The Alpha's Reborn Mate

A Debt Paid In Debt

Selene's POV

The house was silent when Selene pushed open the front gate.

It was almost two in the morning.

The rain had stopped, but her dress was still damp. Her shoes made a soft sound against the stone path as she walked toward the front door.

She hoped everyone was asleep.

For once, she didn't want questions.

She didn't want to explain where she'd been.

She didn't want to talk about Ryan.

And she definitely didn't want to explain why she had spent part of the night thinking about a stranger named Kael.

She reached for the door handle.

The moment she opened it, the lights in the living room came on.

Selene stopped.

Helena Voss sat on the sofa with her arms folded.

Dara was beside her, scrolling through her phone.

Neither looked surprised to see her.

Helena glanced at the clock.

"Two in the morning."

Selene quietly closed the door.

"I know."

"Do you?"

Helena looked her up and down.

Her damp dress.

Wet hair.

Smudged makeup.

Then she smiled without warmth.

"So this is what you've been doing all evening."

Selene was too tired to argue.

"I've had a long night."

"I'm sure you have."

Dara looked up from her phone.

"She looks terrible."

Selene ignored her.

She started toward the staircase.

Helena stood.

"Where are you going?"

"To my room."

"Not so fast."

Selene stopped.

She slowly turned around.

"I don't have the energy for this."

"You don't get to decide when we're finished talking."

"I haven't done anything to you."

Helena laughed.

"Really?"

Selene stared at her.

"You disappeared without telling anyone. You came home in the middle of the night dressed like that, and you expect us not to ask questions?"

Selene looked down at her dress.

"What exactly is wrong with what I'm wearing?"

"Everything."

Dara smiled.

"I told Aunt Helena she would come home looking like a nightclub girl."

Selene's patience was disappearing.

"I went to a club."

Helena's expression changed.

"Of course you did."

"I needed somewhere to go."

"After Ryan?"

Selene froze.

"How do you know?"

Helena's smile widened.

"Ryan called."

Selene's stomach tightened.

"What did he say?"

"That you made a scene at his office."

Selene let out a quiet laugh.

"He cheated on me."

Helena shrugged.

"Men make mistakes."

"That isn't an excuse."

"Maybe you should have been a better girlfriend."

Selene stared at her.

She had heard enough.

She turned toward the stairs again.

Helena stepped in front of her.

"Answer me."

"I already did."

"I asked where you were."

"Out."

"With whom?"

Selene looked at her.

"Why does it matter?"

"Because you live in this house."

"I know."

"Then show some respect."

Selene felt something inside her harden.

"Respect isn't something you demand from people."

Helena's eyes narrowed.

"Excuse me?"

"It has to be earned."

The slap came before Selene could react.

Her head turned sharply.

For a few seconds, the room was completely silent.

Selene slowly touched her cheek.

Dara smiled.

"There she is."

Selene looked at Helena.

She expected herself to cry.

She didn't.

Maybe she'd finally reached the point where another insult couldn't surprise her.

Helena lowered her hand.

"You live under this roof because Victor allows it."

Selene said nothing.

"You eat because he provides for you."

Still nothing.

"You have a life because he chose not to abandon you when your parents died."

Selene's eyes lowered.

She had heard those words since she was a child.

Every argument ended the same way.

Her parents were dead.

Victor had taken her in.

Therefore, she owed him everything.

She had never been allowed to forget it.

Helena turned away.

"Go to your room."

Selene didn't move.

"What?"

"I said go."

Selene turned toward the stairs.

This time nobody stopped her.

She had barely reached the second step when the front door opened.

Heavy footsteps echoed through the hallway.

Victor Voss entered.

He removed his coat and handed it to a waiting servant.

His expression was calm.

That was what made him frightening.

Helena immediately straightened.

Dara put her phone away.

Victor looked around the room.

"Why are you all awake?"

Nobody answered.

His eyes settled on Selene.

"You."

Selene stopped.

"Come here."

She slowly walked back downstairs.

Victor studied her face.

Then his eyes moved to her wet dress.

"Where have you been?"

"Out."

"With Ryan?"

"No."

"Then where?"

"Around the city."

Victor's expression didn't change.

"Ryan called me."

Selene said nothing.

"He told me what happened."

"Then you know he cheated."

Victor walked toward the fireplace.

"I know there was an argument."

"That's not what happened."

He looked at her.

"You've always had a tendency to make emotional situations more complicated than necessary."

Selene almost laughed.

"Ryan was sleeping with my supervisor."

Victor shrugged.

"Then the relationship is over."

She stared at him.

That was it?

No concern.

No question about how she felt.

Nothing.

"Yes."

"Good."

Selene frowned.

Victor turned toward the fireplace.

