Jealousy Alpha's Regret novel Chapter 161

Jealousy Alpha’s Regret

Chapter 161

Iris’s POV

The crowd erupted around me as Sebastien held up the silver fox, his victory absolute. His tall figure dominated the clearing, muscles gleaming with sweat under the afternoon sun. Spectators chanted his name with reverence–Grey! Grey! Grey!“–while I stood frozen, my emotions a tangled mess I couldn’t sort through.

I should’ve felt nothing. I wanted to feel nothing. But watching him stand there, triumphant and powerful, brought back memories I’d tried so hard to bury.

“Impressive hunt,” someone nearby commented. “Nobody beats a Grey in their ancestral territory.”

My fingers curled into my palms. Of course he’d win. Sebastien excelled at everything he set his mind to–business, design, and apparently hunting competitions he hadn’t even signed up for until seeing me with Ethan.

God, how pathetic I’d been early in our marriage. I remembered spending hours practicing techniques just to please him, desperate to gain some modicum of his approval.

“Hold the blade steadier,” he’d instructed coldly during my first hunting lesson. “Your grip is all wrong.”

I’d tried again, my hands trembling from exhaustion after hours of practice. When my body had betrayed me, shifting back to human form prematurely from fatigue, he’d looked at me with such contempt.

“Just this little bit of instinct you can’t control and you think you’ll become part of the Grey family? Know your place.”

The memory made my chest tighten. Normal people would’ve given up after hearing something so cruel. But not me. No, I’d spent the following weeks training relentlessly, pushing my body past its limits just to prove him wrong.

“Hey, you okay?” Ethan’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. He’d approached without me noticing, his silver–blonde hair slightly damp with sweat from the competition.

I forced a smile, trying to appear casual. “Yeah, just thinking. Second place is still amazing, by the way.”

“Thanks,” he replied, but I could tell he was disappointed. His eyes drifted toward Sebastien, who was now accepting congratulations from the event organizers.

I deliberately turned my back on the scene, not wanting to watch anymore. From the corner of my eye, I could see Sebastien pulling off his hunting gear. Even from this distance, I could make out the defined muscles of his torso as he stripped down without an ounce of self–consciousness. My cheeks heated despite myself.

“Want to get out of here?” I asked Ethan, desperate for a distraction.

Ethan nodded, but before we could move, I sensed Sebastien approaching. That familiar scent of pine and cold night air reached me before he did.

“Stone, his deep voice carried a mocking edge as he addressed me by my maiden name. “What a surprise to find you here. I didn’t realize you’d developed an interest in pack traditions.”

I kept my eyes fixed ahead, refusing to look at him. My heart was hammering stupidly in my chest.

“Congratulations on your win, Grey,” Ethan said, his tone professionally cordial despite the tension.

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Chapter 161

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Sebastien ignored him completely, his focus entirely on me. “Stone seems to be enjoying herself,” he said with a cold laugh. “Quite the social butterfly these

days.”

The comment stung more than it should have. I could feel anger rising in my chest, hot and sudden. Why did he always have to humiliate me in public?

Finally, I turned to face him directly. His hair was damp with sweat, face flushed from exertion, eyes the color of steel. For a split second, I caught something in his expression–something raw and unguarded–before his mask of indifference slid back into place.

“That’s natural, isn’t it?” I replied with a smile that felt more like baring teeth. The words came out cooler than I expected, considering the storm inside me.

Without waiting for his response, I grabbed Ethan’s arm and pulled him away. Let Sebastien stew in that. I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of seeing me flustered.

“Well, that was uncomfortable,” Ethan murmured as we walked through the crowd. “He seemed… intense.”

“He’s always intense,” I replied, keeping my voice light. “It’s his default setting.”

We continued walking, but I could feel Sebastien’s gaze burning into my back. The weight of it was almost tangible, like a physical touch trailing down my

spine.

hed the edge of the gathering, I noticed a young woman approaching Sebastien. She was petite with carefully styled hair, the type who worked in

Grey Enterprises. I stra

enhanced hearing and caught fragments of their conversation.

age about the ph

-saw her with Lowell-

-thought you shou

My steps faltere

me both ang

You a

was here. Someone had seen me with Ethan and immediately reported back to Sebastien. The realization made still cared enough to show up and make a scene.

ng my hesitation.

himself to handle some post–competition formalities. I watched him walk away, appreciating his considerate nature. He was thoughtful where Sebastien was domineering, patient where Sebastien was demanding.

back one last time and saw Sebastien’s tall figure moving toward the exit, his expression thunderous. Something inside me a small, seem to silence–felt a flicker of satisfaction seeing him so disturbed.

ew minutes later, his administrative duties complete.

ked with a warm smile. “I know a great place nearby.”

admitted, realizing I hadn’t eaten since breakfast,

hen, he said, leading me toward the parking lot. “I’ll drive.”

into the passenger seat of Ethan’s sleek car, grateful for the chance to relax. The leather seats were soft and comfortable, and the interior smelled

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Chapter 161

pleasantly of cedar.

M

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