Alpha's Regret: The Seventh Time was Forever

Jasmine slowly looked up at him. Voren’s expression didn’t change. ”Pack up every outfit I’ve already told you not to wear. Put them in the trash.”

Her eyes widened, genuine surprise flashing across her face for the first time. The silence stretched between them.

”If that’s what you want,” she finally said, the words clearly hard for her to get out.

”It is.” There wasn’t even a second of hesitation in Voren’s voice. ”I’ll have new clothes delivered.”

Jasmine pressed her lips together. The disappointment in her eyes was obvious, but she was smart enough not to argue.

Voren wasn’t in the mood for any debates, especially not at this hour and definitely not after catching her standing outside his daughter’s room dressed like that.

He pushed stood from Marigold’s bed and straightened up. ”I’m leaving for a while. Keep an eye on Mari.”

”Of course.”

Then he took another step closer, and Jasmine immediately tensed. When he spoke again, every word carried an unmistakable warning.

”And let me make something absolutely clear.” Her stomach tightened. ”Sera is my woman. If she wants you gone, you’re gone.”

The message hit exactly like he intended. There was no confusion, no hidden meaning, and no room for interpretation.

Jasmine understood every single word. The only reason she still had a place in this mansion was because Voren allowed it. The only reason she stayed close to Marigold was because he permitted it.

If Seraphine ever decided her presence was a problem, the decision would be final. The pack might still welcome her because of Voren’s mother, Luna Oriana’s affection, but the mansion wouldn’t.

A painful knot formed in Jasmine’s chest. She forced herself to nod. ”It won’t happen again. I promise.”

Voren stayed silent, his stare pressing down on her until she grew more and more uncomfortable. Eventually she looked away. ”I honestly didn’t know you were here.”

The lie slipped out smoothly, but Voren recognized it immediately. His eyes hardened. ”I’d like to believe that. Unfortunately, you know exactly how I move around this house.”

The accusation landed hard. Jasmine felt her stomach drop because he was right. She knew his routines, his habits, and exactly when he usually checked on Marigold. And from the look he gave her, he knew that she lied.

Without another word, Voren walked past her. The conversation was over. His footsteps faded down the hallway until silence filled the space again.

Jasmine stayed standing outside the room long after he disappeared. A frustrated breath escaped her. Yeah, she had lied. And yeah, that was exactly why he’d gotten so upset.

She slowly looked down at the nightgown she was wearing, a complicated expression crossing her face. Maybe he was right. Maybe it really was time to get rid of these clothes.

The problem was they weren’t just clothes. Every single piece had been a gift from Luna Oriana herself.

Over the years, Oriana had constantly encouraged her to wear them, always saying a beautiful woman should never hide her beauty. ”With time, Voren would see what I’m seeing. He’s my son, and I know him too well.”

At the time, Jasmine had accepted every gift with real gratitude, put ever word into practice but it’s been years, and Voren was never swayed, not even once. Now they felt more like a burden than anything else.

Standing alone in the hallway, she finally made up her mind. If keeping those clothes risked messing up her relationship with Voren, then they weren’t worth it.

She would get rid of them. All of them. Staying on his good side mattered more than anything else.

Satisfied with her decision, she turned and started heading and began to do exactly that. Packing up the clothes to give the maids to dispose later. All she wanted now was to get some sleep. The night had already turned-out way more exhausting than she’d expected.

But before her head hit the pillow, the sound of voices drifted from farther down the hallway. Curiosity sparked in her immediately. She moved to the door, opened it gently, and stepped out just as someone rounded the corner.

The sight made her stop in her tracks. A familiar man was struggling under an impressive pile of boxes and packages. There were so many stacked in his arms that she honestly wondered how he could even see where he was going.

Without thinking, she walked toward him. ”Do you need help?”

The question left her lips right as the man adjusted the towering mountain of items that looked ready to tumble from his grasp at any second.

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