Semua Bab The Alpha's Regret : Bab 41 - Bab 50

The gallery classroom smelled like paint and possibility. Eight students sat at easels, ranging from a nervous teenager to Mrs. Chen, who'd decided retirement should include discovering her artistic side."Don't overthink it," I said, walking between the easels. "Art isn't about perfection. It's about expression. What you're feeling, what you're seeing, what you want to say."The teenager—Maya, a young wolf from the pack—raised her hand. "But what if what I'm feeling is just... confused?""Then paint confusion. Use colors that feel chaotic. Brush strokes that don't follow rules. There's no wrong way to express emotion."I demonstrated on my own canvas, letting the brush move freely, creating abstract swirls that captured the nervous excitement of the upcoming ceremony. Gold and cream mixed with deeper blues, representing joy and lingering fear.Mrs. Chen studied my work. "You're getting married soon, aren't you? Mated, I mean.""Six weeks," I confirmed."It shows in your painting. Tha

Two weeks until the ceremony.Mom had been planning this dinner for days—a pre-ceremony celebration with immediate family only. Me, Skyler, my parents, and Ronan. Intimate and slightly terrifying."Stop pacing," Skyler said from the couch. "It's just dinner.""It's the 'welcome to the family officially' dinner. That's different than regular dinner." I checked my reflection again. "Do I look okay?""You look beautiful. You always look beautiful." He stood, crossing to me. "And they already love you. You're their daughter.""But now I'm also your mate. That changes things.""It changes nothing." He kissed my forehead. "Except maybe your mom will stop asking when we're getting married since we're doing the wolf equivalent."We arrived to find the dining room transformed. Mom had gone all out—candles, the good china, flowers from her garden as centerpieces. Dad sat at the head of the table, walking without his cane now, looking healthier than he had in months."There they are!" Mom swept

One week until the ceremony.The cottage had become command central for last-minute preparations. Vera had taken over the dining table with her color-coded binders, tracking everything from catering to seating arrangements to backup plans for weather."The forecast shows clear skies," she announced, tapping her tablet. "But I've arranged for a tent rental just in case. And the caterer confirmed the menu—traditional pack feast with vegetarian options for human guests.""Human guests?" I looked up from my checklist."Patricia and a few others from Seattle. They're curious about pack culture." Vera grinned. "Don't worry, Marcus approved it. Apparently, the pack is trying to build better human-wolf relations in town."Elder Thomas arrived mid-morning with final instructions. He spread documents across the coffee table—ceremony order, positioning diagrams, phonetic pronunciations for the traditional phrases."This is overwhelming," I said, staring at the information."It's meant to be. The

The females gathered at my parents' house at noon. Mom, Elder Thomas's daughter Maya (the healer), three older pack women I'd known since childhood, and Vera, looking slightly out of place but determined."Welcome." Elder Thomas's wife, Catherine, stepped forward. I'd rarely seen her—she preferred to stay in the background, but her presence commanded respect. "The next three days belong to the females. We share wisdom, we prepare, we support. No males. No contact with your mate."My wolf whimpered at the words. I felt the bond stretch as Skyler moved farther away, toward the lodge."It hurts," I admitted."It should." Catherine gestured for me to sit. "The separation lets you feel the difference between bond and choice. By the ceremony, you'll know exactly why you're doing this."The first ritual was simpler than I expected. We sat in a circle, and each woman shared her mating story.Catherine went first. "Elder Thomas rejected me three times before accepting our bond. Stubborn man th

The pack had gathered in the ceremonial clearing—a natural amphitheater formed by ancient trees, with the full moon rising directly overhead. Lanterns hung from branches, casting golden light across the assembled wolves. Easily two hundred pack members, all dressed in traditional attire, all silent with anticipation.I waited at the eastern edge with the females, hidden from view by a wall of trees. Through the bond, I felt Skyler at the center, his nervousness matching mine."You'll enter when the moon crests the trees," Catherine instructed. "Walk slowly. With purpose. Every eye will be on you.""No pressure," I muttered.Vera squeezed my hand. "You've got this. Just focus on him."The drumming started—deep, rhythmic, ancient. My wolf rose up, recognizing something primal in the sound. This was pack. This was tradition. This was destiny and choice intertwined."Now," Catherine whispered.I stepped into the clearing.The pack created a natural aisle, wolves on both sides, their eyes