20:11Halfway through the night, he threw his arm around my shoulder.
20:15Just like always.
20:17His lips brushed dangerously close to my face.
20:21Saren, I really do want to go to Ashen.
20:25Through the alcohol haze, I saw who it was.
20:28Cassian, his face dark.
20:30He seized Kale by the throat and slammed him to the floor.
20:34I froze in shock.
20:36I could not say a word.
20:37Cassian kicked the table.
20:39Glasses shattered.
20:40He glared at me coldly.
20:42I hand you a perfect marriage, and you throw it away.
20:46Just to fool around with him.
20:48I did everything for you.
20:50And this is what I get?
20:52He scooped me off my feet.
20:54When he threw me into his carriage, I realized he had cleared out the whole tavern.
21:00Kale stormed out after us.
21:02What the hell is this, Cassian?
21:04Since when is having a drink with Saren a crime?
21:08Cassian scoffed.
21:09His eyes flashed, almost shifting.
21:12Get the hell out.
21:14Kale didn't flinch.
21:16His eyes flashed, too.
21:19In the next second, Cassian shifted first.
21:22From the shell of his human body, a black giant wolf tore its way free.
21:25Fur the color of a starless knight.
21:27Eyes molten gold with rage.
21:28His body far larger than any ordinary alphas.
21:31Kale shifted right after him.
21:32His wolf didn't back down.
21:33Cold, silver-gray fur.
21:35Leaner.
21:35Faster.
21:36Like a drawn blade.
21:37The two wolves crashed into each other in front of the tavern.
21:40Cassian snapped his jaws at Kale's throat.
21:42Kale dodged.
21:43His fangs ripped into Cassian's shoulder.
21:46Blood splattered the cobstone.
21:48Their roars were forced every wolf within a mile to stumble back on instinct.
21:52I ran between them and shouted for them to stop.
21:56Afraid they might hurt me, they shifted back to human after a tense standoff.
22:00I looked at Kale.
22:03Kale, Cassian and I need to talk.
22:05We'll drink tomorrow.
22:06Kale grabbed my hand.
22:08He stared right into my eyes.
22:09I don't say things I don't mean.
22:10If you need me, I'm here.
22:12I'll prove it.
22:14Cassian lost his mind again.
22:16I quickly agreed with Kale, then pulled Cassial into the carriage.
22:18Go!
22:19I ordered the coachman to whip the horses.
22:21The carriage instantly rolled away.
22:23Did you misunderstand something?
22:25Cassian's face twisted.
22:27I know exactly how he looks at you.
22:29That's not how a man looks at another man.
22:31The alpha heir of the pack.
22:32In this moment, all his royal grace was gone.
22:36Replaced by pure paranoia, his eyes kept flashing between human and wolf.
22:41I opened my mouth.
22:43No sound came out.
22:45He leaned back against the carriage wall, rubbing his brow.
22:49After a long while, he finally spoke with exhaustion.
22:53What am I supposed to do with you?
22:55I stared at him.
22:56Marielara, she's good.
22:59You'll learn to love her.
23:01Cassian didn't look at me.
23:02He looked out the window.
23:04His voice choked.
23:06I won't.
23:10Cassian saw me back to Blackthorn Manor.
23:13Marriage is a big deal.
23:15It's not a game.
23:16I'll scrub those rumors clean.
23:18I'll find you another bride.
23:20Can't I decide this for myself?
23:22He looked at me calmly.
23:24Saren Blackthorn, don't forget.
23:26You picked my Luna for me.
23:28So I'm picking your wife.
23:30I could feel it.
23:31He was hanging on by his thread.
23:33After that day, Kale locked himself away.
23:35But I knew the truth.
23:36He was badly hurt.
23:37Afterward, he and Cassian fought again.
23:39Wolf against wolf, they tore into each other with murder intent.
23:42Nobody knew why.
23:44The pack just assumed the brothers were fighting over the throne.
23:46I didn't visit either of them.
23:48Not until the end of the month.
