Chapter 572 – Don’t tell me you fell for it
When Seraphine turned and headed toward Jasmine’s room, Voren was about to return to their room when his phone beeped soft against his thigh. He stopped and checked the message.
It was from the outlanders. Voren frowned. This was the first time the outlanders had contacted him on their own when he hadn’t given them anything to investigate or follow up on. Something about that immediately put him on edge.
He opened the message.
’Alpha Voren, you never asked for this information, and you don’t have to pay. What you gave us is more than enough. I just thought you might need this information about Corvine, but if you’re already aware, then please ignore it.’
Attached to the message were several documents. The second Voren opened them, conflicting emotions crashed through him hard.
His eyes moved quickly over the information, his face growing harder with every passing second. Shock, disbelief, and something dangerously close to dread settled in his chest, cold and tight.
Without wasting another moment, he headed straight for Corvine’s room and knocked. From inside came Corvine’s voice, sharp and low.
"Jasmine, don’t make me get violent."
Voren’s brows pulled together. He opened the door to see Corvine was sitting on the bed, staring furiously at his phone, the screen casting a pale glow across his face.
His head snapped up at the sound of the door opening, and the anger in his eyes disappeared the moment he saw Voren. Unease replaced it, quick and clear.
"Voren? I thought you’d be coming in tomorrow."
He quickly got off the bed and walked over, pulling Voren into an embrace. Voren accepted it, though something about him felt strangely restrained, the tension in his shoulders never quite easing.
"What’s going on between you and Jasmine?"
Corvine pulled back, his expression carefully blank. He had no intention of telling Voren or Seraphine what had happened in the shower room.
"Nothing." He moved as if to walk past him. "Where’s Sera? I need to give her updates on the investor meetings."
Before he could get by, Voren stepped in front of him. Corvine stopped as Voren closed the door behind them and turned back, his expression making it clear that he wasn’t letting this go.
"Corvine, I’ve trusted you enough to share my title with you. I..."
"Voren, it’s not what you think."
Corvine tried to brush the matter aside, but there was something else weighing heavily on Voren’s mind. For now, he decided to leave the situation with Jasmine alone, the documents on his phone still burning in the back of his thoughts.
"Tell me, what’s the beef between you and Killian?"
Corvine frowned, genuine confusion crossing his face. "I don’t understand."
Voren drew in a deep breath, the air in the room suddenly feeling too still.
"Tell me about your childhood."
That question caught Corvine off guard. Voren was acting strangely, and Corvine could only assume it had something to do with whatever Voren thought he was hiding about Jasmine.
"Honestly, Voren, I wasn’t born at the pack. I first visited Centenary Pack when I was four, and I loved it there."
Voren studied his face carefully. The answer only deepened the unease already sitting in his chest, but it also convinced him that Corvine had no idea about the information he had just received. If anyone could give him the answers he needed, it would probably be Corvine’s parents.
"Walk with me."
Voren turned toward the door. Then his eyes landed on something lying behind it, making him halt. Corvine watched his expression change, the switch from tension to something darker happening fast as Voren’s gaze darkened.
"Corvine, did you bring Liah here?" It would be surprising to Voren as Athaliah seemed to be in a hurry.
Corvine stared at him, completely confused by the sudden question and unable to understand why Voren had been interrogating him from the moment he walked into the room.
"No." His concern returned immediately, voice tighter. "And I’m worried because she’s not answering my calls."
Voren’s expression grew even darker. "Corvine, I hope you haven’t messed up the plan. I thought you loved the princess, and I made it my mission to make sure it happens."
Corvine’s confusion only grew, brows drawing together hard. "Voren, why are you talking like this?"
Instead of answering, Voren moved slightly to the side. Corvine followed his gaze. The second he saw what Voren was looking at, his teeth clenched, embarrassment flooding hot through him.
How could he have seen Jasmine’s underwear fall of like that? "Please," Corvine muttered, his jaw tightening. "Let’s talk in the garden or anywhere else."
Voren didn’t argue. They stepped out of the room, and Corvine immediately stopped a maid who was heading toward the servants’ quarters, keeping his voice low and even.
"Sorry, I know it’s late, but please clean my room."
The maid nodded politely and continued toward the room without asking questions. As Voren and Corvine started down the stairs, Seraphine’s voice reached them from the hallway.
"Corvine, Jasmine said you were sleeping."
Corvine went stiff at the mention of Jasmine, and Voren noticed it immediately. His chest tightened. He hoped it wasn’t what he was beginning to suspect, because if it was, then everything they had worked toward could be ruined.
Seraphine caught up to them, and Corvine forced a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
"Sera, it’s good to see you, but let’s talk in the garden."
Voren slipped off his jacket and placed it around Seraphine’s shoulders as they headed outside. The night air was cooler in the garden, carrying the faint scent of damp earth and the distant city.
Once they reached the chairs, Voren sat between Seraphine and Corvine. Corvine wasted no time. The words came rushing out of him as if he needed to get everything off his chest before anyone could interrupt.
"I finished decorating Bryan’s room with the maids, had a shower, and was trying to get in touch with Liah. When I couldn’t hear from her, I decided to shower, and while I was inside, a naked woman hugged me from behind and claimed to love me."
Voren’s face hardened. Anger flashed through him, followed closely by disappointment, sharp and heavy. Jasmine had actually tried to seduce Corvine too.
His jaw tightened as he turned toward Corvine, voice low and controlled.
"Don’t tell me you fell for it."