Seraphina's POV
"Tell me about them." I asked the maids who came into my room later that day.
"I can't believe it…" one murmured. "The lost love returns. This is fate's doing."
"I heard they were chosen mates."
My entire body went rigid.
Chosen… mates?
The air around me vanished.
"He loved her so much," another sighed. "He never stopped looking for her."
My vision blurred. The pain in my chest twisted into something horrible, something I couldn't contain.
He loved her. Still love her.
My fingers dug into the sheets. Then what am I?
"You can leave me." I couldn't take it anymore. I wanted to find a reason why he'd need me but there was none.
The maids bowed before leaving me alone in the suffocating silence.
I sat there, staring at the door, waiting.
Waiting for him to come.
Waiting for an explanation.
Waiting for… anything.
But he never came and in no time it was evening.
I should have left.
Should have ignored the stupid letter sitting on the vanity.
An invitation.
A celebration to honor the return of the Alpha's lost love.
The words were carved in delicate gold ink, as if they were announcing the return of a queen.
Where was my celebration?
Where was the joy when I came back to life?
I had clawed my way out of death to return here, and no one even cared.
It didn't matter. I didn't matter.
Still like a fool I went, I didn't even know why.
Maybe I wanted to see it for myself.
Maybe I wanted to see how little I meant.
The hall was alive with golden light, music, and laughter, and there he was, standing beside her.
The way he looked at her. gods.
I had never seen him smile like that. Never heard him laugh the way he did when she spoke.
It was like watching a part of him I had never known existed.
Everyone was around them, celebrating, drinking, cheering for her.
I stood in the shadows, invisible. Forgotten.
The longer I watched, the tighter my throat became.
Then his hand brushed against hers.
She laughed, tilting her head up to look at him, and his eyes softened.
Something inside me shattered.
I turned on my heel and walked out.
I would not stand there and watch this.
I wouldn't let myself be humiliated any longer. I was leaving. According to the healer I was a spy so I'd better leave.
The night air was sharp against my burning skin as I neared the gate.
I didn't know where I was going. I didn't care. I just had to get away.
I was almost there.
Almost free.
Then a dark shadow appeared in front of me.
I stopped, my breath catching.
He was there.
Standing between me and my only way out.
His eyes burned into me, his face unreadable, but his stance was dangerous.
"Going somewhere?" His voice was low.
I stiffened, forcing my voice to remain steady. "Move."
He didn't.
I swallowed. "Why do you care?" My voice was loud, but my hands trembled. "You have what you want. Your precious lost love is back. You don't need me anymore."
"You think I don't need you?" His jaw clenched.
"You haven't looked at me since she arrived. You didn't even come to check if I was alive. I waited, like an idiot. But of course, I was nothing compared to her, wasn't I?" I let out a hollow laugh.
His nostrils flared, but he didn't deny it.
The silence was worse than if he had answered.
"You killed me." I took a step forward.
His whole body tensed. "I..."
"You did." My voice cracked. "You killed me and when I woke up you didn't let me go or treat me better. You no longer needed me the moment you chose her over me."
His fists clenched at his sides, his breathing heavy. "I didn't mean for you to die, you are my mate! Weak yes, but I would never want you gone from my life."
I pushed forward, my voice rising. "I died that night. And you didn't even mourn me, did you?"
"So what are you trying to say?"
A chill crawled down my spine. I froze, my fists clenching at my sides. No. I wouldn't stop. I wouldn't let him have the power over me.
So I kept walking.
"Seraphina."
His voice held an edge of warning now. Possessive. Dangerous. That wasn't my name!
I still didn't stop.
I was almost at the edge of the clearing when a rough hand clamped around my wrist, yanking me back with such force that I slammed into his chest.
His heat. His scent. The overwhelming dominance that radiated from him. It all hit me at once, but I refused to let it weaken me. I shoved against him, but his grip tightened.
My breath hitched.
I glared up at him. "Let. Me. Go."
His grip only tightened. "No."
And then, everything blurred into fire.
"You're hurt," he growled, his gaze flickering to my wound. "You're bleeding."
I let out a bitter laugh. "Oh? Now you notice?" I looked up at him, and gods, I hated the way my chest ached at the sight of him. His sharp jaw, the dark storm in his eyes, the tension in every muscle of his body.
"You ignored me," I whispered, my voice barely audible.
His jaw tightened. "I didn't…"
"You did." The words tasted like acid. "She fell into your arms, and you forgot I even existed."
His grip on my wrist loosened, just slightly, but I pulled away completely, stepping back. His eyes darkened, like he hated the space I put between us.
"I was going to help you, but she…"
"But she needed you more," I finished for him. "Right? The great Alpha's lost love, returned. How tragic. How convenient."
His eyes flashed with something I couldn't quite name, but it was too late. I was done.
"I won't play this game," I hissed. "I won't be the second choice. I refuse."
I turned, but he moved faster than lightning.
His arms caged me in, slamming me against a tree, his body pressing against mine.
I gasped. "What in the bloody hell…"
"You are not leaving." His voice was raw.
My breath hitched. His hands were on either side of my head, his chest pressed against mine, his scent wrapping around me.
"Mov…e," I ground out, but my voice betrayed me… it stammered.
His lips curled. "No."
I swallowed hard, my heart hammering. I hated him. I hated him.
Then why was my body betraying me?
His head dipped lower, his lips inches from mine. Too close. Too overwhelming.
"You think you can walk away from me?" he murmured, his breath brushing against my lips. "You think I'll let you?"
Something dark burned in his eyes… possession. Wild. Uncontrollable. Gosh I forget how possessive werewolves were.
I felt his grip slide to my waist, his fingers pressing against my skin, sending shivers down my spine.
"Tell me," he said, voice softer now, "tell me you don't feel this. Tell me you don't burn for me the way I burn for you."
"Screw you." I bit my lip.
"Maybe later." He chuckled.
I shoved at his chest, but instead of pushing him away, it only made him press closer, his body flush against mine. Heat. Fire. Something dangerous.
"I hate you," I whispered.
His smirk faded. He leaned in, his lips brushing against my jaw, then lower, lower… and then I felt it.
The sharp sting. The sensation of his teeth sinking into my skin.
My breath hitched. My entire body arched. He was marking me.
Claiming me.
"Mine." His growl vibrated through my skin.
I gasped, my fingers clutching his shoulders, overwhelmed.
His teeth withdrew, and I barely had time to process before his lips crashed into mine. The kiss was filled with hunger, desperation, and wildness.
Everything exploded.
I hated him. I wanted him. I was ruined.
Gosh, at this point there was really no turning back.