Alpha's Regret: The Seventh Time was Forever

Chapter 765: Chapter 765 - My husband’s needs are my top priority

Both Seraphine and Liah raised a brow, confusion clouding their minds like fog rolling over a still lake. But then, Liah felt that Voren did not want Jasmine to return so soon, and that would be to Liah’s advantage.

Seraphine, however, felt he was up to something, something deeper than his words revealed, a quiet calculation that made her watch him more closely.

Indeed, Voren was up to something.

His question was a test, a carefully constructed trial designed to measure the truth of Jasmine’s heart.

If Jasmine refused to come because of Kael, then that would be a problem, a sign that the wounds were still too fresh, the feelings still too raw and dangerous.

However, if she came, then it would either mean she had completely gotten over him, or had matured enough to let go of her feelings and accept his happiness with an open heart.

”Voren, why wouldn’t I want to come?” Jasmine’s voice carried through the speaker, steady and sure, filled with a quiet strength that had not been there months ago. ”The moon goddess paired them, so who am I to stand in the way? I’m only coming for the kids. I made a promise, and I plan to keep it.”

”And you don’t mind seeing Kael getting cozy with another woman?” Seraphine asked in a playful tone, Jasmine laughed from the end of the line, the sound light and genuine, carrying none of the brittle edges it once held. ”Sera, I’m happy for Kael, and trust me, I have moved on.”

This time, everyone’s expression turned sullen, their faces changing with surprise and something that looked almost like disbelief. The words settled over them with a weight that left the room quieter than before.

”You have moved on?” Liah leaned forward, her voice filled with curiosity and a growing sense of wonder. ”How? Are you dating anyone? Have you found your mate?”

Jasmine laughed again, the sound carrying a note of freedom that had not been there before, bright and unburdened. ”No, I don’t need a man to feel or be complete. I feel so happy, and for the first time, with just being me. I realized there are a lot of things I can do alone, and that puts me at an advantage.”

”What kind of advantage?” Voren asked, wondering if the presence of a man in a woman’s life was ever a disadvantage, the question soft but genuine.

Jasmine laughed once more, the sound warm and knowing, filled with a quiet confidence that made the three of them exchange glances. ”What I mean is, Sera can’t do anything without consulting you. But it’s different for me. I sign contracts without seeking approval from a man.”

She paused, her voice softening with sincerity. ”And don’t get me wrong. A relationship isn’t bondage. Seeking approval from a partner is a sign of respect, but in my case, I just don’t have to do any of that.”

Now, the three people at the end of the line were all smiling, their expressions softening with pride and relief that spread through the room like warmth after a long cold. The transformation in Jasmine’s voice was impossible to miss.

”Jasmine, you’ve changed,” Seraphine observed, her voice filled with admiration and a deep, swelling pride that made her chest feel tight.

Jasmine laughed, the sound no longer belonging to the quiet, soft spoken, timid woman from before. It was stronger now, freer, alive with a self-assurance that felt earned. ”Change is inevitable, Sera. Mine just took a long time because I was looking at the wrong places.”

She paused, letting the words sink in with quiet power. ”If I find my mate now, I wouldn’t see him as some trophy sent to complete me. No. I’m already complete without a man, and my mate would only be a bonus. But the thing is, he’d have to accept the new me, because I won’t leave my career behind trying to please him.”

Seraphine was rendered speechless, her heart swelling with pride for the woman Jasmine had become. The emotion rose so strongly that for a moment she could only sit in silence, absorbing the depth of the change.

She informed her, ”In that case, we shall send the chopper, and we hope to see you the day after tomorrow.”

The chopper would be there by tomorrow, but due to the distance, it would take at least sixteen hours for Jasmine to arrive at the pack. The thought of her return filled the room with a quiet, hopeful energy.

After ending the call, Seraphine stared at Liah with gratitude, her eyes shining with appreciation that went beyond simple thanks. ”Thanks a lot, Liah. I now understand Voren’s reason for being obsessed with talents. Had you not been here, Jasmine would not have had this opportunity.”

”Hey, don’t turn this around.” Liah laughed, waving a dismissive hand even as a soft flush of pride colored her cheeks. ”Had I not been here, my pack leadership skills would have been poor. In my personal analysis, I am gaining more than I am giving.”

Seraphine wanted to refuse but did not see the need. For someone as obsessed with men as Jasmine to begin loving herself and be ready to face her fears, it was a priceless opportunity, a transformation that no amount of money could buy. The depth of that change settled in her heart with a quiet, lasting warmth.

That night, Voren made another observation, his voice low with concern that carried a protective edge.

”Your bump is growing bigger than normal.” His hand rested on the curve of her belly, his fingers tracing gentle circles over the warm, stretched skin. The contact was tender, filled with a quiet awe that never seemed to fade. ”Don’t you think you should slow down?”

He was afraid her level of energy and activity would cause a premature labor, that her body was being pushed too hard, too fast, and the fear of losing what they had built together lived just beneath his calm surface.

But Seraphine refused, her chin lifting with determination that left no room for argument. ”I might not have the same energy in my third trimester, which is a few weeks away. Let me do the things I can before then.”

Voren’s gaze darkened with intent, a slow, dangerous smile curving his lips as heat gathered in his eyes. ”Do those things include taking care of your husband?”

His fingers rubbed her bump gently before moving lower, tracing the sensitive skin of her inner thighs with a slow, deliberate pressure that made her breath catch.

The warmth of his touch spread through her like fire, waking every nerve. Seraphine gasped, her breath catching in her throat as she spread her legs wider for him, the invitation clear and open.

”My husband’s needs are my top priority.”

Her words could always make Voren lose his mind, could always undo him in ways nothing else could. This time, he did not allow her to take charge, did not let her set the pace.

He did not care about her bump, did not care about anything except the woman beneath him, the woman who held his heart in her hands and whose scent filled his lungs with every breath.

He climbed on top of her, his gaze fixed on hers, dark and hungry and full of promise that made her pulse race. The heat of his body pressed against her, solid and overwhelming. ”You know how to turn me on every time.” His voice was a low growl, a warning and a promise all at once, rough with need. ”I hope you’re ready for this.”

By the time he was done with her, she felt wasted, her body boneless, her mind hazy, every muscle loose and warm in the aftermath. She slept like a baby in the warmth of his arms, the steady beat of his heart against her back the only sound that mattered.

When a sudden mindlink woke her in the morning, she was still tangled in his embrace, her body aching in the best way, the memory of the night still lingering in every pleasant sore place.

’Sera, everything was fine last night, but Quinn’s eye color changed this morning.’ The voice was urgent, trembling with a fear that cut straight through the peaceful haze of sleep. ’She also said that she feels strange.’