Alpha's Regret After I Became the Queen

My Alpha mate Ethan cancelled our mating ceremony for 98 times because of his stepsister Scarlett.

The first time, he said Scarlett's dog had died.

"I can't hold a celebration while she's grieving," he told me, his eyes not quite meeting mine. "It wouldn't be right."

The second time, Scarlett was experiencing shift pain.

He left the ceremony venue minutes before it was supposed to start, rushing off to find a healing herb for his precious stepsister.

And now, this is the 99th time—our 99th mating ceremony.

"Emma? I'm so sorry," Ethan's voice came through, sounding distracted. "Scarlett isn't feeling well. Her wolf is in distress, and I need to stay with her. We'll have to postpone again."

Before I could respond, he hung up.

I stood frozen, the phone still pressed to my ear, when the enormous screen behind me—meant for displaying our mating ceremony—suddenly flickered to life.

The gasps around me made me turn. And there they were: Ethan and Scarlett. In his den. On his bed. Her hands running through his hair as he nuzzled her neck in a way that was anything but brotherly.

Laughter erupted around me as pack members pointed and whispered. Some had the decency to look away, but most didn't.

"Sister-in-law," Scarlett's voice purred from the speakers, her face filling the screen with a triumphant smile. "Happy mating ceremony! This is my wedding gift to you. Do you like it?"

I couldn't breathe. Ninety-nine ceremonies. Ninety-nine excuses. Ninety-nine humiliations.

With tears streaming down my face, I pulled off the mate-bond bracelet that felt too tight around my wrist, then wiped my eyes to apologize for Ethan's absence.

After everyone dispersed, I collapsed into my mother's arms and howled my grief. Then, like every time before, I forgave him.

What Ethan doesn't know is that I'm just waiting for the 105th betrayal. That's the number of times he asked me to be his mate—and it's my countdown to finally walking away.

But what I never expected was that after I accepted the mating contract with the Alpha King, becoming Queen of the entire werewolf realm... why is Ethan now on his knees, begging for my forgiveness?

…

I watched the video again and again, silently wiping away my tears. With trembling fingers, I dialed a familiar number.

"I've reconsidered. Is it too late to accept your contract?" I asked, my voice barely steady.

After receiving confirmation from Grayson Blackwood, the Alpha King himself, I began mentally saying goodbye to Ethan Stone.

This kind of mate ship—I couldn't bear it anymore.

This kind of wolf—I would no longer want to mate with.

When Ethan returned home after our 99th failed ceremony, he seemed genuinely apologetic. He held me close, kissing me tenderly in a way he hadn't done for months.

My body softened against his, melting into his embrace. Just as things were about to progress further, his phone rang.

Scarlett's voice came through the speaker, clear and demanding. "Brother, my birthday party is starting soon. Everyone's waiting for you."

At her words, Ethan pulled away from me with an apologetic look, hastily grabbing his clothes. "Scarlett's graduation party is starting. I need to be there right now."

I just looked at him, saying nothing.

Scarlett was his stepsister. Three years ago, she moved to Silver Creek to attend the Healing Academy, and ever since then, she'd been the nightmare haunting my relationship.

She always managed to call Ethan away during our most intimate moments.

I'd lost count of how many times Ethan had abruptly left me, responding to her midnight calls claiming she needed him to "take care" of her.

Eventually, she moved into our den after supposedly fighting with her roommate. She would brazenly walk into our bedroom without knocking. Several times, Ethan and I had scrambled to dress ourselves under her unabashed stare. Our intimate moments became increasingly rare.

At first, Ethan had wanted to send her away. But somehow, she became an integral part of our lives. She was present for every anniversary, never missed any important occasion, and eventually, her needs became more important than mine.

Like today—my mating ceremony was canceled because of Scarlett's phone call, and now Ethan had abandoned me, seven weeks pregnant with his pup, to attend her birthday party.

Shortly after Ethan left, the silver poison from three moons ago began to resurface.

The pain started as a dull ache in my bones, quickly escalating to fiery agony that made me collapse to the floor.

Three months ago, I'd jumped between Ethan and a hunter's silver bullet during a territory dispute.

The pack healer had removed most of the poison, but warned it might return if I became too stressed.

"Ethan," I gasped, attempting to reach him through our mind link. "The silver... it's back. I need help."

No response.

I tried again. And again. Nine attempts, each more desperate than the last.

Nothing but silence—he was blocking me.

With my vision blurring, I managed to grab my phone and call him.

"What is it, Emma?" His voice was irritated, music and laughter in the background.

"Ethan, the silver poison—it's back. I can't—I can't move. Please..." My voice broke as another wave of pain crashed through me.

"Really, Emma? This jealousy has to stop," he snapped. "You're always doing this when I'm with Scarlett. I'm tired of it."

"No, I swear—"

"I'm busy taking care of my sister right now. I don't have time for your dramatics."

The call ended.

Sobbing from the pain, I dragged myself across the floor, inch by excruciating inch. It took nearly an hour to reach the front door, another thirty minutes to crawl to my car.

Somehow, I managed to drive myself to the pack hospital, blackouts threatening with every turn.

While the healer worked to extract the silver, my phone buzzed with a video message.

It was from Scarlett, of course.

In the video, Ethan was tenderly stroking her hair as she lay on a couch, pretending to be unwell. His fingers caressed her face in a way that made my stomach turn.

"Do you think my sister-in-law is okay?" Scarlett asked with fake concern, a sly smile playing on her lips. "She called saying something about silver poison."

Ethan's laugh was cold, dismissive. "She's fine. She's just attention-seeking again. You're the one who needs me right now."