Dreams of Regret

*Alex’s POV*

The moon hung low in the sky, casting silvery beams through my window. I lay awake in my chamber, staring at the ceiling, my mind racing with thoughts of the girl I had locked away. Lily. Her name echoed in my mind like a haunting melody, one I couldn’t shake off. It had been days since I’d forced her into servitude, and with each passing hour, the weight of my actions pressed down harder on my conscience.

As sleep began to take hold, I found myself drifting into dreams. But these weren’t just any dreams. They were vivid, filled with images of her—Lily, with her radiant yellow eyes that seemed to glow even in the darkness. I saw her scrubbing the dungeon floor, her hands raw and bloodied, yet her spirit unbroken. Each night, she invaded my dreams, challenging me and defying me. It was infuriating and strangely alluring.

In my dreams, she stood before me, not the frightened girl I had imprisoned, but a powerful figure, strong and defiant. I could feel the heat radiating between us, an electric charge that left me breathless. I watched as she transformed into something magnificent, a creature of strength and beauty, and I was drawn to her, wanting to touch, to feel that fire for myself.

But the dreams always shifted, turning dark. I would see her face twisted in pain and hear her cries of despair echoing in my ears. I would wake, drenched in sweat, guilt gnawing at my insides. Why had I treated her like this? She didn’t deserve my cruelty. The deeper I sank into those dreams, the more I realized I had to make things right.

---

The next morning, I awoke with a newfound determination. I couldn’t keep punishing her for my mistakes. I had to change things. I rose from my bed, the sun’s light filtering in through the window, and ordered a soldier to fetch Lily.

When she was brought before me, her face was pale and drawn, shadows lingering under her eyes from the lack of sleep. But there was a spark there, a fire that refused to be extinguished, and I felt my heart clench at the sight of her.

“Lily,” I said, my voice softer than I intended. “I want to apologize for how I treated you.”

Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. “You want to apologize?” she repeated, disbelief etched on her features. “After everything?”

“I know I can’t take back the past, but I’m ordering your release from the dungeon,” I continued, pushing through her skepticism. “You will serve in my chamber as my maid instead.”

The look of surprise on her face was almost comical as if I had slapped her. “You’re letting me go?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Yes. But that doesn’t mean you’re free. You will still serve me.” I tried to keep my tone firm, but a hint of softness crept in.

Her expression shifted, revealing a mix of relief and caution. “I don’t understand. Why the sudden change?”

“I’m... reconsidering my actions,” I admitted. “You have something about you, Lily, something that intrigues me. I want to see how this plays out.”

She opened her mouth to respond, but the words caught in her throat. Instead, she simply nodded, a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes.

---

As days turned into weeks, our dynamic shifted. I found myself drawn to her, watching her as she worked in my chamber, her movements graceful and efficient. She would catch me staring, and instead of the defiance I expected, I often found her blushing and looking away.

“Is it too cold for you here?” I asked one evening as she dusted the shelves. The warmth of her body radiated against the coolness of the room, and I wondered if I could ever find warmth in her presence.

“No, it’s fine,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. She shot me a glance before quickly returning to her task.

There was a growing tension between us, an unspoken connection that left me both excited and terrified. I found myself wanting to know her better, wanting to understand the girl behind the spirit I had tried to break. The way she bit her lip when she was focused and how her brow furrowed in concentration captivated me.

One night, after a particularly exhausting day of training, I returned to my chamber to find her standing by the window, staring out into the night. The moonlight framed her silhouette, and for a moment, I forgot all my worries.

“Lily,” I said softly, drawing her attention. She turned, surprise flickering across her face.

“Yes, Alex?”

I hesitated, caught off guard by the vulnerability in her gaze. “What do you think of all this?” I gestured around the room, the life I had built, the power I wielded. “Of me?”

She blinked, clearly taken aback by the question. “I think… I think you’re capable of more than this, Alex. You could be a leader without cruelty.”

Her words struck me like a blow, raw and piercing. “You don’t know anything about me,” I replied defensively, but deep down, I knew she was right.

“Then show me,” she challenged, her eyes fierce. “Show me the leader you could be.”

I stepped closer, our eyes locked in a battle of wills. My heart raced as I felt the space between us crackle with energy. “And if I can’t?”

“Then maybe you’re just another cruel Alpha,” she shot back, not backing down. The tension hung heavy in the air, thick and palpable.

Suddenly, I moved, closing the distance between us in an instant. I don’t know what possessed me; maybe it was the desire to prove her wrong, to silence her challenge. But before I could think better of it, I leaned in, capturing her lips with mine.

The kiss was electric, sending shockwaves through my body. I felt her stiffen for a moment, surprise flashing in her eyes, but then something shifted. She melted against me, her hands moving to my shoulders as she deepened the kiss. It was intoxicating, and for a brief moment, all my worries, my doubts, disappeared.

But just as quickly as it began, reality crashed back down on me. I pulled away, my breath ragged, my heart racing as I stared into her eyes.

“What have I done?” I whispered, the weight of my actions crashing over me like a tidal wave. The shock mirrored in her expression matched the chaos swirling within me.

Lily took a step back, her face pale, her expression a mixture of confusion and shock. “Alex, I—”

“I shouldn’t have kissed you,” I interrupted, running a hand through my hair, my mind racing. “This was a mistake.”

“No,” she said, her voice steady. “It was real.”

But before I could respond, the door burst open, and one of my warriors rushed in, panic etched across his face. “Alpha! We have a problem!”

The interruption shattered the moment, and I felt the tension in the air shift. My mind raced, torn between the weight of my responsibilities and the girl who had somehow captured my heart.

“What is it?” I asked, turning away from Lily, frustration bubbling just beneath the surface.

“There’s been an attack on the eastern border. They’re claiming it’s from the Thorn Pack,” the warrior said, his voice urgent.

I felt the adrenaline surge through me, the instinct to protect my territory overriding everything else. “Gather the men. We need to move now.”

As the warrior dashed out, I turned back to Lily, the reality of our situation crashing down on me. “I’ll be back,” I said, trying to convey a sense of urgency but also a promise.

But as I stepped away, I couldn’t shake the feeling of what had just happened, the kiss that had changed everything. The door closed behind me, and the weight of the world settled back onto my shoulders.