"For two years, I've tolerated that relationship because it served a purpose."

Her expression changed.

"What purpose?"

"You were close to the Ashford family."

"I was dating Ryan."

"Exactly."

Selene's stomach tightened.

"You never cared about the relationship."

Victor looked almost confused.

"Why would I care about your relationship?"

"Because I'm your daughter."

The words came out before she could stop them.

Victor's face remained blank.

"You know better than that."

Selene felt the familiar ache in her chest.

She had spent years hoping he would eventually see her as family.

Maybe she had been waiting for something that was never going to happen.

Victor poured himself a drink.

"The Ashfords are no longer important."

Selene stared at him.

"Then why did you call me downstairs?"

"Because something more important has come up."

She waited.

Victor took a slow sip.

"You're getting married."

For a moment, Selene thought she had heard him incorrectly.

"What?"

"You'll be married soon."

"To Ryan?"

"No."

"Then who?"

Victor placed his glass on the mantel.

"Kael Dravon."

The name meant nothing to Selene.

She frowned.

"Who?"

Helena's expression changed immediately.

Dara stopped scrolling.

Even the servant standing near the hallway lowered his gaze.

Selene noticed.

"You know him?"

Helena looked at her.

"You don't?"

"No."

Dara gave a small laugh.

"Of course she doesn't."

Selene ignored her.

"Who is Kael Dravon?"

Victor walked toward the desk.

"You'll learn."

"I asked you a question."

"And I answered."

"No, you didn't."

Victor opened a drawer and removed a folder.

He placed it on the table.

Selene didn't touch it.

"I'm not marrying a stranger."

"You are."

"No."

Victor looked at her.

"I wasn't asking."

Selene felt anger rising again.

"You can't force me to marry someone."

"I can."

"How?"

Victor opened the folder.

Inside were legal documents.

"The agreement has already been prepared."

Selene stared at the papers.

"What agreement?"

"A marriage contract."

"Between who?"

"You and Kael."

She shook her head.

"This is insane."

"Perhaps."

"I won't sign it."

Victor remained calm.

"Then your mother's land will be sold."

Everything inside Selene stopped.

"What did you say?"

"The property will be auctioned."

"You promised me that land would never be sold."

"I changed my mind."

Selene stepped closer.

"You can't."

"I own the authority to make the decision."

"You promised."

Victor looked at her without emotion.

"Promises change when circumstances change."

She stared at him.

Her mother's land was small.

It wasn't valuable enough to make Victor rich.

But it was the only thing Selene had that belonged to her mother.

The only place connected to her childhood memories.

The only thing she had left that hadn't been taken from her.

"You wouldn't."

Victor picked up his glass.

"I would."

Her voice trembled.

"Why?"

"Because I need you to understand the seriousness of this."

"So you're threatening me."

"I'm giving you a choice."

Selene laughed bitterly.

"A choice?"

"Marry Kael, and the land remains yours."

"And if I refuse?"

"It goes to auction."

"When?"

"Tomorrow."

Selene stared at him.

Twenty-four hours.

That was all he was giving her.

"Why does Kael Dravon even want to marry me?"

Victor's eyes narrowed slightly.

"That isn't your concern."

"It is if I'm the one being married."

"The contract is mutually beneficial."

"To whom?"

"Everyone involved."

Selene shook her head.

"Does he even know who I am?"

Victor didn't answer immediately.

That silence made her more uncomfortable.

Finally, he said:

"Kael knows enough."

She looked at the folder.

"What kind of man agrees to marry someone he's never met?"

Victor's expression remained unreadable.

"Kael Dravon is not an ordinary man."

"That's not an answer."

"He has his reasons."

"What reasons?"

"None that concern you."

Selene looked at Helena and Dara.

Neither seemed willing to defend her.

Dara finally spoke.

"You should be grateful."

Selene turned.

"For what?"

"Do you have any idea how many women would want to marry Kael Dravon?"

"No."

Dara smiled.

"Then you should probably search his name."

Selene looked back at Victor.

"Who is he?"

Victor's voice was quiet.

"One of the most powerful men in the country."

That did not reassure her.

"If he's so powerful, why would he need me?"

Victor said nothing.

Selene waited.

Nothing.

She picked up the folder.

"I need time."

"You have twenty-four hours."

"That's not enough."

"It is."

She turned toward the stairs.

Victor's voice stopped her.

"Selene."

She looked back.

"If you tell anyone about the contract before it is finalized, the land will be sold immediately."

Her stomach tightened.

"Why?"

"Because I don't tolerate interference."

She looked at him for a long moment.

Then she walked upstairs.

She entered her bedroom and locked the door.

Only after the lock clicked did her control finally break.

She sat on the edge of the bed.

The folder rested beside her.

Her hands shook as she opened it.

