Semua Bab The Alpha's Regret : Bab 11 - Bab 20

I returned to my parents' house after dark, drained and emotionally wrung out. Mom was already in bed, exhausted from her vigil at the hospital. Ronan was in his room on a phone call with someone from the pack. I slipped into my room unnoticed, grateful for the solitude.Sleep didn't come easy. When it finally did, I dreamed of steel-gray eyes and golden bonds that felt like chains.The next morning brought unexpected news: the Thornwood Pack was sending a delegation for treaty negotiations, and Alpha Marcus was hosting a dinner at the pack hall that evening. All ranking pack members were expected to attend."Do I have to go?" I asked Mom over breakfast."You're part of this pack, honey. Even if you've been away." She squeezed my shoulder. "Besides, it'll be good for you. You've been cooped up between here and the hospital. Some socialization might help."Socialization. Right. Because what I needed was to be trapped in a room full of wolves who would stare at me, whisper about why I'd

I should have gone back to the pack hall. Should have found my mother, stayed safe while the warriors handled the rogue attack.Instead, I ran deeper into the forest.My wolf pushed at my consciousness, demanding release. She wanted to fight, to protect, to prove we weren't the weak thing Skyler's rejection had made us feel like.I stripped quickly and let her emerge.Ember burst forward with a snarl, smaller than the other wolves but fast and fierce. We ran toward the sounds of battle, following the bond that pulled us toward Skyler like a compass pointing north.The eastern border was chaos.Five rogues—massive, scarred wolves with matted fur and wild eyes—had crossed into Silvercrest territory. They fought with the desperation of wolves who had nothing to lose, snapping and clawing at the pack defenders.I saw Ronan first, his gray wolf grappling with a rogue twice his size. Saw other pack members I recognized forming a defensive line. And there, in the center of the violence, was

By noon, word had spread through the pack about Skyler's meeting with Marcus. I tried to stay home, to avoid the gossip and speculation, but Ronan showed up and dragged me to Chrome & Fang."You need to be there," he said firmly. "Whatever Marcus decides, it affects you too.""How? I'm not the one who—""You're the reason he's falling apart, Wren. Like it or not, you're part of this." His voice softened. "And he might need you.""He doesn't get to need me.""Maybe not. But the pack needs stability. And right now, you're the only one who can give Skyler that."I wanted to argue, to tell Ronan he was wrong. But deep down, I knew he had a point. The bond made us interconnected whether I liked it or not. What affected Skyler affected me. And what affected both of us was now affecting the entire pack.Chrome & Fang was tense when we arrived. Pack members clustered in small groups, talking in low voices that stopped when I walked in. I felt their eyes on me—curious, judging, sympathetic—and

I left Elder Thomas's cabin more confused than ever. His words circled in my mind as I drove aimlessly through town, not ready to face my family's questions.*Make a choice.*Easy for him to say. He'd gotten his happy ending, thirty years of joy with a woman who'd fought for him. I didn't have that guarantee. All I had was pain and fear and a bond that wouldn't let me go.My phone buzzed. Jace.*Dinner tonight? There's this great Italian place in town. Say yes before I start begging.*I smiled despite myself. Maybe what I needed was a distraction. A chance to focus on something—someone—who didn't come with five years of baggage.*Yes. What time?**7? I'll pick you up.*I agreed and drove home to get ready. Mom was at the hospital with Dad, and Ronan was at work, so I had the house to myself. I showered, changed into a simple dress, and tried to ignore the guilt gnawing at my stomach.There was nothing wrong with going to dinner with Jace. We were friends. Just friends. And even if we

Skyler's lips met mine, and the world caught fire.It wasn't gentle. Wasn't tentative or careful. It was five years of longing compressed into a single moment—desperate, consuming, overwhelming. His hand cupped the back of my neck, fingers threading through my hair, while his other arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me flush against him.The bond exploded between us. Golden light burst behind my eyelids as the connection that had been dormant, damaged, dying, suddenly roared to life. I felt everything—his relief, his fear, his love so intense it made my knees weak.My wolf howled in triumph. *Mate. Finally. Ours.*I kissed him back with equal desperation, hands fisting in his shirt, years of denial crumbling to dust. He tasted like coffee and pine and home, and I couldn't get enough. When he broke away to trail kisses down my jaw to my neck, I gasped."Skyler—""Tell me to stop," he murmured against my skin. "Tell me this is too fast, too much, and I'll stop."I should have. Should