23:49The blood hunt.
23:51I saw Kale again.
23:52He arched a brow at me.
23:54Heartless.
23:55Truly heartless.
23:56You haven't spared me a single glance.
23:59I had nothing to say.
24:01Once inside the hunting grounds, my mind was elsewhere.
24:04I shot a few rabbits and a deer.
24:06I packed up my bow, ready to leave early.
24:08But I forgot something.
24:09I had no sense of direction.
24:11In the past, I always just followed Cassian.
24:13So the more I walked, the farther in I went.
24:16By the time I realized it, a feral blocked my path.
24:20Huge.
24:22Red-eyed.
24:23And mindless.
24:24In both my last life and this one, I had never faced anything like it.
24:29I drew the silver dagger at my waist.
24:31Cassius gave it to me for protection.
24:33I slashed once.
24:34The blade cut the feral's front leg.
24:37But it wasn't a kill shot.
24:38It roared and lunged again.
24:40I thought I was dead.
24:42But someone rushed in front of me.
24:44He took the hit.
24:46He was thrown to the ground.
24:47Coughing up blood.
24:49He shot me one look.
24:51Then pushed himself back up and charged in again.
24:54A second later, he shifted.
24:56A giant black wolf erupted.
24:58He tackled the feral in mid-air.
25:00His fangs ripped its throat out.
25:02I watched him tear the feral to pieces.
25:04Cassian Valamont, who had always been controlled, cold, and perfect,
25:07had never looked so broken, yet so savage.
25:12Cassian blacked out.
25:13His wounds were still bleeding.
25:15He shifted back to human.
25:17Covered in blood.
25:18His clothes shredded from the shift.
25:20I patched him up the best I could.
25:21I stared at his face.
25:23It suddenly hit me.
25:24This was the man who wiped out my entire bloodline in my past life.
25:28He had treated me zorgly too.
25:30Since I woke up in this life, I forced myself to forget.
25:33If I couldn't get revenge, I had to let it go.
25:35But now he lay there before me, almost fragile.
25:37My hand moved on its own.
25:39I pulled the silver dagger at my waist.
25:42Cassian gave it to me, himself.
25:44Told me to use it for protection.
25:46But now, I was going to use it to kill him.
25:50Everything from my last life flashed before my eyes.
25:52I saw my son and daughter.
25:54They were born into pack politics and died in the end.
25:58When he issued the pack disovelation order, I ran to him crying.
26:02I told him I regretted everything.
26:04I wanted nothing.
26:05Only that he spare my family.
26:07No.
26:08The day I died was my pup's death anniversary.
26:10I went to find him.
26:11His guards locked me out.
26:13I saw him walking side by side with Alara in the royal gardens.
26:16My beautiful Luna.
26:17He picked a winter rose for her.
26:18Called her beautiful Luna.
26:19I finally lost my mind and cursed Cassiel out in front of everyone.
26:23And then Cassian said to me.
26:25If I could live this again, I'd rather never have known what you are.
26:30Something hollowed out inside me.
26:32Life had no meaning anymore.
26:34That night, I tried to force my chained wolf awake.
26:40It was a forbidden rate.
26:42Backfiring from within.
26:44Tearing my body apart.
26:46I died.
26:49I snapped back to the present.
26:51Looking at the man before me, pure hatred boiled in my chest.
26:55It swallowed me whole.
26:57I raised my hand to drive the silver blade toward his chest.
27:01Before it could sink in, a hand caught my wrist.
27:05Cassian was awake.
27:06His eyes were open now, calm as he looked at me.
27:10Saren, what do you think you're doing?
27:14Answer me.
27:15I wanted to kill him, but was caught in the act.
27:18Murdering the alpha hare.
27:20Ten lives wouldn't be enough to pay for that.
27:22I bit my lip.
27:24I just wanted to see if your wounds were getting better.
27:26It was a terrible lie.
27:27I dropped the silver blade.
27:29But he bought it.
27:30He let out a breath.
