Alpha's Regret: Losing His True Mate Chapter 7

ELODIE’S POV—

Several days slipped by, and he never ca. No footsteps outside my door. No shadow darkening the hallway. No Calhoun.

My wolf whimpered in the back of my mind constantly, crying for him, but I shut her out. I couldn’t afford to listen. I had already promised myself never again. Never again would I waste another tear for him. He wanted gone, pushed aside, replaced. So be it.

The hospital walls beca both my prison and my comfort. Days passed in silence, broken only by the beeping machines and the occasional nurse’s voice. Then one afternoon, my phone lit up with a ssage. My chest tightened before I even reached for it. It wasn’t him. It was his Beta.

“Spend a few more days in the hospital. Rest. Take good care of yourself.”

I let out a long, shaky breath. Relief washed over in a way I hadn’t expected. At least it wasn’t Calhoun ordering around. At least it ant I could heal without the constant panic of disappointing him, without worrying he’d cut off what little wages I had left. For the first ti in days, I felt the tiniest flicker of peace.

That peace didn’t last.

When I was discharged and finally back ho, my phone wouldn’t stop buzzing. The office group chats were exploding...ssages rolling in one after another. Against my better judgnt, I opened them. And my entire mood crumbled.

Every line was filled with updates about Calhoun and Carla. Photos. ssages. Gossip. I scrolled, and each word was another dagger.

He had bought her an island near one of the neighboring Packs. An island. He had shut down not one but two luxury boutiques so she could shop for her birthday, celebrating her for an entire week. I didn’t even notice when my tears started falling—I just kept scrolling, staring through the blur.

Then ca the part that nearly broke : he had brought her to the Damaris Pack house. Introduced her to his family. For the future mating ceremony.

Bile rose in my throat. My vision blurred completely. I didn’t bother to read the rest...the lists of gifts, the details of her celebrations. I tossed my phone across the room and buried my face in my hands, staying unmoving.

My wolf pressed against , whispering comfort, but I shoved her back. I couldn’t listen. Not when my chest already felt like it was splitting apart.

Wiping at my wet cheeks, I pulled the blankets to my chest. “No more,” I whispered to no one. “No more.” Closing my eyes, I let the exhaustion drag down into a heavy, dreamless sleep.

Two days later, I forced myself back to the office. My colleagues welcod with warm smiles and soft voices, and I played along, nodding, thanking, pretending. But inside, I was hollow. I avoided him, avoided even being near his door. Weeks passed, and I perfected the art of slipping tasks to other executive assistants, keeping my distance like my life depended on it.

But like the devil he was, he found a way.

One morning, I carried a final file to his office. My chest tightened as I stepped inside. He sat behind his desk, eyes fixed on his computer screen, fingers typing steadily as though I didn’t exist. I set the file down quietly, almost holding my breath, and turned to leave.

“Elodie.”

His voice froze mid-step. I turned back slowly, my stomach knotted. He didn’t even look at when he spoke.

“I’m heading out for a eting now. Stay with Carla. She hates eating alone. I’ll be back later.”

My heart sank so fast it hurt. My lips parted, ready to reject, to beg him not to do this to again but before I could speak, the sound of heels clicked across the floor.

Carla stepped out of his private bedroom, her eyes finding imdiately. She smirked, her voice sharp.

“You! Co over. I have several things you need to help with.”

I turned, desperate to object, to tell him no but he was already on his feet, already at the door. Without a glance back, he opened it and slamd it shut, leaving there.

Alone. Again. With her.

Carla didn’t say another word. She just turned on her heels, as she walked straight into the dining suite. I stood frozen, my chest tight, but in the end, what choice did I have? With a long, defeated sigh, I followed.

She slid gracefully into a seat as though she owned the world and, with a flick of her wrist, pushed a glass of wine toward . Her long nail tapped the rim twice before she lifted her chin at .

“Drink it,” she ordered, her lips curling. “I don’t trust the wine. If it’s bitter, your tongue should suffer not mine.”

The words cut deeper than I expected, but I clenched my jaw, trying to keep my composure. My voice trembled despite my effort to sound respectful.

“What if the wine is poisoned?” I asked quietly. “If you think it’s unsafe, why not dump it out and request for a fresher bottle instead?”

Her eyes narrowed into slits, and she leaned back, glaring at like I was filth. Then she scoffed, the sound sharp and cruel.

