Alpha's Regret: The Seventh Time was Forever

Chapter 382 - Over here, the pack members would absolutely adore you

If that nightmare had never happened, Seraphine never would’ve ended up trapped in that miserable excuse for a marriage. The realization slammed into her chest harder than she expected, stealing her breath for a second.

For years she had dragged herself through crushing loneliness, heartbreak that never seemed to end, and disappointments that piled up until they felt like they might break her.

She had carried wounds so deep they never really healed, no matter how hard she tried to pretend they had.

But then again, if that one night had never happened, she might never have gotten Esperanza.

That thought softened the sharp edge of her anger, just for a moment. Espe was the brightest, most incredible gift she had ever received in her entire life.

The peace didn’t last long, though. Another painful thought slipped in and wrapped its fingers around her heart.

What if things had been different? What if no one had ever interfered and torn their lives apart? Maybe Esperanza would still be here, but she would have been theirs, hers and Voren’s from the very beginning. After all, the little girl had inherited that same beautiful dark hair as Voren.

Seraphine’s chest tightened so hard it hurt to breathe. The spatula in her hand slowed to a stop as a storm of emotions swirled through her, raw and overwhelming.

Voren noticed right away. His eyes narrowed with concern as he watched her face change from a soft smile to something close to breaking.

One second she had looked happy, and the next her eyes were shining with unshed tears that threatened to spill over.

He stepped closer without hesitation and gently brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear, his touch full of tenderness.

"Baby, what’s going on in that beautiful head of yours?" he asked, his voice low and warm.

Seraphine turned toward him, her eyes already glistening. The sight of her like that made Voren’s heart twist painfully in his chest.

out of her. "V..." Her voice cracked with the weight of everything she’d been holding back. "They

warm kitchen, the comforting smell of breakfast filling the air, the snow falling softly outside the windows,

so long. "They made us hate each other when we should’ve been together

in the gut. The pain hit him just

lost, the years, the memories, all the moments they could never get back. But right now, Seraphine needed him more than anything, so

cupped her face gently with both hands, his

voice steady and strong. "They’re going to pay for every single thing they did. Every

another word, he pulled her into his arms. Seraphine melted against his chest, letting his familiar warmth wrap around her like the safest, most protective blanket in the

just listened to the steady beat of his heart while he held her tight, like he would never let anything

pancakes starting to burn reached them both. They froze at the same time. A second later Voren let out a deep

trying to save itself," he said with

stove. Seraphine couldn’t help laughing through her tears as he reached over and turned off the burner without letting go of her for even

charming grin she loved so much. "And damn, they look

breakfast with his other hand. It wasn’t the smoothest

I can stand on my own,

in his eyes making her cheeks flush with warmth. "This is exactly where

everything was plated, Voren sat down and pulled her straight onto his

turns feeding each other bites in the coziest, most intimate way. The simple moment felt so perfectly right that it made Seraphine’s

seconds, the love and affection shining so clearly in her eyes. "I love you, V," she whispered softly. "So much. You have no idea how

Around everyone else he was always strong, fearless,

hurts," he said, his voice rough with feeling. "It kills me knowing I wasn’t there for you all

I could go back and change everything, I would in a heartbeat." He lifted her hand and pressed a lingering kiss to her knuckles. "Now I just want to get us back to the city as

back into her eyes. She leaned forward and kissed him, a quick, sweet