Alpha's Regret: The Seventh Time was Forever

Voren pressed his lips together, clearly weighing how much he wanted to explain, before finally speaking in a tone that carried both restraint and quiet frustration. "I don’t think you understand what a friendship code actually means."

Corvine didn’t back down. His expression stayed steady, his voice grounded and direct. "Then explain it to me."

Voren shot him a sharp look before continuing, his patience thinning just a little. "Ravyn can reach out to me at any time, and I’m not the kind of person who lies easily. If he asks questions, I won’t be able to dodge everything without slipping at some point, unless you want me to start telling him every single thing Seraphine is planning."

Corvine’s reaction was immediate. "That’s not an option. If he finds out, he’ll tell Daisy, and even if he promises not to, something will get out eventually. It always does."

Voren gave a small nod, like that was exactly the conclusion he wanted him to reach. "Now you see the problem. That’s why I don’t want her anywhere near me right now." He exhaled, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly as he moved on.

"My beta, Kael, got in last night. He was supposed to leave tonight, but I’m extending his stay. Also, we can’t use my gym anymore. We’ll be training somewhere else, a place owned by a friend of mine in the FBI. He’ll also be providing backup if anything goes wrong."

Corvine accepted that without argument, though there was still one detail bothering him. "What about the pack? Who’s handling things while you’re here?"

"My parents stepped in," Voren replied without hesitation. "They’re overseeing everything for now."

Before Corvine could follow up, Seraphine’s voice cut through the conversation from where she stood, clearly running out of patience. "Are you two planning to stand there all day? I have to be at the hospital in less than four hours."

That was enough to snap them both back. They walked over to her just as Voren finished making a quick call. He slipped his phone away and looked between them.

"Plans changed. We’re heading to my friend’s facility instead."

Seraphine smiled, but there was no warmth behind it, just a faint curve of her lips that didn’t quite reach her eyes. "What am I, something contagious you’re trying to avoid?" she asked, her tone light, but the edge underneath it was impossible to miss.

Voren paused, caught off guard for a second before guilt flickered across his face. "It’s not like that," he said quickly. "I just need to make sure your presence doesn’t draw attention."

She held his gaze for a moment, then nodded once. "Got it," she said quietly, choosing not to push further, even though the thought lingered.

When they arrived at the location Voren had described as a gym, it became immediately clear that it wasn’t what either of them expected.

The space resembled a professional shooting range more than anything else. The sharp, rhythmic cracks of gunfire echoed through the area, even with protective gear in place.

Fluorescent lights buzzed faintly overhead, casting a cold, almost clinical glow across the concrete floors. The air carried the heavy scent of gunpowder mixed with oil, and rows of targets stood at the far end, waiting to be hit.

Several people were already training, moving with precision and focus, completely absorbed in their routines.

Kael approached them, his presence solid and commanding, mirroring Voren’s. The moment his eyes landed on Seraphine, he dipped his head respectfully. "Lu—"

"Sera," she corrected gently before he could finish.

He adjusted smoothly without missing a beat. "Miss Walker," he said instead, his tone respectful. "It’s an honor to finally meet you. I’ve heard quite a bit."

A faint smile stretched her lips, more polite than personal. "Likewise."

"I’ll grab some handguns," Kael added before stepping away to prepare the equipment, leaving Voren and Corvine to move off to another section.

When he returned, Kael positioned himself beside Seraphine, his demeanor calm and focused as he began guiding her through the basics. "Keep your stance stable. Hold the grip firm, but not stiff," he instructed, demonstrating briefly.

Seraphine followed his lead, raising the handgun and taking a breath before pulling the trigger.

The shot rang out, but the bullet missed the target completely, she frowned, adjusted her stance, and tried again.

Another miss.

Her shoulders tightened slightly, frustration beginning to creep in as she fired again, only to watch the result repeat itself. Each failed attempt made the tension in her body worse, not better.

Kael leaned in slightly, his voice steady and reassuring. "Don’t let it get to you. Your first attempts are always going to feel off. Focus on consistency, not perfection."

The problem was, she didn’t have the luxury of time. There was too much pressure, too much riding on how quickly she could get this right, and that urgency made it harder to settle into the rhythm she needed.

Across the range, Voren was working with Corvine, pushing him through weapon transitions with sharp, precise commands. Pistol to revolver, revolver to shotgun, each movement executed under pressure.

But even from a distance, Seraphine’s repeated misses caught his attention.

He raised a hand, stopping Corvine mid-motion. "Kael," he called, his voice cutting cleanly through the layered sounds of gunfire. "Take over here. Run him through the sequence."

Kael nodded and moved immediately, stepping away from Seraphine to take Corvine’s place.

Voren didn’t hesitate. He walked straight toward her, his presence cutting through the space with quiet authority. Even in a setting like this, his appearance stood out, his tailored suit sitting too perfectly against the rough, industrial environment around them.

He stopped beside her, his eyes settling on her hands, noticing the slight tremor she hadn’t been able to control.

"You’re holding too much tension," he said, his voice lower now, more measured. "That’s throwing everything off. Try adjusting your posture."

Before she could react, his arm slid around her waist, guiding her stance, attempting to reposition her for better control. Seraphine froze instantly.