Chapter 1

"Ava hasn't been assigned a mate yet and can contribute to the family alliance," my brother urged gently. "Ava, have you decided who to choose?" I pressed hard on my throbbing temples; the malicious roars of that rogue seemed to still echo in my ears. How could I have imagined that something like rebirth would happen to me? "Ava must choose our Michael!" Michael's mother suddenly squeezed her way in front of me, her face wearing a calculating smile. She held the family ring out to me, winking, "They've known each other since they were pups! What bond could compare to theirs?" Whoever married me would at least become the pack's Gamma – of course she wanted to secure that for her son. But Michael merely rolled his eyes in disdain, sneering with disgust, "Mother, are you joking? Her? Her combat skills are weak as a kitten, she's not gentle or considerate, and her looks are utterly plain. Marrying her would ruin all the excellent genes the Davises has worked so hard to accumulate!" Michael's look of disgust was identical to the previous life. Yet, in that past life, I simply thought it was his habit of bickering with me since childhood and hadn't realized his genuine aversion at that moment. Snapping back to reality, I immediately took two steps back. "Mrs. Davis, Michael and I are just friends." Instantly, the entire banquet hall fell eerily silent. Everyone present knew the century-long friendship between the Molsons and the Davises, and they knew even better how deeply I had harbored an unrequited love for Michael all these years. "Enough! You insolent brat, what nonsense are you spouting!" Mrs. Davis flushed crimson with anger, shoving Michael hard. "Marrying Ava would be like our family saving the entire universe in a past life!" Michael seemed unprepared for my words. His icy expression instantly darkened several shades. Trembling, I turned to my brother for help: "I'm not feeling well, I want to go home. The alliance marriage isn't urgent." Griffin had just raised his hand to call someone to escort me back when Michael grabbed my hand and pulled me outside. He said coldly, "Alpha, I'll take Ava home." The moment we stepped out of the banquet hall doors, Michael callously flung my hand away. Off-balance, I stumbled backward. Panicking, I instinctively grabbed his sleeve, but the instant I touched it, I recoiled as if burned. Then, I landed hard on my backside. Pain shot from my tailbone through my whole body, and my vision blurred. Michael's expression shifted, and he moved forward to help me up. "Don't touch me! Stay away!" I screamed hysterically, shoving his hand away with all my strength. Trembling, I yanked off my high heels and stood up barefoot. I looked at the shoes in my hand – a gift from him for my coming-of-age ceremony. Mrs. Davis had excitedly told me back then that he'd searched every top shoe store in the entire pack to find them. But now, looking back, those shoes had always been half a size too big. They never truly fit me. "Hmph, what game are you playing now?" Michael's lips curled into a mocking smile, his eyes filled with contempt. "Playing hard to get? Ava, when did you become so disgusting?" I lifted my head, tears uncontrollably welling in my eyes, my voice choked: "Michael, you're right. I was so foolish before." Trembling, I hurled the high heels at his feet. The sharp clack of the heels hitting the ground echoed. I walked away barefoot without looking back, letting tears stream freely down my face. These shoes... I'd worn them for so long. I should have realized long ago they were never the right fit! As I walked away barefoot, no footsteps followed me. Michael surely thought this was just another one of my cheap tricks. After all, in his eyes, I was nothing but a clown desperate to cling to him. Back home, I sank into the bathtub, drowsy. Images from my past life flashed through my mind like slides: the wolfbane miasma filling the Davis mansion, Michael carrying Abbie out, the searing pain as my skin burned away. By the time I was rescued, my skin was corroded, my face disfigured beyond recognition. Afterward, Michael explained, "I didn't see you. Abbie's legs were pinned down, the miasma was so toxic... I had to save her first." Water flooded my nose. I choked violently before fully waking and scrambling out. Wrapping myself in a robe, I looked at my reflection in the mirror. My fingertips traced my smooth cheeks – no hideous scars, no disfigurement. Everything could still be changed. "How could I have been so stupid?" I sneered at my reflection. "'Didn't see you'? Who would believe that!" I slapped my own face hard. The sting on my skin was nothing compared to the hatred in my heart. Perhaps because of the rebirth, I was dreaming about past lives all night long. When I woke in the morning, I felt utterly exhausted and unwell. Maybe sensing something was wrong last night, "Morning, little pumpkin," Griffin called my nickname, his worried eyes peeking over the top of this newspaper. "Come eat something. You look worse than a ghost." A lump formed in my throat. I suddenly threw myself into his arms. Griffin stiffened for a moment, then tossed the newspaper aside and patted my back gently. "Hey, what's wrong? Upset about last night? If that man made you suffer, I'll go settle it with him right now!" "Silly girl, as long as you're happy, what does it matter about the Davis family's friendship? I'll take care of you for life if I have to. Who dares gossip?" I sniffled, my voice thick with tears. In truth, our family didn't need an alliance marriage. Griffin had arranged it because he saw my feelings for Michael. Remembering Griffin dying to save me in the previous life, the pain in my chest intensified, and I held him tighter and tighter, Until a soft cough drew my attention. I turned, my eyes red, and spotted a man sitting in the corner.