The pack was afraid.
Seraphine could feel it the moment she stepped out of her room the next morning.
The air itself felt different, charged with tension, thick with unspoken fear.
Kael had made an example of Astrid and the others. And the message had been received loud and clear:
The Alpha King's omega was untouchable.
But fear bred resentment.
And resentment bred whispers.
-------
Seraphine walked through the halls of Kael's wing with a guard trailing behind her a new addition as of this morning.
Kael had been gone when she woke. A note left on her door in his sharp handwriting:
"Stay in the wing. The guard will escort you if needed. I'll send for you later."
- K
No explanation.
No softness after last night's confession.
Just orders.
She shouldn't have been surprised.
But some small, foolish part of her had hoped
She crushed that thought before it could fully form.
As she turned a corner, she nearly collided with a servant a young omega carrying linens.
The girl gasped and immediately dropped to her knees, head bowed.
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry, I didn't see"
"It's okay," Seraphine said quickly, reaching out to help her up. "You don't have to"
The omega flinched away from her touch.
Seraphine froze.
The girl's eyes were wide with terror not of Seraphine, but of what Seraphine represented.
"Please," the omega whispered. "Don't tell the Alpha King I"
"I won't," Seraphine said gently. "I promise. It was an accident."
The omega scrambled to her feet, clutching the linens to her chest.
"Thank you," she breathed, then hurried away as fast as she could without actually running.
Seraphine stood alone in the hallway, her chest tight.
They were terrified of her.
Not because of who she was.
But because of who claimed her.
--------
When the guard finally escorted her to Kael's office, she found him standing at his desk with Darius.
They were arguing.
"can't keep ignoring the Council," Darius was saying, his voice tight with frustration. "Vivienne is calling for a formal inquiry. Half the elders are"
"Let them call for whatever they want," Kael interrupted coldly. "I am the Alpha King. Not them."
"You're also one wolf," Darius shot back. "Even you can't rule alone if the entire Council turns against you."
"Then maybe I need a new Council."
"Kael"
"Enough."
Kael's aura pulsed not crushing, but sharp enough to make his point.
Darius's jaw clenched, but he nodded stiffly. "As you command, my king."
His eyes flicked to Seraphine standing in the doorway.
Something cold passed through his expression before he masked it.
He bowed curtly to Kael. "I'll handle the border reports."
Then he brushed past Seraphine without a word.
The door closed behind him.
Silence settled over the room like a heavy blanket.
Kael stood with his back to her, hands braced on the desk.
"Come here," he said quietly.
Seraphine crossed the room slowly, her heart thudding.
When she reached his side, Kael turned to face her.
He looked tired.
The controlled mask he always wore had cracks in it today small fissures that let her see the weight he carried.
"Did you sleep?" he asked.
The question surprised her. "I... yes. Did you?"
His lips curved slightly not quite a smile. "No."
He reached out, his fingers brushing a strand of hair away from her face.
"I kept thinking about what you said last night."
Her breath caught.
"About not knowing what you are," he continued, his voice low. "About me keeping you like a prisoner."
His hand settled on her cheek, his thumb tracing her jawline.
"You were right."
She stared at him.
"I've been selfish," Kael admitted. "Keeping you locked away, controlling every aspect of your existence, refusing to explain anything."
His eyes met hers vulnerable in a way that made her chest ache.
"I told you that you terrify me," he said softly. "And you do. Because I don't understand what you're doing to me."
His other hand came up, framing her face.
"But that's not your fault."
Seraphine's throat tightened. "Then... what do you want from me?"
Kael was quiet for a long moment.
"I don't know," he finally said. "I just know I can't let you go."
He leaned down, resting his forehead against hers the same gesture from last night.
"My wolf won't let me," he whispered. "And neither will I."
They stood like that, breathing the same air, existing in a fragile moment of honesty.
Then Kael pulled back.
"Come with me," he said. "There's something I want to show you."
For the first time since being brought to his wing, Kael took Seraphine outside.
Not to the garden that small, enclosed space she'd been allowed to walk before.
But outside. Into the open air of the pack grounds.
Wolves stopped and stared as they passed.
Warriors paused mid-training.
Servants froze with baskets in hand.
All eyes on them.
On her.
Seraphine wanted to disappear. To melt into the ground.
But Kael's hand was firm on the small of her back, guiding her forward with absolute confidence.
"Ignore them," he murmured.
"They're all staring."
"Let them."
His hand moved to her waist, pulling her closer to his side.
A claiming gesture.
A message.
They walked through the grounds in silence, past training fields and communal buildings, until they reached the edge of the territory.
A forest stretched before them ancient trees with thick trunks and sprawling roots, shadows deep and mysterious.
Kael stopped at the tree line.
"Do you know what this forest is called?" he asked.
Seraphine shook her head.
