THE REGRET

Ava's POV

I wished the ground would open up and swallow me whole.

Of all the ways I'd imagined meeting my fated mate, and trust me, I'd imagined plenty, projectile vomiting on him had never made the list.

"Oh god," I gasped, stumbling backward. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to…"

The stranger held up a hand, stopping my rambling apology. His expression was unreadable as he looked down at his ruined jacket. Then, slowly, his eyes lifted to mine.

"You're my mate." It wasn't a question.

"I... yes. I think so. The scent..." I couldn't finish the sentence. My mind was reeling from everything that had just happened. Adrian's public humiliation, Sophia's lies, and now this.

"You're crying." He reached out like he was going to wipe my tears, then seemed to remember the vomit situation and dropped his hand.

"I'm having a really bad night," I said, voice breaking.

"Ava!" Adrian's voice echoed down the hallway. He was coming after me.

The stranger's eyes hardened. "Someone's looking for you."

"I need to go." I turned to leave but his hand caught my wrist.

"Wait. I don't even know your name."

"Ava Morrison."

"I'm…"

"Ava!" Adrian rounded the corner, Sophia trailing behind him. He froze when he saw me with the stranger, his eyes dropping to where the man's hand circled my wrist.

"Let go of her," Adrian growled, his Alpha aura flaring.

The stranger's lips curved into a cold smile. He didn't release me, didn't even acknowledge Adrian's command. "And you are?"

"Alpha Adrian Sawyer of Crescent Moon Pack. That's my chosen mate you're touching."

"Chosen mate." The stranger's tone made it clear what he thought of that arrangement. "How unfortunate for you that she's my fated mate."

The hallway went silent. Adrian's face drained of color.

"That's not possible," Sophia said shrilly. "She can't have a fated mate. She's a nobody!"

The stranger's eyes cut to her, and even I shivered at the ice in his gaze. "You should teach your mate some manners, Alpha Sawyer. Before she insults someone who could destroy your entire pack without breaking a sweat."

Adrian's jaw clenched. "Who are you?"

"You don't recognize him?" An older man appeared behind Adrian and Sophia, and he looked furious. "This is Alpha Dante Salvatore. The Alpha King's son. And you just let your chosen mate vomit on him."

My stomach dropped. The Alpha King's son. The most powerful unmated Alpha in the entire region. And I'd thrown up on him.

"I need to leave," I whispered, trying to pull away from Dante. But his grip remained firm.

"You're not going anywhere until we talk," Dante said.

"She doesn't want to talk to you!" Adrian stepped forward, his wolf rising to the surface. I could see it in the way his eyes started to glow.

"Adrian, don't," I warned. Fighting the Alpha King's son would be suicide.

"Listen to your mate," Dante said casually. "Though I use the term 'your mate' loosely, considering she's actually mine."

"She was mine first!"

"And yet I'm the one the moon goddess chose for her." Dante's voice dropped dangerously low. "Now, you can either walk away peacefully, or I can make you leave. Your choice."

For a moment, I thought Adrian might actually attack. His whole body was tense, his hands clenched into fists. But then the older man, who I assumed was someone important in the Alpha King's court, put a hand on Adrian's shoulder.

"Stand down, Alpha Sawyer. You're already on thin ice after that display in the ballroom."

Adrian's eyes met mine. "Ava, please. Come back to the hotel with me. We need to talk about this."

"There's nothing to talk about," I said quietly. "You made your choice. You chose Sophia."

"I chose wrong," he said desperately. "I see that now. Please, just give me a chance to…"

"Alpha Sawyer," Dante interrupted. "I'm going to give you ten seconds to remove yourself from my presence before I lose what little patience I have left."

Adrian looked at me one more time, his expression pleading. When I didn't say anything, he turned and walked away. Sophia shot me a venomous glare before following.

The older man bowed slightly to Dante. "My apologies for the interruption, Prince Dante. I'll ensure you're not disturbed again."

As soon as we were alone, Dante released my wrist. "We need to talk somewhere private."

"Your suit?"

"It can be replaced. You, apparently, cannot." He shrugged out of the ruined jacket and draped it over a nearby chair. "Come."

It wasn't a request. He started walking and, after a moment's hesitation, I followed.

He led me through a maze of hallways until we reached a private office. The moment the door closed behind us, the full weight of what had happened hit me.

"I have a fated mate," I whispered.

"So it would seem." Dante moved to a small bar in the corner and poured two glasses of whiskey. He handed one to me.

