THE ALPHA I NEVER SAW

CHAPTER 13- Stay the Night

CHAPTER 13: Stay the Night

Seraphine**

After speaking with my parents, the last bit of worry weighing on my heart disappeared.

I looked up at Darius.

"Thank you... for everything."

He simply inclined his head.

"There was no need."

I carefully climbed out of bed.

"Since my parents aren't home..."

"I should head back before it gets any later."

I had barely taken two steps when Darius's calm voice stopped me.

"Miss Veyra."

I turned around.

He walked toward the floor-to-ceiling window and gently pulled the curtains aside.

The world outside was cloaked in darkness.

Rain poured steadily from the night sky, droplets racing down the glass.

A flash of lightning illuminated the distant trees before fading once more into the storm.

"It's almost midnight," he said quietly.

I glanced at the clock on the wall.

11:47 PM.

I hadn't realized I'd been unconscious for that long.

Darius turned to face me.

"I can't, in good conscience, allow one of my students to travel home alone at this hour."

His tone wasn't demanding.

It was simply... concerned.

"The rain is getting heavier."

"I'll have my driver take you home first thing tomorrow morning."

I looked back at the storm outside.

The roads were almost certainly deserted.

Even if I insisted on leaving now...

It wasn't exactly safe.

I hesitated.

"I don't want to inconvenience you."

A faint smile appeared on his lips.

"You're not."

Silence settled between us.

Finally...

I let out a quiet sigh.

"...Alright."

"I'll leave tomorrow morning."

His shoulders seemed to relax ever so slightly.

"Thank you."

Just then, a familiar voice echoed inside my mind.

"Good decision."

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

"Lyra..."

"What?" she replied innocently.

"I'm only looking out for us."

I bit the inside of my cheek to stop myself from reacting.

The last thing I needed was for Professor Ravencrest to think I'd started talking to myself.

Darius noticed the strange expression on my face.

"Is something wrong?"

I quickly shook my head.

"N-Nothing."

"Just... thinking."

"If you say so."

For some reason...

I had the feeling he wasn't entirely convinced.

Just then,Professor Ravencrest glanced at his wristwatch.

Then something seemed to occur to him.

"I made someone a promise."

"Hm?" I looked at him curiously.

"I told your friend I'd let her know the moment you woke up."

"Aria..."

Guilt washed over me.

She must have been worried sick.

Without another word, he took out his phone and dialed her number.

It rang only once.

"Cousin?!" Aria answered almost instantly.

There was no greeting.

No hesitation.

Just pure panic.

"She's awake," Professor Ravencrest said calmly.

Silence.

Complete silence.

Then—

"WHAT?!!"

Her voice was so loud that I heard every single word from where I was sitting.

"Cousin, is she okay?"

"Can I talk to her?"

"Did she just wake up?"

"Is she hurt anywhere?"

"Did the doctor say she's alright?"

"Did she eat?"

The instant Aria mentioned food...

Grrrrrr...

My stomach growled.

Loudly.

My entire body froze.

"..."

No.

Please.

Not now.

Heat rushed to my cheeks as I quickly covered my stomach with both hands.

I slowly looked toward Professor Ravencrest.

For a brief moment...

The corners of his lips twitched.

He was trying very hard not to smile.

Without saying anything, he walked over and handed me the phone.

"She wants to speak with you."

I accepted it with an embarrassed smile.

"Thank you..."

He gave a small nod.

"I'll excuse myself."

Then he quietly left the room, gently closing the door behind him.

I pressed the phone to my ear.

"Hello?"

The moment Aria heard my voice, she exploded.

"SERAPHINE VEYRA!!"

I instinctively pulled the phone away from my ear.

"DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW WORRIED I WAS?!"

"I'm sorry..."

"Sorry?"

She scoffed.

"I searched the restroom."

"The hallway."

"The auditorium."

"I even checked outside the school!"

"I thought someone kidn*pped you!"

Guilt settled heavily in my chest.

"I'm really sorry, Aria."

"I didn't mean to scare you."

A brief silence followed.

Then her voice softened.

"...Are you really okay?"

I smiled, even though she couldn't see me.

"I'm okay."

"The doctor checked me."

"I'm perfectly fine."

She let out a long breath.

"Good."

"You scared me half to death."

"I promise..."

"It won't happen again."

"You better keep that promise."

"I will."

There was another short pause.

Then, just as I thought the conversation was over...

"I'm coming over tomorrow morning."

I blinked.

"Huh?"

"You heard me."

"I'm not asking."

"I'm coming."

Before I could object—

Click.

She hung up.

I stared at the phone for a few seconds before laughing softly.

Only Aria could end a conversation like that.

Just then, there was a gentle knock on the door.

****Darius****

I quietly stepped out of the bedroom after handing Seraphine my phone.

The soft click of the closing door echoed behind me as I made my way downstairs.

The mansion was unusually peaceful.

Only the occasional footsteps of the staff disturbed the silence.

"She sounds close your," Mida remarked lazily.

"She is."

"Good."

I frowned slightly.

"Why?"

For a brief moment, Mida didn't answer.

Then his voice softened.

"Because she deserves people who stay."

My footsteps slowed.

For some reason...

His words reminded me of the life Seraphine had lived before our rebirth.

Betrayed.

Rejected.

Executed.

She had lost everything.

No...

She deserved better.

She deserved people who would never abandon her again.

I reached the bottom of the staircase.

The head butler immediately bowed.

"Young Master."

"Is dinner ready?"

"Yes, Young Master."

I nodded once.

"Set the dining table."

"At once."

The elderly butler bowed again before turning toward the dining hall.

As he left, two young maids standing nearby exchanged excited glances.

"I don't think I've ever seen Young Master have dinner with a guest before," one whispered.

"Especially a young lady," the other whispered back with a grin.

The head butler cleared his throat.

The two maids jumped.

"We have work to do."

"Y-Yes, Head Butler!"

They hurried away, their faces burning with embarrassment.

A faint smile tugged at the corner of my lips.

---

A few minutes later...

I returned upstairs and knocked gently on the bedroom door.

"Come in."

I stepped inside.

Seraphine looked up from the phone, a small smile still lingering on her face.

"She smiles beautifully."

Mida chuckled.

"You're staring again."

"So what."

I ignored him.

"Finished?"

She nodded.

"Yes."

I glanced at the phone still resting in her hand.

"Everything alright?"

"She's still worried..." she replied with a helpless smile.

"...but that's just how Aria is."

A brief silence followed.

Then I spoke.

"The dining table is ready."

She blinked.

"Dinner?"

I nodded.

"You haven't eaten since morning."

Almost as though her stomach had been waiting for me to mention it—

Grrrrrr...

The sound echoed through the room.

Seraphine froze.

Slowly...

Very slowly...

She covered her face with both hands.

"...Please pretend that didn't happen."

I looked away, clearing my throat.

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that."

A tiny laugh escaped me before I could stop it.

From behind her hands came a muffled groan.

"This is so embarrassing..."

Her shoulders trembled slightly.

She was laughing too.

For reasons I couldn't explain...

Seeing her smile made something warm settle in my chest.

I gestured toward the door.

"Shall we?"

She lowered her hands, revealing cheeks tinted a delicate shade of pink.

"Hm." She nodded.

*******

The dining hall was illuminated by the warm glow of crystal chandeliers.

A long mahogany table stretched across the room, though only two places had been set.

She looked around in quiet amazement.

"You prepared all this...?"

"It's just dinner."

The butler pulled out a chair for her.

She thanked him politely before taking her seat.

I sat opposite her.