Alpha's Regret After She Kneels

(Siena's POV)

"Why are you looking at me like that?" I ask, lifting a subtle eyebrow at Raiden's scrutiny. "I have the most basic sense of contract spirit. Once I make a promise, I intend to honor it."

He remains quiet, but there are notes of confusion that rattle between his eyes.

"... Tomorrow, I will have my lawyer draft the terms of our contract—our marriage." Raiden's voice is menacing, low, edged with warning.

"There is no backing out, Siena. This is the end of us... And

I say, "Sure, I will check it. And?"

Raiden watches me a moment longer. His body is rigid, stressed.

Raiden, "..

Raiden, "...And nothing. The car is ready. Come here Lila."

He looks... annoyed?

But I'd rather return to my pack as soon as possible, and discuss our debt crisis with my members. I turn to face the exit, my possible escape from the pandemonium this evening has brought forth.

Then, a small voice cuts in.

"Siena, I..."

Lila.

She steps forward, hands clasped together as if in prayer, her eyes shimmering with false remorse. "I need you to know, I...I never meant to take him from you... Raiden. I feel...so terrible."

The old me might have snapped, might have let my emotions twist and rise to the surface, but not now. Not anymore. I smile instead, tilting my head.

"Oh?" I say, "So you still know he's my husband?"

Lila flinches. Her carefully composed mask cracks for the briefest moment, her lips pressing into a thin line.

"You-!"

She cuts herself off, clenching her jaw. But I've already seen it-that brief flicker of frustration, of something less innocent lurking beneath the softness she so carefully projects.

Raiden glances between us, clearly surprised.

I turn on my heel and walk away, without giving them another glance.

When I arrive home, the air is thick with the scent of brewing tea and the faint, distant sound of a news broadcast.

My best friend, Ollie, is already sprawled on my couch, flipping through glossy pages of gossip magazines, her expression dark with irritation.

"You won't believe the trash they're printing." She waves one of the magazines at me before tossing it onto the coffee table.

08:34 Sun, 20 Apr.

"They're painting fifa as warme kind of tragle, innen von caught in the mug eh pur aut Rado

I don't react. Of course they are. Lila is the picture perfect mage of a disces in dierence, and if I'm the ran the cry

It doesn't matter what the truth is

Ollie watches me carefully, her sharp purple eyes searching my face. "her you okay

I sit down beside her, the exhaustion weighing on me like a heavy cloak. The warmth of the sea soothes any heard an eas my fingers around the cup, but it does nothing for the ache in my ches

"My father passed away. I say quietly.

Olivia stills. The room, which had been filled with her mual energy and fire, falls into silence. Her eyes wides with something between shock and sorrow

"Siena..."

I swallow, forcing the lump in my throat to stay down. "I didn't tell Raiden. He wouldn't care & few days ago, he even sad I was just as greedy as my father."

"...That bastard!"

Olivia inhales sharply, her fingers tightening into fists. "You're his wife, fake marriage or not. He should care!"

I laugh, but there's no humor in it. "He never has."

Reaching for my hand, she squeezes it gently, and for a moment, I let myself take comfort in that

In the solidity of her support.

I told Olivia everything that happened today. Then, her expression hardens with something more calculating

"You know, one million dollars a day is far too low." she blinks, "He doesn't even have to do anything-those reporters wouldn't dare question him! You were the one answering everything!"

I exhale. Don't agree with Olivia's words.

One million per day is such a high price. And all my job is to be a 'wife". If I want more, it's unfair.

Olivia's eyes gleam as she leans forward. "And that's not all. I heard something today. Inside information"

I glance at her warily. "What kind of information?"

She smirks. "This year's most important sponsor for the Summit of the Alphas? The one whose support could make or break the competition?"

I nod slowly, already guessing where this is going.

"It's not Raiden," she says. "It's someone from Silverfang Pack."

The name sends a ripple of tension through me. Silverfang-the pack of the Alpha King. The pack that, until now, everyone assumed would naturally back Raiden and secure his success.

"They haven't confirmed their backing yet," Ollie continues. "But if you could win their support, it would change everything."

My heart pounds. If I had Silverfang's backing, it wouldn't just be a challenge-it would be a statement. A declaration that I am more than just Raiden's discarded wife. That I am a force to be reckoned with.

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Sun, 20 Apr

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I square my shoulders. "Who is the sponsor?"

Ollie grins. "That's the best part." She slides a paper across the table, and when I

glance down, my breath catches in my

throat.

The name is written in bold, clear letters.

Zion.

...I konw him, Raiden's best friend!

The realization slams into me, knocking the air from my lungs. This isn't just any sponsor. This is someone Raiden trusts, someone who has stood by his side through everything. If I approach Zion... if I convince him to back me instead of Raiden...noveldrama

The implications are staggering.

Ollie watches me, her smirk widening. "So," she says, "what are we going to do?"

I lift my gaze from the paper, something cold and determined settling deep in my chest.

There is only one answer.

"We're going to win."

AD

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