Alpha's Regret: Losing His True Mate-Chapter 177

Aunt Helen chimed in, "So it’s really true then?"

Old Madam Miller, who knew Elodie better than most, shook her head slightly. "Elodie’s not officially divorced yet. I don’t think she’s looking to jump into anything new. Let’s just leave it alone and see what happens naturally. No need to meddle."

Everyone nodded. "Understood."

---

The next morning, Elodie woke up at the Miller house. She’d just finished breakfast when her phone rang.

It was from Dante.

She looked at the screen but didn’t pick up.

A few seconds later, a text came through instead.

Dante: Tomorrow is the parent-child event at Liora’s school. Don’t forget to come.

Elodie stared at the message, her jaw tightening. She typed back quickly.

Me: I’m not available.

Her phone rang again immediately. Dante calling.

She declined it and turned her phone off completely.

Hours later, after finishing up some work, she powered it back on. Another message was waiting.

Dante: Are you at the Miller house?

Just a few words, but the threat was clear. If she didn’t answer, he’d show up there himself.

Elodie’s grip on the phone tightened. She exhaled slowly and typed back.

Me: What time does it start?

It took him over half an hour to reply.

Dante: 9 AM

She didn’t respond.

---

That evening, Liora called.

Elodie answered on the second ring.

"Mom, why aren’t you home yet?" Liora’s voice was small, worried. "Dad said you’d come back so we could go to the event tomorrow together, but it’s already past nine and you’re still not here..."

Elodie’s chest ached. "I’m not coming back to the house, sweetheart. But I’ll meet you at your school tomorrow morning. I promise."

There was a pause. "Oh... okay."

"Get some sleep, alright?"

"Okay, Mom."

After they hung up, Elodie texted Johnny to let him know she’d be late to work the next day.

---

Monday morning, Elodie pulled up to Liora’s school right at nine.

"Mom!"

Liora spotted her immediately and waved like crazy from where she stood next to Dante.

Elodie walked over. Dante looked up as she approached.

"You’re here," he said.

She ignored him completely, crouching down instead to check the schedule on Liora’s tablet.

After a moment, she stood and followed them to their assigned seats.

The teacher noticed her arrival and lit up, hurrying over. "Miss Miller! You came!"

Elodie smiled at her. "Of course."

Liora ran up holding a little flower crown and tried to hand it to Dante. "Dad, put this on Mom!"

Elodie reached out and took it from her gently. "I can do it myself, sweetie."

Dante didn’t argue. Just let her take it.

With both of them there, both tall, striking, and clearly wealthy, they drew stares from nearly every parent and kid in the courtyard.

Tommy’s mom, who’d only recently learned from her son that Elodie had a daughter the same age as Tommy, walked over with wide eyes.

"Elodie," she said, a little breathless, "is this... your husband?"

Liora had wandered off somewhere, so Elodie just smiled and said it plainly. "We’re getting divorced soon."

Tommy’s mom’s eyes widened, but she didn’t look all that shocked. She’d probably already pieced it together. After all, Elodie had a daughter but lived alone in the apartment across the hall. And then there was that parent-teacher meeting Elodie had missed, when that other woman showed up instead. The gorgeous, overdressed one.

Dante, completely unfazed, extended his hand politely. "Hello."

Tommy’s mom shook it, a little flustered. "Oh. Hi."

Dante’s gaze shifted to Elodie. "You two know each other?"

The question was aimed at Tommy’s mom, but his eyes stayed on Elodie.

Elodie didn’t answer. Didn’t even look at him.

Tommy’s mom cleared her throat awkwardly. "I’m Elodie’s neighbor."

The tension between Elodie and Dante was thick enough to cut with a knife. Tommy’s mom could feel it radiating off them. She quickly mumbled something about needing to find her son and practically fled.

Dante watched her go, then turned back to Elodie. "You seem to be getting along well with the neighbors."

Elodie pulled out her phone and stared at the screen, ignoring him completely.

Dante didn’t push it. Just stood there, hands in his pockets, like he had all the time in the world.

A moment later, Liora came running back, and the teacher’s voice crackled over the loudspeaker. The first activity was starting.

