Alpha's Regret: Losing His True Mate Chapter 5

ELODIE’S POV—

My hands shook so badly I could barely find the tiny buckle on Carla’s heel strap. I tried to steady them, tried to swallow the lump in my throat, but it was useless. Two hot tears slipped down my cheeks, falling to the ground.

And just as I reached forward, pain shot through .

I scread. Carla had stomped her stiletto heel onto my fingers, pinning them down. Gasps tore through the hall. My cry echoed against the high ceiling as agony spread like fire through my hand. I whimpered, curling in on myself, clutching my throbbing fingers to my chest.

“Elodie!” Calhoun’s voice snapped, alarm flashing across his face. He moved instinctively, but before he could reach , Carla collapsed into his arms, her fake tears pouring like a performance she had rehearsed her whole life.

“Oh, Calhoun!” she sobbed, pressing her face into his chest. “I didn’t an to...honestly, it was an accident. My heel slipped. If Elodie feels wronged, I can always go down on my knees and beg for her forgiveness.”

Those words knocked my breath from . I sobbed quietly, clutching my bleeding fingers. Pain twisted every nerve, coldness creeping into my body as though my soul were draining out of . My knees shook.

But instead of defending , Calhoun exhaled heavily, his face hardening as he stroked Carla’s hair. “Never mind, Carla. It was a mistake. I’m sure Elodie understands.”

His words hollowed out. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. It felt like sothing inside had shattered beyond repair. Was this what breaking truly felt like? I wondered if I would ever be whole again after what he had done to . Tears blurred my vision as Carla peeked out from his chest, her lips curling into a wicked smirk only I could see.

Calhoun wrapped a possessive hand around her waist, ready to guide her away, but she dug her heels stubbornly into the floor and whined, “Wait. I have sothing else, Calhoun. A collar I designed. I want Elodie to try it on for everyone.”

My blood turned to ice. Calhoun stiffened, a flicker of shock flashing across his face before a deep frown settled there.

“Carla—” he started, but she stroked his arm gently, her voice saccharine.

“It’s not bad at all, Calhoun. Don’t look so grim. I just want to showcase my new products, that’s all.” She fluttered her eyelashes at him, trying to be sweet.

I felt every blood drain from my face. My shoulders slumped, my heart pounded violently in my chest as I silently begged, prayed, for him to say no. The entire hall held its breath. My whole body trembled, waiting, hoping...

And then I saw his jaw tick. His shoulders sank. “Alright. Let her wear it,” he said flatly.

The fragile thread of faith I had left in my prayers snapped. My vision blurred with fresh tears.

Carla’s face lit up instantly, her hands clapping together with childlike delight. A waiter appeared, carrying a black leather collar on a silver tray. Carla’s eyes sparkled as she turned to , still crouched on the floor in disbelief.

“Elodie, darling,” she called sweetly, “stand up, please. Don’t look so alard. I’m not degrading you...I just want to show the world my new creation.”

My entire body shook as I tried to rise, my legs weak, my vision swimming. My eyes were bloodshot, and hatred burned through even as despair weighed down. My lips trembled as I muttered, voice breaking, “I’m sorry, Carla. But I’m not going to wear a slave identification on my neck. I can’t and I won’t.”

Her face fell instantly, the smile vanishing as shock carved into her features.

But Calhoun? He sighed. That heavy, tired sound that made my chest tighten as if the air had been sucked out of the room. Calhoun rubbed his temples slowly, and when his eyes found mine, his voice was low, almost gentle, but it hurt worse than any shout.

“Wear it, Elodie. If you refuse, they’ll think you defy . And I won’t have that.”

My heart cracked, splintering into pieces I couldn’t hold together anymore. I shook my head, lips parting with the start of another protest. “I can’t—”

But his hand lifted sharply, silencing . His jaw hardened, his voice dropping into that dangerous growl that made everyone fall quiet.

“Do it. Now.”

The room held its breath. And then, as though the world had been waiting for my sha, several guests raised their phones, screens glowing, recording. Recording . My throat went dry as Carla’s heels clicked closer. She stopped right in front of , her smile sharp enough to draw blood.

“Bend your neck,” she whispered, loud enough for everyone to hear. “Let’s be fast, shall we?”

I clenched my jaw until it ached. My whole body scread to resist, but I bowed. My head dropped low, sha burning through .

