Alle Kapitel von Some Things Can't Be Taken Back, Alpha: Kapitel 1 – Kapitel 10

Ryan shoved Claire away and rushed over to me."Erin, let me explain."His breathing was still ragged. Claire's lipstick stained the corner of his mouth. Worse, another she-wolf's scent clung to him so strongly that it stung my nose.A werewolf's nose never lies.But he acted like words could erase everything. "She just kissed me out of nowhere. I didn't react in time. I never meant to betray you. You're the one I've always loved."I looked at the hand that had just gripped Claire's waist and said nothing.Ryan panicked even more. He reached for me, then froze when I stepped back."I've never considered breaking the mate bond or walking away from you and Nora."Finally, I spoke. "Then why do you regret mating with me?"Something shifted in his eyes.He took a long time to answer. "I just miss being free sometimes. Back then, I wasn't Alpha, and I didn't have a family. I could go wherever I wanted without answering to anyone."Missing it doesn't mean I don't love you. Other mated wolves

The next morning, Ryan was clumsily frying eggs in the kitchen.I leaned against the doorframe and watched him for a long time. Finally, I said, "I don't need you to kick Claire out of Northridge. I don't need you to humiliate her in public."All you have to do is ask her to meet with us and tell her in front of me that last night's kiss wasn't an accident. You both crossed a line. From now on, except for essential pack business, you won't give her any reason to think there's room for something more."Ryan had seen the half-packed suitcase in the corner of the bedroom.Real panic finally showed on his face."Okay."He nodded right away. "I promise. This time, I won't let you down."That afternoon, we met at a human café in neutral territory.No pack guards. No Alpha, no Beta. Just three ordinary customers.Claire sat across from us, pale."Ryan, we've known each other for over ten years."We've trained together and guarded the border side by side since before you became Alpha. Can more

The world pieced itself back together before my eyes.When I opened my eyes, Nora and I were standing in my apartment, back in my own world.Everything was exactly as it had been three years ago: the clock on the wall, the street outside the window, even the cup I hadn't put away before I left.The System told me that hardly any time had passed in this world.[Ten-billion-dollar reward permanently forfeited.][All mission-world assets, mate status, and relationships in Northridge reset to zero.][Accompanying person: Nora.][Restoring your identity in your original world and generating a legal identity, medical records, and pack registration for Nora.]Nora was clearly struggling to adjust.She clutched her little paper lantern, sniffed the unfamiliar air, and asked quietly, "Mommy, when's Daddy coming to get us?"All I could do was pull her into my arms."Daddy went somewhere far away. He can't come back right now."Once we returned to my old pack, the first thing I did was take Nora

Later, Claire went to see Ryan again.She finally admitted she'd wanted me gone from the moment she kissed Ryan."You said yourself you regretted settling down so early. I thought once she was gone, you'd come back to me."Ryan looked at her for a long time."It was never you I missed."Claire went pale.Ryan went on. "What I missed was being the man who never had to face the consequences. My family gave me stability. You gave me an excuse to avoid responsibility."I was the greedy one. Erin wasn't asking too much of me."Claire's eyes were red. "But I'm the one who kissed you first."Ryan shook his head."And I'm the one who kissed you back."I'm the one who held you. I'm the one who kept giving you hope."He stripped Claire of all the privileges that came with being his personal Beta and made her move out of the core territory. The Elder Council took over all her official duties.Then, at a Northridge pack meeting, he publicly stepped down as Alpha.He didn't argue or pressure anyone

That first Sunday afternoon, Ryan showed up an hour early.He was carrying two big bags.When I brought Nora downstairs, he jumped up. "Nora, Daddy got you a stuffed animal and one of those puzzles you used to like."Nora took the bags, looked inside, and set them back on the bench."I don't want them."Ryan's hand froze in midair. "Then what do you want? Tell Daddy."Nora thought about it."I used to want you to take me to the zoo."But every weekend you said the pack needed you."Ryan said immediately, "Let's go now. Daddy will take you right now.""But I don't want to go anymore."Then Nora ran off to play on the slide by herself.Ryan stood there like he suddenly didn't know what to do.I sat on the bench looking at my phone.He came over, but he didn't dare sit next to me."Erin, thank you for still letting me see her.""Don't thank me. The System's rule allows you to see her. That doesn't mean I'm taking you back."He was quiet for a while. Then he took a piece of candy out of hi