Alpha's Regret After She Kneels novel Chapter 99

"Your grip is too tight," I say flatly, adjusting her fingers on my shoulder. "You're leaving bruises."

"How inconvenient for you," she whispers, close enough that only I can hear. "Imagine having permanent marks from someone you trusted."

I deserve that. I deserve worse.

"This competition is our last obligation," I remind her, voice steady while my pulse hammers. "After next week, your lawyer can finalize everything."

Her nails dig slightly deeper as we spin. "Can't wait to sign those papers."

The silence between us screams with every step, every turn, every forced point of contact. My eyes betray me, tracing the elegant lines of her face, the shadows beneath her eyes, the slight tremble in her fingers when our bodies press together.

I still remember when that trembling meant something else entirely.

"Let's take five," I announce abruptly when her wedding ring—still worn for appearances—catches the light.

"What's wrong, Raiden? Afraid we'll actually win and have to stand on that podium together?" Her smile is razor-sharp.

Tell her you'd stand anywhere with her. Tell her you'd give up every trophy to go back.

"Your timing was off in the third sequence," I say instead, my heart fracturing with each cold word. "If we don't synchronize perfectly, the Mendozas will take gold."

Her expression hardens as she drinks from her water bottle, her eyes never leaving mine. Has she always carried this fire, this unflinching ability to face what hurts her? My heart aches at the realization.

“I’ll do you one better. Have a good day Raiden.”

“Siena—” I protest. “We’re not finished!”

My words fall on deaf ears. He boots crunch awya in the opposite direction. Whether I was finished or not is of no consequence—Siena is done.

***

"Raiden, can we talk? I miss you."

"I cooked your favorite meal tonight, hoping you'd join me. Please stop by."

"I had a rough day today. I could really use your company, even just for a few minutes."

The declaration is startling in its honesty, but I have no regrets.

Lila recoils as if struck, eyes widening in shock, anger quickly replacing surprise."What?" she demands, voice trembling with outrage. "How…how dare you—"

But I hold up a hand, silencing her protest. I've said enough. "Leave," I murmur firmly, my voice edged with finality.

“Raiden—”

“Do as you are commanded!” I snap, the snarl inmy throat borne more fo Horace’s rage than any fury I could alone conjure. The sound of teh shattering phone ringing through my ears before my eyes have tiem to witness the cranage of glass that now litters the floor.

Lila stares for a moment longer, defiance warring with disbelief, before she turns sharply, slamming the door behind her with a resounding echo.

Left alone, I sink to the floor, drained yet strangely relieved by this small respite, this small freedom.

I owe more than apologies. I owe action.

And perhaps, just perhaps, there is still time to mend what I've broken, piece by painful piece.