Regret

Louis’ POV

I walked back into my room, feeling pissed off. I didn’t even care that Olivia had slapped me in public, which was taboo. All I regretted was calling her a whore, and I knew it would soon spread like wildfire. Raged, I hit my fist against the wall; it hurt, but not as much as the deep guilt I felt.

Suddenly, the door to my room pushed open, and Levi walked in, his eyes narrowing at me.

“What is it I just heard?” Levi asked, sounding angry. I didn’t know if his anger was directed at me or something else.

“You insulted Olivia? Accused Madison of being the lover? What were you thinking? Doing all that before hundreds of men!” Levi spat angrily.

His anger was palpable. He was so angry that I had to take a step back, afraid he might attack me.

“How could you, Louis! Do you know what that means? The news will spread around the pack. Pack members will start mocking her! Calling her names!”

I couldn’t look at him. I couldn’t face the disgust in his eyes—not when I already hated myself enough.

“I know,” I muttered hoarsely, my voice barely audible.

“You know?” Levi took a step closer, his jaw tight. “Why the hell did you do it? You called her a whore, Louis. In front of everyone!”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “It slipped out. I was angry.”

“You think that’s a damn excuse?” Levi roared, his eyes glowing with the faint shimmer of his wolf trying to surface. “You let your jealousy get the better of you.”

I turned away, unable to meet his gaze, staring down at the blood trickling from my knuckles where I’d hit the wall. “I didn’t mean it.”

“But you said it,” Levi snapped. “And now that word’s going to stick to her like a curse. You branded her in front of the pack.”

His words hit harder than his fists ever could have. I sank onto the edge of my bed, pressing my hand against my face, trying to breathe past the guilt.

“I should have never said it,” I whispered. “I was jealous. Seeing her with him…laughing. It’s been years since she looked at me like that.”

I want her to laugh. Levi crossed his arms, glaring down at me. “She is your mate, your wife. If you want her to laugh, then do it…make her laugh and stop being jealous over someone else doing it,” he spat in anger.

I frowned but didn’t say a word. Instead, I looked away, my wolf growling angrily inside me.

“I better go talk to Olivia,” Levi grunted and stormed out of the room, slamming the door hard.

A shaky breath left my lips as I continued staring at the floor, the ringing of Levi’s words still echoing in my ears. She’s your mate…make her laugh, stop being jealous.

I knew he was right. I knew I’d messed up so badly I wasn’t sure how to come back from it.

Minutes passed in silence, my thoughts spinning faster than I could catch them, until suddenly—

Bang! The door burst open again. Levi stood there, breathless, his expression darker than before. “She’s not here,” he said flatly, his voice cracking.

I blinked, pushing myself off the bed. “What do you mean she’s not here?”

“I mean she’s gone, Louis.” Levi stepped fully into the room, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “I asked one of the guards outside. He said she left the pack house a few minutes ago. Didn’t say where. Just…walked out.”

My heart dropped into my stomach.

“Gone?” I echoed, my voice hollow. “Where would she go?”

Levi shook his head, his jaw clenched tight. “After what you did? Anywhere that isn’t here.”

My chest tightened, a surge of panic flooding through me. My wolf snarled beneath my skin, pacing and agitated. We needed to find her.

“I need to go after her,” I muttered, already grabbing my jacket.

Levi grabbed my arm before I could pass him. “Are you even in the right state to face her right now? You think she wants to see you?”

“I don’t care,” I growled, yanking free. “I can’t let her wander off alone, not like this. Not after what I said.”

“What is going on here!” Lennox’s voice sounded from the door, and I swallowed hard, turning around to face him.

My eyes met with his, and I could tell he had already suspected something wasn’t right. My heart was already beating erratically, but the moment I saw Lennox—I felt ice grip my spine. Of the three of us, Lennox was always the most temperamental. The quickest to anger, the hardest to calm down once fired up. And judging by the way his jaw was clenched, and his sharp eyes scanned both me and Levi, I knew this wasn’t going to end well.

“Lennox, you’re here?” I tried to keep my voice calm, neutral. “You were supposed to be with Anita—”

“That isn’t the answer to my question,” he cut me off coldly, taking a step into the room. His eyes settled on my bloodied knuckles. “What the hell is going on?”

I tensed, shooting a quick glance at Levi—begging him silently, not now. But Levi had never been good at keeping his mouth shut, especially not when he was pissed.

“It’s Louis,” Levi said tightly, his voice like a blade. “He insulted Olivia. Called her a whore. In front of the whole damn training ground.”

The words slammed into the room like thunder, and I watched Lennox freeze. Then, he growled. A deep, feral sound that rumbled through the floor and made the hairs on my neck stand up.

“You did what?” Lennox’s voice was low, dangerous.

I opened my mouth, trying to speak—to explain—but he didn’t give me the chance. In two strides, he was in front of me. His fist clutched the collar of my shirt and slammed me against the wall with a force that made my vision blur.

“You called our mate—our Lana—a whore?! In front of the warriors?!” he shouted, his face inches from mine, his eyes blazing with rage.

“I didn’t mean it,” I choked out, my breath caught in my throat. “It just—slipped out.”

“You think I give a damn if you said it inside these four walls?” Lennox snarled. “Say what you want in here—but outside? You branded her, Louis! You humiliated her in front of the entire pack!”

“I know, alright? I know I messed up!” I shouted back, guilt choking me like a noose.

“She’s not in the pack house,” Levi added grimly, stepping closer. “Guard said she left minutes ago. Didn’t say where.”

Lennox’s frown deepened. “You better pray nothing goes wrong with Olivia,” Lennox spat, his grip on my collar tightening. “Because if something happens to her…if she’s hurt or gods forbid gone—I swear, I’ll forget that we’re even brothers.”

I stared into his furious eyes, chest heaving. Lennox released me with a hard shove, pacing the room like a caged wolf. “Fuck!” he cursed under his breath, his fists clenched at his sides.

I watched Lennox close his eyes, and without being told, I knew he was trying to reach out to her through the mind link.

“I tried, but she isn’t responding to mine,” Levi announced.

“Even mine,” Lennox growled and opened his eyes.

“Get the warriors,” he barked at Levi. “We’re splitting up. Search the borders, the river path, everywhere. If she’s not back here by sundown—Louis, you better start praying.”

And just like that, he stormed out.

I leaned back against the wall, my chest rising and falling rapidly. I’d never seen Lennox that angry before. And I was so worried, so scared.