Alpha's Regret: Losing His True Mate-Chapter 150

Elodie’s POV ~

I touched my nose, keeping my expression neutral. "I might’ve accidentally seen the data they brought over."

Having a photographic memory came in handy sometimes. Other times, it just meant I couldn’t forget things I desperately wanted to.

Johnny’s face brightened immediately. "Then let’s head back and replicate it."

"Sure."

He was already pulling me toward the car before I could say anything else.

The test drive had taken about half an hour. By the time we finished, the sun had started to slowly descend behind the buildings.

Dante’s voice suddenly cut through the ongoing conversations. "Thanks for your hard work today. How about we all grab dinner together?"

Rex nodded easily. "Sounds good."

Johnny didn’t even hesitate. "Sorry, we’re busy. You guys go ahead, we’ve got other things to handle."

His tone was polite enough, but I could hear the edge underneath it that was sharp and dismissive.

Dante didn’t push. "Another time, then."

Then he turned to the general manager hovering nearby. "Please see Mr. Gray and Miss Miller off."

Miss Miller.

I felt Johnny stiffen beside me. He didn’t say anything, but I knew that tone had landed exactly the way Dante meant it to. Distant and formal. Like I was a stranger he was being courteous to out of obligation.

Johnny’s jaw tightened, but he just nodded curtly and started walking. I followed.

As we left, I heard Yves muttering to Rex behind us, his voice low. "I swear Johnny really doesn’t like President Wilson and the others."

Rex murmured something back, but I didn’t catch it.

I didn’t need to.

---

Once we were in the car, Johnny was still wound tight, his fingers drumming against the steering wheel like he was trying to burn off the irritation.

Then, as if something suddenly occurred to him, he glanced over at me. "By the way, who was that girl standing behind Sienna? The one in the business suit. I saw her looking at you like you’d personally offended her entire bloodline. Do you know her?"

I kept my eyes on the road ahead. "Sienna’s cousin."

Johnny went quiet for a second. Then: "...Dante invited Sienna to work at Wilson Tech, and now he’s bringing her *family* into the company too? At this rate, I wouldn’t be surprised if they just rename the whole place ’Green Enterprises.’"

I almost smiled at that. Almost.

"Mm," I said.

And honestly? He wasn’t wrong. The way Dante looked at Sienna, the way he bent over backward to make her comfortable, to give her access to everything that used to be off-limits even to me, it wouldn’t shock me if he handed her the entire company on a silver platter one day.

Hell, he’d probably tie it up with a bow.

Having the Green family scattered throughout Wilson Tech? That was nothing. Just another Tuesday in Dante’s world now.

Johnny must’ve realized he was venturing into dangerous territory because he clamped his mouth shut after that. The more he talked about it, the angrier he’d get. And the angrier he got, the harder it became for me to pretend I didn’t care.

So we just drove in silence.

---

That evening, Johnny and I stayed late at the lab, working to replicate the engine data I’d memorized from Wilson Tech.

By the time we finally called it quits, it was well past midnight.

On the drive home, it started snowing. Soft at first, then heavier, the flakes catching in the headlights like static.

When I finally got back to my apartment, I was exhausted. My fingers were cold, my shoulders ached, and all I wanted was a hot shower and my bed.

I grabbed my clothes and was about to head into the bathroom when my phone buzzed on the counter.

I glanced at the screen and saw it was from Dante.

I stared at it for a second, then turned and walked into the bathroom without answering.

The hot water felt like heaven. I stood under the spray longer than I needed to, letting the heat sink into my bones, trying to wash away the day.

When I finally stepped out, wrapped in a towel with my hair dripping down my back, I checked my phone again.

Two missed calls. Both from Dante.

And a text.

Dante: Liora’s parent-teacher meeting is tomorrow.

I read it twice. Then I typed out a reply.

Me: I’m not available tomorrow.

I hit send, put my phone face-down on the nightstand, and didn’t look at it again.

______________

On the other side of the city, Dante was buried in paperwork when Liora picked up his phone from the desk.

She scrolled through his messages, then let out a cheerful squeal. "Dad! Mom says she’s not available tomorrow. Does that mean Auntie Sienna can come to my parent-teacher meeting instead?"

Dante didn’t look up from the contract he was reviewing. "Mm."

"Yes!" Liora practically launched herself off the couch, pumping her fists in the air like she’d just won something. "This is going to be so much better!"

Dante’s pen paused for half a second. Then he kept writing. "I’ll be there too."