Carla slipped the collar down over my head, tightening it until my breath caught, until I wheezed, choking on the pressure. My vision blurred with spots until Calhoun frowned. Only then did she ease the clasp, her fingers brushing my throat like she owned .

She stepped back, her lips curving with wicked satisfaction as she turned to the crowd.

“Behold,” she said loudly, theatrically, “my new creation. Perfectly fit for a slave. People below our class shouldn’t dare raise their heads at us, they belong bowing. Thank you, everyone.”

Laughter rippled, cruel and sharp. Their gazes pierced , stripping bare, reminding of what I was... A Gamma-born, a nothing. My wolf whimpered inside . My body shook violently. The second Carla’s fingers unclasped the collar, I bolted. I shoved past her, past the stares, and stumbled into the restroom.

The door slamd behind , and I slid down the cold tiles, clutching my chest as the sob tore out of . Wailing. Broken. I didn’t even know why the tears ca anymore. Was it the humiliation, or the simple truth that the man I loved was destroying piece by piece?

Ti blurred. I crashed, then pulled myself back up. I washed my face, trying to erase the red in my eyes, and stepped out. My phone buzzed in my palm. A ssage from Calhoun.

“Where are you? Co over here imdiately.”

For a second, I wanted to type back: I went ho. I feel unwell. But fear coiled around my throat tighter than the collar had. What if he cut my wages? What if I lost everything? I swallowed the scream lodged in my chest and turned toward the hall.

When I stepped in, all eyes shifted to . A chill swept down my spine. The crowd parted, and there was Carla on her feet, mascara streaking her face, sobbing dramatically. Her finger jabbed at .

“Where is my golden bracelet cuff?!” she scread. “My dead grandmother gave it to ! It’s worth millions, it’s an heirloom!”

Shock froze in place. Then anger stirred, trembling through my veins. My voice ca careful, shaking. “I didn’t take anything.”

“Liar!” she shrieked. “It fell when you bent to tie my straps! Gammas like you are thieves!”

Sothing inside snapped. My vision went red, humiliation and rage crashing together, but before I could speak, Calhoun finally stepped in. His voice was calm.

“Carla. Stop it. It must have fallen. I’ll have the guards search for it.”

Carla’s head whipped toward him, eyes blazing. “Calhoun, what are you saying? That I’m lying? If you won’t search her, then we are done! You’re prioritizing her over , your true mate! I won’t have it!”

My breath hitched. She turned to storm off, but his hand caught her arm, pulling her back gently. His gaze slid past , cold, detached, and he signaled to the guards.

“Search Miss Elodie.”

The floor tilted beneath . “What?” The word cracked out of as I stumbled back, but three guards closed in, massive hands gripping my arms, forcing to my knees.

“Please!” I scread, thrashing. “Alpha Calhoun, I swear...I didn’t take anything! I’m not a thief! I’m not—” My cries tore into the air, sharp with pain as they yanked my arms behind .

He looked away. He couldn’t even watch. And Carla...her lips curled with triumph.

My dress ripped under their hands. Rough fingers groped, searching, dragging . When they found nothing, they shoved down. I collapsed on the floor, clutching the torn fabric to my chest, sobbing as my bra peeked through the ruined cloth.

One guard muttered, “We found nothing.”

Carla sneered. “Maybe she hid it in her underwear. She’s a thief!”

My blood iced. A guard’s hand reached for my waist, ready to strip bare—

“Enough!” Calhoun’s voice rang out, panic flashing across his features. But before his order fully landed, another voice pierced the air.

“Found it!”

Everyone turned. A woman stood near a table, holding the golden bracelet high. “It was under here! A few tables away!”

Gasps swept the hall. My sobs filled the silence. The guards released , stepping back. Carla’s eyes widened, then quickly softened as she ran to Calhoun, burying her face against his chest.

“Oh my goodness,” she whimpered. “I...I made a mistake. Elodie... she didn’t deserve that. Can I apologize?”

But I didn’t lift my head. I stayed on the ground, clutching my torn dress, my shoulders shaking with every broken cry.

Calhoun’s hand closed around Carla’s as he began to lead her out. His voice was flat, final.

“No need. That little humiliation won’t end her life. She’s fine.”

And just like that, they walked away while I stayed shattered, bleeding inside, wondering how much more of there was left to break.