I stared at my phone screen after Ethan’s call ended, my mind racing with conflicting emotions.
My parents had always treated me like a tool for their own advancement. They had never truly cared about my happiness or wellbeing.
But my grandmother’s voice echoed in my memory, gentle and loving as always.
“Family is family, Emma,” she used to say when I complained about my parents‘ behavior “Sometimes we have to be the bigger person, even when it’s hard.”
My father was her child. Her own flesh and blood.
If Grandma knew that my parents were kidnapped and I didn’t even try to save them, she would be heartbroken. The disappointment in her eyes would haunt me forever.
I couldn’t let that happen. Not when I had already failed to protect her ashes.
“Turn around,” I told the taxi driver. “We’re going back.”
The return journey felt endless. Every mile brought me closer to the nightmare I had just escaped
from.
When we finally arrived at the pack–border, I could see Ethan and Scarlett waiting for me in the dim moonlight.
Scarlett was leaning heavily on Ethan’s shoulder, her arms wrapped around his in a display of fear and vulnerability. She looked small and fragile against his larger frame.
As I approached them, Ethan caught sight of me and immediately tried to wave Scarlett’s hands away. The gesture was awkward and unnatural, like he had been caught doing something inappropriate.
Scarlett’s eyes flashed with unmistakable resentment at being pushed aside. Her mask of innocent fear slipped for just a moment, revealing the bitter jealousy underneath.
But I didn’t have time or energy to care about their pathetic drama.
“How are my parents?” I asked Ethan directly, cutting straight to the point.
Ethan’s expression grew serious as he focused on the crisis at hand.
“The rogue wolves attacked about an hour ago,” he explained, his voice tight with concern. “Their goal was very clear from the beginning–they came specifically for your parents.”
His hands gestured as he described the attack. “They bypassed the outer defenses, ignored other pack members, and went straight for your family’s house.”
Scarlett suddenly spoke up, her voice carrying that familiar tone of false sympathy mixed with
malicious satisfaction.
“They were shouting about capturing the Queen,” she said with obvious relish. “It’s clear they heard the news that you supposedly mated with the Alpha King.”
Her eyes glittered with mean–spirited pleasure as she continued.
“But when they couldn’t find you at the pack, they decided to take your parents instead. Obviously, they plan to use them as leverage to threaten you and the Alpha King.”
Then her voice took on that saccharine tone she used when she wanted to twist the knife.
Chapter 19
2/3 60.2%
7:41 pm DDDD
“So tell me, Emma–didn’t you claim to be mated to the Alpha King? Why don’t you just call him to come save your parents?”
I ignored her completely, pulling out my phone to try Grayson’s number again. But the call went straight to voicemail, just like the last three times I had tried.
He was probably on the plane back from the border. James‘ phone was also unreachable.
Seeing that I didn’t respond to her provocation, Scarlett became more confident that my relationship with the Alpha King was fabricated.
Her voice took on an exaggerated tone of pity and concern.
“I told you not to threaten your brother with this kind of fake news,” she said with false regret. “Look what’s happened now. You didn’t succeed in deceiving Ethan, but you caused your innocent parents to be captured by rogue wolves.”
She shook her head sadly, as if she were genuinely disappointed in me.
“Your lies have put people in real danger, Emma. I hope you’re proud of yourself.”
The sound of my palm connecting with her cheek echoed through the night air.
“Shut up,” I said coldly, my hand stinging from the force of the slap.
Scarlett looked at me in complete shock, her hand flying to her reddened cheek. She had clearly not expected me to strike her again.
“Ethan!” she whined, turning to him with tears in her eyes. “Your sister–in–law hit me again! I was just kindly reminding her not to be so vain and deceptive.”
Her voice grew more pitiful as she continued her performance.
“All I wanted was to help her understand that her vanity and lies would hurt the people around her. And this is how she repays my concern!”
But this time, Ethan’s reaction was different. He could see the genuine anxiety and desperation in my face.
Instead of immediately defending Scarlett like he usually did, he simply said in a mild tone, “Scarlett, don’t provoke Emma right now.”
Scarlett’s mouth fell open in surprise at his lukewarm response. She had expected him to rush to her defense and scold me for my violence.
“I wasn’t provoking her!” she protested, her voice rising with indignation. “I was just trying to help her see the truth.”
She straightened up, trying to regain control of the situation.
“Actually, I have an idea that might solve this whole problem,” she said with renewed confidence.
Ethan turned to look at her with interest. “What’s your idea?”
I also looked at Scarlett coldly, waiting to hear what manipulative scheme she had concocted
now.
Scarlett covered her slapped cheek with one hand and put on an expression of naive helpfulness.
“Well, it’s really quite simple when you think about it,” she said with false brightness. “Since the rogue wolves specifically want to capture Emma, wouldn’t it be better for Emma to just go and
Alpha’s Regret After I Became the Queen.
7:41 pm D D D D
exchange herself for her parents?”
7:42 pm DD DD
