******
The pattern continued.
Every morning for the next week, Astrid arrived at Seraphine's door with the same cold knock, the same clipped words: "The Alpha King wants you."
And every day, Seraphine found herself in Kael's office.
Sometimes she sat on the small chair he'd finally allowed her to use though it was positioned so close to his desk that his presence still surrounded her completely.
Other times, when his wolf was restless and his mood was dark, he'd pull her onto his lap without a word, his hand settling on her waist like it belonged there.
She stopped shaking after the third day.
By the fifth day, her body had learned to tolerate his touch.
By the seventh day, she caught herself leaning into his warmth when the fire burned low and the office grew cold.
She hated herself for it.
But survival was survival.
It was on the eighth day that everything went wrong.
----
Seraphine was brushing her hair when Astrid entered without knocking.
But today, something was different.
Astrid's usual mask of cold professionalism had cracked. Her amber eyes glittered with something sharp and dangerous.
Jealousy.
"The Alpha King is occupied this morning," Astrid said, her voice tight. "You're not needed."
Seraphine blinked in surprise. For eight days straight, Kael had summoned her without fail.
"Oh," she said quietly, setting down the brush. "Should I"
"You should stay here," Astrid interrupted. "Out of the way."
She turned to leave, then paused at the door.
"Tell me something, omega," she said, her back still turned. "Do you actually think you matter to him?"
Seraphine's stomach tightened.
Astrid glanced over her shoulder, her smile cruel.
"You're a novelty. A puzzle he's trying to solve because he's bored." She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a venomous whisper. "But once he figures you out? Once he gets whatever answer he's looking for?"
She leaned in, her breath hot against Seraphine's ear.
"He'll throw you away. Just like all the others."
Seraphine's hands clenched in her lap. "I never asked for any of this."
"No," Astrid agreed, pulling back. "You just stumbled into his path and ruined everything."
Her eyes flashed with hatred.
"I was made for him. Trained my entire life to stand at his side. To be his queen."
Her voice cracked slightly.
"And then you a pathetic, trembling omega who can't even hold his gaze without looking like you're about to faint you catch his attention with one stupid mistake."
Seraphine met her eyes, and for the first time, she saw past the cruelty.
Astrid wasn't just jealous.
She was broken.
"I'm sorry," Seraphine said softly.
Astrid's expression twisted. "I don't want your pity."
"I'm not"
"Shut up."
The command cracked through the room.
Astrid's hands were shaking. Her carefully maintained composure was unraveling.
"You don't get to be kind to me," she hissed. "You don't get to look at me like like you understand"
"I do understand," Seraphine said quietly. "You love him."
Astrid's face went white.
Then red.
Then something dangerous flickered in her eyes.
"Don't you dare"
The door burst open.
A warrior stood in the doorway, breathless.
"Astrid," he said urgently. "The Alpha King is asking for the omega. Now."
Astrid's jaw clenched. Her hands curled into fists.
But she stepped aside, her voice brittle. "Go."
Seraphine stood quickly, moving toward the door.
As she passed Astrid, the she-wolf grabbed her arm hard enough to bruise.
"This isn't over," Astrid whispered.
Then she released her.
Seraphine hurried out, her heart pounding.