Rejected by Destiny, Chosen by Ambition

The summer break flew by quickly, and three days before heading to Oxford, I arranged to meet Abigail. While we were shopping at the mall, we bumped into Alpha Luca and Adrianna, who were walking hand in hand. They paused when they saw us, and Adrianna leaned closer to Luca with a display of affection, greeting us with a smile.

“Gabrielle, Abigail, fancy meeting you here.”

They walked over. Alpha Luca stood in front of me, his towering frame exuding the natural dominance of an Alpha. His relaxed smile didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“Gabrielle, when are you off to Oxford?”

“In a few days,” I replied smoothly, keeping my tone respectful but distant.

“Well, you’ll be a university student soon,” he remarked with a hint of mockery.

Adrianna quickly added, her voice dripping with sweetness, “Alpha Luca, we’ll be at university next year too.”

“When we get into Manchester University next year, we’ll treat everyone to a feast,” she promised, her eyes gleaming with ambition.

“Absolutely,” Alpha Luca nodded in agreement, gazing at Adrianna with a possessive affection. “Don’t worry, I got into Oxford this year, and after a year of studying hard together, you’ll definitely get into Manchester.”

“Yes, I trust you,” Adrianna cooed, her voice syrupy.

They exchanged a loving look, and Adrianna seemed on the verge of kissing him, her hand tightening around his arm.

“Hey now, we’re in public. Don’t make it awkward for the rest of us,” Abigail reminded them, her tone sharp but still respectful to Alpha Luca. “Got anything else to say? If not, we’re off.”

Adrianna finally restrained herself and looked at me, her smile turning sly. “Sorry, Alpha Luca and I are still in our honeymoon phase; it’s tough to hold back when the feelings hit.”

She tilted her head, her eyes narrowing as she taunted, “Gabrielle, aren’t you jealous?”

I shook my head, my expression calm. “Why would I be jealous of someone I dated and moved on from?”

Adrianna’s smile faltered, and Alpha Luca stiffened, his dominant aura flaring for a moment. Abigail let out a soft chuckle, though she quickly schooled her expression.

Realizing what had happened, Alpha Luca’s voice turned sharp, his alpha tone cutting through the air. “Gabrielle, it was I who didn’t want you.”

He stepped closer, his imposing figure casting a shadow over me. “You’re uptight, out of touch, a bookworm, and plain. You can’t even hold a candle to Adrianna. I’ve been over you for ages.”

I met his gaze evenly, refusing to be cowed. “So why didn’t you break up with me sooner? I was the one who ended it.”

His jaw tightened, and for a moment, he seemed at a loss for words. Not wanting to engage further with someone I found distasteful, I turned to Abigail. “Let’s go.”

We hadn’t gotten far when Adrianna called out after me, her voice sharp with barely concealed irritation.

“Gabrielle, why act so superior when you’re on your own?”

I paused, glancing over my shoulder. She continued, her tone dripping with smugness, “Just wait and see. Alpha Luca and I will be in college together next year, get mated, have pups, and you’ll be green with envy.”

I smiled slightly, the corner of my mouth curving up. “We’ll see about that.”

In my previous life, Adrianna had ended up with someone she met while repeating a year—a wealthy playboy from a prestigious pack. In this life, she was about to meet that playboy again. As she said, we’d just have to wait and see.

Abigail and I walked away, leaving them behind. As we turned the corner, I could still feel Alpha Luca’s gaze burning into my back, but I refused to look back. My wolf stirred within me, a quiet, steady presence that reminded me of my strength. I didn’t need him—or her—to define my worth.