Too Late for Regret, Alpha! Chapter 06
Elara’s POV
I never meant to become the Luna of another pack.
For the first few weeks after my fake death, I barely left my room.
My body was still recovering from the strain of the broken bond, and my wolf needed time to accept that Adrian was no longer her mate.
Ash Thorn gave me that time.
He was the Alpha of the Thorn Pack, one of the most powerful packs in the region.
His territory was rich, his warriors were feared, and his resources rivaled Blackwood territory.
Ash and Adrian had been rivals for years.
Whenever Adrian expanded his territory, Ash expanded his. Whenever one of them acquired something valuable, the other found a way to acquire something better.
They were always competing.
Now I knew why Adrian had hated him so much.
Ash had saved my life and he never once asked me to repay him.
While I recovered, messages from Adrian began appearing on my phone.
At first, they were angry.
Where are you?
Then suspicious.
I know you’re hiding somewhere.
A week later, they changed.
Elara, please answer me.
Then came the calls I never answered.
By the second month, Adrian stopped pretending he was angry.
I know you’re dead.
I don’t know how to do this without you.
Please come back.
Sometimes, his messages came after midnight. Sometimes, all I received was a voice note of him howling.
My wolf would go still every time I heard it.
I deleted every message.
By the third month, I barely recognized the woman who had arrived at Ash’s pack.
I ate again, I slept through the night, and I started helping with the pack’s healers.
Somewhere along the way, Ash stopped being the Alpha who had saved my life. He became the man I wanted beside me.
Our bond came slowly. He never forced it, he waited until I was ready.
When I finally accepted him as my mate, his wolf pressed against mine with a warmth I had forgotten existed.
Three months after my fake death, I became Ash Thorn’s Luna.
That night, I woke up in his arms. His fingers traced the mark he’d left on my neck.
“You’re awake.”
I smiled. “So are you.”
“I like waking up beside my
Luna.”
I turned toward him. “Your Luna?”
His mouth curved. “My mate.”
He kissed me slowly.
For the first time in years, I didn’t feel like someone’s second choice and I enjoyed every moment I spent with Ash that night.
The next morning, I woke to shouting outside our bedroom. Ash was already sitting up when his Beta burst through the door.
“Alpha!”
Ash stood. “What happened?”
“Blackwood.”
His expression hardened. “What about them?”
The Beta swallowed. “He’s taken control of the border posts and is moving toward the mountain.”
Ash went still. “What mountain?”
“The Blackfang Peak.”
My blood ran cold.
The Beta hesitated. “He’s threatening to jump.”
I froze.
Blackfang Peak stood between our territories. It was the highest point along the border and the only place in the region where the cliffs were steep enough to reach the ancient ravine below.
According to pack lore, anyone who died from that height would not only lose their physical life-the force of the fall would destroy the wolf soul as well, leaving nothing behind to reincarnate or return to the Moon Goddess.
That was why Adrian had chosen Blackfang Peak.
He wasn’t threatening to die. He was trying to make sure there would be nothing left of him to save.
Adrian, the man who had once told me I was making a fool of myself. The man who had told me to leave. The man who had believed my death would be easier than losing me.
Now he was standing on the highest mountain between our territories, ready to die.
Ash turned toward me. “You’re staying here.
“No. I’m coming.”
His jaw tightened. “I don’t want you getting hurt.”
I looked at him. “You’ll keep me safe. I trust you.”
Ash stared at me for a long moment then he sighed.
“Fine.” He held out his hand. “Stay beside me.”
I took it.
Together, we walked toward Blackfang Peak.
