After My Rebirth, I Gave My Mate to My Stepsister

The flash of the camera felt like lightning against my retinas, each burst of light a reminder of the elaborate charade I was performing. The photography studio smelled of vanilla candles and artificial flowers, all carefully arranged to create the perfect romantic backdrop for couples who actually loved each other.

"Beautiful, beautiful!" The photographer, a thin man with an overly enthusiastic smile, gestured wildly with his hands. "Now, Alpha Axel, put your arm around her waist. Ivy, lean into him like you can't bear to be apart."

I forced my body to relax against Axel's side, feeling the familiar warmth of his chest through his crisp white shirt. In my previous life, I would have melted into this moment, treasuring every second of his touch. Now, it felt like playing dress-up in someone else's life.

"Perfect! One more shot, and then we'll try the second outfit." The photographer reached for a garment bag hanging nearby, unzipping it to reveal two gowns. "We have the classic white for the bride-to-be, and this gorgeous gold number for—"

He stopped mid-sentence, his face flushing as he noticed the small name tag still attached to the golden dress. My stomach dropped as I read the elegant script: *Maren Thorne*.

Axel cleared his throat, his arm tensing around my waist. "You wear the white one," he said quickly, not meeting my eyes. "The gold one isn't... it's not important."

Not important. Just like I wasn't important enough to be the only woman in his engagement photos.

I stared at that golden dress, remembering how in my previous life, this exact scenario had played out differently. Maren had "accidentally" shown up at the studio, claiming she was shopping nearby and thought she'd surprise us. The photographer had suggested she join us for a few shots—"just as family"—and somehow those family photos had ended up being the ones Axel treasured most.

The sales associate hurried over, her face apologetic as she quickly removed the name tag. "So sorry about that mix-up. Sometimes our inventory gets confused."

Mix-up. Right.

"It's fine," I said, my voice steady. "I'll take the white."

As I changed in the small dressing room, I caught my reflection in the mirror. The white gown was beautiful—flowing silk with delicate beadwork that caught the light. I looked like a bride. I looked happy. I looked like everything Axel was supposed to want.

But I could see the truth in my own eyes. This wasn't my fairy tale. It never had been.

The rest of the session passed in a blur of poses and fake smiles. Axel played his part perfectly, his hands gentle on my shoulders, his smile warm for the camera. But I noticed how his phone buzzed constantly in his pocket, how his eyes kept drifting toward the studio's large windows that faced the shopping center next door.

Waiting for her to appear.

"That's a wrap!" the photographer announced finally, reviewing the shots on his camera's display. "These are going to be stunning. You two are such a beautiful couple."

Beautiful. If only he knew how much effort it took to create that illusion.

As we gathered our things, Axel's phone rang. His face immediately brightened as he answered.

"Hey, Maren." His voice took on that soft, protective tone that used to make my heart race with jealousy. Now it just made me tired. "Yeah, we just finished. Where are you?"

I didn't need to hear her response to know what came next. In three... two... one...

"Oh, you're at the mall too? What a coincidence." He looked at me with those puppy-dog eyes that had once been my weakness. "Would you mind if we met up with her? She's having a rough day, and—"

"You two go ahead," I interrupted, slinging my purse over my shoulder. "I have errands to run."

The relief that flooded his features was almost comical. "Are you sure? I mean, we could all hang out together—"

"I'm sure." I headed toward the door, not bothering to wait for his response. "Tell Maren I said hello."

I walked through the mall's main corridor, the familiar sounds of shopping and conversation washing over me. Teenagers clustered around the food court, couples browsed store windows, families herded excited children toward the toy store. Normal people living normal lives, unburdened by the weight of loving someone who would never love them back.

The restroom was tucked away in a quiet corner near the department store, and I was grateful for the momentary solitude. As I washed my hands, I caught sight of my reflection again. The careful makeup from the photo shoot was still intact, but underneath it, I looked exhausted.

Four more days. Just four more days until my acceptance letter arrived, until I could finally tell everyone the truth and leave this suffocating life behind.

I stepped out of the restroom and froze.

A man stood at the far end of the corridor, partially hidden in the shadows between two storefronts. Tall, broad-shouldered, with dark hair that looked like he'd run his hands through it. But it was his eyes that made my breath catch—deep green, like pine forests after rain, and focused entirely on me.

The air around him seemed different somehow. Charged. Dangerous. He carried himself with the kind of quiet confidence that spoke of power, real power, not the borrowed authority that came with pack politics.

Our eyes met across the distance, and something electric shot down my spine. He didn't look away, didn't pretend he hadn't been watching me. Instead, he gave the slightest nod, as if acknowledging some unspoken understanding between us.

Then, as quickly as he'd appeared, he melted back into the crowd, leaving me standing there with my heart hammering against my ribs.

I told myself it was nothing. A stranger, a coincidence, a trick of the lighting. But as I made my way back through the mall, I couldn't shake the feeling that those green eyes were still watching me.

By the time I arrived home, the sun was setting, painting the Wren family townhouse in shades of gold and amber. I could hear voices from the living room—Axel and Maren, their laughter mixing with the sound of some romantic comedy playing on the television.

I climbed the stairs quietly, hoping to avoid another awkward encounter, but Cordelia's voice stopped me halfway up.

"Ivy, dear, perfect timing." She emerged from the kitchen, her silver hair perfectly styled despite the late hour. "I have wonderful news."

Something in her tone made my stomach clench. Cordelia's wonderful news usually meant complications for me.

"This weekend, we're going to hold the official Luna transition ceremony," she announced, her smile bright and sharp. "All the pack elders will be attending, along with representatives from the neighboring territories. It's time to make your role official."

The blood drained from my face. A formal ceremony meant public vows, binding pack magic, witnesses from across the region. It meant no escape.

I looked toward the living room, where I could see Axel's profile illuminated by the TV's glow. He was listening to something Maren was saying, his attention completely absorbed by her animated gestures.

He knew. Of course he knew about the ceremony. They'd planned this together, probably discussed it while I was changing clothes at the studio.

"That's... sudden," I managed.

"Not sudden at all," Cordelia replied, her eyes glittering with satisfaction. "We've been planning this for months. Axel just wanted it to be a surprise."

A surprise. Like everything else in my life, decided without my input, presented as a gift when it was really a cage.

I nodded and continued up the stairs, my mind racing. Four days until my acceptance letter. Three days until the ceremony. The timing couldn't be worse—or perhaps it was exactly what I needed.

In my room, I pulled out my laptop and opened a new document. If they wanted a ceremony, I'd give them one they'd never forget.

It was time to tell the truth.