Ellie's POV

The silence that followed my rejection stretched on like a held breath.

Everyone stared, and soon, shocked murmurs began to erupt around me.

Standing behind Marcus, Dominic squinted slightly. He wore his usual distant and impatient expression, but this time it was tinged with a hint of confusion.

Marcus stood there with his credit card dangling from his fingers, his mouth slightly open. "What... what did you just say?"

"I said no." My voice carried across the courtyard, clear and steady. "And if your Alpha can't make a proper request himself, don't expect me to do anything for anyone."

Whispers erupted around us like wildfire. I could hear fragments of shocked conversations rippling through the crowd.

"Did Ellie just ask Dominic to make a proper request?"

"She's never said no before..."

"What's wrong with her today?"

"Maybe she's finally gotten tired of being their servant."

The whispers grew louder as more students turned to stare. Some looked amused, others shocked, and a few seemed almost impressed. This was definitely not the script anyone had been expecting from me.

Dominic's expression had gone from impatience to thunderous. His jaw clenched as he stared at me, those blue eyes flashing with confusion and anger. I could practically see the gears turning in his head as he tried to process this unexpected rebellion.

But he didn't say anything. He never did when it came to actually asking for things himself. That would require him to lower himself to making requests rather than simply expecting compliance.

The tension in the air was thick when Vivian suddenly appeared beside Marcus, her sweet smile bright as sunshine cutting through the awkward atmosphere.

"Oh my," she said with a little laugh that sounded like silver bells, "Ellie must be having a bad morning. Don't worry, I'll get the coffee for everyone."

She reached for Marcus's card with delicate fingers, playing the helpful sister perfectly. Her timing was impeccable, as always - swooping in to smooth over any conflict and make herself look indispensable.

"Don't trouble yourself," Dominic said immediately, his voice noticeably softer than it had been all morning. "Marcus can handle it."

I nearly laughed at what he said. What I did for them each day was seen as too much trouble for Vivian.

But Vivian was already shaking her head, those blonde curls bouncing in the morning sunlight. "It's no trouble at all. Really." She turned to look at me with apparent concern. "Don't be mad at Ellie. I'm sure she's just stressed about something."

Then she did something that made my stomach churn - she blushed. A perfect pink tint spread across her cheeks as she gazed up at Dominic with wide, innocent eyes. "I'd be happy to help."

I watched the whole performance with cold detachment, seeing it clearly for the first time.

It was pure theater, designed to make her look like the sweet, helpful sister while positioning me as the difficult one.

"Fine," Dominic said, though he looked slightly uncomfortable with the whole situation. His shoulders tensed as he spoke, clearly not loving the idea of having Vivian run his errands. "Marcus, go with her. Help carry everything."

Vivian beamed at him like he'd just offered her the moon, then practically skipped off toward the campus coffee shop with Marcus trailing behind her.

I noticed how Dominic's gaze followed Vivian until she disappeared around the corner. But instead of the fond look I'd expected, his expression seemed more... relieved.

The contrast was stark and confusing. With me, he expected unquestioning service. With Vivian, he offered protection and courtesy, though it seemed tinged with reluctance.

The only explanation I could come up with for his behavior was that these must have been the early days of his attraction to her. I must have been completely blind in my last life to miss these subtle signs.

I turned and walked away without another word, my footsteps echoing across the now-buzzing courtyard.

Behind me, I heard one of Dominic's friends mutter, "What the hell is her problem?"

But I didn't care what they thought anymore. Their opinions had controlled too much of my life already.

First period was Advanced Pack Management, the class I shared with Dominic. As I settled into my usual seat near the back, I pulled out my backpack to grab my notebook, trying to ignore the curious stares from other students who had witnessed the courtyard drama.

My fingers brushed against something that made my heart stop.

A small, beautifully wrapped gift box tied with silver ribbon. Inside, I knew, was an invitation written in my most careful handwriting. An invitation asking Dominic to be my partner at the mating ceremony.

Eighteen years old. The mating ceremony. Of course. That's where it all began.

How could I have forgotten?

The weight of the box brought back a flood of memories.

In my past life, today was the day I'd planned to give Dominic my invitation. I'd spent weeks preparing it, agonizing over every detail. I'd chosen expensive paper, practiced my handwriting until every letter was flawless, and selected the silver ribbon specifically because it matched the color of Dominic's eyes.

The mating ceremony. The most important day in a young werewolf's life. The day when eighteen-year-olds gathered under the full moon to find their fated mates and secure their futures.

It was more than just a dance - it was a sacred tradition observed for centuries. Tradition dictated that you invited someone special to be your first dance partner. The Moon Goddess was said to bless those partnerships, and couples who danced together had a ninety-nine percent chance of being revealed as fated mates when midnight struck.

