Reborn to Escape My Mate Who Watched Me Die

I spent two days recovering in the healer's den, making sure to send home a batch of pale bedding and supplies tailored to Kayla's tastes. My phone stayed silent-no messages from Nicholas. Back when I'd vanish for even two hours, he'd blow up my phone. Once, I was just at a spa, and he nearly called the enforcers. Now? Two days gone, and not a single word.

I smirked, tossing my phone aside. Guess it's all about the new she-wolf now.

No matter. I didn't care anymore.

The day I left the healer's den, the sky was clear and bright. But when I pushed open the villa's door, I stopped dead. In the living room, Nicholas had Kayla pinned beneath him on the couch, their lips locked, a thread of saliva glinting between them.

The door creaked, and Nicholas's head snapped up. His face shifted when he saw me, and he quickly pulled away from Kayla. She flushed, fumbling to fix her rumpled dress. "Rachel, don't get the wrong idea... I tripped, and my lips just... bumped into his."

Nicholas frowned, adding, "It was an accident."

Their flimsy lies didn't even stir me. "Sure," I said, nodding. My face was pale from the procedure, but I kept my expression blank.

Nicholas finally noticed. "You okay? You look sick."

"Just my cycle," I lied smoothly.

He grunted, accepting it without question. "Good."

A sharp pang hit my chest. Back when my cycle hit, Nicholas would cancel pack meetings, stay up all night rubbing my stomach, fetching painkillers. Now? His eyes were glued to Kayla.

"By the way," he said suddenly, "Kayla's birthday is in a couple of days. She's never had a proper celebration, especially since her parents passed."

He looked at me. "You handle it. Make it exactly how she likes."

"Got it," I said.

As I headed upstairs, Kayla's coy voice drifted behind me. "Nicholas..." Then came the rustle of clothes and his low, restrained breaths. I shut my eyes briefly and quickened my pace.

On the night of the birthday bash, the Grant villa glowed with lights. I'd pulled out all the stops for Kayla-a lavish affair with impeccable decor, gourmet food, and fine drinks. The pack's elite arrived, praising my "generosity" for throwing such a grand party for my mate's "sponsored she-wolf."

During the gift-giving, Nicholas presented Kayla with three extravagant gifts in front of everyone: a certificate naming a star "Heart Nebula," a deed to "Love Island," and a priceless pink diamond heart necklace. The crowd gasped.

"That's no sponsored pup-she's his heart's mate!"

"Nicholas is smitten with this Kayla."

Some even mistook Kayla for his mate, fawning over her. "Such a devoted pair!"

Kayla blushed, ducking her head but not correcting them. Nicholas's gaze, though, cut through the crowd to me, standing in the corner. For some reason, my calm stare made him tense. He strode over.

"Rachel," he said softly, "the gifts are just to make her happy. It's her first big birthday. Don't read into it."

I thought back to when I was sixteen, when Nicholas confessed his love in a snowstorm. I'd told him I'd say yes if he found a four-leaf clover. He searched all night, hands red from the cold, until he held up a clover, eyes shining like they held the whole universe. "Rachel! You're mine!"

"I know," I said now, my voice steady.

Kayla bounced over, all smiles. "Thank you, Rachel, for this amazing party. I love it." She batted her eyes. "What gift did you get me?"

I pointed to an elegant box atop the gift pile. Kayla practically skipped to it, unwrapping it under everyone's gaze.