Alpha Regret: The Luna I Rejected Has A Son For Me

chapter 8

Chapter 8

Iris

I slowly opened my eyes, but the light in the room made me squint. My head felt heavy, and there was a dull ache behind my eyes that reminded me of the drinks I had finished at the bar.

I blinked a few times, waiting for the ceiling to stop spinning.

When my vision finally cleared, I realized I was not in my small, dark room at the pack house. I was lying on a soft bed with clean, white sheets. The room around me was bright and modern. It was much nicer than anything I had slept in since Grandpa died.

For a moment, I just lay there, trying to piece together the night before.

I remembered sitting at the bar. I remembered the weight of the secrets I was carrying—the pregnancy and the pack leadership. I remembered the alcohol hitting me hard, making the world feel light and far away. And then, there was a pair of strong hands catching me as I fell.

After that, everything went blank.

A soft sound came from the other side of the room. It was the rhythmic clinking of metal against ceramic. I sat up slowly, clutching the blanket to my chest. My heart started to beat a little faster.

Where was I? And more importantly, who else was here?

I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stood up. I felt a bit dizzy, but I managed to stay on my feet. I followed the sound toward the doorway. I wondered for a second if Finn had somehow found me and brought me here, but that didn't make sense. Finn wouldn't put me in a place this nice, and he certainly wouldn't be making quiet sounds in a kitchen.

As I walked into the small kitchen area, I saw a tall figure standing by the stove. He was busy preparing a meal, his back turned to me. He moved with a quiet, easy confidence. When the floorboard creaked under my feet, he turned around.

That was when I recognized him. It was Mark.

He was the same guy who had pulled me out of the road when that car nearly hit me, and the same guy I had seen at the bar. He had brought me to his place.

A wave of embarrassment washed over me. I had passed out in front of a stranger. I looked down at my clothes, relieved to see I was still wearing what I had on yesterday. I really hoped I hadn't done or said anything crazy while I was drunk.

Mark looked at me and gave me a small, calm smile. He didn't look annoyed or judgmental. He just looked... kind.

"You are finally awake," he said. His voice was just as deep and steady as I remembered.

He turned back to the counter and picked up a plate. He walked over to the small dining table and placed it down. On the plate were several slices of toasted bread and a few strips of crispy bacon. The smell made my stomach growl instantly.

"Come and eat," he told me, gesturing to the chair.

I walked over and sat down slowly. I felt a bit awkward, sitting in a stranger's kitchen while he served me breakfast. I watched him as he moved back to the counter to pour some water. After a little while, he spoke again, as if he could read the worried thoughts running through my head.

"Don't worry, I didn't touch you," he said. He sat down in the chair across from me. "You were out cold. I brought you here because I didn't know where you lived, and I didn't want to leave you at that bar. I slept on the couch because you were a heavy sleeper."

I looked at him, surprised by his honesty. I took a small bite of the bread. It was warm and buttery.

"I didn't think you would bring me into your home," I said softly. "I am a total stranger to you. You don't know who I am or what kind of trouble I might bring. What if the pack finds out you have a woman from the Moon Claws in your apartment?"

Mark laughed softly. It wasn't a mocking laugh; it was warm.

"It's okay, Iris. I'm not worried about the pack. Eat your breakfast first. Then, if you feel uncomfortable or if you want to leave, you can go back."

I started eating properly then, realizing how much I had needed the food. I kept watching him out of the corner of my eye. I couldn't believe this stranger was being kinder to me than Finn, the man who was supposed to be my mate.

Finn claimed to "care" while he yelled at me and locked me in the house. Mark barely knew my name, but he had given me a safe place to sleep and a hot meal without asking for anything in return. He acted like a decent person, which was something I hadn't seen in a long time.

After I finished eating, I felt much better. The fog in my head was starting to clear. I went into the bathroom to clean up. It was a small but very clean space. I washed my face with cold water and straightened my clothes as best as I could.

When I walked back out into the main room, I saw Mark sitting at a small desk in front of his laptop. He looked busy, but he looked up when he heard me.

"I am going now," I said, standing near the door. I felt a strange tug of sadness at the thought of leaving this quiet, peaceful place and going back to the chaos of the pack house. "Thanks for everything. Really. For the breakfast and for not leaving me at the bar."

Mark stood up from his chair. "Do you want me to drop you off?" he asked. "I have a car downstairs."

I looked at him and gave him a small smile, but I shook my head. If he dropped me off at the front gate, Finn or one of his mother’s spies would see him. That would only cause more trouble for me tonight, and I didn't want Mark to get dragged into my mess.

"It's okay," I said. "I am fine. I can walk or find a way back. You have already done much more than enough. Besides, if not for you, I would probably have been sleeping on the ground outside that bar."

He nodded, respecting my choice. "Take care of yourself, Iris."

I walked out of his apartment and down to the street. The fresh morning air felt good on my skin. As I started walking toward the pack territory, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and saw a text from Ava. It was sent an hour ago. She told me that if I got her message, I should call her right away.

I didn't want her to worry, so I called her back immediately. She picked up on the very first ring, her voice loud and frantic.

"Iris! Are you okay?" she screamed through the phone. "I’ve been calling you all morning! I thought something might have happened to you after we left the restaurant yesterday. Where are you?"

I laughed a little at her intensity. It was nice to know someone cared that much.

"I am okay, Ava. Calm down. I just got a little too drunk last night and ended up sleeping at a stranger's place. My phone was silenced."

I heard a gasp on the other end. "A stranger?" she yelled, her voice even higher than before. "Iris, are you crazy? Did he do anything to you? Are you hurt?"

I laughed again, thinking about how safe I had felt in that apartment.

"No, he didn't do anything. He was kind. He actually made me breakfast and let me sleep in his bed while he took the couch."

Just thinking about Mark's calm face and the way his green eyes looked when he smiled made me smile too. For a second, I forgot about the will and the rejection and the coldness of the Walker family.

But my peace didn't last long.

As I was walking along the quiet road near the edge of the pack woods, a black car suddenly pulled up in front of me, tires screeching.

The door swung open with a violent force, and Finn stepped out.

He didn't look like the "caring" man from the breakfast table yesterday. His face was red, and his eyes were full of a wild, burning anger. He slammed the car door shut and marched toward me. He looked at the buildings behind me and then back at me, his jaw tight.

"What are you doing in a hotel?" he yelled, his voice echoing through the quiet street.