Jealousy Alpha's Regret novel Chapter 231

Jealousy Alpha’s Regret

Chapter 231

65

I stood there, seething as he walked away. The old man knew exactly which buttons to push. I forced myself up the stairs, each step sending a fresh wave of pain through my bandaged chest. By the time I reached my room, sweat had broken out across my forehead, and my breathing was labored. Too soon for this much exertion, but I’d be damned if I’d shown weakness in front of him.

Once in my room, I shut the door harder than necessary, welcoming the loud bang. I paced, my body still too weak for such exertion, but I couldn’t sit still. The room felt too empty, too quiet. At the hospital, there had always been the soft sounds of Iris moving around–the rustle of papers as she worked, her measured breathing when she slept, the quiet tap of her fingers on her phone.

Even the air felt different without her in it. Stale. Lifeless.

I stopped by the window, looking out at the forest beyond our property. The moon hung low, nearly full, casting everything in silver light. My wolf stirred restlessly beneath my skin, as dissatisfied as I was. It wanted to run, to hunt, to find her and bring her back to our territory where she belonged.

Memories from the hospital flooded back–Iris adjusting my pillows, her fingers cool against my fevered skin; the scent of her shampoo when she leaned over me; the way she’d fallen asleep in that uncomfortable chair, still clutching my company’s files. I’d watched her then, memorizing the way her eyelashes cast shadows on her cheeks, the slight part of her lips as she breathed.

“Should have stayed weak longer,” I muttered to myself, a laugh with no humor escaping me. The great Alpha heir, wishing for extended weakness just to keep a woman by his side for a few more days. Pathetic.

But I couldn’t deny the emptiness her absence left. The room seemed colder, somehow. Larger and more hollow. My fingers twitched, wanting to reach for something–for her–but finding nothing.

Grandfather’s warning echoed in my mind. “There are plenty waiting…”

My hand clenched into a fist, nails digging into my palm hard enough to draw blood. The thought of Iris with someone else made my wolf snarl, possessive and furious. The image of her walking away–not looking back, not hesitating–burned in my mind. Had she already moved on? Was she already planning her life without me?

I pulled out my phone, staring at her name in my contacts. What excuse could I give for calling? Business matters? Too impersonal. Health concerns? Too obvious. Admitting I missed her? Impossible.

My thumb hovered over her name. Pride warred with something else, something I wasn’t ready to name. Minutes passed as I stood there,

frozen in indecision, mentally rehearsing and discarding opening lines.

“Fuck it,” I finally muttered, hitting the call button before I could talk myself out of it.

The phone rang once, twice, three times. With each ring, my heart beat faster, a strange anxiety building in my chest. Maybe she wouldn’t answer. Maybe she’d see my name and ignore it. Maybe-

“Hello?” Her voice, thick with sleep, came through the speaker. I glanced at the time–it was later than I’d realized.

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16:39 Wed, May 6 d

Chapter 231

“Sebastien?” she said, clearer now, wariness creeping into her tone. ‘Is something wrong?”

I opened my mouth, but words failed me. What was I doing? This was a mistake. I should hang up.

“Sebastien?” Concern replaced wariness. I could hear her shifting, probably sitting up in bed. The rustle of sheets. The soft catch in her

breath.

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