All Chapters of I Rejected the Alpha and Chose His Brother After Rebirth: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

The moment I finished, the Luna's hand froze in midair, bracelet and all.The others traded glances. The silence was excruciating.Damien stood abruptly, crossed to me, and crouched down, studying my face like it had become interesting.The scent of cedar came off him.In my previous life, I'd been drunk on that smell.Now it just made me sick.He picked up the moonstone and snapped his fingers twice in front of me.His voice dropped low and smooth. "Watch closely. I'll only show you once."The moonstone flared bright in his palm."Stop overthinking. Focus. Think about your connection to the moonlight."He paused, then flashed me a grin. "Less about me."The crowd broke into good-natured laughter.I looked into those dark eyes of his, and the ache flared up again.A wound I thought had healed was clawing itself open.He was always like this, untouchable, the kind who loved to needle me in front of a crowd.He liked to push me away, then watch me come crawling back with my head down.It

Since Damien insisted, the Luna had no choice but to agree.Heidi took the moonstone.In my previous life, Heidi truly couldn't measure up. The moonstone barely glowed at all.What pure blood could a mongrel she-wolf possibly have?But what did it matter?No matter how badly she did, Damien took her as his mistress anyway.And now, looking at the dead-black moonstone in her hand, I had an idea.I quietly nicked my finger and flicked a single drop of blood onto her stone.With a soft hum, the moonstone bloomed into a gentle glow.Even Heidi was stunned, grinning like an idiot."Huh?"Damien let out a quiet sound of surprise, then gave me a long, knowing look.Then he started the applause for Heidi himself, murmuring, "Well done."The Luna shot Heidi a displeased glance, her expression darkening.Testing bloodlines with the moonstone had been the Luna's idea in the first place.She couldn't stand how obsessed Damien was with Heidi, so she'd set up the public trial to crush Heidi's hopes

Three days later, I was summoned to the Alpha's manor.Damien was waiting at the door.When he saw me, his throat worked, but no words came out.Finally he said, simply, "Go see my mother. She wants to talk to you."He smiled and added, as if to reassure me, "Don't worry. It's good news."In the sitting room, the Luna was drinking tea.She saw me and sighed. "Lucienne, why did you do so badly at the Gala?"Before I could answer, she set down her cup. "I want the truth."I steeled myself. "I don't want to be Damien's mate."The Luna's eyes went wide. She glanced at Damien.He blinked, then twisted his mouth and spread his hands, like it was nothing to him.The Luna took my hand gently, her voice soft."What's wrong, Lucy, dear? Did you two have a fight?""Three months ago I asked you, and you said you wanted to be his mate."Damien glanced at me and gave a low whistle.I lowered my head, trying to think how to explain it to her.I was no longer the foolish she-wolf of my previous life,

When I saw the Luna again, she got straight to it. "Did Damien win you back?"The handmaid chimed in from the side."I think they've made up. I saw the whole thing—Damien was leaning down, looking at Lady Lucienne.""Such a look in his eyes, soft and burning. It made even me a little shy."Soft and burning?I almost thought I'd misheard. Damien, looking at me like that?The handmaid really knew how to flatter, always picking exactly what the Luna wanted to hear.Sure enough, a faint smile crossed the Luna's face."I knew it. You young ones, always making trouble over nothing.""No one knows Damien better than I do. He loves you down to his bones."She slid the moonstone bracelet off her wrist and pressed it into my hand."The bracelet is yours. No more stubbornness this time. You're not turning it down again."The bracelet was warm from her skin, and yet it chilled me to the core.I set it gently on the table, took a step back, and bowed."I'm not being stubborn. I truly don't want to

I finished with the Luna and walked right into Damien on my way out.He was leaning against the wall, ear to the door, like he'd been eavesdropping.A flash of embarrassment crossed his face, but he smoothed it over fast and asked, "All settled with my mother?"I was in a fine mood. I covered a smile and answered breezily, "The Luna wants to think it over a bit more. But don't worry, odds are good you'll get exactly what you asked for."I was smiling so brightly just then, like a patch of warm spring light.Damien seemed dazed by it, and said dumbly, "Good. That's good, then."He caught himself, wiped the joy off his face, and said, all seriousness, "I've been thinking. Moving Heidi into the manor isn't right after all. I got ahead of myself.""Don't worry. I'll treat you well from now on."I blinked, and then it clicked.I clearly hadn't been clear enough. Damien still thought I was going to be his mate.Still the same. Handing me scraps of affection like they were some great favor.I