Alpha's Regret After She Kneels novel Chapter 117

Siena folds her arms across her chest, waiting.

I don’t know where to start.

You’re my mate.

I don’t want to lose you.

I never stopped loving you—I was just too much of a coward to admit it.

Instead, I blurt out, “I’ve been thinking about our marriage.”

Siena tenses immediately.

I see the way her shoulders go rigid, the way her lips press into a thin line.

“Raiden,” she says slowly, carefully, “the competition results are expected. I understand that Silverfang will likely triumph. Windhowl accepts this outcome.”

It’s a diplomatic response, cool and professional, but it guts me all the same.

Because she thinks that’s why I called her here.

She thinks I care about standings more than her.

And that’s how completely she has given up on me.

I exhale sharply, raking a hand through my hair. “That’s not what this is about.”

She watches me warily. “Then what is it about?”

I hesitate. Not because I don’t know the answer—because I don’t know if I have the right to say it.

I take a step closer.

Siena doesn’t back away, but she doesn’t move toward me either.

Her walls are still up.

I don’t blame her.

I’ve given her every reason to doubt me.

“I was wrong about you,” I admit, my voice low. “About… so many things.”

A flicker of emotion crosses her face, too quick for me to decipher.

But then her chin lifts, her expression unreadable. “It took you this long to realize that?”

I flinch, but I deserve that.

“Yes.” The word comes out raw. “It did.”