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Chapter 38: The Lineage
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-04-04 22:06:52
Bab terkait
Alpha'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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-05Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate Chapter 44: The Hunt
Penelope’s POVPungent scents assaulted my nose as I stood among dozens of heirs gathered for the annual hunt: pine needles, damp soil, rotting leaves, and deer musk alongside the scents of wolves.I rolled my shoulders, attempting to release the tension in my muscles.Elder Thomas, a withered wolf from Highland Pack with skin that hung in loose folds from his face, hobbled onto the wooden platform before the assembled hunters. He thumped his gnarled cane three times against the boards.“Welcome to our annual joint hunt,” he announced, his voice surprisingly strong despite his frail appearance. “This year brings significant changes to our tradition. Besides our usual prey—stag and boar—we’ve added a special challenge: tracking and eliminating any mutated werewolves spotted in these woods.”Murmurs rippled through the crowd like wind through tall grass.I spotted Edward across the gathering. He stood tall and straight-backed, nodding attentively to the elder’s words.“For safety reasons
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-05Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate Chapter 45: A False Alarm
Penelope’s POVThe creature roared again, but this time the sound seemed different—more of a pained moan than a threatening growl. I frowned, glancing at Dominic.“That doesn’t sound like a mutant,” I whispered.“No,” he agreed, sniffing the air. “It smells like…deer. And blood. A lot of blood.”We moved cautiously through the trees, following the distressed sounds until we reached a small clearing behind the dense thicket where we’d seen the pair of eyes.What awaited us wasn’t a mutated werewolf at all, but a doe lying in a pool of blood, her body contorted as she struggled to give birth.“Poor thing,” I gasped, holstering my blade immediately.The doe’s eyes rolled wildly when she spotted us, but she was too weak to flee. Her flanks heaved violently as contractions ripped through her body, yet the fawn remained trapped.Dominic stepped forward without hesitation, kneeling beside the suffering animal. Blood and amniotic fluid soaked into his pants as he knelt on the fallen leaves.“
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-05Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate Chapter 46: Salvation and Memory
Penelope’s POVA blur of silver-gray fur exploded from the right.Dominic had come, now fully transformed into his massive wolf form, and he collided with the mutant in mid-air. His powerful jaws clamped around the creature’s throat before they both crashed to the ground.I gasped, finally able to breathe as the immediate danger redirected. The white moss Dominic had collected lay scattered across the forest floor where he’d dropped it to shift.Keeping one hand on the doe’s wound, I stretched to grab the closest clump of moss, pressing it against the torn tissue. The plant released its medicinal compounds instantly, stems darkening as they absorbed blood and began to clot it.Behind me, snarls and growls filled the air as Dominic battled the mutant. Bones crunched. Flesh tore. I forced myself to focus on the doe.“Almost there,” I encouraged her, feeling another contraction begin. “Push!”With a slick, wet sound, the fawn’s body slid free. It landed on the leaves, covered in birth flu
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-05
Bab terbaru
Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate Chapter 53: A Mother’s Fear
Penelope’s POV“Stand still, sweetie.”I adjusted Debbie’s training uniform while she wriggled impatiently. “Is it time yet? Is it time?” she asked for the tenth time since breakfast, her voice bubbling with excitement.“Stop squirming,” I grunted, finally getting the second arm through. “I can’t dress you properly when you’re bouncing around like this.”“I can’t help it!” Debbie giggled. Her small feet pattered rapidly on the wooden floor of her bedroom. “Miss Lyra said I might get to try partial shifting today if I do really well!”I tugged the uniform into place, checking that the protective padding covered her vital areas. Today would be my first time watching her progress at the Rainbow Claw Training Camp. The instructors had sent glowing reports, but I needed to see it for myself.“Arms up,” I instructed, fastening the side buckles.Debbie instantly raised her hands, still bouncing on her toes. I smiled as she did. Something about her excitement warmed me to the core.I crouched
Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate Chapter 52: Sabotage
Kelsey’s POVLuna Sophia wanted a “proper” mate for her son—one with ancient bloodlines and important pack connections. Not me.I arranged flowers outside her quarters, forcing a smile whenever pack members walked past. The roses pricked my fingers, drawing blood that stained the white petals red.Word had spread quickly through the servants—the Alpha’s mother actively sought new Luna candidates from neighboring packs.After five years of waiting, of serving Dominic loyally while he mourned his runaway mate, I still didn’t measure up in Sophia’s eyes. Yesterday she dismissed me mid-sentence when I brought her afternoon tea.She barely acknowledged me while studying charts of eligible females from nearby territories, so I needed to act immediately.Night fell over the pack house. Most wolves attended the emergency council meeting about the mutant attacks, leaving the corridors nearly empty as I moved silently through the halls. My bare feet made no sound against the floors.Near the cou
Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate Chapter 51: Lost Hope
Dominic’s POVThe test results paper crumpled in my fist as I drove. Jarek’s words kept repeating in my head—the DNA test showed Debbie wasn’t my daughter.I had called him three times today, asking if there was a mistake. Each time he firmly told me the results were absolutely accurate. The genetic markers didn’t match at all. There was zero possibility of paternity.“I ran it twice to be certain, Alpha,” Jarek had said when he delivered the report. “The child cannot be yours.”I rolled down the window, needing fresh air. The wind blew against my face as I drove aimlessly through pack territories. Street signs lost all meaning.My mind kept replaying Debbie’s smile when she called me “Uncle Ice Cream” at the training camp. Her innocent face, her little voice—all of it contrasted sharply with the cold test results.Five years.For five years, I’d believed Penelope left because I treated her badly after Isabella’s death. I blamed myself for pushing her away. Now I discovered she’d been
Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate Chapter 50: Dangerous Drives
Edward’s POVI gripped the steering wheel tightly as highway lines streaked past. The car’s engine roared, masking the chaos of my thoughts.Dominic’s suspicious glances during the funeral replayed in my mind. His questions about Ruby’s knife wound had been too pointed, too knowing.He needed to be eliminated—and soon. If not killed outright, then framed and disgraced. Something to destroy his credibility among the packs, to make him lose the trust he’d spent generations building.I glanced at Penelope beside me. She gazed out the passenger window, her profile illuminated by passing headlights. Sadness etched lines around her mouth. Perfect.“Are you alright?” I asked softly. “You seem exhausted.”She sighed, not turning from the window. “I keep thinking about Ruby. How quickly life can end.”“Try not to dwell on it,” I advised, reaching across to take her hand. “Death is part of our existence, but so is survival. I’ll protect you—always.”Her fingers remained limp in mine, neither acc
Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate Chapter 49: Suspicious Wounds
Dominic’s POVRuby’s funeral commenced at sunset.Hunters gathered around the ceremonial pyre, their faces solemn in the fading light. Her parents had arrived an hour earlier—her mother weeping uncontrollably over the shrouded body. Her father stood rigidly beside her, jaw clenched against his grief.I hung back, observing from a distance. This death felt wrong. Not just tragic, but suspicious.Edward stood before the assembly, his head bowed respectfully. “Ruby Highland was vibrant, passionate, and brave,” he began, his voice cracking. “Her life was cut short by the very threat we gathered here to face.”As he continued his eulogy, I circled around to the back of the gathering. Under the pretense of adjusting Ruby’s ceremonial shroud, I approached her body. Edward’s eyes flickered toward me repeatedly as he spoke, though he never broke his eulogy.“She died as she lived—fearlessly,” he proclaimed, dabbing at his eyes.I leaned over Ruby’s body, nostrils flaring as I inspected her woun
Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate Chapter 48: The First Death
Penelope’s POVThe forest sounds faded as Dominic and I dragged the mutant’s carcass into the main clearing. Hunters gathered around, pointing and murmuring at our gruesome trophy. Blood still dripped from its matted fur, leaving a dark trail behind us.Elder Thomas stepped forward, leaning on his cane. “Well done! The first successful mutant hunt of the day.”Before we could respond, frantic shouting erupted from the east side of the camp. Heads turned as a figure sprinted toward us.Edward.He carried something in his arms—no, someone. Ruby’s dark hair hung limply over his forearm, her body limp and bloodied beyond recognition. Edward’s clothes were torn and spattered with blood. His face was contorted in anguish.“Help!” he yelled hoarsely. “Someone help!”Hunters rushed forward as Edward collapsed to his knees, still cradling Ruby’s mangled body. I pushed through the crowd, Dominic close behind me.Ruby was barely recognizable. Her throat gaped open, viscera exposed where her abdom
Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate Chapter 47: Predator’s Play
Edward’s POVI stalked through the forest, irritation simmering just beneath my calm. Ruby trailed behind me, chattering constantly.It was grating on my nerves. This hunt had already become a colossal waste of time.Being paired with Penelope—that had been the plan. Another opportunity to strengthen her trust, to ensure she viewed me as her safe harbor against Dominic’s aggression.Instead, I found myself babysitting this vapid Highland heiress while my prey spent her time with her former mate.“Have you ever seen one before? A mutant wolf?” Ruby asked, skipping to catch up. “What do they look like? Are they really as dangerous as everyone says?”I gritted my teeth. “Focus on the hunt.”“I am focused,” she insisted, pouting. “I’m just curious. No one from my pack has encountered one yet.”I had to admit, Ruby possessed extraordinary beauty—more so than Penelope, with her long black curls, flawless porcelain skin and amber eyes.Beauty meant nothing. Power was everything. And Penelope’
Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate Chapter 46: Salvation and Memory
Penelope’s POVA blur of silver-gray fur exploded from the right.Dominic had come, now fully transformed into his massive wolf form, and he collided with the mutant in mid-air. His powerful jaws clamped around the creature’s throat before they both crashed to the ground.I gasped, finally able to breathe as the immediate danger redirected. The white moss Dominic had collected lay scattered across the forest floor where he’d dropped it to shift.Keeping one hand on the doe’s wound, I stretched to grab the closest clump of moss, pressing it against the torn tissue. The plant released its medicinal compounds instantly, stems darkening as they absorbed blood and began to clot it.Behind me, snarls and growls filled the air as Dominic battled the mutant. Bones crunched. Flesh tore. I forced myself to focus on the doe.“Almost there,” I encouraged her, feeling another contraction begin. “Push!”With a slick, wet sound, the fawn’s body slid free. It landed on the leaves, covered in birth flu
Alpha's Regret: Return of the Rejected Mate Chapter 45: A False Alarm
Penelope’s POVThe creature roared again, but this time the sound seemed different—more of a pained moan than a threatening growl. I frowned, glancing at Dominic.“That doesn’t sound like a mutant,” I whispered.“No,” he agreed, sniffing the air. “It smells like…deer. And blood. A lot of blood.”We moved cautiously through the trees, following the distressed sounds until we reached a small clearing behind the dense thicket where we’d seen the pair of eyes.What awaited us wasn’t a mutated werewolf at all, but a doe lying in a pool of blood, her body contorted as she struggled to give birth.“Poor thing,” I gasped, holstering my blade immediately.The doe’s eyes rolled wildly when she spotted us, but she was too weak to flee. Her flanks heaved violently as contractions ripped through her body, yet the fawn remained trapped.Dominic stepped forward without hesitation, kneeling beside the suffering animal. Blood and amniotic fluid soaked into his pants as he knelt on the fallen leaves.“
