Alpha's Regret: The Seventh Time was Forever

Chapter 206: Chapter 206 – You two fit so well together and yet...

Everything stopped.

Seraphine froze, her breath catching as the words hit her all at once, her mind struggling to process them.

The cutlery slipped from her fingers, hitting the table with a sharp, echoing clatter that sounded far louder than it should have in the sudden silence.

Corvine felt it immediately. The tension, the weight of what he had just said pressing down on his chest until it almost made it hard to breathe.

Nervousness crept in fast, sharp and unrelenting, and before the silence could stretch any further, he spoke, his voice coming out quicker than he intended. ”Sera, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I don’t have the right.”

Seraphine blinked, as though pulled out of a deep, distant place, her thoughts slowly settling back into the present as her eyes found his.

There was no anger there, no hurt, no frustration, just something soft, and calm, making it even harder for him to hold her gaze.

”Corvine,” she began gently, her voice carrying a quiet understanding that wrapped around his nerves instead of cutting into them, ”I can’t hate you for how you feel. It happens, feelings don’t ask for permission.”

She paused, her expression turning more thoughtful, more serious as her words continued, slower now, heavier with meaning. ”But you of all people should understand the danger of a one-sided love.”

Silence followed, stretching long enough to become suffocating, thick enough that no one at the table seemed willing to break it.

Corvine inhaled slowly, steadying himself before nodding. ”I understand,” he said quietly. ”That’s exactly why I never said anything before.”

His gaze softened, resting on her with a kind of quiet acceptance. ”What we have... our friendship... it means more to me than anything I feel. That’s why I’ve been trying to keep things the way they are. To be someone you can rely on... like a big brother.”

Kylie’s breath hitched softly, a tear slipping down her cheek before she quickly wiped it away, though it did little to hide the emotion building in her eyes. ”Life can be so unfair,” she whispered, her voice breaking slightly. ”You two fit so well together and yet...”

Her words dissolved into quiet tears before she could finish, and Corvine reached out without hesitation, offering her comfort with a gentle steadiness that felt natural to him.

”Mom, it’s okay,” he murmured, his tone calm despite everything. ”I love Sera... and I know she cares about me too. Just not in the way I wish she did.”

There was no bitterness in his voice, just honesty.

”And that’s fine,” he continued, giving a small, almost relieved exhale. ”It doesn’t change anything between us. If anything... I’m just glad I finally said it out loud. Keeping it hidden all this time felt heavier than I realized.”

Humphrey studied him for a moment, admiration settling into his expression before he turned to Desmond and Nessa. ”You’ve raised a remarkable son,” he said sincerely. ”And I truly hope that someday, he finds someone who loves him just as deeply.”

Corvine let out a quiet laugh, the tension easing just enough for a hint of his usual humor to return. ”Honestly, I hope that day takes its time getting here,” he replied lightly. ”I like being around Sera. Adding someone else into that feels like it would just complicate everything.”

Seraphine smiled at that, her eyes warming as she looked at him. ”Thanks... big brother.”

The words were simple.

But they carried a finality neither of them could ignore.

Around the table, the parents smiled too, though beneath those smiles lived an unspoken understanding. Connections like this, as steady and comforting as they seemed now, had a way of becoming painful when life inevitably moved forward and new emotions found their place.

Still, no one voiced it.

Some truths were better left unsaid.

✧༺♥༻✧

After saying their goodbyes, the moment lingering longer than usual as hugs tightened and eyes softened, Corvine drove Seraphine to meet Damon.

The road stretched ahead of them, quiet at first, until Seraphine began going over things, her tone slipping naturally into something more focused, and grounded.

”Don’t forget,” she said, glancing his way briefly, ”send each investor a bouquet, a bottle of expensive wine, doesn’t matter which kind, and include the special software package.”

She leaned back slightly, her voice steady with trust. ”You’re the CEO now. You’ve got this, even if I’m not there.”

Corvine nodded, though something else lingered on his mind, tugging at him until he finally gave in. ”Sera, are you really not upset?” he asked, his voice quieter now. ”About what I said... about how I feel?”

She let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head. ”Why would I be?” she replied, her tone easy, almost teasing, but still sincere. ”I’ve been in your position before. Love isn’t something you can control.”

Her expression softened as she looked at him. ”The difference is, you know what matters, and you always choose that first. Not everyone does.”

That was enough.

A slow smile spread across his face, something genuine settling into his chest. ”You’re rare, you know that?” he said softly.

She didn’t answer, but her small smile said enough.

Not long after, he pulled over at the agreed meeting spot.

Damon was already there, standing beside his car, his posture straight, his attention immediately locking onto them the moment they arrived.

The second Seraphine stepped out, he moved forward, reaching for her luggage with ease. ”It’s good to have you back at the pack,” he said, his tone carrying a quiet welcome.

”Don’t get too excited,” Seraphine replied, forcing a small smile. ”I’m only staying for four days.”

Damon’s expression dipped for just a moment, a flicker of disappointment crossing his face before he covered it with another smile. ”Still better than nothing.”

Then his attention turned to Corvine. ”I’ll keep in touch.”

Corvine nodded once before his gaze returned to Seraphine, his expression growing serious again. ”Take care of yourself,” he said firmly. ”I’ll keep you updated on everything. Just try to check your emails when you can.”

She let out a light breath. ”I’ll try. Most of my time will be spent in the lab, and whatever’s left, I might finally let my wolf run free for a bit.”

That earned a quiet chuckle from him.

He missed his wolf too.

But more than that, he knew how much hers needed this, especially with her cycle approaching. The last thing he wanted was for her to go through that kind of pain again just because she stayed away too long.

✧༺♥༻✧

By the next day, Corvine had thrown himself fully into work.

Everything Seraphine had instructed, he handled it personally, making sure each investor received exactly what they were supposed to. The deliveries were done one by one, his presence replacing hers for the time being.

And somehow, whether it was luck or the complete opposite, he found himself face-to-face with Voren.

The man didn’t look pleased.

His gaze lingered on Corvine with clear dissatisfaction, even after Corvine had explained everything, making it clear why Seraphine wasn’t there herself.

But even after hearing everything Voren’s expression didn’t improve. If anything, the explanation only made things worse and what he did, was something Corvine could never understand.