Alpha's Regret: The Seventh Time was Forever

Chapter 578: Chapter 578 – It’s useless trying to have this conversation with you

At the Silver Moon Pack, tension had been building like a dark cloud ever since Voren showed up a few days ago. Prince Jasper only caught wind of the whole mess after the fact.

He’d been out training with the pack warriors when it went down, and the second the news hit him he stormed straight into his father’s study ready to have it out.

”Dad, you’re putting this entire pack in danger by going after Alpha Voren’s kid. What the hell has gotten into you?”

Jasper worked hard to keep his anger from boiling over completely, but his father just looked at him with something that almost seemed like pity. Jaron stood by the wine cabinet in his study, pouring himself a stiff glass of vodka and knocking it back in one hard swallow.

Ever since Jasper turned twenty, he’d taken full control of running the pack, which left Jaron free to chase after whatever schemes he wanted.

Hearing that his own father had gone after Alpha Voren’s daughter sent a cold chill straight through Jasper. Voren wasn’t the kind of man anyone poked without thinking twice, and Jasper knew that better than most people ever would.

”If you care about what’s good for this pack, you’ll call your sister right now and tell her to get her ass back here and marry one of the suitors I picked out for her.” Jaron’s face hardened as he set the empty glass down with a sharp click.

He’d only made that promise in the first place because Voren wouldn’t have left the pack without taking his arm as payment, and Jaron had never planned on actually letting Corvine marry his daughter. Jasper saw the whole situation in a completely different light.

”That’s not fair.” Jasper’s jaw locked tight. ”Liah and Corvine are into each other, and I don’t have a problem with it because he’s a solid guy. For someone who stood up to you before you could even lay a hand on my sister, I’ve got a ton of respect for him. Hell, even I couldn’t pull that off.”

Jaron’s eyes darkened and a dangerous growl rolled up from deep in his chest. ”Jasper, don’t make me start rethinking the whole idea of making you Alpha.”

Jasper let out a sharp, mocking laugh and glanced around the study like he was searching for someone who wasn’t there. ”I don’t see any other heir standing around who’s capable of taking the job. Besides, Corvine’s better than every last one of those Alphas you lined up for my sister. Dad, you’re either completely blind or there’s something seriously wrong with the way you’re picking these guys.”

”My judgment is the only reason you’re still breathing,” Jaron snapped back.

Jasper refused to back off even an inch. ”From what I heard, you actually tried to put your hands on Alpha Voren’s daughter, and the way I see it, Alpha Voren isn’t the type to just let that slide. Dad, you’re a dead man walking if you don’t change your ways real soon. Alpha Voren must’ve cut you some slack because of how much he supports Liah and Corvine, but knowing the kind of man he is, I wouldn’t trust for a second that he won’t come after you some other way.”

Jaron’s whole body went rigid. Knowing Voren the way he did, the man had never cared about sticking his nose into other packs’ business until the full moon festival. Now Jaron finally understood why everything had changed.

It all came down to Seraphine.

Before she walked into Voren’s life, the Alpha had been hollow, a man who moved through the world without any real warmth or attachment to anyone. These days Voren walked around looking full of life, fiercely protective of every single person he cared about.

What was so special about that she-wolf anyway?

The fact that even Jasper had once shown interest in her left a bitter taste sitting heavy in Jaron’s mouth.

His gaze locked onto his son and he stared at him with open disappointment before reaching for another glass of vodka. It burned him deep down that both of his children had taken after their mother’s character far more than his own.

”I was right not to ever consider you for Alpha King. You don’t have any real vision, and you even went and got interested in another Alpha’s ex. Are you out of your mind? I never would’ve accepted her anyway.”

Jaron hated every bit of it. He hated how Seraphine had torn apart every careful plan he’d built up in his head. If she’d never come into Voren’s life, Voren might have ended up marrying Liah himself.

Jasper smiled, but there wasn’t a drop of warmth in his eyes. He’d never once regretted losing Seraphine to Voren. After all, Voren was a capable man, one who didn’t carry around some dark reputation or disgraceful record the way so many of the other Alphas did.

”And you honestly think those assholes you chose have any real vision?” Jasper shot back. ”All they want is the power that comes with the crown, but do you really believe they could save our race if the Lycans ever decided to strike? I still say Corvine is the best choice because he’ll always have Alpha Voren’s backing.”

Just the mention of Corvine sent another sharp stab of pain through Jaron.

His plan had been simple enough. Liah would marry Voren and that would’ve given Jaron real influence over the Grimroot Pack. Through that marriage he would’ve also had easy access to Voren’s little girl as her grandfather.

But Liah had refused.

Marrying Corvine was nothing like marrying Voren. Seraphine would always hold greater power.

As Voren’s wife she carried abilities that commanded respect, and Voren had always valued strength and real ability over empty titles. Liah’s wolf wasn’t even strong enough for a real fight, so she could never stand against someone like Seraphine.

Jaron wanted his daughter to marry an Alpha and have complete control over her own pack, though even then he still wouldn’t have gained access to Voren’s daughter.

For the princess he’d raised, it cut him deep that she was willing to water down the authority of her crown by choosing to marry Corvine. Even if some miracle happened and Corvine somehow got his hands on the title and crown of Alpha King, he’d still stay under Voren’s influence.

Which meant, in Jaron’s eyes, Liah would never have the kind of power and control she deserved.

Bitterness burned hot in his eyes as he stared at his son, frustrated that Jasper couldn’t seem to understand the purpose behind everything he’d carefully planned out.

”It’s useless trying to have this conversation with you.”

Jaron drained the last of the vodka from the bottle, slammed it down onto the cabinet, and strode toward the door. The moment he stepped out of his study, surprise crossed his face.

The three Alphas he’d chosen were standing right there in front of him.

”Alpha Brad, Alpha Killian, and Alpha Curt.” His eyes narrowed as he studied their expressions. ”I hope you aren’t planning on leaving just because of Alpha Voren’s unexpected little visit?”