Upon arriving back at the Silver Moon Pack territory, I carefully tucked away my acceptance letter from Oxford and started planning what I’d need to pack for the start of term. I decided to go shopping for supplies in a few days, my mind already racing with the possibilities of my new academic journey.

The next day, as I scrolled through my Instagram, I stumbled upon Adrianna’s grand announcement.

**Adrianna:** *I’ve always been called the prom queen, so... the prom queen has found her match with the valedictorian.*

The post featured two pictures: one of them holding hands, and another of Luca kissing Adrianna on the cheek. Since we shared many mutual friends, the comments began flooding in.

“What a perfect match!”

“Congrats, Adrianna! Wishing you loads of happiness!”

“Congrats to the prom queen and the valedictorian! When’s the celebration dinner?”

Before I could finish reading the comments, a message popped up from my desk-mate, Abigail. As a Beta from the Crimson Howl Pack, she was both a confidant and a steady presence in my life.

“So, when did you and Luca break up?” she asked.

Abigail knew everything about me—our friendship was built on trust and shared secrets.

“Yesterday,” I replied simply.

She responded almost instantly, “Luca moved on fast.”

I chuckled softly, not bothering to engage further. Truthfully, Luca and Adrianna had been classmates since freshman year, and there had always been whispers about them. But during our sophomore year, those rumors were overshadowed when the star athlete publicly declared his relationship with Adrianna.

Luca and I had gotten together during the summer before junior year. It started during gym class when he shielded me from a rogue basketball. Standing there in the sunlight, he looked every bit the commanding Alpha he was—his tall, muscular frame exuding dominance, his sharp features softened by the warmth in his eyes. That was the moment I felt a spark and developed a crush on him.

That summer, our classmates invited me on a hiking trip. To my surprise, Luca was there, and during the descent, he found a moment to confess his feelings to me. My silent crush turned into reality, and I accepted with happiness.

As we tackled the challenges of senior year, our relationship was straightforward. We studied together, supported each other with homework, and made a pact to apply to Oxford. In the end, we both got in.

During the summer following our final exams, Adrianna met up with Luca several times. He mentioned it to me, claiming it was just casual meals with classmates and that others might join. I was naive and didn’t give it much thought. Now, reflecting on it, it was probably more than just friendly meals.

But none of that matters to me now. In this life, Luca’s affairs are no longer my concern, and I have no desire to be involved with him.

After a brief pause in my conversation with Abigail, she messaged again.

“I’m planning to retake the year.”

She continued, “I discussed it with my parents last night. I don’t want to settle for a second-tier university; I want to try again.”

In the past, Abigail had also retaken the year and gotten into Cambridge. During the first weekend after her enrollment, Luca and I took her out for a celebratory dinner in London. Now, faced with the same choice, I was fully behind her decision.

“Yes, definitely go for it and aim for your dream school.”

Cambridge was her dream institution.

“I will. I have to get into Cambridge. Wait for me in London.”

“Of course.”

After finishing our chat, I decided not to check Adrianna’s Instagram anymore and chose to unfollow her. After breaking up with Luca yesterday, I’d already removed all his contact details but hadn’t considered Adrianna’s social media.

As I opened her profile to unfollow, a message notification from Adrianna came through. I was taken aback and opened it.

More messages quickly followed.

“Gabrielle, did you see my Instagram post?”

“Honestly, I’ve liked Luca for a long time, since our freshman year.”

“We’re finally together now, and I’m thrilled.”

“Since you and Luca have broken up, I hope you won’t bother him anymore. We’re planning to retake the year and apply to Stanford together next year.”

Was this her way of flaunting or warning me? I felt no emotion about it.

I smiled faintly and chose to reply.

“Best wishes for both of you at Stanford.”

In this lifetime, may they stay wrapped up in their own world.

Logging out of the chat, I unfollowed Adrianna, feeling a sense of relief as I closed the app. My focus was firmly on my future—Oxford, my studies, and the life I was building for myself, far away from the shadows of Luca and Adrianna’s drama.

The summer break flew by quickly, and three days before heading to Oxford, I arranged to meet Abigail. While we were shopping at the mall, we bumped into Alpha Luca and Adrianna, who were walking hand in hand. They paused when they saw us, and Adrianna leaned closer to Luca with a display of affection, greeting us with a smile.

“Gabrielle, Abigail, fancy meeting you here.”

They walked over. Alpha Luca stood in front of me, his towering frame exuding the natural dominance of an Alpha. His relaxed smile didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“Gabrielle, when are you off to Oxford?”

“In a few days,” I replied smoothly, keeping my tone respectful but distant.

“Well, you’ll be a university student soon,” he remarked with a hint of mockery.

Adrianna quickly added, her voice dripping with sweetness, “Alpha Luca, we’ll be at university next year too.”

“When we get into Manchester University next year, we’ll treat everyone to a feast,” she promised, her eyes gleaming with ambition.

“Absolutely,” Alpha Luca nodded in agreement, gazing at Adrianna with a possessive affection. “Don’t worry, I got into Oxford this year, and after a year of studying hard together, you’ll definitely get into Manchester.”

“Yes, I trust you,” Adrianna cooed, her voice syrupy.

They exchanged a loving look, and Adrianna seemed on the verge of kissing him, her hand tightening around his arm.

“Hey now, we’re in public. Don’t make it awkward for the rest of us,” Abigail reminded them, her tone sharp but still respectful to Alpha Luca. “Got anything else to say? If not, we’re off.”

Adrianna finally restrained herself and looked at me, her smile turning sly. “Sorry, Alpha Luca and I are still in our honeymoon phase; it’s tough to hold back when the feelings hit.”

She tilted her head, her eyes narrowing as she taunted, “Gabrielle, aren’t you jealous?”

I shook my head, my expression calm. “Why would I be jealous of someone I dated and moved on from?”

Adrianna’s smile faltered, and Alpha Luca stiffened, his dominant aura flaring for a moment. Abigail let out a soft chuckle, though she quickly schooled her expression.

Realizing what had happened, Alpha Luca’s voice turned sharp, his alpha tone cutting through the air. “Gabrielle, it was I who didn’t want you.”

He stepped closer, his imposing figure casting a shadow over me. “You’re uptight, out of touch, a bookworm, and plain. You can’t even hold a candle to Adrianna. I’ve been over you for ages.”

I met his gaze evenly, refusing to be cowed. “So why didn’t you break up with me sooner? I was the one who ended it.”

His jaw tightened, and for a moment, he seemed at a loss for words. Not wanting to engage further with someone I found distasteful, I turned to Abigail. “Let’s go.”

We hadn’t gotten far when Adrianna called out after me, her voice sharp with barely concealed irritation.

“Gabrielle, why act so superior when you’re on your own?”

I paused, glancing over my shoulder. She continued, her tone dripping with smugness, “Just wait and see. Alpha Luca and I will be in college together next year, get mated, have pups, and you’ll be green with envy.”

I smiled slightly, the corner of my mouth curving up. “We’ll see about that.”

In my previous life, Adrianna had ended up with someone she met while repeating a year—a wealthy playboy from a prestigious pack. In this life, she was about to meet that playboy again. As she said, we’d just have to wait and see.

Abigail and I walked away, leaving them behind. As we turned the corner, I could still feel Alpha Luca’s gaze burning into my back, but I refused to look back. My wolf stirred within me, a quiet, steady presence that reminded me of my strength. I didn’t need him—or her—to define my worth.