Alpha's Regret: The Seventh Time was Forever

Chapter 260 – Is there any part of you that wants Seraphine back?

"How can you say that?" Ravyn’s voice came out harder than he intended, the hurt underneath it pushing through. "You’ve known me my whole life. You think I’d let someone manipulate me that badly?"

"I think," Voren said quietly, "that it’s a lot easier to miss when you love someone."

Ravyn turned away from him. A muscle in his jaw worked steadily, the way it did when he was holding something in by force. "I know she’s not perfect." His voice dropped.

"I know she lies. I know the jealousy is a problem. But she’s Bryan’s mother, Voren. She gave me my heir." He pulled in a slow breath. "She can be better. I’ll work with her on it."

Voren looked at him for a long moment. There was no argument left worth making, not today, not while Ravyn was standing inside it. Some things a person had to walk out of on their own. You couldn’t drag them.

He pushed off the railing and asked it anyway, the question he’d been turning over in the back of his mind since the moment he’d arrived at this packhouse and watched Ravyn’s eyes track across a room to find her.

"One last thing." He kept his voice even. "And I’m only asking this once." He looked at his oldest friend straight on. "Is there any part of you that wants Seraphine back?"

Ravyn was quiet for a moment. Not the uncomfortable kind of quiet, but the kind that meant he was actually thinking, turning the question over, looking at it from different angles.

And then something settled in his face. Like he’d found the answer right where it had always been sitting.

since we were kids."

Voren said nothing.

her and I’d pull you aside and dress you up in my clothes, same colors,

slowly at his

remembered that when it was all over, when the day ended

supposedly said or done, not knowing,

never corrected her, and

does that have to do with anything?" His voice came out

can see it. But I’ve never liked her. Not like that. Not once." He paused. "What I want from her is business. That’s the only reason I bend certain rules. She’s valuable and I’m practical. That’s the whole

second and then turned back, and something changed in his expression, sharper now, more pointed. Like he’d been

notice the things you think you’re hiding, "I’ve been watching you this whole visit. You broke every rule

him. This matter did not begin today, and it was more complicated than any of them

broke my rules," he said finally. "Not my principles. Those are two

Ravyn opened his mouth.

finality in his tone