Reborn I chose a Better Alpha

Raven’s POV The entire pack had gathered in the courtyard. I stood at the edge of the crowd, my fingers curled tightly into my palms as I watched the man I once loved walked through the gates with another woman beside him. Bennett Adams, my husband, my Alpha. And the woman walking proudly beside him was Sophia Wynters. My husband’s true mate. Whispers spread through the crowd as they approached. “She’s beautiful” “So, that’s Sophia?” “I heard she’s Alpha Bennett’s mate. Does Luna Raven know?” My chest tightened with every word. I didn’t need anyone to tell me, I already knew. Bennett had told me himself three days ago, he had looked me straight in the eyes and said he had finally found his true mate. And now, he was parading her in front of the entire pack. Sophia wore a beautiful white dress that flowed around her legs. Her hand rested comfortably around Bennett’s arm, and the smile on her face was almost impossible to miss. She looked like she belonged there. Like she was already the Luna. Bennett didn’t even glance in my direction. Instead, he lifted Sophia’s hand and proudly addressed the gathered pack. “Everyone, I want you to welcome Sophia Wynters” The crowd erupted into whispers. my throat tightened, I had spent years imagining Bennett standing beside me like this. Instead, he was introducing another woman. His true mate. The woman who would replace me. Sophia’s eyes eventually found mine and for a brief moment, her smile disappeared. Then it returned, this time, it was sweeter, almost mocking. She stepped closer to Bennett and rested her head against his shoulder. “I’m sorry, Luna Raven" she said softly. “I never wanted to cause you pain” The courtyard became completely silent. Bennett finally looked at me. There was no guilt in his eyes, only impatience. “Raven, don’t make this difficult” I stared at him. “Difficult?” my voice came out quieter than I expected. “You bring your mate into my pack and parade her in front of everyone, and I’m the one making things difficult?” His expression hardened. “She is my mate. You have no right to disrespect her” A bitter laugh escaped me. “No right?” I looked around at the people watching us. This was my pack, my father’s pack. And yet, I had never felt more like an outsider. Sophia lowered her eyes as tears gathered in them. “I should leave" she whispered. Bennett immediately turned toward her. “No!” His voice softened. “You don’t have to leave because of her” My heart sank. That was when I realized something, he wasn’t even trying to hide his preference anymore. He chose her openly, in front of everyone. And I was expected to simply accept it. I turned away before they could see the tears burning behind my eyes. I couldn’t let them see me break. I walked away from the courtyard with as much dignity as I could manage. But the moment I reached my room and closed the door behind me, my knees nearly gave out. I leaned against the door and shut my eyes. How had everything gone so wrong? I had chosen Bennett because I trusted him. Because my father trusted him, because I believed he would protect me and the Blackridge pack. Instead, he had brought another woman into our home and made me watch him love her. I wiped the tears from my face. Then something strange happened, a sudden wave of nausea rolled through me. I rushed quickly to the bathroom. After several minutes, I sat on the edge of the bathtub, breathing heavily. My hands instinctively moved to my stomach. For weeks, I had been feeling strange. But I had convinced myself It was stress. Now, a frightening thought entered my mind. I hurried to the pack healer. After examining me, she looked up with a smile. “Luna Raven…” My heart began pounding. “What is it? Be honest Denise” She placed her hand gently over mine. “Congratulations” I stared at her. “You’re pregnant” Everything around me seemed to stop. Pregnant? I was carrying Bennett’s child. A small smile slowly spread across my face as tears filled my tears. For the first time in weeks, I felt something close to happiness. My baby. Maybe this child could bring Bennett back to me. Just as I thought of it, I couldn’t contain my excitement. My feet carried me straight toward Bennett’s room. For the first time in a long while, hope bloomed inside my chest. But when I pushed the door open, my steps came to an abrupt stop. Bennett was busy with Sophia, the two were giggling and moaning against each other’s lips. My heart clenched at the sight, but I forced myself to look away. “Bennett” They immediately pulled apart. His eyes landed on me, and for a moment, surprise flashed across his face. I swallowed the pain in my chest. “I have something to tell you” Bennett frowned slightly. “What is it?” I placed a trembling hand over my stomach. “I’m pregnant” Silence filled the room abruptly. Bennett's eyes widened. For a brief moment, he seemed stunned and excited, but it quickly faded away as he glanced at Sophia whose eyes were smoldering. “Pregnant?” He asked. I nodded, unable to hide the smile that spread across my face. “Our child” He stared at me for a moment before his lips curved slightly. “This child will be my heir" he declared. My heart fluttered. An heir. Our child would be the heir to the Blackridge pack. I smiled, finally believing that this was it. This was the moment everything would change. But then I noticed Sophia, her expression had completely changed. The sweetness she always wore was gone, replaced by a dark glare directed straight at me. She looked at Bennett. “And what will be mine if Raven’s child becomes the next heir?” My smile slowly faded. Bennett didn’t hesitate. “If you want, we can make the child yours instead” My entire body went still. I stared at him, unable to believe what I had just heard. “Never!” I burst out before I could stop myself. There was no way I would ever allow my child to be given to another. But Bennett turned to me, his eyes raged with anger. He moved closer and grabbed my neck, choking me hard. I grabbed his hand, pleading with my eyes to be let go. “Bennett” I called, barely a whisper. He didn’t care, he tossed me to the floor hard. “You don’t have a choice. Only Sophia is worthy of being the mother of my heir" he lashed out.