Alpha's Regret: The Seventh Time was Forever novel Chapter 457

Chapter 457: Chapter 457 - Alpha Voren doesn’t love anyone

Voren barely even glanced her way, his expression staying as cold and indifferent as a frozen lake in the dead of winter. "I can’t say the same."

The smile on Athaliah’s face faltered hard, cracking under the weight of his words.

Before she could even pull herself back together, his next line hit her like a slap. "Let’s not waste each other’s time here." His eyes met hers directly, no mercy, no softness. "I don’t like you."

There wasn’t a trace of cruelty in his tone, just raw, brutal honesty that stung worse than any insult could. "And I won’t marry you."

The color slowly drained from Athaliah’s face, leaving her looking pale and shaken. For the first time in years, someone had straight-up rejected her.

She had always been the one doing the turning down, wealthy businessmen from the human world, powerful Alphas from rival packs, influential heirs from respected families.

They all admired her, all wanted a shot at her heart, and she had refused every single one without a second thought.

Yet the man she had quietly admired and longed for all these years didn’t even hesitate before crushing her to her face.

The deep, aching sting of it settled heavy right in her chest, burning with humiliation and heartbreak.

After a long, painful moment, she forced a smile back onto her lips, holding it together by sheer will. "I saw you once," she said softly, her voice dipping as those old memories came flooding back. "It was years ago when I visited my brother at the academy."

Her eyes stayed locked on Voren, searching his face desperately. "You probably don’t even remember me. I was still just a little girl back then."

A quiet, bittersweet laugh slipped out of her. She lowered her gaze for a second before looking back up at him, vulnerability mixing with determination. "But I remembered you. I liked you from that very day."

Her smile carried this touch of deep sadness that made her eyes glisten. "And somehow, I never stopped thinking about you all this time."

Silence hung thick between them, the kind that pressed down on everyone’s chest. Athaliah slowly leaned back in her seat, trying to steady herself. "No man has ever rejected me before."

Confusion crept into her voice, her brows knitting together. "They’re usually completely captivated by my looks, or my intelligence."

A small, pained smile appeared on her lips. "But you..." She drew in a slow, shaky breath. "There’s only one explanation that makes sense." Her expression sharpened with sudden insight. "You already love someone else, don’t you?"

The question tumbled out almost immediately. "Who’s the lucky she-wolf who stole your heart?"

For the first time since the whole conversation started, Voren went completely still, frozen like her words had hit some hidden nerve.

If Voren was just avoiding her, then she would try her best to win his heart but if he really had someone as he claimed, then she would apologize and step back with dignity.

Step by step, she closed the distance between them, her presence filling the space with quiet intensity. "If you’re lying to me..." Determination flashed bright across her face. "I’ll know."

Voren frowned the instant Athaliah stepped closer, that protective wall around him slamming up even higher. The space between them vanished way too fast for his comfort.

When she reached out, her fingers only made it halfway before his hand shot up lightning-quick and caught her wrist in a firm grip, not painful, but strong enough to stop her cold. With one smooth motion, he pushed her hand away like it burned him.

"Don’t touch me," he said, his voice icy and echoing through the quiet room like a warning growl.

Athaliah blinked in surprise but didn’t take any real offense. Instead, this small, understanding smile stretched her lips. "I should’ve asked first. My bad."

She slowly lowered her hand, moving carefully so she wouldn’t set him off again. "I have a Love Wolf," she explained, her voice staying calm and steady. "She’s sensitive to deep emotions between people."

She looked him straight in the eye, sincere as could be. "Believe me, Alpha Voren." A gentle smile softened her beautiful features even more. "I would never destroy another woman’s happiness. I’d never be the reason some she-wolf loses the man she loves."