Broken Bond The Alpha's Ultimate Regret

This city belonged to the werewolves. The economy was controlled by the packs, City Hall was run by the elite families, and even the VIP wards in the hospitals were only open to werewolves. Humans here were nothing but second-class citizens. We did the dirtiest jobs, lived in the most run-down neighborhoods, and no one would ever listen to our complaints. My name is Elaine Carter, a regular human girl. Like every other human in this city, I had learned to keep my head down and just survive. But I never expected that my boyfriend was actually an Alpha. I was selling some used furniture on Facebook Marketplace when a girl messaged me to haggle. "Can you go any lower on the price?" "I just moved out on my own, and my boyfriend found this place for me." "Even though he's super rich and says he wants to marry me, I don't want to be a financial burden to him." "Can you take twenty dollars off? I can pick it up myself!" When I was in college and dating James, I used to be just as careful with money. Feeling a bit of sympathy, I agreed. That evening, two people showed up at the gate of my apartment complex. The girl looked incredibly proud. "Aren't I amazing? I spent less than a hundred bucks and got a practically brand-new washing machine!" The man beside her looked at her with pure adoration. "Yes, my baby is the smartest. I’m the Alpha of the Silver Creek Pack, you know. Do you really think I can't afford to take care of you? I make money so you can spend it. Stop trying to save pennies." The man smiled and looked up. But the moment our eyes met, I froze. It was my boyfriend, James. The same James who had always been so careful with money. And did I just hear him say he was the Alpha of the Silver Creek Pack? The Alpha of the very werewolf pack that controlled the entire city’s economy? The air went dead silent. I could clearly see the panic and shock flash across James’s face. I parted my lips, about to speak, but James shot me a sharp, warning glare. Nina didn't notice the tension. She just pouted cutely. "I don't want to be a parasite! What if you dump me one day?" "Wait, what are you looking at? Why are you ignoring me?" James snapped back to reality, rubbing Nina's head. "How could I ever dump you?" Following his gaze, Nina looked at the washing machine beside me. "Everything works fine, right?" I pulled myself together, forcing a tight smile as I introduced the machine. James suddenly spoke. "Why are you selling your furniture? Are you short on cash?" I was stunned for a second. Money? Who isn't short on cash? Before I could answer, Nina playfully punched James’s arm. "Stop being rude!" "Don't mind him, girl. My boyfriend is just like this. He’s so loaded that he doesn't understand how hard life is for regular people like us." She gave James a playful, scolding look, then pushed up her sleeves, revealing a diamond-encrusted bracelet. "I wanted a bracelet for my birthday and saved my allowance for six months to buy it. But he just bought me the entire new season's collection! I still have unopened boxes sitting in my closet!" Last summer, I had fallen in love with a dress. It was three hundred dollars on sale. James had offered to pay, but I stopped him. I had smiled, pretending it was no big deal. "I don't need it for work. It’s a waste of money." "Wouldn't it be better to save that money for our house fund?" It wasn't that I didn't want it. It was just that two days prior, James had complained about his salary being docked three hundred dollars for being late. "And when I had a fight with my family, I just wanted to find a cheap roommate situation. But he went ahead and bought an entire apartment and put it under my name!" Nina continued, giggling. I remembered when I was renting my place. I had screamed at the landlord until my face was red just to save a hundred dollars on utilities. James had been so angry seeing me mistreated that he wanted to break the lease immediately, but I refused. I only did it because that apartment was close to James’s office. It saved his commute time and let him sleep in a little longer every day. "Oh, and because I love music, he got me front-row tickets to my favorite concert! Gosh, now that I think about it, I really am a parasite!" Nina was complaining, but her voice was dripping with pure happiness. Meanwhile, I stood there, my face turning paler by the second. James cleared his throat. Nina slapped her forehead in mock regret. "Oh, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to show off our relationship like that." "Let’s exchange Instagrams! Let me know if you have any other furniture to sell!" James tried to stop her, but Nina quickly scanned my QR code. "I'm not relying on you, James! I'm going to be independent!" A black Bentley was parked by the curb. James gave a helpless sigh. "Well, can you