Alpha's Regret: The Seventh Time was Forever

Unlike Voren, Santiago Russo was not the kind of man people feared simply because of wealth or influence because his reputation wasn’t built on numbers or titles but on ruthlessness and illegal dealings that left no room for mercy and no space for second chances.

No one said it out loud, but everyone in that moment could feel it, in the way his attention remained fixed on Seraphine, unbroken and intentional, like she had become the center of his focus.

Corvine felt the pressure building, the expectation hanging heavy as Santiago waited for an answer that he wasn’t entirely prepared to give, his mind racing for something convincing enough to satisfy a man who clearly wasn’t easy to deceive, but before he could piece anything together, Seraphine stepped in, her voice cutting through the tension with a calm clarity that immediately moved control back into her hands.

"Don Russo, this is all happening a little too suddenly, and we’re already short on time," she said smoothly, her tone composed in that effortless grace, even though the situation was anything but.

"Corvine is taking me home, and I can’t keep him waiting any longer, so if you’re interested, you can always book an appointment and have him walk you through the product properly, but to be completely honest, there aren’t any investment slots available at the moment. If something opens up later, we’ll make sure you’re informed, so feel free to leave your contact."

There was a quiet boldness in the way she spoke, that didn’t challenge him outright but still refused to bend, and for a brief moment, Santiago simply watched her, his lips pressing together slightly, weighing her response against something only he understood.

Then, slowly, almost reluctantly, he reached into his pocket and handed her his card.

"Alright," he said, his voice even, though the interest in his gaze didn’t fade in the slightest. "But I would like to take you out."

Seraphine let out a soft laugh, the sound light enough to mask the unease tightening in her chest, because the truth was, she could feel it now, clearer than before, the quiet warning that something about this man wasn’t just dangerous but unpredictable, making her instincts stay on high alert.

If she had to meet him to discuss anything, then she would have to run a background check first.

Before she could respond, Leon beat her to it. "As you can see," he said, his tone steady but edged with meaning, "she’s my woman, and I don’t support her going on dates with other men."

Santiago’s smile returned, but this time it felt colder, something in it falling short of warmth as his gaze flicked briefly toward Leon, recognizing him for exactly who he was and understanding the position he held.

"If you say so," he replied, the words carrying enough indifference to suggest that Leon’s claim didn’t truly concern him. "Miss Walker, we’ll meet again."

Seraphine let out a faint smile in return, one that stayed polite even as her mind remained guarded.

"Of course," she said. "We’ll make sure you’re invited to the launch of MindNest."

That was enough to end it, at least for now, until she was able to find out more about him.

Leon didn’t waste another second, guiding her away from the tension and toward the car, his pace steady but purposeful as he created as much distance as possible between her and Santiago, while behind them, the atmosphere tensed again, settling into something quieter but no less charged.

Voren turned then, his attention locking onto Santiago with a focus that felt sharper now that the others were gone, his gaze following until he was certain that everyone, including Augustine, had cleared the space before he finally spoke.

"Stay away from Sera," he said, his voice low but firm, carrying a warning that wasn’t meant to be ignored. "Or she’ll be your downfall."

There was something deeper behind those words, rooted in a certainty Voren didn’t fully explain, because a part of him understood that all the years he had spent trying to bring Santiago down, might finally find their turning point through this unexpected connection.

But Santiago only laughed.

The sound came easy, almost amused, his cigar still resting between his fingers like nothing about this situation posed any real threat to him.

"Mr. Ashkael," he said, tilting his head slightly, "do you have an interest in her as well? It’s unfortunate, really, because I don’t take you for that type, and have already ruled you out as being anything but interested in women."

Voren’s expression didn’t change, the coldness in it remaining steady as he met Santiago’s gaze without hesitation.

"When your fall finally comes," he said, his tone carrying a quiet determination that left no room for doubt, "I’ll be there to remind you of this night."

For a brief second, something flickered in Santiago’s eyes, before it disappeared just as quickly.

"No woman can bring me down," he replied, his voice calm but laced with certainty. "Not even the FBI, and you know why?"

Voren didn’t respond, his silence giving Santiago the space to continue, because he already knew the answer that was coming. "That’s because I’m always ahead."

A faint smirk lifted the corner of Voren’s lips, carrying more meaning than a full response ever could.

"We’ll see about that," Voren said with confidence because between him and Santiago, he was the only one who knew that Seraphine was not an ordinary human, but a Luna she-wolf. At multi-talented one at that.

He left to meet his client in one of the private rooms but at the underground car park, Leon ensured Seraphine was comfortable in Corvine’s car, buckling her seat belt.

"Sera, please stay away from Don Russo," he warned seriously, Seraphine smiled with meaning. "Just tell me who he is."

Leon looked to his left and right. "Ever heard about missing women and children?" Something moved inside Seraphine at the mention of children.

Her missing daughter could be anywhere, and that included Santiago’s cage. "What about them?"