A Regret in Red

Three years ago, my father sent me to Damian’s side.

Every day is a battle of wits with that cold, ruthless Alpha. Every night, I lose myself in his arms.

I think… I've finally found the love I am destined for.

I was so happy, so sure of our future, that I started planning our bonding ceremony.

Until Clara showed up.

By then, I realized just how naive I had been.

For Clara, Damian locked me away in the isolation cell to teach me a lesson.

He spent millions on her without a second thought, but left me alone in a hospital ward unconscious for seven hours.

When it came down to life and death, he never hesitated to choose Clara, leaving me bleeding on the ground.

The most ironic part?

When I finally gave up and walked away, he lost his mind.

He started insisting that I am his mate, his one true love.

Damian, you're too late.

"One more time."

I tried to steady myself from shaking, reaching out to touch Damian's sweat-soaked chest.

His Alpha scent still hung in the air, a blend of cedarwood that captivated me and something untamed that I couldn't quite name.

"Aurora." His voice was low and rough as he pulled me into his arms. "You're different today..."

"Different how?" I pressed even closer, letting my lips brush along his jawline.

"Passionate," he said.

I didn't answer. I simply let him draw me back into that intoxicating darkness.

When everything was over, I slipped from his embrace, about to walk barefoot into the bathroom.

Just then, my phone rang. My father's voice came through.

"Aurora, have you thought about the engagement?"

I glanced at Damian, who was still asleep—the Alpha of the Blackmoon Pack, CEO of the most powerful pack group in Northland.

The moonlight carved out the sharp lines of his face. His breathing was still uneven from all the excitement. My fingers brushed over the fresh scratches on his chest.

Three years.

It had been three years since my father sent me to Damian "for discipline" when I turned twenty-one. We had been maintaining a hard-to-define relationship since then.

"I agree," I replied quietly.

"Good. About the Risingdawn Pack…" My father's voice barely hid his excitement.

"But I have one condition," I cut him off.

"Whatever it is, just say it. I'll make it happen," he said.

"I'll tell you when I get back."

After hanging up, I quietly got out of bed and slipped into a silk robe.

Damian turned over behind me, murmuring my name with the lazy contentment of someone who had just been satisfied.

I didn't turn around. As I reached the door, my gaze landed on a freshly opened envelope on the cabinet.

It was titled Clara's Health Assessment Report.

My fingers trembled as I opened the envelope. It was a detailed medical record with notes on old injuries dating back five years. Everything was laid out, even her preferred painkillers.

'Why did Damian have