I remembered with painful clarity how it had played out before. I'd given Dominic the invitation with trembling hands and a hopeful heart, and he'd barely glanced at it before shoving it carelessly into his bag. He'd said he was too busy with Alpha training, that he might not even attend.

But I'd been so pathetically grateful for even that lukewarm response. I'd promised to wait for him no matter what, convinced that his reluctance was just nerves. I'd even scared off other girls who tried to give him invitations, playing the jealous girlfriend to protect what I thought was mine.

On the night of the ceremony, I'd waited and waited in my carefully chosen dress, watching couples pair off around me while I stood alone. Dominic didn't show up until the very last dance, when I was the only girl left without a partner.

Even then, he'd looked annoyed about having to dance with me, like I was an obligation rather than someone he wanted to be with.

But when midnight struck and the Moon Goddess revealed our bond, everything changed. We were fated mates, whether he liked it or not. And from the expression on his face when the realization hit, he definitely didn't like it.

The memory made my stomach turn. All those years of marriage, all those years of trying to win his love, and I'd never realized how reluctant he'd been from the very beginning.

"Well, well. What do we have here?"

Marcus's voice cut through my thoughts. I looked up to see Dominic entering the classroom with his friends, his eyes immediately zeroing in on the gift box I was holding. When he spotted the silver ribbon, a slow, smug smile spread across his face.

The other students noticed too. They started nudging each other and whispering excitedly.

"Oh my god, is that what I think it is?"

"Ellie's finally going to ask Dominic to the ceremony!"

"About time. She's been following him around for years."

One of Dominic's friends, Tyler, spoke up loudly enough for the whole classroom to hear. "Come on, Ellie. We all know what that is. Just hand it over already."

More whispers erupted around us. Everyone was staring now, waiting for the show they'd been expecting for weeks. Some had even pulled out their phones, probably hoping to capture the moment.

Dominic walked closer to my desk with casual confidence. That insufferable smirk was still on his face as he looked down at me like I was a puzzle he'd already solved.

"Anything we should know?" Marcus asked, loud enough for everyone to hear.

The expectation in the room was palpable. This was the moment everyone had been waiting for - Ellie finally making her desperate move on the future Alpha King.

I looked down at the invitation in my hands, feeling the weight of all those watching eyes. At the careful calligraphy spelling out Dominic's name in silver ink. At the ribbon I'd chosen so carefully, thinking it would remind him of romantic moments we'd never actually shared.

Then I looked back up at his smug face. At the way he stood there like he was doing me a favor just by acknowledging my existence. At the casual arrogance that assumed I would always be there, always willing to humiliate myself for his attention.

In my past life, this moment had felt like the most important thing in the world. Getting Dominic to accept my invitation had been my only goal, my greatest dream.

Now it just felt pathetic.

I slipped the gift box back into my bag and zipped it closed with deliberate slowness, making sure everyone could see exactly what I was doing.

"It's not for Dominic," I said clearly.

Dominic's confident expression faltered, confusion flickering across his features as if he couldn't quite process what he'd just heard.

Ellie's POV

The stunned silence in the classroom stretched on as everyone processed what I'd just said. I could practically hear their thoughts racing.

"Wait, did she really say it's not for Dominic?"

"But look at that heart on the box..."

"Has Ellie actually fallen for someone else?"

Some of Dominic's friends exchanged confused glances, whispering among themselves. Tyler looked like someone had just told him the sky was green.

"But who else would she..." he started, then trailed off when Dominic shot him a warning look.

The teacher had started writing on the board, but I could tell half the class was still focused on the drama unfolding in our corner. This was better entertainment than any lesson.

Just then, the classroom door opened and Vivian appeared, balancing a cardboard tray of coffee cups. Her entrance was perfectly timed, as always.

"Sorry to interrupt," she said sweetly to the teacher, then hurried over to where Dominic and his friends sat. "I got everyone's usual orders."

She began distributing the cups with practiced efficiency, that angelic smile never leaving her face. But as she handed them out, I noticed something that made me want to laugh.

Half the orders were wrong.

Marcus had ordered a black coffee but received something with whipped cream. Tyler's iced latte was clearly hot. The Gamma, Jake, stared down at what looked like some kind of flavored drink when he'd specifically asked for plain coffee.

In my past life, if I had made even one mistake like that, Dominic would have lectured me about paying attention to details. About how a future Luna needed to be precise and reliable.

But now, Jake started to open his mouth, probably to point out the mix-up, when Dominic cut him off.

