After Rebirth, I Refused to Make Him My Alpha

I once loved Ryan deeply and helped him become the Alpha, only to be rewarded with chains in a dungeon and the mocking laughter of him and his mistress.

Fate gave me a second chance—I woke up reborn on the day before the mate selection ceremony...

"Aria!" Ryan Walsh called out, "Go stand over there and hold up the target."

The surrounding pack members stopped their movements, all eyes turning toward me.

The weekly training session was in progress, and Ryan Walsh—my husband's killer from my previous life—stood in the archery area, holding a golden arrow in his hand.

In my past life, I would have rushed over immediately, thinking this was his way of giving me "special attention."

Now?

"Practice by yourself," I said without looking up. "I have no obligation to assist you."

The training ground fell silent instantly.

Ryan's bowstring trembled slightly in his hands. He clearly hadn't expected such a response.

Ryan wasn't ready to give up. He deliberately shot his next arrow wide, letting it land near my feet.

This was exactly how he used to treat me like a servant in my previous life.

"Since you're here, help me pick up that arrow," he said coldly.

I looked at the arrow by my feet, feeling completely unmoved.

"You shot it, you pick it up."

Ryan was clearly even more furious now. Not just because I hadn't obeyed him, but because I dared to defy him in front of the other pack members.

He used to command me like this all the time, and I thought it was because he cared about me, his possessiveness over me. Now I understand—I was nothing more than a tool he used to show off in front of the other wolves.

"Looks like the Alpha position might be changing hands," someone mocked.

Ryan had clearly lost face.

"An Omega with no sense of service?" Ryan declared loudly. "How disappointing."

Just then, the sound of high heels came from behind me.

I didn't need to turn around to know who it was—Ashley.

She swayed into the training ground, refusing to take off her heels even though the ground was covered in gravel.

Her wrist was wrapped in white bandages, her hair flowing loose, looking frail and sickly. She carefully carried a bowl of steaming herbal medicine.

"Ryan, your medicine," Ashley said, tears of concern glistening in her eyes. "The doctor said you need to take it right after training. I was afraid you'd forget."

Ryan's expression softened instantly as he quickly put down his bow and walked toward her.

"Does your hand still hurt? Why are you making medicine for me? You should be resting."

"This is what I should do," Ashley bit her lower lip lightly. "Taking care of you is my honor. Besides, seeing how hard you train, I want to do something for you even if my hand hurts."

In my past life, I would have been consumed with jealousy, thinking I wasn't as gentle and considerate as Ashley. Now I just wanted to laugh.

Ashley's gaze "accidentally" swept toward me, then she lowered her head without speaking.

"Do you see that, Aria?" Ryan sneered. "This is how a real woman should behave." He gently touched Ashley's wrist and looked at me with contempt. "Not like you, always trying to rely on your father's achievements for special privileges."

Relying on my father's achievements. Those words cut through me like a blade. My father died fighting at the borders to protect the pack, and here he was, calling my father's sacrifice a tool for my personal gain.

Someone in the crowd whispered, "Ryan, don't forget the Alpha is throwing a graduation party for Aria."

The atmosphere on the training ground instantly became tense. Pack members murmured among themselves, their expressions serious.

"Her choice will determine who becomes the next Alpha..."

"If the Alpha personally hosts the ceremony..."

"Ryan, congratulations on becoming Alpha soon. We'll support you completely!"

Ryan proudly pulled Ashley closer, giving me a confident smile. "At the graduation party, you'd better dress appropriately. As my future wife."

He warned, "After we're bonded, you'd better learn to be docile like Ashley. I don't like wild, untamed Omegas."

I stared at his face, my mind flashing back to the scene from my previous life just before I died.

Ryan stood coldly in the ruins while Ashley nestled against him.

"She's finally out of the way," Ashley caressed Ryan's chest, her eyes full of satisfaction. "Now you can focus on being my mate."

I pulled myself back to the present and turned to leave.

"Wait!" Ryan shouted from behind me. "You haven't answered me! You'll make the right choice at the graduation party, won't you?"

"Of course."

Walking out of the training ground, I smiled quietly to myself.

I had already made my choice long ago. It just wouldn't be the one he expected.