Reborn for him

Chapter 4:The Alpha Warning

Emma's POV

“Looking for someone?”

Daniel's voice came from behind me, smooth and familiar.

I turned slowly.

He stood beneath the golden lights spilling from the gathering hall, wearing the same charming smile that had fooled me for years. His hands rested casually in his pockets, and anyone watching us would have thought he was simply a friend checking on my well-being.

But I knew better now.

I knew the man behind that smile.

“No,” I replied.

His eyebrows rose. “No?”

“Should I be?”

Daniel chuckled, stepping closer. “You're acting strangely tonight, Emma.”

“You've mentioned that already.”

“And you haven't explained why.”

I looked past him toward the courtyard gates. The warrior who had exchanged the envelope was nowhere to be seen.

Daniel followed my gaze.

“What are you looking at?”

“Nothing important.”

He studied me for a moment before his expression softened into something resembling concern.

“Is this about Alexander?”

My stomach tightened.

“Why would it be?”

“Because I've noticed the way you've been looking at him.”

I forced myself to meet his eyes. “How have I been looking at him?”

“Like you've suddenly discovered something interesting about him.”

I almost laughed.

If only he knew.

I had discovered something far more important than Alexander's appearance or position. I had discovered the depth of his love, the cruelty of my own mistakes, and the terrible price he had paid for them.

“I've decided to stop judging people based on what others tell me,” I answered.

Daniel's smile disappeared for a moment.

“Others?”

“People talk, Daniel. Sometimes they say things that aren't true.”

His eyes narrowed.

“Has Alexander been speaking to you about me?”

“No.”

“Then where is this coming from?”

I tilted my head. “Why are you so worried?”

The question silenced him.

For the first time that evening, I saw genuine irritation beneath his polished exterior.

He quickly concealed it.

“I'm not worried. I'm concerned about you. Alexander Wolfe isn't the sort of man you should approach without understanding what you're getting into.”

I remembered those words.

In my first life, Daniel had said almost exactly the same thing. He had described Alexander as cold, ruthless, and incapable of loving anyone. He had warned me that marrying the Alpha would destroy my freedom.

I had believed him.

Yet Alexander had been the one who protected me, even when I gave him every reason to turn away.

“Perhaps I should decide that for myself,” I said.

Daniel stared at me.

“Emma, I know you better than anyone.”

“No,” I replied quietly. “You know the version of me who believed everything you said.”

His face went still.

I hadn't planned to say that. The words had escaped before I could stop them.

For several seconds, we stood beneath the archway without speaking.

Then Daniel smiled again, but this time it didn't reach his eyes.

“Whatever has gotten into your head, I hope you remember that I'm only trying to help you.”

“I'll remember.”

He nodded and walked away.

I watched him disappear into the crowd.

My heart was racing.

I had barely begun changing the past, and already Daniel was suspicious.

That meant I needed to be more careful.

Because if he discovered that I knew what he had done—or what he intended to do—he might change his plans before I had a chance to uncover the truth.

And I couldn't protect Alexander from an enemy I didn't understand.

The following morning, I received an unexpected invitation.

A cream-colored envelope sat on my breakfast table, bearing the black crest of the Wolfe family.

My name was written across the front.

I recognized the handwriting immediately.

Alexander.

My fingers trembled as I opened it.

Miss Emma,

Lord Alexander Wolfe requests your presence at Blackthorn Estate this afternoon to discuss a matter concerning the future arrangement between our families.

Your attendance would be appreciated.

Respectfully,

The Wolfe Household Secretary

I read the message twice.

The future arrangement.

In our previous timeline, Alexander's family had been considering a formal engagement between us. I remembered that my parents had been enthusiastic about the match, while I had been hesitant because of Daniel's constant warnings.

Eventually, I had agreed to marry Alexander, but I had entered the relationship with doubts already planted in my mind.

I had allowed those doubts to poison everything.

Now Alexander was inviting me to his estate.

