Alpha's Regret: The Seventh Time was Forever

Madison hesitated for a moment before speaking, her fingers tightening slightly around her purse as though she was gathering the courage to say something that truly mattered.

"We don’t have much," she began, her voice gentle but heavy with sincerity, "but this is everything we’ve managed to save over the years from the little investments we made, and we came here today because we want you to have it."

As she spoke, she pulled out a card and pressed it into Seraphine’s palm with both hands, as though she needed to make sure it stayed there.

Seraphine looked down at it briefly before shaking her head, her expression softening as she gently pushed the card back into Madison’s hand.

"Please don’t do this," she said quietly, her tone calm but firm. "You don’t need to worry about me, because I’m doing far better than you can imagine, and right now, I’m about to prepare a serum for Bryan, so I’ll also take care of your medicine and vitamins and have everything sent to you."

The couple exchanged a look, their disappointment clear, not because she refused the money for selfish reasons, but because they genuinely wanted to do something for her after everything she had done for them.

At the same time, something else caught their attention entirely.

"Wait," Madison said, her brows drawing together in confusion. "You’re still treating Bryan even after finding out that he isn’t your child?"

Seraphine forced a small smile, one that didn’t fully reach her eyes but carried enough warmth to answer the question.

"It’s the right thing to do," she said simply, because to her, that was all the explanation that mattered.

Then, as if to shift the moment away from something too heavy, she added, "You can stay here tonight if you want."

The offer was genuine, but the couple shook their heads almost immediately, their decision already made.

"We already booked a hotel," Einstein said gently. "We’ll head back tomorrow."

Madison stepped closer again, reaching for Seraphine’s hand as emotion filled her voice.

"Thank you for being so kind, Sera," she said, her grip warm and steady. "I believe the Moon Goddess will bless you with countless pups and a man who will make you his entire world."

For reasons Seraphine couldn’t quite explain, those words hit her harder than anything else that had been said that night, and before she could stop it, tears gathered in her eyes.

"Thank you... nanny," she whispered, her voice softer now, carrying a vulnerability she rarely allowed anyone to see. "If you ever need anything at all, just call me."

They pulled each other into an embrace, one that lingered just a little longer than expected, before the older couple finally turned and left, their presence fading into the quiet of the night.

Once they were gone, Seraphine didn’t waste any time.

She went straight to work.

Preparing Bryan’s serum required precision, patience, and complete focus, as every component needed to align perfectly, and even after everything was combined, it would still take a full twenty-four hours before it stabilized enough to be used.

Madison’s vitamins were much simpler in comparison, something she could handle quickly, and she arranged for the rest of her medication to be delivered without delay.

By the time she finished everything, from the serum to the orders and final checks, the night had already slipped into the early hours of the morning.

Exhaustion settled into her body as she finally stepped away, taking a quick shower before collapsing into bed, her mind barely staying awake long enough to register anything else.

It felt like no time had passed at all before she was being woken up.

"I had to wake you," Corvine said, his voice carrying a hint of apology, "but Voren isn’t the kind of person who takes lateness lightly."

Seraphine nodded, still heavy with sleep as she forced herself up and got ready, her movements slower than usual as she pushed through the lingering fatigue.

The moment she got into the car, she leaned back and closed her eyes, letting the quiet hum of the drive pull her back into sleep, and she didn’t wake again until they reached the parking lot.

Corvine glanced at her before speaking, his tone thoughtful.

"Back at the pack, most people thought you were cold and heartless," he said, watching her reaction carefully. "But after seeing all of this... you’re probably the kindest person I know."

Seraphine frowned slightly, turning toward him as she tried to process the sudden comment.

"What brought that on?" she asked, her voice clearer now after the short rest.

Corvine let out a small breath before answering, "I kept checking on you last night, and I saw how much time you spent working on Bryan’s serum and Madison’s medication, and that’s time you could have used doing something that would bring you a lot more money."

A faint smile formed on Seraphine’s lips, her response coming without hesitation.

"I’ve learned something important," she said, her voice steady but thoughtful. "You treat people the way you want to be treated, and I’m not about to push away the good people who actually care about me."

Her expression changed slightly as something colder settled beneath her words.

"But the ones who hurt my daughter, they’re going to pay for it."

Corvine nodded slowly, understanding the weight behind that statement, but he still had one more question.

"What if your daughter isn’t among Santiago’s captives?" he asked carefully. "What if you find her safe, well taken care of, and you get to be with her again?"

He didn’t expect the smile that appeared on Seraphine’s face.

It was rare, soft in a way that made her seem almost untouched by everything she had been through.

"In that case," she said, her voice lighter for a brief moment, "I’d reward the people who protected her."

Then the softness disappeared just as quickly as it came, replaced by something far more intense.

"But the time I lost with her, all the moments I didn’t get to see, Ravyn and Daisy will still answer for that."

Corvine hesitated before asking the question that clearly weighed on him the most.

"What if her condition is worse, or she’s gone?"

Seraphine’s lips curved into a smile that carried no warmth at all, something darker settling into her expression. "Then I become their worst nightmare."

Before Corvine could respond, a deep, familiar voice cut through the moment as someone tapped lightly on the car window.

"How long are you planning to stay in there?"