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Chapter 14 A New Threat
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2025-03-01 06:43:14
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Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate   Chapter 15 Ferocious
(Penelope)I stared at Dominic, refusing to let his barb pierce my composure.âI wasnât aware you were monitoring my schedule, Dominic,â I replied coolly. âHow thoughtful of you to concern yourself with my punctuality.ââThe council doesnât run on Moon Pack time, Penelope. Some of us respect tradition.ââAnd some of us were handling actual pack emergencies rather than preening for an entrance,â I shot back.Around us, council members and pack leaders paused their conversations, attention drawn to our confrontation like moths to flame. The circular chamber, ancient and imposing under its vaulted ceiling, suddenly felt too small.Dominic stepped closer, invading my personal space. âWhat emergency? Another nail broken? Or did your new fiancÃĐ need help picking out his tie?ââMy responsibilities are none of your concern,â I stated firmly. âYou lost the right to question me five years ago.ââLost the right?â He laughed harshly. âI still have every right. You may have broken our bond, but y
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-01Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate   Chapter 16 Cooperation and Competition
(Penelope) The council hall fell into silence after Alpha Kennethâs revelation. Black eyes. Wolves that wouldnât shift back. The implications sent chills racing down my spine.Alpha Gregory from the Western Lakes territory stood gravely. âKenneth isnât alone in his encounter. We captured one of theseâĶabominations last week.ââCaptured?â Alpha Benjamin looked shocked. âIs it still alive?ââIf you can call it that,â Gregory replied grimly. âThe creature fights against restraints day and night. Don't sleep. Barely eats. Just snarls and strains against silver chains that should have weakened any normal wolf.ââWhat about communication?â asked a female Beta from the southern territories. âHave any shown signs of intelligence or recognition?âGregory shook his head. âNothing recognizably sentient. Itâs as though the wolf has consumed the human entirely.ââThatâs not possible,â my father interjected firmly. âThe balance between wolf and human is fundamental to our nature. Nothing can perma
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-01Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate   Chapter 17 The Tables Turning
(Penelope) The council meeting adjourned after three exhausting hours of debate and planning. Pack leaders dispersed toward the buffet laid out in the adjoining hallâa tradition after these gatherings.The scent of roasted meats, fresh bread, and sweet pastries reminded me I hadnât eaten since breakfast. I selected a modest plate of rare venison, roasted vegetables, and a slice of crusty bread.Most Alphas clustered in groups, continuing discussions from the meeting while their Betas hovered nearby. I deliberately chose an isolated table near the large windows overlooking the Black Forest.I sliced a piece of venison, savoring the rich flavor as I gazed out at the ancient trees. My phone lay beside my plateâI needed to check on Debbie soon. The memory of her tearful face when I left her with Ryan twisted my stomach.âThis seat taken?âI didnât need to look up. Dominicâs scent announced his presence. He placed his plate across from mine without waiting for permission.âActually, I wa
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-01Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate   Chapter 18 Protection
(Penelope)I tucked my empty plate away and stood to leave when a heavy hand clasped my shoulder.âLeaving so soon?âI turned to face Alpha Reginald, one of the oldest members of the council. His silver hair slicked back against his scalp. His watery blue eyes raked over me appreciatively, lingering too long on places they shouldnât.âCouncil business calls,â I replied coolly, stepping back to break his contact.âSurely you have time for one drink?â He produced a crystal glass of ruby-red wine, extending it toward me. His yellowed smile stretched across his face. âA toast to our new partnership against these mutant threats.âMy instinct screamed to decline, but pack politics demanded certain courtesies. Reginald controlled three southern hunting grounds that Iron Mountain needed access to.âOne quick drink,â I conceded reluctantly.He pressed the glass into my hand, his fingers lingering against mine unpleasantly. âPenelope, Iâve always admired your beauty and leadership, as well as a
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-01Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate   Chapter 19 An Unexpected Surprise