27:31My life is yours then.
27:32He closed his eyes.
27:33I didn't dare try again.
27:35I had been too reckless before.
27:36Only we remained.
27:37His death here, no matter how it happened, would be laid on me.
27:40Too heavy to carry.
27:41I could only wait.
27:42Not long after, the royal guard tracked us down.
27:44I followed them back to the heir's tower.
27:47Cassian was badly hurt.
27:49The alpha king and luna queen were frantic.
27:53Alara came too.
27:54I couldn't shake the feeling.
27:55She kept glancing at me in secret.
27:58The luna queen wiped her tears and said to me,
28:01Cassian values you most.
28:03Stay here and watch over him.
28:05I quickly agreed.
28:07Guilt swallowed me.
28:09I didn't leave his bedside all day.
28:11I meant to keep watch, but sleep crept up and took me.
28:15In that hazy half-sleep, I felt someone lift me onto the bed.
28:20Someone parted my lips.
28:22A soft bite.
28:26I woke up.
28:28Cassian sat nearby, reading a stack of papers.
28:31He wore only a loose shirt, the collar open wide,
28:34his whole posture lazy and careless.
28:37He didn't look like a man who almost died yesterday.
28:40All at once, I remembered.
28:42Right after our mating night in my past life.
28:44He wouldn't wake me.
28:46He sat just like this, reading beside me and waiting.
28:48He saw that I was awake.
28:50Hungry?
28:50I was about to shake my head.
28:52My stomach growled first.
28:53Cassian smiled.
28:54He had the maid bring in a bowl of venison broth.
28:57One bite in, I knew.
28:59Cassian made this himself.
29:01Too much salt.
29:02The meat was tough as leather.
29:04The same taste as the first meal he cooked for me after we mated.
29:07I stopped eating.
29:08Pushed the bowl aside.
29:10I'm leaving.
29:11Disappointment flashed in his eyes, but he still nodded.
29:14I turned for the door.
29:16He suddenly called my name.
29:18Ren.
29:18Ren.
29:18I looked back.
29:20He stared at me.
29:21Confusion twisted his face.
29:23I was hurt this badly.
29:24You've been awake this whole time and you haven't asked how I am feeling.
29:27And in the woods, you hate me.
29:30He sounded sure of it.
29:31It was the first time I'd ever seen that look on him.
29:34The alpha aura.
29:35The prince's mask.
29:37All gone.
29:38He just looked lost and broken.
29:41Why?
29:42I've never done anything to hurt you.
29:44Not once.
29:45Not in this life.
29:46A dell ache struck me under my ribs.
29:48Yeah.
29:48I always wanted to ask the past life Cassian the same thing.
29:51Cassian in front of me loved me so much.
29:53Even believing I was a man, he had saved me over and over again.
29:57So how did the old Cassian throw me away so easily?
29:59In the end, neither of us had the answer.
30:01You're overthinking it.
30:06Soon, the date was set for Cassian and Alara's mating ceremony.
30:10First day of next month.
30:11Ivy and white roses crawled up the castle walls.
30:14The air was heavy with sweet floral scents.
30:15It was the best time of the year.
30:17Naturally, Cassian paid no mind to my marriage alliance.
30:20To avoid more trouble, I locked myself in Blackthorn Manor.
30:23But Kale came to see me.
30:24He said his birthday was coming.
30:26He asked if I could grant him one wish.
30:28Cassian tore him up over me, and he spent three weeks in bed.
30:31I felt a little guilty.
30:32What do you want?
30:33Just a heads up, I don't have much money.
30:35Relax, I don't want your money.
30:36Just one day.
30:37That's all I'm asking.
30:38As luck would have it, his birthday fell on the eve of Cassian's mating ceremony.
30:44Cassian gets married.
30:46Then I ship off to Ashenmore.
30:48Everyone would get what they wanted.
30:50That night, I stepped out as we had agreed.
30:52But Kale didn't show.
30:53Alara did.
