Rejecting the Reborn Alpha Who Stole My Pup
Chapter 1
Reborn into this life, I’ve made every effort to avoid any entanglement with Jaziel Shaw.
When he was bullied by the pack’s delinquents during pack training, I didn’t step in to stop it.
When he graduated at the top of his class from the pack’s academy, celebrated with a pack run through the territory, I declined Winter’s invitation to watch, choosing instead to stay home and mend the torn training gear.
When he brought Bella Gonzalez, his late brother’s mate, to a pack gathering and they were mocked, I didn’t intervene to smooth things over.
In my past life, he had taken my only pup and handed him to Bella to raise.
From then on, my son refused to call me “Mother,” addressing me only as “Analia Payne.” As he grew older, he even lectured me on being a dutiful Luna, urging me to accept Jaziel’s bond with Bella so he could have heirs from both lines.
But I hadn’t expected Jaziel to reject other potential mates, just as he had in my past life, and come to my family’s pack to propose to me once more.
In that moment, I realized with a sinking heart that Jaziel must also be reborn.
---
When my father sent for me to meet Jaziel in the pack’s main hall, I was still reeling from the shock.
That day, when I’d chosen not to attend the pack run celebrating the academy’s top graduates, Winter had come to tell me all about it.
“Analia, you really missed out. That Jaziel Shaw—he’s the youngest top graduate in history. And he’s so handsome.
“He was leading the pack run, and when he passed the clearing where I was sitting, he glanced my way a few times. My heart was racing. Too bad I’m already promised to someone. If you’d been there, maybe it would’ve sparked something.”
I didn’t look up, focused on mending the torn knee guards. The Northern Frost Pack’s territory was harsh, and the warriors needed all the protection they could get.
When I didn’t respond, Winter faltered. “I’m sorry, Analia. I shouldn’t have joked like that.”
Only then did I glance up and give her a small smile.
Winter quickly looped her arm through mine. “I really am sorry. Jaziel’s impressive, but that Bella—she’s not easy to deal with.
“Yesterday, my mother took me to the Alpha’s spring gathering, and Bella showed up with Jaziel, acting like she was his Luna. Several of the higher-ranking she-wolves were clearly annoyed.”
It was no wonder Winter thought Jaziel wasn’t the problem.
In my past life, I hadn’t realized it either.
Jaziel, who was always so proper and refused to take any mate beyond his bond, had been entangled with Bella in ways I never imagined.
If Bella hadn’t damaged her fertility from drinking too much wolfsbane tea, Jaziel might never have allowed me to bear his pup, Eugene.
It wasn’t until I was on my deathbed that I heard Bella crying and saying,
“Jaziel, the thought of you lying beside Analia for eternity—it makes me wish I could die right now.”
Jaziel’s voice was strained.
“Our shared grave is just for show. When the time comes, I’ll make sure Eugene buries me with you.”
Eugene, the pup I’d carried for nine months and nearly died birthing, chimed in eagerly,
“Don’t worry, Mom. When Dad’s gone, I’ll find some rogue’s body to bury with Analia.”
Bella finally smiled through her tears. “I knew I could count on you.”
My head spun with rage, but as my consciousness faded, I couldn’t even muster the strength to demand answers.
Jaziel and I had been mates for a lifetime.
Though we’d had our share of arguments, we’d always been respectful and caring toward each other.
I’d thought his only fault was his obsession with ensuring his brother’s bloodline continued, which led him to hand our pup to Bella, breaking my heart in the process.
But I hadn’t known that he and Bella had been unfaithful all along.
I, his bonded Luna, had been nothing more than a convenient cover for their secret.
They’d made a fool of me for an entire lifetime.
And now, here he was, proposing to me again.
I could only guess that, after weighing his options, Jaziel still thought I was the easiest to deceive.
---
Bella Gonzalez had been the most beautiful she-wolf in our territory.
My brother and I had grown up with her, and we’d both fallen for her as we came of age.
After my brother mated Bella, I threw myself into my studies.
Only by burying myself in books could I forget the pain of seeing the one I loved become my sister-in-law.
To earn the funds for my education at the pack’s academy, my brother joined a group of rogues and set out to explore new territories.
But he was lost in a rogue attack, his body never recovered.
Bella wept until she was hollow.
I swore silently that I would succeed, not just for myself, but to honor my brother’s memory and take care of Bella in his stead.
I buried my feelings for Bella deep, alongside my brother’s memorial.
She would always be my respected sister-in-law.
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