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Chapter 35: Suspicions
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2025-03-25 11:29:48
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Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate Chapter 36: A Father Figure
Penelope’s POVMy jaw ached from clenching my teeth during the confrontation with Dominic. My pulse still hammered against my throat as I tried to steady my breathing.Council members hurried past me, their whispers following like little daggers. They’d witnessed everything—Dominic’s possessiveness, my rejection, Debbie’s existence revealed. The political fallout would be a nightmare. Pack alliances hinged on less scandalous revelations than my secret child.At least she was safe.Ryan barreled toward me. His eyes bulged with panic, red blotches covering his neck. His normally slicked-back hair stood in disarray, as if he’d been tearing at it. Clearly, he was still searching for Debbie.“Princess!” He skidded to a stop, gasping for air. “D-Debbie—I can’t—she was right beside me and then—” He bent over, hands on knees. “One second checking a security alert on my phone, and she—she vanished!”“Calm down, she’s safe, but how could you?” I hissed, digging my fingernails into my palms to ke
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-04-04Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate Chapter 37: The Birthday Dinner
Penelope’s POVMy fingers jerked a little as I accepted the strawberry cone from Edward. A small drop of pink landed on my wrist, sliding down to my pulse point.The sweetness, as it hit my nose, cut through the scent of Dominic that somehow still clung to my clothes from our confrontation.“Thank you,” I said, running my tongue along the edge of the ice cream.The cold, sweet flavor burst across my tongue, bringing back childhood memories of summer pack gatherings. A strange impulse seized me then.“Edward, would you like to join us tonight? It’s my father’s sixty-fifth birthday dinner.”I surprised myself with the invitation. My father’s birthday dinners were sacred, family-only affairs.Edward’s eyebrows shot up, his eyes widening. “Are you sure? I wouldn’t want to intrude on a family celebration. Birthday dinners are usually private matters.”“I’m sure.”The certainty in my voice surprised even me. Something about his gesture, so simple yet thoughtful, broke through barriers I hadn
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-04-04Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate Chapter 38: The Lineage
Penelope’s POVMy hand flew to my throat, fingertips brushing the tender spots where the beast had tried to strangle me. I’d forgotten about the marks in all the chaos with Debbie and Dominic. The skin felt hot, pulsating faintly under my touch.“It’s nothing,” I lied, dropping my hand quickly. “Just a training accident.”My father growled, the sound rumbling low in his chest like thunder. He rose from his chair, crossing the room in three swift strides. His fingers gently tilted my chin up, exposing the full extent of the bruising.“Those are handprints,” he said flatly. “Someone tried to choke you. These aren’t training bruises.”Debbie looked up from where she’d been arranging decorative pillows on the floor, her eyes widening. “Mommy has an owie?”“It’s okay, sweetheart,” I said quickly, forcing a smile. “Mommy just had an accident. Nothing to worry about.”She frowned, unconvinced. “Does it hurt? Want me to kiss it better? Grandma says kisses have magic.”Before I could answer, my
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-04-04Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate Chapter 39: The Price of Power
Penelope’s POVI froze, my fork suspended midway to my mouth. “Awaken my lineage?” The piece of roast fell back to my plate. “Is that even possible?”My father’s eyes locked with mine across the birthday candles. The flames reflected in his pupils, ancient and knowing.“It’s not only possible—it’s necessary.” He pushed his plate away and leaned forward. “The marks on your neck confirm our worst fears. These mutations, these attacks…they’re targeted, Penelope.”Edward shifted beside me, his knee brushing mine under the table. “Alpha Nathan, forgive my ignorance, but I understood the Moon God lineage awakens naturally in times of extreme need.”My father shook his head. “Not always. Sometimes it requires…assistance.”“What kind of assistance?” I asked, my stomach knotting.Debbie squirmed in her booster seat, chocolate smeared across her chin. “What’s a lin-ee-age, Mommy?”Before I could answer, my mother stood abruptly. “Debbie, darling, would you like to see Grandpa’s birthday cake? It
