Alpha's Regret: The Seventh Time was Forever

"Can I hug you?" Jasmine asked expectantly, her voice small and hopeful, her arms already beginning to open.

But Corvine shook his head and responded with a firm, "No." Though his voice and gaze weren’t as cold as before, a small mercy that Jasmine clung to desperately.

"I told you before that I didn’t trust you. And you messed up before I could even give you the chance. Now, we’re starting all over again. From scratch."

Jasmine swallowed her pain, the ache in her chest sharp and undeniable. But she nodded, accepting his terms. "I deserve it." Her voice was barely above a whisper, but it carried genuine acceptance.

Corvine was glad she owned up to her mistakes, that she wasn’t making excuses or trying to swing the blame. A genuine smile finally crossed his face, softening his features. He called out, "Liah."

When Athaliah returned with Seraphine, they were happy to see that the tension had eased off. Both Jasmine and Corvine had smiles on their faces, the air between them no longer thick with unresolved conflict.

"I guess it went better than I thought," Liah said, her eyes warm with relief.

Jasmine smiled and strode to her, her steps confident despite the nervous flutter in her stomach. "Liah, Corvine said he told you everything. And I really feel embarrassed about what I did. Do you forgive me?"

Athaliah patted her on the back, her touch gentle and reassuring. "Well, his emotions are clear, and you don’t mean trouble. So there’s nothing to forgive." Her voice carried such genuine kindness that Jasmine felt her eyes sting with fresh tears.

Her words only made Jasmine guiltier, the weight of Liah’s generosity pressing down on her. She knew she had a lot to learn from both Seraphine and Athaliah—their grace, their wisdom, their ability to see the best in people even when they didn’t deserve it.

There are lots of women leaders in the world, but what made them different was how they handled situations. Liah had won her heart without even trying, had shown her kindness when she deserved nothing but scorn. "And you don’t mind adding me to your models?"

Athaliah froze, her eyes widening with surprise. "How did you know about that?" This was something she hadn’t brought up due to all the issues on ground, the chaos of the runway show and the subsequent drama.

Jasmine smiled, a hint of mischief in her eyes. "I recorded the girls talking and used a translator. I honestly want to do it. I want to be more than just a nanny."

"Alright then." Athaliah’s smile was radiant. "I already planned to speak with Sera and Voren. But that will all be after things settle. I mean, after the Blood Moon festival. Because I’m not coming back until then." Her voice carried a note of finality.

At the mention of the Blood Moon festival, Jasmine asked, her curiosity getting the better of her. "I’m just curious. What if you and Corvine aren’t mates?"

Her question got even Corvine to stiffen, his jaw tightening with tension. The possibility had clearly crossed his mind too.

But Athaliah had a plan, her expression turning mischievous. "Just as I told him, I’ll just kidnap and keep him here in this mansion till we have enough babies to fill it." She gestured around the grand space with a sweeping motion.

Everybody laughed, the tension dissolving into warmth. Seraphine pouted, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "That would be mean. What happens to his position in MindNest then?"

Athaliah shrugged, completely unapologetic. "He told me about some capable human assistant. But you have to understand that I’ll need his help with my business here too, right?" Her gaze swept over Corvine possessively, and she wasn’t sorry about it at all.

The more time she spent with Corvine, the more she wanted to keep him to herself, to lock him away in her world, her mansion, her arms. The thought of sharing him with anyone else, even for work, made her chest tighten with irrational jealousy.

Seraphine was beginning to have a headache, the complexities of the situation pressing down on her. But she knew Athaliah was right. "Yeah, after marriage, you have more power over him than either of us. But duties of a queen and king aren’t so easy." She reminded them, her voice carrying a note of warning.

However, Liah and Corvine exchanged a look that made Seraphine suspicious. Their eyes met, and something passed between them—a secret, a shared understanding that made her skin prickle with curiosity.

"What’s going on?" Seraphine demanded, her eyes narrowing.

Corvine embraced her, pulling her into a warm hug. "You ask too many questions, little sister." His voice was teasing, but there was a note of finality beneath the humor. "My woman and I have our secrets, and we can’t tell you. Not now."

"We should be leaving now." Voren’s voice rang from the kitchen, his footsteps echoing as he approached. "I’ll get the kids." He paused, a thought crossing his mind, and turned to Seraphine. "Darling, Ravyn knows his connection with Espe. But don’t worry, I know how to handle him."

Seraphine was not liking the news, her brow furrowing with concern. "How? Did you tell him?"

Voren smiled, not the least bit bothered by the revelation. "It’s the witch. I introduced them once, but I never gave her Ravyn’s number. I don’t know how she got it, but I know it’s her." His voice carried a cold edge.

"Which witch are we talking about?" Athaliah asked, sounding lost.

Seraphine explained, her voice tight. "The model who looked like me."

"Oh, you mean Coco." Liah sighed, shaking her head. "Is there anything I can do?"

Seraphine was about to speak when Voren beat her to it, his voice dropping to a menacing register. "I hope she makes it to the Blood Moon festival. If she doesn’t, then we’ll have to find a way to bring out her mother from wherever she is." His eyes hardened. "She has to pay for her crimes against my wife."

Twelve hours later, their chopper arrived at the Grimroot pack. And the sight that met them was nothing any of them had ever seen or expected.