"Thank you, Vivian," Dominic said with a warm smile I'd never seen him give me. "That was very thoughtful of you."

Vivian practically glowed under his praise. "Oh, it was nothing. I just wanted to help." She glanced over at me with what looked like concern. "I hope Ellie isn't still upset about this morning."

"Ellie spent a long time preparing that invitation," she continued, loud enough for several nearby students to hear. "She's been working on it for weeks. I think she's just nervous about giving it to you, Dominic. You know how she gets when she's stressed."

The manipulation was so smooth, so perfectly delivered. She was painting me as the lovesick girl who was simply having a moment of nerves, while positioning herself as the caring sister who understood the situation.

I stood up and said clearly, "Just to be absolutely clear—the invitation is not for Dominic. Anyone who's interested in giving him invitations is welcome to do so."

The classroom fell silent again. Some students exchanged shocked glances while others whispered excitedly.

Before anyone could respond, the teacher called out sharply from the front. "Everyone, quiet down and focus on the lesson. We have a lot to cover today."

Vivian's eyes flashed with something I couldn't quite read—surprise, calculation, maybe even excitement. She gave me one last meaningful look before hurrying toward the door.

As she hurried out, I watched Dominic's expression. There was a softness there, a gentleness that made my chest ache with old pain.

After the door closed behind her, Jake finally spoke up. "Uh, Dominic? This isn't what I ordered. I asked for—"

"Marcus," Dominic interrupted, turning to his Beta instead. "How did you mess up the orders when you went with her? You've been getting coffee with us for months."

Marcus looked confused. "I told her exactly what everyone wanted. She must have gotten confused by—"

"Just drink what you got," Dominic said curtly, his tone sharp with the impatience he usually reserved for people he was closest to. "Next time, double-check everything yourself."

I sat there, watching the entire exchange with a mixture of amazement and disgust.

Dominic's behavior was so typical—he had impossibly high standards for Marcus, Jake, and I. But for Vivian, he maintained the polite, controlled demeanor.

That should be some real love. I guess.

I couldn't focus on the lesson for the rest of class. My mind kept spinning with memories from my past life.

I had to make a plan. I had to break this cycle. I couldn't let myself become his unwanted mate again. I wouldn't spend another lifetime being the consolation prize while he pined for my stepsister.

The plan formed in my mind as the teacher droned on about pack hierarchies. I would skip the mating ceremony entirely. Find some excuse not to attend. Without the ceremony, without that midnight moment under the full moon, maybe the bond wouldn't form at all.

And I would make sure Vivian got her chance with Dominic. I'd encourage her to give him an invitation. He'd probably be thrilled to have the woman he actually wanted asking him to dance.

It was perfect. They could have their love story, and I could have my freedom.

The bell rang, startling me out of my thoughts. Students began packing up their books, chatting about lunch plans and weekend activities.

I gathered my things slowly, hoping to avoid any more confrontations with Dominic. But as I shouldered my bag and headed for the door, I saw something that stopped me in my tracks.

Vivian was waiting in the hallway just outside the classroom. And in her hands was a small gift box tied with pink ribbon.

Another invitation.

My heart skipped a beat as the pieces fell into place. Of course. I'd been overthinking everything. As soon as I—the "annoying clingy girl"—stepped aside, others would rush in to fill the void.

Maybe in our past life, Dominic had received multiple invitations but had chosen me simply because I was the most persistent—the one who waited until the last dance.

The most pathetic. The one who wouldn't give up even when he clearly didn't want me.

But this time, Vivian was making her move early.

Students began filing out of the classroom, and several of them noticed Vivian standing there with her invitation. Whispers started immediately.

"Oh my god, is that what I think it is?"

"Vivian's going to ask Dominic to the ceremony?"

"But what about Ellie?"

Dominic emerged from the classroom and stopped short when he saw Vivian. His eyes went to the gift box in her hands, and surprise flickered across his face.

"For me?" he asked, sounding genuinely taken aback.

Students walking by slowed down or stopped entirely, sensing drama. This was the moment everyone had been waiting for—not Ellie's expected invitation, but this unexpected twist.

Some of them looked back and forth between Vivian and me, clearly waiting to see how I'd react. In the past, this would have been the moment I lost my mind. The moment I pushed Vivian away and declared my claim on Dominic.

But I couldn't bear to watch this scene play out. Couldn't stand to see Dominic's face light up as he received an invitation from the woman he actually wanted.

I started walking briskly down the hallway, trying to escape before I had to witness their sweet moment together.

I'd barely made it three steps when a strong hand grabbed my arm.

I turned back in confusion.

It was Dominic.

"Where do you think you're going?" Dominic's voice was low and dangerous.