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-04-05Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate Chapter 40: Something Unexpected
Penelope’s POVI tucked the blanket around Debbie’s small body, smoothing it under her chin. Her eyelids fluttered, fighting sleep even as exhaustion pulled her under.“One more story?” she pleaded, voice thick with sleepiness.“Not tonight, sweetheart.” I kissed her forehead, breathing in her clean scent of baby shampoo and innocence. “Mommy has to go out for a little while.”“With Edward?” She yawned, eyes already closing.I hesitated. “Yes. And Grandpa.”“He’s nice.” Her words slurred as sleep claimed her. “Makes you smile…”I watched her drift off, wondering if she was right. Did Edward make me smile? After years of Dominic’s cruelty, I’d forgotten what genuine happiness felt like. Now wasn’t the time to analyze my feelings. I had a ritual to face.I slipped from her room, closing the door quietly behind me. I stared down the empty hallway, dreading what awaited me at its end. Every step toward tonight’s ritual felt heavy, like walking into quicksand.In the living room, I jumped a
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-04-05Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate Chapter 41: The Ritual
Penelope’s POVI stood at the lake’s edge, my bare feet sinking into cool, damp sand. The water shimmered under the full moon, unnaturally still despite the night breeze that tousled my hair.“Step onto the altar,” my father instructed. “The moon must touch your skin directly.”I moved to the stone platform jutting into the lake. Its surface felt ice-cold against my feet. The pack elders formed a semi-circle behind me and begin to chant in their high, melodious voices.“What happens now?” I asked, struggling to keep my voice steady.My father nodded to the oldest elder—Gerrard, whose white beard reached his waist. The ancient wolf raised gnarled hands toward the moon and began an incantation in a language I didn’t recognize.The lake responded immediately. Ripples spread outward from the altar, though nothing had disturbed the surface. The water started to glow silver-blue, pulsing in time with the elder’s chanting.“Papa?” I called anxiously.“Watch,” he replied, his eyes fixed on the
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-04-05Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate Chapter 42: Pressure Point
Penelope’s POVThe elders departed one after another, their ceremonial robes disappearing into the darkness like ghosts.I stood by the emptied lake, my legs still shaky from the failed ritual. The water rippled where the Moon Goddess tear had returned, a perfect circle expanding outward until it touched the shore where I stood.My father approached. “Are you unwell?” he asked, stopping beside me.I shook my head, though nausea still churned in my stomach. The moonlight striking my face highlighted my pallor.“I’ll survive,” I said firmly. “Disappointed, but resilient.”“Good,” he replied, squeezing my shoulder. “We don’t show weakness, not even when alone.” He glanced toward Edward, who waited several yards away, pretending not to watch us. “See him to the territory gates. I’ll expect you at home afterward.”“Yes, Papa.” I nodded, my mind still reeling from everything that had happened—the ritual, the sabotage, the mysterious corpses in our sacred lake.Edward fell into step beside me
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-04-05Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate Chapter 43: Blood Evidence
Dominic’s POVPack elders droned on. I drummed my fingers against the oak table, forcing myself to pay attention as they pointed to the markings on our territory map.“As you can see, Alpha Dominic,” Elder Marcus intoned gravely, his gnarled finger circling our land on the sheepskin map. A bright scarlet mark surrounded our main hunting grounds. “Your territory has become a high-risk zone for these mutations. We’ve documented seven sightings in the past month alone.”I leaned forward, careful not to show the anxiety roiling me. “And confirmed attacks?”“Three,” Elder Thorne added. “Two survivors with extensive injuries. One fatality—a young scout found disemboweled near the eastern boundary.”“Disemboweled but not eaten,” Marcus clarified. “These creatures don’t hunt for food. They kill for sport, or perhaps…”“Testing their abilities,” I finished, a chill racing down my spine. “Someone’s creating these abominations as weapons.”The council members shifted uncomfortably. No one wanted
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-04-05
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Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate Chapter 63: Dinner Revelations