A chance to speak with him privately.

A chance to begin repairing something that had not yet been broken.

I folded the letter carefully.

“I'll go,” I whispered.

Blackthorn Estate stood on a hill overlooking the surrounding territory.

Tall stone walls enclosed the grounds, and ancient trees lined the winding driveway. The main building was imposing, with dark windows, carved pillars, and a crest depicting a silver wolf beneath a crescent moon.

When I stepped out of the carriage, the sight brought back a memory so painful that I nearly stumbled.

I had stood here on my wedding day.

Alexander had waited at the entrance in a black suit, his expression unreadable. I remembered walking toward him while Daniel's warnings echoed through my mind.

I remembered thinking that I was sacrificing my happiness.

How little I had understood.

A servant greeted me and led me through the entrance.

The interior was elegant but understated. Portraits of previous Alpha leaders lined the walls, and the faint scent of cedarwood filled the air.

I was taken to a private study.

Alexander stood beside the window, dressed in a dark shirt with the sleeves rolled to his forearms. He was reading a document when I entered.

He looked up.

“Emma.”

“Alexander.”

He gestured toward a chair.

“Please sit.”

I obeyed, folding my hands in my lap to hide their trembling.

He returned to his desk and placed the document aside.

“I hope you won't find this meeting too formal,” he said. “Our families have discussed the possibility of an engagement, and I believe we should speak honestly before any decisions are made.”

I swallowed.

“Of course.”

His silver eyes settled on me.

“I want to know whether this is something you genuinely want.”

The question caught me off guard.

In my first life, I had assumed Alexander wanted the marriage because it benefited his position. I had never considered that he might be asking because he wanted my honest consent.

“I do,” I answered.

His expression remained composed.

“May I ask why?”

Because I had already lost you once.

Because I had spent my final days wishing I could return to this very moment.

Because I now understood that the man sitting across from me had loved me more sincerely than anyone else ever had.

I couldn't tell him any of that.

So I gave him the only honest answer I could.

“Because I want the chance to know you properly.”

Alexander leaned back slightly.

“That's different from what I expected you to say.”

“What did you expect?”

He paused.

“I'm accustomed to people wanting something from me.”

His words carried a quiet bitterness.

“As Alpha, I have wealth, authority, and influence. Some people approach me because they want access to those things. Others want protection. Very few are interested in the person behind the title.”

I looked at him, my chest tightening.

“I understand.”

“Do you?”

“Yes.”

He watched me carefully.

“Then you understand why I won't enter a marriage built on appearances or convenience.”

“I wouldn't want that either.”

“And if you discover that life with me isn't what you imagined?”

I held his gaze.

“I'll speak to you about it. I won't let other people decide what I should think of you.”

Something changed in his expression.

It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but I noticed it.

Perhaps he had expected me to repeat the opinions others had expressed about him.

Perhaps he had expected another polite answer designed to satisfy our families.

Instead, I was trying to tell him something I had learned too late.

He deserved to be heard.

Alexander was silent for a moment.

Then he opened a drawer and removed a small black folder.

“There is another reason I asked you here.”

My attention sharpened.

He placed the folder on the desk.

“Someone has been accessing restricted information concerning the Blackthorn bloodline.”

My heart stopped.

“The Blackthorn bloodline?”

He nodded.

“Several confidential records have been requested without proper authorization. Most concern the inheritance of Alpha abilities and certain historical properties connected to my family.”

A cold sensation spread through my body.

Alpha blood.

The very thing Daniel had wanted to steal.

I forced myself to remain calm.

“Do you know who's responsible?”

“Not yet.”

He studied my face.

“Why do you look frightened?”

I realized I had gripped the arms of my chair.

I loosened my fingers.

“Because someone is trying to steal something that belongs to your family.”

“Many people desire power. That alone isn't unusual.”

“But it doesn't make it harmless.”

His eyes narrowed slightly.

“No, it doesn't.”

I hesitated.