Liora grinned. "Obviously. If Auntie Sienna’s coming, you have to come too."

She said it so easily. Like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Like her mother not being there wasn’t even worth mentioning.

---

The next day, Elodie was at Cole Technologies, reviewing project specs with Simon when her phone buzzed against the table.

She glanced at the screen. A message from Liora’s homeroom teacher.

Ms. Chen: Liora’s mom, are you attending the parent-teacher meeting today?*

Elodie typed back quickly. I have other commitments. I won’t be able to make it.

She set the phone down and turned her attention back to Simon, who was mid-sentence about the new AI module they were developing.

A few minutes later, her phone buzzed again.

Ms. Chen: I see. Just so you know... Liora’s father came today. And he brought another woman with him.

There was a pause. Then another message.

Ms. Chen: I’m attaching a photo. I thought you should know.

Elodie’s thumb hovered over the screen. She shouldn’t open it. She knew what she’d see.

She opened it anyway.

The photo loaded slowly.

Dante and Sienna, sitting side by side in the school’s auditorium. Sienna was dressed impeccably. And Liora sat between them, her arm looped through Sienna’s, her head tilted toward her like she belonged there.

Like Sienna was her mother.

Elodie stared at the image for a long moment. The fluorescent lighting of the auditorium. The rows of parents and students. The easy way Dante’s hand rested on the back of Sienna’s chair.

She felt nothing.

Or maybe she’d just gotten good at burying it so deep it didn’t register anymore.

*Ms. Chen: I’m sorry, Mrs. Wilson. I just thought you should be aware.

Elodie typed back. Thank you, Ms. Chen. I appreciate you letting me know.

She locked her phone, set it face-down on the desk, and went back to work.

Simon was still talking. She picked up exactly where she’d left off, like nothing had happened.

Because really, nothing had.

This was just her life now.

---

The week passed in a blur.

Before she knew it, it was Friday.

She woke up early that morning to her phone ringing. Harry’s name flashed across the screen.

She answered, her voice still rough with sleep. "Hello?"

"Daisy wants to go camping again," Harry said, cutting straight to the point. "Overnight this time."

Elodie blinked at the ceiling. "Overnight?"

"Yeah. Don’t worry, I’ll have security with us the whole time. Tents, sleeping bags, heaters, food, all taken care of. You just need to show up." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

She should’ve said no. She had a dozen reasons to say no.

But Daisy’s face flashed in her mind. That bright, unguarded smile.

"...Alright," she said quietly.

"Good. I’ll text you the location."

---

Saturday came faster than expected.

Elodie spent the morning at her family’s house, eating lunch with her family and checking in on the new project the company was launching.

By two in the afternoon, she was back in her car, driving toward the mountains.

The campsite was remote, tucked into a clearing surrounded by snow-covered pines. When she pulled up, Harry and Daisy were just arriving too. Several of Harry’s people were already setting up tents and a large barbecue grill.

The mountain was blanketed in fresh snow. It clung to the branches, muffled every sound, made the world feel smaller and quieter.

Daisy spotted her immediately and came running, her boots crunching through the snow. "Auntie! You’re here!"

Elodie barely had time to close her car door before Daisy grabbed her hand.

"We’re building snowmen! Come on!"

Elodie let herself be pulled along.

Building snowmen wasn’t hard. She used to do it all the time with Liora when she was younger. Back when Liora still wanted her around. Back when winter meant hot chocolate and laughter and tiny mittened hands reaching for hers.

She shook the thought away and focused on packing snow.

They worked together with Daisy chattering nonstop, Elodie shaping the snowman with steady, practiced hands. Before long, they had a small, lopsided snowman standing proudly in the clearing.

Daisy clapped her hands. "We need a scarf! And a carrot for the nose!"

She ran off toward the staff, shouting instructions.

Elodie stayed where she was, brushing snow off her gloves.

Footsteps crunched behind her.

She didn’t need to turn around to know it was Harry.

He crouched down beside her, his presence solid and quiet. "You’re working at Cole now?"

Elodie kept her eyes on the snowman. "Yeah."

"When did you start?"

"A while ago."

Harry studied her profile. She wasn’t looking at him. Wasn’t giving him anything.

He wanted to ask more. Wanted to know what had happened between her and Dante. Wanted to understand why she’d left Wilson Tech, why she looked so tired, why she seemed like she was holding herself together with sheer willpower alone.

But he knew better than to push.

So instead, he just said, "Five times total."

Elodie finally glanced at him.