Alpha's Regret: The Seventh Time was Forever

Sleep refused to come.

No matter how many times Seraphine closed her eyes, there was a restless energy sitting deep in her chest, keeping her mind awake and alert, making it impossible to truly relax, especially with only a few hours standing between her and the launch that would change everything she had built over a few months.

So instead of forcing herself into a sleep that wouldn’t come, she reached for her phone again, her attention returning to the one place that felt steady, and controlled—the private group chat she shared with her tech team.

Zane was already there. You should go get some rest, he typed, his message appearing almost immediately after she came online, like he had been expecting her. We’ve got everything covered.

One by one, the rest of the team echoed the same reassurance, their confidence steady, practiced, grounded in the work they had already done.

Everything’s been programmed, another message followed. Once the game goes live, you’ll be able to monitor downloads, subscribers, and player activity in real time.

A second message appeared right after.

We’ve also set up the investor database. They’ll be able to track subscriber numbers, but not income.

Seraphine’s fingers hovered over the screen for a moment before she typed back, her thoughts aligning with the decision they had all agreed on earlier.

That’s good, she replied. Because some boundaries mattered. Investors needed visibility, but not control.

The financial details would remain internal, something to be discussed only in board room meetings, where information could be managed, presented, and protected properly.

I think everyone should get some rest before the big day, she typed again after a brief pause, her tone softer this time, less like a leader giving direction and more like someone who understood exactly how much this moment meant to all of them.

Zane responded almost instantly. Yes, boss. Goodnight.

A faint smile stretched her lips at that.

She had been about to send a list of final reminders, things not to overlook, things not to risk, but it was clear the team had already thought ahead, already handled what needed to be handled without her needing to hover over every detail.

That alone told her everything.

They were ready.

When she finally stepped away from her phone, the quiet around her felt different, not empty, but full, charged with anticipation rather than anxiety, and by the time morning came, there was no turning back.

Corvine’s parents had arrived early, their presence warm and reassuring, settling something inside her, grounding her just enough to keep her nerves from spiraling too far, and when she saw Corvine step out, dressed sharply in a fitted black suit that seemed to fit him like it had been made specifically for this moment, she couldn’t help the smile that curved across her lips.

"You’re really stepping into the role," she said lightly, her tone carrying both pride and a quiet teasing warmth.

Corvine dipped his head slightly, a faint smile thinning his lips as he offered his arm to her.

"It’s all thanks to you... boss."

The word came with a softness that made it feel like more than just a title, and Seraphine didn’t hesitate as she hooked her arm through his, letting him lead her toward the car as they stepped into the day that would define everything that came next.

They hadn’t even gotten far when Corvine’s phone rang, the change in his expression immediate as he answered, his tone turning professional in an instant.

"Sir," the organizer’s voice came through quickly, almost breathless, "the invitations said 9 a.m., but it’s barely 7, and almost all the investors are already here."

Corvine glanced at Seraphine, his hand tightening slightly on the steering wheel as he processed that.

"We’re on our way," he said, his voice steady despite the sudden change. "If the tech team is ready, we might as well start earlier."

"That’s exactly what I was thinking," the organizer replied quickly. "All the media houses are already here too. Everyone’s waiting."

Seraphine drew in a slow breath, her fingers curling slightly against her lap as the reality of it settled over her.

She had always been someone who worked behind the scenes, even as a Luna...

Ravyn had never placed her in the spotlight, never allowed her to stand in front of people the way she was about to now.

Instead, he had kept her in the background, her contributions hidden, her presence understated.

But this time, there was no hiding. She was stepping into the center of it all, and for once, she wasn’t alone.

Corvine was there beside her. That thought alone steadied her.

"That works," Corvine said into the phone, already preparing to end the call when the organizer’s voice came through again, this time carrying a completely different kind of excitement.

"Oh my God—Mr. Ashkael is here too," she blurted out. "He looks incredible. Are you close to him? Can you maybe... put in a word for me?"

Corvine’s expression froze instantly, a quiet headache settling in behind his eyes. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"Linda," he said flatly, his tone losing its earlier patience, "have you forgotten who’s paying you?"

There was a brief, awkward pause before she laughed nervously. "Right—sorry! Every woman has a crush on him, okay? But I’ll stay professional. Promise."

Corvine didn’t respond again, ending the call as he pulled into the underground parking area, choosing the private route into the building to avoid the chaos already gathering above.

The moment they stepped inside, it was clear. Everything had been executed exactly as planned.

Massive LED screens lined the space, transforming the entire venue into something that felt more like an immersive theater than a standard launch event, the atmosphere charged with anticipation, expectation, and something almost electric as people moved, spoke, and waited for what was about to happen.

And then, they walked in together. The revolution in the atmosphere was immediate.

Every conversation faltered, every head turned, and before Seraphine could fully process the weight of that attention, the sound of applause filled the room, rising steadily until it became something overwhelming, something that wrapped around her from every direction as the organizer’s voice rang out clearly above it all.

"I’d like to announce the arrival of Miss Seraphine Walker, Chairwoman of MindNest... and Corvine Stone."

Seraphine’s steps slowed, her eyes moving across the room as she took everything in, the faces, the recognition, the sheer scale of what she had created reflected back at her through the people who had gathered here because of it.

Everyone she had invited was there, and more. Humphrey and Kylie were exchanging a few words with Desmond and his wife, and that made Seraphine’s gaze glossy. She didn’t think they would come.

Leon hadn’t disappointed her. Augustine had come as well.

Her investors stood out easily among the crowd—Mark Whitmore, Gordon Archer, Zack Manchester, Michael Tayler, James Hawthorn and his wife, stood not far from them, their presence steady and supportive.

But then her gaze drifted again, landing on two familiar figures.

Riven.

Gray.

Gray seemed distracted, his attention fixed on his phone, his expression unreadable as he spoke quietly into it.

Seraphine didn’t linger on them long before her attention moved again, and stopped.

Voren.

Something about the way he was looking at Corvine didn’t sit right.

The intensity in his gaze, and the tension behind it was subtle, but unmistakable.

Still, Seraphine didn’t let it distract her.

Dressed in a tailored pantsuit that carried both authority and quiet elegance, she stepped forward, taking her place with a calm that didn’t fully reflect the storm of emotions moving through her calm facade, her presence alone enough to command the room as the applause slowly settled into silence.

This was her moment, and as she began to speak, everything changed.