The Rejected Omega 's Hidden Heir

Unspoken Regrets

# Chapter 9: Unspoken Regrets

Rain continued to pour over the deserted town square.

Elena caught Damon just before he hit the ground. His weight nearly pulled her down with him, but she refused to let go.

"Alpha!" Beta Ryan rushed over, panic filling his voice.

"I'm fine," Damon muttered weakly, though the blood soaking through his shirt told a different story.

"You call this fine?" Ryan snapped.

Mrs. Margaret hurried out of the bakery with several townspeople behind her.

"Oh, dear Moon Goddess!" she gasped. "Bring him inside before he loses more blood!"

Together, they carried Damon into the bakery.

---

Inside...

Mrs. Margaret quickly turned the dining area into a temporary treatment room.

"I'll get hot water and clean bandages," she said.

Ryan carefully helped Damon onto a wooden bench.

Elena stood a few steps away, uncertain whether she should stay or leave.

Every time she looked at Damon, memories flooded back.

The day he rejected her.

The coldness in his eyes.

The humiliation of standing before the entire pack while everyone watched her heart shatter.

She had sworn she would never look at him again.

Yet here she was...

Helping save his life.

Mrs. Margaret returned carrying a bowl of warm water.

"Elena," she said softly, "hold this cloth."

Without thinking, Elena obeyed.

As she gently cleaned the blood from Damon's shoulder, he winced but never opened his eyes.

The wound wasn't deep enough to be fatal, but it had bled heavily.

Ryan finally let out a relieved sigh.

"He'll recover."

Mrs. Margaret nodded.

"He was lucky."

Ryan glanced at Elena.

"No."

"He was lucky because you stayed."

Elena lowered her gaze.

"I didn't do it for him."

Ryan didn't argue.

He simply smiled sadly.

---

Hours later...

The rain had stopped.

Damon slowly opened his eyes.

The first person he saw was Elena sitting by the window, staring at the moonlit sky.

For several seconds, neither of them spoke.

Finally...

"You should have left me."

Elena didn't turn around.

"I thought about it."

Her quiet answer pierced his heart.

"But I couldn't."

Damon closed his eyes.

"I don't deserve your kindness."

"No," Elena replied honestly.

"You don't."

The room fell silent once again.

After what felt like forever, Damon spoke.

"I've wanted to apologize every single day."

Elena laughed bitterly.

"An apology won't erase what happened."

"I know."

"You rejected me."

"You let everyone believe I wasn't worthy of being your mate."

"You never even asked how I survived after I left."

Every word struck Damon like a blade.

He had no excuse.

Only regret.

"I'm sorry," he whispered again.

"I was trying to protect you."

Elena finally turned to face him.

Her eyes were filled with pain.

"Protect me?"

"By breaking my heart?"

"By throwing me away?"

"Tell me, Damon..."

"What kind of protection feels like betrayal?"

Damon couldn't answer.

Because she was right.

---

Outside the bakery...

Hidden in the shadows across the street, the hooded spy watched through the window.

A wicked smile spread across his face.

"So the Blackwood Alpha is injured."

He pulled a small crystal from his pocket.

"My Alpha."

"The target is still in town."

"And Damon Blackwood is weak."

A distorted voice echoed from the crystal.

"Excellent."

"Tonight..."

"We finish what we started."

The crystal went dark.

The spy disappeared into the night.

Unaware of the danger drawing closer, Elena remained beside Damon's bed.

For the first time since leaving the Blackwood Pack...

The walls she had built around her heart had begun to crack.

But before forgiveness could ever bloom...

Blood would once again be spilled.

**End of Chapter 9**