I took a sip, grateful for the burn. "This is insane. A week ago, I thought I'd spend my life with Adrian. Now he's found his mate, I've found mine, and I just humiliated myself in front of the most powerful people in the region."

"The vomiting was memorable," Dante agreed, a hint of amusement in his voice.

"I'm sorry about that. I have anxiety, and crowds make it worse, and tonight has been..." I trailed off, not sure how to explain the disaster that was my life.

"Alpha Sawyer seems very attached to you for someone who found his fated mate."

"We were together for four years. He promised nothing would change when he found his mate. But everything changed."

"Of course it did. The mate bond is powerful." Dante studied me over his glass. "Tell me, Ava Morrison, do you still love him?"

The question caught me off guard. Did I? A week ago, the answer would have been an immediate yes. But now...

"I don't know," I admitted. "I love who he was. Who we were together. But that person doesn't exist anymore. And I don't think I can compete with a fated mate bond."

"You shouldn't have to compete at all." Dante set down his glass. "The moon goddess chose us for each other. That bond is absolute."

"I barely know you."

"We have time to change that."

I let out a bitter laugh. "Do we? Because from where I'm standing, my life is a complete mess. I was planning to move out of Adrian's pack after tonight. I don't even know where I'll go or what I'll do."

"You'll come with me."

I blinked. "Excuse me?"

"You're my mate. Your place is at my side." He said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"I'm not going anywhere with a man I just met, fated mate or not."

"Then get to know me." He moved closer, and I became very aware of how tall he was. How intense his gaze was. "I'll give you time to settle your affairs with Alpha Sawyer. One week. Then you come to my territory and we begin our life together."

"You're very presumptuous."

"I'm honest. I've waited twenty-eight years for my mate. Now that I've found you, I'm not letting you go." His hand came up to cup my cheek. "But I'm not a monster. I won't force you. I'll court you properly, earn your trust. Just give me the chance."

The bond hummed between us, urging me to lean into his touch. It felt different from what I'd had with Adrian. This is stronger, more intensel. Like coming home.

"One week," I heard myself say. "But I'm not making any promises."

"Fair enough." He pulled out his phone. "I'll need your number."

We exchanged information, and then he insisted on walking me back to find Catherine. The gala was still in full swing, but the moment we entered the ballroom, every conversation stopped.

People stared as we walked through the crowd. I could feel their speculation, hear the whispers.

"Is that..."

"The Alpha King's son..."

"She was with Alpha Sawyer earlier..."

"Did you see what happened on the balcony..."

Catherine found us first, her eyes widening when she saw who I was with. "Your Highness," she said, bowing her head slightly.

"You're Ava's companion for the evening?" Dante asked.

"Yes, sir. Catherine Sawyer."

"A relation to Alpha Adrian?"

"His aunt by marriage."

Dante's expression darkened slightly, but he nodded. "I'll leave Ava in your capable hands then. I expect we'll be seeing each other soon."

He lifted my hand and pressed a kiss to my knuckles, his eyes never leaving mine. Then he was gone, disappearing into the crowd like a dark prince from a fairy tale.

"Oh my god," Catherine breathed. "The Alpha King's son is your fated mate?"

"Apparently." I felt dazed, like nothing that had happened tonight was real.

"We need to leave. Now. Before Adrian finds you again."

She was right. I could see Adrian across the room, his eyes locked on me with an intensity that made my skin prickle. Sophia was talking to him, but he wasn't paying attention.

We slipped out a side entrance and made it to Catherine's car. As we pulled away from the Alpha King's estate, I finally allowed myself to breathe.

"So," Catherine said carefully. "Prince Dante Salvatore is your fated mate."

"I know. It's insane."

"It's perfect! Do you know how powerful he is? His pack controls the entire eastern territory. He's wealthy, influential, and from what I hear, fiercely loyal to those he cares about."

"He's also a complete stranger who expects me to uproot my entire life and move to his territory in a week."

"Are you going to do it?"

I looked out the window at the passing scenery. Was I? A week ago, I thought I knew exactly what my future looked like. Now everything was uncertain.

My phone rang. A text from Adrian: We need to talk. Please don't ignore me.

The phone rang again. This one from Dante: Sleep well, little mate. Dream of me.

I turned off my phone and closed my eyes. Tomorrow I'd figure out what to do. Tonight, I just wanted to forget this entire nightmare had happened.

But when Catherine dropped me off at the packhouse, Adrian was waiting on the front steps.

"We need to talk," he said, standing as I approached. "Now."