“Poisoned? Please,” she sneered. “Your life isn’t that important. If it is poisoned, then you’ll die, and it simply ans you’ve done a heroic thing, you’ve saved . Calhoun would be grateful for your sacrifice.”

Her words hit like ice water, my heart turning cold in my chest. I bit down hard on my lip to stop it from trembling.

“I’m sorry,” I murmured, shaking my head. “I won’t be able to taste the wine for you. Perhaps... perhaps I could go get another bottle instead.”

The air shifted instantly. Carla shot to her feet so suddenly her chair screeched against the marble, the sound slicing through my bones. My heart leapt into my throat. She jabbed a finger at , her voice rising in a shrill scream.

“How dare you challenge my orders? Do you think Calhoun would think twice before firing you? I’ve looked into your background, Elodie. You’re nothing but a struggling Gamma who would scavenge from trash just to survive. One scream from ...just one...and Calhoun would co rushing in here. Then it would be over for you.” Her lips twisted into a wicked grin. “So the choice is yours. Drink it, or get fired.”

My heart cracked right there. She was right. Calhoun wouldn’t think twice. He’d toss aside like I was nothing. I couldn’t risk it not when I barely had anything left to hold on to.

My hands shook as I reached for the glass. I whispered a prayer under my breath, then forced the liquid down in one gulp. The mont it hit my tongue, I gagged, it wasn’t wine. It was the most bitter, vile thing I’d ever tasted. I slamd the glass down, my chest heaving, and opened my mouth to speak when a searing burn exploded in my stomach.

The pain was instant and brutal, like acid was eating through my belly. My knees buckled, and I gasped, clutching my stomach.

“Ah—!” A cry tore out of as I stumbled back and collapsed to the ground, my legs cramping violently. Tears poured down my face as I writhed, the fire inside unbearable.

I looked up through the blur of tears, desperate for any shred of rcy, but all I saw was Carla, standing there with her arms folded, a triumphant grin splitting her face.

“P–please,” I choked out, my voice breaking. “Help ... help—” My panic rose. The thought that I was dying here, poisoned by her, tore the scream from my throat. “Help! Sobody, help !”

Footsteps pounded closer, and I saw Carla stiffen. Her head snapped toward the door. Panic flickered in her eyes. She moved quickly, unscrewing the cap of the chili sauce nearby, pouring so into her hand, then shoving half of it into her mouth before collapsing to the ground with a wail.

The door slamd open. Calhoun stord in, his eyes going wide, color draining from his face.

“Carla!” He rushed straight to her, dropping to his knees and pulling her into his arms. “What’s happening? What’s wrong?” His voice shook with panic.

Carla whimpered, tears spilling instantly as she clutched at him. “I—I think she did it,” she cried, pointing a trembling finger toward . “Elodie put chili in my drink. You know I’m allergic. She tried to hurt .”

Calhoun’s head snapped toward , his eyes blazing with fury. His voice thundered across the room.

“Elodie! Why?” he roared. “Why would you do this to her? You know she can’t eat chili! Why are you so wicked?”

I couldn’t even form the words through the pain. I was curled on the ground, clutching my stomach, sobbing uncontrollably. But he didn’t care. He didn’t see .

He scooped Carla into his arms without hesitation, holding her protectively against his chest. “Hold on, baby, I’ve got you,” he whispered to her as he rushed for the door.

His Beta barreled in, his face grim. Calhoun barked the order without even sparing a glance.

“Get Elodie. She’s coming too. Figure out why she’s on the ground.”

I could barely stay conscious as the Beta hauled up, half dragging out. My body trembled uncontrollably, the fire still raging inside .

The SUV ride blurred. I rember Carla being cradled in Calhoun’s lap, his voice soft and frantic for her, while I was shoved into the back, clutching my belly, drowning in my own pain.

Next I didn’t even know what was happening. All I heard were screeching tires. A crash. tal slamming into tal. My head whipped sideways and slamd into the glass. The window shattered, cutting into my scalp. I tasted blood before I even realized I was throwing it up.

The world spun, horns blared, people scread. An ambulance siren cut through the chaos. My vision flickered, slipping in and out.

Through the haze, I saw Calhoun, his arms carrying Carla, his face frantic as he carried her out of the wreckage.

“Sobody help her!” soone shouted. “There’s a girl in the back, she’s bleeding! She won’t make it if you don’t hurry!”

That girl was .

And still, Calhoun didn’t look back.