(Penelope)The drug still pulsed through me, but consciousness had mostly returned. My fingers traced the torn button on my blouse absently.The trees thickened as we approached Iron Mountainâs borders. Security cameras disguised as bird nests monitored every approachâa modern addition my father had implemented after several attempted infiltrations last year. âItâs quite uncomfortable, having those in your face,â said Dominic. âI still donât have cameras at the packhouse.ââMaybe you should,â I observed simply. âTimes change. Threats evolve.âHe nodded thoughtfully. âThe rogue wolves?ââAmong other concerns.âThe car rounded a final bend, bringing Iron Mountainâs massive boundary gates into view.Without warning, a piercing alarm shattered the silence. Red lights flashed along the perimeter wall.Dominic slammed on the brakes as dark figures materialized from concealed positions, surrounding our vehicle in seconds.âWhat the hell?â he growled, staring at the warriors who had seeming
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-01Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate   Chapter 20 Disappointment
(Penelope)âEdward met Debbie?â I repeated. âWithout asking me first?âMy fatherâs brow furrowed. âI didnât realize youâd object. Heâs your arranged mate, after all.ââPotential mate,â I corrected sharply. âAnd Debbie is my daughterâmy responsibility. No one meets her without my permission.ââPenelope,â my father said soothingly, âyou need to see the healer. We can discuss Edwardâs visit afterward.âI shook my head stubbornly, ignoring the way it made the world swim. âI need to see Debbie first.ââThe drug in your systemâââIs fading,â I insisted, though my unsteady legs argued otherwise. âI promised her bedtime stories.âMy father sighed, recognizing the futility of arguing with me on anything concerning Debbie. âAt least let me help you to the house.âI accepted his support reluctantly as we made our way up the stone path to the main house. Pack members nodded respectfully as we passed, though their gazes lingered on my disheveled appearance.âWhat exactly did Ryan tell Edward abou
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-01Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate   Chapter 21 Return to Darkwood
Penelopeâs POVI stuffed the last shirt into my overnight bag and yanked the zipper shut. The clock on my nightstand read 7:15 AMâIâd barely slept at all, my mind racing about this visit Iâd promised. Going back to Darkwood territory after all these years felt like walking into a cage Iâd barely escaped.âMom, where are you going?â Debbieâs small figure appeared in my doorway, Sparkles the unicorn dangling from her hand. Her bright green eyes blinked up at me, worry written across her little face.I knelt down in front of her. âJust for one night, sweetheart. Iâll be back tomorrow before you know it.ââBut you never go away,â she whined, her lip jutting forward in that adorable way that never failed to tug at my heart. âNever ever.ââI know, baby.â I hugged her tight, breathing in her baby scent. âBut this is important. Grandma and Grandpa will stay with you the whole time.ââCan I come too?â she asked, brightening at the potential adventure.My chest tightened. âNot this time. But I
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-08Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate   Chapter 22 Memories
Penelopeâs POVI hurried up the steps into Sophiaâs embrace. Her arms wrapped around me, strong and warm and nothing like Dominicâs cold ones. She still used the same perfume, a blend of lavender and spice that brought back bittersweet memories.âLook at you,â she said, stepping back to examine my face. âSo beautiful and strong now. Nothing like the frightened girl who left us.ââThank you for inviting me,â I replied, suddenly emotional. âIâve missed you.âHer eyes crinkled as she smiled. âCome inside. We have years to catch up on.âThe pack house interior was also unchanged with its clean marble floors, antique furniture, portraits of past Alphas lining the walls. The smell of lemon polish and old wood brought back a flood of memories, not all unpleasant.Sophia led me to her private sitting room, a cozy space with plush chairs and bookshelves that reached the ceiling. A tea service waited on a small table.âSit, darling,â she urged, taking my hand. âTell me everything. These years
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-08
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Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate   Chapter 75: The Revelation
