Back to Life, Back to a New Mate

"Ava hasn't been assigned a mate yet and can contribute to the family alliance," my brother urged gently. "Ava, have you decided who to choose?"

I pressed hard on my throbbing temples; the malicious roars of that rogue seemed to still echo in my ears.

How could I have imagined that something like rebirth would happen to me?

"Ava must choose our Michael!" Michael's mother suddenly squeezed her way in front of me, her face wearing a calculating smile.

She held the family ring out to me, winking, "They've known each other since they were pups! What bond could compare to theirs?"

Whoever married me would at least become the pack's Gamma – of course she wanted to secure that for her son.

But Michael merely rolled his eyes in disdain, sneering with disgust, "Mother, are you joking? Her? Her combat skills are weak as a kitten, she's not gentle or considerate, and her looks are utterly plain. Marrying her would ruin all the excellent genes the Davises has worked so hard to accumulate!"

Michael's look of disgust was identical to the previous life.

Yet, in that past life, I simply thought it was his habit of bickering with me since childhood and hadn't realized his genuine aversion at that moment.

Snapping back to reality, I immediately took two steps back. "Mrs. Davis, Michael and I are just friends."

Instantly, the entire banquet hall fell eerily silent.

Everyone present knew the century-long friendship between the Molsons and the Davises, and they knew even better how deeply I had harbored an unrequited love for Michael all these years.

"Enough! You insolent brat, what nonsense are you spouting!" Mrs. Davis flushed crimson with anger, shoving Michael hard. "Marrying Ava would be like our family saving the entire universe in a past life!"

Michael seemed unprepared for my words. His icy expression instantly darkened several shades.

Trembling, I turned to my brother for help: "I'm not feeling well, I want to go home. The alliance marriage isn't urgent."

Griffin had just raised his hand to call someone to escort me back when Michael grabbed my hand and pulled me outside.

He said coldly, "Alpha, I'll take Ava home."

The moment we stepped out of the banquet hall doors, Michael callously flung my hand away.

Off-balance, I stumbled backward. Panicking, I instinctively grabbed his sleeve, but the instant I touched it, I recoiled as if burned.

Then, I landed hard on my backside. Pain shot from my tailbone through my whole body, and my vision blurred.

Michael's expression shifted, and he moved forward to help me up.

"Don't touch me! Stay away!" I screamed hysterically, shoving his hand away with all my strength.

Trembling, I yanked off my high heels and stood up barefoot.

I looked at the shoes in my hand – a gift from him for my coming-of-age ceremony. Mrs. Davis had excitedly told me back then that he'd searched every top shoe store in the entire pack to find them.

But