All Chapters of Alpha's Regret: Reclaiming His Gifted Luna: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Evander’s POVMy mother and I finish our breakfast, sharing small talk about current events. I know she's dying to ask me about this new maid, but I'm glad she's smart enough not to. If I wanted to discuss the situation in front of the servants, I would have said more by now."All right, son," my mother says as she rises to her feet. "I have business to attend to elsewhere. Have a good day, Evander.""I'll try," I mutter mostly to myself.The image of that maid, Sylvie, sticks in my mind – her inflamed joints and cracked skin. I don't know why this maid matters. I've never cared about the lives of our servants before. That I even remembered her name was a minor miracle unto itself.But something about her… I don't know, it just chaffed. It felt like an affront.I need to talk to my mate. My Luna.I also don't fully trust her out there at the border. I meant to go with her on this first day of her new duties, but she surprised me by leaving early. At the very least I need to mind link

"What?" I ask, flabbergasted that she would even invoke Aurora's name. Her nerve almost makes me snarl. I force down the frustration to look at her with clearer eyes. I have no proof, but this feels like a diversion tactic. If we talk about Aurora, then we don't have to talk about why things went wrong…"Aurora has nothing to do with anything that's happening here today." I say as calmly as possible."I try, Evander," Nalani says, a naked appeal on her face. "I'm trying so hard to be the perfect Luna for you." She gasps suddenly, laying a shaking hand over her heart. "When will I be enough for you? I just want us to go back to the way we were.""Nalani, you are fine as you are." I struggle for tranquility. Temperance. There is something going on here. Something I'm missing. If I'm going to figure out what's behind her actions, I can't make her suspicious.And I most definitely can't afford to trigger another cardiac event. "I understand you want to make your own mark,” I say, proud o

"Aurora?"I might see Evander. He could be here right now…"Aurora, I asked you a question."What will it even be like to see him? Do I want to see him? Does he want to see me? What if I start crying?A hand falls upon my shoulder, and I flinch, caught completely unaware. My heart racing from the overload of adrenaline, my eyes follow the length of that arm to find Prince Mykal at the end of it."Aurora, are you all right? You're very pale. Do you need to sit down?" His eyes go suddenly wide and he leans in closer. "Is it the baby?"He's so earnest in his regard, that I feel a little bad lying to him. "The baby, yes," I say, latching onto that excuse. "I…" You what? Think! "I felt a flutter.""A good flutter?" he asks, still concerned.I force a smile onto my face. "A very good flutter."He looks me over, then nods to himself, seemingly satisfied with what he sees. "Let me show you around," he says with a dazzling smile. "Out tents won't be ready for a while and there is much to see."

Josephine and I return to our encampment, lost in our own thoughts."We should begin preparing for tonight," she says once we enter the tent.I have to agree. Tonight's ceremony is a formal affair. Evening gowns are required. It will take some time to get them put on properly.As he promised before we left, Mykal had a seamstress come to see me. Together we designed a dress made of spun silk and moonstones. Its empire waist completely hides my belly.Josephine chatters while we dress, but my mind is elsewhere – lost in thoughts of Evander.I could murder him.I want to hug him so badly."Aurora," Josephine says, obviously tired of being ignored. "Stop thinking about your ex."I let out a long sigh. "I can't.""You can," she says, taking hold of my arms. "You must. The purpose of having the ceremony here at the lake was to celebrate a tentative peace between our people. If either of those men decide they want to lose their minds over you, there is going to be trouble.""I understand,"

"Postpone the engagement?" Mykal asks, obviously devastated by the news. "Father, why?""We'll discuss it later," the king says, giving his son the stink eye.Lucky for him, Mykal sees it and drops the discussion for now."Come everyone," the King of the Lycans says. "It's time for the royal banquet to begin!"We all leave the lake and the altar behind and make our way back to the main encampment. It seems that while the ceremony was going on, the servants were hard at work. There is food and drink and musicians and bards."May I have this dance?" Mykal asks cheerfully.I'm not really in the mood to dance, my mind still full of all that happened during the ritual, but nevertheless, I take Mykal's hand and allow him to lead me to the dance floor.After the way his father crushed his moment, I feel like I owe him at least one dance.The music changes to a lively waltz and we glide gracefully across the floor. Mykal's movements are smooth and confident, but I can feel the tension in his