Reborn: fated to my ex mate's brother, the Alpha king

Astrid

Time stood still.

Everyone in the hall froze, processing what Alpha Knox just said.

When it finally seemed as though I had not imagined it, that it had actually happened. I jerked away, my legs moving back a step. No one had stood up for me before. Not even my own father when I was branded a disgrace. And now the Alpha King? He doesn't even know I exist.

And now he stood up for me? My mind couldn't easily come to terms with the fact quickly enough and when I looked back at him he was still staring at me. His golden eyes scanned me like an open book.

What does he want from me? He surely didn't help me because he felt sorry for me. Everyone knows he had no sympathy.

“Should I, Derek?” He repeated calmly, a type of calm that speaks volumes. I watched Derek fidgeting for the first time since I have known him.

“I uhmm… I don't…” Derek stammered, his jaw clenched and his fist tightened so hard they literally turned white but he couldn't dare say the wrong things. And despite myself I almost laughed. At his woes.

“She's already betrothed to me though.” He finally spat out looking furious but definitely helpless.

“She belongs to the Knightdale pack. That was the agreement brother.” Knox replied, his calm exterior not filtering.

“If she doesn't want you you can't have her.” He glanced at me again and my heart skipped.

My father never told me I had been betrothed to the Knightdale pack and not just Derek. In the pack law. It means if I reject or was rejected by Derek, I would automatically get betrothed to… Alpha Knox?

I won't be free.

Oh my moon! No!

The pressure of just standing right there listening to someone else dictate my fate wasn't how I envisioned my rejection of Derek. I realize unfortunately I do not have any one at my side. Not my father, not my people and certainly not this dangerously attractive monster.

“This isn't right.” My father stepped forward. I almost thought he also wanted to speak up for me. Hope rose in my chest but it shattered almost immediately. He faced Knox instead of Derek. “I won't allow my daughter to be paraded around. She made a mistake. Astrid is perfectly content with having Derek as her mate. She has for the past two years. Alpha…I mean beta Derek is the perfect man to be the Alpha of Night Aim pack after me.”

“Dad?” I called feeling my heart turn apart. Again.

“She has been his betrothed since she was young. And she had been working towards this day for over two years. Preparing to be his Luna.”

“Dad, stop.”

“Alpha Knox,” My father completely ignored me, and he went on rambling about my past foolishness. It made me so embarrassed at how stupid I once was. And also angry my own father couldn't support the only decision I made about myself, by myself since I was a child.

“Astrid has only developed cold feet. She doesn't mean what she said. Please ignore her.”

“Dad, please don't do that. I said I do not want to be Derek's mate.”

“Do not interrupt.” He snapped at me, “We need Derek.” He said to me hushly and my eyes widened in shock. I wanted to scream out loud that it was my life. I should surely defend myself since no one is willing to. But when I took a look around. I realized sadly, no one here is my friend.

And my own father values power more than family.

“ You have forgotten the deal you made. So soon.” Alpha Knox prompted and Dad instinctively stepped back, sensing the dangerous aura he had arrogantly ignored beforehand. “I said she belongs to no one if she has rejected her betrothed.” Knox growled out, his voice dangerously low. “So next time, if you are not spoken to, do not speak.”

“Brother why are you doing this? You don't even know her. You don't give a shit about her. So why?”

“It's pack law.” Alpha Knox simply said.

“And I also have a say in my own future.” I spoke out loud. My voice is completely different from how I'm feeling. But I refuse to break again. I refuse to be betrayed again, I refuse to die the same death twice and I'll speak up for myself rather than watch being sold to the highest bidder like I don't matter.

“I won't stay here and not say a word in my defense. I don't want to be your mate Derek.”

“At least tell me what I did wrong.” He snapped.

“You will end my life in the next one year!” I wanted to scream at him.

“You keep saying you don't want me. Well guess what, I don't care about that. But whether you agree or not you are my mate. I'll see to it that you change your mind. And I'll be the Alpha of the Night Aim pack.” He blurted out.

I felt like punching his face, he had just confirmed I made the right choice insisting on rejecting him. Being Alpha of a pack that isn't his, matters to him more than me.

The whole time, Alpha Knox just stood watching the outburst. He didn't say a word, he was just observing.

“Do you also realize if you are betrothed to the Knightdale pack, you can't leave. If you won't be my mate then you have to be my brother's. And trust me you do not want that.”

I looked at Knox for a second and he still remained calm, watching.

But I never knew about this agreement in the first place. I never knew about being bound to the pack as a whole. It means if I decide to leave I would end up being with the Alpha king. The unfeeling cold monster.

“It's better than being with you.” I said feigning indifference.

“You owe that to me at least. I've been mated to you even after you never wolf. You owe me everything you are right now.”

“I've been under your control all my life.” I laughed dryly.

“Living as Derek's mate when in fact we haven't even mated. I lived as your pet. I was never Astrid with you. I was your tool. So get your facts right. I owe you nothing!”

I must have been super brave or incredibly stupid, because Derek's nostrils flared. His hands clenched and unclenched rapidly. The veins in his neck stood out, and his wolf flashed in his eyes. But I feel more in control and stronger than I had been in my past life.

“That's enough.” Knox's voice cut through the tensed air. “This is not open for debate.” He said simply and turned to leave. But as he was about to pass by me, he paused.

His eyes looked down at me for a second.

He's an alpha, he would surely want nothing to do with a wolfless omega. Now, I can finally be free.

Instead his index finger went under my jaw, and he lifted my face to meet his. His touch was barely there, yet I felt heat rise through my neck, staining my ears. Just for an impossible second, something inside me stirred in the back of my mind. It felt alive, not in a way I have felt before.

Knox's nostrils flared. For the first time, a crack appeared in his calm expression.

His cold golden gaze narrowed, staring into my soul. And he watched me carefully, studying me. Almost possessively.

His expression returned blank making me super nervous.

He smelled of cedar and clean rain, rich and captivating. It made my senses reel and I felt another stir in me like something in me is trying to wake.

I swallowed hard and my lips quivered slightly but I stubbornly maintained eye contact.

“The alliance stands. She'll remain under my house till I say otherwise.”

With that he turned and left. His smell still stitched into my brain.

He doesn't scare me,

he just weirdly makes me feel safe.

Is that normal?