Chapter 4

I open my mouth to speak but suddenly remember my father’s warning. “It’s better to keep your mate’s name safe. Don’t announce it for now.”

I just scoffed and looked away. The scroll felt heavy in my hand. In my past life I had handed it over without thinking, smiling like a fool while Mathew took everything that should have been mine. Now the paper burned against my palm. I refused to make the same mistake.

“Isn’t that the marriage scroll in your hand?” He laughed. “All that tantrums. I know you’re jealous, but I’ve told you: Aria will always be in my heart. Here, give it to me.” He stretched his hand forward to receive it.

“It’s not for you.”

“Don’t play hard to get with me. Give it to me now!” He lunged for it, trying to snatch it from my hand.

I stepped back. The same way he had lunged for power after I gave him the alpha title. The same greed. Only this time I saw it clearly.

“Were you not taught any manners about how to treat a woman?” A deep voice came from behind, followed by the shooting of an arrow which missed Mathew’s hand by just an inch but still managed to scratch him.

Kale, the weak and crippled alpha of the Night Blood Pack, was wheeled in with his bodyguard standing guard beside him.

Tears filled my eyes as I finally saw the man from my past life. The one who had risked his whole life to save me while Mathew had taken the credit.

I had fallen in love with Mathew because I had thought he was the one who saved me from those bear attacks. Not only had he taken credit for it, he has also ruthlessly badmouthed Kale to me, letting me hate him to the core.

In my past life, Kale was present in my mating ceremony, also voicing out the desire to take me as his mate and Luna, but after what Mathew had fed me about him I had hated him to the core and publicly humiliated him.

But somehow the one man I had hated the most was the same one who had tried his possible best to save me and my family after Mathew took power. He had cried at my grave for days, crawling around with his injured leg.

I stared at his legs, the ones he lost saving me. “Kale…” I whispered.

His gaze shifted unto me and they saddened in silence. “Greetings to you, Princess.”

The polite tone cut deeper than any insult. In the past I had laughed at that same politeness. I had called him a cripple who dared to look at me. I had thrown the words he offered back in his face and walked away on Mathew’s arm. Now the memory made my throat tight.

“What are you doing here?” Mathew moved in front of me, shielding me. If it was the last time, I would have been over the moon by this action.

“I was invited by her father. Do you have a problem with that?” Kale asked; despite the rumors of being weak, he has a very powerful aura you can’t help but shiver in fear of. And his beta was one of the best warriors.

Mathew’s jaw tightened. He always hated when someone refused to bow to him. In the past I had found that strength attractive. Now I only saw the insecurity behind it.

“If you’re here to compete for her hand in marriage, I’m sad to tell you she has already chosen me.”

Kale’s eyes darted towards me. “You’re choosing him again?” I frown; what does he mean by again?

The word sat between us like a stone. Again. Did he remember something too? Or was it only bitterness from the last time I rejected him in front of the entire pack?

“What do you mean by that? Don’t think you can pull that stupid stunt like last time. I will be her only mate.” Mathew boosted proudly.

“And her father has already gone to the king to announce our marriage. You stand no chance, Kale.”

“I better not see you entertaining him.” With that, he scoops Aria up in his arms and walks away.

I didn’t recall telling my father to announce our marriage to the king. Why has he done that?

The question burned. In this life I had only pointed at Kale’s picture. I had not spoken a single word about Mathew. Yet somehow the announcement was already moving forward. Someone was pushing the old path again.

“I guess I’m late again.” Kale’s voice brought me back to the present.

“Miss Olivia.” He called politely. “Would you believe me if I say he’s not right for you?” He asked. And just like in my past time, he had looked at me with those doting and pleasing eyes.

Telling me Mathew was seeing different women and he wasn’t right for me. I had insulted him. Recalling it now, I couldn’t help but lower myself in shame.

I remembered the exact words I had thrown at him. “A broken wolf who can’t even stand has no right to speak about my mate.” I had said it loud enough for the whole hall to hear.

Kale had only bowed his head and left. Later I learned he had still sent warriors to guard my father’s borders when Mathew began to strip our pack of its strength. He never told me. He simply did it.

“So are you right for me?” I asked.

He didn’t say anything. “I will see you around.” He said, about to turn, but I stopped in front of his wheelchair, arms spread out.

“Miss Olivia, you can’t disrespect—” Kale raised a finger, cutting his beta off.

The beta’s anger was justified. In the past I had used people without care. I had treated Kale like a tool and then discarded him. Now the same man was willing to stand still while I blocked his path.

“What if I want to marry you?”

His beta frowned in anger. “Miss Olivia, you can’t play with my alpha’s feelings like that. Just because your mate is choosing another one. You’re using my alpha to make him jealous.”

“I’m not—”

“Use me.” Kale responded. “I don’t mind; you can use me.”

I looked away, tears filled my eyes. How have I never seen how much he loved me so much he’d lowered himself to be used by me.

“If I wasn’t in a wheelchair and not so weak like they claim, will you look at me then? Do you think I’d be worthy to be used by you then, Olivia?” He asked.

I held the scroll tighter. In five days the king would expect an answer. Mathew thought the answer was already settled. Aria thought she had already won. They both believed the past would simply repeat.

I would not let it.

“Come to the king’s palace in five days. Until then, don’t open this and I will give you my answer.” I gave him the marriage scroll.