All Chapters of After She's Terminal, The Alpha Regrets: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

“Luna, the test results are in... The treatment failed. You have a terminal illness.”The bloodstained bandages were removed. These were the first words she heard after her hearing was restored, but Elaine only trembled slightly, not saying a word.“Your wolf is dying,” The Healer continued heavily. “The betrayal of your mate sent your wolf into a frenzy, causing you to lose your hearing. Now, the damage is worse...”“And at this rate… you may only have six months left.”*On the way home, Elaine sat in the car, her mind constantly replaying the healer's words—— Six months.Her short life had only six months left.The Beta’s mindlink was urgent, almost forced. "Luna, the Summit of Alpha is approaching at the end of the year, and preparations need to begin immediately. We have only 15 minutes to reach the Summit!”“Alpha said he needs to

Lucas slowly averted his gaze, not offering any praise. "Where are you going?""To see a lawyer," Elaine shrugged.Lucas’s expression darkened immediately. “You’re not serious.”She moved past him on the staircase. The silk swept his shin as she went, and his hand came up out of reflex and closed gently around her elbow. She stopped. He let go at once, as if the elbow had burned him."This is not the way to get my attention," he said."That's the trouble with you, isn't it." She turned just enough to look at him. "You think there is a way to get your attention."The words landed somewhere he hadn't been protecting. He blinked, then settled his features."You're not well," he said. "I'm willing to grant you that the news today, whatever it actually is, has upset you. But this — " he gestured at her, at the dress, at the staircase she was standing on — "this is a performance, Elaine. And it's an embar

Gasps erupted, louder this time. Ayla’s face flushed red as she buried it in her hands, sobbing.“How can you be so cruel?” Ayla whimpered in her hands.“I’m not cruel. I’m not doing anything wrong. Perhaps you should take a look inside and stop blaming everyone else.”  Elaine spoke with finality. Lucas stood frozen, eyes locked on her new form.Everything with her has changed.The room had gone still after Elaine’s last words, but only for a heartbeat.The host stepped onto the stage, signaling the start of the Alpha Summit pre-conference. The crowd turned toward the front as if nothing had happened. It was as if a Luna hadn’t carved open the fragile, false order of everything with a single sentence.Lucas sat down stiffly, jaw clenched. Ayla, eyes still damp, slid gracefully into the seat beside him, her pale hand resting on his arm. She leaned against his shoulder like a petal nee

Elaine slid into the driver's seat of the matte black Maybach and shut the door on the rest of her life. She had not driven the car in two years. It had been Lucas's father's wedding gift, the kind of gift meant to settle a question and not to be enjoyed. Lucas had allowed her to drive it twice, both at sanctioned outings, riding beside her with one hand on the door. The rest of the time she had driven the cream family sedan her stepmother had chosen for her. The Maybach lived in the garage, polished weekly, and no one had ever needed to wipe a fingerprint. She put both hands on the wheel and laughed at her face in the rearview mirror. The engine started under her like a low animal waking up. She pulled out of the gate. * Harriet was waiting at the corner of Bedwood and Sixth with the crimson shopping bag from earlier still on her arm. Her mouth dropped open

Light came through the plate glass in a long pale stripe across the bed. Elaine opened her eyes once, then again. The clock said ten past nine. She had not slept until nine in five years. Today, no one needed her. It felt good, like a freedom that was well-earned. To be honest, she had worried she would feel lost without someone to take care of. After all, she had been raised to take care of her family and support her Alpha. All she felt now, away from the Wind Wolf Pack, was a massive weight off her shoulders. She did not have to worry about anyone else unless she wanted to. Elaine rose from bed, stretching a little. She slipped into a tailored powder blue dress that hugged her waist, and tied her newly cropped hair into a loose bow with a ribbon. She looked polished but relaxed, feminine but strong. She had dressed exactly how she wanted, exactly how she felt. The hallway outsi