Ex-Mate's Regret: Now He Wants Me Back?

CHAPTER 1 Clara'S POV The sun was setting, casting a warm glow over the dense forest that stretched just outside our pack lands. I walked down the quiet forest path, my heart racing with the knowledge that he was waiting for me, just a little farther up the trail. I could already see him, his broad silhouette leaning against a tree. “Dominic,” I whispered, barely able to keep the smile off my face as I walked up to him. He turned, his piercing blue eyes softening when they met mine. “There you are,” he murmured, a small smile playing on his lips. He reached for my hand, pulling me close. “I missed you.” My heart fluttered. It still felt surreal sometimes, having his attention and knowing he wanted me. Me, Clara, the quiet omega who everyone overlooked. Me, a nobody-wants-omega. But Dominic saw me, and when he looked at me like that, I felt like I could be anyone—strong, fearless, worthy. I let out a shaky breath as he cupped my cheek, his touch warm against my skin. “Do you ever think this is…too good to be true?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper. He chuckled softly, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “No,” he said, his voice full of conviction. “I think it’s exactly how it’s supposed to be.” His words made me smile, and before I could say anything, he leaned down and kissed me, soft and gentle. I lost myself in that kiss, in the way his hands felt around my waist, pulling me closer, grounding me. With him, the world fell away, and all that mattered was us. Though we loved each other deeply but we had never had s*x before, I had confided in him that I wanted that experience on the night of our wedding and he obliged even though it was visibly difficult for him, he loved me anyway. He deepened his kiss as our tongues each other's mouth. But then my phone buzzed, startling us both. I reluctantly pulled away, checking the message—a reminder from my aunt about the supplies she’d asked me to pick up. “I have to run a quick errand,” I said, playfully rolling my eyes. “I’ll be right back.” He laughed, letting me go but keeping hold of my hand for just a moment longer. “I’ll be waiting here, then. Don’t be long.” With a final glance, I turned and headed back down the path, my heart still racing, my lips still tingling. The errand was quick—a trip to the pack store to pick up a few things. But even as I walked, my thoughts kept drifting back to Dominic, to the way he’d looked at me, the way he’d said my name as if it was the only name that mattered. On my way back, though, something felt…wrong. The forest was eerily quiet, and as I reached the clearing where Dominic was waiting, I slowed, hearing voices ahead. My heart thudded as I recognized Dominic’s voice—and another, familiar voice I’d hoped never to hear again. Morgana. I crept closer, staying hidden behind a thick tree trunk as I watched the scene unfold. Morgana, the pack’s spoiled golden girl and my longtime bully, was standing far too close to Dominic, her hand resting on his arm. Her laughter was soft, flirtatious, the kind that used to draw him in, back in high school. “Oh, come on, Dominic,” Morgana purred, flipping her blonde hair over her shoulder. “Don’t tell me you’re really with that omega, Clara. We both know you deserve better.” “Don’t you miss me?” She pouted, looking up at him with those doe eyes as he held his hand. “We had something special once. I know you feel it too.” Her words stung, but I held my breath, Dominic stiffened, his jaw clenched as he shrugged off her hand. “That was over a long time ago, Morgana. I don’t know what part of that you’re not understanding.” “You're really acting like this? Because of that worthless girl?" She asked, curling her lips in disdain. “Don’t you dare talk about Clara like that,” Dominic snapped, his voice low and deadly. “She's worth more than you’ll ever be. She’s the one I want, the one I love.” My heart soared. Dominic loved me. He wasn’t just infatuated; he loved me. Morgana scoffed, crossing her arms. “You’re going to throw everything away for her? She’s nothing compared to us!” “Then you don’t know her like I do.” Dominic took a step back, his gaze ice-cold. “Whatever we had is done, Morgana. I'm with Clara, and nothing you say will ever change that.” I bit my lip to keep me from smiling. Morgana’s face twisted with anger, but I didn’t care. All that mattered was that Dominic had chosen me. For a moment, Morgana just stood there, burning with fury. Then she turned on her heel and stormed off, her fury evident in every step. I stepped out from my hiding spot, unable to contain the smile that spread across my face. Dominic turned, his expression softening when he saw me. “You…you meant that?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. He closed the distance between us, his hands resting on my shoulders as he looked down at me with an intensity that made my knees weak. “Clara, you’re all I’ll ever want. No one else could ever compare.” Those words were like honey to my ears, I wrapped my hands around him, giving him a tight hug as I kissed him on the cheek. Night came, and under the silver glow of the moon, I made a choice. My virginity meant so much to me, and I had promised myself I would wait until our wedding night. But in that instant, with his arms wrapped around me and his love grounding me, I knew I didn’t want to wait. I wanted to be his, fully and completely. We spent the night in each other’s warmth, our souls entwined in a way that made me feel more alive than I had ever been. And in that moment, I gave him something I held so sacred to me–my innocence.