The gifts that Aric sent to my residence after I rejected him were absolutely breathtaking and I couldn't help but be in awe of the glittering jewels that adorned the delicate boxes. Each one seemed to emit its own radiant glow, and everyone who laid eyes on them were captivated, especially the woman who brought me outside.
“Aren’t they wonderful?” I asked Vanessa whose eyes were glued to the gifts.

“Yes, they are,” she replied in a barely audible voice.
I smirked upon watching her expression while staring at the boxes before her. She was truly captivated at the way Aric tried to win my heart again. How cute! One of the gifts was a stunning necklace and the pendant was a mesmerizing sapphire.
To add its beauty, it was surrounded by a halo of shimmering diamonds. The deep blue of the sapphire seemed to hold the secrets of the ocean, while the diamonds sparkled like stars in the night sky. Truly, it was magnificent and any woman would be glad to have it, but not me. I glared at them as if they came straight from hell!
“You can have it, Vanessa,” I offered and her eyes were enlarged in shock and disbelief?
“W-what? But why?” she stammered while asking.
“Because I don’t like it,” I replied, and I could see that she wasn’t pleased with my response. “Why? Don’t you want the necklace? Then, I will give it to someone else,” I told her, and when I was about to call someone else to have it, she immediately stopped me and took the box.

Then, I checked the other gift. It was a pair of beautiful earrings that truly stole my breath away. It was an emerald with a little bit of diamonds, and I could tell that the future Alpha of Lancaster was fond of diamonds. Well, I also love diamonds, who wouldn’t? But I didn’t want anything that came from Aric Stormheart!
As I admired the gifts, I couldn't help but notice Vanessa's envious gaze. Her eyes lingered on the glittering jewels, and a hint of longing flashed across her face. It was clear that she was captivated by their beauty, just as I was.
“Obviously, he is trying to win my heart again,” I mumbled loudly, and Vanessa accidentally raised the tip of her eyebrow. “It seems you have a different opinion, Vanessa.”
“No, Isabella. How could I?” she responded with a question instead.

“What do you think about the earrings? It’s perfect right?” I asked and when she nodded, I handed the box to her, and she was surprised once again. “Take it. It’s all yours,” I told her.
“It’s a gift for you!” she refused.
“Are you concerned how Aric would feel once he knows about this?” I asked and she immediately shook her head.
“I just think it’s wrong to give these to me,” she said while trying to return the boxes to me.
“Just tell me if you don’t want it, Vanessa. I can always give it to someone else, or throw it away,” I announced, and even the delivery guy was shocked.
The gifts he sent after I rejected him were a sign that he wanted me to be his Luna no matter what. Previously, I was elated to know that, but after suffering a lot from his hands, it was scary to be associated with him.
But then, he shouldn’t shower me with gifts. It wouldn’t impress me. None of them would impress me as long as it was coming from Aric Stormheart. His lifestyle was a lavish one, and should I choose to accept his proposal, I wouldn’t have a problem with the financial aspects. However, as I gazed at the jewels, I couldn’t help but wonder if material possessions could truly outweigh matters of the heart.
“What is your plan now, Isabella?” Vanessa asked me on our way back inside.
“I am not sure yet,” I replied.
“What about Lord Aric?”
“I don’t care about that guy, Vanessa. I am not planning to get married anymore!” I declared and she gasped in shock.
“You are just kidding, right?”
“Do I look like I am kidding right now?”
“Of course not, Isabella.”
After being reborn, I became fiercely protective of my heart. I couldn't bear the thought of being deceived again, so I vowed to remain single rather than marry someone who would turn into a nightmare.
But then, Dad thought I was just being impossible and throwing tantrums now and then. Once again, he tried to talk to me about Aric, but I remained firm with my decision. There’s no way I would be marrying the man who would cause my death! Never!
“Then, if you don’t want Aric Stormheart to be your husband, I will look for someone else,” Dad warned me.
“No, you wouldn’t!”
“Try me,” he said, and I raised my eyebrows at his response before walking away.
Initially, I thought he was just joking, but then, he was serious. He secured numerous marriage proposals from prominent families, much to my frustration, but then, my decision was final. I wouldn’t be marrying anyone!
My father, Alpha William Drake, was enraged by my stubbornness. He couldn't understand why I was so resistant to the idea of marriage. Determined to find a solution, he took matters into his own hands and arranged a marriage for me with a werewolf billionaire named Lucas Giovanni De Rossi. He said it was his last resort but the name didn’t sound significant to me.
“This man would put you in your place, Isabella,” he said as if he was trying to warn me not to mess with the man he chose for me.
“My place is in Pembroke, Dad. I was born here, so I am going to die here,” I replied.
“What do you mean by that?” he yelled.
“It means I am not getting married, and when you are gone, I am going to lead the pack by myself!”
“That’s nonsense! And who would rule after you?”
“Why should I worry about it now, Dad? You are still healthy, so I don’t even think I would be able to lead the place in twenty or thirty years!”
“Insolence!” he shouted.
I resented being forced into another marriage. On the other hand, I understood that my father was trying to secure a prosperous future for our pack. I knew I had to consider the bigger picture, even if it meant sacrificing my own desires, but then, I couldn’t.
“Dad, I appreciate your efforts in securing marriage proposals for me, but I don’t want to get married. Not now or even in the near future,” I told him, and he furrowed his brows.
“I don’t understand why you are being like this, Isabella. First, you rejected the man you love,” he mumbled while shaking his head.
“Shouldn’t marriage be built on love and mutual respect?”
“Aric loves you and respects you, Isabella,” he pointed out.
“My dear, love is important but it’s not the only foundation for a successful partnership. Take me and your Mom as an example. We weren’t even fated mates, but look at us now. We are so good together,” he tried to convince me.
“Then, congrats, Daddy. However, not everyone has the same fate as you. You are lucky to have Mom, but what about me?”
"Isabella, I want nothing more than for you to be happy. I believe that this marriage has the potential to bring happiness to both you and our pack. Give it a chance, my dear."
“No, Daddy. Never! I would never marry the man you choose for me!”