Alpha's Regret After the Divorce by Christina novel Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Rocco’s Perspective

I stormed through the entrance of the medical center, my heart pounding wildly against my chest as if trying to break free. The receptionist glanced up, visibly startled by my abrupt arrival.

“Alpha Blackwood, Room 307,” she said quickly, lowering her gaze almost immediately.

Without hesitation, I ignored the elevator and dashed up the stairs two steps at a time, my urgency pushing me forward.

“Rocco! Thank the Moon you’re here!” Kim’s voice echoed warmly across the room. She appeared perfectly fine, sitting upright in bed with the steady beeping of monitors beside her. There was no sign of pain twisting her face, no frantic medical personnel rushing about.

The doctor turned toward me, offering a calm, reassuring smile. “False labor pains, Alpha Blackwood. It’s quite common with twin pups at this stage—they require more paternal spiritual support.”

My jaw clenched tightly. “False labor?”

“Yes,” Kim said softly, reaching out to grasp my hand and pull me closer. “Nothing actually happened, but I was terrified. I’m so glad you came.”

Her fingers intertwined with mine, grasping as if afraid to let go. I forced a smile, though a heavy weight settled deep in my chest. This wasn’t an emergency after all.

“Sit with me,” she urged, patting the space beside her. “The doctor said you should stay close, keep our bond strong for the babies.”

The room suddenly felt suffocatingly small, the air thick and hard to breathe. Her grip tightened, her eyes locked onto mine with a desperate intensity. “Don’t leave me, Rocco. I need you.”

I needed air. Space. Distance from the overwhelming need that clung to her every word. My phone buzzed in my pocket—a perfect excuse.

“Sorry,” I muttered, pulling it out and pretending to read an urgent message. “There’s an emergency at the office with the Luna Shadow launch.”

Kim’s face fell, disappointment washing over her. “But the doctor said—”

“You said it yourself, nothing happened,” I interrupted, already stepping back toward the door. “The doctor confirmed you’re fine, didn’t he?”

I ignored him, taking another drink. The alcohol carved a fiery trail down my throat, dulling the sharp edges of my thoughts. Good. I didn’t want clarity right now.

With three more swallows, memories began to seep through the walls I’d built around them: Kira’s radiant smile on our bonding day, the way her eyes sparkled when I called her “Luna” for the first time, the swelling pride in my chest when she introduced herself as Luna Blackwood.

I have to hate her. She’s Derek’s daughter. I need to hate her, right?

Yet, with every mile closer to the mansion, I felt the pull of what was left between us—a vibrant connection, though now thin and frayed, like the last fragile thread of a once-strong rope.

I hate her, I muttered, rubbing my temples.

“But my wolf still remembers she’s my mate.”

When the car came to a stop, I stumbled out, waving off Dominic’s offered hand. “I can walk myself.”

The mansion’s hallways stretched and tilted as I made my way to the bedroom. When I pushed open the door, the first thing to hit me was her scent—that sweet, familiar fragrance now tinged with something medicinal and bitter. She sat up in bed, eyes wide, staring at me as I entered.