Too Late, Alpha: I Choose Your Rival

Elisa’s POV:

If someone had warned me that the happiest day of my life would end with my death, I would have laughed in their face.

…………

A sharp pain suddenly seared through my chest when I saw the TV screen. 

>>“Breaking news. After leading his Ice Moon team to victory in this year's Marvian Ice Tournament Championship, future Alpha Ethan Rawcrest has officially announced his Luna before the world…Miss Maria Smith.” 

The familiar tightness, this suffocating pressure…I could immediately recognize that the attack was beginning.

Following the announcer’s cheerful voice, when Ethan lifted the Championship Trophy, right next to him, cheering, stood Maria.

My best friend. My soul sister.

The woman I had donated my blood for ten years. And now, she was kissing my chosen mate, who was about to mark me tonight.

Panickedly, I ran over to the counter to search for my inhaler. 

I desperately searched through the drawers, but cold sweat broke out across my back when I realized it was missing.

Where was it?

Being the Beta's daughter, I had loved Ethan Rawcrest since my childhood. 

I joined the cheerleader squad for him, danced until my ankles swelled, worked countless part-time jobs, and ignored my worsening asthma while supporting his dream.

And Maria? After her parents died, my father took her in. She had a rare blood disease, so I donated my blood for ten years whenever her disease flared up.

Both of them were my family. 

And now, they had stabbed me in the back.

My vision blurred with tears and every breath now felt like knives scraping through my throat.  

But suddenly, my room door flung open. 

I froze, yet the pain in my chest couldn't compare to the sight of Ethan holding Maria's hand.

Maria glanced at the TV screen once, which was still telecasting about them, and then shuffled her gaze towards me. 

Her smile grew eerie when she raised something between her fingers. 

“Oh? Sweetie, are you looking for this?"

My eyes rolled in shock, when I saw she was holding my blue-capped inhaler, proudly showing it off to my face. . 

"Why do you have that in the first place!?" I lunged toward her desperately, as my life truly depended on it at that moment. 

But Ethan stepped forward and blocked me with a push. 

As I stumbled onto the floor, I glared at him with my bloodshot eyes. 

"Ethan...give me back the inhaler, hurry."

Every word cost me precious air, but Ethan only narrowed his cold eyes before he snarled, "Has jealousy finally driven you insane? You were about to push Maria.” 

Through my tears, the man I had loved all my life suddenly looked like a stranger. 

I gritted my jaw, "You bastard...How could you betray me after everything I did for you?" 

“Who skipped meals for your new skates every time you blew up your savings? Who stayed up all night nursing you every time your shoulder was injured? Who cheered for you until I lost my voice?

“And Maria…” My breaths became shorter as every wheeze scraped painfully through my throat, “Who donated blood every time your disease flared up?” 

However, Ethan frowned impatiently, clicking his tongue.  

"Elisa, stop acting like a victim. Did I ever ask you to do those things for me? No! You chose to.” 

As if invisible chains were wrapping around my ribs, my chest ached, “Didn’t you promise me to mark me after winning the tournament? Even this morning, you had promised to come back with a ring, Ethan.” 

I could see his eyes shift slightly with a hint of remorse in them, but before he could utter a word, Maria hugged his arm, "Elisa, why are you making things difficult? We have tolerated you long enough."

“She’s right.” Ethan agreed in a flash, suddenly curling his lips with disdain, "Besides, did you really think I would choose a wolfless runt over my precious fated mate?"

Wait…what? Just when I thought the night couldn’t get any worse, his sudden declaration tore me apart. 

Maria tossed a cruel smirk towards me as my pupils shrank, “Oh dear, looks like I forgot to tell you, Elisa. We have been mates long before entering the ceremony.

“But my blood disease wasn't cured yet. So I needed your blood, and for that, Ethan had to humor you for the time being. But mate bonds can never be erased, Elisa. Besides…"

When her words trailed off, Ethan's expression softened as he looked at Maria, resting his hand on her stomach. 