"The Veil," he said. "It's the border between Moonwalk territory and the unclaimed lands beyond."
He turned to face her.
"When I was young barely old enough to shift I ran away into these woods."
Her eyes widened. "You ran away?"
A ghost of a smile touched his lips. "My father had just died. The pack elders were trying to control me, mold me into the Alpha they wanted me to be."
He looked out at the trees.
"I hated them. Hated the expectations. The constant pressure."
"What happened?"
"I survived three days alone in the forest," Kael said. "Hunting, fighting rogues, nearly dying twice."
He glanced at her.
"When I came back, I was different. Harder. Stronger."
His hand came up to cup her face.
"I stopped letting anyone tell me who I had to be."
Seraphine's heart ached at the glimpse of the boy he'd been lost, angry, alone.
"Why are you telling me this?" she whispered.
"Because," Kael said, "I want you to understand something."
His thumb brushed her cheek.
"I don't care what the Council thinks. I don't care what the pack whispers. I don't care what traditions or laws or prophecies say."
His eyes burned into hers.
"You are mine. And I will burn this entire territory to the ground before I let anyone take you from me."
The words should have terrified her.
But instead, they made something warm and dangerous bloom in her chest.
"I don't want you to burn anything," she said softly.
Kael's lips curved. "Then tell me what you do want."
The question hung between them.
What did she want?
Freedom?
Safety?
To understand why her body responded to him even when her mind screamed danger?
"I want..." she started, then stopped.
Kael waited, patient for once.
"I want to know who I am," she finally said. "Not who you think I am. Not what everyone else sees. But who I actually am."
Something flickered in Kael's expression.
"Then we'll find out," he said. "Together."
He took her hand not commanding, not possessive.
Just... holding.
"Come on," he said. "There's more I want to show you."
Kael led her deeper into the forest, following paths that seemed invisible until he walked them.
Finally, they emerged into a clearing.
A small stream ran through the center, crystal clear. Wildflowers dotted the grass. Sunlight filtered through the canopy above, painting everything gold.
It was beautiful.
"I found this place the day I ran away," Kael said. "No one else knows about it."
He glanced at her.
"Until now."
Seraphine walked to the stream's edge, kneeling down to trail her fingers through the cool water.
For the first time in weeks, she felt like she could breathe.
"Thank you," she said quietly.
Kael sat down beside her, close but not touching.
They stayed like that for a while, just existing in the quiet.
Then Seraphine spoke.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Anything."
"Do you..." She hesitated. "Do you regret claiming me?"
Kael was silent for a long moment.
"No," he finally said.
He turned to look at her, his expression raw.
"But I regret how I did it."
His hand found hers again.
"I was cruel. Controlling. I treated you like a possession instead of a person."
His grip tightened slightly.
"And I'm sorry."
Seraphine's breath caught.
Kael Dreadmore, the ruthless Alpha King who bowed to no one was apologizing to her.
"I don't know how to do this," he admitted. "Whatever this is between us. I've never... cared about anyone like this before."
He looked almost helpless.
"You make me want to be gentle. But I don't know how."
Seraphine's chest ached.
Slowly, carefully, she reached up and touched his face.
Kael went completely still.
"Then learn," she whispered.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Then Kael closed his eyes, leaning into her touch like a wolf starved for gentleness.
"I'll try," he said quietly.
They stayed in the clearing until the sun began to set.
When they finally headed back, Kael's hand stayed linked with hers the entire way.
As they neared the mansion, Seraphine noticed something.
The wolves they passed weren't just staring anymore.
They were whispering.
Low voices. Suspicious glances.
"...never seen him like this..."
"...losing control..."
"...just an omega..."
"...the Council won't stand for it..."
Kael's jaw tightened, but he didn't acknowledge them.
When they reached the entrance to his wing, he stopped.
"I have a Council meeting tonight," he said. "It's going to be... difficult."
"Because of me."
"Because they're cowards who hide behind tradition instead of facing change."
He cupped her face, his thumb brushing her cheek.
"Don't listen to the whispers," he said firmly. "They don't matter."
"They matter to you. To the pack."
"You matter more."
The words hung in the air between them.
Then Kael leaned down and kissed her forehead soft, gentle, nothing like the claiming kiss from last night.
"Get some rest," he murmured. "I'll see you in the morning."
He started to pull away
"Kael."
He paused.
Seraphine stepped closer, rising on her toes.
And kissed him.
Not desperate or claiming.
Just... soft.
Tender.
A promise.
When she pulled back, Kael's eyes were wide with surprise.
Then they softened into something warm and devastating.
"Go," she whispered. "Before I lose my nerve."
A real smile rare and beautiful crossed his face.
"Goodnight, Seraphine."
"Goodnight, Kael."
He watched her walk to her room before finally turning away.
Neither of them noticed the figure watching from the shadows.
Or the cold, calculating look in his eyes.