His Regret, My Throne

That night, Damien didn't come back to our apartment.

I knew where he was.

The next morning, I opened the pack's secure network.

The top post was a new update.

Alpha Damien had ordered a hundred thousand dollars' worth of rare supplements for Seraphina.

Blood Ginseng, Moonlight Fungus, and Starfruit—things only needed during a werewolf pregnancy.

The comments section exploded.

"Is our Alpha going to be a father?"

"But isn't Isla his Luna?"

"I heard that Seraphina girl moved into the penthouse."

"Isn't the Mating Ceremony next week?"

I shut my phone off.

At noon, I met my best friend, Chloe.

"You what?" Chloe's voice was so sharp it nearly shattered her coffee cup. "You're calling off the ceremony?"

"That's right."

"Are you insane? He's your fated mate!"

"Fated mates don't mark other women right before their ceremony," I said, calmly sipping my coffee. "And they certainly don't get another she-wolf pregnant with their pup."

Chloe gasped. "A pup?"

I showed her the photo of the lab report on my phone.

"That scheming bitch!" Chloe slammed her hand on the table. "She played you!"

"Probably," I shrugged. "But it doesn't matter anymore."

"Isla, you can't just give up. Damien loves you."

"Loves me?" I gave a bitter laugh. "Does someone who loves you mark another woman behind your back?"

Chloe fell silent.

"I've already accepted the invitation from the European Healers' Guild," I said, standing up. "I'm leaving tomorrow."

"So soon?"

"If I stay any longer, I'm afraid I'll do something I regret."

At eleven that night, I got back to the apartment building after an herb exchange.

The gathering was a success.

I’d met several healers from Europe, including a few Alphas I’d never seen before.

When the elevator doors opened, Damien was standing there.

His eyes were cold, his nostrils flaring slightly. "Where were you?"

"An herb exchange."

"With who?" he pressed.

"Some colleagues."

Damien stalked towards me, like a predator closing in on its prey. "Don't lie to me. I smell another male's scent on you. An Alpha's."

"So what if you do?"

A dangerous light flashed in his eyes. "Get away from me, and wash that scent off you."

"You don't get to order me around."

"I'm your fated mate!"

"No, you're not," I said, pushing past him. "You're Seraphina's."

I walked towards our apartment, Damien following close behind.

But instead of arguing, he went straight to the armchair by the fireplace, sat down, and closed his eyes.

I knew what he was doing.

The mind-link.

His expression softened, and I could feel the murmur of his thoughts through our strained bond.

The pup is going to be so strong, so healthy.

The pup.

He was already looking forward to it.

I turned to go to my room.

"Isla."

His voice stopped me.

"There's something about the ceremony I need to talk to you about."