30:54She looked at me as if she burned all her bridges to stand here.
30:57If I could find a way out of this, would you take me with you?
31:01I stared at her.
31:02Why?
31:03Cassian doesn't want me.
31:04His heart belongs to someone else.
31:06And mine belongs to...
31:07Did you forget?
31:08You saved me twice.
31:09My mind went blank.
31:10The masked girl I saved from the rogues at the festival.
31:12It was Alara.
31:13I was completely flattered.
31:15The person she liked.
31:16Could it really be me?
31:17What a mess.
31:18A total mess.
31:19In this second life...
31:20Cassian will love you later.
31:21You two are a perfect match.
31:23Trust me.
31:24Are you really going to reject me?
31:26She bit her lip.
31:27I nodded.
31:28She pressed her lips together and studied me.
31:30Then gave a relieved smile.
31:32Are you scared I'll care about that mate bond rejection rumor?
31:34Don't worry.
31:35I don't care about that.
31:36If I marry you, we'll figure it out.
31:37In my past life, Alara was the poster child for royal perfection.
31:40I never knew she had this wild, reckless side when she was young.
31:43It's not about that.
31:45Being Luna is your best move.
31:47Trust me.
31:48Your mate will love you.
31:50Alara left.
31:51I finally let out a breath.
31:53Then a voice cut through the dark.
31:55Bad timing, I see.
31:59Yeah.
31:59Bad timing.
32:01You two should be preparing for your mating ceremony.
32:03So what are you both doing here?
32:05Cassian walked toward me.
32:07His black eyes unreadable.
32:09I just realized something.
32:11What?
32:12He gave a slow smile.
32:13His eyes were screaming with Bokduck insanity.
32:16Kale, a waste of Valamont blood gets to sling an arm around you and look at you like that.
32:19Alara, born to the most powerful Nabal house, was trained from childhood to be flawless.
32:24She will be the future Luna, and she asks you to run away with her.
32:27I spoke before thinking.
32:28Don't get the wrong idea about Alara.
32:30She didn't mean it that way.
32:31I don't care about her.
32:33They can have you.
32:34Why can't I?
32:35His words hung in the air.
32:37A bad feeling slammed into me.
32:41But my vision went black.
32:43His raw alpha aura crushed me like a tidal wave.
32:46My legs gave out.
32:47I collapsed into his arms.
32:50He locked me up in the air's tower.
32:53The next day, Cassian and Alara held their mating ceremony.
32:57I sat in my room, listening to the bells and horns outside.
33:02I really should have killed Cassian that day.
33:05That night, after the ceremony, Cassian walked in.
33:08He wore his black and silver ceremonial mating robes, the Valamont crust on his chest.
33:13Cold, chiseled, impossibly perfect.
33:15I remembered it clearly.
33:17In my last life, he had worn the same thing.
33:19He stared down at me.
33:21Take it off.
33:28No.
33:29Then I'll do it myself.
33:32I backed up fast.
33:34I don't feel that way about you.
33:35You know we could never work.
33:36Cassian, don't throw your whole future away from me.
33:39So what?
33:40He didn't care.
33:41He leaned in, reached for my shirt without hesitation.
33:45Alpha strength was not something I could resist.
33:47Cassian!
33:48I swung my hand, slapped him hard across the face.
33:51Hmm.
33:52He was not angry in the least.
33:54But in the next second, his fingertips touched something.
33:57His hand froze mid-air.
33:58He stared at me blankly.
33:59He had touched my chest.
34:01The moonstone pendant flickered.
34:02His touch shattered the illusion.
34:04The moonlight was too bright tonight.
34:06It poured through the window.
34:08Lit up the shock on his face.
34:09It took him a long time to process it.
34:11Then, he laughed.
34:12A deep, breathless laugh.
34:13The laughter faded.
34:15His eyes turned red.
34:16His wolf howled from deep inside him.
34:17No anger, no pain, desperate relief.
34:20Like finding water in a desert.
34:22You're a woman.
