Alpha's Regret: The Seventh Time was Forever

Chapter 113: Chapter 113 - Something every she-wolf in the city goes through

Seraphine closed her eyes and concentrated on slowing the rhythm of her breathing, forcing each inhale and exhale into a steady pattern while hoping that sleep would eventually carry her far enough away from the pain for her body to recover even a small amount of strength.

If she could remain asleep through most of it, perhaps the worst part would pass without completely breaking her.

Allowing herself to stay asleep for nearly three full days would definitely leave consequences behind, especially when she considered everything waiting for her attention, from her investments in the stock market to the cyber contracts she managed through her network, not to mention the growing demands of MindNest and the responsibilities tied to her work at the hospital, yet despite the risks to all of those commitments she could not see any other path forward.

The pain was simply unbearable.

By the time the third day arrived, the discomfort had grown so severe that even the short moments when she forced herself awake long enough to eat became a test of endurance, because the sharp cramps twisting through her body struck with a relentless intensity that made her teeth clamp together while her fingers tightened around the edge of the mattress.

Each breath felt heavy, each movement felt worse.

Nessa remained nearby during those brief moments when Seraphine woke from sleep, quietly supporting her through the worst of it by offering gentle reassurance while handing her water and small portions of food that were easy enough for her to swallow despite the constant ache pulsing through her body.

”The worst part always comes at the end,” Nessa explained softly one afternoon while watching Seraphine struggle to push herself upright against the pillows, her voice calm and steady in the way of someone who had seen this cycle many times before. ”Once that final wave passes, your body will finally start calming down.”

Seraphine managed a weak nod even though exhaustion already dragged heavily at her eyelids.

She had just managed to sink back beneath the covers, welcoming the quiet darkness behind her closed eyes as she prepared to fall asleep again, when the door to her room opened and Corvine stepped inside.

The faint sound of his footsteps crossing the floor reached her ears even though she did not bother lifting her head from the pillow.

”It’s Voren,” Corvine said while holding his phone loosely in one hand, his tone carrying a mix of annoyance and reluctance. ”I already told him you’re not feeling well, but he refuses to drop the matter and insists that I connect the call so he can speak with you himself.”

Seraphine felt irritation spark instantly despite the fog of exhaustion clouding her mind, because hearing Voren’s name stirred an immediate mixture of annoyance and sharp awareness that cut straight through the haze surrounding her thoughts.

At the same time, the memory of the wolfsbane poisoning rose like a shadow she could not push aside.

Someone had tried to kill her, slipped wolfsbane into her drink without hesitation.

Whoever had done it had crossed a line that demanded consequences, and Seraphine had no intention of allowing that act to disappear without answers.

”Tell him I’ll meet him at his office tomorrow,” she murmured quietly without opening her eyes.

Corvine frowned slightly as he watched her sink deeper beneath the blankets, confusion flashing briefly across his face while he tried to understand what kind of business Seraphine could possibly have with Voren under these circumstances.

He had not even managed to ask her what truly happened at the club that night, and Leon had briefly mentioned something about poisoning during their earlier conversation, which only made the entire situation feel more suspicious.

”You’re clearly not well enough to be going anywhere,” Corvine said gently, although his words received nothing more than the faint movement of Seraphine pulling the duvet higher over her head.

”She’ll be fine by tomorrow,” Nessa said, adding, ”and you won’t even know something like this happened. That’s the wonder of the menstrual cycle.”

Seraphine wanted to add her voice but sleep claimed her again almost immediately, dragging her back into unconsciousness before another word could leave her lips.

Left with no better option, Corvine stepped outside the room and returned the call.

”She said she’ll see you tomorrow at your office,” he explained once the connection resumed.

On the other end of the line, Voren frowned while listening to the message, clearly unconvinced by the explanation. He was still afraid it might be the wolfsbane.

”You just told me she’s sick,” Voren replied after a moment of silence, his tone carrying suspicion. ”If that’s the case, maybe I should come over instead.”

”She wouldn’t want to see you right now,” Corvine answered bluntly, although the firmness in his voice did not seem to persuade Voren in the slightest.

”Tell her I’m coming anyway,” Voren insisted.

Corvine closed his eyes briefly while considering his options, realizing that Voren would likely appear at the house regardless of what he said unless he offered a clearer explanation.

With a resigned breath, he finally decided that honesty might be the fastest way to end the conversation. ”It’s a PMS thing,” he said flatly.

Silence stretched across the line for several long seconds. When Voren finally spoke again, his voice carried a noticeable hint of caution. ”Is that something every she-wolf in the city goes through?”

He was glad it wasn’t what he thought it was but knew about similar cases, even among his she-wolf workers. They complain that they intensity gave them the strength to do only one thing. Sleep.

”That’s what my mother always said,” Corvine replied curtly. Voren released a slow breath as though carefully processing the information before responding again.

”Alright,” he said after a brief pause. ”Tell her I’ll be at the office by eight in the morning.”

What Voren did not expect, however, was to arrive at his office the next day and discover Seraphine already waiting for him in the reception area, looking composed and perfectly healthy without the slightest trace of someone who had spent the previous days battling intense pain.

But Seraphine had not come for the reason Voren believed. She had come for something he was not prepared to face.