Alpha's Regret: Losing His True Mate-Chapter 202

Tommy answered almost immediately, her face lighting up the screen.

"Liora! You’re looking for me?" Her voice was bright, surprised, maybe even a little hopeful. "Do you want to play with me?"

Liora had never really been nice to Tommy. Not mean, exactly, but not warm either. Still, Tommy had always liked her anyway. She thought Liora was brave and confident and just... cool. The kind of kid other kids wanted to be around.

"Mm," Liora said quietly, her lips pressed into a thin line. "Where are you?"

"At home!" Tommy said cheerfully, already turning the camera around to show her surroundings. "My grandparents came over, and we’re making cookies with Mom. You want some?"

The camera panned across the kitchen. Liora could see the table covered in flour, cookie cutters scattered everywhere, and a tray piled high with freshly baked cookies cooling on the counter.

Tommy was definitely at home.

Liora felt something loosen in her chest.

"You didn’t go watch a movie with my mom, right?" she asked, her voice small but steady.

Tommy blinked, clearly confused. "No. I haven’t seen Aunt Elodie in a long time."

That was it.

The knot in Liora’s stomach finally unraveled. She let out a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding.

"Okay," she said, her tone lighter now. "You go ahead and make your cookies."

She was about to hang up when something made her pause. She hesitated, feeling awkward, then mumbled, "Goodbye."

Tommy, caught off guard by the sudden end to the call, fumbled for a response. "Oh, um... goodbye?"

The screen went black.

Liora set the phone down and sat there for a moment, staring at nothing in particular.

Then she stood up and walked back toward the living room.

---

Dante had already returned to the main hall by the time Liora came back.

Felix glanced at him from across the room. "Everything alright?"

Dante gave a short nod. "Mm."

Felix didn’t push.

Not long after, a few guests who had just arrived were shown into the sitting area. They greeted Felix and Dante with polite smiles and took their seats across from them.

This was the first time they’d met Liora.

One of the guests, an older man with graying hair and a sharp suit, couldn’t help but comment.

"I can’t believe it," he said, shaking his head with a chuckle. "Alpha Wilson’s child is already this big. Does that mean you’ve been married for quite some time now?"

There had been rumors, of course. Everyone in the Pack had heard whispers about Dante having a daughter. But seeing Liora in person, seeing her sit there so calmly, so polished, it made the rumors feel real.

Dante, who had been sipping his tea, set the cup down with a quiet clink.

"Yes," he said simply.

The guests exchanged glances.

They laughed awkwardly, trying to cover the tension that had just settled over the room.

The truth was, they’d brought their daughter along today. She was sitting off to the side now, poised and pretty, with perfect posture and a practiced smile. They’d been hoping, really hoping, that maybe, just maybe, Dante might take an interest.

If things went well, it could’ve been a good match. A strong alliance between families.

But they hadn’t expected him to already be married.

And even worse?

He hadn’t looked at their daughter once.

Not once.

She’d been sitting there for over half an hour, and Dante’s eyes had never so much as drifted in her direction.

It was like she didn’t exist.

The guests began to wonder, even if Dante hadn’t been married, would their daughter have stood a chance?

Probably not.

---

Meanwhile, across town, Elodie was still at the arcade.

Harry and Daisy had left about twenty minutes ago. Daisy had been yawning nonstop, and Harry insisted on getting her home before she passed out completely.

Elodie had smiled, waved them off, and told them to get home safe.

Now she was alone.

She’d spent most of the earlier part of the day working on a research paper, something she’d been chipping away at for weeks. It was almost done. Just a few more tweaks to the latest section, and then she could send it over to Professor Nolan for review. Once he gave the green light, she’d submit it officially.

But right now? She wasn’t thinking about any of that.

She was standing in front of a VR racing game, headset strapped on, completely immersed.

The world around her faded. All she could hear was the roar of the engine, the screech of tires, the adrenaline rushing through her veins as she took a sharp turn and overtook another racer.

She didn’t notice the woman walking past.

Didn’t see the way the woman slowed down, eyes narrowing as she recognized her.

Sophia.

She stood there for a moment, arms crossed, watching Elodie play. Alone. No husband. No daughter. Just... by herself.

