Rejected Luna's Second Chance Mate

When Alex, the Alpha of our pack, brought Brynn, a young pack member, back to our den, I quickly decided to let them have the bed. The storm outside was fierce, the kind that made even the strongest wolves wary.

In my past life, a similar storm had raged when he brought Brynn back late one night. He had told me to sleep on the floor with our daughter, Nevaeh, leaving the bed to them. Enraged, I had argued with him and yelled at Brynn, who had run out crying and accidentally fallen into a ditch, drowning. Alex had said nothing. Later, during another storm, he had opened the storm drain and shoved me and our child in, saying, "Brynn was my mentor’s daughter, and I don’t know how to face him now that she’s gone. You can go down there and apologize to him for me!" Before Nevaeh and I could even cry out for help, the icy, foul water had filled our lungs.

After our deaths, I had learned that Brynn hadn’t died at all; it had been a malicious prank to punish me for insulting her. Our bodies hadn’t even had a chance to cool before my mate had joyously brought Brynn back to live with him.

Now, as I opened my eyes, thunder rumbled outside the door, and Alex walked in with Brynn by his side. He hurried her through the entrance, his arm wrapped protectively around her shoulders. Both of them were soaked from the rain, and Brynn was trembling, her pale skin almost ghostly in the dim light.

“What are you doing standing there? Get us some dry towels!” Alex barked at me, his Alpha tone sharp and commanding, snapping me out of my shocked daze.

The familiarity of the scene and his voice hit me—had I really been given another chance at life? Instinctively, I held my daughter close, tears streaming down my face.

Alex shouted at me again, “What are you crying for? Keep it to yourself, will you? Did you hear me?”

I choked back my fear, wiped my tears, and got up to fetch some dry towels for them. Ignoring his own drenched clothes, Alex fussed over Brynn, drying her hair carefully. Yet, Brynn started to cry softly.

“Alpha Matthews, does Luna Russell hate me? Maybe I should leave,” she said weakly, her voice trembling.

“It’s dangerous to go out in this storm. Stay here tonight,” Alex replied, his tone softening slightly as he looked at her.

In my past life, witnessing their closeness had bottled up resentment within me, and I couldn’t help but ask, “What were you two doing out so late, just the two of you? Why isn’t she in her quarters?”

Brynn blinked her large, teary eyes and explained, “Today’s my birthday, and Alpha Matthews took me to a restaurant, but then the storm hit. I didn’t mean to disturb you. I can leave if you want.”

Alex grew anxious as she spoke of leaving and held onto her hand. With eyes blazing with anger, he turned to me. “I didn’t bring you and the pup to the city so you could interrogate us. Just do what you’re supposed to!”

A wave of sadness washed over me. I had mated him young, older by three years, and I had raised him, cooked for him—even funded his education with my hard-earned savings. I had worked various jobs, cared for his mother, and handled the den all while he studied.

Now, after nearly three months in the city, he hadn’t once taken me out for a meal, yet he could afford to treat Brynn to a fancy dinner. How could I not feel bitter?

“Alpha Matthews, you said we couldn’t afford to take Nevaeh to the healer when she had a fever and suggested herbal remedies would suffice. But you’ve got money to take someone else out?”

Brynn looked at Alex apologetically and said, “I didn’t know it was so hard for you, Alpha Matthews. I’ll find a way to pay you back for the dinner.”

Embarrassed, Alex snapped at me. “I managed with just herbs when I was sick as a pup. Why’s our daughter so sensitive? Luna Russell, watch your mouth!”

“Enough. It’s late, and Brynn’s tired. She should have the bed while we take the floor.”

Brynn instantly protested, tugging on his shirt. “Alpha Matthews, you have an early meeting tomorrow. You can’t rest properly on the floor. I’ll take the floor.”

“No, you’ve been drenched. You need proper rest, or you’ll fall ill.”

“I insist. You take the bed; I’ll sleep here.”

They went back and forth in front of me until Alex finally conceded. “Fine, fine. We’ll both sleep in the bed. Come on, lie down.”

I stared at him in disbelief. “Alpha Matthews! I’m right here, and you’re sharing a bed with another female. What do you take me for?”

He waved his hand dismissively. “What can we do in front of you, anyway? Stop letting your old-fashioned mindset question the bond between an Alpha and his pack member!”