Chapter 1

After the Moon Goddess gave me a second chance, I woke up on the morning of the Luna Ceremony.

Before anyone could move, Charles Goodman, the Alpha of the Greymane Pack, hauled me against him right there in front of the entire pack. His voice came out wrecked, but he didn't hesitate. "I want Evelyn. My fated mate. No one else."

Even as Renee Hughes, his chosen mate from the previous life, sobbed and gasped behind him like a wounded pup, he didn't so much as glance her way.

When his blood-red Alpha eyes locked onto mine, I understood. He'd been sent back too.

And so had my half-brother, Simon Lynn.

They shadowed me like wolves trying to outrun a bad scent. Charles snarled at anyone who came within ten feet. Simon stood guard outside my door every night like a sentinel. They moved like they were begging for forgiveness, or maybe redemption.

I gave them a faint smile, neither pushing them away nor letting them in.

Everything changed the night I asked to send the golden retriever away.

Charles's claws shot out, punching through the table. His eyes bled amber, his wolf shoving hard against his ribs. "Evelyn. How much longer are you going to punish me? You can't even stand to have a pup in this house?"

Simon's head dropped, a low whine catching in his throat. "The pup's no trouble. Maybe give him a chance?" he offered, though his voice shook.

I pressed my lips together and watched them both come apart at the seams.

Actually, I stopped caring about them a long time ago.

This time, my wolf only bayed for the ones who matter. The ones who've earned her loyalty. And those two were never part of that.

Charles's angry growl still hung in the air, but even he flinched at the sound of his own wolf. He shot a look at my calm face and then dropped his gaze like a scolded pup.

"Eve, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you," he said, his voice cracking. "Can you forgive me? I shouldn't have snapped at you. If you don't like the pup, it's gone. How about tomorrow? No. Tonight. Whatever you want, Evelyn. Tell me. Please."

Simon went rigid. His wolf tucked its tail. "Evelyn, I'm sorry," he whispered. He clenched his shaking hands into fists until his knuckles went white.

In my previous life, watching them grovel like this would have gutted me. It would have twisted my wolf into knots.

But now, all that was left inside me was cold and quiet.

I knew they couldn't bring themselves to get rid of Renee. So even her dog was something they wouldn't let go of.

Never mind that I actually hated dogs. I couldn't stand being near them. They made my skin crawl and made my wolf want to tear something apart.

In my previous life, Renee stood there and watched this dog lung at me. That was how I lost my pup and almost bled out.

I lay on the cold ground, blood spreading beneath me. Despite the pain and fear, all I could see was Renee hiding behind Charles.

And the first thing Charles and Simon did was run to her. Then they checked if the dog was hurt.

The memory of copper flooded my nose. I pressed a hand to my belly. My wolf whimpered. That was everything I cared about now.

Charles noticed and reached over, trying to cover my hand with his.

I turned my wrist, fast and instinctive, and let his fingers close on nothing.

He froze like I'd bitten him, his voice hoarse and strained. "You won't even let me touch our pup?"

Simon's jaw tightened. "Evelyn, the Moon gave us another chance. We should live a better life. Don't punish all of us for the past."

Punish? I almost laughed at his words.

"Fine," I finally said, looking at them with calm detachment. "I don't care anymore. But I can't stand watching you two mope around like this."

I even gave them a faint smile. "You both know the male they swapped Renee for, right? The sick one from the Duskfang Pack? He won't last three years. When he dies, you can bring her back. I won't stop you."

Simon choked. "That's not what I mean—"

"Evelyn!" Charles shot to his feet. His elbow hit a plate of hot soup, splashing it across my calf.

A searing pain hit me.