Alpha's Regret After the Divorce by Christina novel Chapter 88

88 /270

Chapter 88

Rocco’s Perspective:

The silver leaves of the ginkgo trees blurred past the car window as Dominic steered us toward the tribal center plaza. Their metallic shimmer caught the sunlight, creating a dazzling canopy overhead that should have felt like a good omen for today’s marking ceremony with Kim. Yet, an uneasy sensation gnawed at me, as if the day held a secret I hadn’t yet uncovered.

“We’ll be there in five minutes, Alpha,” Dominic said from the driver’s seat, breaking the silence.

I gave a curt nod but couldn’t shake my mind from drifting back to my earlier phone call with Kira. Her voice had been eerily calm, almost detached, when she wished me luck. It wasn’t the fiery anger or desperation I’d expected after everything we’d endured. Instead, she sounded like she was quietly saying goodbye. The thought twisted uncomfortably in my gut.

“Damn it,” I muttered under my breath, chastising myself. This wasn’t the time to dwell on Kira. Today was about Kim—about solidifying our alliance with the Hoggins family and securing the future of my pack. This prickling discomfort was just nerves before the ceremony. Nothing more.

“Everything okay, sir?” Dominic glanced at me through the rearview mirror, concern flickering in his eyes.

“Fine,” I replied shortly. “Just keep your focus on the road.”

As we pulled into the plaza, I was taken aback by the crowd. Pack members dressed in formal attire mingled beneath the silver decorations that caught the sunlight like scattered stars. But my eyes narrowed when I noticed several unfamiliar werewolves holding recording crystals and parchment scrolls—pack chroniclers from distant territories, moon-touched and serious.

“What are all these chroniclers doing here?” I demanded as Dominic opened my door.

He hesitated before answering, “Kim invited them, sir. She said she wanted her moment as Luna to be properly documented for all werewolf packs to witness.”

My jaw clenched tightly. This wasn’t what we had agreed on. Our pack ceremonies were meant to be private, sacred affairs—not public spectacles. But making a scene now would only spoil the day. I forced myself to swallow the rising irritation.

Stepping out, I straightened my dark suit and scanned the crowd with my enhanced vision. The pack members immediately noticed my arrival, many bowing their heads slightly in respect. Yet, amid the sea of faces, one was conspicuously absent.

“Where’s Kim?” I asked, unable to mask the edge in my voice.

Nearby wolves exchanged uneasy glances but stayed silent. Across the plaza, I spotted the Hoggins family—William standing tall in his ceremonial robes, Vanessa beside him in a shimmering moonlight silver cocktail dress, her arm looped through his. Her fox fur wrap added an air of calculated elegance. The sight of her made my skin crawl. Unlike my mother, who embodied proud, traditional werewolf values, Vanessa always seemed to use her status for social climbing rather than honoring our heritage. Still, she was Kim’s mother and William’s mate, so I forced a cordial approach.

“Rocco!” Vanessa’s practiced smile brightened her face as she noticed me. “What a beautiful day for a ceremony, isn’t it?”

I nodded stiffly, my gaze still searching the crowd. “Where is Kim?”

William stepped forward smoothly. “She should be here soon. You know how women get on important days like this—perfecting every last detail.”

Dominic leaned in, speaking quietly near my ear. “The Hoggins arrived early. There was a problem with Kim’s ceremonial robe—the staff worked overnight to fix it. She went for the final makeup ritual and to try on the robe. She should be here any minute.”