Fake Mate Beta Rises to Alpha Heiress (Natalie and Landon) novel Chapter 268

Chapter 268 My Regret Grew

Victoria’s POV:

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To delay the marriage, I went abroad to study for a few years. I was sure Leonardo would wait. He was responsible and, deep down, insecure. Once he committed to someone, he wouldn’t give up easily.

And I… I needed time to figure out my own heart. Were my feelings for Leonardo strong enough? Could I really marry him?

I made my decision. Leonardo was sad to see me go, but he supported me without question. He just held me tight and said quietly, “I’ll be here when you come back.”

Neither of us could have guessed that leaving would change everything between us.

Leonardo’s work schedule was insane, but he pushed himself hard, flying over to see me every few weeks. If I needed him, he always tried to make it work.

Even though Leonardo did everything right, I wanted more. I got used to his devotion, and it started to feel predictable. Being away from him, my social circle widened.

I was beautiful, charismatic, and young. Naturally, I had plenty of admirers-werewolves and even

humans.

I never crossed any lines, but my dinner companions gradually shifted from girls to various men. I wanted to know what that feeling of a racing heart was actually like.

Later, as my studies were ending, the elders of Silver-Maned Pack began pushing for the wedding. Leonardo talked to me about getting engaged as soon as I returned, with the Moon Goddess’ vow to follow at the next full moon.

But right before the engagement, something happened to Leonardo.

I heard he got into a sudden, violent fight with another Alpha at a pack gathering. No one knew why, but he almost killed the man.

I visited the victim in the hospital. His throat had been torn, his vocal cords removed. He’d breathe through a tube for the rest of his life. The wounds showed clear werewolf claw marks and bite traces- Leonardo had partially shifted during his loss of control.

The Leonardo in my mind was emotionally stable. Even if his methods were cold and decisive, this level of impulsive, total loss of control wasn’t like him at all.

It scared me. I remembered Leonardo had trauma fron his childhood. The doctor said it was hard to overcome and required careful management to prevent feral tendencies.

‘After learning the truth, I immediately tricked Leonardo into getting a psychological evaluation. It ‘confirmed he had severe post-traumatic stress. If his emotions broke, he could lose control, potentially hurting others or even shifting completely.

A full cure was unlikely. So, if I bonded with Leonardo, I had to accept that risk-my Alpha could one day

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19:47 Mon, Jan 19 G

Chapter 268 My Regret Grew

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lose control and hurt me.

I couldn’t process it. Leonardo sensed my hesitation and was devastated. The look of abandonment in his eyes broke my heart, but it terrified me even more.

The Thompson family and the Sanchez family had already set the engagement party date. It was getting closer, but I kept putting off the conversation with Leonardo. I was too afraid.

Leonardo’s POV:

The night before the engagement party, I went to see Victoria, hoping we could talk.

But outside her apartment, I saw it all. A man kissed her forehead.

I stood there the entire time, watching quietly as Victoria turned to him for comfort. She was crying, truly upset.

In all our years together, she had never shown me that kind of vulnerability.

I had always treated Victoria like my most precious treasure. We rarely even held hands, let alone kissed. To me, that kind of intimacy was meant for after the Moon Goddess’ yow, a sign of respect between mates.

Yet everything I had cherished and protected meant nothing to her.

In that moment, my heart shattered.

But I was used to being abandoned. I might struggle at first, but when it finally happened, I felt nothing. I just waited calmly for Victoria to notice me. As she stumbled through a panicked explanation, I broke up

with her.

Victoria’s POV:

On the day of the engagement party, I showed up. Leonardo didn’t. He canceled everything without a word, sparking outrage from both families.

Our childhood bond was over, just like that.

Years passed. By the time Leonardo and I saw each other again, three years had gone by.

I had two short relationships at that time. But I never forgot Leonardo. I was the one who pulled away first, yet I was also the first to regret it.

The longer the time went on, the deeper my regret grew. Love eventually settled into something quiet. Happiness was just a longing for repetition. Every day apart from Leonardo, I yearned to go back, to

return to when we first met.

19:47 Mon, Jan 19 GT.