Chapter 1 Awakened By Regret

Ariana My head was pounding as I slowly opened my eyes, squinting against the unfamiliar brightness that seeped through the thin curtains. The room spun around me, and I blinked, trying to clear the haze that clouded my mind. Panic surged as I realized I wasn't alone. A gasp escaped my lips, and my heart raced like a frightened rabbit. Lying right beside me, his bare form illuminated by the soft morning light, was a man—no, a male wolf—a stranger, and yet, somehow, not entirely unfamiliar. His sculpted features were relaxed in slumber, his dark hair tousled across the pillow. My gaze dropped, and my eyes widened in shock as I took in the sinewy muscles that adorned his form. My mind raced, trying to piece together the fragments of last night. It felt like a distant dream, a haze of laughter, music, and too many drinks. My friends had convinced me to attend the notorious birthday party of the Blood Moon Pack Alpha, against all my better judgment. And now, it seemed, the consequences of my recklessness had come crashing down. I groaned softly, feeling a dull throb behind my temples. As my memories began to resurface, I recalled the fiery liquid burning down my throat, the dizzying sensation of losing control, and the reckless choices that followed. Closing my eyes, I whispered a fervent prayer that this was all a terrible nightmare. As I moved to sit up, the white linen sheets rustled, and my breath hitched. He stirred, the male wolf's eyelashes fluttering before his dark eyes met mine. Time seemed to stand still as our gazes locked, an unspoken understanding passing between us. His grip tightened around my wrist, his touch surprisingly gentle, considering the rumors that surrounded him. A surge of panic shot through me, and I tried to tug my hand free, but his grasp was firm. "Wait," he rasped, his voice a deep timbre that sent shivers down my spine. My pulse raced, my breath coming in short gasps as I met his intense gaze. Fear and confusion warred within me, a maelstrom of emotions that threatened to overwhelm my senses. His gaze flickered to my back, and I instinctively shifted, feeling the soft brush of my hair against my shoulder blades. My fingers traced the skin of my lower back, and then it hit me like a lightning bolt. The moon mark. The symbol that marked me as an Omega—a wolf without a pack, without a true place in this world. The mark that had been a constant reminder of my place, of my worth—or lack thereof. "You're not…" His voice trailed off, disbelief and a hint of realization dancing in his eyes. My cheeks burned as I tore my gaze away, unable to bear the scrutiny any longer. "No," I whispered, my voice almost drowned in shame. "I'm not what you think." His grip on my wrist loosened, and I pulled away, wrapping the sheet around me as if it could shield me from his judgment. The silence stretched between us, heavy and suffocating, as the weight of my actions settled over me like a crushing boulder. Beside me, the man stirred, his eyes flickering open. Panic surged through me once more, and I instinctively scooted away from him, my heart pounding in my chest. "What's the rush, sweetheart?" His voice was rough with sleep, and his lips curved into a lazy smirk that sent a shiver down my spine. I stumbled over my words, my cheeks burning with embarrassment. "I-I have to go. I can't believe I let this happen." His gaze sharpened as he propped himself up on one elbow, studying me intently. "You regret it?" I opened my mouth to respond, but my voice caught in my throat. Did I regret it? Yes, the answer should have been an unequivocal yes. But as I looked at him, a tangle of emotions swirled within me—fear, regret, shame, and an inexplicable curiosity. Before I could form a coherent response, he reached out and grabbed my wrist with a grip that was surprisingly gentle yet unyielding. "Wait." My heart raced as his touch sent a jolt of electricity through my veins. I tugged against his hold, my eyes pleading with him to let me go. "Let me explain," he said, his voice softer now, his eyes searching mine. I bit my lip, torn between the desire to flee and the need to understand how I had ended up in this situation. With a reluctant nod, I settled back onto the bed, clutching the sheets around me as if they were a shield against the reality of what had transpired. He released my wrist, and I rubbed the spot where his fingers had left an imprint. "I'm listening." He sighed, his gaze dropping to the sheets before meeting my eyes once more. "Last night, you were drunk. We were both drunk. Things got out of hand." My cheeks flamed at the memory of our reckless abandon. "I know," I mumbled, my voice barely audible. "I didn't mean for this to happen," he continued, his tone tinged with an unexpected sincerity. "But there's something else." My heart skipped a beat as he leaned in closer, his eyes narrowing as he studied my face. "I saw the mark." Confusion knitted my brows together. "What mark?" He reached out, his fingertips brushing against my cheek before trailing down to my shoulder. "The moon mark. You have it." I froze, my heart pounding. How did he know about the moon mark on my back? Panic flared within me, and I shifted away from his touch. "How do you know about that?" I demanded, my voice trembling. He looked away for a moment, as if lost in thought. "I've seen it before. In a dream." My confusion deepened. "A dream?" He nodded, his gaze locking onto mine once more. "I dreamt of a silver wolf under the moonlight. And then I saw you. You have the same mark." My mind whirred with a jumble of emotions and questions. How was it possible that he had dreamt of me before we had even met? What did this mean for us? Nodding jerkily, I pushed myself up from the bed, my heart still hammering in my chest. Before he got up, I threw the quilt over his head. I stumbled towards the door, desperate to escape the suffocating confines of the room and the overwhelming weight of my own mistakes. As I slipped out into the corridor, the door clicked shut behind me, and I leaned against the wall, closing my eyes and drawing in a shaky breath. My mind whirled with a maelstrom of emotions—guilt, regret, and the sinking realization that my life had just taken a sharp and dangerous turn. I was a lone wolf, entangled in a web of secrets and lies, and the notorious male wolf I had just shared a bed with was the last person I should have been involved with. And as I stood there, the weight of my past and the uncertainty of my future crashing over me, I couldn't help but wonder if this was the price I had to pay for my reckless pursuit of freedom. A/N： The setting of this book is a bit similar to my another book, but they are two different books:)