Chapter 4 Choosing his Father

Kaelia.

Hushed whispers turned to low murmurs and in the next second, the entire atmosphere was filled with loud yet hushed words.

Some I could catch, the others were too passive.

"... Did she just reject Prince Steven?..."

"... I've always known this girl is no good..."

"... She's embarrassing her family! What a disgrace..."

"... Forget the embarrassment, she's indirectly mocking the alpha!..."

They weren't far from the truth, even though I don't know what the hell I'm doing but it's too late to go back on my words. Plus, I had no intentions of doing so.

I've watched the alpha get killed four times in my previous lives, I can't take such risk again. And Steven? Staring at him right now, I felt nothing but immense hatred.

"What are you doing?" Steven seethed in anger but I ignored him.

If there was anything worse than rejecting him, I would do more.

Breathe Kaelia, breathe...

I shut my eyes for a few seconds, I can't get angry now.

When I opened my eyes again, I saw alpha Gabriel wheel his chair towards me. He had an indecipherable expression on and it made my heart skip.

The guests fell into deafening silence. No low talks, no hushed whispers, not even the sound of a pin dropping could be heard.

It felt like everyone held their breath.

Father was silent, his brows were deeply creased in anger. Victoria clutched tightly to her dress with wide eyes.

A fucking facade. All lies.

I used to fall for that expression, she's just too good at acting.

Alpha Gabriel stopped in front of me, his eyes stared at me like he was trying to see through me. Like he was literally staring at my soul.

"What are you up to?" Alpha Gabriel asked in a whisper. Only the both of us could hear what he was saying, his jaws were clenched, and I couldn't tell if he was angry or not.

Again, another wave of confidence hit me, my lips curled up in a smile. "Don't worry alpha," my voice was in a whisper. "I'll bear you an heir so you don't have to depend on your son so much to take over the throne."

He blinked repeatedly at me. He was simply speechless.

I have no idea where I got that boldness but I was definitely going to see through it to the end. I needed to not just keep myself safe, I needed to do the same to alpha Gabriel.

In my last life, I could vividly remember how much alpha Gabriel complained about Steven's behavior and he kept wondering how he would be able to pass his throne to Steven.

Alpha Gabriel didn't hide the fact that he wasn't just disappointed in his son, he was also angry. His only heir couldn't even act the way he ought to.

So my promise came in handy. If Steven got the throne, it definitely would put the pack in danger.

I watched as Alpha Gabriel's expression turned into a calm one.

The murmurs from the guests were becoming louder. And father was giving me a lethal glare... If looks could kill, I'm sure I'll be out of this fifth life in no time.

"... Ever since Luna died, alpha Gabriel refused to take another in, what makes her think he'll accept her?..."

"... It's the guts, she better get ready for the consequence that awaits her. Her doom is inevitable..."

"... Poor girl, I think she took some drugs before coming out here because who would do this in their sane mind?..."

Well, I'm the one who could do this in my sane mind. Father fidgeted in anger on his chair, gritting his teeth while trying to hold back from pouncing on me in rage.

His wife, my stepmom, held his hand warmly. Hmm... Playing the role of a perfect wife. Victoria was biting her nails, pleading with me silently.

"Please stop this madness." She mouthed.

Madness? Is that what everyone thinks?

Standing here and staring at everyone right now, I just realized how fake they all were. Too fake and they were so good making their masks look and feel real.

"Take me out of here." Alpha Gabriel ordered.

His personal assistant, Chris, stood from where he had been sitting and ran to the alpha.

"... I knew she was in trouble with that stunt she pulled, I just can't believe her..."

"... Nothing but doom awaits her..."

"Rejecting her mate, the prince and trying to his father instead? I feel like laughing right now..."

I got tired of hearing the loud whispers.

My head went down, and I bit my lips so hard that it became numb. I didn't want to ruin my makeup, so I smacked my lips, perfecting the lipstick before and looking up again.

Steven grabbed my arm again. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"You can clearly see what I'm doing." I was still calm, and my head was up as I stared into his eyes fearlessly. I was also in a state of hubris even if I knew I was in huge trouble.

What if my plan failed? Would I be tossed into prison again and await judgement? Did I make the wrong decision by choosing the alpha as my mate?

But the only way I can save him is by getting closer to him. I needed to protect him, I didn't want him to die the same way he did those past four times.

And I didn't want to either.

"Not you." Alpha Gabriel stopped his assistant who held the handle of the wheelchair and turned to me. "Aren't you coming?" He asked in a dangerously calm voice.

My dull eyes lit up again.

Again, another loud gasp. More whispers, shocked expressions... Chris moved back.

Without thinking twice, I held the wheelchair and was about to wheel him out when...

"You're not stepping out of this place!" It wasn't just Steven, father too. He was standing already, turning beetroot red in anger.

I parted my lips with a small smile to give them a response but alpha Gabriel beat me to it.

"And who dares to stop me?”