Her eyes widen briefly, unshielded vulnerability flickering across her features.
The raw emotion there–pain, longing, regret–mirrors my own with startling intensity. My chest constricts painfully, air suddenly difficult to draw.
She quickly masks her expression, breaking our connection and turning away.
I ache instantly for her warmth, desperate to bridge the widening chasm between us.
Why does she still hold such power over me after everything we’ve endured?
I should despise her, yet my soul screams to protect her, to hold her tight and never let go.
The song ends, breaking the fragile spell between us.
Lila clings to me, oblivious to the turmoil raging inside my heart.
50
As we step from the dance floor, my wolf growls with frustration, pushing memories of Siena to the forefront of my mind- the softness of her laughter, the warmth of her hands tangled in mine, the fierce loyalty that once defined our bond.
Anger flares within me, directed not at Siena, but at myself.
The memories burn, vivid and painful, tearing open wounds I thought had healed. Yet beneath that pain lies regret–deep, consuming regret for how I’ve treated her, for the cruelty I’ve inflicted.
Lila tugs softly at my arm again, grounding me back to reality. Her eyes glitter with urgency, sensing my wandering attention. “Raiden, please,” she whispers, a hint of desperation coloring her tone. “Stay with me tonight. I need you.”
My body tenses instinctively, wary of her clinginess.
Why does her touch suddenly feel suffocating, her presence heavy with obligation rather than comfort? I force myself to nod, swallowing past the bitter taste of guilt. “Of course, Lila.”
Yet even as I agree, my heart twists painfully, resisting the thought of sharing my space with anyone but Siena. Of allowing anyone else to fill the emptiness she left behind.
Siena retreats further away, her elegant figure disappearing into the crowd. Something inside me shatters, an aching emptiness spreading through my chest.
My wolf howls mournfully, mourning a bond fractured by misunderstanding and pain. I clench my fists, fighting to contain the overwhelming urge to chase after her, to beg forgiveness for the wounds I’ve inflicted.
But pride roots my feet to the ground.
She betrayed me first I whispering bitterly–I owe her nothing, least of all an apology. Still, the ache within my heart deepens, whispering truths I refuse to acknowledge.
The evening progresses, I drift through meaningless conversations, my attention perpetually drawn back to Siena.
My wolf refuses to silence his longing, snarling insistently every time another Alpha approaches her. The possessiveness crashes over me in relentless waves, threatening to drown me.
Finally I manage to break fee, of the thousand of eyes that watch me, but most of all, from Lila.
On the balcony, the cool night air fills my lungs, soothing the fire raging within.
Stars glitter silently overhead, indifferent to my torment. Yet their distant coldness offers no answers–only a stark reminder of my isolation.
Chapter 32
62%
Behind me, footsteps approach softly. My pulse quickens with foolish hope, expecting Siena’s presence. But when I turn, disappointment seeps bitterly through my veins.
Lila stands there, delicate and fragile, her expression shyly hopeful.
“Raiden,” she whispers, stepping closer. Her hands reach tentatively toward me, seeking reassurance. Yet her touch feels foreign, lacking the warmth my soul craves.
I step back involuntarily, disoriented by the intensity of my own resistance. Hurt flashes across her features, quickly masked by practiced innocence. “What’s wrong?” she asks softly, her voice trembling.
Everything, I want to roar. Everything about this feels wrong–this charade of affection, this empty pursuit of a bond that will never satisfy the ache within me. But I bite back the cruel words, unwilling to wound her further.
“I just need air,” I mutter gently, turning away from her pleading gaze.
She hesitates briefly, sensing the invisible barrier between us. Wit
indifferent stars.
a quiet sigh, she retreats, leaving me alone beneath the
1 grip the balcony railing tightly, my knuckles white with tension. Inside me, the bitter war continues–my wolf demanding I reclaim Siena, my pride insisting on maintaining distance. Yet beneath it all simmers an emotion I can’t ignore- undeniable.
Regret.
Haunted by the memory of Siena’s wounded expression when I introduced Lila as my chosen mate. I close my eyes. Her dignity in the face of my cruelty leaves me shaken, ashamed of
my callousness.
Could everything I’ve believed about her be wrong? Could I have misjudg
The possibility terrifies me, exposing vulnerabilities I’ve desperately hidd?
completely?
behind layers of bitterness and anger..
But as the night stretches on, I can no longer deny the truth whispered by my aching soul: my heart still belongs irrevocably to Siena despite every betrayal and heartache we’ve endured.
And the realization leaves me utterly broken, consumed by regret for everything I’ve lost–for everything I foolishly threw
away.
It makes no matter; I think she’s
gone
now.
