Alpha's Regret: The Seventh Time was Forever

Chapter 315: My name isn’t Marigold

Marigold’s dreams had stopped being just cute kid stuff a long time ago. Too many of them came true, and the details matched reality way too closely. The shamans still couldn’t fully explain it.

Instead of answering right away, Marigold tilted her head back so she could look at him. Her eyes sparkled under the soft bedroom light. "When are we going to the pack?" she asked. "I want to attend the academy. I don’t want human school anymore."

That caught him off guard. Voren leaned back slightly, frowning. "I thought we already talked about this. You need human education too."

Marigold let out a dramatic groan that made him fight back a smile. "Tell me the truth," he said, narrowing his eyes. "Has your tutor done something?"

She shook her head quickly. "No." The answer came so fast he believed her immediately. "Then what’s the problem?"

The little girl sighed heavily, the sound so exaggerated it almost made him laugh. "It’s boring. Because I already know everything before she even teaches it."

The confidence in her voice was total, not arrogant, just completely matter-of-fact, like she genuinely couldn’t understand why that wasn’t obvious to everyone.

Voren stared at her. This wasn’t the first time he’d heard something like that. His shaman had spent years telling him that Marigold had unusual gifts, that her mind worked differently from other kids.

The problem was that the middle-aged woman had also insisted she needed her mother. Back then, Voren had shut that idea down immediately. There was no universe where Coco would ever be allowed back into their lives.

He would’ve fought every Alpha on the continent before letting that happen. But the decision had come with consequences.

Marigold’s seizures had started not long after, and even now, remembering those episodes made something painful twist inside his chest. Some happened during the day, others while she slept, most once or twice a day, or even more. Nothing had ever terrified him more than hearing his daughter cry out and not being able to stop her suffering.

It was part of why he’d been so furious when Jasmine sent Marigold to the hospital without talking to him first. At least, that’s how he’d felt at the time. Looking back now, he couldn’t bring himself to regret it.

lives. And strangely enough, ever since Seraphine showed up, the seizures had completely stopped. Not once. Not a single episode.

wrong about her needing Coco. Maybe she hadn’t needed

on his sleeve, pulling him back to the

"Hmm?"

crossing her

from him. "Alright, let’s hear

sat up straighter. "If I already know everything

After a few moments, he nodded. "Fine. I’ll test you. A real test.

up her

"But moving permanently to the pack will take some time. Your Mommy

Seraphine immediately perked her up again, and a mischievous little smile spread across her face, one that looked way too familiar.

"Daddy?"

"Yes?"

you going to marry

hesitation

seemed to satisfy her, but he still needed her to understand something. His expression softened. "Mari, Mommy Sera isn’t your biological mother. But she’s agreed to

kind kids make when adults say something obviously wrong. "Daddy," she said in that tone she used when she thought he was being ridiculous. "Mommy

couldn’t help smiling. At this point, arguing felt pointless. "Alright. Whatever

Marigold settled back against him. Voren brushed a hand gently through

She groaned immediately. "Daddy..."

He tried to look stern, but it only lasted about two seconds, especially when she gave him those big blue eyes. "I’ll prepare questions for your quiz

him. "And