Dominic's POVWe walked into the restaurant. The noise hit me first—kids yelling, parents talking, plates clanking. Families packed every table. The place wasn't fancy, but it looked clean and welcoming.Kids ran between tables while parents tried to make them sit down. A little boy at the table next to the door threw a piece of bread that hit his sister in the face. She screamed, and their mother scolded them both.I smelled melted cheese and fresh bread. My stomach growled. I hadn't eaten since breakfast, and after the competition, I was starving.“This is nice,” I said quietly to Penelope. “Being out together like this.”“Don't get used to it,” Penelope said. She kept her eyes forward, not looking at me.A waiter in a black uniform spotted us standing at the entrance. He walked over, notepad in hand.“Table for three?” he asked with a smile. His name tag said “Mike.”“Yes, please,” Penelope said. She kept one hand on Debbie's shoulder.“Right this way.” The waiter picked up three me
Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate Chapter 62: Confrontation
Penelope’s POVThe cool tile wall pressed against my back. Dominic stood over me, so close I felt his breath on my face. My heart pounded hard in my chest.He leaned down and sniffed near my neck. “I smelled it when I walked out,” he said in a low voice. “You want me.” He pulled back to look at my face. “You say you hate me, but you still know my size and favorite color.”I bit my lip, fighting the feeling that ran down my spine. “Don’t think so much of yourself,” I whispered angrily. “Debbie wanted to buy it for you.”Dominic’s knee suddenly pushed between my legs, his hard thigh muscle pressing through the thin fabric of my pants. The touch made me gasp.“Then why is your heart beating so fast?” he whispered in my ear.His smell—like pine trees and cold winter nights—wrapped around me. It was so familiar. My body moved toward him before I could stop it.I put my hands on his chest and pushed him back. “My daughter is outside,” I said sharply.Dominic stepped back. Something flashed i
Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate Chapter 61: Shopping Trip
Penelope’s POVDebbie waved her trophy in Tommy’s face, bouncing so hard her shoes squeaked on the pavement. Her red hair whipped around as she jumped. She flashed her gold medal in Tommy’s eyes.“See? I told you we’d beat you!” Debbie yelled, grinning from ear to ear. She held the trophy higher, making Tommy step back.Tommy’s face turned the color of a fire truck. He stomped one foot hard on the ground. “You only won because your ice cream uncle cheated! He broke all the thorns! That’s against the rules!”“Did not!” Debbie yelled back, clutching her trophy tighter. “He was just braver than your daddy! Your daddy was scared of the pointy things!”Tommy’s father stood ten feet away, pretending not to hear. His face darkened with each word. His competition outfit still looked clean, unlike Dominic’s blood-soaked clothes.I rubbed my forehead. The sound of children screaming made my head pound. I looked at Dominic, who stood nearby watching the kids fight. A small smile played on his lip
Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate Chapter 60: The True Face
Edward’s POVI slammed my fist onto the stone table, cracking it down the middle. The Rogue counselors flinched, their mutilated bodies hunching forward in the torchlight.“Incompetent fools!” I roared. “Hundreds of my creatures—destroyed! Months of planning—wasted!”The emergency meeting in the underground den had gone poorly from the start. Failure reports poured in from every territory. The defensive efforts of the wolf packs had decimated my mutated army faster than we could replace them.“Rogue King,” a counselor ventured timidly, his half-rotted face barely visible beneath his hood. “Perhaps we should reconsider our approach. The direct attacks aren’t working as expected.”I glared at him, enjoying how he shrank back into the shadows. “And what brilliant strategy would you propose instead?”The counselor’s mouth opened and closed several times. No sound emerged.“As I thought,” I sneered. “Useless.”I paced the length of the gloomy hall.. Twenty Rogue counselors sat at the long t
Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate Chapter 59: Victory’s Price
Penelope’s POVI watched Debbie rush onto the winners’ podium, her curls bouncing in the sunlight. Her face glowed with excitement as she waved frantically to everyone watching. The referee handed her a shining medal, which she immediately held up high above her head.Pride swelled in my chest, momentarily overwhelming my confusion about Dominic. She looked so happy, so triumphant. This was what mattered—her joy, her confidence. Not my complicated feelings about her father.“Look, Mom!” she called, bouncing on her toes. “It’s real gold! Or at least it looks like it!”I smiled and gave her a thumbs up. She deserved this moment of glory after working so hard in practice.Debbie suddenly turned toward me, eyes wide and hopeful. “Mom!” she called, waving me over. “Mom, can we take Uncle Ice Cream out for dinner tonight? To celebrate? Please?”Her pleading expression caught me off guard. Before I could respond, she’d already bounced off to collect her medal certificate, leaving me standing
Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate Chapter 58: Blood and Briars
Penelope’s POV“I’ll get you both to the finish line,” Dominic promised, his voice low. “I’ll make sure you win, even if it costs me.”I snorted, adjusting my blindfold as we continued through the tunnel. “How noble of you.”“This way,” he murmured, guiding me around another bend. “Five more steps, then we’re out.”I counted silently, and sure enough, the air changed on my fifth step. Brightness filtered through my blindfold as we emerged from the tunnel.“We made it!” Debbie cheered.I yanked off the blindfold, blinking as my eyes adjusted to the sunlight.The final challenge stood before us now—a dense briar patch stretching thirty yards across. Thorns longer than my fingers jutted from every twisted branch. A few families already circled the perimeter, fathers searching for the safest path through.“Rules are simple,” the referee announced. “Cross the briars to reach the finish line. Parents must protect their cubs from injury.”Tommy’s father probed the edge of the patch with a sti
Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate Chapter 57: The Challenge Begins
Penelope’s POVI rubbed my sweaty palms against my competition shorts as we approached the suspension obstacle. The referee stood ready, whistling between his lips, watching us take our positions at the starting line. Other families lined up alongside us.“Ready?” the referee asked.I felt Debbie jump at my side, her small hand squeezing mine. “We’re gonna win, right Mom?”I forced a smile. “We’ll try our best, sweetheart.”The referee blew his whistle, the shrill sound carrying across the entirety of the field. Families sprang into action all around us.“Both of you, hold onto me,” Dominic ordered, dropping to one knee. He gestured toward his neck and waist. “I’ll carry you across.”I froze, glaring at the direction of his scent through my blindfold like he’d grown a second head, but I could only see darkness. I heard the other fathers already hoisting their children onto their backs, but none attempted to carry both child and mother.“Mom, come on!” Debbie tugged at my arm impatientl
Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate Chapter 56: Truth and Lies
Penelope’s POV“Next up, solo agility course for five-to-six-year-olds!”Debbie bounced on her toes, already moving toward the starting line with the other cubs. The first events were individual showcases, allowing each pup to demonstrate their skills before the parent-child relays began.“Good luck, baby!” I called out, watching her scurry to her position.The moment she was out of earshot, I turned to Dominic. “Why were you at her training camp?”His jaw tightened. “What?”“Don’t play dumb,” I snapped. “Debbie told me you visited her training camp. What were you doing there?”“I wasn’t—”“She said you played games with them. That you were watching her.” I stepped closer, keeping my voice low but intense. “Were you spying on my daughter?”Dominic’s expression shifted, resignation replacing his initial denial. “Fine. Yes, I went to the camp.”“Why?” I demanded.“You know exactly why,” he replied, eyes locked on mine. “I needed to know if she was mine.”My heart hammered against my ribs
Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate Chapter 55: Unexpected Partner
Penelope’s POVI checked my phone for the twentieth time, anxiety agitating my stomach. Still no messages from Edward. No calls. No explanation for his absence.“Mom, when is Daddy Edward coming?” Debbie tugged at my shirt, her bottom lip quivering slightly.She wore her competition uniform—a miniature version of the traditional pack hunting gear, complete with the Iron Mountain insignia.“Soon, baby,” I lied, dialing his number again. The phone rang five times before going to voicemail, just like the previous attempts.Around us, the Rainbow Claw camp was on the go. Families gathered in the assembly area, parents helping their cubs stretch or practice last-minute techniques. Everyone had two parents present—everyone except us.“But the competition starts soon,” Debbie insisted, her green eyes filling with tears. “Tommy said we can’t play if we don’t have a dad. He said we’ll be disqualified."“Disqualified,” I corrected gently, smoothing her hair. “And Tommy doesn’t make the rules.”B