34:22My lips trembled as I pulled my shirt together over my chest.
34:25In my last life, when I had confessed my female body to Cassian, he was happy.
34:29But the Cassian in this life, he was happier than he had ever been before.
34:32He paced the room over and over, ran his hands through his hair.
34:35He didn't know what to do with himself.
34:37Finally, he stopped in front of me.
34:38I'm going to marry you.
34:39I'm going to my father right now.
34:41Cassian!
34:41You already have a Luna.
34:44Cassian froze.
34:45I can still break the bond.
34:46I never marked Alara.
34:48The mating bond isn't active.
34:50I had already guessed as much.
34:52He never marked her.
34:54But breaking the ceremony could never be that simple.
34:56It involved the pack council, the dignity of House Ashvid, and the political balance
35:00of the entire pack.
35:01If it were easy, then in my last life he would have kicked me out of Luna's tower long ago.
35:05You know it's impossible.
35:06Cassian fell silent for a long time.
35:08I'll find a way.
35:09He glared at me.
35:10His voice shook with fury.
35:12Why didn't you tell me?
35:14Even last night, I could have stopped this.
35:16But you just watched me.
35:18Watched me struggle and break.
35:19Over and over again.
35:21You're cruel.
35:22You know that?
35:23I spoke.
35:25You've already given up too much for me.
35:27Let me go.
35:30Then who do you want?
35:32Kale?
35:32I took a deep breath.
35:35Looked up at him.
35:38Cassian.
35:40Haven't you always wanted to know why I hate you?
35:43I lived a life before this one, Cassian.
35:46And in that life, you destroyed me.
35:49That's not possible.
35:50You ordered the slaughter of my bloodline.
35:53My son and daughter died in pack politics.
35:56I would never do that to you.
35:58I wasn't even 27 when I died.
36:00By then, you had already fallen for someone else.
36:03You walked with her in the gardens.
36:04You picked a winter rose for her and called her beautiful Luna.
36:08Cassian froze.
36:09He didn't say a word for a long time.
36:11He looked at me.
36:12His eyes unreadable.
36:13I've seen that in my dreams.
36:15I looked up.
36:16He gave a broken smile.
36:17Since the hunt, I've seen it in dreams on full moon nights.
36:20A woman's blurry face.
36:22I couldn't see it clearly.
36:23I always thought it was you.
36:25I didn't know it actually happened.
36:27Blood echoes.
36:29The royal Valamont bloodline could sense fragments of their destiny.
36:34I lost my voice.
36:36I could only be grateful he had not recovered those memories in full.
36:39After a very, very long time, he finally spoke.
36:43Go.
36:44Don't come back.
36:46Don't ever come back.
36:50Shortly after, I said goodbye to my parents.
36:53I left Silvercroast.
36:54On the road, I heard travelers talk about the Alpha Hare and his Luna.
36:58Said they were a perfect match.
37:00A golden couple.
37:01Or so everyone believed.
37:03I had been a Luna too.
37:05But in my past life, they tore me to shreds.
37:08The pack council spat on me.
37:10The Alpha King and Luna Queen despised me.
37:13The commoners called me the cursed she-wolf who bewitched the Alpha Heir to abandon his throne.
37:17Not to mention this body of mine that could never shift.
37:20Not long after I arrived in Ashenmore, Kals followed me there.
37:24You left in such a rush.
37:25Didn't even say goodbye.
37:26I came looking for you that day and couldn't find you anywhere.
37:29I was losing my mind, you know that?
37:32I'm standing right here, aren't I?
37:34You impossible creature.
37:35In my second year in Ashenmore, a silver vein plague broke out in the city.
37:40It chewed through a wolf's essence.
37:42Killed your shifting.
37:44Drained your life.
37:45My wolf was already chained.
37:47The plague nearly took me out completely.
37:50Kale stayed by my side day and night, never once closing his eyes.
37:54One night, the fever spiked.
37:55A cold hand brushed my forehead.
37:57The scent on that hand.
