Not in This Lifetime, Alpha

"What, nothing to say?" Draven taunted. "You were so fiery a moment ago. Or are you finally scared?"

Rowan chimed in, her voice sickly sweet. "Lyris must've just remembered the stories about Blaze."

She tugged lightly on Draven's sleeve, but her eyes were fixed on me. "If she really bonds with him, she probably won't even know how she died."

Laughter rippled through the crowd. A few young heirs whistled.

In my past life, I might have lunged at Rowan and torn her hair out. But this time?

It was different.

"Who I choose is none of your business," I said, my voice calm and steady—surprising even myself.

Rowan’s smile faltered for a second. Then she clutched her chest and started to cough, her shoulders shaking violently.

"Lyris, don't be like that," she whispered, her eyes glistening with tears. "I'm just worried about you… you did take the blame for that design project to protect Draven's reputation, remember?"

I turned to walk away.

Her gasp came first.

Then her wine glass slipped from her fingers as she stumbled toward an important clan elder.

The next thing I knew, she was staggering backward as if I’d shoved her, collapsing with a dramatic cry as red wine drenched the elder’s robes.

"Lyris!" Rowan’s shriek cut through the air, tears blurring her face. "Even if you hate me, you can't push me! Not in front of the elders!"

Draven’s face darkened. He shielded her like a protective wall, fury rolling off him. "Really, Lyris? This jealous already?"

He helped her up as if she were some rare treasure, his eyes filled with pain. "She's your sister!"

Rowan was only my distant cousin, but after she moved in, everyone assumed otherwise.

From behind him, Rowan peeked out—smirking.

I couldn't help but laugh. "I didn't even touch her."

"Still lying?" Draven grabbed my wrist. His voice carried the weight of an Alpha command, pressing down on me.

"The whole clan knows you're jealous of Rowan. If you hadn't clung to me back then, I never would have even noticed you."

I felt a mental pressure, and my legs grew weak.

Rowan tugged on his arm, her voice trembling. "Draven, don't. Lyris's probably just… upset. She always thought you'd choose her."

Gentle words. Sharper than claws.

The whispers started again—just like before.

About me forcing a bond, hiding behind my father's name. About how I couldn't even handle my own "sister."

The rumors were filthy and clung like tar, impossible to wash away.

Draven’s anger flared. "You'd better behave. If you shame the Hawthorne name again, I'll have the Grimwoods cut all ties with your family's firm."