The mansion always seemed too quiet during the day, but tonight, silence was the enemy. Every creak of the polished wooden floors echoed like a warning as Seraphina followed the servant down the long corridor. She already knew where they were taking her—the grand dining hall. And though she hadn't been told why, the unease in the servant's eyes had said enough.
Kael Thorne had called for her presence.
Her mind replayed his rules from that morning, each one a chain tightening around her freedom. Tonight would be the first time she faced him in the presence of others, where every glance and every word would be judged. She had to look the part of the Alpha's chosen mate, no matter how much the idea made her skin crawl.
When the servant opened the double doors, Seraphina's breath caught.
The dining hall was vast, with a vaulted ceiling and chandeliers glittering above a long table of dark oak. Dozens of places had been set, though only a few were occupied by high-ranking pack members. At the head of the table sat Kael himself, his posture regal, his gaze sharp.
But what unsettled her most wasn't Kael—it was the she-wolf seated close to him.
Selene Cross.
Her golden hair shimmered in the candlelight, her gown clinging to her like liquid fire. Every curve of her body screamed of confidence, of a woman used to having the Alpha's attention. And the way she leaned toward Kael, laughing softly at something he said, made Seraphina's stomach twist.
The servant gestured for her to step forward. Seraphina lifted her chin, refusing to let Selene—or anyone else—see her discomfort.
Kael's eyes found her instantly, unreadable as always. "You're late."
Seraphina's lips parted in protest, but she caught herself. Rule Two. No questioning him in public. Her jaw tightened as she lowered her gaze slightly, feigning obedience. "My apologies, Alpha."
"Sit."
The seat waiting for her was two places down from Kael—close enough to show connection, far enough to keep her at a distance. A clear message to the others: she was here, but not yet fully trusted.
As the meal began, conversation flowed among the pack members. Some spoke of border patrols, others of rival packs stirring in the east. But every so often, the topic would veer toward her, voices dropping low, eyes sliding toward her with suspicion.
Selene, of course, was the loudest.
"So," Selene said sweetly, though her tone dripped with venom. "Our Alpha has brought home a contract mate. How… unconventional. Tell me, Seraphina, do you even know what it means to stand beside an Alpha? To bear the weight of a pack on your shoulders?"
The table went silent. All eyes turned to her.
Seraphina forced herself to meet Selene's gaze, her voice calm though her pulse raced. "I know what it means to survive. To endure. And I know loyalty is proven over time, not declared at dinner."
A ripple of whispers moved through the table. Some looked impressed. Others, wary.
Selene's smile faltered, but only for a moment. "Endurance is nothing without strength. And strength is nothing without blood. Wolves are born, not made. A Vale cannot pretend to be a Thorne."
The insult landed like a dagger. Seraphina's family name was already tarnished by debt and desperation. To have it thrown at her here, before the pack, cut deep.
Before she could reply, Kael's voice cut through the tension, low and sharp.
"Enough."
Selene froze, her lips pressing into a thin line.
Kael's gaze swept the table before landing on Seraphina. For a heartbeat, something flickered in his eyes—approval, perhaps—but it vanished as quickly as it came.
"Seraphina is under my protection," Kael said. His voice was calm, but the weight behind it silenced the hall. "Anyone who questions her, questions me."
The words should have comforted her. Instead, they unsettled her more. Protection was just another form of possession when it came from Kael Thorne.
Dinner continued, but the atmosphere remained taut. Selene smiled too brightly, her laughter too sharp. The others whispered too much. And Seraphina sat through it all, every muscle coiled tight, every breath measured.
When the plates were finally cleared and the candles burned low, Kael stood. "Leave us."
Chairs scraped as the others obeyed, filing out with quick glances between Seraphina and their Alpha. Selene lingered a moment too long, her eyes narrowing at Seraphina in silent promise of future battles, before she too departed.
Now, only Seraphina and Kael remained.
He walked slowly toward her, his movements deliberate, predatory. She rose to her feet instinctively, her pulse hammering in her throat.
"You held your own," Kael said, his voice quieter now, though still edged with steel. "But you should be careful. Wolves like Selene don't forget insults easily."
"She insulted me first," Seraphina shot back before she could stop herself.
Kael's lips curved into something that wasn't quite a smile. "And yet, you answered. Bold. Reckless. But bold."
His eyes lingered on her, dark and searching. The space between them seemed to shrink with every passing second, until Seraphina felt the heat of his presence, the weight of his gaze pressing down on her like a physical force.
"Tell me," he murmured, leaning closer, "was that defiance for her benefit… or mine?"
Seraphina's breath caught. She wanted to say it was neither, that she refused to be a pawn in his games, but the words stuck in her throat. His nearness clouded her thoughts, his scent—earth and storm—filling her lungs.
For a moment, she saw something flicker in his eyes again. Not anger. Not command. Something far more dangerous.
Desire.
Her heart stuttered, panic and something unspoken colliding inside her. She stepped back quickly, breaking the tension. "You laid out your rules this morning. I intend to follow them. Nothing more."
Kael studied her, his expression unreadable once more. Then he straightened, his voice returning to its usual cold edge.
"Good. Remember that."
Without another word, he turned and strode from the hall, leaving her standing alone, her chest rising and falling too fast.
Seraphina pressed her hand to the table to steady herself, her mind racing. Tonight had been a test, she realized. Not just of her obedience—but of her strength to endure the storm of Kael Thorne's world.
And though she had survived the dinner, she knew this was only the beginning.