After She's Terminal The Alpha Regrets (Elaine and Lucas) novel Chapter 8

Chapter 8

+5 BONUS

Chapter 8

The lingering scent of Elaine’s perfume was already fading from the air, replaced by the sterile neutrality of absence.

Lucas stormed out of the room, calling out sharply. “Where did she go?”

The butler flinched at his tone, wringing his hands nervously. “I’m not sure, Alpha. Luna didn’t say. She packed quietly and left before sundown yesterday.”

Lucas’s jaw ticked. “Why didn’t anyone stop her?”

“She seemed resolute, sir. I assumed she would return later in the evening…” His voice trailed off.

Lucas’s eyes swept the room again, landing on his coat, still rumpled and hanging where he’d left it after the summit. No one had ironed it. His suit trousers were still folded awkwardly over the edge of the chair. The evening tea was missing entirely. These were all part of Elaine’s usual routine.

Before, they’d all been done without Lucas ever having to ask. In fact, he hardly even noticed. So much got done around the house and in his life that he had never paid much attention to.

Now that Elaine was gone, there was a massive empty space in his world.

The rhythm of the household had broken, and no one knew how to fix it. It shouldn’t have mattered. He was Alpha. These were small things.

Yet, the small things had always been Elaine’s domain.

He dropped into the armchair, remembering the soft way she used to greet him.

“You’re home,” she would say with a gentle smile, even when he came back late. “Was the meeting difficult? Did anyone trouble you?”

He used to brush her off. Every time.

Back then, it had grated on him. The way she hovered, always quietly present, was an annoyance. He had assumed it was a performance, a ploy to gain favor and report back to her family. She played the part their parents had cast her in. He never trusted her intentions. 2

She had been their choice, not his. He’d assumed she was another weapon his family used to control him. He’d believed, foolishly, that Ayla had been the one quietly supporting him all along.

But the butler’s voice from weeks ago surfaced suddenly in his mind: “Luna goes to bed early because she wakes before everyone else. She makes sure breakfast is arranged and the servants are prepared. She coordinates your day long before you even open your eyes.”

She was never lazy or useless. She was simply unseen.

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Chapter 8

+5 BONUS

He closed his eyes, the weight of realization pressing in. He’d been wrong. Worse than wrong, he’d entirely underestimated Elaine and what she did for him.

Lucas’s heart sunk. He had to keep thinking that all of this was a meager attempt to get his attention. He’d been so complacent for so long, that this must be the only way she thought she’d get a rise out of him. (2)

Well, it worked. Lucas realized that she was more than he gave her credit for. He wondered, for a moment, if he should run after her. No, he would not. Instead, he’d give her some room to figure things out for herself. She’d think about what she’d done, come back, and they’d have an adult conversation on how to fix things.

The next morning, Lucas worked in his office. Beta Kyle entered his office with familiar, righteous energy.

“Alpha, we need to talk about Luna.” Kyle had never exactly been Elaine’s number one fan. In fact, he often sided with Lucas on how they felt about Elaine.

Lucas and Kyle had been childhood friends. Even then, everyone knew they’d be Alpha and Beta one day. That also meant that Kyle had a close relationship with Lucas’s parents. He knew how they were.

They’d both agreed years ago that Elaine was their pawn, but a good pawn nonetheless. Kyle remained wary of Elaine from the day she became part of Wind Wolf regardless.

Lucas didn’t look up. “What about her?”

“She’s been out of line lately. Not coming home, embarrassing you at the summit, ignoring her role-”

Lucas held up a hand. “That’s enough.”

Kyle faltered. “Alpha?”

“Don’t talk badly about Elaine anymore. Don’t interfere in her matters. She’s done more than any of us ever gave her credit for.” Lucas’s tone was steel.

“Yes, Alpha.”

“She needs some time,” he added. “Let her have it.”

Kyle stiffened, clearly surprised by the shift, but nodded. “Understood, Alpha.”

Behind them, the butler hesitated in the doorway. “Alpha, there’s one more thing…”

Lucas glanced over.

“The divorce papers. What do you want to do about them?”

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Chapter 8

He waved it off. “She’s had it hard. I’ll give her more time. I doubt she actually means to divorce me.”

The butler opened his mouth to protest, but Lucas had already turned back to his reports.

“Elaine would never sign them,” he said. (2)

+5 BONUS

Ayla appeared in the doorway in her morning robe holding her cup like a careful guest.

She had been listening for twenty minutes.

“Oh, Lucas.” She crossed the room. Her eyes were already wet. “I knew it. I knew it would be my fault. If I had only gone last week when I said – Goddess, this is on me. I drove her out.”

Her tears were too quick. He felt the flicker of irritation, and let it go, because she was crying, and because he had been letting her cry for seven years.

He let her come. He let her hands settle on his chest.

“She wasn’t driven anywhere,” he said.

“She’s gone, Lucas.”

“She has gone to throw a fit. She will come back.”

Ayla wiped one eye against her wrist. “And until she does?”

He didn’t answer.

“There is the trade delegation tonight,” she said softly. “And the foundation dinner on Thursday. Both want a Luna at your side. If she really isn’t – perhaps I could stand in. Only until she’s back. As a courtesy. To you.”