Morning came with an edge sharper than broken glass. The mansion, though quiet, pulsed with a kind of tension Seraphina couldn't shake. After the dinner the night before, she had barely slept. Kael's nearness, his words, the weight of the pack's eyes—all of it clung to her skin like frost.
When she descended the staircase into the main hall, she was met with movement and voices. Wolves—both men and women—were gathering near the training grounds outside. Through the tall windows she caught glimpses of sparring, bodies moving with fluid power, claws unsheathed, dominance radiating in every motion.
The servant at the foot of the stairs bowed slightly. "The Alpha asked for your presence at training this morning."
Of course he did. Another test.
Seraphina followed the servant out into the open air. The training yard was vast, encircled by stone walls and watched from the balcony above. Warriors trained in pairs, their bodies colliding with brutal strength, while others shifted to wolves mid-spar, teeth flashing, claws tearing at dirt and stone. The scent of sweat and power filled the air.
At the center stood Kael.
He wasn't sparring. He didn't need to. His mere presence was command enough. When his eyes found her, the yard seemed to pause. Wolves stilled, breaths caught. And then, as if given silent permission, training resumed with renewed ferocity.
"Seraphina," Kael said, his tone even, but carrying across the yard. "You will observe today."
She swallowed hard. "Observe what?"
Before he could answer, another voice cut through. Smooth, mocking.
"Observe what happens when outsiders think they can belong among wolves."
Selene.
She emerged from the sparring circle, her golden hair glinting in the sun, her eyes locked on Seraphina with predatory delight. She wore fitted leathers that clung to her like a second skin, every inch of her screaming strength and superiority.
"Selene," Kael said, his voice warning.
But Selene only smirked, circling Seraphina like a wolf scenting prey. "Tell me, contract mate… do you even know what a wolf fight looks like up close? Do you know what it means to bleed for the pack you claim to belong to?"
Seraphina held her ground, though her heart pounded. "I didn't claim anything. Your Alpha made a contract. That's all."
The words were meant to keep her safe, to stay within the boundaries he had laid. But Selene's smirk widened, hungry for a fight.
"Then prove it," Selene hissed. She tossed a wooden training blade to the ground at Seraphina's feet. "Pick it up."
The yard went still. Wolves paused their sparring, turning toward the scene like predators scenting blood. The challenge was clear: humiliation or defiance.
Kael's voice cut through, sharp as a whip. "Enough, Selene."
But Selene stepped closer, her gaze never leaving Seraphina's. "Unless you think she's too fragile. Maybe she can't even lift it."
Laughter rippled from a few of the onlookers.
Heat surged through Seraphina's veins. Every part of her screamed to turn away, to let Kael handle this, but something deeper—something stubborn—rose within her. She bent, lifted the blade, and leveled it in front of her.
Gasps echoed across the yard.
Kael's jaw tightened, his gaze unreadable. But Selene smiled, satisfaction flickering in her eyes. "Good. Let's see what you're made of."
The duel was inevitable.
Selene lunged first, her strikes sharp and practiced. Seraphina barely managed to block, the wooden blade jolting in her hands with every clash. Wolves shouted from the sidelines, some cheering Selene, others silent, watching with interest.
Every blow rattled her arms, but Seraphina's determination burned hotter with each strike. She refused to fall—not here, not in front of them.
Selene's smirk turned cruel. "You don't belong here, Vale. And I'll prove it."
She twisted, sweeping Seraphina's legs from under her. Seraphina hit the ground hard, breath leaving her lungs in a painful rush. The blade clattered from her hands.
Selene raised her own weapon, poised to strike the final blow—
"Enough."
Kael's command rang through the yard like thunder. Wolves froze. Even Selene hesitated, though her eyes still burned with challenge.
Kael strode forward, his presence swallowing the space between them. He extended his hand to Seraphina, his gaze never leaving Selene's. Slowly, Seraphina took it, letting him pull her to her feet.
The Alpha turned to Selene, his voice low but dangerous. "You will remember your place."
Selene's jaw clenched, but she bowed her head. "Yes, Alpha."
But her eyes told a different story.
Kael released Seraphina's hand, his touch lingering a moment too long, his voice dropping just for her. "You shouldn't have picked it up."
Seraphina's breath caught. "You wanted me to stay silent while she mocked me?"
His gaze darkened, unreadable. "I wanted you safe."
Their eyes locked, heat sparking between them, and for a moment the world fell away—the training yard, the stares, even Selene's hatred. All that remained was the storm brewing between them.