The stars shimmered coldly over Barduff Castle, their light distant and indifferent to the hearts below. In her chamber, Serafina stood before a tall mirror, her reflection wrapped in silence. The fire behind her burned low, shadows dancing along the polished stone floor.
She had grown into strength. Into beauty. Into wisdom. And yet tonight, she felt no more powerful than the girl she had once been—trapped between expectation and self.
She touched the silver pendant that Leah had given her years ago with her fingers. It stated that family is chosen rather than born. When grief was still raw and Vivian's memory reverberated like a ghost through the hallways, Leah's love had brought her back to earth. And now she was reminded of what Leah had said.
"Little wolf, don't bear the weight of the world. It is not your responsibility to prevent the tides from breaking because you are not the moon.
Serafina, however, was wiser. Alpha daughters were not bred to make delicate decisions. Even at their own expense, they were created to maintain the boundary between war and peace.
There was a knock, gentle but sure.
She turned. "Come in."
Wearing the silver and navy of his house, Thomas stepped in with a regal stance. His face was calm and polite, as it had always been. courteous. Nice. but far away. So far away.
He nodded and said, "Serafina." "May I?"
She pointed to the chair near the fireplace. "Obviously."
He took a seat. His eyes glinted in the firelight, showing fatigue that reflected hers.
Finally, he said, "I assume you've heard my father's threats."
"I have."
Slowly, he nodded. "I disagree with his approach to this. However, it's acceptable for him to feel disrespected. Waiting five years is a long time.
"I never asked you to wait," Serafina replied, more softly than she intended. "I never gave you hope. But I didn't want to embarrass your house either. So I stayed silent."
Thomas studied the flames. "I did hope, at first. I thought... perhaps with time, something might grow. Affection, if not love."
"And now?"
His jaw tensed. "Now, I think we are both prisoners of our last names."
The silence that followed was heavy, but not hostile. There was no hatred between them—only the quiet tragedy of two people bound by duty rather than desire.
"I don't love you, Thomas," she said quietly.
He looked up, his gaze unreadable. "I know."
"I may never love you."
"I am also aware of that."
Her voice was hardly more than a whisper as she leaned forward. If marrying you means preventing my pack from going to war, however... I will.
For the first time, some emotion broke through Thomas's meticulous mask as he flinched. "Serafina, don't do this out of sympathy or coercion. You have the right to make your own life decisions.
She looked him in the eye. "Perhaps. However, Alphas' daughters hardly ever get to.
For a while, they sat in silence—two sacrifices, two heirs—until Thomas got up.
"I'll do my duty if you agree," he said softly. I'll treat you well, too. But I won't stop you if you leave tomorrow.
After hesitating, he walked out, the door softly closing behind him.
With a thousand options pressing down on her, Serafina stayed by the fire.
Dawn would arrive in just a few hours. And the destiny of peace along with it.