The Gamma’s Regret Chapter 03

The Gamma’s Regret Chapter 03

I ran into Clara there. Jack and Mia stood right beside her.

Their smiles froze when they saw me. Awkward as hell.

Clara spoke first.

“Mrs. Voss. What a coincidence. Shopping alone?”

“These two just insisted on tagging along. I couldn’t stop them. Jack spent quite a bit today, you know.” I spotted Jack holding several luxury shopping bags.

The rotten fruit he’d handed me yesterday flashed through my mind. The irony made me sick to my stomach.

Clara walked over and took the dress I’d been eyeing.

“This color is perfect for me. How much? I’ll take it.”

“I saw it first.” I forced the words through clenched teeth.

“Mom, it’s a waste on you. Just let Clara have it.” Jack jumped in immediately.

Mia was even crueler. “Yeah, you’re ancient Dressing un like that? Have you no shame?”

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Clara played peacemaker. “Oh, stop fig for you. Cashier, wrap it up.”

But Mrs. Voss, this style really isn’t
“Wait.”

I could give up my mate. I could lose my children.

But that dress was a symbol. My rebirth. My new life. The proof I was living for myself again.

I would not back down.

I reached for my card. Mia suddenly lunged forward and shoved me hard.

I had an old back injury. I lost my balance instantly. Crashed into a row of clothing racks and hit the floor.

Severe pain shot through my waist as if it were broken.

Jack seized the moment. He swiped his card first and handed the dress to Clara.

He glanced back at me on the ground. A flicker of guilt crossed his face. But his voice stayed cold. “Don’t blame us, Mom. You shouldn’t have picked a fight with Clara.”

The three of them shielded her and walked away without looking back.

A store clerk helped me up and asked if I needed a hospital. I shook my head. I limped slowly toward the

mall entrance alone.

Those three stood at the curb waiting for their ride. When they saw me, Jack and Mia immediately positioned their bodies to block Clara from me. Like I was some kind of threat.

I ignored them and raised my hand for a cab.

Clara walked over with a smile. “Mrs. Voss, Jack ordered a car. Ride with us? Don’t be shy.”

“No.” My voice was flat.

Clara suddenly reached out like she was helping me. She leaned in close. Her lips brushed my ear. Her whisper dripped venom meant only for me.

“You don’t know yet, do you? Your precious son and daughter already call me Mom. You’re so useless. Couldn’t keep your mate. Couldn’t keep your kids. If I were you, I’d be too ashamed to keep breathing.”

I stared at her young, pretty, smug face. My body shook with rage. My hand flew up to slap her.

In my past life, I’d pitied her. Poor background. No one to rely on. I invited her to dinner constantly. Gave her spending means. Protected her in the pack.

This was how she repaid me.

My hand never landed. Jack lunged forward and seized my wrist. He squeezed my wrist so hard as if he wanted to crush my bones

“You crazy bitch! I knew you were trouble! You trying to hurt Clara?!”

“Jack, she was yelling at me! She said I-” Clara immediately played the victim.

I wrenched my hand free. Straightened my spine. Looked him dead in the eye and spoke every word clear as

glass.

“She just told me you and Mia already call her Mom. She called me a useless piece of trash.”

Jack froze. His expression twisted through something complicated. Then he spoke cold and clear. One

single sentence shattered my last glimmer of hope.

“Is she wrong?”

I couldn’t believe my ears.

“Clara’s young. Beautiful. An elite warrior with medals. She can help my standing in the pack. And you? You’re just an old maid who cooks and cleans and serves people. You’re not fit to be our mother.”

My heart had already died a long time ago. But hearing those words from my own son still drove a silver dagger straight through it.

That’s when an out-of-control truck came barreling toward us.

Instinct screamed at me to lunge forward and shove Jack out of the way.

But he and Mia-their first reaction was to throw themselves in front of Clara.

And worse? They thought I was in the way. So they both shoved me backward. Hard. Into the middle of the

street.

I hit the ground. My vision blurred fast.

The last thing I heard was their panicked screams.

“Mom-!”