The Reborn Omega's Revenge (Valencia)
Chapter 4

Valencia's POV

My breath hitched as his gaze met mine, and he smiled.

It was a dazzling smile, with sharp canines peeking through, and his deep blue eyes sparkled under the bright light of the bar. "You ran away?" he said, his voice low, smooth, with just a hint of drunkenness. Not that I could judge—I'd been drinking right alongside this gorgeous, tanned stranger, and I could feel my thoughts getting fuzzier by the minute.

I nodded, a crooked smirk pulling at my lips. “Yeah, don't give a damn anymore. He can go off and... marry my sister, for all I care." I froze, suddenly realizing what I'd just revealed to this stranger.

But then he started chuckling, a deep, rumbling sound that made the tension melt from my shoulders. "He's that bad in bed?" he asked, quirking an eyebrow.

“Don't even ask,” I snorted, the laughter bubbling up before I could stop it. "Worst experience of my life."

It felt surreal, almost liberating, to laugh like this. To be honest, unfiltered, with someone who didn't know me, didn't judge me. It was a freedom I'd almost forgotten existed. Maybe it was the alcohol, but the atmosphere was intoxicating, heady, as though everything around me shimmered with possibility. The air was thick with the scent of hydrangeas and tobacco, and I closed my eyes, soaking in the sensation of being someone else -someone free.

When I opened them again, he was watching me with a curious expression, a slight smirk still on his lips. He called himself "Steal," and somehow, even his name felt like an invitation to forget everything.

Coming here had been a spur-of-the-moment decision, but now I knew it was the right one. Just for tonight, I wanted to live a life that didn't revolve around lies and betrayals. Just one night.

(A couple hours earlier)

I laughed. The sound was hollow, forced, as the cool red wine trickled down the front of my dress. It stained the fabric like blood, but I didn't care. Jaxon's sister, Ana, stood before me, feigning concern as her eyes flickered to the darkening spot on my dress.

“Oh my god, I'm so sorry,” she said, though her tone lacked any real apology. “Well, at least it won't show much on this dress."

Her gaze swept over me, assessing, not apologetic at all. The cool wind whipped around us, brushing against my bare arms, and goosebumps rose on my skin. I forced a smile, a thin, polite one, but inside, everything was churning. My suspicions were confirmed.

This is real.

I'd really gone back in time. This wasn't some vivid dream. This was my past, my life, the same moment I had lived once before. I remembered every detail—Ana's smugness, the decorations, the scenery, the crowd, the way her hand accidentally knocked her glass of wine into me, and the way I had fled the scene in tears that first time around.

But not this time. This time, I wouldn't give them the satisfaction.

"Don't worry about it," I muttered, taking the napkin from her outstretched hand, wiping the wine absently. The cold pit of dread grew in my stomach, swirling like a storm, and my breath felt shallow.

Before I could think of how to escape, Jaxon appeared, stepping out of the pack house and making his way toward us. My heart lurched. He wasn't supposed to be here yet—at least, not in my previous life. The last time, I had left before he could come out, too humiliated to stay for the proposal. But this time? I was still here.

His eyes landed on me, and for the briefest moment, something flickered across his face. Shock? Admiration? It was hard to tell.

But then his lips curved into a smile, and his entire demeanor changed. His usual coldness was replaced with a warmth I hadn't seen in years. He strode over to me, his hand reaching for mine.

"You look stunning,” Jaxon said, his voice low and affectionate. “Ana, be more careful next time."

Ana frowned, her eyes flashing with annoyance. "It was an accident," she muttered, before spinning on her heel and storming off.

I stood there, frozen, as Jaxon's compliment washed over me. In another life, those words might have made my heart flutter, but now, all I could feel was the weight of his cruelty. The dread in my chest grew heavier, suffocating. His gaze softened as he looked at me, but I knew better than to believe in the facade.

Everyone's attention was on us. The pack members at the party watched, their eyes darting between me and Jaxon, waiting, expecting. I realized with a cold, sinking feeling that I had changed the future. In my past life, I hadn't been here for this moment. Jaxon hadn't had the chance to propose in front of the pack because I had left.

But now? Now I was here, standing before him, and I could see it in his eyes—he was about to propose. And I was on the verge of repeating the same mistake that had ruined my life.

No. I can't let this happen.

I couldn't breathe. I felt trapped, like I was drowning, and every fiber of my being screamed for me to run, to escape. But I had to act carefully. If I rejected him outright, who knew what kind of wrath that would bring? I had already seen the darkness in Jaxon. I knew what he was capable of.

My hands trembled as Jaxon knelt before me, his eyes filled with what looked like love, but I saw it for what it was—manipulation. Control. Cruelty, disguised as affection.

I couldn't do this. Not again.

Before he could say anything, I grabbed a tissue from the table and leaned heavily against it, feigning discomfort. “Please excuse me,” I said quickly, my voice trembling just enough to sound convincing. “I think..... I think my stomach is upset."

I didn't give him a chance to respond. I turned on my heel and hurried away from the gathering, my heart pounding in my chest. The cold dread gnawed at me, but I didn't look back. If I had stayed, I knew exactly how this would have ended. He would have proposed. I would have said yes, thinking I had no other choice, and my life would have spiraled into the same nightmare.

Not this time.

I reached the nearest bathroom, locking the door behind me, and slumped against the wall, gasping for air. My hands were shaking as I splashed water on my face, trying to calm my racing thoughts.

What am I doing?

I caught my reflection in the mirror, my face pale, my eyes wide with panic. I have to get out of here, I thought, gripping the edges of the sink. There was no way I was letting history repeat itself.

Just as I made up my mind to leave, the door swung open, and Jaxon stepped inside, his expression tight with concern—or was it something darker?

“Valencia,” he said, his voice low. "Are you okay?"

I swallowed hard, my mind racing for an excuse. "Yes... I'm fine."

His eyes narrowed, and the worry in his gaze shifted into something colder. “Why did you leave?” he asked, his voice sharper now. "I was about to—"

"I know,” I cut him off, trying to steady my voice. “It's just... this is all happening too fast. I'm not ready, Jaxon."

His jaw clenched, and I could see the irritation flash across his face. "What do you mean, you're not ready? You didn't seem reluctant when I kissed you before."

Kissed? Right, we had shared a sudden kiss a week before our engagement in my previous life. He had probably taken that as my agreement to marriage.

I felt slightly irritated now that I properly thought about everything that had happened. Did I ever give verbal consent for anything?

I took a deep breath, choosing my words carefully. "I just... I want to focus on my studies first. I'm not ready to get married yet."

"Your studies?" he scoffed, his tone dripping with disbelief. "What does that matter? You're going to be my Luna.”

"I'm not in a hurry," I said quietly, meeting his gaze. "Maybe if you're so desperate to get married, you should replace someone else. Someone like Nicole or Anastasia."

The moment the words left my mouth, I regretted them. Jaxon's eyes darkened, and a dangerous glint appeared in his gaze. His body stiffened, and for a moment, I thought he might lash out.

“Are you rejecting me?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

I opened my mouth, but no words came out. I couldn't bring myself to say yes. I was too afraid of what he would do. But I couldn't say no, either, not after everything I had seen, after everything I had lived through. So I stayed silent, my heart pounding in my chest.

Jaxon's gaze hardened. "Fine, I can wait," he said coldly. "But don't keep me waiting too long."

He stormed out, leaving me standing there, trembling as the enormity of what I'd just done hit me.

I need to get out of here.