Alpha's Regret: Losing His True Mate-Chapter 204

Sophia opened her mouth again, clearly trying to get Harry’s attention.

"Harry, I—"

But Harry didn’t even glance her way. He turned his head toward Daisy, who was still sitting near him, and spoke gently.

"Daisy, are you thirsty? Want some water?"

Daisy nodded immediately. "Yes, please."

Harry reached for the glass on the table, poured her some water, and handed it to her. She took a few sips, then hopped off the couch and scurried back over to Liora.

The two of them had been chattering nonstop about the little toys Liora had brought along earlier.

As soon as Daisy sat back down, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a small figurine, some cartoon character with big eyes and a goofy smile.

"I got this during the New Year holiday when I went to the movies," Daisy said excitedly, holding it out to Liora. "It’s for you."

Liora’s eyes went wide. She took it carefully, turning it over in her hands like it was made of glass.

"You went to the movies during the New Year holiday?" she asked, her voice tinged with envy.

"Yeah!" Daisy grinned. "My uncle and aunt took me. And after the movie, we went to the arcade. My aunt is really good at games. We didn’t get to play for long though, ’cause my uncle had to leave."

Liora pouted a little. "My uncle took me to see a movie that morning too. But he was in a hurry to meet his friends, so we just went home right after. I didn’t even know they had figurines like this."

She looked down at the little toy in her hands, clearly disappointed she’d missed out.

Then, as if trying to defend her own pride, she added quietly, "My mom is really good at games too."

Daisy perked up immediately. "Then next time, we should ask my aunt and your mom to come with us! We can all play together!"

Liora’s face brightened at the idea. "Yeah!"

But before either of them could say anything else, Liora noticed something.

Her dad was looking at them.

She blinked and turned toward him. "Dad, what’s wrong?"

Dante’s expression didn’t change. He gave her a faint smile, barely there, but enough.

"Nothing," he said smoothly. "Keep talking."

"Oh... okay."

Liora turned back to Daisy, but she seemed a little quieter now.

---

After the waiter came by to take their orders, Levi leaned back in his chair and glanced over at Harry.

"By the way," he said casually, "how’s the collaboration going between your company and Cole? Everything smooth?"

Harry didn’t look up from his phone. "Yeah. Quite smooth."

Levi raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Oh? No problems? No... mishaps?"

Sienna, who had been quietly reading her book up until now, paused. Her eyes didn’t leave the page, but her fingers stilled on the corner.

Harry knew exactly what Levi was really asking.

He was asking if Elodie had screwed up. If she’d made mistakes. If she’d proven to be the liability everyone assumed she was.

Harry could feel Dante’s gaze shift toward them too. Not obvious. Not direct. But there.

He was listening.

Harry lowered his eyes and answered simply.

"No."

Levi blinked, clearly surprised. "Really?"

"Mm."

Sienna’s lips pressed together. She turned the page of her book a little too quickly, the sound sharp in the quiet room.

Dante took a slow sip of his tea, his expression giving nothing away.

Levi seemed to realize the conversation had hit a dead end. He let out a short laugh and waved it off.

"Well, that’s good then," he said lightly, already moving on. "Anyway, speaking of work, did you guys hear about the new Pack regulations coming out of Europe? Apparently—"

And just like that, the topic shifted.

But Harry wasn’t really listening anymore.

His mind was somewhere else entirely.

Later That Day.About two hours later, after finishing their meal, the group finally started packing up to leave.

Dante stood first, helping Sienna gather her things while Liora clung to his hand. Levi was still mid-conversation with Sophia, who was laughing a little too loudly at something he’d said. Harry picked up Daisy, who was yawning and rubbing her eyes, clearly ready to crash the moment they got home.

They made their way downstairs, said their goodbyes in the parking lot, and went their separate ways.

What none of them noticed was that just as they were leaving, another group was descending the stairs on the opposite side of the restaurant.

Elodie, Johnny, and Professor Nolan.

They walked out through the side exit, still talking animatedly about something work-related. Nolan was gesturing with his hands, explaining some concept, while Elodie listened intently, nodding every now and then.

