Lahat ng Kabanata ng Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate: Kabanata 251 - Kabanata 260

Penelope’s POVThe massive oak doors of the Council chamber felt heavier than usual as I pushed through them. Three days had passed since our return from the border settlements, and already the Alphas were back to their usual games.Maps covered the polished table at the center of the room. Red pins marked abandoned Rogue outposts across our territories. Blue pins showed successful defensive positions. The pattern was clear to anyone willing to look—our efforts were working.The Elder called the session to order with his ceremonial staff. Representatives from twelve territories filled the tiered seating, their voices low until silence fell.“Alpha Female Penelope will present her assessment of recent defensive operations,” he announced.I stepped forward, placing my hands on the table’s edge.“Intelligence confirms the Rogue King has withdrawn forces from seventeen forward positions,” I began, pointing to clusters of red pins. “Attack patterns show a clear retreat toward central strong

Julian’s POVThe command center reeked of blood and wet earth. I walked between Rogue fighters preparing weapons for tonight’s assault like I belonged there, nodding to familiar faces. Three years of playing this role had made the performance second nature.The Rogue King stood over a detailed map, red markers showing planned attack points across three territories. His fingers traced assault routes while subordinates nodded eagerly.Seeing him plan more destruction made my wolf pace restlessly beneath my skin.“Julian. Good, you’re here. I was just finalizing tonight’s operations.”“The Iron Mountain intelligence you requested,” I said, pulling out notes I’d prepared during the ride back. “Penelope’s shifted patrol patterns again, but there are still weak points we can exploit.”I handed him a detailed report that contained just enough truth to seem valuable while protecting the areas that really mattered. The art of successful deception lay in mixing lies with verifiable facts.“Excel

Penelope’s POVSage purred against my chest as I sat in my living room, mindlessly running my fingers through her soft gray fur. The innocent cat had no understanding of human deception, no awareness that her rescuer had been playing an elaborate game of lies.Julian’s confession replayed in my mind. Every word, every pause, every flicker of emotion across his face. Months of manipulation. Months of intelligence gathering disguised as friendship.Twice now. Twice I’d trusted men who’d worn masks while pretending to care about me.First the Rogue King himself, posing as Edward to get close to my bloodline. Now Julian, recruited by that same monster to infiltrate my inner circle.My judgment felt fundamentally broken, like some essential part of me that should recognize deception had been permanently damaged.Sage’s purr vibrated against my ribs as she kneaded her paws into my shirt. At least animals were honest about their needs—food, shelter, affection. No hidden agendas or secret loya

Penelope’s POVThe Rogue compound squatted in the valley like a infected sore, wooden structures and reinforced bunkers housing what Julian’s intelligence suggested was nearly a quarter of the Rogue King’s mutant army.Torches flickered along defensive walls that enclosed more mutated fighters than we’d ever faced in a single engagement. I crouched behind granite boulders with representatives from four territories, all arguing over how to breach their defenses“Frontal assault,” Alpha Mark declared, stabbing his finger at the rough map Ryan had sketched. “Hit them hard and fast before they can organize resistance.”“That’s suicide,” I said flatly. “Those walls are reinforced specifically against direct attack. We need infiltration from multiple points.”Mark’s laugh was mirthless. “Women’s tactics. All theory, no practical application.”My nostrils flared, but I kept my voice level. “My methods have proven effective in twelve previous engagements.”“Against scattered patrols and weak b

Dominic’s POVThe study walls closed in around me as I paced between bookshelves filled with pack history and pack law. Empty whiskey glasses sat on my desk alongside reports I couldn’t focus on reading. Three hours of trying to work had accomplished nothing except deepening my frustration.Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Penelope in that cabin—rainwater dripping from her hair, silver scars marking her shoulder, the way she’d grabbed my wrist when I reached for her. The memory burned in my chest.A knock interrupted my brooding. Nick entered without waiting for permission, carrying security reports and wearing his usual confident smile.“Evening updates,” he announced, dropping folders on my desk. “Border patrols report normal activity, no suspicious movements detected.”I nodded absently, my mind still trapped in that moment when time had stopped between us.“You look troubled,” Nick observed, settling into the chair across from my desk. “Something specific bothering you tonight?”