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.

were all human, and in a fight Ravyn would have

locking onto Seraphine. Confusion and suspicion

respond. Instead, she glanced

it neatly on the table. "Here is her identification documents. Marjorie Steward is not a registered legal name. As you can see,

the papers. His

written. Beneath it,

He had come here prepared to negotiate with a stranger, to persuade Marjorie Steward not to

"Where did you get all this

gaze flicked to Maddox. "Can you

briefly before nodding. "Of course." He

I make my money does not concern you.

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

accuse me," she said coldly, "you should produce evidence. Otherwise, I’ll

home, Ravyn exhaled slowly, forcing himself to regain control. This was not pack territory. His authority meant nothing here beyond what the law allowed, and the law did not favor unfounded

your way of trying to make me want

eyes remained glacial. "Ravyn, I’ve been foolish before," she said, "but not anymore. I would never

at Corvine’s lips, and Ravyn noticed it. "You’re following her now," he said, his voice dropping. "Corvine, your position in the pack still stands. Come back

be controlled by that bitch of yours?" The

midair. With a sharp

back, breathing hard. "Make sure you never

replied without hesitation. Then, colder, firmer. "Now sign the

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

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