Alpha's Regret: The Seventh Time was Forever

Chapter 30: Chapter 30 – I’m Not Afraid of Competition

Damon did not soften the truth or circle around it. He faced Seraphine directly, his tone steady but soft. ”Ravyn called me earlier,” he said. ”There’s a vacancy for a beta position in the pack, and he wanted me back.”

Corvine stiffened. ”If you want,” Damon continued, watching her reaction closely, ”I could return as your eyes and ears, be your spy, though for the record, I already turned him down.”

Her eyes widened before she could stop herself. The idea struck deeper than she expected. Someone inside the pack, someone close enough to monitor Daisy’s every move, would be invaluable.

The urge for retribution still burned in her chest for what had been done to her child, yet she knew better than to scorch the entire pack to ashes. Humphrey and Kylie were still members of the pack, even if they did not live there and were undeserving of such brutality.

”You’d do that for me?” she asked quietly, Augustine was not liking the fact that Damon got her attention without falling for what they initially came to do but Damon nodded without hesitation, his gaze lingering a fraction too long.

”Why wouldn’t I?” he said, adding, ”You were a good Luna, Seraphine. One of the best I’ve ever seen. You deserve justice for every injustice done to you.” His voice dipped. ”I only have one condition.”

Her heart thudded painfully. She already knew, and still hoped she was wrong.

”What condition?” she asked, carefully neutral.

”When you’re ready to move on,” Damon said, ”you’ll consider me first.”

He didn’t flinch as he added, ”You’re the reason I couldn’t stay in that pack. Leaving wasn’t easy.”

Most pack members buried their feelings for her, making them leave the pack prematurely but they made it in the city and as such had no regrets.

The weight of his confession settled heavily in the room. Two prominent men, both openly staking emotional ground barely weeks after her divorce felt unreal.

Seraphine had never lacked attention, yet now it felt like pressure rather than flattery.

”I can’t reciprocate your feelings,” she said honestly, wasting no words. But to her surprise, Damon smiled, not wounded or angry.

”I know,” he said calmly. ”And I’m patient. You have too much on your mind right now. Let me help you. Having someone inside the pack will ease your burden.”

Augustine and Corvine exchanged dark looks, the air tightened. Seraphine felt a flicker of guilt for being the reason Damon would willingly walk back a life he had thrown away.

”On second thought,” she said slowly, ”even if I want you there, I won’t promise you a future with me. Besides, who would take care of this large corporation on your behalf?”

Her words were gentle but final. Augustine’s lips curved faintly, Corvine’s shoulders relaxed but Damon noticed it and laughed under his breath.

”I see,” he said lightly. ”You already have two men on standby.” His eyes gleamed. ”I waited for years while Ravyn stood in the way. He was Alpha, untouchable. But now?” He shrugged. ”You’re divorced. We all stand a chance, and I’m not afraid of competition. My company would still flourish without my being here in person. Technology is advanced and you know it”

Seraphine inhaled deeply, preparing to correct him, especially where Corvine was concerned, but Augustine spoke first.

”I’m not afraid of competition either,” he said coolly. ”But I didn’t bring her here for you to claim her and frankly, what does returning to the pack have to do with Seraphine? She’s not going back.”

Damon’s smile didn’t fade. He saw through Seraphine from everything he’d heard whiles still in the city, knowing full well how her heart craved for vengeance. ”What better way to win her heart,” he replied, ”than to protect her by exposing her enemies’ every move?”

”Enough!” Seraphine’s voice cut sharply through the tension, echoing in the room. Both men fell silent.

”You’re all misunderstanding this,” she said firmly. ”I don’t plan on marrying again, ever. I don’t have those feelings for either of you. If helping me comes with expectations, then I’ll look elsewhere.”

An uncomfortable silence followed but still, neither men backed down.

”As long as you’re single,” Damon said seriously, ”there’s hope. I’ll leave for the pack tomorrow and keep you informed.”

Augustine added without hesitation, ”And I’ll continue searching for leads.”

Seraphine exhaled slowly, exhaustion creeping into her bones. ”Do whatever you want,” she muttered. ”But I won’t stop searching for companies to partner with or invest in.”

Damon kept his word and left for the pack the next day. Augustine remained, assisting her in reaching out to corporations but rejection followed rejection.

They stopped making personal visits and began sending proposals ahead, yet the responses were swift and uniformly dismissive.

Together, Seraphine and Corvine contacted five more companies, none within the top ten but hope already began to thin.

She even considered shifting toward pharmaceutical investments, doubting Voren’s influence extended that far. Still, the disappointment weighed on her, dulling her usual sharp resolve.

The following evening, Corvine took her to a high-end restaurant, determined to lift her spirits. But just as they stepped inside, her phone vibrated repeatedly.

Her heart dropped when she saw the rejections, all of them. The speed was insulting, almost surgical.

”Fuck you, Voren,” she muttered under her breath, appetite evaporating.

Corvine watched her quietly, then smiled. ”I spoke to my parents last night.”

She glanced at him, forcing politeness. ”Oh?”

”They agreed to let you invest with us,” he said. ”Dad says we’re number eight on the Forbes list and he doesn’t give a damn about Voren.” He paused. ”Will you take the chance?”

Her response was immediate. ”No, that’s dangerous. What if he targets your family too?”

”It doesn’t matter,” Corvine said steadily and this time, Seraphine could not refuse because this was her last chance to bring down Ravyn. Starting her own company this soon would not give her that opportunity.

Within days, the paperwork was finalized, and the impact was immediate. Walker Global Enterprises dropped from number two to number six on the Forbes list.

Seraphine got exactly what she had been fighting for, but the celebration barely touched her lips before Corvine’s father returned with news serious enough to force Seraphine to come face-to-face with Voren once again.