Alpha's Regret: I Burn for My Dead Daughter

Alpha Sean's scowl melted in an instant. "Fine!" he said, voice suddenly warm. I stood rooted, fingers clenched around the urn as I patted its cold surface, as if my pup could feel my touch through the porcelain. Ever since Claire and Lillian returned from that northern territory, Alpha Sean had been theirs. A single howl-text-no matter the hour or his "prior commitments"-and he'd drop everything. Like now, in Joravia's tallest hospital, in the gold-trimmed VIP ward. He shoved the door open, and Claire, who'd been crooning to Lillian, looked up, lashes fluttering. "Alpha Sean? I thought you said-" She cut herself off, shooting a sharp glance at the pup in the silk sheets. "Lily, did you sneak another call to Daddy?" "Daddy!" Lillian launched into his arms, her tiny fists clutching his shirt. "I'm scared without you. What if the healers' potions don't work?" He hugged her close, rubbing her back. "Lily's only four. It's natural to fear a hospital full of strange elixirs." His voice turned to honey. "I'll stay today. Ellie. we'll catch up later." Claire's shoulders sagged in relief. She traced Lillian's cheek with a manicured nail. "If not for you pulling strings to find a heart donor for Lily, she." Her voice broke. "She'll thrive." Alpha Sean's tone softened, and Claire threw her arms around his neck. "I'm so grateful you're here." When she tried to nuzzle closer, he stood. "I'll grill the healers about her progress. Back soon." "Daddy, hurry!" Lillian called after him. The moment the elevator doors closed, another pair slid open. I charged out, eyes locked on Healer Brooks' office. "Olivia, stop!" a nurse shouted, but I slammed the door open. Staggering to Healer Brooks, my eyes bloodshot, I fell to my knees. "Tell me who stole Ellie's heart donor! She'd still be breathing if they hadn't!" Healer Brooks went ashen. "Olivia, please rise." He reached to help, but I stayed rooted, fingers digging into the carpet. He sighed, and I saw the truth in his eyes: Ellie's donor heart had been rerouted to some big-shot's pup at the last second. But he couldn't say it-not with Alpha Sean's shadow looming. Defeated, I turned to leave. Just as I passed the elevators, Lillian came barreling toward me. Before I could steady her, Claire swatted my hand away. "Don't touch my pup!" she hissed, stepping between us. "If you're here for blood, come at me-not a child." I smirked without turning. I knew he was there before his voice boomed: "Olivia, what's your problem now?" Alpha Sean stepped in front of Claire and Lillian, blocking my view like a wall of ice. My fists balled at my sides. I didn't have time for this charade. But as I turned to go, Lillian grabbed Alpha Sean's leg, fake-tears spilling. "Is Ellie mad 'cause Daddy spent my birthday with me? I'm sorry. it's all my fault!" My blood turned to ice. Flashbacks hit: Lillian "falling" into the pond, wailing, "Ellie, did I do something wrong?"-a cheap setup. Alpha Sean had grounded Ellie for days, ignoring her cries. That night, my pup spiked a fever from the cold, sobbing: "Why doesn't Daddy believe me?" "Sweetheart, Mom believes you," I'd whispered then. Now the memory burned like acid. Lillian's wails grew louder. Claire stepped forward again: "I said, take it out on-" SMACK! My hand connected with her cheek before I could think. "Olivia, have you lost your goddamn mind?!" Alpha Sean roared, lunging to snatch my wrist. The world blurred as unshed tears stung my eyes, and a searing pain-hotter than wolfsbane-ripped through my chest. Ten years of love-ten years of loyalty-flashed before my eyes like dying embers. Staring at the wolf I'd once offered my entire soul to, a sickening ache ripped through my chest. "Yeah? Well, I should've gone feral years ago!" I shrieked, voice echoing off the hospital walls. With all my strength, I wrenched my wrist free and landed a stinging slap across Alpha Sean's face. The crack of skin on skin reverberated through the tension. "Alpha Sean-consider this our final howl. We're done." From that moment, our paths split like rivers on opposite sides of a mountain-never to converge again. I jerked my hand back, palm throbbing from the impact. His left cheek flared red; no she-wolf had ever dared strike him. He let out a cold, scornful "Hmph," but I didn't spare another word. Spinning on my heel, I stormed away. I knew what he thought: that I'd tricked my way into his life. For years, I'd stayed by his side without a proper mate bond. Why leave now? Because Ellie's empty crib haunted every corner of that villa-because his indifference had finally killed the last spark in me. Five days later, at Royal Gardens... I imagine him dragging home, bone-tired, to find the place hollow. I'd taken Ellie's urn and every trace of us-vanished like smoke. When he pulled out that enchanted phone and sent his first message: Come back. The second it sent, a warning symbol flashed. Message blocked by recipient. When he tried calling, the line rang once before cutting off. In the meantime, I'd settled into Maple Grove Haven. After fleeing Royal Gardens, I'd come to this cottage-the home of my foster mother, Helen Lawson. Helen had once served the Jovia family, tending to Alpha Sean's grandmother, Eleanor Jovia. I was eight when I met them: beaten, starving, escaped from that godforsaken orphanage. It was Eleanor who saved me. With Jovia pack influence, she shut down the corrupt place that had been my prison. Homeless, I clung to Helen, who took me in. I followed her to Jovia Manor, where she worked until her last days. When she passed, she left this cottage to me. That afternoon, I'd just finished unpacking. As I headed downstairs to take out the trash, a chill ran up my spine. Turning to climb back inside, a vice-like grip clamped my wrist.