Rejected, Rebirth, and Second Chance

What Changed In My Life

|ADELINE’S POV|

I still see him. I still see the look he had in his eyes when he killed me. I remember the way he held her and talked about me like I was an insignificant part of his life. He couldn’t wait. He couldn’t wait until the next day to hold her. I never would have found out if he’d been with me throughout the entire event.

It hurt to see how he acted around her, what was that name again? Ava. But Ava who? I haven’t seen a girl like that ever come around him, or was I too invested in myself that I didn’t realize he was acting weird? I don’t even know. The sight of him cheating had cut my half in two, but then what was left of my heart vanished the second she mentioned framing me and killing Yevgeny.

Ugh, I sat up and rubbed my eyes. I haven’t slept in this room since.. well since Damien and I- ah, I don’t need to be thinking of the good old days when I had trusted that asshole. If things are still the same, today should be the day when Yevgeny is celebrated for his forty-third year as alpha of the Rowdy Vipers.

Yevgeny is sixty-eight now. He took over from his father when he was twenty-five. And he didn’t have Damien until he was forty-three. He had been with his mate for ten years prior to that and they’d been trying for a child.

She fell terribly ill the year she gave birth to Damien, and she died only two months after he was born. By customs, Yevgeny should be passing the torch over to Damien today. Damien is twenty-five, and his father is at the right age to retire.

But as I recall, there was a huge fight because Yevgeny and the elders publicly announced that the old alpha would continue to rule for another few years. I know how that made Damien feel, and I know he argued the hell out of his father.

That might have changed, you know, with the fact that he has a brother now but I’ll be on the lookout.

“Adeline, breakfast.” I heard Rowan’s voice. On this day, I was in Damien’s room and he was the one to wake me up. So there’s the first change. Well, the second or maybe third... ah! I’m going to have a permanent headache.

“Uh okay, I’ll be down in a minute.”

“Okay.”

I exhaled and ran my fingers through my hair. Slipping out of my bed, I shuffled towards the bathroom to get ready for my day. The shower was cold, it’s summer. And this pack takes heat to a whole new level. Summer lasts longer than it does in most places.

I hurried myself, making sure I was clean and dressed in under thirty minutes. I did not make up because I didn’t have the time, and I grabbed my pre-packed bag. I’m not completely useless.

I do work. Staying indoors dreaming about my family’s death had done nothing to help me, so at seventeen yevgeny helped me secure a job with one of the more prominent omegas. It kept me out of the house, and event planning was amazing. My brain always ended up being too busy for my fears to clog me up.

I could use that now more than ever.

Surrounded by wolves. Surrounded by the enemy. They’ll kill me. They’ll hang me out to dry.

I winced as my vision blurred for just a moment, the voice wasn’t mine. But it sounded like the person was a female, and that she was in distress. I waited, counting to ten until the blur cleared, and then I rushed down the stairs to the dining table. Damien was already there, and so were the other two men in the house.

One I still trusted. One I once loved but seeing him leaves me with a pang of hurt and betrayal. And one... who I have no clue what to make of.

“Morning everyone.”

“Ah princess, did you enjoy your beauty sleep?” I snorted a laugh against my will. Yevgeny might be old but the man had never looked better. The girls referred to him as a silver fox. Took me a full year to finally understand what they meant. He’s a father figure to me, and seeing him reminds me that Damien plans to kill him.

I don’t want that. I will not stand for that.

“Well there was a pea under my bed, so it was uncomfortable.” They all laughed, and I pulled out a chair. Rowan and Damien sat together, so I sat next to Yevgeny.

Rowan pushed his chair back, and my breath stilled as I watched him. “I cooked, so what would you like? Pancakes and bacon or eggs and french toast?”

I blinked, but to not seem suspicious I smiled. “Uhhh, pancakes, and bacon. No! French toast, eggs, and bacon.”

Rowan’s eyes sparkled as he chuckled, he was handsome I’ll give him that. Big and broad enough to keep anyone warm.

But I can’t find it in me to be comfortable around him.

As he served me, I dragged my eyes to Damien who was watching me.

