Alpha's Regret: The Seventh Time was Forever

Chapter 478: Chapter 478 – Your wife is now my prisoner

Ian stood frozen next to the open grave, his whole body shaking uncontrollably. His eyes stayed glued to Oriana’s face, pure disbelief crashing over him. ”Impossible...” His voice came out weak and broken.

”This... this is exactly how she looked when I buried her,” he stammered, swallowing hard, his mind spinning wildly as he tried to make sense of the impossible sight in front of him. ”How the hell hasn’t she decayed after all these years?”

No one answered. Everyone’s focus had already focused on Vladimir, who looked completely shattered by the shock. Seraphine dropped to her knees beside him right away, gently cradling his head in her hands.

”Dad... Dad, look at me,” she whispered urgently. She checked his pulse and pressed her fingers against the pressure points she’d learned from years of traditional medicine. Without any hospital gear around, she had to trust the skills she’d spent so long mastering.

The others watched with their hearts pounding. A few heavy moments dragged by before Vladimir suddenly gasped sharply and his eyes flew open, and fresh tears flooded his eyes instantly. ”Oriana...” His voice cracked with raw pain. ”How is this even possible?”

No one had an answer for him. Oriana looked like she had just fallen asleep a few hours ago, her skin still flawless, her hair smooth and untouched, and that peaceful expression completely unchanged by time.

Years had gone by, yet her body showed zero signs of decay. The sight left every single person there absolutely speechless, overwhelmed by the sheer sight of it.

Voren glanced slowly toward his father. ”I think the shaman will know why this happened.” Vladimir nodded weakly. ”You’re right.”

With careful movements, he climbed down into the grave and knelt beside his wife. His hands trembled as he slid one arm under her shoulders and the other beneath her knees.

Even after all this time, he held her with the same gentle tenderness he would have shown if she could still feel his touch. ”My queen...” he whispered so softly it barely reached anyone else. ”I’ve finally come for you.”

Seraphine felt another huge wave of emotion surge through her chest as she watched. Then something else grabbed her attention.

Without asking for help or even looking for a ladder, Voren just leaned right into the grave and stretched one arm toward his father. ”Dad.” Vladimir adjusted Oriana securely in his arms before reaching up. The second their hands connected, Voren gripped tight and using only one arm, pulled both his father and Oriana’s body out of that six-foot-deep grave with unbelievable ease.

His movements were so smooth and effortless, like the massive weight meant absolutely nothing to him.

Seraphine stared at him, completely amazed. Even after everything she had already seen, Voren still managed to blow her mind. She knew his wolf was incredibly powerful, but watching him unleash that kind of raw strength in his human form hit different.

Alpha Faustus quietly wiped the sweat from his forehead, his pride as an Alpha taking yet another brutal hit. He had heard endless stories about Voren’s strength and power over the years but seeing it up close like this was something else entirely.

Vladimir adjusted Oriana carefully in his arms, then looked over at Alpha Faustus with deep gratitude shining in his tired eyes. ”Thank you, Alpha Faustus,” he said, his voice calm but full of real sincerity.

”I’ll have the helicopter take you and your people back to the Centenary Pack before I bring my wife home to the Grimroot Pack.” Even now, he still called her his wife without hesitation.

Olivia lowered her head as a sharp, stabbing pain tore through her heart. She had fought so desperately to steal another woman’s place, but even death couldn’t tear them apart. In Vladimir’s heart, Oriana had always been, and would always be, his one true wife.

Alpha Faustus gave a respectful nod. ”That works for us.” Before they headed out, Vladimir turned slowly toward Ian, regret flashing across his face. ”I’m sorry,” he said firmly. ”Your wife is now my prisoner. I won’t be returning her to you.”

Olivia’s eyes immediately darted to Ian, desperate hope filling her tear-streaked face. She prayed he would speak up for her, beg for mercy, do anything to save her.

Instead, Ian looked at her with nothing but pure disgust. ”I don’t care what happens to her,” he said coldly, each word cutting like a knife. ”I don’t want her. Not in this life, or the next.” He turned away from her completely.

Olivia felt her heart shatter all over again. Her trembling gaze landed desperately toward Ira. Maybe her daughter... maybe there was still a sliver of hope there. ”Ira...” she whispered, her lips quivering.

Before she could say more, Ira’s expression hardened. ”I spent my whole life wishing my mother hadn’t died,” she said, sadness heavy in her voice. ”I kept wondering what it would feel like to actually have her with me.”

She smiled bitterly as a tear rolled down her cheek. ”Then I became a mother myself. And now that I’ve finally realized you’ve been there all along and just didn’t want me. I’m so grateful I was raised by my dad instead.” Her voice turned ice-cold. ”I want nothing to do with you.”

Olivia’s legs nearly buckled beneath her as that last fragile piece of hope completely vanished. She couldn’t even see her son in law, or her grandchildren.

Indeed, she was now a cursed woman. A heavy silence settled over the group as they made their way back to the helicopter. The powerful blades were already spinning, whipping dust and leaves everywhere across the clearing.

Before boarding, Alpha Faustus looked at Vladimir one last time. ”I only have one request,” he said with genuine respect. ”When you lay Luna Oriana to rest, please invite me to the funeral.”

Vladimir gave him a solemn nod. ”You’ll be there.”

Everyone climbed into the helicopter. The small wooden box they had brought for her remains sat untouched in the corner.

None of them had expected to find her body perfectly preserved like this—they had been bracing for nothing but bones. Instead, they were bringing her home exactly as she had been on the day she died. No one understood how it was possible. Maybe only the shaman could explain a miracle like this.

As the helicopter lifted into the sky, Vladimir turned to Voren. ”You and your wife should head back to the hotel,” he said, his voice softening. ”I’ll take Alpha Faustus and his people back to the Centenary Pack first.”

He glanced down at Oriana corpse in his arms. ”After that, I’ll return to the Grimroot Pack with your mother. Then I’ll come back for full moon festival.”

This time, Voren didn’t argue. He just nodded. Seraphine had already drifted off against his chest, completely worn out by everything that had happened.

One of his arms stayed wrapped tightly around her while the other rested protectively across her back.

Watching them quietly, Ira finally worked up the courage to ask the question that had been nagging at her. ”Luna Sera...” Everyone’s attention slowly turned her way. She looked genuinely confused as her eyes moved between Seraphine and Voren. ”Weren’t you Alpha Ravyn’s ex-wife? How did you end up married to Alpha Voren?”