Alpha's Regret: Losing His True Mate-Chapter 99

ELODIE’S POV~

Around midnight, sleep finally started pulling at me. I set my book down on the nightstand. Reached over and clicked off the lamp.

The room went dark except for the glow of Dante’s laptop screen across the room.

I lay down, facing away from him. Facing toward the edge of the bed.

Part of me thought I wouldn’t be able to sleep. It had been so long since I’d shared a bed with him. Months, maybe. The last few times I’d stayed at the villa, I’d slept in Liora’s room or in the guest bedroom.

But then I thought, maybe it wouldn’t matter. Maybe once he finished working, he’d leave anyway. Go to Sienna.

He wasn’t obligated to stay here.

With that thought, my eyes grew heavier.

The rhythmic clicking of his keyboard became white noise.

And somewhere in that sound, I drifted off.

———- 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

I slept deeply. Better than I had in weeks, actually.

The blankets were warm. And soft. Comfortable in a way I hadn’t felt in a long time.

Somewhere in the haze of half-sleep, I became aware of warmth behind me. No, I mean around me.

A breath against my ear. Arms wrapped around my waist.

Something solid and warm pressed against my back.

And I was holding something, or someone, my hand resting against what felt like a chest.

My body went rigid.

Consciousness slammed into me immediately like cold water.

My eyes flew open.

I was on my side, facing the middle of the bed instead of the edge.

And Dante was wrapped around me.

Both of his arms were holding me close. His legs tangled with mine under the covers.

There was no space between us. None at all.

I could feel everything. The heat radiating off his body. The slow, steady rhythm of his breathing. The weight of his arms that were secure around my waist.

Like lovers.

Like we actually meant something to each other.

My heart was pounding so hard I was sure he could feel it.

How did this happen?

I’d fallen asleep deliberately on the edge of the bed. I’d made sure there was distance between us. A gap.

So how—

Unless he’d pulled me in.

Unless, in his sleep, he’d reached for someone to hold. Someone warm. Someone familiar.

Someone he thought was Sienna.

The realization hit like a blade between my ribs.

He was used to sleeping like this now. Used to having her in his arms. Night after night.

And in his unconscious state, he’d mistaken me for her.

My hand was still pressed against his chest. I could feel his heartbeat under my palm. So slow and peaceful.

He had no idea.

No idea he was holding his wife. Me.

My fingers curled slowly into a fist against his shirt.

I looked at him for a long moment.

At his peaceful face. At the way his arms were still loosely wrapped around me.

At the man I’d married who didn’t even know he was holding his wife.

The bitterness rose up my throat like bile.

I swallowed it down and took a deep breath.

Then slowly, carefully, started pulling away.

We were so tangled together. Every small movement risked waking him.

I managed to slip his hand off my waist. Started sliding my legs out from under his. And then that’s when his eyes opened.

I froze.

Our gazes met.

For one horrible, endless second, we just stared at each other.

I watched realization dawn on his face. Watched him register where he was. Who he was holding.

Not Sienna.

Me.

His expression flickered. Something I couldn’t quite read.

Then he released his legs from around mine.

I didn’t wait.

Didn’t give him a chance to say anything.

I pulled back, and turned away, and moved to the edge of the bed, and found my slippers with my feet and stood up.

I walked to the bathroom without looking at him once and closed the door and then leaned against it.

And breathed.

————-

When I came out, the room was empty.

He was gone. Of course he was gone.

I stepped into the hallway and saw him at the far end, still in his sleepwear, his phone pressed to his ear.

Talking to someone.

Sienna, probably. Calling to explain why he hadn’t come home last night. Why he’d slept in the same bed as his wife.

I looked away and went downstairs.

—————

Nonna was already awake, sitting at the breakfast table.

She smiled when she saw me. "Good morning, dear."

"Good morning, Nonna."

A few minutes later, Liora came bouncing down the stairs. So bright and energetic despite the early hour.

Nonna’s face lit up. "Since everyone’s awake, let’s eat!"

Liora nodded eagerly. "Okay!"

The servants started bringing out food. Noodles. Soup. The usual weekend breakfast spread.

Then Dante appeared.

He walked in calmly, like nothing had happened, and sat down next to me.

Right next to me.

My body went stiff.

I shifted slightly in my seat. To put a few more inches between us.

It wasn’t enough.

The memory of his arms around me was still too fresh. Two raw and I hated it.

I picked up my chopsticks and started eating my noodles.

Tried to act normal.

Then Liora spoke.

"Daddy?" She was looking at Dante, eyes curious. "Do you like sleeping with Mommy?"

I nearly choked on my soup.

Shit, I started to cough and my face turned red.

Dante didn’t answer.

Liora tilted her head. "Because when I woke up and went to find Mommy, I saw Daddy hugging her really tight."

No.

No no no.

Nonna’s eyes lit up. Delighted. "Oh? Is that so?"

She looked between me and Dante with that hopeful expression she always got when she thought we were finally getting closer.

"That’s wonderful," she said, smiling warmly.

I wanted to disappear.

Because I knew the truth.

Dante hadn’t been hugging me because he wanted to. Hadn’t been holding me because he cared.

He’d thought I was someone else.

And now Liora had seen it. Now Nonna was drawing conclusions that weren’t real.

Building hope on something that meant nothing.

I stared at my bowl. I couldn’t bring myself to look at anyone.

Dante still hadn’t said a word.

The silence stretched forth.

Then my phone rang.

Thank goodness.

I grabbed it and looked at the screen.

It was Grandma Miller.

My grandmother.

"Grandma," I answered, standing from the table. "Hello?"