111 Regrets

Lennox’s POV

The door to my room pushed open, and Levi and Louis walked in, both with relieved expressions.

“Man, you’re glowing for a man who nearly escaped death,” Louis teased, and I rolled my eyes. If only they knew what had happened between Olivia and me—of course, I should be glowing.

“How are you feeling?” Levi asked seriously, moving to the bed’s edge and glancing at me as if assessing my condition.

“I’m fine,” I sighed. “But we need to find those bastards!”

“We’ve already done that. The two surviving rogues you didn’t kill were found and are in the dungeon—though they haven’t revealed who sent them,” Levi announced.

My frown deepened as my wolf howled in anger. “That means I’ll have to torture them myself.”

“No, you won’t, brother. You need rest to recover,” Levi said firmly. I wanted to argue, to make him let me torture the rogues, but Louis chimed in, “You need rest, Lennox… at least for two days. No duties for the next two days—relax.”

Just as I was about to argue, the door swung open again—this time with far more drama.

“Lennox!” a high-pitched voice rang out, and before I could react, Anita flew into the room. She ran straight to the bed and threw herself on me, wrapping her arms around my neck and smothering my face with kisses.

“Oh my Moon Goddess! You’re awake! You’re alive! I was so, so worried!” she cried dramatically, kissing my cheeks, nose, and jaw.

I stiffened under her weight, trying not to groan. My ribs were still healing, and her weight didn’t help. Neither did her strong floral perfume, which made my head spin.

“Anita, you need to get off,” I said flatly, my voice low.

But she didn’t listen. She clung tighter, as if I were her long-lost love returned from war.

“I cried for hours!” she continued, kissing my cheek. “I barely slept, thinking about you! I couldn’t eat, couldn’t think straight—”

“Anita!” I snapped, my patience breaking. “Enough. Get off me.”

That got her attention. She froze, pulling back slightly, her face showing fake hurt and wide-eyed innocence.

“I was just worried,” she pouted.

“I know,” I muttered coldly, shifting uncomfortably. “But you don’t have to throw yourself on me. You’re hurting me,” I said with a frown. Deep down, I knew I wouldn’t complain if it were a certain someone.

Levi coughed awkwardly behind her, clearly trying not to laugh, while Louis smirked. Bastards.

Anita blinked, clearly stunned by my cold tone. “I… I’m sorry—”

“It’s okay,” I cut her off sharply.

Anita smiled, a smile that had no effect on me. She sat beside me, too close, her hand brushing mine, irritating me further.

I stared at her, feeling absolutely nothing. No spark. No warmth. No interest. Just a faint headache and growing irritation. How the hell did I ever like her?

I glanced at Levi and Louis—both watching with poorly concealed amusement—and wondered how we were ever interested in her. Anita was never my type. Too loud. Too clingy. Too fake. All surface and no substance. My wolf had never once stirred for her. And I knew she’d never been Levi’s or Louis’s type either. We only kept her around because… well, because of Olivia.

I exhaled slowly, the weight of the truth heavy in my chest. I had chosen Anita to get back at Olivia. To hurt her the way she had hurt me. What better revenge than to claim her best friend? And it worked, didn’t it? Olivia had looked hurt when she saw us together. She stopped looking me in the eyes, avoided rooms I was in, and pulled away. I convinced myself I had won.

But now… sitting here, feeling nothing for the woman beside me, all I felt was regret. I regretted making Anita my concubine. I regretted marking her. I regretted every kiss, every night, every public display meant to stab into Olivia like a blade. I regretted ever thinking about marrying her just to hurt Olivia more. It was petty, cruel, and above all—it wasn’t me.

I glanced at Anita again. She was chatting with Louis, trying to win him over with her fake laugh. But even Louis looked bored.

I stared blankly at the ceiling, trying to drown out Anita’s giggling. Her fingers played with the edge of my blanket, as if she owned the right to touch anything of mine. Disgust curled in my gut. I couldn’t endure it anymore.

I pushed myself up slightly on the bed, ignoring the sharp ache in my side as I cleared my throat. They all turned to look at me.

“I think I need to rest now,” I said neutrally. “The headache’s kicking in again.”

Louis arched a brow, seeing through me. Levi nodded, understanding. Anita, of course, pouted.

“Oh, but I just got here—”

“I know,” I cut in, firmly but not harshly. “But I need quiet. And I need space. Alone.”

“But—”

“Anita,” Levi said seriously, stepping in. “Let him rest. You heard him.”

She looked between us, as if wanting to protest, but something in my expression warned her off. Slowly, she stood, smoothing her dress like a dismissed queen.

“Fine,” she said, too sweetly. “I’ll come check on you later.”

“Don’t,” I said impulsively.

An awkward silence filled the air. Anita stared, stunned. For once, no fake pout, no crocodile tears—just shock.

“I need space, Anita,” I continued, quieter but firm. “Don’t take it personally. Just… give me time.”

She nodded stiffly, then turned and walked out, her perfume lingering. Levi and Louis gave me a curious look.

“Are you okay?” Levi asked.

“Yeah… just need a moment alone,” I said.

They nodded and left.

After they left, I settled back on the bed, staring at the ceiling, my mind a mess. For a few minutes, I thought of Levi’s words, how he wanted to start afresh with Olivia…

I wondered if I could do that too. Can I forgive her? Can we forgive each other? She had hurt me, and I had hurt her too.

As I lay there, thinking about everything—about Olivia, about the mess I’d made—my sharp hearing picked up something. Voices.

At first, I thought I was imagining it. But then I heard it again—louder. One voice stood out clearly, even through the walls. It was Olivia’s.

My heart skipped a beat. She sounded upset, maybe even angry. I didn’t know what she was saying, but I knew she was pissed.

Without thinking, I sat up quickly, pain shooting through my ribs. I clenched my jaw to stop myself from groaning. My body wasn’t ready, but I didn’t care. I pushed off the bed, grabbed a shirt, and forced it over my head. Every movement hurt, but I kept going. I had to know what was going on, why she was yelling, who she was yelling at.