Alpha's Regret: The Seventh Time was Forever

Chapter 22 – Don’t even try

"Marjorie Steward."

Seraphine’s voice was calm, stripped of warmth, as she settled into the leather chair directly opposite Ravyn.

Her posture was composed, almost relaxed, but her eyes were empty, hard, distant, nothing like the woman he remembered.

On either side of her stood two men in dark suits, silent and alert, their presence unmistakably protective. They didn’t look like assistants. They looked like men trained to intervene if necessary.

Maddox glanced between them, brow creasing. "You two know each other?" he asked, genuine confusion coloring his tone.

No one answered. The silence pressed down heavily, thick enough that Ravyn felt it lodge in his chest. His shock was immediate, and sharp. For a brief second, his composure cracked.

"No," he said finally, shaking his head once as if dismissing the entire situation. "Sadly, Daisy is injured, so I have to leave. I don’t have time for this."

He rose from his seat, irritation rolling off him in waves. But before he could take more than a step, Corvine moved, positioning himself squarely in Ravyn’s path.

"I’m sorry, Ravyn," Corvine said evenly, his voice polite but firm, "but you need to sign the documents before you go."

The way Corvine addressed him by name, without title or deference, sent something dark stirring behind Ravyn’s eyes. Once upon a time, that tone alone would have been unthinkable.

But this wasn’t the pack, and they weren’t alone. More importantly, they weren’t on sacred ground.𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Ravyn could feel the absence of the invisible current that usually answered his call. The city obeyed different laws, and the gravity here was heavier, duller, resistant. His Alpha authority had no reach in this place.

and in a fight Ravyn would have no

and suspicion darkened his expression.

respond. Instead,

legal name. As you can see, the additional paperwork states that the client requested anonymity. Her real identity is known only to us,

and flipped through the papers. His fingers tightened as his eyes

real name, clearly written. Beneath it, a

stranger, to persuade

"Where did you

"Can

only briefly before nodding. "Of course." He exited, closing the door behind

one leg over the other with deliberate ease. "How I make my money does not concern you. You’ve been given proof it’s mine. Sign the transfer

the pack. Otherwise, there’s no way you could have acquired this kind of

you accuse me," she said coldly, "you should produce

Ravyn exhaled slowly, forcing himself to regain control. This was not pack territory. His

glare hardened. "If this is your way of trying to make me want you again," he said sharply, "then you’ve lost your

but her eyes remained glacial. "Ravyn, I’ve been foolish before,"

his voice dropping. "Corvine, your position in the pack still stands. Come

controlled by that bitch of yours?" The insult hit like

midair. With a sharp

"Make sure you never return to

hesitation. Then, colder, firmer. "Now sign the

interest. A faint smile curved her lips. Corvine was proving far more useful than she had anticipated. In time,

the documents, conflicted. Then he looked up. "I’ll sign, but only if she