Alpha's Regret: The Seventh Time was Forever

Shock rippled through the hall like a stone dropped into still water.

Gasps, whispers. The clink of glasses frozen mid-air. Every eye turned to Alpha Flex, then to Voren, then back again. The tension in the room coiled tight, a serpent ready to strike.

Of course, some of the Alphas were excited.

They had planned to take Voren by surprise, to catch him off guard and watch him squirm. But no one had been ready to throw the first punch. No one had wanted to be the one to draw blood until now.

Alpha Flex had not gotten over his one eye. The hollow socket beneath his black mask was a constant reminder of what Voren had taken from him. Every time he looked in the mirror, every time he blinked, he felt the phantom pain of that loss.

Alpha Cage was quick to offer his support.

Thanks to Voren, he had been made less than a man. Stripped of his manhood. Humiliated in ways that no amount of time could heal. The rage had festered inside him, growing darker, more consuming, until it was the only thing he had left.

At first, they had been afraid of Voren.

His power was legendary. His reputation, terrifying. But after Killian brought the offer from the Lycans, they weren’t afraid anymore. The Grimroot pack was the richest and most powerful. But with the help of the Lycans, other Alphas were sure to get back on their feet.

”Alpha Flex is right.”

Alpha Cage stepped forward, his voice carrying across the hall. His eyes burned with hatred, his hands curled into fists at his sides.

”King Voren, you took my manhood because of your wife.”

Ripples of shock shot through the hall. Whispers erupted like wildfire. Alpha Cage lost his manhood? The revelation spread from mouth to mouth, each retelling more scandalous than the last.

Flex suddenly felt better about his eye.

He had only lost an eye. How could a man function without his manhood? The thought was almost comforting.

”King Voren.” Flex’s voice rose, commanding attention. ”You breached the code when you not only dated but also married your best friend’s ex-wife. You defied both clauses 2 and 3. And per clause 4, we Alphas have the right to determine your punishment with fifty-one percent support from all Alphas present.”

The words hung in the air, heavy and damning.

”And you think you have all fifty-one Alphas to support your punishment?”

Corvine’s voice cut through the silence like a blade. He sat with Liah at his side, his posture relaxed, his expression unreadable. But there was something dangerous in his eyes. Something that made Alpha Cage’s blood run cold.

”Alpha Corvine.” Cage turned to him with a mocking smile, emboldened by the crowd. ”We know you’re the King’s lap dog—”

”How dare you use such words on my Alpha. In my pack.”

Voren’s voice thundered from his table, the sound shaking the chandeliers. The air itself seemed to tremble. Alpha Cage cowered, his mocking smile vanishing in an instant. He had forgotten where he was. Forgotten who he was speaking to.

”That was a slip of the tongue.” His voice came out small, pathetic. ”Alpha Corvine, my apologies for that statement.”

”I won’t take a casual apology.”

Corvine rose from his seat, his movements slow and deliberate. The deliberate part was in his posture, his presence, the way he commanded the room without raising his voice.

”You called me a lap dog. In front of my pack and all these very distinguished people. And you think a mere apology can settle it?”

Seraphine smirked from her table beside Voren.

She had her plan. She had been waiting for the right moment, biding her time, letting the pieces fall into place. But who knew Corvine would make it even easier for her? Who knew he would step forward and claim his place with such ruthless precision?

Voren nodded once, a flicker of pride crossing his features.

He knew Corvine always had it in him. So far, Corvine was the only Alpha who had climbed the ranks from being a pack member of the Centenary pack to its Beta before becoming a co-Alpha, an Alpha King, and finally an Alpha.

His usual warm personality would not cut it for the role of an Alpha. So Voren was glad that Corvine knew exactly when to make the switch.

”Alpha Corvine.” Alpha Cage’s voice wavered, regret pooling in his stomach. He should have allowed Alpha Flex to handle the whole thing. Now, he was in deep waters. ”What do you want?”

The plan had been simple. Have Voren take his life. Then they could compete for the King title all over again. And Seraphine would be single too. It was like hitting two birds with one stone.