Sophia’s lip curled into a sneer.

Pathetic.

She shook her head, let out a quiet scoff, and kept walking.

Elodie never even knew she’d been there.

_________

Half an hour later, Sophia pulled up to the Brown family’s villa.

The place was massive, sleek, modern, dripping with wealth. She parked her car, grabbed her bag, and practically skipped up the steps. The moment she walked through the front door, she froze.

Her mom was there.

"Mom?" Sophia blinked, genuinely surprised. "Weren’t you supposed to go shopping with someone? Why are you here at Aunt’s house?"

Tracy looked up from where she’d been sitting on the couch, scrolling through her phone. She seemed confused by the question.

"I just came back from shopping," she said simply, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

The truth was, Tracy had been spending more and more time here lately. Sure, the Green family villa was nice, spacious, well-kept but it was nothing compared to the house Dante had bought for Sienna. Ever since the Brown family moved in, Tracy couldn’t stay away. The luxury, the prestige, the sheer grandeur of it all, it was intoxicating.

Sophia was the same way. She loved coming here. Loved being surrounded by all this wealth, even if none of it was technically hers.

She plopped down on the armchair across from her mother, a sly grin spreading across her face.

"Mom, Aunt," she said, her tone dripping with mischief. "Guess who I saw at the arcade?"

Sienna was sitting by the large floor-to-ceiling windows, a book open in her lap. She didn’t even look up. She had a pretty good idea who Sophia was talking about, but honestly? She didn’t care enough to respond.

Tracy, on the other hand, perked up immediately.

"Did you see Elodie Miller?" she asked, leaning forward.

"Yes!" Sophia grinned wider, cracking open a sunflower seed between her teeth. "You know how her husband won’t let her back to the Bellini estate, right? Well, guess what? I saw her all alone at the arcade, playing games by herself. She looked so... pathetic."

Tracy let out a sharp laugh, shaking her head. "Well, of course she’s all alone now. That’s what happens when you don’t know your place."

They’d already heard about the whole situation. Everyone had. It wasn’t exactly a secret.

Still, hearing Sophia bring it up again made Tracy smile like she’d just heard the best gossip of the week.

Sienna, meanwhile, didn’t react at all. She just kept reading, her expression smooth and unbothered.

It was like Elodie didn’t even exist to her anymore.

Sophia was about to keep going, clearly enjoying herself, when Sienna finally spoke, her voice calm, almost gentle.

"Sophia," she said softly, still not looking up from her book. "I’m studying. Don’t disturb me."

Sophia blinked. "Oh..."

She glanced at Sienna, taking in how focused she looked, how serious. Then she let out a long sigh.

"Didn’t the tutor come this morning? It’s already past five in the afternoon, and you’re still studying. I’m tired just watching you. Aren’t you exhausted?"

Tracy chimed in, shaking her head fondly. "She must be tired. But your cousin has big ambitions, Sophia. I’ve always told you to learn from her, but you never listen."

She paused, then smiled warmly at Sienna. "But still, Sienna, hard work is important, but you need to take breaks too. How about coming over and eating something first?"

Sienna finally looked up, just for a second. Her expression was calm.

"No need," she said simply. "Dante invited me to dinner. I’ll just read a little longer and then head out."

Tracy’s smile widened. "Oh, of course."

Sophia rolled her eyes but didn’t say anything else.

Sienna went back to her book.

---

Meanwhile, across town, Elodie had finally made it back to the Miller family home.

She’d spent the last three hours hunched over her laptop, reworking her research paper for what felt like the hundredth time. Every sentence had been scrutinized. Every argument double-checked. Every citation verified.

Finally, finally, she was satisfied. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

She hit send, emailing the final draft to Professor Nolan, then leaned back in her chair and stretched. Her shoulders ached. Her neck was stiff. But it was done.

She stood up, rolled her neck a few times, and left her room.

As she made her way downstairs, she noticed something strange.

Her grandmother was standing by the front door.

Just... standing there. In the cold. Like she was waiting for someone.

Elodie frowned and quickly walked over.

"Grandma, you—"

Before she could finish, the sound of a car engine rumbled from outside.

Elodie stopped.

Her grandmother’s face lit up.

The car pulled into the driveway.