Alpha's Regret: The Seventh Time was Forever

Chapter 78 – I’m Sorry, But There’s Been a Change of Plan

Seraphine looked like she had stepped straight out of some exclusive high-fashion editorial that most people only ever see in glossy magazines, because that night she wasn’t just dressed nicely, she was elegance in human form, wrapped in a midnight-blue evening gown that caught the chandelier light every time she moved and sent it rippling across the walls like she carried her own private galaxy with her as she made her way down the stairs.

She was petite, yes, but there was nothing small about the presence she carried, and Corvine couldn’t remember seeing that dress when they went shopping on their first day in the city, which meant either Leon had quietly bought it for her without mentioning a word, or Seraphine had arranged it herself without him noticing, and neither possibility sat right with him as he stood there watching her descend one slow, graceful step at a time.

The gown clung to her frame like it had been designed exclusively for her body, the silk flowing down in a smooth cascade that trailed just enough behind her to draw attention without looking excessive, and the neckline was daring in a way that managed to be both tempting and refined at the same time, detailed carefully so that it balanced allure with sophistication, leaving anyone who looked at her unsure whether they were supposed to admire her beauty or feel slightly intimidated by how effortlessly she carried it.

Her brunette hair had been styled into soft waves that framed her face perfectly, making the blue of her eyes stand out even more, that striking contrast catching in the light and pulling Corvine in before he even realized he had been staring a little too long.

She wore minimalist jewelry, nothing flashy or overdone, just enough to accent her natural beauty without overpowering it, as if she understood that layering on too many diamonds would only distract from what she already had, and when she down the stairs, there was this calm confidence in her stride, the kind that didn’t need to announce itself loudly but still made the air in the room feel different.

Something about that quiet power mixed with grace and a hint of mystery was what made Corvine deeply uneasy in a way he did not enjoy acknowledging.

"You know those billionaires can be perverts, right?" he said, attempting to keep his tone casual even though the words carried something heavier underneath, because he could not shake the image of wealthy men with too much money and too little restraint looking at her like she was something to acquire.

just saying, I’m afraid they’ll come at you in ways Leon might

to warn her and another to admit to himself that she looked better than he had ever seen her look back in the pack or even when they first arrived in the city, and the thought of other men noticing the same

trying to turn business conversations into something inappropriate, and even though she trusted

the event is glamorous and I had to dress for the occasion," she replied evenly, even

dark expression crossed Corvine’s eyes for a brief second before he masked it carefully, and he

walking to answer it, and the second he opened the door and saw Leon standing there, he understood

in the doorway like he belonged on a red carpet somewhere, dressed in a perfectly tailored black tuxedo paired with a crisp white shirt that contrasted sharply against his blonde hair, and even Corvine, who had no desire to admire another man, had to admit

Corvine said with a tight smile that did not reach his eyes as he stepped aside to let him in, and the moment Leon’s gaze landed on Seraphine, his expression widened with

would look good on you," Leon said warmly. "God,

his hair neatly trimmed, his beard cleanly shaven, and his overall presence

his coat jacket and pulling out a small red velvet box, holding it

almost forgot," he said smoothly. "I got this with the dress and accessories, but I

against the velvet as she opened it, and the moment she saw what was inside, her jaw dropped before she could