Alpha's Regret After She Kneels

I hear her murmuring softly, her hands brushing over me with practiced ease. But

I'm too far gone to process it.

It's as if I am under some spell.

The last thing I remember is the scent of her perfume clinging to the air as sleep claims me.

***

Morning comes with a vengeance.

My head pounds mercilessly, a dull throb behind my eyes that makes me regret every damn sip I took last night. I groan, pressing the heels of my palms against my temples as I sit up, the world spinning slightly. But it's not just the hangover

that feels wrong.

Something is... off.

My senses are sluggish, dulled by the alcohol still lingering in my system, but there's an unease clawing at the edges of my awareness. Horace stirs, agitated and growling softly in the back of my mind.

Horace stirs, his voice a low rumble that seems to come from somewhere deep and primal:

"Raiden... I smell weakness in your hesitation. The path ahead is bathed in blood, yet you falter. Remember when you were merely a tool? Sharp, precise, unquestioning? Those were simpler days, were they not?"

A soft growl ripples through the mental connection

"The prey scatters before us, and still you contemplate. This world has no place for those who cannot bare their fangs when needed. I have watched you kill, Raiden. I have tasted the copper in the air when you've finished. Do not pretend now that your hands were made for anything else."

The wolf's presence grows more intense, almost pressing against the boundaries of my consciousness

"We are hunters, you and I. Different in form perhaps, but kindred in spirit. The pack does not question the hunt. It simply... devours."

"Devour? Is that what I have done?"

"Is that not what you wanted?"

I can't remember everything about last night.

What's happening to me?

Fragments drift through my mind—Lila's voice, her hands guiding me to bed, the weight of exhaustion dragging me under. But beyond that... nothing. Just an empty void where memories should be.

The sheets rustle beside me, and I

freeze, my body going rigid as I realize I'm not alone. Lila shifts under the covers, her bare shoulder brushing against mine as she stretches lazily.

"Good morning," she purrs, her voice soft and satisfied.

A sick feeling coils in my stomach.

"What... happened last night?" My voice is rough, my throat dry, but there's a

dangerous edge to my tone that I can't hide.

Lila's smile falters for a fraction of a

second before she smooths her

expression, her eyes wide and innocent. "You don't remember?" she asks softly, tilting her head as if I'm the one who should feel guilty.

No. I don't remember.

And that's the problem.

Her fingers trail down my chest, but I pull away, the unease growing stronger.

"Tell me," I demand, my voice sharper now, the command laced with Alpha authority.

Lila hesitates, but then her expression shifts-just enough for me to see it. That calculating gleam in her eyes. It's gone as quickly as it came, replaced by a practiced vulnerability that's meant to disarm me. sŵnovel

"We... were together," she says softly, her gaze dropping as if she's shy. "You... wanted me, Raiden."

No.

Horace growls, low and menacing, and a chill runs down my spine.

That's not possible.

Not while my bond with Siena still exists, however frayed.

What have I done?

"I was drunk," I murmur, more to myself than her. My mind races, trying to piece together what happened, but the gaps remain. And those gaps... they feel wrong.

Lila's smile is too composed. Too certain.

"You don't have to feel guilty," she murmurs, brushing her fingers along my jaw. "We're mates, Raiden. This is how it should be."noveldrama