Alpha's Regret: The Seventh Time was Forever

Chapter 564: Chapter 564 – Sera deserves to be happy

Kylie and Humphrey froze solid, both turning at the exact same moment to stare at Ravyn, and the pure disappointment carved deep across their faces hit him harder than any slap ever could.

His chest tightened up so bad it felt like someone had reached in and squeezed his heart. Anger he could take, threats he could handle, but that disappointed look in his parents’ eyes cracked something open inside him he didn’t even know was still whole.

His mother watched him for a long few seconds, her expression tight and tired, before she finally spoke, voice low and steady.

”Ravyn, you never once listened when we tried talking to you about marrying Sera. We told you straight up to marry her after you got her pregnant, and you shut us down every time. Even when we said the moon goddess had to be mixed up in the two of you ending up together, you still turned around and accused her of everything under the sun. You only went through with the marriage because we threatened to hand your title over to Corvine.”

Ravyn dropped his head, shame burning hot across the back of his neck. Every single word landed right where it hurt the most. They had warned him over and over, and he had brushed them off because he figured he knew better than everybody else in the room.

Now here he stood with his marriage in pieces and Seraphine gone, finally seeing just how bad he’d screwed it all up.

Deep down he knew Corvine had turned out to be the best warrior, and he was proud as hell to have him as beta. His parents had been right the whole time. He would’ve lost the title if he hadn’t folded. That was the only reason he’d dragged himself to the altar in the first place. He’d walked into that marriage with one goal, teach Seraphine a hard lesson, and he’d done it. He’d shown her exactly how little she mattered, made her suffer, pushed her away until she stopped begging him to love her. Now he was the one on his knees asking for another shot. The irony damn near crushed him flat.

He wiped a single tear from the corner of his eye and looked up, voice rough. ”Mom, Dad, if you help me out this one time, I swear I won’t let you down again.”

His father turned toward him with a helpless look, shoulders heavy. ”Ravyn, your whole problem is you don’t listen. You never did back then, and you’re still not doing it now.”

Ravyn lifted his head, eyes steady. ”But I’m listening.”

Kylie gave him a small smile that never reached her eyes, too much sadness sitting behind it. ”If you’re really listening, then here’s our advice.” She locked eyes with him, no softness left. ”Stay away from Sera. For your own good.”

”No!”

Ravyn’s shout rattled the walls. He shoved himself off the bed so fast his legs nearly buckled under him. Last night’s alcohol still swam in his system, making the room tilt hard.

He grabbed the edge of the mattress and held on until the spinning slowed, breath coming short and sharp. Then the truth settled over him like cold water.

He looked from one parent to the other, face tightening. ”Wait a second. You two knew about her and Voren this whole time, didn’t you?”

”Oh yeah,” Humphrey answered, pride thick in his voice. That pride twisted something ugly in Ravyn’s gut. ”We were honored to watch our only daughter get married. It was the most beautiful—”

He never finished. The bed Ravyn had just left went flying with a violent shove, smashing hard into the wall. The crash echoed through the whole ward. Gray jumped to his feet, hands out. ”Ravyn, cool it. There are patients in the other wards.”

Ravyn barely heard him. His voice cracked with pure fury. ”You’re my parents. You should’ve told me.”

He stared at them like they’d stuck a knife in his back. None of that anger wiped the mocking look from Humphrey’s eyes. ”So you could go and ruin the wedding?” Humphrey shook his head once. ”No. Sera deserves to be happy, and Voren’s the only one who ever gave her that.”

Ravyn’s chest heaved. ”I can make her happy, Dad. You know I can.”

His father shook his head again, firm. ”You’ve already caused her enough pain. Focus on building this pack, or we’ll find somebody else to take your place.”

The threat hung heavy in the air. Humphrey clearly expected it to stop him cold, expected Ravyn to remember everything he stood to lose and finally get his head on straight.

Instead Ravyn just stared at him for a beat, then burst out laughing, a raw, unexpected sound that made Gray and Riven exchange uneasy glances.

”Go right ahead. I don’t want this pack or the Walkers Global Enterprise. All I want is Sera, and I’m getting her back no matter what it takes.”

Kylie’s face fell, Humphrey’s expression hardened, but the sadness in his eyes stayed plain as day. Their son had stepped into dangerous territory. This wasn’t simple regret anymore.

The couple looked at each other, quiet sorrow settling between them. They knew they were the only reason Ravyn still had any dignity left. Without them, Voren would’ve wiped him out completely.

”Ravyn, for once just take our advice,” Kylie said, voice softer now. ”We’re getting old. We won’t be around forever. All we hope for is to see this pack strong again.”

For the first time Ravyn’s face eased a little, and he nodded. ”Alright. The pack stays yours. Sera’s mine.”

The words came out calm, almost peaceful, but something darker ran underneath them that made Gray’s stomach knot tight. Ravyn turned toward Gray and Riven. ”Let’s go.”

This time both men looked afraid, knowing exactly what this kind of obsession could cost.

”Ravyn, please listen to your parents,” Gray said, stepping closer. ”Remember how we lost our titles and our packs? Learn from that, man.”

Ravyn stopped. He pulled in a long breath, fingers curling slow at his sides. What he said next, left them speechless.