Alpha's Regret:

Threeyearsintohermarriage,Estellediscoveredthatthebondshehadtreasuredwasnothingmorethananillusion.Themarkonherneck,thesymbolshebelievedtiedhertohermate,didn’tbelongtohimatall.DeterminedtoconfrontAsherDaniels,sheinsteadoverheardatruththatshatteredeverything:themanwhohadsharedherbedandwhisperedvowsoflovehadfoundhistruefatedmatefiveyearsago.Shehadneverbeenhischoice—onlyhisconvenience.Thechildshehadraisedwithdevotionwasnotadopted,buthissonwithanotherwoman.Evenherpastwasalie.Shewasn’tapowerlessorphan,butthelostdaughterofanAlpha,therightfulheirtoapackthatnowhadnoleader.Disgustedandresolute,Estellemadeherdecisionwithouthesitation.“Ihavenomateandnochildren.IamthesoleheirtotheBlackmoonPack.”Withthat,shevanishedwithoutatrace.Asher,certainshewasnothingwithouthim—awolflesswomanwithnostatusorpower—waitedforthedayshewouldcomecrawlingback.Heneverimaginedthemomenthewouldseeheragain.AttheLycanroyals’matingball,shestoodtransformed—radiant,untouchable,andpowerfulbeyondrecognition.Nolongerthewomanhehaddiscarded,butonewhocommandedauthorityinherownright.Andbesideherstoodamanattheverypinnacleofwerewolfsociety,hispresencealoneenoughtoshaketheworld.