All Chapters of Once His Mate, Now His Regret: Chapter 211 - Chapter 220

My father sank deeper into his chair, shoulders folding inward as though he wanted to vanish into the fabric. His face was pale, his hands gripping the armrests as if they were the only things keeping him steady. My mother, on the other hand, looked at him with an expression so sharp it could have cut glass—pure disappointment, tinged with disgust.“An Aldric,” she spat, her voice low but seething. “Is that why your mother wanted you with her? Because of her special golden eyes? Her special powers? Her family's influence?”My body stiffened, trembling from the inside out. The weight of her words pressed down on me. I turned to my father, but he said nothing. He didn’t even lift his head to meet her gaze. Shame clung to him like a second skin, and for once, the man who had always barked orders sat in silence like a guilty child.I forced myself to look away from him and turned toward Rhysland. “Why are you here?” My voice was clipped, rougher than I intended, but I couldn’t bring mysel

I guided Meriam carefully back to her seat, keeping a hand on her arm until she was steady. She looked worn down, her strength frayed at the edges, yet she still carried herself with the grace of a former luna. The fact that she had chosen to weep in my arms told me everything about how deeply broken she felt. From what I had overheard before stepping into the dining room, she had been holding her own against Nerissa, arguing with her sharply, but now the walls had finally crumbled. For her to allow herself that vulnerability with me— it meant she trusted me more than she trusted her son and husband.I lowered her gently into her chair and took my place beside her, while Cassiel settled on my other side, his quiet presence grounding me. I glanced at Maxwell across the table. He sat rigid, his hands folded too tightly, his face turned downward. He had always been good to me, kinder than most, though blind—hopelessly blind—when it came to his son’s cruelty. They had both, he and Meria

By the time Cassiel returned, the Crowe family were hunched together in the corner of the sitting room, talking in low, urgent tones. Their voices were hushed, the kind of careful conversation people have when they are trying to stitch something that is still bleeding. They were making up, with the excerption of Maxwell who no one was talking to. He's quite the coward. I know it's bad when I have a stronger back bone that a former pack leader. Cassiel caught my eye as he crossed the room and gave me a small, almost private nod. I returned it and felt the familiar, cold certainty that he had already moved through the house, checking what needed checking. He always did his work quietly and thoroughly.Meriam and Maxwell decided to go home after a few minutes. They had come to soften the blow, to make sure Matthias did not collapse over the news that he had a half sibling. They hugged one last time by the door, then left with Maxwell’s shoulders tight and weary. As the door shut behind

For the second night in a row, I didn’t sleep. I patrolled my home, walking through every hall, checking every corner, listening to every voice, and watching my servants with my eyes wide open for the first time. They betrayed me. There’s no one i can trust. Besides the woman whom I want. Nerissa didn’t sleep either. I kept catching her each time she tried to sneak out of the master bedroom to go to the downstairs guest room. She’d stare at me, flinch then go back in before I could ask her anything. This happened seven times over the night. Rhysland slept peacefully. His snore was loud enough to wake the whole house, assuming anyone was able to rest.I checked on him multiple times. He didn’t wake up once in the night, not even to pee. How can he sleep so well in a stranger’s house? I wouldn’t even be able to sleep well in my own office. And I’ve been forced to do so a lot. I sighed for the tenth time tonight. The sun was taking all the goddamn time in the world to come out. And si

I woke up before cassiel. My sleep had been rough. I couldn’t stand the thought of cassiel being in danger. And the fact that he could sleep peacefully was bothering me. Did he not value his life? His pack? Was he too confident? Or was he hiding his worry to ensure i didn’t freak out? So many questions. Very few answers. I looked up at him. His defined features, highlighted even more by the rays of sunlight peeking in through the curtains. I reached up, running my fingers over his jawline. Tracing patterns I’d gotten used to since we became something much more. It’s fair to admit i was in love with this man. I mean it was obvious, my heart stood no chance. I just have to find the time to tell him before death comes knocking at our door.I rested my chin on his chest, feeling the rise and fall as he took in each breath. I recalled everything that happened the night before. To be honest, i don’t really care about what’s going on matthias’s life, or his family’s life. None of those th