---

Elodie had only done one of these parent-child events before, back when Liora first started kindergarten. After that, there’d always been some excuse. And then Dante and Liora had left for the European Pack last year, so the whole thing just... stopped.

The first game was musical chairs.

The rules were simple. Chairs arranged in a circle. Two fewer chairs than families. Parents held their kids and walked around while the music played. When it stopped, you had to grab a seat fast. No chair? You’re out. Last family standing wins.

Dante looked at her. "You want to do it, or should I?"

Elodie was about to say "you do it" when Liora jumped in.

"Daddy should do it!"

Dante glanced back at Elodie. "That okay with you?"

"Yeah. You do it."

He nodded, then held out his phone to her. "Then you can record it."

Elodie hesitated. She didn’t want to touch his phone. Didn’t want to hold anything of his.

"I’ll use mine," she said quickly. "I can send you the video after."

Dante paused, then pulled his phone back. "Alright."

He scooped Liora up into his arms and walked over to join the other parents circling the chairs.

Elodie stayed where she was, pulling out her phone and opening the camera. She aimed it at Liora’s excited little face, and at Dante holding her steady.

Then, just as the music started, Dante looked over.

Right at her.

The camera was pointed straight at his face.

And he smiled.

Elodie froze. Her hand holding the phone trembled just slightly.

Then the music started. Dante turned away, his expression calm and easy as he held Liora and began walking around the chairs with the other parents.

They circled once. Twice. Then the music cut out.

Dante moved fast, sitting down smoothly in one of the chairs with Liora still in his arms, completely unbothered.

Liora’s face lit up. She waved frantically at Elodie. "Mommy! We got a chair!"

Elodie nodded, lowering her phone. "I saw."

Honestly, when she’d first looked at the schedule this morning, she’d figured both Dante and Liora would be bored out of their minds. These games were silly. Childish.

But the second Dante picked Liora up, she’d been buzzing with excitement.

And now that they’d won a seat? She was practically vibrating.

Dante glanced over at Elodie, a small smile tugging at his mouth.

At first, it was obvious he wasn’t into it. He’d looked stiff, detached, like he was just going through the motions.

But somewhere along the way, maybe it was the music, maybe it was the energy of all the other families, or maybe it was just Liora’s infectious joy, he’d loosened up. Started actually playing. Even looked like he was having fun.

And because Dante was fast and competitive by nature, he won. Easily.

Liora bolted over to Elodie, hand raised high. "Mommy, we won!"

Elodie gave her a high-five. "Yeah, you did."

Dante walked over too, holding out his hand. "Did you get the video?" 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

"Yeah." Elodie pulled up the file and sent it to him without looking up.

---

The next game was called the Unstoppable Fire Wheel.

The rules were simple. Four families per team. Everyone had to step inside a giant circular band and move forward together by rolling it with their feet. First team to cross the finish line wins.

Dante looked at her. "Want me to sit this one out?"

Liora shook her head immediately. "No! Mommy, you play with me this time."

Elodie shrugged. "Okay."

As they lined up to start, Elodie hesitated, glancing down at her bag. She didn’t have anywhere to put it.

Before she could figure it out, Dante held out his hand.

"I’ll take it."

She blinked. "...Thanks."

She handed it over.

For most couples, this wouldn’t be a big deal. Guys held their wives’ bags all the time.

But for them? This was the first time Dante had ever done it.

Elodie couldn’t help but wonder... had he done this for Sienna before?

He wasn’t in a suit today. Just wearing a sleek black coat that looked casual but expensive-looking. And somehow, standing there holding her bag, he looked completely natural. Comfortable.

If someone saw him from a distance, they’d probably think he was just a husband waiting patiently for his wife to finish something. Holding her things. Smiling softly.

Elodie looked away.

---

The game started.

It required coordination. Elodie stood in the middle of the group, stepping carefully in rhythm with the others, turning the band as they moved forward.

Liora was right behind her, gripping the back of her shirt, trying to match her pace. She was laughing the whole time, completely in her element.

Then she noticed Dante on the sidelines, phone out, recording them.

Her grin got even bigger. "Daddy!"