“Are you feeling better?” he inquired, and while anger wanted me to tell him to f**k right off... I didn’t have a good enough reason that wouldn’t make me seem crazy, so for now, I was going to act like nothing was wrong.

“Yeah. Although my head is still pounding, I think I’ll be okay.” Yevgeny squeezed my shoulder, and Rowan placed a plate in front of me. He got me a cup of cranberry juice. “Thank you.”

He nodded. We ate breakfast like normal, and I found it sort of strange how well Rowan fit into this life like he’d always been here.

I know he has, in a sense. But in my original life, he was scarce. Never there. But the conversations went freely with him, and for some reason, my tension was fading. I was horrified by that realization.

Maybe we’re friends in this timeline, but trusting people got me killed. I can’t risk it again.

I offered to do the dishes, and while I did them Damien came to speak to me. I tried to keep the tension away and smile.

It was hard but I think I did it.

“What are you planning to do today?” he asked with a grin, he was still as gorgeous as ever. I hate his face. His stupid face.

“Um, I’m meeting with the event committee. See if we’ve got anything to do.”

“Perhaps you guys might be planning something that involves me.” Yeah, this is sort of the same. Only we had this conversation while eating. He looked hopeful.

“I’ll find out and tell you.”

“f**k I love you.” he pulled me in and kissed my cheek. My smile wobbled but he didn’t see it as he moved away.

I batted the tears from my eyes. There was a time when those words would have made me cheer, and feel warm on the inside but it makes me want to cry. I finished up, dried my eyes, and picked up my bag from where I’d dropped it.

Yevgeny had left already and from what I can see Damien was gone too. Only Rowan remained. He was leaning up against his truck.

“You need a ride?” I nodded before I could stop myself. He froze, I wonder if he’d been expecting me to say- “Are you crying?”

I took a step back like I’d been recoiled by his words. How did he pick up on that?

The tears seemed to break at that moment, and before I knew it, Rowan was hugging me close to his chest and telling me everything would be okay.

To find comfort in a stranger is dangerous.

I gulped and tried to compose myself but flashes of my death kept coming and coming until my ears were ringing. He rubbed his hands up and down my spine.

“Breathe for me, little nymph.” I gasped, and a strange feeling coursed through me.

I pulled back and wiped my tears. “Little nymph?” I asked in a joking tone, and Rowan laughed even though his eyes were full of worry.

“Something’s wrong. And I wish you would be honest with me, but it’s okay to take your time. But listen, if you ever need someone to talk to, to vent to, just to give you a listening ear, I’m your guy. I don’t care if you think I’m busy, I’ll pick up so just call me. Or text me.” he brushed his thumb under my eyes. “Also, little nymph is a sweet nickname, you ungrateful bacon stealer.”

I pulled away from him laughing hysterically. Rowan didn’t ask me why I was crying, instead, he drove me to the event committee and we took the time to talk. He had joined the elite team, from my knowledge Damien had failed it back then and it turns out that stayed the same here.

It’s because he puts in no effort. He believes things should come to him just because of who he is. But there’s more to a head alpha than just being in charge of a pack. There’s alot of processes, alot of decision-making, and wisdom. The entire pack relies on the alpha, when the alpha fails the pack perishes.

Rowan and I discussed that, and we shared the same thought. He was easy to talk to, I couldn’t describe how much that terrified me.

Once he dropped me off, he asked me to text him in case I needed a ride back. I inhaled and told him I’d let him know.

The event committee is mostly omega women. They’re smart and sophisticated and they love to spread joy by planning the major events. They planned my wedding, and I helped.

Stepping through those doors, I felt relaxed. My mind got busy as soon as the leader saw me. She put me straight to work. These women are not bad, but it’s so hard for me to see that completely. I don’t think all werewolves are evil.

But I think... as a human, at least I still think I’m human, I have to look out for myself. Not all werewolves are evil, but the ones like Damien, Ava, and the ones who killed my family, they’re definitely evil.

I can’t trust everyone, and I can’t doubt everyone. I need to ensure my survival.

Perhaps I can form an alliance with someone stronger.