Alpha's Regret After Putting Me In Jail novel Chapter 50

Chapter 50: Right Choice

Chapter 50: Right Choice

(Celeste’s POV)

The faint, steady glow of the moon–blessed lamp greeted me as I entered Eleanor’s chambers. The room smelled of healing herbs, soft and comforting.

Yet, I didn’t feel at ease. My chest was tight, as if the weight of the day had only grown heavier the closer I got to her.

I glanced at Nina walking beside me. She moved carefully, her steps measured, as though she was suppressing pain. Lucas’s attack from before still haunted her. It made my stomach twist with guilt every time I thought about it.

“Are you sure about this?” she asked quietly, her sharp gray eyes flicking toward me.

I didn’t answer right away. My thoughts felt jumbled, messy. Instead, I simply nodded and pushed the door open.

Eleanor was sitting upright in bed, propped against a pile of pillows and wrapped in heavy blankets. She looked smaller, more fragile than I remembered. Her once strong frame that

could command an entire pack now seemed delicate. But her golden eyes told a different

story. They still held the same strength, the same fire that used to comfort me as a child.

“Little wolf,” she greeted me softly, her voice threadbare but warm. “Come here. Let me look at

you.”

I wanted to smile back, but my lips wouldn’t move. My heart clenched painfully in my chest. I

stepped closer to her bedside, pulling the small chair with me and sitting down on her right.

Eleanor’s frail hand reached for mine. I hesitated, staring at the way her fingers trembled as

they stretched out. Then I took her hand gently, careful not to hurt her.

Her skin was cold, but her touch was firm, almost grounding.

“You’ve been carrying something,” she said immediately, not a question but a statement. Her

golden eyes searched mine, piercing as always. “What is it, little wolf? Tell me. Don’t let it

fester inside you.”

I swallowed hard. The words sat like stones in my throat.

“It’s about Marcus,” I managed quietly. “About his… mate claim. And the gifts.”

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Chapter 50: Right Choice

Eleanor’s brow raised slightly, though there wasn’t a trace of surprise in her expression. She waited, giving me space to speak.

“They’ve sent so much,” I went on, my voice trembling slightly. “Ancient moon crystals. Sacred hunting grounds. Even land from the royal pack’s territories.” I paused, unsure if I could admit the rest out loud. “I… I accepted all of it.”

I braced myself, waiting for a sign that I had disappointed her, waiting for the gentle reprimand I often heard in her voice when I’d failed her expectations.

But Eleanor only nodded.

“And did you doubt you should accept them?” she asked, her voice still calm.

“Yes,” I admitted in a near whisper, lowering my gaze to our joined hands. “It feels like I’ve chained myself to something I don’t want. Something I don’t trust.”

Eleanor’s grip on my hand tightened slightly. For someone so frail, her energy still carried an undeniable strength–a reminder that while her body failed her, her spirit hadn’t dimmed.

“Good,” she said suddenly, breaking the silence.

My head snapped up, confusion rushing to the surface. “What?”

Her golden eyes were fierce now, not the soft gaze she’d offered me when I first entered.”

Good, little wolf. Accepting them was the right choice.”

The words startled me. “How is that ‘good?”

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Eleanor let out a soft breath, the corners of her lips lifting in something that might have been a smile. “These gifts, as much as they may feel like chains, are your armor now,” she said, her tone calm but firm. “They’re more than just offerings. They’re protections.”

I shook my head, not understanding. “Protections? They feel like anything but,” I said bitterly.

“They are,” she insisted, sitting up straighter. “By accepting them, you’ve secured your position. You’ve shown the royal pack, Marcus’s wolves, and even your own pack that you’re no pawn.” Her voice grew stronger as she spoke, her passion giving her strength. “These gifts tie you to the royal pack’s authority. They make it harder for anyone to challenge you. You’re safer now than you realize.”

Her words hit me like a wave, but the unease in my chest only deepened. “Safer, Eleanor, but at what cost?” I asked, my voice thick with emotion. “Accepting all this feels like surrendering. It feels like giving in to Marcus and his cruelty.”

Eleanor’s expression softened, but her grip on my hand didn’t loosen. “Saying no wouldn’t have

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Chapter 50: Right Choice

freed

you, little wolf,” she said gently. “It would’ve only left you with nothing. And nothing is far more dangerous.”

I felt the words ring true, but the ache in my chest refused to fade.

“Do you understand?” she pressed, her golden eyes holding mine firmly. “You have to protect yourself. No one else will do it for you. Not in the way you deserve.”

I nodded slowly, though every part of me still wanted to resist.

Her other hand, trembling but steady in intention, reached for the leather–bound book resting on the small table beside her bed. She struggled to lift it, and I immediately reached out to help her, guiding the book into her lap.

Nina stepped forward as well, her silver–gray wolf hovering protectively close but still silent. Her expression, though calm, betrayed a flicker of curiosity.

Eleanor opened the book, her fingers tracing across the aged pages with deliberate care.

“This,” she said firmly, pointing to the detailed writings, “is the record of my dowry when I became Luna of this pack.”

I stared at the pages, the intricate handwriting depicting lists of wealth, territories, and ceremonial treasures passed down for generations. “Your dowry?” I repeated, unsure of what

she meant.

“Yes,” she confirmed. “And now I’m giving it all to you.”

I froze, the weight of her words crashing into me like a tidal wave. “Eleanor, no,” I said quickly, my voice rising slightly. “You can’t–don’t do this.”

Her gaze hardened immediately, her golden eyes narrowing. “I can, and I will,” she said sharply. “This is no longer mine to hold onto. It belongs to you now.”

“But why would you-”

“You need it, Celeste,” she interrupted, her voice firm but filled with emotion. “More than anyone else, you need it. Everything I have, every resource I’ve built for this pack, will support you now. It’s my choice, and it’s final.”