I was reborn on the day I had to sign the Mate Affirmation Scroll, and this time, I was determined to write my sister Sienna’s name on it.
This time, I would let my sister have my ex-mate, Jaxon Blackwell. I even handed Sienna the "Moon-Weave Veil," a Blackwell family heirloom, before she even had to ask.
I no longer argued with them as I did in my past life. Instead, I created opportunities for them to be alone. When he took my sister on vacation to the West Coast, I quietly packed my bags and prepared for college on the East Coast.
In my past life, I had sacrificed everything for Jaxon and our family, only to have him—by then the Pack's Chief Enforcer—and our own pup kneel before me, begging me to sever the mate bond so he could be with Sienna, the woman he truly loved.
In this new life, I refused to be Jaxon's mate.
I would pursue my dream—to attend the Eastern Werewolf Music Academy, become a musician, and live the free life I had always craved.
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1
"Just sign the Mate Affirmation Scroll and turn it in." Jaxon Blackwell tapped his knuckles impatiently on the desk.
I stared at the parchment. The familiar scene made the world spin, and my mind went blank.
In my past life, I had pricked my finger with naive devotion, scrawled my name in blood, and then eagerly started discussing the details of our bonding ceremony with Jaxon.
He had cut me off coldly. "Once we get the stamped receipt, we're legally mated. The ceremony is just a formality, and the bonding itself can happen anytime. It doesn't have to be at the ceremony."
He was in a rush to find a rare "Shadow Orchid" as a gift for my sister, Sienna Crestwood, because she’d mentioned its petals inspired her. He kept glancing at his phone, his agitation growing with every second.
My fingertips gently traced the ancient patterns on the scroll, suppressing the bitter acid rising in my throat. "If you have something urgent, you should go. I can sign this and turn it in myself."
His relief was palpable, and his tone softened into an uncharacteristic gentleness. "Don't worry. From this day forward, you are my legal mate. I'll take care of you."
After saying that, he frowned slightly and added, "And stop going after Sienna and bad-mouthing her all the time. You two are sisters. You need to get along, understand?"
I remained silent. In my past life, I had explained countless times that I never slandered her, never bullied her, but no one believed me. In his eyes, I was just a vicious older sister, consumed by jealousy and unable to stand her sweet, gentle younger sibling.
He didn't wait for my reply. The moment the words left his mouth, he turned and hurried away.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of resentment that had built up over two lifetimes. The memories of my past life swirled relentlessly.
The night Jaxon and I were supposed to complete our bond, he stayed out all night, using the excuse of a 'take care of an emotionally unstable Sienna. When I went through my first painful transformation alone, he was off comforting Sienna on a beach somewhere.
Even when we had our pup, he wasn't by my side because Sienna's pet cat had gone missing, and he had to help her search for it.
I had dedicated my entire life to our family. Yet even on my deathbed, my own pup was still trying to persuade me to sever the mate bond.
"Mom, just sever the bond with Dad. He loves Aunt Sienna, but he's been forcing himself to live with you. He's miserable! Just let him go!"
Lying on my deathbed, I had looked over at my indifferent mate. He’d said nothing, his silence a clear agreement with our pup.
The thought of it all brought tears streaming uncontrollably down my cheeks. A heart-wrenching sorrow surged through me.
Since they were so in love, so be it. I'd grant their wish. In this life, I would live for myself.
I picked up the ceremonial quill, pricked my fingertip, and in the space for the mate's name, I slowly wrote Sienna's name in blood.
"Jaxon," I whispered to the empty room. "Since you love her so much, you can have your wish."
I handed the signed scroll to the Pack's archivist and soon received a receipt stamped with the pack's seal. I didn't feel sad. On the contrary, I felt an indescribable sense of relief.
My sister and I had lost our parents in a conflict between Packs, and Jaxon's family had taken us in. I was the quiet, reserved type, never good with words, while my sister could charm anyone.
She always knew how to make everyone happy with her sweet words, and without lifting a finger, she had the entire Blackwell family wrapped around her finger. Jaxon's mother, Meredith, had long decided that Sienna was Jaxon's fated mate.
However, back when Jaxon was just an ordinary enforcer, Sienna had looked down on him. She claimed she didn't want to compete with me—a convenient excuse that pushed Jaxon to complete the bonding with me instead.
She wanted a mate of higher status but couldn't bear to lose the affection of the Blackwell family.
Everyone praised her for being a good sister, sacrificing her own happiness for mine. Yet, in secret, she repeatedly set me up, deliberately injuring herself to make others think I was jealous of her.
I cherished our sisterhood and always gave in to her, believing my sincerity would eventually win them over, that they would see me for who I truly was.
But in my past life, I never received the acknowledgment I deserved, not even at the moment of my death.
