Alpha's Dark Desires
Chapter 96: Giving up

Chapter 96: Giving up

Elena’s POV:

As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting warm orange and pink hues across the sky, I started making my way back home. The walk had done wonders for clearing my mind, but as I approached the house, a sound caught my attention.

It was faint at first—soft noises coming from a playground I hadn’t noticed before. My footsteps slowed as I turned toward the source, curiosity getting the better of me. The sounds were coming from behind the slide, muffled but unmistakable.

My first thought was kids—maybe someone was hurt or in trouble. These days, you couldn’t trust anyone, and the idea of a child needing help made my heart race. Without hesitation, I quickened my pace toward the playground, determined to make sure everything was okay.

But as I got closer, the noises grew louder, more distinct... and then it hit me. These weren’t cries for help. They were moans.

My stomach churned as the realization dawned on me, but some foolish part of me clung to the hope that I was mistaken. Maybe I was overthinking it. Maybe—

No.

The moment I rounded the corner, my world stopped. It was worse than I thought.

There, in the dimming light of day, was Kane. His pants pooled at his feet, his hips thrusting relentlessly against a blonde woman bent over the edge of the slide. Her skirt was hiked up to her waist, her shirt half-open, breasts spilling out shamelessly.

I froze, the scene burning itself into my mind like a cruel nightmare I couldn’t wake from.

"What the fuck?" I cursed, the words leaving my lips before I could stop them.

The two of them turned at the sound of my voice, their heads snapping in my direction as though they’d been caught red-handed. And then I saw her face.

Ashley.

Her smug expression faltered for only a moment, but Kane? He didn’t even flinch. His eyes met mine, but instead of stopping, instead of pulling away in shame or guilt, he kept going. His thrusts didn’t falter, his hands still gripping her hips like I wasn’t even there.

"You can join if you like," he said, his voice cool and detached as if he were inviting me to dinner instead of watching my heart shatter.

That was it.

I didn’t even think. My legs carried me forward before I could register what I was doing. Kane’s smirk grew wider, clearly mistaking my approach for something else, but he couldn’t have been more wrong.

With every ounce of strength I had, I swung my fist and landed a punch square on his jaw. The impact jolted through my arm, and the satisfying crack of bone meeting bone reverberated in my ears. Kane stumbled back, finally pulling out of Ashley, who shrieked and tried to cover herself.

But I didn’t stay to see what happened next. I turned on my heel and ran, tears blurring my vision as my heart pounded in my chest.

How could he? How could the man who claimed to want me, who made me believe in us, betray me so shamelessly?

The image of them together burned in my mind, replaying over and over like a cruel loop. His hands on her, his body pressed against hers, the arrogant smirk on his face as he dared to invite me to join.

I didn’t stop running until I was far enough away that the sounds of their betrayal faded into the background, replaced by the thundering of my own heartbeat. My breath came in ragged gasps as I finally slowed, collapsing onto a bench by the side of the road.

The tears came then, hot and relentless, streaming down my face as I buried my head in my hands.

How could I have been so blind?

How could I have ever believed that Kane—my Kane—would be different?

But he wasn’t. He was just like the rest of them. And now, the pieces of my shattered heart lay scattered at my feet, and I had no idea how to pick them up again.

I was so stupid. Stupid to believe that I could ever satisfy him. Me—the naive, innocent girl who thought love was enough. I convinced myself that his desires didn’t matter as long as he loved me. That we were past all the hurdles and were finally trying for us.

But maybe I was wrong.

Maybe it was because of this morning in the shower. Maybe that was the trigger—the fact that I hadn’t let him go all the way. Was that why he ran to someone else? Why he chose her?

And what hurt the most wasn’t just the betrayal. It wasn’t just seeing him buried inside Ashley like I didn’t exist. It was the lack of remorse—the complete and utter disregard. He didn’t stop. He didn’t pull away. He didn’t even have the decency to look guilty. Instead, he had the audacity to keep thrusting into her, to smirk at me and suggest I join.

Was I really that naive?

Was I so blind to think we could overcome everything? That we could live past our differences?

I thought about his promises—how he had begged for forgiveness, swearing to change and make things work between us. Were all those words empty? A lie? A well-played act to keep me tethered?

What about the way he looked at me, like I was the only woman in the world? Was that fake too? Was it all just a ploy to fool me into believing I was special?

And the intimacy we shared—the moments we indulged in each other, the touches, the kisses, the heated passion that always stopped before it consumed us entirely—was that all an act? A tactic to get what he wanted? If that was the case, why didn’t he go all the way? Why did he always hold back?

Was it my fault? Was I not enough?

I tried to piece it together, but my mind was a storm of anger, pain, and disbelief. Maybe this morning had been his breaking point. Maybe the moment I hesitated, the moment I held onto the last shred of innocence I had, he decided it wasn’t worth waiting anymore.

So he went to her.

The realization made my chest ache, but then anger bubbled up, hot and fierce. How could I have been so stupid? How could I have believed that a snake could ever change after all a snake is still a snake no matter the color?

"Stupid. Stupid," I muttered under my breath, wiping the tears that streaked down my cheeks.

Why was I even crying for someone like him?

He wasn’t worth it.

To think I’d kept myself for him. To think I had dreamed of giving him my first time—that it would be special, something just for us. How foolish was I to believe in a forever with him?

No. Not anymore.

If he could betray me so shamelessly, if he could so easily turn to someone else, then to hell with him. To hell with his promises, his lies, and his damn possessiveness.

Two could play this game.

If he wanted to ruin everything we had, then fine. But he wasn’t going to take my pride down with him. I wasn’t going to let him break me. If he could find satisfaction elsewhere, then so could I.

I’ll find someone—someone who will make me forget about him, someone to fuck the hell out of me. Someone who’ll make me feel desired, cherished, and alive. If Kane thinks I’ll stay broken and weeping over him, he has no idea who he’s messed with.

To think I kept myself for him, that I wanted my mate to be my first and forever. Stupid, right? Well no more I am going to find myself a hunk of a male and go stupidly wide before dropping him. I am also going to reject him, If he accept the rejection or not I don’t give a fuck. Whether it’s going to work or not I won’t give a shit. I was done playing house with two timing bastard!

With that vow, I stood taller, brushing away the last of my tears. I wasn’t going to shed another drop for that bastard. He didn’t deserve my pain.

The sky had turned dark by now, the moonlight spilling across the path as I began walking back. I could see perfectly in the dark, my senses heightened by the emotions coursing through me. The cool night air did little to soothe the fire burning inside me.

Home.

If I could even call it that anymore. The house was just a shell now, a place that held memories I no longer wanted to revisit.

But I wasn’t going to let him push me out. If he thought for one second that I’d leave with my tail between my legs, he had another thing coming.

With every step, I felt my resolve harden. Kane might have thought he had all the power, but he didn’t. Not anymore.

He’d made his choice, and now, I was going to make mine.