Alpha's Regret After the Divorce by Christina novel Chapter 76

Chapter 76

Kira’s Perspective

I had already anticipated his response long before the words escaped his lips. That fleeting moment when Rocco’s eyes flicked away from mine spoke volumes without a single sound. Yet, hearing it spoken aloud felt like a dagger twisting deep inside my chest.

“The wedding plans will continue as scheduled,” Rocco declared, his voice firm and commanding, carrying the unmistakable weight of an Alpha’s authority. “I have no intention of canceling the bonding ceremony with Kim.”

A heavy silence descended over the room. The only sound was the faint ticking of the antique grandfather clock standing solemnly in the corner of the Hoggins’ dining room. Each tick seemed to echo the agony in my heart as I stood there, blood still trickling slowly from my nose.

Kim reached out, her fingers curling possessively around Rocco’s bicep. “So, Rocco… you’re choosing me?” Her voice trembled with barely concealed excitement, a victorious gleam shining in her eyes.

He gave a single nod, his face unreadable, while Kim practically melted into his side, her gaze flickering toward me with clear triumph. A wave of nausea swept over me.

William stepped forward, his posture rigid and formal. “As a representative of the Elder Council, I must remind you that once the bonding vows are exchanged, the connection becomes unbreakable. It is sacred—binding in the eyes of our ancestors and the Moon Goddess.”

I swallowed hard, the metallic taste of blood lingering on my tongue. My body felt detached, numb, as a subtle tremor began to shake my hands. I had expected this outcome—no, I had known it was inevitable ever since I found Kim in our bed—but that knowledge did nothing to dull the sting.

“As the Silverstone family’s representative,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt inside, “I respect your decision, Alpha Rocco.”

Without waiting for a response, I turned and moved toward the door, unable to endure another moment in that suffocating room. As I walked away, I was keenly aware of Rocco’s gaze burning into my back—complex and unreadable. Was it regret? Frustration? I couldn’t say, and honestly, I no longer cared. With William standing there, Rocco had no choice but to proceed as he did, or risk fracturing his alliance.

Not that it mattered anymore. His choice had been made long before today.

I was nearly at the front door when hurried footsteps echoed behind me.

“Kira, wait!” my mother’s voice called out.

Suddenly, a harsh cough seized me, catching me completely off guard. I doubled over on the narrow forest path, pressing my hand to my mouth. When I pulled it away, my palm was stained with blood—darker than usual, streaked with black veins threading through the crimson.

“No,” I gasped. “Not now.”

Another violent cough shook my body, spattering more blood onto the earth beneath me. I staggered toward a massive oak tree nearby, leaning heavily against its rough bark. Slowly, I slid down until I was sitting on the damp soil, breath ragged and shallow.

“Look at you,” I whispered bitterly to myself. “The great failure, Kira Silverstone.” A dry, humorless laugh escaped my lips, quickly turning into another painful, bloody cough.

A scorching pain blossomed in my chest, spreading like wildfire through dry brush. It felt as if acid had been poured into my lungs, the agony more intense than ever before. I curled inward, clutching myself. Desperately, I fumbled through my purse for the special herbs Lucas had prescribed, only to realize I’d left them at home.

Trembling fingers reached for my phone as I tried to call the werewolf medical center. The screen blurred before my eyes, my vision swimming as I struggled to press the call button. But before I could make the call, darkness crept in, and I slumped against the tree trunk, powerless.