The First Time He Sees Her Fight Back.

Rebecca’s POV

I waited until our teammates had left before turning to Davis.

“Why did you decide that I would present the proposal?”

Davis closed his laptop and looked at me. “We’re back to this?”

“Yes, we’re back to this. You don’t get to make decisions for me just because you think you know what’s best.”

“I chose you because your argument was the strongest.”

“And you couldn’t ask me first?”

He stood up, pushing his chair beneath the table. “Rebecca, you understood the problem better than anyone else in that room. You explained why the agreement would fail, and you came up with a solution that protected both packs. Why shouldn’t you present it?”

“Because being capable of doing something doesn’t mean you get to volunteer me without my permission.”

He opened his mouth, then closed it.

I crossed my arms. “I have spent too much of my life letting other people decide what I should do. I’m not going to repeat that mistake just because you happen to be an Alpha.”

Something changed in his expression.

“Is that what you think I’m doing?” he asked. “Using my position to control you?”

“I think you’re used to making decisions and expecting everyone else to follow.”

He stared at me, and I could tell he wanted to argue. The Davis I remembered would have explained why his decision made sense until I eventually gave up. He would have believed that solving the problem was more important than understanding why I was upset.

Instead, he pulled out his chair and sat down.

“What do you want, Rebecca?”

I blinked.

“What?”

He leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. “You’ve explained what you don’t want. Tell me what you want.”

For a moment, I couldn’t answer him.

In my first life, I had spent years hoping Davis would ask me that question. I had wanted him to care about my opinions without me having to fight for every little thing. I had wanted to feel like his partner instead of the woman who was expected to stand beside him and smile.

Now he was asking me, and I didn’t know what to do with it.

I cleared my throat.

“I’ll present the proposal on three conditions.”

His eyebrows rose. “Three?”

“Do you want to hear them or not?”

“Go ahead, Your Highness.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Don’t call me that.”

“Noted. Your Majesty?”

“Davis.”

He laughed, and I fought the urge to smile.

“Fine,” he said. “I’m listening.”

“First, I decide how to present the proposal. Second, nobody interrupts me to take over unless I ask for help. Third, the entire team must understand the argument well enough to defend it. I’m not standing in front of that panel while everyone else sits quietly and leaves me to answer every difficult question.”

Davis nodded. “Agreed.”

I studied his face. “Just like that?”

“Would you prefer that I argue with you for another twenty minutes?”

“No.”

“Then we’re done.”

He opened his laptop again.

I remained where I was, watching him.

He glanced up. “What now?”

“Nothing.”

“You’re looking at me like I’ve grown another head.”

“I’m trying to figure out why you’re being reasonable.”

He placed a hand over his chest. “That hurts.”

“Good.”

His mouth curved into a smile.

“Come here, Rebecca.”

I immediately stiffened.

He noticed and shook his head. “I meant come and look at the updated assignment. I’m not asking you to jump into my arms.”

“That would be the last thing I’d do.”

“Your loss.”

I rolled my eyes, but I walked over to the table anyway.

He turned the laptop toward me, showing me the revised team schedule. He had already sent a message to our teammates explaining that I would present the proposal and that everyone needed to prepare to defend their part of it.

He had even included the conditions I had given him.

I looked at him. “You actually listened.”

“Don’t sound so shocked.”

“I’m not shocked.”

“You’re doing it again.”

“Doing what?”

“Looking at me like I’m a completely different person.”

My fingers tightened around the back of the chair.

Because you are, I wanted to say.

Or maybe I had never really known you.

Instead, I pulled out the chair and sat down.

“Let’s finish the work.”

For the next two days, I barely had time to think about anything outside the assignment.

I reviewed the security contract, checked the proposed territorial boundaries, and recalculated the financial obligations each pack would carry. The stronger pack had more resources and controlled the main security routes, but the smaller pack provided access to territory that the larger one couldn’t easily replace.

That was where the real bargaining power lay.

I adjusted the proposed payment structure and added a clause requiring both packs to approve major changes to the agreement. The stronger pack would still earn a reasonable profit, but it couldn’t increase its demands whenever it wanted.

Davis sat beside me in the university library, studying the new figures.

“You’re asking the stronger pack to accept a smaller immediate profit,” he said.

“I’m asking them to secure a long-term partnership.”

“What if they refuse?”

“Then we offer them a different financial incentive.”

“Such as?”

I turned my laptop toward him. “A reduced security cost for the first six months, followed by a profit increase if both packs meet their targets.”

He studied the figures.

“That’s risky.”

“So is forcing a partner into an agreement they can’t sustain.”

He tapped the screen. “The smaller pack could still fail to meet its targets.”

