Alpha's Regret: The Seventh Time was Forever

Chapter 353: Chapter 353 - That woman is clever

Seraphine felt the color drain from her face the second she heard the name. Athaliah.

For a split second, her fingers tightened around the phone like it was a lifeline. Of course, she knew exactly who Athaliah Spencer was—every werewolf in the community did.

Years ago, their paths had crossed at the training academy before Athaliah headed off to France. Not long after, Seraphine had landed her scholarship and moved to New York to chase her dreams in medicine. Their lives had taken completely different roads from there.

Athaliah had become everything the werewolf world put on a pedestal: elegant, composed, graceful, and stunningly beautiful in that way that made heads turn the moment she walked into any room.

People were naturally drawn to her. Even Seraphine couldn’t deny it. For one uncomfortable heartbeat, a sharp little spark of insecurity twisted deep in her chest, a painful reminder that the woman being pushed toward Voren wasn’t just anybody. Athaliah was exactly the kind of Luna most packs fantasized about.

Then her eyes drifted over to the photographs lining the fireplace mantel. Pictures of her younger self with Voren. Snapshots filled with genuine laughter and happy moments that warmed the whole space.

The sight hit her like an anchor, pulling her back to solid ground. The uneasy feeling melted away almost as quickly as it had come, and a soft, knowing smile curved her lips.

Voren wasn’t like the other Alphas. That was exactly why so many of them couldn’t stand him.

His principles were downright strange by werewolf standards. He didn’t chase status, didn’t give a damn about appearances, and never treated people like pawns in some political game.

If he’d wanted a marriage that boosted his power or connections, he could’ve locked one down years ago. Instead, he’d spent all that time fighting for a woman the rest of them wanted him to forget.

That realization steadied her completely. Almost immediately, she saw exactly what was happening here. Alpha Vladimir wasn’t just delivering news. He was deliberately trying to stir up trouble, to drive a wedge between her and Voren.

"Can I speak with Voren?" she asked, her voice staying calm and perfectly polite.

on the other end only sounded more annoyed with every passing second. "He doesn’t want to speak with

almost laughed out loud. "Voren isn’t the kind of man who avoids confrontation," she replied, still respectful but firm.

the line. Then Vladimir’s voice sharpened like

title hang there deliberately, a clear reminder that she knew exactly who she was talking to. "Can you swear by the Moon Goddess that what you’re saying is the

was almost comical. One second, two, three, and then the line went dead with a sharp

a moment before letting out a soft, amused laugh. Well, that pretty much answered

nearly dropped the phone as he stormed toward

until they

the living room, tension radiating

table with a clatter. "That

the admission coming out through gritted teeth. "Seraphine is intelligent. If she hadn’t chosen Ravyn

heavy sigh escaped her, thick with frustration. "But now she’s tainted. Why

looking more exhausted than angry for once. "That’s

stopped pacing. "What

second we show up at that wedding, we’re accepting

of their situation settled over them like a suffocating

shook his head slowly. "How can Voren put us in this impossible

her mind racing. The more she turned it over, the more irritated she became. "We only spoke with Marigold," she muttered, the complaint slipping out before she could catch it, "and now she suddenly wants to be called Espe or

name was the least of

spark lighting in her eyes. "I’ll

instantly. Jasmine’s gentle voice answered, sounding

pleasantries entirely. "Voren came

quiet. "Why didn’t you come with him?" The Luna’s