Alpha's Regret: The Seventh Time was Forever

Chapter 74 – I think I know which Zane we’re looking for

"Sera, thank God you’re here. I need to ask you something, and I need you to answer me honestly. Can you perform a surgery?"

Leon’s voice carried urgency the second she stepped fully into the corridor, and the way he stood in front of her, shoulders tight and eyes restless, made it obvious this was not a casual question thrown out of curiosity.

He had already checked her credentials on her first day, had combed through her paperwork carefully while processing her as a locum doctor, and although her file listed surgical experience, there were no detailed hospital records attached to confirm it.

That detail had lingered in the back of his mind ever since, but now it mattered more than ever. Seraphine froze for a fraction of a second.

She had performed surgeries before, yes, but none of them had been on humans.

At the pack, things were different. Their wolves accelerated healing, strengthened recovery, and stabilized the body in ways human medicine could never replicate.

Procedures that would require long hours of cautious stitching and monitoring in a human hospital were almost routine back home because their wolf handled half the burden. The body responded differently, just as the risks were calculated differently.

Humans had no wolves, no supernatural recovery cushioning their mistakes, and relying entirely on science, precision, and timing.

When she filled out her forms here, she had stated truthfully that she performed surgeries. She had told herself that with time, she would bridge the gap between werewolf medicine and human medicine, that eventually she would stand confidently in both worlds without hesitation.

She just hadn’t expected that moment to arrive this soon. "Yes, but—" she started, needing to explain, to clarify the context, but Leon did not give her room to finish.

rounds while you assist me," he said quickly, already reaching for her arm and guiding her down the hallway with determined steps. "Two of my assistants have emergencies, and another case just arrived from

against the polished floors, and as he spoke, she could finally see the strain etched into

much, it mirrored her own chaotic schedule lately, and strangely, she felt grateful that through all of it, Leon had remained professional, jovial even, never crossing boundaries, never making her feel uncomfortable in a space

the words out just as they

stopped abruptly and turned to her.

could elaborate, her gaze moved past him. Inside, surgical assistants stood prepared, their eyes lifting toward her with expectation. On the operating table lay a small body that seemed far too fragile for the harsh brightness

was pale, almost translucent under the glare, his breathing shallow and uneven. The monitors beeped with

hours ago. He’s septic and bleeding internally. If we don’t operate now, he won’t make it through the night. The other case is a

her, waiting. Seraphine swallowed, her

No wolves, no supernatural safety net,

heard herself say, surprised by

a brief nod filled

the scrub sink, the ritual motions grounding her as she washed in carefully. For a brief second, her hands trembled under the

made the incision, she focused entirely on the anatomy in front of her, pushing aside every doubt clawing at her mind. Blood pooled

of cauterization filled the room when she sealed

of how close the boy had come to death. Infection had already begun

in rhythm with her hands.

mattered. She flushed the abdominal cavity thoroughly, ensuring no trace of infection was left behind,

after layer with focused attention, her breathing

softened. The boy’s vitals stabilized, and his

back into safe ranges, as Seraphine tied the final stitch and stepped back, her chest rising and falling more heavily now that the