Three Alphas, Fated To One, Played By One, But Mated To One

Chapter 102: Not Too Late To Regret

Valerie’s POV

Pain came in waves from the freshly bandaged wounds.

It was not sharp enough to break me, but at the same time , it wasn’t dull enough to ignore.

It was just there as if it was a reminder of something.

I sat by the window, my arm wrapped in clean bandages, the faint scent of herbs clinging to my skin. The healer had insisted I take a good rest.

I hadn’t argued, but these small wounds weren’t really bad enough to keep me still.

But I felt that my body needed rest. That was the reason I hadn’t argued.

The room was too quiet.

The kind of quiet that left too much space for thoughts.

And mine...refused to stay still.

My gaze drifted outside, watching the pack move about their daily routines.

Everything looked normal again.

But I knew after this mission, some things had changed, both in the pack members, and in me.

I flexed my fingers slightly, feeling the pull of the bandage.

Yesterday, I stood in front of the pack members, gave orders, and led them to victory.

I couldn’t forget that this was a huge milestone in my plans.

I had gone from the girl scrubbing floors and eating leftovers to a Luna who could command others.

Then I remembered how Mike had looked at me in the hospital.

I had pretended not to notice him, but the truth couldn’t be more different.

I had noticed every little thing he did, and heard every word he said.

My chest tightened at his memory.

I leaned back slightly, closing my eyes.

But that only made it worse. I didn’t want to think of him, but I was unable to control myself.

I remembered my confrontation with Innocent in the front yard and how he had defended me.

It had felt like a miracle.

"The mission was a success."

He had said those words casually, but they had shut Innocent up when she kept insisting that no one would have been hurt if she led the team.

The way he said it was as if he believed in me.

My eyes opened slowly.

That moment replayed clearer than everything else.

A strange feeling settled in my chest.

It was warm, unsettling, and confusing at the same time.

However, I didn’t like it. Because Mike wasn’t someone I could rely on. At least, he has proven that more than once before.

Yet, my thoughts refused to shift from him. I kept thinking about how I felt his presence even before he showed up.

The way the air changed when he entered a place, the way my body reacted as soon as he got close.

Even when I didn’t look at him.

Even when I refused to look at him.

My fingers curled slightly.

He hadn’t said anything and hadn’t approached me.

Hadn’t demanded anything from me.

Yet, I felt his presence and the way he looked at me.

It wasn’t as distant as before or as cold.

It was a kind of look that I found unsettling.

Because it didn’t fit the image I had of him and it made my emotions complicated.

I exhaled slowly, pressing my fingers to my temple.

"This is ridiculous," I muttered.

I shouldn’t be thinking about this or about him.

About us.

There was no "us."

There never had been.

There shouldn’t be.

But his words still rang in my mind.

"You’re my mate."

His voice echoed in my mind.

My chest tightened.

I hated that word.

Mate.

Because it wasn’t just a word.

It was a bond. A connection that I refuse to acknowledge.

However, no matter how much I tried to ignore it, it was still there.

When he got close, touched me, or even spoke to me.

I squeezed my eyes shut in frustration.

No.

I wasn’t going there.

I couldn’t.

Because if I did...I would lose control.

And I couldn’t afford that.

Not now. Not ever.

"Val."

The voice wasn’t loud.

But it was enough.

My eyes snapped open.

And everything inside me stilled.

Lizzie.

My wolf.

Her presence was faint but clear.

Like a whisper in the back of my mind.

Was she finally awake? My heart jumped with joy. My wolf hadn’t been present recently and even though I knew she was safe,I couldn’t help but worry.

"Stop thinking about him." She said softly.

I knew I couldn’t hide my thoughts or emotions from her, but I was still a little embarrassed for being called out.

"I can’t help it." There was no point in lying.

"Then try harder."

Her tone was suddenly sharp. I had never heard Lizzie talk to me like that.

It seemed that this matter was more complicated than I had anticipated.

I frowned slightly.

"That’s not helpful."

"It’s necessary."

I shifted slightly, uncomfortable.

"Why do you hate him so much?" I asked.

A pause followed my question before she answered again.

"I don’t hate him."

"Then what is it?"

Another longer pause followed.

"He’s dangerous."

The words settled heavily.

My fingers tightened around the edge of the chair.

"I know that."

"No," Lizzie said. "You don’t."

Something in her tone made my chest tighten.

"What do you mean?"

Lizzie was quiet for a long time this time. So long that I thought she had gone to a deep slumber again.

Just when I was about to give up, she spoke again.

"I can’t tell you everything now because you are not strong enough, but it’s for your own good. I am asking you to stay away from him. You can never give yourself to him. It will destroy you."

This made my heart skip a beat. Was it really that serious?

"For this, you have to stay away from him. Don’t make the same mistake you almost made the other day."

Lizzie added.

I thought about the night Mike came to my room and we almost had sex.

"You felt it that day, didn’t you?" she continued. "How easily you lost control. How close you were to giving in."

My mind flashed back to that moment.

His hands on my skin, his lips on mine.

The way my body had responded without hesitation.

Without resistance.

Without thought.

Heat rushed through me.

Followed quickly by something colder.

Fear.