Rebirth: I Choose a Different Alpha

Before my rebirth, I was counting down the days until my marking ceremony with Kaelen Olson. We had agreed to meet at the auction to pick out supplies for the ritual.

When the time came, his maid called me five times in a row.

The moment I stepped into the gilded grand hall, I saw Kaelen surrounded by a pack of werewolves, proudly showing off his latest winnings.

He glanced at me and tossed over a pair of low-grade ruby earrings, as if throwing a scrap to a dog.

The gems clinked against the marble floor. His voice was dripping with arrogance as he said, "For you."

The werewolves around him stopped what they were doing and watched me with malicious grins, waiting for me to make a fool of myself.

I knew this routine all too well.

It was exactly like my last life. Kaelen had always treated me like a pet he could appease with scraps.

He had passed off auction freebies, soda can pull tabs, and even used handkerchiefs as gifts.

Back then, I had accepted them gratefully.

The daughter of Central City's Alpha had reduced herself to a total laughingstock.

But now, I just looked at Kaelen coldly without moving. "I don't want it."

The entire room froze.

Even Kaelen's eyes flashed with surprise before his expression darkened. "Kristin, what kind of tantrum are you throwing today?"

The cronies around him sneered, sizing me up.

"Kaelen, don't you get it? Princess Kristin is just trying a new tactic to get your attention."

"She was clinging to you like a piece of gum just two days ago, and now she's playing hard to get? Give me a break."

"Exactly. If she doesn't want the freebie, what does she want? The moonstone set you bought for Princess Lily?"

Kaelen looked at me with a frown, remaining silent.

Just then, a delicate scent drifted through the air.

My adopted sister, Lily Cantrell, approached Kaelen in a white dress. Her green eyes were welling with tears, making her look frail and helpless.

She gasped when she saw the earrings on the floor. After picking them up, she pressed them to her chest. "Kaelen, did you buy this gift? If it were me, I'd wear it every single day…"

The anger on Kaelen's face softened into instant worry. He gently took her by the wrist. "Aren't you sick? Why did you leave your room?"

Lily stole a timid glance at me and lowered her head. "Father said Kristin was coming to the auction alone. He was worried she'd be lonely, so he asked me to keep her company."

Hearing this, Kaelen whipped around and glared at me, his eyes burning with fury. "Can't you go anywhere by yourself? You're not a baby anymore. Lily is still recovering, and you dragged her out to an auction?

"I heard you just came from the council hall. I bet you were begging your father to force through our bonding ceremony again. You really are desperate.

"Kristin, don't you find yourself pathetic for clinging to a male who doesn't love you?"

I took a deep breath and replied calmly, "I didn't. Father just told me he's hosting my birthday party himself."

The room instantly erupted.

My father, Adam Cantrell, hadn't made a public appearance in years. If he was stepping up now, it wasn't just for a birthday party.

Everyone knew his standing decree. Whoever bonded with me would inherit the mantle of Werewolf Chairman.

After the initial shock, the crowd swarmed Kaelen with congratulations.

"Kristin is utterly obsessed with you. That chairman status is basically yours."

"Don't forget about us when you take over, Kaelen!"

Kaelen raised his chin proudly and let out a smug chuckle. "Well, congratulations to you too. All those years of pursuing me finally paid off."

He stepped closer, leaning in to whisper in my ear, "But let's get one thing straight. After we bond, stay out of my business with Lily. If you try to marry her off to the Shadow pack again like last time, the bonding is off."

I stared at him, completely stunned.

How did he know about what happened in my last life? Was he reborn too?

Without waiting for a response, Kaelen happily retrieved the moonstone necklace and fastened it around Lily's slender neck.

The crowd cheered around them, treating them like the actual bride and groom.

Standing alone in the background, I suddenly smiled.

From the very beginning, I was the only person who actually held the power to choose my mate.