The first page contained her name.

Selene Voss.

The second contained Kael's.

Kael Dravon.

She stared at the name.

The stranger from the club.

The man from the street.

The man who had somehow known her name.

Her pulse quickened.

"No."

She reached for her laptop.

Within seconds, she had typed his name into the search bar.

The results appeared.

Kael Dravon.

CEO.

Investor.

Founder of Dravon Global.

Billionaire.

There were articles about his companies.

His investments.

His charitable foundation.

His business acquisitions.

But almost nothing about his personal life.

Selene clicked through several pages.

Then she found a photograph.

Her hand froze on the mouse.

It was him.

The same man from the balcony.

The same man who had stood in the rain.

The same man who had looked at her as though he had known her for years.

Selene stared at the screen.

"Kael Dravon."

She looked back at the contract.

Then at the photograph.

Why would he agree to marry her?

She searched again.

This time she noticed something strange.

There were dozens of comments from people who claimed to have worked for him.

Most described him as demanding.

But several described him as fair.

One former employee wrote that Kael had paid for an employee's surgery without telling anyone.

Another said he had refused to fire workers when one of his companies suffered losses.

A rival described him as ruthless in business but honorable when he gave his word.

Selene frowned.

That wasn't the man Victor had made him sound like.

She continued reading.

Then she noticed something else.

There were almost no photographs of Kael after sunset.

She searched specifically for them.

Nothing.

A strange sound came from outside.

Selene looked up.

A low howl drifted through the night.

She froze.

Another answered from farther away.

She slowly stood.

She walked toward the window and pulled the curtain aside.

The street was empty.

No dogs.

No people.

Nothing.

Selene stared into the darkness.

The contract was still open on her bed.

One clause caught her attention.

She returned to it.

She read it again.

Then a third time.

The wording was unusual.

The contract mentioned the protection and security of the bride several times.

Not once.

Not twice.

Repeatedly.

Selene frowned.

Why would a marriage agreement between two wealthy families need so much language about protecting her?

She closed the folder.

Her phone remained switched off.

She didn't know what frightened her more.

The marriage...

or the feeling that Kael Dravon already knew exactly who she was.

---

Across the city, Kael entered Blackthorn Estate.

The iron gates opened as the sedan approached.

The mansion stood behind several rows of trees, its dark windows reflecting the moonlight.

Kael stepped out.

The servants at the entrance bowed.

"Welcome home, Alpha."

Kael acknowledged them and walked inside.

Lucien followed.

They entered the study.

Kael removed his coat and placed it over a chair.

"Report."

"The Northern Pack has withdrawn from the eastern boundary."

Kael turned.

"Withdrawn?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"We don't know."

Kael frowned.

"That wasn't an attack."

Lucien nodded.

"It was a distraction."

Kael's eyes hardened.

"From what?"

"We're still investigating."

Kael walked toward the window.

Something about tonight felt deliberate.

The attack.

The woman.

The strange reaction from his wolf.

Everything seemed connected.

"Get me Selene Voss's file."

Lucien hesitated.

"It's already being prepared."

"Bring it now."

Minutes later, Lucien returned with a black folder.

Kael opened it.

The first page contained Selene's photograph.

He stared at it.

His wolf immediately reacted.

Mate.

Kael shut the folder.

"Where was she born?"

"Records say she was born in the city."

"Say?"

Lucien noticed the question.

"Her birth certificate was amended several years after her birth."

Kael looked at him.

"Why?"

"We don't know."

"What about her parents?"

"Her mother died when Selene was young."

"And her father?"

"Victor Voss raised her."

Kael's expression darkened.

"That's not what I asked."

Lucien paused.

"We're still checking."

Kael looked at the folder.

"Find everything."

"Yes."

"And Lucien..."

His beta stopped at the door.

"Don't tell anyone about what happened tonight."

"You mean the mate bond?"

Kael's eyes hardened.

"Especially that."

Lucien nodded.

Kael waited until the door closed.

He opened the file again.

Selene's photograph stared back at him.

The same eyes.

The same face.

The same woman.

But if she was truly the reincarnation of his former mate, then one question remained.

Why had she returned?

And why now?

Kael looked toward the window.

For centuries, he had blamed fate for the death of the woman he loved.

He had never forgiven her.

He had never forgiven himself.

Now fate had placed her in his path again.

This time, he intended to find the truth before it destroyed them both.

He closed the file.

"Who are you, Selene Voss?"

Far away, Selene sat alone on her bed, staring at the same man's photograph.

Neither of them knew that the other was asking the same question.

And neither understood why their lives had suddenly become connected.

But one thing was becoming clear.

The marriage wasn't really about Victor's debt.

There was something else behind it.

Something neither of them had discovered yet.