Penelopeâs POVThe world stopped turning. My lungs forgot how to breathe. Edward froze beside me, his face draining of color.Dominic leaned against the doorframe, his clothes torn and bloody, his skin covered in dirt and scratches. His gray eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that made my skin prickle. Despite his injuries, he stood straight.âYouâre alive?â Edward asked, his voice oddly flat.âAre you disappointed?â Dominic replied coldly.Something in his tone sent a shiver down my spine. What did he mean by that? I glanced at Edward, whose hands had tightened into fists at his sides.Edward recovered quickly, his shocked expression morphing into relief so perfect it almost seemed rehearsed. âWhat are you talking about? We were all worried about you.âI stood up, my body moving without conscious thought. My feet took one step forward, then stopped. Every cell in me wanted to run to Dominic, to touch him, to confirm he was real and not a grief-induced hallucination. The relief ma
Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate   Chapter 74: Waiting
Penelopeâs POVâHer condition has stabilized,â the healer told me, glancing at the monitors surrounding Debbieâs small bed. âThe wolf vine extract neutralized most of the silver toxin. Your blood transfusion did the rest.âI nodded automatically, barely processing his words. My body felt hollow, like someone had scooped out my insides and left nothing but an empty shell.âShe needs rest now,â he continued. âThe IV will keep her hydrated. With luck, sheâll wake by morning.ââThank you,â I mumbled.The healer patted my shoulder awkwardly before leaving the room. The door clicked shut behind him. Silence settled over us.I stared at my daughterâs face. Her color had improved. Her breathing came easier now. The immediate danger had passed. I should have felt relieved, but the weight on my chest only grew heavier.Dominic. Gone.My phone rang. Ryanâs name flashed on the screen. I grabbed it, heart leaping into my throat.âDid you find him?â I demanded.âWeâve searched the area below the cli
Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate   Chapter 73: Rescue
Dominicâs POVThe wind whipped around me as I plummeted through darkness. My stomach lurched into my throat. Time slowed. Each second stretched into eternity as gravity pulled me toward certain death.I reached out, fingers grasping at nothing but air. The cliff face disappeared above me, Edwardâs silhouette growing smaller against the night sky.My life didnât flash before my eyes like people claimed. Instead, a single face filled my mind: Penelope. Her green eyes, her stubborn chin, the way she protected Debbie so fiercely.âIâm sorry,â I whispered into the rushing air.The ground rushed up. I closed my eyes, bracing for impact. This was it.Something solid crashed into me mid-air. Not the groundâsomething warm and alive. My eyes flew open as strong limbs wrapped around my torso. A powerful body collided with mine, absorbing the momentum of my fall.We hit the ground hard but not fatally. The breath exploded from my lungs. Pain shot through my back, but it wasnât the shattering pain
Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate   Chapter 72: Heartbreaking News
Penelopeâs POVI looked around the room, scanning for any sign of Dominic. The hallway behind Edward remained empty. My gaze returned to Edward, a hint of urgency creeping into my voice.âDidnât Dominic come back with you?âEdwardâs face fell, his expression shifting to one of dejection. He lowered his head, unable to meet my eyes for several long seconds. When he finally looked up, his amber eyes showed what appeared to be genuine sorrow.âThere was an accident,â he said softly. âWe were both trying to reach the wolf vine. It was growing on the cliff face, difficult to access.â He paused, swallowing hard. âWe accidentally fell off the cliff while fighting for the wolf vine.âMy breath caught in my throat.âI managed to grab onto a ledge,â Edward continued. âBut DominicâĶâ He shook his head slowly. âCompetition is competition, but I never thought it would turn out like this.âHis words crashed in my mind, echoing painfully inside my skull. My heart ached as if physically torn in two. A
Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate   Chapter 71: A Motherâs Vigil
Penelopeâs POVI sat in the clinic room, the wound on my arm throbbing faintly beneath the bandages. The pain medication had dulled the worst of it, but nothing could numb the ache in my heart as I stared at Debbieâs small form on the hospital bed.My daughter lay unconscious, her skin unnaturally pale against the white sheets. Tubes and monitoring equipment surrounded her, beeping steadily with each heartbeat.I stroked her little hand with my fingers, willing her to wake up, to open her eyes and call me âMommyâ again.Outside the window, the sky was darkening. Night was falling, and still no word from Dominic or Edward. The wolf vine they sought was Debbieâs only hope, according to the healers.As I watched the shadows lengthen across the floor, a strange sensation washed over me. My heart gave a sudden, painful lurch, as if something important had been torn away. The feeling was so intense I gasped, my hand flying to my chest.âAre you alright?â A nurse checking Debbieâs vitals look
Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate   Chapter 70: Betrayal on the Cliff
Third Person POVThe question about Edwardâs Rogue characteristics distracted Dominic slightly, causing him to fall behind a few steps. He immediately refocused and accelerated his pursuit, pushing his muscles harder to make up the lost ground.The two wolves reached the cliff top almost simultaneously, both panting from the exertion. They reverted to their human forms, bodies materializing from fur and muscle.Standing at the edge of the cliff, they looked down at the steep rock face below. Several emerald green wolf vines swayed gently in the wind, their silver-edged leaves gleaming in the moonlight.Dominic and Edward exchanged a glance, mutual understanding passing between them despite their animosity. They simultaneously took a step toward the cliff edge, each determined to be the one to retrieve the life-saving plant.âWait,â Edward said suddenly, his eyes widening as he looked past Dominicâs shoulder. âLook! Penelopeâs coming?âDominic turned reflexively, his head whipping aroun
Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate   Chapter 69: Race Against Time
Third Person POVAfter the bandaging was done, Penelopeâs body temperature dropped dramatically. Her teeth chattered uncontrollably as shock set in. The silver toxin, though removed from her wounds, had sapped her strength and left her system vulnerable.Edward reacted quickly. He slipped off his expensive suit jacket and draped it gently over her shoulders. The fabric, still warm from his body, enveloped her like a protective shield.âThank you,â Penelope said weakly, pulling the jacket tighter around herself.Dominic watched the exchange, a pang of jealousy twisting in his chest. He stood awkwardly by the examination bed, suddenly aware he had nothing to offer herâheâd already torn his shirt into bandages.The emergency room doors suddenly burst open with a bang that echoed through the corridor. A healer strode out, his white coat stained with alarming amounts of blood.Dark circles shadowed his eyes as he removed his surgical mask. His expression, grave and exhausted, sent ice throu
Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate   Chapter 68: Silver
Penelopeâs POVI burst through the clinic doors, Debbie limping in my arms. âHelp!â I screamed. âMy daughter needs help!âMedical staff in white coats immediately surrounded us. A female healer with silver-streaked hair took Debbie from me.âSilver poisoning,â she diagnosed immediately, seeing the residue on my daughterâs neck. âGet her to emergency room three!âThey whisked Debbie away on a gurney, leaving me standing in the hallway, my arms suddenly empty. The adrenaline that had kept me going evaporated instantly. My knees buckled, and I collapsed onto a bench against the wall.Trembling overtook my body as I stared at the wounds on my arm. Blood continued to seep through Dominicâs makeshift bandages, dripping onto the white tile floor. I couldnât tear my eyes away from the crimson drops. My vision tunneled, focusing only on the blood that matched what had stained Debbieâs little dress.Edward moved first, squatting in front of me. He took my hands in his, trying to catch my unfocus
Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate   Chapter 67: Attack in the Restroom
Dominicâs POVI leaned across the table, keeping my voice low enough that nearby diners couldnât hear. âThere are many suspicious points about Rubyâs death. The knife wound on her stomach didn't match the mutantâs attack pattern. Your convenient arrival at the scene. The fact that you were the only witness.âEdwardâs face hardened instantly. âAre you implying I had something to do with her death?ââIâm simply pointing out facts,â I replied. âStrange coincidences surrounding you.ââThatâs slander,â Edward said sternly. âBe very careful about making such accusations without evidence, Dominic. My family name carries significant weight in pack politics.ââThreats now?â I asked. âThatâs telling.âEdwardâs lips curved into a cold smile. He abruptly changed the subject. âSpeaking of danger, I hear your pack territory has recently seen frequent occurrences of mutated werewolves. The Council has marked it as a high-risk area, hasnât it?â His tone turned mocking. âHardly seems like you could pro
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