Alpha's Regret After the Divorce by Christina novel Chapter 71

I found myself glancing at my phone once more, the motion becoming almost automatic, like a reflex I couldn’t control. Still, there was no message, no missed call. A tightness gripped my chest—an ache I stubbornly refused to name. If Kira had reached out, if she had given any sign that she still cared, would I even be sitting here now, hashing out the future with Kim?

William noticed my repeated looks at the screen and frowned slightly, concern flickering in his eyes. “Is something wrong, Rocco?” he asked quietly.

“No,” I replied a little too sharply, the edge in my voice betraying me. I quickly softened my tone, trying to sound more composed. “No, it’s nothing. Just waiting on some updates about border security.”

He nodded, though I could tell he wasn’t entirely buying it. Leaning closer, his voice dropped to a serious, steady tone. “My family needs clarity about Kim’s status, Rocco. This affects the future of our alliance.”

I understood the weight behind his words. In wolf tradition, alliances forged through mating bonds held more power than mere treaties. Such unions meant both sides had a vested interest, making betrayal far less likely.

I considered the practical implications. Losing the Hoggins alliance would leave my territory exposed, especially with the Silverstone situation still unresolved. Kira’s investigation was digging deeper, stirring up complications I hadn’t anticipated. If she had hesitated, even just a little, if she’d given me a sign to wait…

But she hadn’t. Her silence was deafening.

“Next month,” I said finally, my voice firm and resolute, the decision hardened by Kira’s continued quiet, “we will hold the formal ceremony to confirm Kim as Luna.”

William’s expression softened just a bit, though Chris stayed alert, his eyes sharp.

“Also,” I added, “I want to increase border patrols, especially in the northern sector. Recent incursions suggest we need to be more vigilant.”

William nodded in agreement. “We can manage that. A twenty percent increase in patrol frequency is feasible.”

For the next thirty minutes, we delved into the specifics of military cooperation—patrol routes, potential threats, intelligence sharing. Through it all, my phone remained silent, and with every passing moment, my choice felt more definite, irreversible. I told myself this was what the pack needed for security, though a hollow ache gnawed at my heart.

When the meeting ended, William gestured for me to join him in a private room. We walked to his study, and he closed the door behind us, his face growing serious.

I sat on the edge of the bed, absently checking my phone again. Still no message from Kira. Despite my efforts to hide it, a worried expression crossed my face. Was she alright? Had something happened to her? Or was she truly moving on, just as she’d said she would?

Kim approached cautiously, her eyes—so much like Kira’s—watching me intently. “Are you waiting for an important call?” she asked softly.

I looked up at her beautiful face—so similar to Kira’s, yet fundamentally different—bathed in the soft glow of the room’s lighting, a vulnerability I rarely allowed myself showing through.

“Just work,” I replied vaguely, unable even to admit to myself how desperately I’d been hoping for a call that never came.

She sat down on the opposite side of the bed, her gaze thoughtful. “I’ll be here waiting for you.”

I said nothing, my eyes fixed on the dark screen of my phone, my thoughts drifting far away to Kira—miles apart from me—wondering what she was doing, if she was safe, if she was as troubled by our tangled situation as I was.