Rejected by My Fated Alpha

After my death, the Lycan King wrote an elegy for me, and my children wept in sorrow. The entire pack mourned, remarking how fortunate I had been to have Raphael Phillips as my mate.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the age of fifteen—the year Raphael fell madly in love with my sister, Ximena Reyes.

He bent over backward for her, broke his leg for her, and wrote countless poems for her.

He sought me out, pretending to be troubled. "Quincy, I’m going to ask for Ximena’s hand in mating. Do you think she’ll accept?"

I smiled faintly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. "She will. You and Ximena are a perfect match, a rarity in this world."

Raphael.

This time, I won’t mark you.

I won’t be your mate, nor will I be the caged wolf of the Phillips pack.

And I won’t let myself love you.

---

The day Raphael came to the Morrison pack to propose was a sunny one.

He brought the traditional gifts: the letters of intent, the ceremonial offerings, and, most notably, a pair of wild geese he had personally hunted.

"I’ve been in love with the eldest daughter of the Morrison pack for a long time. I’ve come to ask for her hand," Raphael declared, his voice steady and confident.

My stepmother, Hadassah Lawrence, the Luna of our pack, sat at the head of the room, a gentle smile on her lips. She was pleased with the Phillips family’s sincerity, especially the pair of wild geese—a symbol of enduring love.

A worthy mate is hard to find.

Raphael cherished Ximena, and it showed in every detail.

Behind the beaded curtain, Ximena smirked at me, her expression full of triumph.

I knew it was a provocation.

Ximena never liked me, and she knew exactly where to strike to hurt me the most.

I lowered my lashes, feeling no turbulence in my heart.

Even though I knew Raphael had been my mate in my past life, this life was too short, too painful—

Better to let it go.

Hadassah eventually agreed to the proposal, her smile warm and approving.

On my way back to my room, Raphael stopped me.

"Quincy, where are you running off to?"

I looked up at him, momentarily dazed.

Raphael, twenty years younger, was just as handsome as I remembered.

His presence was commanding, his features sharp and striking under the sunlight.

"Quincy, I’m going to ask for Ximena’s hand. Do you think she’ll accept?" he asked, his brow furrowing as if my answer mattered.

I took a step back. "She will."

Raphael frowned, clearly unsatisfied with my response. "The Luna has agreed, but is Ximena truly willing? Quincy, could you ask her for me? I don’t want her to feel forced."

His affection was so obvious.

So intense that even as he prepared to make her his mate, he worried about her feelings.

Yet, when Raphael marked me in my past life, no one asked for my consent.

There were no grand gestures, no wild geese, no ceremonial gifts.

I smiled faintly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. "Alpha Raphael, you and Ximena are a perfect match, a rarity in this world. There’s no need to ask."

I looked up, gazing at this person I knew all too well, and sighed softly.

Raphael.

This time, I won’t mark you.

I won’t be your mate, nor will I be the caged wolf of the Phillips pack.

And I won’t let myself love you.