They got into their cars and drove off into the night.

---

Back home, Elodie didn’t even bother turning on all the lights.

She went straight to her desk, pulled out the stack of materials Professor Nolan had given her earlier, and spread them out in front of her.

The papers were dense. Filled with diagrams, formulas, research notes. They covered the latest developments in AI research across various Packs, concepts that were still in the experimental stage. Ideas that hadn’t been tested yet. Theories that might never see the light of day.

But they were fascinating.

Elodie dove in headfirst.

She lost track of time completely. One page turned into five. Five turned into twenty. Her pen moved across her notebook in quick, messy strokes as she jotted down thoughts, questions, ideas.

She didn’t notice when the darkness outside her window started to fade.

Didn’t notice when the sky shifted from black to deep blue to pale orange.

It wasn’t until the sun had fully risen, high and bright, that a soft knock sounded at her door.

"Elodie, it’s time for breakfast."

It was her aunt, Helen. Her voice was gentle, careful not to startle her.

Elodie blinked, pulling herself out of the haze. She glanced at the window, surprised to see daylight streaming in.

"Okay," she called back, her voice a little hoarse. "I’ll come down in a bit."

She stood up slowly, her body stiff from sitting in the same position for hours. She brushed her teeth, took a quick shower to wake herself up, then grabbed her phone.

She dialed Johnny’s number.

He picked up on the second ring, his voice groggy and rough.

"I knew you hadn’t slept yet," he groaned.

Elodie smiled faintly. "I’m about to go downstairs for breakfast. Want to chat after?"

There was a pause. Then Johnny sat up straighter, suddenly more awake.

"Yes," he said, his tone shifting to something more enthusiastic. "We have to chat."

Ideas were fleeting. You had to grab them while they were fresh.

"Alright. Talk soon."

She hung up and headed downstairs.

---

After breakfast, Elodie was just about to video call Johnny when her phone rang again.

It was Paul, her lawyer.

"I just got a call from Mr. Bellini’s lawyer," Paul said. "The property certificates for the three villas he transferred to you have been finalized. I’ll be picking them up later. When are you free to collect them? Or I can bring them to you if that’s easier."

Elodie had almost forgotten about that.

Her mind had been so consumed with work that the whole villa situation had completely slipped her mind.

"Then please, Mr. Blake," she said politely, "make the trip for me."

"Of course."

She hung up and immediately called Johnny.

They worked straight through until noon, their brains buzzing with ideas, theories, solutions. By the time they finally took a break, Elodie’s head was spinning.

---

Elodie had last visited Nonna the previous Sunday.

She and Old Lady Miller had originally planned to go again that afternoon, but Elodie had been up all night. She was exhausted. So she suggested they push the visit to the evening instead.

When she mentioned it over lunch, Old Lady Miller took one look at her tired face and nodded.

"Alright. We’ll go after dinner then."

Elodie took a nap after that and didn’t wake up until almost six in the evening.

After a quick dinner, she and Old Lady Miller drove to the hospital.

---

When they arrived, Dante wasn’t there.

Elodie wasn’t surprised. She hadn’t expected him to be.

She and Old Lady Miller spent nearly two hours with Nonna, chatting, laughing, keeping her company. Nonna looked better than she had in days. Color was back in her cheeks. Her eyes were bright.

Just as they were getting ready to leave, the door opened.

Dante walked in.

He paused briefly when he saw them, but his expression didn’t change. Like he’d known they’d be there all along.

"Thank you both for coming," he said politely, his tone formal. Detached.

Neither Elodie nor Old Lady Miller responded.

Dante walked them to the elevator and pressed the button for them.

As the doors slid open, he asked, almost as an afterthought, "Did you receive the property certificates?"

"Not yet," Elodie said simply.

She and Old Lady Miller stepped into the elevator. Before Dante could follow, Elodie held up a hand.

"No need to see us out," she said quietly. "You should go back."

Dante stopped.

For a second, he looked like he wanted to say something. But he didn’t.

He just nodded once and stepped back.

The elevator doors closed between them.

As for why she hadn’t received the property certificates yet, he didn’t ask.

And she didn’t explain.