The Alpha Regretted Having An Affair

with makeup-just a loose white linen shirt, cropped jea

sh snow, my lips a vivid red from

fly when he saw me, his breath hitching like a c

I cut in, my tone cool,

at Halcyon? When'd you learn to sk

with guilt, but he said nothi

g over with a provocative smirk, extending a ha

ere, I'm

nored

om, her silk dress rustli

glance before warmly

ng fun? Make yo

a supporting department head at pack Council. I

ssed by the pack elders. But Evelyn's introduction-reducing me to a mere employee-was

o a union between the Bl

gly, her ponytail swinging a

? I thought Alpha Adrian on

r looking at Va

pha Adrian, studying his fac

ned cold, detached-as if

see what w

ant to talk business?"

, in front of ever

Since you're here, stay fo

e got plans." I

oice snappe

nd this is your attitude? No respect for t

, my gaze calm

on't regret it when your litt

at the dining table, sit

to Alpha Adrian, clinging

playing checkers. You wer

rm free, his eye

you play

turning to me

th hand-painted pieces, but the game in

ian had been l

rs teaching me strategy, growling p

for coddling. He just didn

a cold smile tu

sa? Might teach you a thing

eyes flashed w

ce like a cub who thinks she's k

r blue

e pieces, turning on

e. Calm, stead

, placing pieces

d, clearly fav

dom, scattered, like

tared at the bo

ard fil

ght she was cornering my

reasoned: if she couldn't win,

ow embarrassing for her

," I said,

ee pieces lined

and she'd clea

me, praying I wouldn't notice the gaping hole in her

ng a fist like a cub who'd

thusiastically, he

ne by one, revealing a hidden line of blue checkers-pos

ast two pieces

ve decides the game, but V

ce, she doubled down

but I've got more pieces l

ce that had already been

r like she was

bend the rule

piece directly on top of V

in again. By you

defense, blocking her at every turn-my moves

then , as she demanded another r

ame, thir

g it with swift, brutal precision-treating Vanessa l

into tears, b

nou

pression icy enough to freeze the room-though whether

lf into his arms, sobbing like I'd personally a

er, rubbing her back like

ddling Vanessa while

ruthless? Typical lone wolf mentality

was fully severed, until I coul

do what

tossed my remaining pieces

drops of blood spla

nails had dug into my palms, drawing blood, a ne

ivi

a hint of worry, his gaze lingering

and, but Vanessa

ass doors sliding shut b

ha Adrian's number flashing

cond thought, deleting the

f a text to Evel

uncil gets an anonymous report

t the night he skipped the

e when she read it, her hand shaking

ve aim

heavy with rain, my thoughts unravel

scooter zipped in fron

I slammed on the brakes

t secon

an

rom behind, my head smacking the s

ehead, and for a moment, al