Alpha's Regret: The Seventh Time was Forever

Chapter 548: Chapter 548 – Sera, I think you have twins

Athaliah stood there feeling completely turned around because she’d never laid eyes on Esperanza before, yet the second their gazes locked something warm and easy settled inside her chest, like she’d known the little girl forever.

”Mom, I saw her in my dream, but she has the same eyes as the man who wanted to take me away.”

Corvine’s arms locked tighter around Espe, his whole face going hard and dark with pure fury. Seraphine jumped in fast, her voice soft but firm.

”It’s alright. Voren is aware of it.”

Athaliah’s brows pulled together, worry flooding her expression. ”But who is this man who has the same eyes as mine?”

Seraphine contemplated, searching for the right words. Lying to the anyone felt wrong, yet the truth sat heavy and complicated on her tongue.

”Your father.”

Athaliah went completely still, eyes wide. ”What? How?”

Esperanza tipped her head and gave Athaliah a bright little smile that lit up her whole face.

”Mom, this woman isn’t bad. She has useful powers and a good wolf.”

Athaliah blinked hard, surprise written all over her features. ”I don’t have any powers,” she insisted, but Seraphine shook her head right away.

”You said you have a love wolf and were able to detect that Voren’s heart was taken, so what is that?”

”Mom, the pancake,” Bryan cut in, bouncing a little on the counter.

Seraphine spun back to the stove and poured more batter into the hot pan while Athaliah stepped up beside her, ready to help flip the next ones.

”Well, I don’t see it as special.”

Corvine settled both Bryan and Espe on the worktop, then gave Espe’s little nose a playful pinch. The girl kept staring at Athaliah with those big curious eyes that missed nothing.

”Mom, her powers are untapped because she lives away from the pack. Why don’t we test it?”

Athaliah’s face lit up with sudden eagerness, the idea sparking something restless inside her. ”How do I test it?”

Espe just shrugged those tiny shoulders. ”I don’t know.”

All Athaliah really knew was that her love wolf could sense when someone was in love, but she’d never pushed further than that. While she stood there turning the thought over, her wolf Carys spoke up clear and steady inside her mind.

’Place your hand on her belly. I feel a strong energy coming from her.’

Athaliah hesitated for a second, the request feeling strange, yet Carys’s certainty wrapped around her like a warm hand and she trusted it. She turned toward Seraphine, a small frown creasing her forehead.

”Sera, my wolf is telling me to touch your stomach.”

Seraphine didn’t even pause. Athaliah was a woman, and nothing about the request felt off. ”Go ahead.”

She poured another round of batter into the pan, then turned to face Athaliah fully. Athaliah’s frown deepened as something she couldn’t name brushed against her senses.

”I’ve never felt anything like this. Can I touch your bare stomach?”

”I’m not watching,” Corvine muttered, already turning his attention toward Bryan. Seraphine lifted the hem of her blouse without a second thought.

Athaliah carefully settled her palm against the still-flat skin of Seraphine’s stomach. The second the contact landed, a rush of deep, living warmth flooded up through her hand, not ordinary heat, but a powerful energy pulsing just beneath the surface so strong it stole her breath.

Her eyes flew wide open. ”There are two of them.”

”Ha?”

Seraphine’s face filled with confusion as Athaliah slowly drew her hand back, a soft smile already spreading across her lips. She gently tugged Seraphine’s blouse back into place while Seraphine turned to flip the pancakes.

”Sera, I think you have twins.”

Espe practically glowed, excitement bouncing off her in waves. ”I knew it! She has powers, and the more she uses them, the more they develop.”

A deep wave of gratitude rolled through Athaliah. Her wolf might not be built for battle, but she was useful in ways Athaliah had never fully understood.

For the first time she started wondering just how much more Carys might be capable of.

Corvine looked every bit as stunned as Seraphine. ”I thought black wolves were always one of a kind.”

”Exactly,” Seraphine answered, though her mind was already racing, pieces clicking into place about why she’d been running so low on energy lately. ”Voren must hear this, and I hope you aren’t lying to me because...?”

Athaliah gave a helpless little smile, her expression open and earnest. ”That’s what my wolf said, and this is the first time I’ve done that. Before now, I’ve only checked for love connections. Please don’t tell Alpha Voren yet.”

Seraphine wanted to go along with it, but Espe refused right away, shaking her head hard. ”No, we must tell Daddy. He’ll be happy.”

She wriggled free of Corvine and hurried over to snatch the next pancake the second Seraphine dropped it onto the plate, drawing warm laughter from everyone in the kitchen.

”I told Corvine not to order food because I wanted to make a French breakfast,” Athaliah explained as she began searching for the right ingredients.

”I’m interested,” Seraphine laughed, the sound light and full of affection.

An hour later their stomachs were happily full as they left the kitchen and headed for the conference room where Damon, Kael, and the rest of the squad were already waiting.

The moment Jasmine’s eyes met Athaliah’s she dropped her gaze fast to the table. Seraphine caught the reaction, her own expression sharpening, but before she could say a word Voren strode into the room.

”V!” Pure excitement sparkled in Seraphine’s eyes, bright enough to push back the shadows still lingering in his. ”There’s good news.” She laughed, the sound warm and rich, barely able to hold the happiness bubbling up inside her. ”You won’t believe this.”

”Good news? Please tell me.”

Voren pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head as she rose onto her toes. He thought she was going for his mouth and dipped his head a little, but she slipped past his lips and whispered straight into his ear.

”Athaliah said I’m carrying twins.”

Voren’s expression changed in an instant, his gaze locking hard on Athaliah. ”Are you certain? How?” Then memory of what her father had done flickered across his face and he turned his attention back to her. ”Let’s talk after this meeting.”

He was happy with the news, and also happy he hadn’t exacted his revenge on King Jaron yet. If Athaliah had special gifts, then it would also be beneficial to the Grimroot pack.

Therefore, it wouldn’t be right to move against her father without her knowing first. Athaliah needed to understand everything that was happening. His expression softened again the second he looked at Seraphine.

”There is a lot for us to talk about but let me finish this meeting.”

This time he kissed her properly on the mouth before gathering both Espe and Bryan into his arms.

”Have you two been good?”

Espe rubbed her little belly with proud satisfaction. ”Dad, we’ve been eating.”

Everybody laughed as Voren shook his head, a real smile tugging at his mouth. ”That’s good.”

Then his gaze swept over everyone gathered around the long conference table and he began laying out the next phase of his plans...