at least take my car? I don't want us hauling a washing machine down the street like idiots." When I moved, I had also bought second-hand furniture online. To save on delivery fees, I rejected the movers and hauled a heavy couch and cabinets up to the fourth floor all by myself. So in James's eyes, I was just an idiot. It wasn't until they drove away that I felt like I could breathe again. My phone buzzed. It was a text from James: [It's cold outside. Go home first. We need to talk tonight.] I let out a self-deprecating laugh, my hand gently resting on my slightly bloated stomach. James loved kids. Just a few days ago, I was thinking about how to give him the surprise. Now, it was nothing but a cruel joke. Even though I knew James was with Nina right now, I couldn't help but call him. The first call was rejected. The second, rejected again. By the third time, his phone was completely switched off. I looked down and realized my nails had dug so deep into my palms that they were bleeding. The wound was tiny, but my entire heart was throbbing with a numbing pain. Once I got home, I finally accepted Nina’s friend request.On Instagram, her feed was filled with pictures of James taking her to see the Northern Lights, and even renting out a private island to celebrate their anniversary. They looked so incredibly happy in all those expensive places I could never afford. It felt like an invisible hand was squeezing my throat, making it hard to breathe. It was late at night when the front door finally clicked open. The moment James walked in, he frowned. "Why is it so cold in here?" The apartment was in the city center, but it was old and had terrible heating. All the other tenants had moved out because of the cold. I only stayed because the landlord gave me a six-month rent discount. I stood there by the cracked door, keeping silent, my breath turning into white mist. James went into the bedroom, grabbed a blanket, and wrapped it around me without asking. His voice held a trace of anger. "This is how you take care of yourself when I’m not around? Elaine, how am I supposed to feel at peace leaving you like this?" I shoved him away with all my strength. "Why are you acting like you care? Was playing me for a fool that fun?" My pregnant body felt heavy and clumsy. I stumbled a few steps before stabilizing myself. In the past, whenever I lost my temper, James would just smile helplessly, raising his hands in defeat. "My bad, Elaine. I shouldn't have made you mad. You can punish me however you want." But now, James’s face was cold. "How long are you going to overreact over nothing?" He paused. "Nina is still young. She doesn't know how to handle things on her own..." My emotions completely broke. "She’s young, so you get to play boyfriend and take care of her?" "Then what about me? How pathetic must I be for you to pretend to be a broke werewolf just to play with my feelings!" When we first got together, he told me he was just an ordinary werewolf. Werewolves in this city had classes, too. The only difference between a regular werewolf and a human was that werewolves were allowed to work in big corporations, while humans were barred. A flash of pain crossed James’s eyes. He wrapped his arms tightly around me from behind. "Elaine, calm down!" I used every ounce of strength I had, but I couldn't break free. "Don't touch me!" With a soft click, the half-open door was pushed wider. Nina stood there, staring at us in utter disbelief. "You guys..." "Nina? What are you doing here?" As if realizing something, James’s face instantly darkened, his voice ice-cold. "Why did you follow me?" Tears streamed down Nina's face. "Didn't you say I could come to you whenever I wanted?" "What is this supposed to mean? Am I supposed to just stand here and watch you mess around with this old woman?" She lunged forward and shoved me hard. "I trusted you so much! I can't believe you’re this shameless, trying to seduce my boyfriend!" I nearly lost my balance. James quickly shielded me, glaring at Nina. "Stop it!" Nina broke down completely. "James, you liar! You promised you would marry me!" She turned around, sobbing, and ran out into the night. James immediately went to chase after her, but I grabbed his hand. "I have something to tell you..." He shoved my hand away violently. "Let go! It’s late. What if Nina runs into danger?" James ran off without looking back. The force of his shove sent me crashing to the floor, my stomach slamming hard against the sharp corner of the coffee table. A sudden, agonizing pain ripped through my abdomen. A warm wetness spread between my thighs. I reached down. It was blood. The sharp pain made my vision blur. Shaking, I dialed James’s number. "Help me... my stomach hurts so bad..." Right before I lost consciousness, all I heard was James’s impatient voice through the receiver: "You’re safe