37:59Cedar.
37:59Storms.
38:00Campfire smoke.
38:01At dawn, I heard the news.
38:02Cassian was here.
38:03He brought the royal cure and stayed for two weeks.
38:05The day he left, I went to see him off.
38:08I poured him a cup of wine.
38:09His hand hung in the air.
38:11Finally, he took it and drank.
38:13I drank too much.
38:14Passing out on the table.
38:16Just before I faded out, I felt his lips press gently against mine.
38:21Next spring, Cassian took a fatal hit in a rebel uprising.
38:24He died.
38:27Allura remarried.
38:28Miles away in Ashenmore, I finally let myself cry.
38:32Touching my lips, I could still feel the ghost of his kiss.
38:36Soon after, I moved my parents down to Ashenmore.
38:40Kale never marked anyone.
38:42I patrolled my borders.
38:44He watched my back.
38:46I signed paperwork.
38:48He read books beside me.
38:51At 32, I made the first move.
38:54I kissed him.
38:55His eyes lit up.
38:57A quiet, deep joy.
38:59Of a love that had waited and was finally met.
39:02He kissed me back for a long time.
39:04We had our mating ceremony.
39:06When he marked me, it was different from Cassian.
39:09The moment his fangs sank in, I felt invisible chains all over my body shattering.
39:13The moon curse broke completely.
39:14My wolf tore out of the deep binding.
39:16Silver white fur.
39:17Fast as lightning.
39:19It was my first shift in two lifetimes.
39:21Tears streamed down my face.
39:23Kale, the man who died alone in my past life.
39:26He was my fated mate too.
39:28Did the curse demand marks from both mates to finally break?
39:32Their love gave me my body back.
39:34And for the first time, I was whole.
39:38That same year, I met Alara again.
39:41Hello again, Luna.
39:42How do you know?
39:43I only remembered in the second year after he died.
39:45But I never expected to fall for you in this lifetime.
39:47He was never happy after he came back.
39:49Not long after, he died in misery.
39:51She kept talking.
39:53Actually, after you died in the last life, Cassian arranged everything and then he died
39:56of a broken heart too.
39:57I froze.
39:58How could that be?
40:00Saren, do you know why I never had pups?
40:02He simply never touched me.
40:03Do you know how many blades he caught for you in those ten years?
40:07He stopped loving you because it was the only way to keep you alive.
40:10And me?
40:11I was just the decoy.
40:12But my pups, they didn't die in political and fighting.
40:15Cassian hid them away.
40:16They watched you from the shadows.
40:18Kept asking when they could come home to mom.
40:19Her words were a sledgehammer, smashing every truth I thought I knew.
40:23Your people weren't exiled either.
40:25She smiled.
40:26He smuggled them all to safety.
40:28The truth is, if you had held on a little longer in that life,
40:31he would have finished off every enemy threatening him.
40:34But back then, no one had told me any of this.
40:38Still in this life, his side really had been dangerous.
40:40I knew of several assassination attempts all on me.
40:42A dull, heavy pain crushed my chest.
40:44I thought it over in silence.
40:46When Cassian died in this life, he had not yet reached 19.
40:48I was 32 now.
40:50Everything.
40:50Everything was over.
40:51Thanks for telling me.
40:52But for me, it doesn't change anything.
40:54Not anymore.
40:55Kale was waiting for me nearby.
40:57Alara saw him.
40:58Something clicked in her head.
40:59She chuckled.
41:00In our past life, the first year Cassian pushed you away, Kale fought him.
41:05I had never seen either of them that mad.
41:07They nearly killed each other.
41:09Once Kale healed, he shipped out to the Northfield frontier.
41:12He said he'd fight Cassian again when he got back.
41:15And then, I knew.
41:17Kale never came back from the Northfield frontier.
41:20What about that?
41:21Does that change anything?
41:23Bells rang in the distance.
41:24The sunset painted the harbor lake in amber and rust.
41:31It was beautiful, and it was over.
41:34Yes.