“She’s healthy now. And our pack doctor confirmed yesterday that I am going to be a father. Naturally, Maria will become our pack’s Luna. 

“So, tell me…why would I keep you around anymore?”

Dark spots started appearing before my eyes. My fingers shook as his words echoed in my ears. 

But for the first time that night, apart from fear, hatred no longer mattered.

I desperately wanted to breathe. My body was already reaching its limit, and if I didn’t get the inhaler, I was really going to die. 

I coughed violently before forcing myself to crawl on the ground towards Ethan's feet, clutching his denim, “E-Ethan…Please…I'll leave. I promise…

“I'll take my mother and leave the pack forever. I won't ruin your lives. You know…my mother only has me. Please…give me the inhaler…” 

But his grimace remained cold when Ethan took a step back from me, “The world will simply know that Elisa Ashford died from an asthma attack tonight." 

“E-Ethan!?” My broken cry echoed through the walls as I watched him walk away. 

All this time…was I just a blood bank for his beloved mate? 

On the other hand, Maria stood still briefly and then suddenly tossed that inhaler towards me on the ground. 

A fleeting hope rose in me, believing maybe Maria would grant me one last chance to live. 

‘CRACK!’

The moment I tried to reach my arm, her heels crushed the inhaler. 

“N-No…” I cried out, but with the bare minimum strength still left in my dying body, I crawled towards the broken pieces of the inhaler, wheezing painfully.  

Blood dripped from my nails as I scraped the ground, but I didn’t care about anything. 

While Maria crouched beside me on the ground, as she broke the intense silence, “Elisa…Do you know why I developed that blood disease?” 

Suddenly, her smile darkened as she narrowed her orbs at me, “Because I had poisoned myself.” 

“W-What?” 

I rolled my tearful eyes while her smile deepened, “I had cursed you, that’s why…I needed your blood. Or, did you believe you were truly wolfless?”

My body trembled violently, hearing her brutal confession. 

“Every time you gave me your blood...The curse grew stronger. You fed it with your own hands.”

That means…I had never been wolfless. She was the one who stole everything from me.

“Farewell, best friend.” 

“M-Maria…?” She stood up and walked out while I called out one last time, with pure hatred filling my dying heart. 

I was murdered tonight, but no one in the pack would know this. 

Not even my Mom. 

“Moon Goddess…” A helpless wish escaped from me one last time, “If you truly exist, please give me one more chance. And I swear...I will make them pay…” 

And then…darkness prevailed before my eyes. 

………….

"Now we will begin the cheerleader squad selection for each hockey team."

A loud voice suddenly made me blink open my eyes, as I saw the familiar auditorium hall. 

Countless girls were lined up around me, chatting excitedly while clutching application forms. 

And in my own hands...I was holding that same application form.

This place was the Marvian Academy hall, and two years ago, the day when I enrolled here…I stood in this exact place to join the cheerleader team. 

I lowered my head and stared at my fingers. My nails weren’t blood-stained, and I wasn’t holding any broken pieces of the inhaler either. 

Most importantly, I could breathe. There was no suffocating pain in my chest.

Tears welled in my eyes when I realized…I was reborn exactly two years ago, before my asthma worsened. 

Moon Goddess...You truly heard and granted me a second chance. 

When my turn came, I stared at the cards of each hockey team spread on the table. 

Ice Moon…Last time, I gave it my all to support Ethan Rawcrest’s team, only to end up with a brutal death. 

Right next to it was the card of Blood Fang…the team belonging to the lycans.

And their captain was the lycan prince, Kael Blackthorn…Ethan’s greatest rival. 

In my previous life, I didn’t pay any attention to Kael, but this time, a bitter smile tugged at my lips. I was ready to become Ethan and Maria’s worst nightmare. 

I stepped forward and picked up the Blood Fang card when I declared, “I choose this team.”