Chapter 2 The Alpha's Regret

The guest room fell into silence. I kept my eyes closed as Doctor Harris packed the last of his medical supplies before turning to Derek.

"Her injuries aren't life-threatening."

Derek finally let out the breath he had been holding.

"She's badly exhausted, dehydrated, and covered in bruises. She needs rest more than anything."

"When will she wake up?" Derek asked.

"I can't say." I felt the doctor's glance shift toward me as I lay perfectly still beneath the blanket.

"She has endured something terrible. I've treated her wounds."

"What about everything else..."

He shook his head. "...only time can answer that."

Derek nodded quietly. "Thank you, Doctor."

The doctor gave him a sympathetic look. "I'll send someone with fresh medicine."

As the door closed behind him, silence returned. Only the soft sound of rain tapping against the windows filled the room.

Derek remained standing beside the bed. For several long seconds, he simply stared at me.

Five years. Five long years. He had imagined this moment a thousand different ways.

He had dreamed of finding Clara trapped somewhere, calling his name. Sometimes he imagined she had started another life and forgotten him completely.

Then he would wake up. Alone, every single time.

Yet now… Clara was here. Close enough to touch.

Carefully, he pulled a chair beside the bed and sat down. His eyes never left my face. "You always hated sleeping in strange places," he said quietly.

His voice almost disappeared into the rain. "You used to steal my pillow every night."

I felt a shift in the air. His fingers slowly reached for mine. They were very warm.

He gently wrapped both of his hands around them.

"I almost engaged someone else today." His voice cracked. "I told myself it was for the pack." He lowered his head. "I told myself five years was enough."

Silence answered him.

"Now I regret it. I'm so ashamed." His shoulders slowly trembled against the mattress.

"I never stopped waiting." His thumb gently brushed across the back of my hand. "I'm sorry." The words barely escaped his lips. "I'm so sorry my love.

I should have waited. No matter what everyone said..."

"No matter how many times they told me to move on… I should have waited."

His eyes burned with unshed tears. "I failed you." He closed his eyes.

"When you disappeared… I searched every border. I searched everywhere until I was practically dragged home."

His breathing became uneven. "I kept thinking... if I looked one more day... one more street… Maybe I would find you."

Another painful silence settled between us.

"Where were you?" His voice became barely audible. "Who hurt you?

What have you lived through all these years?" His gaze must have fallen to the bruises around my wrists.

"You must have been terrified. And I wasn't there. I couldn't protect you."

His head slowly lowered until it rested right beside me on the bed. "I'm sorry… I'm so sorry.

I promise you this. I will make sure who ever is responsible will pay with his life"

I lay perfectly still. I kept my breathing slow and even. Years of training had taught me how to fake unconsciousness flawlessly.

This was supposed to be another assignment. Nothing more. Yet… I hadn't expected this.

The Alpha everyone feared… The ruthless leader who controlled half the city… Was quietly crying. For me. No—for Clara.

My fingers almost moved. I forced them to stay still.

Don't react. You're just wearing another woman's face.

The guilt pressing against my chest felt terrifyingly unfamiliar. I didn't like it.

Feelings make people careless. That was the first lesson Alpha Silas had taught every child raised by the Syndicate.

“Compassion gets you killed. Love gets you betrayed. Trust gets you buried.”

Only missions mattered. Only survival. I came to save Father. I can't wait to be done.

Everything depended on this mission. I had already sacrificed too much. The surgeries, the injections, and months of pure pain.

There was no turning back. No matter how broken Derek sounded… I couldn't forget why I was here.

Downstairs… The celebration had become a disaster. Guests quietly gathered their coats.

The musicians had stopped playing. Half-empty wine glasses remained scattered across the tables.

No one knew whether the engagement party had ended or simply fallen apart.

Vivienne stood beside her father in complete silence. The beautiful smile she had worn all evening was gone.

Her eyes were red, but she refused to cry in public. Alpha Roland of the Ironclaw pack slowly approached Evelyn.

His face remained calm but his voice did not. "Lady Evelyn."

She turned gracefully. "Alpha Roland."

"I understand that today's events were... unexpected."

"They were."

"But that changes nothing." His eyes swept across the ballroom.

"My daughter was left standing before hundreds of guests. That is unacceptable"

Evelyn forced a diplomatic smile. "Derek has suffered a terrible shock."

"So has my daughter."

Neither of them spoke for several seconds.

Finally, Roland nodded once. "The alliance between our packs deserved more respect than this."

"I will speak with Derek."

"I hope you do." He extended his arm toward Vivienne. "We're leaving."

Vivienne glanced once toward the staircase. Toward the room Derek had disappeared into.

Her jaw tightened. Without saying a word, she turned and walked beside her father.

One by one, the Ironclaw guests followed them out of the mansion.

The massive doors closed behind them. The sound echoed through the nearly empty ballroom.

Evelyn stood alone. Her pleasant smile vanished.

This wasn't how tonight was supposed to end. Months of negotiation… Destroyed within minutes.

Her fingers slowly tightened around the stem of her wine glass.

Why tonight? Five years without a trace… Why now?

Clara suddenly appeared on the exact night Derek was about to strengthen the Blackwood Pack.

She didn't believe in coincidences. Her eyes slowly lifted toward the second floor.

Somewhere above her… The woman everyone believed was Clara rested peacefully.

Evelyn's expression darkened.

"You'll wish you had stayed back where you came from" she whispered.

The wine glass almost cracked in her hand.