Alpha's Regret: The Seventh Time was Forever novel Chapter 74

Chapter 74: Chapter 74 – I think I know which Zane we’re looking for

"Sera, thank God you’re here. I need to ask you something, and I need you to answer me honestly. Can you perform a surgery?"

Leon’s voice carried urgency the second she stepped fully into the corridor, and the way he stood in front of her, shoulders tight and eyes restless, made it obvious this was not a casual question thrown out of curiosity.

He had already checked her credentials on her first day, had combed through her paperwork carefully while processing her as a locum doctor, and although her file listed surgical experience, there were no detailed hospital records attached to confirm it.

That detail had lingered in the back of his mind ever since, but now it mattered more than ever. Seraphine froze for a fraction of a second.

She had performed surgeries before, yes, but none of them had been on humans.

At the pack, things were different. Their wolves accelerated healing, strengthened recovery, and stabilized the body in ways human medicine could never replicate.

Procedures that would require long hours of cautious stitching and monitoring in a human hospital were almost routine back home because their wolf handled half the burden. The body responded differently, just as the risks were calculated differently.

Humans had no wolves, no supernatural recovery cushioning their mistakes, and relying entirely on science, precision, and timing.

When she filled out her forms here, she had stated truthfully that she performed surgeries. She had told herself that with time, she would bridge the gap between werewolf medicine and human medicine, that eventually she would stand confidently in both worlds without hesitation.

She just hadn’t expected that moment to arrive this soon. "Yes, but—" she started, needing to explain, to clarify the context, but Leon did not give her room to finish.

"I told Ruth to cover your rounds while you assist me," he said quickly, already reaching for her arm and guiding her down the hallway with determined steps. "Two of my assistants have emergencies, and another case just arrived from another hospital. It’s complicated. I can’t be in two operating rooms at once, and time is not on our side."

They walked fast, their shoes echoing against the polished floors, and as he spoke, she could finally see the strain etched into his features.

He had been juggling too much, it mirrored her own chaotic schedule lately, and strangely, she felt grateful that through all of it, Leon had remained professional, jovial even, never crossing boundaries, never making her feel uncomfortable in a space where she was already carrying so much.

"I’m not ready for surgery," she managed to say, forcing the words out just as they reached the doors of the operating theatre.

Leon stopped abruptly and turned to her. "What?"

Before she could elaborate, her gaze moved past him. Inside, surgical assistants stood prepared, their eyes lifting toward her with expectation. On the operating table lay a small body that seemed far too fragile for the harsh brightness of the theatre lights.

A boy, no older than ten. His skin was pale, almost translucent under the glare, his breathing shallow and uneven. The monitors beeped with alarming inconsistency, each erratic sound tugging at something deep inside her chest.

Compassion hit her hard. Leon’s voice cut through the sterile air, crisp and urgent. "Perforated appendicitis. His appendix ruptured hours ago. He’s septic and bleeding internally. If we don’t operate now, he won’t make it through the night. The other case is a congenital heart defect. I have to scrub into that one immediately, but I can’t leave this unattended. If you’re sure you can handle this, I need to go now."

The assistants looked at her, waiting. Seraphine swallowed, her throat suddenly dry.

This was it. No wolves, no supernatural safety net, and no pack healers standing by. Just her.

"Prep him for laparotomy," she heard herself say, surprised by how steady her voice sounded despite the storm inside her.

The theatre lights blazed overhead as Leon offered her a brief nod filled with gratitude and disappeared after wishing her luck.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify