Alpha's Regret: The Seventh Time was Forever

Chapter 392: Chapter 392 – Kylie slapped Oriana

"No, that’s impossible." Oriana was the first to snap out of her stunned silence, her eyes locked hard on Seraphine like she was desperately searching for any crack in Voren’s explanation. "One of the warriors clearly described Doctor Ash as blonde."

Voren didn’t look surprised at all. He simply leaned back in his seat with total ease. "Take off."

The pilot obeyed immediately, and the helicopter lifted smoothly into the air. Only once they were high above the ground did Voren turn his full attention back to his mother, a deep look of disappointment crossing his face. "Mom."

Oriana frowned sharply. "What is that supposed to mean?"

Voren shook his head slowly. "Did you really forget about those silicone masks Kael and I used whenever we wanted to dodge your endless lectures?"

The silence following his words was expected. Then realization hit Oriana like a freight train. She froze completely, the color draining from her face in a sickening rush.

Of course. Those ridiculous disguises had let her son and Kael sneak around unnoticed for years. If Voren could fool an entire pack with them, disguising Seraphine would’ve been child’s play.

The truth crashed over her with brutal weight. Doctor Ash, the woman the pack had spent hours praising, the miracle healer the warriors couldn’t stop talking about, the one families suddenly wanted to support and protect, the one everyone now openly admired, that woman had been Seraphine the entire time.

Oriana clenched her jaw tight, the realization twisting uncomfortably in her gut. Every single hour seemed to bring Seraphine more supporters, more admiration, more quiet influence.

And now even Grimroot’s toughest warriors were singing her praises. The rest of the flight dragged by in thick, suffocating silence. Vladimir sat lost in his own heavy thoughts.

Oriana stared out the window, her mind spinning. Voren looked completely unbothered. Seraphine simply rested against his shoulder, drawing quiet strength from his solid presence.

The city finally appeared below them. After landing they switched into vehicles for the drive back to the mansion, but that trip stayed just as quiet, everyone trapped in their swirling thoughts.

The second they stepped inside the mansion, though, the silence shattered. Voices, laughter, lively conversations, and footsteps filled the house with warm, chaotic energy. Before anyone could even react, a tiny blur came racing across the room at full speed.

"Mommy! Daddy!" Esperanza launched herself straight at them. Voren barely had time to brace before she crashed into both of them, wrapping her little arms around them as tight as she could.

Seraphine laughed instantly, hugging her back with fierce love, while Voren ruffled her hair with a big grin.

To them it felt completely natural. To Vladimir and Oriana, it hit like another bomb. Both of them froze all over again, eyes widening in pure shock.

"Mommy?" Oriana repeated weakly, her gaze bouncing frantically between Esperanza and Seraphine. "How?"

Voren let out a long, heavy sigh. There was no point hiding it anymore. "Sera already told you how Ravyn ordered her child to be killed."

The room went dead quiet. Both grandparents nodded slowly, faces pale. Voren looked down at Esperanza with deep tenderness. "That child is Espe."

Shock exploded across their faces like lightning. "My ex-girlfriend lied," Voren added, the words dropping like a second bomb. Neither Vladimir nor Oriana could find a single thing to say.

Before they could recover, Esperanza pulled back from her parents and ran straight toward them. "Grandma! Grandpa!"

She threw her tiny arms around both of them in a big, trusting hug. The older couple instinctively hugged her back, hearts aching as the news sank deeper.

This sweet little girl was their granddaughter, and now they had to share her with Seraphine?

Oriana stared down at her, everything feeling overwhelmingly intense. "This is too much," she whispered before she could stop herself.

Her gaze drifted toward Seraphine, frustration and confusion churning inside her. Why did Seraphine suddenly feel connected to every single part of their lives?

Then another thought hit her. She looked back at the child, her expression turning slightly offended. "Why are you changing her name? I liked Marigold better."

Esperanza shook her head stubbornly, folding her little arms. "No. I like Esperanza." Then she flashed a bright, innocent smile. "You can call me Espe."

The pure sweetness of it melted even Vladimir’s heart.

But nobody got any real time to process it all, because another surprise waited right around the corner.

Vladimir’s eyes swept across the living room and suddenly widened. "Alpha Humphry? Luna Kylie?" His surprise deepened. "You’re here too?"

Nessa and Desmond were having a nap, unaware of all that was going on.

Kylie rose from her seat with a warm smile and walked over, pulling Oriana into a genuine embrace. The gesture caught her completely off guard.

When Kylie stepped back, her eyes softened with a mix of emotion. "I see you’re the luckiest among all of us."

Oriana frowned. "What does that mean?"

A bitter laugh escaped Kylie. "I did everything I possibly could to keep Sera with my son. But he disappointed all of us." The deep disappointment in her voice was impossible to miss as she glanced toward Seraphine. "We even thought maybe she would choose Corvine."

Corvine immediately looked away, clearly uncomfortable being dragged into it. Kylie sighed. "But she still refused."

At that exact moment, Corvine walked over and wrapped Seraphine in a warm, friendly hug. "You look more beautiful and excited than I’ve ever seen you."

The affection between them was obvious, pure, genuine friendship with zero romance.

Unfortunately, Oriana saw something completely different. Her eyes narrowed sharply, disapproval flashing across her face. "You were lucky to be saved from her," she said before she could think better of it.

The room went instantly silent, Corvine froze. Seraphine blinked in surprise, and Voren’s expression darkened dangerously.

Oriana kept going anyway. "Look at how she’s hugging her former Beta. I can’t say for sure nothing is going on between them and how many more men she’s been with."

The words had barely left her mouth when—

SLAP!

The sharp sound cracked through the living room like thunder. Everyone froze, and Esperanza took steps back, quickly pulled into Madison’s arms.

Oriana’s head snapped to the side, her hand flying up to her stinging cheek.

Shock flooded her face as the burn spread across her skin. For a second she couldn’t even process what had just happened. Then she slowly looked up.

Kylie stood right in front of her, absolutely furious. The room stayed deathly quiet, no one dared interrupt. Kylie wasn’t sorry in the slightest. In fact, she looked ready to do it again.

"Everyone here envies you," she said, her voice shaking with raw anger. "As if it isn’t enough that you have no idea what you actually possess."

Oriana stared at her, stunned into silence. Kylie took another step forward, eyes blazing. "You have the nerve to say such nasty nonsense about Sera when you know absolutely nothing about her. I thought your visit to my pack meant you actually cared." Disappointment poured thick through her words. "But now?"

Oriana instinctively looked toward her husband, then her son, desperately waiting for support, for someone to defend her, but nothing came. Not a single word. Voren stayed silent, and so did Vladimir.

Then Vladimir’s attention moved across the room, landing on someone standing quietly near the corner. Jasmine. The young woman stiffened immediately under his gaze. Vladimir’s expression turned deadly serious. "Jasmine."

His voice pulled every eye in the room, tension spiked hard. Jasmine swallowed nervously. Vladimir took a slow step forward, then another, his stare never leaving her. "You need to tell us the truth."

Confusion flashed across Oriana’s face. "What are you talking about?"

Vladimir ignored her completely, his gaze locked on Jasmine. "What exactly is going on between you and my wife?"