Chapter 5 5.His Regret

Jaxon

I step into my office, slamming the door behind me, the walls feeling like they're closing in on me. Divorce proceedings. What a joke. The lawyers are already handling the paperwork, talking about settlements and shit. I should care about that stuff. I should be paying attention.

But I'm not.

All I can think about is Nina. How she looked when she left. How she told me it was over and didn't look back. How I didn't even try to stop her.

I sit down at my desk, running a hand through my hair, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on me. I stare at the divorce papers, sitting there like some fucking death sentence.

She's really gone.

I thought she'd come back. I thought... fuck, I don't even know what I thought. That we'd figure it out. That our bond would be enough. That I'd say the right thing and everything would go back to the way it was supposed to be.

But it's not.

She's filing for divorce, and I'm too stunned to process any of it. I thought I was smarter than this. I thought I had everything under control.

Clearly, I was wrong.

I lean back in my chair, staring up at the ceiling, trying to figure out where the hell it all went wrong. The miscarriage? Yeah, that fucked everything up. But this started long before that. This started when I married her, thinking it was enough to just have her by my side, without ever bothering to let her in.

And now I've lost her.

*

I can't get her out of my head. It's been days, and all I see is her-Nina, the way she looked when she walked out. The sound of her voice telling me it was over. It's like she's haunting me, everywhere I go.

I stare at the pile of paperwork on my desk. It's supposed to be important. Contracts, mergers, all the shit I used to care about. But now? It's all noise. I rub the back of my neck, trying to shake off the tension.

My phone buzzes, and I glance at the screen, expecting something from my assistant. Instead, it's a notification from some trashy gossip site. Another fucking tabloid. I almost ignore it, but my thumb moves on its own, opening the article.

And there she is.

Nina, looking like she belongs on a fucking magazine cover, standing next to three men in tailored suits, all of them grinning like they own the world. Her brothers, I realize. But the media doesn't know that. No, they're speculating. New mystery man in Nina Valens' life?

I stare at the photo, jealousy burning through me. She's smiling. She looks... free. Confident. Like the woman I barely knew was there, hidden under all that pain. But those men? The world thinks she's moved on. That she's already with someone else.

"Fuck," I mutter, tossing my phone on the desk. I can't fucking stand this. She's mine. She's supposed to be with me, not out there with-whoever the hell they think those men are.

I pace the office, my mind racing. The Valens family. I didn't know. How could I have missed it? How could I not know she was connected to them?

The Valens Pack isn't just powerful; they're practically royalty. They control half the country's territory, and their influence stretches beyond the werewolf world. Victor Valens-her father-he's a legend. And Nina? She's his fucking heir. She could've had anything. Anyone.

And she chose me.

I slam my fist against the desk, the anger boiling up again. I need to know more. I need to understand what the fuck is going on with her now. I'm not just gonna sit here and watch her life play out in the media like I'm some outsider.

I pick up my phone, dialing my investigator. "Yeah, it's Jaxon. I need everything you can dig up on the Valens family. Especially Nina. I want to know who she's with, where she's been, what she's doing. Everything."

As soon as I hang up, I lean back in my chair, staring at the ceiling. I never should've let her leave. I thought I could handle this. That I could deal with her walking away, but it's driving me insane.

It doesn't take long to get the information I need. The Valens Pack is hosting a high-profile charity event tonight, and Nina's going to be there. I don't even think twice. I'm going.

The party's in one of those fancy-ass hotels downtown, the kind where every single person is dripping in wealth and influence. I'm in a suit, my mask of control firmly in place, but inside, I'm a fucking mess.

I walk into the ballroom, scanning the crowd, my chest tight with anticipation. The room's full of people, all of them talking, laughing, but none of them matter. I'm only looking for one person.

And then I see her.

Nina's standing in the middle of the room, surrounded by her brothers. She's wearing a dark green dress that clings to her body, showing off curves I used to know so well. Her hair's up, sleek and elegant, and there's this glow about her that wasn't there before. She's not the timid wife I remember. She looks... powerful. Untouchable.

The sight of her, surrounded by them, laughing like she hasn't been through hell-it sends a wave of jealousy crashing through me. I clench my fists, trying to stay calm, but all I can think about is going over there and dragging her away from them. From this.

I start moving toward her, not even caring that people are watching. She's the only one in the room I give a damn about.

When I get close enough, she finally notices me. Her eyes meet mine, and for a second, something flickers there. But then it's gone, replaced by this cold, distant look I've never seen before.

"Nina," I say, my voice tight.

She doesn't smile. Doesn't show any sign of warmth. "Jaxon. What are you doing here?"

"I needed to see you." The words come out harsher than I mean them to, but I can't help it. Seeing her like this, acting like none of it mattered-it's fucking with my head. "We need to talk."

"There's nothing to talk about," she says, her tone ice-cold. "We're done, remember?"

"We're not done," I snap, stepping closer. "You can't just walk away like this."

She raises an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "I already did. You're the one who can't seem to accept it."

I grit my teeth, trying to control the anger bubbling up inside me. "You're still my mate."

Her laugh is short, bitter. "That bond doesn't mean shit, Jaxon. Not anymore."

"You don't get to decide that," I growl, taking another step closer. "You're mine."

Her eyes flash with something-anger, maybe. Or disgust. "I was never yours. You had three years to prove otherwise, and you didn't."

"Nina-"

"You don't get to waltz in here and act like this is still your life," she cuts me off, her voice low but sharp. "You made your choices, Jaxon. Now live with them."

I stare at her, my heart racing, trying to figure out what the hell I can say to make this right. But I don't have the words. I never fucking did.

Before I can say anything else, one of her brothers steps up, putting a hand on her arm. Dominic. The heir. The one who's been looking at me like he wants to rip my throat out.

"You should leave," he says, his voice calm but full of threat. "This isn't your place anymore."

I glare at him, my wolf bristling at the challenge. "I'm not here for you."

"You're not here for anyone," Dominic says, his eyes cold. "You've lost her. It's time you accept that."

Nina doesn't say anything, but the look in her eyes tells me everything I need to know. She's done. She's really fucking done with me.

The realization hits me like a punch to the gut. I thought I had more time. I thought I could fix this, but now? Now, it's slipping through my fingers, and there's nothing I can do.

I take a step back, my mind racing, the weight of it all crashing down on me. She's not coming back. She's not mine anymore.

Without another word, I turn and walk away, my chest tight with frustration, anger, and something else I can't even name.

I lost her.

The car ride back to the penthouse is quiet, but my mind's anything but. I can't stop replaying that moment. The look in her eyes when she said she was done. The way she stood there, radiating strength and confidence, like she didn't need me anymore. Like she never did.

I slam my hand against the steering wheel, my frustration boiling over. How the fuck did I let it get this far? How did I let her walk away?

I thought I had more time. I thought the mate bond would be enough to hold her, to keep her tied to me. But I was wrong. I underestimated her, underestimated what she needed from me. And now I've lost her.

I pull into the garage, turning off the engine, but I don't get out of the car. I just sit there, staring at the steering wheel, my mind a mess of thoughts.

She's with them now. Her family. Her real family. The Valens. I should've known better than to think she'd stay with someone like me when she could have the power, the status, the respect that comes with being a Valens.

But fuck, it doesn't matter. She's my mate. She belongs with me.

I clench my fists, my nails digging into my palms. I can't let this end here. I won't.