Alpha's Regret: The Seventh Time was Forever

Chapter 189 – If you value your life at all, stay away from her

More children stood nearby, each one holding a single rose carefully in their hands while they waited for their turn, and even though every face carried a different story, there was one thing all of them shared.

Gratitude sat so clearly in their eyes that it was impossible to miss.

Some of them looked nervous, like they still were not sure whether this was all real or whether they would wake up back in that nightmare again.

Some looked shy, holding their flowers tightly against their chests while they glanced at her from beneath lowered lashes, and some still carried that haunted look that came from surviving something no child should ever have had to endure, but every single one of them looked at Seraphine like she had given them their lives back.

A little boy stepped forward next, older than some of the others, the one whose sister had been shot in front of Seraphine, and although he was trying hard to look composed, there was still too much pain in his eyes for someone so young.

"Because of you, my sister’s gonna be okay," he said softly, his voice struggling to stay steady. "And we get to see our mom again."

That was all it took for Seraphine to completely fall apart.

The tears that had already been sitting in her eyes spilled over so fast she could not stop them, and as the children came toward her one after another, each one offering her a flower along with soft, heartfelt words, she felt every single one land straight in the middle of her chest.

"Thank you."

"You saved us."

"My brother’s alive because of you."

"My mom’s coming for me."

am not scared

word hit harder than the last, and Seraphine accepted each flower carefully, holding them close against her chest like they were priceless

forward too, and the first woman Seraphine had seen earlier slowly walked toward her with trembling hands and tear-filled eyes, looking like she was trying so hard to speak

know how to thank you," she whispered

let her struggle through it

stepped forward right away and wrapped her arms around the woman, holding her close while

me," Seraphine whispered gently. "You are okay now,

herself together was when some of them started offering her the tiny things they had been given after the rescue, little snacks and treats from the volunteers, like they needed to give her something back no matter how small it

handed her

a

gave her a

little girl held out a bag of chips with both hands like

fact that they were offering her the only things they had made it impossible for her not to

deeply that for a second, it felt like her

and Voren, tears still shining in her eyes as she looked

okay?" she said softly, wanting everyone to

from the group, light and genuine enough to ease some of the pressure that had been sitting

fading little by little until the hallway became quiet again, but the warmth they left behind stayed with Seraphine long after

watching her carefully for a moment before he finally

He took the gifts from her for safe keeping,

and the adrenaline had finally worn off, every ache in her body came crashing down on her

crying, her head

so heavy that it almost seemed