Alpha's Regret After She Kneels novel Chapter 106

(Raiden’s POV)

Days have passed, but Siena’s presence lingers like a phantom, haunting the corners of my mind.

Horace paces restlessly beneath my skin, agitated and clawing to break free. Every time I close my eyes, I see her standing there—strong, composed, untouchable. And yet, there was something beneath that polished exterior. I saw it in the way her hands trembled after her victory.

The way her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.

My jaw clenches as I stalk into my study, slamming the door behind me. The silence wraps around me like a suffocating blanket, pressing down on my chest.

I need a distraction, something to drown out the chaos swirling inside me. My eyes land on the crystal decanter sitting on the edge of the desk—an expensive bottle of aged whiskey I’d been saving for a special occasion.

Apparently, self-loathing counts as a special occasion.

I pour a generous amount into the glass, the amber liquid catching the dim light. The first sip burns down my throat, but it’s a welcome sting—a distraction. I settle into the leather chair, my gaze unfocused as I take another sip.

But the whiskey doesn’t quiet the storm.

It only brings the memories to the surface, each one sharper than the last. Siena’s smile on our mating day, bright and full of hope. The way her eyes shone with devotion, even when I gave her nothing in return.

Her persistence, her unwavering loyalty, despite my coldness. I see the hurt in her eyes every time I pushed her away, every time I chose Lila over her.

The glass trembles in my hand, my grip tightening until my knuckles turn white.

“I’ve been unfair to her,” I murmur, the words barely above a whisper. But they hang in the stillness, echoing louder than I intended.

The confession feels foreign on my tongue, raw and unfiltered, but I can’t deny it. I’ve been unfair. Cruel.