at home, what danger could you possibly be in? I just managed to calm Nina down. Stop throwing tantrums."When I opened my eyes, I was lying in a community Healer clinic. My entire body felt like it had been run over by a semi-truck. I forced myself to sit up. "My baby... how is my baby?" The Healer looked at me with pity. "I'm sorry... it's gone." My mind went completely blank. James. He had killed our baby with his own hands. Suddenly, my phone started vibrating like crazy. "Elaine Carter, you shameless homewrecker! You’re fired!" "Stealing someone else’s boyfriend? A bitch like you should just die!" "If you're that desperate, go sell yourself. Stop ruining other people's lives!" A flood of hateful messages from coworkers and strangers popped up on my screen. Nina had posted online, accusing me of being a mistress! My body was incredibly weak after the miscarriage. Suddenly, a sharp, stabbing pain gripped my chest. I clutched my heart, unable to stop a cry of agony from escaping my lips. Right then, James called. My voice trembled violently. "James... we’ve been together for seven years!" I came from a poor family and worked multiple part-time jobs during college. On the day he confessed to me, James had held a bouquet of flowers, looking incredibly solemn. "Elaine, I might be poor right now, but I will do everything in my power to give you a better life. I will never let you suffer." When we were together, even if we could only afford instant ramen, James would always give me the only egg. But now, he paused for a second before speaking coldly. "Nina is young and insecure. She just posted that to blow off some steam. Don't make a big deal out of it." "You're not at home. Where are you?" All the misery and unfairness I had bottled up finally erupted. I choked out through my tears: "I'm at the Healer Clinic. Our—" "Elaine, you’re not a teenager anymore. Throwing a fit and running away from home is getting old." Before I could finish, James cut me off impatiently. His voice was completely indifferent. "Your health has always been great. You used to work three part-time jobs a day without complaining. How could you suddenly be sick? Stop faking it." "Nina is emotionally unstable right now. Come over and apologize to her." I couldn't believe my ears. "Nina lied and got me cyberbullied, and you want me to apologize to her?" "Am I supposed to just watch her get dragged online until she kills herself?" James’s voice flared with anger. Seeing my silence, his tone dropped. "Elaine, I'm the one paying for your mother’s hospital bills." My heart froze. My mom’s health was terrible. She had been admitted to the ICU three times this year. The astronomical medical bills had nearly crushed me. Seeing how stressed I was, James had taken the initiative to move my mom to the VIP ward and covered all the expenses. He told me he got the spot through a pack application, and I believed him. I had worked myself to the bone to save money, hoping to pay him back. I wanted our relationship to be on equal footing. And now, he was using my dying mother to blackmail me. An overwhelming wave of exhaustion washed over me. I suddenly realized there was no point in arguing anymore. With tears streaming down my face, I nodded. I followed the address James sent and arrived at the Silver Creek Pack estate. The miscarriage had left me completely drained. I could barely drag my feet forward, but the security guards blocked me at the gate. "I'm here to see James. I'm his girlfriend." The guard looked at me suspiciously. His eyes went blank for a second, as if receiving a telepathic order. When he snapped out of it, he let me through, his face full of disgust. "Everyone knows Alpha James's mate is Miss Nina Shaw. Unbelievable. These days, even side chicks have the nerve to show up at the front door." When he saw me, a smug smile appeared on James’s face, as if everything was within his calculations. "Be good, and I’ll keep paying for Mrs. Carter’s medical bills." He led me to the Silver Creek Pack’s grand hall. "In front of the entire pack later, admit that you tried to get between Nina and me, and apologize to her." I snapped my head up, staring at him. "You're calling me the homewrecker?" Nina let out a soft giggle. "James has already announced me as the pack’s Luna. If you’re not the homewrecker, then who is? Me?" James didn't answer my question. Instead, he frowned, handed me a piece of paper, and said, "Elaine, be good." "Just read what's on here. Don't feel pressured. It’ll be over soon." The paper was filled with lies, stating that I had tried to seduce James out of jealousy to ruin his relationship with Nina.As the pack gathering began, the eyes of the pack members pierced through me like knives. Seeing me, the crowd erupted into a frenzy of insults, calling me a shameless gold-digger. Nina put on a show of