Alpha's Regret: Losing His True Mate-Chapter 123

Elodie’s POV~

Even if Dante and I weren’t officially divorced yet or even if we already were, I’d still have to invite the Bellini family. Nonna and my grandmother had been friends for decades. It was the polite thing to do. The expected thing.

Whether they actually showed up? That was on them.

I’d planned to go back to my own apartment tonight. I’d been looking forward to it, actually. Looking forward toward the silence, solitude, no reminders of everything I was losing over there.

But as I drove, my hands turned the wheel almost on autopilot.

And I ended up at Dante’s villa instead.

Our villa, technically. Though it had never really felt like mine.

When I pulled into the driveway, the house was dark. No cars. No lights.

Dante and Liora were still at the hot springs, apparently. And Nonna had left for the old residence a few days ago to handle some Pack business.

I was alone.

I grabbed my bag, kicked off my shoes, and headed straight for the bathroom. The hot water felt like a small mercy, washing away the exhaustion that had settled into my bones over the past two days.

Half an hour later, I stepped out, wrapped in a towel, my skin still warm and pink from the steam.

That’s when I heard the low rumble of a car engine and tires on gravel.

They were back.

I sat down at the vanity and turned on the hairdryer, the noise filling the room as I worked through the damp tangles.

I didn’t feel anything. Just... this blankness.

Then I heard small, rapid footsteps approaching my direction.

The door burst open, and Liora came barreling in, throwing herself into my arms before I could even set the dryer down.

"Mom! We’re back!"

I caught her instinctively, my arms wrapping around her small frame.

And that’s when I smelled Sienna’s perfume. All over her. My chest tightened, but I kept my face neutral. I turned off the hairdryer and gently cupped Liora’s cheek, brushing a strand of hair out of her eyes.

"Have you taken a shower yet, baby?"

She shook her head, grinning. "Not yet."

"It’s past ten. You have school tomorrow. Go get your pajamas and take a shower, okay?"

"Okay! But—" She tugged on my sleeve, her eyes wide and hopeful. "Can you help me?"

I hesitated for just a second, then nodded. "Let me finish drying my hair first."

"Yay!" She bounced out of the room, her energy boundless despite the late hour.

And that’s when I saw Dante. He was standing in the doorway, watching me.

Our eyes met for a split second, and I felt that familiar sharp jolt but I looked away first, turning back to the mirror and flipping the hairdryer back on.

He walked into the room, his footsteps quiet on the carpet. "When did you get back?"

"Not long ago," I said, keeping my voice flat.

He didn’t ask anything else. Just nodded and headed toward the closet, pulling out fresh clothes.

I watched him in the mirror, my hands still moving mechanically through my hair.

Then I remembered the invitation.

I turned off the dryer and stood, crossing the room before he could disappear into the bathroom. I pulled one of the invitations out of my bag and held it out to him.

"My grandmother’s birthday is coming up. This is for the Wilson family."

He turned, taking the envelope from me.

And that’s when Sienna’s smell hit me again and it was stronger this time. All over his shirt.

My stomach twisted in an ugly way. I pressed my fingers to the bridge of my nose, trying to block it out, then took a step back.

Putting distance between us.

Dante didn’t seem to notice. He was already opening the envelope, his eyes scanning the elegant script on the invitation.

"Seventy years old?" he said, his tone neutral.

"Yes." I kept my voice steady, not wanting it to break. "It’s a milestone birthday. My uncle invited business partners this year, so it’s going to be a bigger event than usual."

I didn’t ask him if he’d be free that day. Didn’t beg him to make time like I used to, year after year, hoping this time would be different.

I just said, "Please let your parents know."

My voice was calm and very detached.

I watched him for any flicker of reaction, maybe surprise, guilt, anything but his face gave nothing away. He glanced at the invitation one more time, then set it aside on the dresser like it was junk mail.

"Got it," he said.

And then he walked into the bathroom and closed the door.

I stared at that closed door for a moment, something bitter coiling in my chest.

That’s it? That’s all I get?

But I shoved the feeling down, grabbed the hairdryer, and left the room.

---

Liora was waiting for me in her bedroom, already in her pajamas, her hair wet and tangled from her half-hearted attempt at drying it herself.

"Mommy!" She grinned when she saw me. "You’re here!"

I smiled despite everything. "Come on, let’s get you cleaned up properly."

I spent the next hour washing her hair again because of course she’d missed half of drying it carefully so it wouldn’t frizz, and tucking her into bed with her favorite stuffed animal.

By the time I was done, I was exhausted.

Liora looked up at me with those big, hopeful eyes. "Can I sleep with you tonight?"

I paused.

Given the current state of things between Dante and me, what was I supposed to say?

No, sweetie, Mommy and Daddy share a bed but we don’t actually sleep together?

No, because your father will be there and it’s complicated and you wouldn’t understand?

I couldn’t say any of that.

So I just nodded. "Sure, baby."

Her face lit up.

I went back to the master bedroom to grab my things. Dante was sitting on the bed, reading again with his back against the headboard, completely absorbed.

I gathered my phone, my charger, and a change of clothes without saying a word.

As I reached the door, I paused. "I’m sleeping in Liora’s room tonight."

He didn’t look up. Just hummed softly in acknowledgment.

"Mm."

That was it.

Then I left.

---

The next morning, I took Liora to school like she’d asked. She had wanted to ride with me instead of the driver, and I wasn’t going to say no to that, then I headed straight to the office.

My grandmother’s birthday was in a few days, and I still hadn’t bought her a gift.

I’d been so buried in work for the past month that I hadn’t had time to even think about it. And now I was running out of time.

At lunch, I called Cara.

"Hey, are you free tonight? I need to go shopping for my grandmother’s birthday gift."

"Of course!" Cara said immediately. "I’ll meet you after work."

I smiled. "Thanks. I owe you."

"You owe me nothing. Just buy me dinner."

"Deal."

After I hung up, I remembered something else.

Amber, Dante’s sister. I still hadn’t delivered her invitation. I pulled up her contact and hit call.

The phone rang and rang and rang with absolutely no answer.

I frowned, staring at the screen.

She’s ignoring me.

I knew Amber didn’t like me. Never had. The entire Wilson family had made it pretty clear over the years that I wasn’t their first choice or their second, or their third for Dante.

But this was different. This was about my grandmother.

I tried again.

This time, the call was declined immediately. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

*llOf course.

I let out a slow breath and opened my messages instead.

*Me: Hi Amber. I tried calling but you must be busy. I have an invitation for my grandmother’s 70th birthday banquet. When are you free so I can drop it off?

I hit send and set my phone down.

I wasn’t expecting a reply.

And I didn’t get one.

---

That evening, Cara and I hit three different stores, wandering through displays of jewelry, scarves, ceramics, art... everything.

But nothing felt right.

My grandmother wasn’t the kind of woman who wanted generic gifts. She valued meaning. Thoughtfulness. Something with a story.

After the third store, Cara sighed and linked her arm through mine. "Okay, new plan."

"What?"

"There’s a charity auction in two nights," she said. "High-end stuff. Art, antiques, rare collectibles. The kind of things your grandmother would actually appreciate."

I blinked. "A charity auction?"

"Yep. It’s invite-only." She grinned. "Trust me. You’ll find something perfect there."