Alpha's regrets Pregnant Rejected Luna

Kaelen

The next morning came faster than I'd expected, and with it, Mr. Price arrived early with the marriage certificate. The air in the house was tense, buzzing with excitement—at least from Alara's side. She practically bounced as she signed her name on the certificate with a flourish, her eyes sparkling with triumph.

"There!" Alara exclaimed, handing the pen back to Mr. Price with a smirk. "I'm officially Mrs. Alara Darkridge."

Her voice echoed through the house as she barked at the omegas, "From now on, you'll address me as Mrs. Darkridge. Understood?"

They nodded meekly, shuffling about to follow her orders. The sight left a bitter taste in my mouth. Alara had always been assertive, but this was something else. She was flaunting her position, using it as a weapon.

As she strutted around the house, giving orders, I found myself sinking deeper into thought. Mrs. Darkridge. The words were sharp, cutting through my chest. She was so eager to take on my name, to claim the title of Luna, as if it meant everything to her. But Kaida... Kaida never changed her last name. She stayed Kaida Ashwood, even after we were married.

I never questioned it at the time, figuring it was just Kaida being her independent self. But now, watching Alara revel in the name "Darkridge," I couldn't help but wonder. Did Kaida's refusal to take my name mean something more? Had she been trying to tell me all along that her heart was never really mine?

It felt like someone had just driven a spike through my chest. I didn't want to believe it, but the thought gnawed at me. Maybe she never loved me. Maybe, in her own quiet way, she was always ready to leave.

Shaking off the thought, I turned my attention back to Mr. Price, who had been watching Alara's theatrics with a carefully neutral expression. "Come to my study," I said, already heading toward the door. "We need to talk."

Once inside the study, the air felt heavier. This room had always been a place for serious discussions, decisions that carried weight. Today was no different.

Mr. Price placed the marriage certificate on my desk, sliding it toward me. "It's done," he said simply. "You're legally married, though only on paper for now."

I nodded, staring down at the certificate. Alara's signature gleamed in black ink, bold and confident. I picked up the pen and hesitated for a moment before signing my name next to hers. The ink barely dried before I shoved the paper away.

"What happens after three months?" I asked, leaning back in my chair.

"If no unresolved issues with your ex-wife come up by then," Mr. Price began, "you'll be free to marry Alara officially. Of course, if Alara gets suspicious, we'll have to cross that bridge when we come to it."

I drummed my fingers against the desk, my eyes narrowing. "And if I can't get her to sign again? What happens then?"

Mr. Price met my gaze evenly. "Getting her to sign again won't be an issue. Alara... well, she seems eager to secure her place. It's unlikely she'll resist signing when the time comes."

I grunted in response, my thoughts swirling. Alara was hungry for power and status. I had no doubt she'd sign the certificate again without a second thought. But that didn't ease the strange weight pressing down on my chest.

"I trust you understand,” I said quietly, "that no one can know about this. The fake marriage, the certificate... it stays between us."

"Of course," Mr. Price replied, his tone professional as ever. "Discretion is my business, Alpha."

I nodded and waved him off. He gathered his things and left without another word. As soon as the door clicked shut behind him, I stood up and paced the room. The weight in my chest grew heavier with each step. The ceremony was scheduled for this evening, and Alara was already acting like she owned the place, bossing around the staff like she was queen. noveldrama

I glanced at the clock on the wall. Just a few more hours before the whole pack would witness the wedding that wasn't really a wedding. A farce, a lie. I wondered how long I'd be able to keep this up before it all came crashing down. And why did it feel so wrong?

Sinking back into my chair, I let out a long breath The truth was, I couldn't stop thinking about Kaida. About her quiet strength, her refusal to

name and the way she'd

vet

my

disappeared without a wordt was infuriating, but it was also

haunting.

What if I was wrong? The thought came unbidden, slamming into me like a freight train. What if divorcing her had been a mistake? What if Alara wasn't the answer?

I shook my head, trying to push the thoughts away, but they clung to me like a shadow.

I stood up abruptly, unable to sit still any longer. I needed to clear my head, get out of this room. I opened the door and stepped into the hallway, only to be greeted by Alara, who was humming to herself as she adjusted some decorations in the living room.

"Kaelen!" she called out brightly when she saw me. "Come look at the final touches for the ceremony!"

I forced a smile and walked over, pretending to admire the arrangements. She had clearly gone all out-flowers, lights, everything designed to impress the pack and solidify her status as Luna. But it all felt empty.

"It looks great," I said, my voice flat.

Alara beamed at me, completely oblivious to the storm brewing inside me. She wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me on the cheek. “I can't wait for tonight. It's going to be perfect."

"Yeah," I muttered, pulling away slightly. "Perfect."

As Alara went back to directing the omegas, I made my way back to my room, closing the door behind me. I needed space. I needed time to think. But time was the one thing I didn't have.

Pulling out my phone, I scrolled through my contacts until I found Mr. Price's number again. Without hesitating, I dialed.

"Alpha Kaelen," he answered quickly. "Is everything alright?"

"The marriage will proceed in the evening as planned," I said, my voice low and

firm. “Make sure the necessary paperwork is ready by this evening."

There was a pause on the other end of the line before Mr. Price spoke again. "Understood. I'll make the arrangements."

I hung up the phone and leaned back against the wall, closing my eyes. This was the right move. It had to be. I couldn't afford to second-guess myself now. Alara was my future. Kaida was my past.

But as the evening drew closer, I couldn't shake the feeling that the past wasn't quite finished with me yet.