“Then the contract needs a review clause. If we use fixed targets without considering unexpected losses, we’re just creating another problem.”

He leaned back and looked at me.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“Davis.”

“I was wondering how you think of these things so quickly.”

I shrugged. “I read the case.”

“You’ve said that already.”

“Maybe you should read it again.”

He laughed, shaking his head.

I turned back to my laptop, but he continued watching me.

“What now?” I asked.

“You’re different when you talk about this.”

“Different how?”

“You stop fighting long enough to explain what you think.”

I slowly turned toward him. “I explain what I think when people listen.”

His smile faded a little.

“I listen to you.”

“Sometimes.”

He didn’t look away.

“Then I’ll keep listening.”

My heart gave an annoying little jump.

I immediately faced my laptop again.

“Good. Now check the security costs on page six. I think you made a mistake.”

He leaned closer to look at the screen. His shoulder brushed mine, and I caught the familiar scent of cedar and fresh rain.

My wolf stirred.

I stopped typing.

Davis glanced at me. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“You stopped working.”

“I’m thinking.”

“About the security costs?”

“Yes, Davis. About the security costs.”

He looked at the screen, then back at me. His mouth twitched as if he knew I was lying, but he didn’t push.

Instead, he moved his chair slightly away to give me more room.

It was such a small gesture that I almost missed it.

Almost.

I remembered how easily I had once mistaken attention for love. I couldn’t afford to do that again. A few days of cooperation didn’t erase the loneliness I had experienced as his wife.

Still, I couldn’t deny that working with him was becoming easier than I expected.

That was the problem.

On the morning of our presentation, our team gathered outside the presentation hall to review the final proposal.

Kieran took the printed copy from my hands and flipped through it.

“Are you sure the panel will take this seriously?” he asked.

I frowned. “Why wouldn’t they?”

He hesitated before answering. “You’re not the Alpha heir representing the Browns family. They might expect Davis to lead the presentation.”

I stared at him.

“And what does that have to do with the proposal?”

“I’m just saying the panel might question why you’re the one presenting.”

“Then they can question me about the proposal.”

Kieran looked uncomfortable. “Rebecca, I didn’t mean—”

“If there’s a weakness in my argument, point it out. If there’s a problem with the figures, show me. But if your only concern is that I’m not the Alpha heir, then you’re wasting my time.”

He opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

I held his gaze.

“Have you found a weakness in the proposal?”

“No.”

“Then we’re fine.”

Davis stepped beside me.

“Kieran, if you have concerns about the work, raise them now. Otherwise, let’s go inside.”

He didn’t speak over me or try to soften my answer. He simply picked up the remaining documents and handed them to our other teammates.

I glanced at him.

He met my eyes and gave me a small nod.

For some reason, that meant more to me than it should have.

We entered the presentation hall together.

Several senior Alphas were already seated around the long table at the front. Some studied their documents, while others spoke quietly among themselves. The university had invited them to evaluate our proposals and question our decisions.

Then I saw him.

Orvayn Draven.

Davis’s father sat near the center of the panel, dressed in a dark suit. He looked exactly as I remembered him: composed, confident, and perfectly comfortable in a room full of powerful people.

My steps slowed.

Memories of my first life came rushing back. I remembered his polite smile at family dinners, his calm voice during discussions about the alliance, and the way he had supported the decisions that eventually tied my future to Davis.

I had never been able to prove that Orvayn intended to harm me.

But I had learned that a polite man could still make decisions that destroyed someone else’s life.

“Rebecca?”

Davis’s voice brought me back to the present.

I looked at him.

“Are you all right?”

“Yes.”

He studied my face for a moment. “You don’t look like it.”

“I’m fine, Davis.”

He didn’t argue. Instead, he lowered his voice.

“You know your proposal. Don’t let anyone in there make you forget that.”

I stared at him.

He wasn’t teasing me this time. There was no smug smile or arrogant comment. He was looking at me as if he genuinely believed I could handle whatever came next.

My wolf settled, and for one dangerous second, I wanted to believe him.

“Thank you,” I murmured.

His eyes softened.

“You’re welcome.”

I quickly looked away before the moment could become anything more.

We took our places in front of the panel. I arranged my documents while Davis stood beside the rest of our team.

Orvayn picked up our proposal and scanned the first page.

His gaze stopped at my name.

Then he looked directly at me.

“Miss Browns,” he said, his voice carrying across the room. “Do you understand the consequences of challenging the interests of a more powerful pack?”

The room fell quiet.

I lifted my chin and met his gaze.

“Yes, Alpha Draven. I also understand the consequences of allowing a powerful pack to make an agreement that will eventually fail.”

Orvayn’s expression changed almost imperceptibly.

I placed my notes on the table, ready to defend every word of my proposal.