I wanted to tell him about the man with the envelope. I wanted to explain that I had seen someone behaving suspiciously at the gathering.

But I hadn't seen enough to identify the man or establish what the envelope contained.

If I accused someone without proof, Alexander might dismiss my concerns.

Worse, the person responsible might realize that I was paying attention.

“There was something I noticed at the gathering last night,” I said carefully.

Alexander straightened.

“What was it?”

“I saw a warrior exchange an envelope with a man near the eastern corridor. They seemed to be trying to avoid attention.”

“Did you recognize either of them?”

“No. But the warrior was wearing a dark uniform.”

Alexander's expression changed.

“Did you see his face?”

“Only briefly.”

He rose and walked toward the window.

For several seconds, he said nothing.

Then he turned back to me.

“Did anyone else see them?”

“I don't know.”

He returned to the desk and pressed a small bell.

A moment later, a tall man entered the study.

He was broad-shouldered, with brown hair and a scar running along his jaw.

“Alpha?”

“Call Marcus,” Alexander instructed. “Tell him I want a list of everyone assigned to the eastern corridor during last night's gathering. Include temporary guards and anyone who entered the estate without a permanent assignment.”

The man nodded.

“Immediately.”

When he had left, I stared at Alexander.

“You believe me?”

“I believe that you saw something worth investigating.”

The distinction was important.

He wasn't promising to trust me completely. He wasn't accepting every suspicion I might have.

He was simply willing to listen.

For now, that was enough.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

His gaze lingered on me.

“You seem very concerned about my safety, Emma.”

I felt my cheeks grow warm.

“Shouldn't I be?”

“Many people would say that my security is my own responsibility.”

“Those people would be wrong.”

The words escaped before I could reconsider them.

Alexander stared at me.

For one brief moment, neither of us seemed to remember the distance between us.

Then he looked away.

“Be careful with your concern,” he said quietly.

“Why?”

“Because I may begin to believe it.”

My heart twisted.

I wanted to tell him that he could believe it. That my concern was real, even if the reason behind it was impossible to explain.

Instead, I rose from my chair.

“I should leave.”

Alexander walked me to the door.

Before I stepped into the corridor, he spoke again.

“Emma.”

I turned.

“If you remember anything else about that exchange, tell me immediately.”

“I will.”

He hesitated.

“And don't investigate this matter alone.”

I nodded.

“I promise.”

His expression hardened slightly.

“Don't make promises lightly.”

I remembered his warning from the gathering.

This time, I understood its weight.

“I won't,” I said.

As I walked away, I realized that something had changed.

Alexander still didn't trust me completely.

But he had listened.

He had taken my words seriously.

And for the first time since my rebirth, I felt that I might be able to change more than just the ending.

I might be able to change the beginning.

That evening, I returned home to find another message waiting for me.

It had been slipped beneath my bedroom door.

There was no name on the envelope.

Only a short sentence written in black ink.

Stop asking questions about the Wolfe family.

My blood ran cold.

I read the words again, searching for some sign that it was a joke.

There was none.

Someone knew I had spoken to Alexander.

Someone knew I was interested in the missing records.

And someone wanted me to stop.

I walked to the window and looked out at the darkened garden.

The trees swayed gently in the night breeze.

Beyond the gates, a shadow moved between the trees.

I blinked.

It was gone.

My fingers tightened around the threatening note.

In my first life, I had ignored the signs until they became impossible to deny.

This time, I would pay attention.

I folded the note and placed it inside the drawer beside my bed.

Then I locked the door.

Someone was trying to frighten me.

But they had made one mistake.

They believed I was the same woman I had been before.

They believed I would retreat when threatened.

They believed that fear would make me abandon Alexander.

I looked at the moon shining through my window.

“I'm not afraid of you,” I whispered.

Because I had already experienced the worst thing imaginable.

I had watched the man I loved die in my arms.

And I would rather face every enemy in this territory than live through that moment again.