generosity. "Everyone, please go easy on her. She's here to apologize today." Under the watchful eyes of the entire pack, I curled my lips into a bitter smile. "My name is Elaine Carter, and I am here to apologize." "I apologize for not letting Nina, this shameless homewrecker, steal my boyfriend of seven years in silence. I apologize for not letting her drag my name through the mud while I kept my mouth shut." "I apologize for not being a spineless coward and taking all of your abuse!" James laughed, his anger reaching a boiling point. "Elaine, don't you dare regret this!" "Mark, cut off all funding for the Healer clinic immediately!" My pupils dilated. Cutting off the funds now was a death sentence for my mother! But James grabbed my wrist and stuffed me into his car without another word. "To the Healer clinic! I'm going to make you watch exactly how your mother pays the price for your stubbornness!" Inside the clinic, I sobbed and begged James to spare my mother. Seeing my tears, a flash of hesitation crossed his eyes. But he turned his head away. "You hurt Nina deeply. You have to pay the price!" His voice was cold and unyielding. "Kneel down and beg Nina for forgiveness. When she forgives you, I’ll resume the payments. Otherwise, prepare to plan your mother's funeral!" My entire body shivered, my teeth digging into my lip until it bled. Under Nina’s mocking gaze, I bent my knees and crashed heavily onto the floor in front of her. "I'm sorry. It was my fault." I mindlessly slammed my forehead against the floor, begging like a dog stripped of all dignity. Again, and again, until my forehead was bloody and bruised. James’s expression softened slightly. He walked out of the room to take a phone call, leaving only Nina inside. The moment he left, Nina’s face twisted into pure malice. "You dared to compete with me for James? You deserve this!" Before I could react, she rushed over to my mother’s bed and violently pulled out the oxygen tube and the IV lines! "No!" I struggled to crawl forward, but James’s bodyguards pinned me ruthlessly to the ground. The heart monitor let out a long, flat beep. My mother’s face quickly turned purple. Until the last spark of life faded, and her head slumped to the side. My mother was dead. I collapsed to the floor in utter despair, tears of blood nearly falling from my eyes. Nina immediately messed up her own hair and ran out of the room, crying. She ran straight into James, who was just walking back in. She wept like a fragile flower. "James... I just wanted to help adjust the blanket for her, but Elaine suddenly rushed over and shoved me. She said I don't deserve to be with you..." James’s face darkened instantly. "Elaine, is your pride really worth that much? You’d rather let your mother die than apologize?" I let out a hysterical laugh. "Die? My mother is dead! Nina murdered her!" Nina immediately denied it, and James was convinced I was just lying to get out of trouble. He sneered. "Using your own mother's death to lie? Since you refuse to apologize, don't regret what comes next." He wrapped his arm around Nina and walked away. Half an hour later, the Silver Creek Pack released an official statement: [The mate status of Silver Creek Pack Alpha James Moore has long been public. His only recognized mate is Miss Nina Shaw.] [As a human, Elaine Carter does not have the capacity to understand werewolf laws. Her statements are nothing but delusional rants. The Silver Creek Pack will not tolerate her lies.] Along with the statement, a video was leaked. It showed a teenage girl standing in an office with an older man’s hand resting on her waist. My mind went entirely numb. In high school, I was the poorest student. A male teacher knew I had no one to protect me and took advantage of me in his office. I hadn't dared to say anything because no one would back me up. I suffered from severe psychological trauma and tried to end my life multiple times during college. It was James who saved me. He had held me tight, whispering in my ear over and over again: "Elaine, don't let those monsters ruin your life. It wasn't your fault." "I will stay with you forever." That was my darkest secret. I had only ever told James. But now, he tore open my deepest scar and used my trauma to clear Nina’s name. To think he would go this far for Nina. In complete and utter despair, I let out a hollow laugh. I flicked a lighter and threw it onto the bed curtains. Watching the flames quickly consume the room, I pushed open the window and jumped. James, from this moment on, there is no "us" anymore. Meanwhile, James was shopping with Nina when he saw thick black smoke rising in the distance. An ominous feeling gripped his chest. He grabbed a mall employee, his voice tight. "What's going on over there?" "The Healer clinic is on fire. I heard someone trapped in the VIP ward burned to death!"