Alpha's Regret: The Seventh Time was Forever

No one noticed the exact moment Bryan slipped out of the car and made his way over, his small steps unsteady but determined, until suddenly his arms were wrapped tightly around Seraphine’s legs, holding on like she was the only thing keeping him grounded.

It wasn’t the movement that caught her attention, though, it was his voice, soft and fragile, carrying a familiarity that hit her straight in the chest.

She looked down almost instantly.

Bryan was staring up at her, his wide eyes filled with something she hadn’t seen in a long time, something painfully close to hope, and it stirred emotions she had tried so hard to bury.

"Mommy," he said again, his voice trembling just a little as he held on tighter. "Bryan has been bad. You can punish me, but I’m sorry. Can you make me pancakes?"

The words landed heavier than they should have, simple and innocent, but loaded with guilt that didn’t belong on a child’s shoulders.

Behind them, near the car, Corvine stood frozen for a second before his composure cracked, his eyes glossing over as emotion crept in despite his effort to stay detached. He wasn’t the only one affected. Seraphine blinked slowly, a tear slipping free before she brushed it away quickly, as if acknowledging it would weaken her resolve.

"Fine," she said, her voice steady even though her chest felt tight. "I’ll make you pancakes." She paused just long enough to draw a line where it needed to be. "But I’m not your mommy anymore."

She expected that to make him let go, expected him to loosen his grip and step back, but instead, Bryan held on even tighter, his small fingers clutching at her like he was afraid she might disappear if he didn’t. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"No," he said softly, shaking his head. "You are my mommy."

Seraphine exhaled slowly, her body stiffening as she tried to take a step forward, but Bryan refused to release her, his hold stubborn despite how weak he looked. Before the moment stretched too far, Corvine stepped in, closing the distance between them.

"Bryan," he said gently, crouching slightly so he was closer to the boy’s level. "Uncle will take you inside."

Bryan turned his head toward him, and to Corvine’s surprise, he smiled, small and tired but still there. "Uncle Corvine," he said, his voice softer now. "Punish Bryan."

Corvine’s expression softened in a way that rarely showed. "No," he replied, shaking his head lightly. "Knowing you did something wrong is enough. I don’t think Seraphine is angry with you." He glanced briefly at her before looking back at Bryan. "Let go so she can make your pancakes."

That finally worked.

Bryan’s grip loosened, his arms slipping from around Seraphine’s legs, but the moment he tried to stand on his own, his body betrayed him, dizziness hitting hard enough to make him sway.

Before he could collapse, Seraphine reacted on instinct, catching him immediately and lifting him into her arms without hesitation.

The second she held him properly, her focus sharpened.

Her eyes scanned him quickly, taking in every detail, every sign his body was giving off, and it didn’t take long for her to figure out what was wrong. The warmth in her expression disappeared, replaced by a cold, cutting glare as she turned her head toward Ravyn.

"Some father you are," she said, her tone sharp enough to slice through the air. "Leaving a child like this, malnourished and dehydrated. Do you have any idea what that does to his condition?"

Ravyn didn’t even try to defend himself, his voice quieter than it had ever been. "He refused to eat," he admitted. "He said he would only eat your pancakes. Nothing else."

Seraphine’s glare lingered for a moment longer, her disappointment clear, before she turned away from him completely, moving Bryan slightly in her arms as she carried him toward the house.

Corvine followed behind her, getting back into the car and driving it inside the compound, but Ravyn didn’t get the same treatment. Just as he took a step forward to follow, the gate closed right in front of him with a finality that made it clear where he stood.

"The fact that Seraphine agreed to help Bryan doesn’t mean she’s forgiven you," Corvine said coldly from the other side.

Ravyn stopped where he was, staring at the closed gate for a moment before stepping back slowly, accepting it without argument. He returned to his car and settled in for the night, the discomfort of it insignificant compared to the one thing that mattered.

Bryan was going to be okay.

Left alone with nothing but his thoughts, Ravyn leaned back, staring into the darkness as memories crept in whether he wanted them to or not. Back when Seraphine had still been his Luna, everything had felt stable, almost effortless, because she had handled everything without complaint, without needing recognition.

Even when Bryan got sick, Ravyn had never felt this kind of pressure, never felt this fear, because Seraphine had always been there, quietly taking care of it all.

But now, everything felt different.

Now, he was the one facing the consequences of not paying attention, of not appreciating what had always been right in front of him.

The sharp ringing of a phone cut through the silence, pulling him out of his thoughts, and for a second, he frowned, realizing it wasn’t his ringtone. He reached around, searching until he found the device, and the moment he looked at the screen, his expression darkened slightly.

It was Daisy’s phone.

And the caller ID read Zane.

Ravyn’s lips pressed into a thin line, irritation bubbling up almost instantly as he answered the call, choosing to stay silent for a moment, listening instead of speaking.

On the other end, Zane didn’t take the silence well.

"Daisy, what is this now?" Zane snapped, his tone harsh and impatient. "Is this some new game you’re playing? If you don’t send me money by tomorrow, don’t act surprised when I show up at the pack." He let out a short, mocking laugh. "I’d really like to see what excuse you give your Alpha boy toy then."

Ravyn’s jaw tightened at the words, a cold anger settling deep in his chest.

Alpha boy toy.

Zane spoke again, irritation growing. "Daisy, are you going to answer me or keep playing around?"

Ravyn stayed quiet for another second, the anger simmering as he considered his next move, weighing whether to respond immediately or let Zane keep talking and reveal more than he intended.