Chapter 7: The Regret That Came Too Late

August stood motionless as my words echoed through the hall.

For the first time in years, he finally understood what he had thrown away.

"Sophia... please... give me a chance to explain," he said, his voice trembling.

I looked at him quietly.

"Three years ago, I begged you for an explanation too."

"Do you remember what you gave me instead?"

August lowered his head in shame.

He remembered every single moment.

He remembered dragging Hailey into the Pack Affairs Department while leaving me outside.

He remembered telling me to wait.

He remembered believing I would forgive him no matter what.

Back then, he thought Sophia Miller would always belong to him.

Now he realized she had belonged to someone else for three years.

Hailey suddenly grabbed August's sleeve.

"August! Say something! We can explain this together!"

August slowly pulled his arm away.

"Enough, Hailey."

"What?"

"I've defended you for years."

"I've hurt Sophia because of you."

"I even convinced myself I was doing the right thing."

Hailey's face stiffened.

"Are you blaming me now?"

"Wasn't it your own decision?"

August closed his eyes painfully.

"You're right."

"Everything was my decision."

"No one forced me."

"I betrayed the woman who loved me the most."

The words left everyone speechless.

Even the Aurelis Alpha sighed in disappointment.

"August, you've disgraced not only yourself but our entire pack."

"From today onward, you are stripped of your position as Beta."

"Your authority and privileges are revoked immediately."

August's body swayed.

"Alpha..."

"As for Hailey Reed," the Alpha continued, "you deliberately insulted and assaulted Luna Weyland."

"From this day forward, you and your family are permanently banned from participating in any official pack affairs."

Hailey's knees gave out.

"No... Please..."

She crawled toward me desperately.

"Sophia... I'm sorry... I didn't know it was really you... Please forgive me..."

I looked down at her calmly.

"If I had truly been an ordinary she-wolf, would you have apologized?"

Hailey froze.

She couldn't answer.

Because everyone already knew the truth.

She wasn't sorry for hurting me.

She was only sorry because she had offended someone powerful.

Ryder gently squeezed my hand.

"Let's go home," he said softly.

I nodded.

As we turned to leave, August suddenly called after me.

"Sophia!"

I stopped but didn't turn around.

"I never stopped loving you..."

A bitter smile crossed my lips.

"No."

"You loved the version of me who always forgave you."

"The moment I stopped sacrificing myself for you, your love disappeared."

"What you're feeling now isn't love."

"It's regret."

Without waiting for his response, I walked forward beside Ryder.

Darren happily reached out and held both of our hands.

The three of us walked out of the banquet hall together.

Behind us, August remained standing alone.

He finally understood that some people never truly leave because they stop loving you.

They leave because you gave them every reason to.