The Alpha Who Didn’t Try to Control Her.

Rebecca’s POV

I was reviewing my leadership notes when Davis walked into the apartment.

“Has Harper contacted you?”

I looked up sharply. “Why would Harper contact me?”

He stopped beside the dining table.

“She hasn’t contacted you?”

“No, Davis. I haven’t spoken to her. What does she want?”

“I don’t know. She messaged me this morning and said she needed to speak to you before I told you anything about our relationship.”

My stomach tightened.

Our relationship.

Those two words brought back memories I had spent days trying to keep buried. I remembered Harper standing in my bedroom, looking at me as though I were a fool for believing Davis could love me.

I had hoped I wouldn’t have to face her again so soon.

“Are you meeting her?” I asked.

“Tomorrow. I agreed to meet her, but after that message, I’m not sure what to expect.”

I forced myself to look back at my notes.

“You should do whatever you want.”

Davis didn’t move.

“Is that really what you think?”

I glanced at him. “What else am I supposed to think?”

“You don’t sound indifferent.”

“Maybe I’m just tired of discussing your personal life.”

“Rebecca, do you know something about Harper that I don’t?”

I closed my notebook.

“I know enough to understand that this isn’t my business.”

His expression tightened, but he didn’t argue.

“All right,” he said. “I won’t push you.”

I picked up my bag and stood.

“Good.”

As I walked toward the door, I could feel his eyes following me. I wanted to tell him to stop looking at me that way, but I knew he would only ask more questions.

I needed space before I said something I couldn’t take back.

At the university, I met Raevorin for our leadership exercise. He was already seated at one of the tables, with his laptop open and several documents arranged in front of him.

He looked up when I approached.

“Rebecca, you’re early.”

“I needed something to do.”

He studied my face briefly.

“Would you rather postpone our discussion? You look distracted.”

“No. I’d rather work.”

“Then let’s work.”

He didn’t ask what was wrong or insist that I explain myself. He simply moved a document toward me and asked what I thought about the proposed agreement.

I sat down.

“The security responsibilities aren’t balanced,” I said after reading the first page. “The larger pack has too much authority, while the smaller pack carries most of the risk.”

Raevorin leaned forward to examine the figures.

“Show me where you think the problem starts.”

I pointed to the section outlining the smaller pack’s obligations.

He listened as I explained my concerns, then questioned one of my assumptions.

I considered his argument before answering.

“You’re right about that part, but it doesn’t change the problem with the enforcement clause.”

He smiled slightly.

“I didn’t say it did. I wanted to know whether you’d considered the other possibility.”

I looked at him for a moment before returning to the document.

Most people seemed to think disagreement meant someone had to win. Raevorin could challenge my ideas without making me feel as though I needed to defend my right to speak.

It was refreshing.

We spent the next hour working through the proposal. By the time we finished, my earlier frustration had eased.

Raevorin closed his laptop.

“That was productive.”

“Because you finally agreed with me?”

He laughed. “I agreed with some of your points. Don’t become arrogant.”

I smiled. “Too late.”

He shook his head, still smiling, and gathered his papers.

We walked toward the main building together.

“Rebecca, have you considered applying for the leadership initiative connected to the Browns family business?” he asked.

I looked at him. “I’ve heard about it, but I haven’t applied.”

“Why not?”

“I want to build my own reputation before people start defining my future through my family.”

He nodded.

“That makes sense.”

I had expected him to remind me that working with the Browns business would strengthen my family’s position. Instead, he seemed to understand exactly what I meant.

“I don’t want every opportunity I get to be connected to a marriage or an alliance,” I explained. “I want people to know what I can do without wondering who my family expects me to marry.”

“Then you should apply,” he said. “If you want the opportunity, you shouldn’t let other people’s expectations stop you from pursuing it.”

I glanced at him.

“You make it sound simple.”

“It isn’t simple. But you don’t have to make it harder by giving up before you try.”

I couldn’t help smiling.

“Thank you.”

“I can introduce you to the program coordinator if you want. You can ask questions before deciding whether to apply.”

“I’d appreciate that.”

“Then I’ll arrange it.”

He didn’t tell me what I should do. He offered to help and left the decision in my hands.

As we reached the entrance to the residence, I found myself wishing more people understood that there was a difference between supporting someone and deciding what was best for them.

Then I saw Davis waiting near the entrance.

His gaze moved from me to Raevorin.

“Did you spend the entire afternoon together?” he asked.

I stopped walking.

“Excuse me?”

Davis seemed to realize how his question sounded.

“I meant the assignment. Did you work on it all afternoon?”

“Why do you want to know?”

Raevorin glanced between us, then politely excused himself. He gave me a small nod before heading inside, leaving Davis and me alone.

I folded my arms.

“You don’t get to question where I go or who I spend time with.”

“I know.”

“Then why are you doing it?”

Davis rubbed the back of his neck.

“Because I was trying to understand why you seem comfortable around him but keep pushing me away.”

I stared at him.

“You’re comparing yourself to Raevorin?”

“I’m asking a question, Rebecca.”

“And I’m answering it. He respects my boundaries without treating them like a personal challenge.”

Davis looked down briefly.

I expected him to argue. I expected him to tell me that I was being unfair or that he was only trying to get to know me.

Instead, he nodded.

“I see.”

That answer caught me off guard.

“You do?”

“I’m not saying I like hearing it, but I understand what you mean.”

I studied his face, waiting for the argument that didn’t come.

Davis slipped his hands into his pockets.

“I want to learn how to do that,” he admitted. “I want you to feel comfortable around me, even if you don’t trust me yet.”

My chest tightened.

There was no arrogance in his voice, and he wasn’t demanding that I give him another chance. He was simply telling me what he wanted.

For a moment, I didn’t know what to say.

I had spent so much time preparing myself to fight Davis that I didn’t know what to do when he listened instead.

“Then stop trying to understand everything about me at once,” I said quietly. “Sometimes, I just need you to let me be.”

He nodded.

“I can do that.”

I looked away before he could notice how much his answer affected me.

I couldn’t afford to confuse his kindness with a promise of love. I had made that mistake once, and I wasn’t going to repeat it.

Before I could say anything else, his phone rang.

Davis glanced at the screen.

His expression changed when he saw the name.

Harper Arquen.

He looked at me briefly before answering.

“Harper?”

“Davis, I’m downstairs,” she said. “I’ve arrived at your apartment building.”

“You’re here already?”

“Yes. Can you come down?”

Davis glanced toward the entrance.

“I’ll be there in a moment.”

He ended the call and slipped his phone into his pocket.

I stood still, unable to move.

A second later, the intercom sounded.

Davis turned toward the door.

“That’s probably her.”

He started walking, but I remained where I was, my hands suddenly cold.

I knew that voice. I remembered that face, those cruel words, and the way she had looked at me on the night my first life ended.

Harper was here.

And this time, I wouldn’t have a wedding ring on my finger when I faced her.