The Alpha's Regret: His Defiant Mate

arning so vivid it felt lived, every d

gile, sweet-scented Omega sister, Celestine, used her innocent tears to climb right into his bed. She used my protection a

, Xander threw me into a

came to

a torn mate bond bleeding my life forc

ungeon was gone, replaced by the soft velvet of the manor's grand hall. Th

he grand archway, his oppressi

sion led. This time, I stood tall, looked him

ect you, Alpha Xander

pte

phin

r rattled the heavy st

cell, but to the deep pile of a velvet chaise in the manor's grand

k of my ceremonial gown. My chest heaved as I

wed at my mind with

ezing stone dungeon, the agony of a torn mate bond bleeding my life away. I had seen my sister Celestine's innocent tears turn into a serpent's smile as s

would come to pass if I submit

ue gas lamps cast a warm, wavering glow against the dark

s to be presented, a sacrificial off

en door groane

delicate wraith in the gloom. She wore a gown of pu

aches and vanilla. It was not a perfume, but a presence, a palpable

o protect her. And I now understood exactly wha

ently took my cold hands in hers. Her s

rembling like a frightened bird caught in a snare. "T

pha Xander. We are sisters. If we are in the

her wide, gu

ree. I saw Xander's hands on her skin. I heard her laugh

echoed, my voice flat. "And you wan

my tone. "Of course. It

ed my hands f

estine," I said, my voice a low

e a tear, a powerful sc

with the pure, freezing air of the first sn

of violent, irregular spasms, each beat a hammer blow against the inside of my ribs that sent a p

. Not fate. A biological chain, and I

g a strange, heavy peace. My inner wolf, the hidden beast I had kept quie

at

epped through t

nd him. Rainwater dripped from his deep-set brow, but he did not so much as blink, his

h his Alpha aura. It was the Alpha's Command, a silent, crus

rge to submit, to b

m my vision. The cold that seeped int

corners of my mind. I stood taller, my bare feet

his jaw, my pupils contracting with a

ect you, Alpha Xander

like a pall of dark smoke.

d through the room, the physical

from her trembling fingers. The sound of it striking the stone floor was not a crash, but a sharp, high-pitched crack that seem

mask of pure shock and rising fury. His pine sce

se. She quickly released a thick

eacemaker. She stepped between Xander and me. "Please, Alpha, for

ck, a bitter bile

ision had shown me. Using my cri

ce slicing through her sweet scent. "If an Alpha's mar

ace a pale mask of outrage.

stormed into the room. His face was a blotchy crimson with rage. He unleashed

ose words this instant

s tremble, but I locked m

lear and steady. "The ancient la

king is complete, until his teeth break my s

uscle pulsed in his cheek. The agony of the bond's backlash was a visible torment in his eyes, but beneath i

ing away our f

sked, my gaze shifting between my parents. "Does this Pack seek a L

ords came out. My mother stared at m

tall, rain-streaked window. The storm outside was

e of the future. And I would tear apart heave

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