My Alpha mate’s regret

Episode 3

~~~ASTRID~~~

“Lucas,” I called his name after I turned. He was dressed for the occasion, holding his neatly pressed coat in his arm. Lucas Hailstone, Karl’s younger cousin. He was behind the wheels of the car that knocked me off seven months ago.

The one person who showed me an atom of care. He wasn’t always around the pack, but he made occasional stops to check on me and know how I was faring. He covered the gap between us and tried to take my bag, but I resisted.

“Why? Why are you leaving?” He asked with concern flickering in his black eyes. I swallowed, my emotions tangled between frustration and sorrow.

“I have no reason to stay,” I answered, my eyes fixed on the tall mansion behind him.

“You do. I can talk to Karl, he is…”

“We got a divorce,” I interrupted before he said any thing else. I saw the shock in his eyes before he fought it off. “Last night,” I added.

“Ohh…do you want to talk about it?”

“No, I just want to go far away from here,” I responded, gripping the strap of my bag tightly and turning back to the path which led out of the pack house. Lucas ran ahead of me and obstructed my path with both of his hands.

“And where will you go? You’ve got no place to stay or…”

“I have a family,”

“Ohh,” he breathed. It took him by surprise because I never mentioned my family after the accident. He stepped closer, reaching for my bag. “Then let me drive you home”.

Home. Sounded more like freedom to me. But what if they haven’t forgotten? What if they do not accept me? Maybe it would be better to return and face the elders. If the moon goddess wishes, then I’ll either die or live.

“No”.

“I insist,” he pushed. I looked up at him, blinking back the tears that threatened to spill as I let him take the bag from my shoulder. We got into his car. Who knew the car that drove me into this sadness seven months ago would be driving me out of it.

The air felt fresh outside the borders of the Gray sky pack. My eyes were glued to the road, watching as the trees and tall bushes swayed behind us as the music filled the air.

He drove passed houses, cars, mountains, until we were surrounded with just water. The sun was out, and the stars were creeping out of their shadows. Distant howls filled the night air as he drove further into the silence.

The car came to a halt all of a sudden and Lucas took out his keys. I sat up, curious as to why we stopped.

“This is the farthest I can go, Astrid. Our pack and Black Water pack aren’t urm… best of friends,” he said. I looked around, realization hitting me hard in the face. I was home. How come I didn’t recognize it?

The air was thick, filled with the stench of death. Lucas unlocked the doors and I stepped down from his car. My eyes scanned the environment, until I found the path where I had run through few months ago with Rowan, my brother.

Would he still recognize me? Of course he should. It’s not even up to a year. I thought, my heart hammering in my chest.

“Why black water?” Lucas asked, but I gave him no response. He walked to where I was, handing my bag to me. “Whatever your reason is, Astrid, you know there’s always a place for you in Gray sky if things don’t work out here,” he said softly.

I shook my head. “I can’t go back,Lucas. Not after everything”. I wasn’t just leaving Karl behind—I was leaving that part of my life behind. The part where I was weak and humiliated.

I might face worse here, but better in my home than somewhere else. Lucas returned to the car after handing the bag to me. He looked like he had more to say to me, but he simply ignited the engine.

“Be careful. Take care of yourself. Just…don’t let anyone hurt you. Black Water isn’t the pack for…” he didn’t complete his statement, but I knew what it was. I forced a small smile and stood there until he drove out of sight.

I ventured into the darkness, following the familiar path. The wind was cold, the silence deafening except for the rustling of dried leaves. My home was just a few meters away. The tall building was visible already.

A mix of emotions coursed through my veins. The closer I got, the heavier my heart grew. All I had to do was find Rowan before the elders do. The air suddenly reeked of smoke, like that coming from a burning torch.

I climbed up the hill and made my first stop there, watching from the back of tree as the wolves marched down in two straight line, holding up fire torches.

“A funeral?” I blurted, my interest growing to a point that I didn’t notice when I walked out of my hiding. My eyes followed their torches, counting the number of wolves holding double torches.

It was tradition to hold a funeral for royal bloods—family of the alpha, after their death. To identify if a funeral was that of a royal born, two torches were usually held up by a wolf,parading the pack in the night.

This wasn’t just a funeral of a royal blood. It was a funeral of five royal bloods. My bag fell off my shoulder, my eyes flickering from the wolves to the pyre of woods at their center.

“It can’t be,” I thought I heard my thoughts audibly. To my surprise, it wasn’t mine. They were the words of a wolf standing behind me.

I was taken away by the sorrow welcoming me home that I didn’t notice the dozen of wolf guards who had surrounded me. My blood ran cold as I met their eyes, blazing behind the flame of their torches.

“I…I…my…I...” I stuttered, trembling as one of them appproached. With every step he took forward, I took one back. He hastened, grabbed my shirt and pulled me under his light.

I shut my eyes, my mind calling to Lucas for help. I doubt he would hear me. It was too late.

The wolf holding me howled, causing me to close both ears with my hands. Tears were forced out of my eyes right before his howl stopped.

His hand let go of my shirt, and for that minute, everything was silent. Slowly, my eyes flickered open and the first thing I noticed was their change in demeanor.

The wolves who had once surrounded me with their torches raised high in the air were no longer standing before me with hostility. One after the other, they lowered their torches and dropped to their knees.

My mind raced in confusion to comprehend what was happening. The wolf who had grabbed me was now kneeling with his head bowed in respect.

My heart raced as I scanned the circle of wolves. All of them…every single one… was kneeling with an unmistakable submission.

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