Jealousy Alpha's Regret novel Chapter 72

I watched as another group of werewolf businessmen surrounded

Sebastien, all of them practically falling over themselves to catch a

moment with the Grey heir. He nodded slightly in my direction,

gesturing with his chin that I could explore the grounds. I caught his

low whisper, meant only for my ears.

“Don’t wander too far. I’ll come find you soon.”

His tone was casual but carried an unmistakable command. I turned

away, grateful for the brief reprieve from playing happy couple. The

Lowell estate sprawled before me, its manicured gardens and stone

pathways bathed in soft evening light. I wandered down one of the

paths, putting distance between myself and the crowd.

“Jesus, this place is huge,” I muttered under my breath, taking in the

massive property. The whole estate had that distinctly old–money

werewolf vibe–ancient trees marking territory boundaries, subtle

scent markers that human guests would never notice, and

architecture designed to accommodate both human and w

As I walked, I couldn’t help but think about what came next. After

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Chapter 72

The thought should have filled me with relief.

“Once this charade is over, I can start building my own life,” I whispered to myself, one hand unconsciously drifting to my stomach.

“I just hope he keeps his word about letting me go.”

My thoughts drifted to the tiny life growing inside me. I wasn’t ready to think about what that meant long–term. First things first–get through tonight, then deal with Sebastien, then figure out the babies

situation.

I felt eyes on me and turned to see Noah Phillips standing near a stone gazebo, watching me with that same gentle expression he always wore. My heart did a little flip–not from attraction exactly, but from the simple comfort of seeing a friendly face. Someone who wasn’t playing games with me.

Noah approached slowly, his hands in his pockets, looking handsome in his tailored suit. “Iris,” he said with a genuine smile. “It’s been a

while. How are you doing?”

“Noah, hey.” I tried to keep my voice casual. “Long time no see. I’m…

managing. You?”

His eyes searched my face as if looking for clues about my well–being. “I’m good. Been busy with the new expansion project.” He hesitated,

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glancing in the direction I’d come from. “You and Alpha Grey–you’re

back together?”

The question hung in the air between us. I knew I should say yes, play

my part in this farce, but something in Noah’s sincere expression

made lying feel wrong.

“It’s complicated,” I finally said, which wasn’t exactly a lie.

Noah nodded, seemingly understanding more than I’d said. “These

things often are.”

The conversation shifted to lighter topics, and I found myself genuinely laughing at Noah’s story about a community project that had gone hilariously wrong when a young wolf had accidentally shifted during a human public event.

“So there I am, trying to explain to the mayor why there’s suddenly a wolf pup running around knocking over the refreshment table, while simultaneously trying to catch the kid before any humans could get a good look,” Noah chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

I couldn’t help but laugh, the sound bubbling up from somewhere I hadn’t accessed in weeks. “What did you do?”

“I grabbed a tablecloth, threw it over him, scooped him up, and told

Chapter 72

glancing in the direction I’d come from. “You and Alpha Grey–you’re

back together?”

The question hung in the air between us. I knew I should say yes, play

my part in this farce, but something in Noah’s sincere expression

made lying feel wrong.

“It’s complicated,” I finally said, which wasn’t exactly a lie.

Noah nodded, seemingly understanding more than I’d said. “These things often are.”

The conversation shifted to lighter topics, and I found myself genuinely laughing at Noah’s story about a community project that had gone hilariously wrong when a young wolf had accidentally shifted during a human public event.

“So there I am, trying to explain to the mayor why there’s suddenly a wolf pup running around knocking over the refreshment table, while simultaneously trying to catch the kid before any humans could get a good look,” Noah chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

I couldn’t help but laugh, the sound bubbling up from somewhere I hadn’t accessed in weeks. “What did you do?”

“I grabbed a tablecloth, threw it over him, scooped him up, and told

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everyone it was part of the entertainment–a very realistic puppet

show.”

The absurdity of it made me laugh harder. Talking with Noah felt easy

and natural, like slipping into a favorite sweater. No power games, no

hidden agendas.

As I laughed, I sensed a shift in the atmosphere. My wolf stirred, suddenly alert. I didn’t need to turn around to know Sebastien was approaching–my body had become attuned to his presence, much to my annoyance. From the corner of my eye, I saw him striding toward us, a glass of red wine in his hand, his expression unreadable.

“Great,” I thought. “He looks pissed. The show must go on.”

Noah sensed it too. His sentence trailed off mid–word, and I watched his body language shift subtly, his head tilting down slightly–an instinctive response to a more dominant wolf.

Sebastien reached us, standing close enough that I could feel the heat radiating from his body. Noah murmured a respectful greeting and

quickly excused himself, leaving me alone with Sebastien in the

secluded corner of the garden.

“Enjoying yourself?” Sebastien’s voice was deceptively casual, but I caught the sharp edge underneath.

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I kept my expression neutral. “Just catching up with an old friend.”

“So I noticed.” His eyes followed Noah’s retreating form before

returning to me. He extended the wine glass. “Here. Try this.”

I stared at the offered glass with suspicion. “What?”

His lips curved into what might have looked like a smile to anyone watching from a distance, but his eyes remained cold. “Tell me how it

tastes.”

I frowned, my brows pulling together. “I don’t drink alcohol.”

Not normally, and certainly not while pregnant–though I couldn’t

tell him that. The flash of irritation in his eyes told me he remembered this fact about me and had chosen to ignore it.

“Try it anyway,” he insisted, his voice hardening just enough that

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nearby wolves would hear the command of an Alpha.

“No,” I replied firmly, meeting his gaze head–on. I wasn’t his to command, regardless of what everyone here believed.

Something dangerous flickered in Sebastien’s eyes–a look I’d come to recognize as his wolf rising close to the surface. Before I could react, he raised the glass to his own lips and took a sip of the wine.

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Then, without warning, he closed the distance between us. His free hand snaked around my waist, pulling me against him with a strength I couldn’t resist. I gasped in surprise, and in that moment of parted

lips, his mouth claimed mine.

My eyes widened in shock as I realized what he was doing. The wine passed from his mouth to mine in a kiss so intimate it made my knees weak. His arm tightened around my waist, holding me upright against him as I instinctively tried to pull away.

I could taste the rich wine, but more than that, I could taste him- that distinctive flavor that was uniquely Sebastien. My wolf responded traitorously, surging toward his, while my human mind

screamed in outrage.

What the hell is he doing?!

I pushed against his chest, but it was like trying to move a stone wall. Around us, I heard the shocked murmurs and gasps of the other guests. My face burned with humiliation as I realized everyone was watching this display.

The kiss seemed to last forever, though it was probably only seconds. When Sebastien finally pulled back, his eyes were dark with something I couldn’t–or didn’t want to–identify. I stood frozen, the taste of wine and Sebastien lingering on my lips, my heart

hammering against my ribs.

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“Perfect,” he murmured, loud enough for nearby ears to catch. “Just as

sweet as I remembered.”

I could only stare at him, speechless with anger and confusion, as the whispers of the gathered werewolf elite swirled around us like fallen leaves in a storm. He’d just ensured that by tomorrow, every wolf in Moonshade Bay would be talking about how passionately the Grey heir had kissed his mate at the Lowell gathering.

The performance he wanted. The performance I’d agreed to give. But this wasn’t acting–this was him staking a claim, and I had no idea

why.

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