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.

were kids." He turned to look at

Voren said nothing.

send me to check on her and I’d pull you aside and dress you up

fingers curled slowly

remembered every single time. He also remembered that when it was all over, when the day ended and the adults came back, Seraphine would

something Ravyn had supposedly said or done, not knowing, never

corrected her, and

to do with anything?" His

anyone with eyes 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

changed in his expression, sharper now, more pointed. Like he’d been waiting to get

enough to notice the things you think you’re hiding, "I’ve been watching you this whole visit. You broke every rule you came here with. Every single

of him. This matter did not

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

Ravyn opened his mouth.

added, and the quiet finality in his tone closed the subject like a