I Rejected My Alpha Mate After Rebirth Chapter 02

I Rejected My Alpha Mate After Rebirth Chapter 02

“Water…”

Warm water slid down my dry throat as I slowly opened my eyes.

The moment my vision focused, twenty-five-year-old Landon came into view.

Dark stubble shadowed his jaw. Bloodshot eyes revealed days without sleep.

“You’re awake?” His voice sounded rough and exhausted.

His hand lifted instinctively toward my face, only to stop halfway before pulling back.

I looked away quietly.

Even after everything, he had still been the one to save me.

My fingers immediately moved to my neck.

Smooth skin.

No mating mark.

Only two faint silver thread markings remained.

I succeeded.

Layla survived.

The first thread of fate had disappeared.

Deep inside my soul, Amy whimpered softly like a lone wolf abandoned in a snowstorm.

“Do you want more water?” Landon asked quietly.

He raised the cup to my lips again, his fingertips accidentally brushing my skin.

The touch burned.

It reminded me too much of the end of my last life.

Those same hands had held my face gently while he tore apart our mate bond without hesitation, telling me how much better his life would’ve been if he’d never met me.

I turned my face away.

“No.”

His throat bobbed as his gaze dropped toward my heavily casted right leg.

I understood immediately.

In my previous life, the fire had permanently damaged my leg. By old age, I could barely walk without a cane. Eventually, I ended up in a wheelchair.

This time, after forcing myself farther through the flames just to push him away, the injury was even worse.

I tapped lightly against the thick cast around my leg.

“Are they going to amputate it?”

Landon shot to his feet instantly.

“Don’t say that!” His voice shook violently. “Nothing’s happening to your leg. I already sent my Beta to contact the best healer in the Northern Realm. We’re transferring you tomorrow.”

I stared at him as panic consumed his expression.

How could I ever stop loving this man?

I had known him for decades.

He had always been like this.

He claimed to hate me, yet his Alpha instincts would never allow him to abandon someone weak or hurting.

Even without loving me, he still used his authority to find the best healers for my treatment.

Rain or shine, he picked me up every single day without fail.

Landon was good in every possible way.

He just didn’t love me.

I lowered my eyes to hide the tears building there.

“You don’t have to do this,” I murmured softly. “This isn’t your responsibility.”

Then I forced myself to change the subject.

“How’s Layla?”

The moment her name came up, something softened in his expression.

“She’s okay,” he said quietly. “Just smoke inhalation. Willow even took pictures of her earlier. She already looks completely fine.”

“Really?” I smiled faintly. “That’s good.”

Landon smiled too.

I turned toward the window.

The clouds outside looked like a giant sunflower blooming across the sky.

I stared so long that Landon waved a hand in front of my face.

“You want to see sunflowers that badly?” he teased softly. “There’s a whole field outside the hospital entrance. Wait here. I’ll go pick some for you.”

I froze.

This was the first time in either lifetime that Landon had ever offered to bring me flowers.

I fought desperately to hold back the tears burning behind my eyes before forcing out a bright smile.

“Okay,” I whispered. “I’ll wait for you.”

Landon left the room.

I slowly reached into the empty air, tracing the outline of his disappearing figure with trembling fingers.

Maybe this was selfish of me.

My hand drifted gently to my flat stomach, feeling the tiny life growing inside me.

Amy rubbed softly against my consciousness.

“Nora… can you really do this? That’s our pup.”

I pressed my lips together, stubborn and resolute despite the agony tearing through me.

“Whether I can bear it or not… I still have to.”

“Tomorrow, I’ll sever the second silver thread of fate.”