Alpha's Regret: The Seventh Time was Forever

Chapter 600: Chapter 600 - Why are they so desperate?

When Corvine stepped into the presidential suite Liah had booked, he had no idea about the true extent of her injuries. He’d assumed the punch to her face was the worst of it, that her shame came from Killian’s attempted assault, not from any physical damage beyond a bruise.

He lowered her gently onto the luxury rug, careful not to jostle her, but she winced sharply and hopped on one leg, her hand flying to her ankle.

His arms caught her before she could fall, and he carried her the rest of the way to the sofa, settling her against the plush cushions.

There, he saw it, her ankle, twisted at an unnatural angle, already swelling beneath the skin. His gaze darkened, the warm concern in his eyes hardening into something cold and dangerous. "How did it happen?"

"I twisted it when he punched me in the face."

The words landed like a slap. Corvine’s jaw tightened, his hands curling into fists at his sides. He should have killed Killian. Should have ended the bastard right there in that changing room.

But they would meet again at the pack, and when they did, Corvine would make sure the man remembered every moment of this.

He retrieved the first aid box from the bathroom cabinet and knelt before her, his touch feather-light as he examined the damage.

She cried out when he manipulated the bone back into place, tears streaming down her cheeks, and each sob twisted something deep in his chest.

"Sorry." His voice came out rough, barely above a whisper. "But after what I’ve done, it will heal in a few days." He helped her to her feet, supporting most of her weight. "Shower first. I’ll wrap it with ointment after."

He carried her to the bathroom and set her down on the edge of the tub, then stepped out, pulling the door closed behind him to give her privacy. The minutes crawled by, each one heavier than the last.

Twenty minutes passed, and he hadn’t heard a single sound from behind the door. The water would be growing cold, and worry gnawed at the edges of his composure. He called from the entrance, keeping his voice low. "Liah, are you done?"

His words were met with silence so he called out once more and yet, there was still not response. Then he tried for the third time, his voice rising with urgency. Still, no response.

His heart hammered against his ribs as he gathered the courage to push the door open. The steam hit him first, thick and cloying, obscuring his vision.

Then he saw her—Liah, slumped in the jacuzzi, her head lolled to the side, fast asleep.

He grabbed a robe from the hook and wrapped her in it before lifting her from the water. The process tested every shred of his principles, her damp skin, the thin fabric, the intimate weight of her in his arms, but he forced himself to focus on the practical, on getting her dry and comfortable.

He slipped a loose dress over her head, careful not to wake her, then bandaged her ankle with steady, practiced hands.

Only when she was settled, her breathing deep and even, did he allow himself to exhale.

He showered quickly, the cold water doing little to calm the fire in his blood, then stretched out on the sofa. Sleep claimed him the moment his head hit the cushion.

Suddenly, his phone buzzed against the coffee table. He cracked one eye open, saw Ravyn’s name, and let it ring into oblivion. About an hour later, the screen lit up again, this time with Humphrey’s name. He answered, his voice rough with sleep. "Uncle Humphrey, I hope everything’s alright?"

"I have to say that nothing is alright, Corvine." The older man’s voice carried a weariness that made Corvine sit up straighter. "Ravyn has lost his mind completely. I have no choice but to find a new Alpha. I was thinking you’d take on the challenge."

Corvine froze, the phone pressed to his ear. He hadn’t seen this coming. Not once, not ever.

He could turn around the situation at the Centenary pack, restore order where chaos had taken root. But something else mattered more.

Family.

"Uncle Humphrey, I feel honored by your consideration." His voice came out steady, though something in his chest ached. "But I can’t take it."

"Why?" Humphrey asked, his tone unsurprised, as if he’d already known the answer.

"Because I want to be where Voren and Sera are." Corvine’s gaze drifted to the sleeping woman on the bed, and his expression softened. "Voren is like an elder brother to me now. He isn’t stingy about sharing knowledge. I learn something from him every single day, and that means more to me than any title ever could." He paused, gathering his thoughts. "And Sera, she’s like a sister to me now. Our businesses are intertwined. Being together makes everything easier, stronger."

Humphrey absorbed his words in silence. He understood, though he’d wished Corvine would reconsider.

Juggling pack matters and city expectations was never simple, but at the Grimroot pack, there would always be capable hands to watch over things when Corvine needed to be in the city. The infrastructure was there, the trust was there.

"You’ve made a good choice, Corvine. Voren would be very proud of you." Humphrey’s voice carried a note of pride. "We shall meet at the blood moon festival."

The call ended, and Corvine lowered the phone, but sleep had abandoned him entirely. He rose from the sofa and made his way down the hall, knocking on Voren’s door.

He had a feeling that Humphrey had already discussed this with Voren, so he concluded that the man was still awake.

Voren answered with his phone already pressed to his ear, his brow furrowed in concentration. He held up a finger, then turned away briefly. "Alright, we shall talk again." He ended the call and faced Corvine, his expression fluctuating to mild curiosity.

"Corvine." He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. "Shouldn’t you be taking care of your woman?"

Corvine’s expression dulled, the warmth draining from his face. "Her ankle got dislocated. She’ll be fine." He shook his head slowly. "But Voren, why are these Alphas like this? Why are they so desperate?"

Voren’s jaw tightened. He knew those behaviors meant there were rotten skeletons hidden beneath the surface of those Alphas’ leadership styles, but the full details remained buried. "Come inside." He stepped aside, pulling the door closed behind Corvine.

They settled into the sitting area, but before either of them could speak, Corvine’s phone buzzed against his thigh.

A strange number flashed across the screen. He frowned, his thumb hovering over the answer button before he finally swiped.

The voice that exploded through the speaker was sharp and venomous, laced with fury. "Corvine, you moron. What did you do to our servers?"

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