3

The iron shackles felt different. It’s lighter. They no longer burned her skin like silver had. For the first time in years, Serafina realized how much the silver had been weakening her body. Her breathing became steadier, and the constant ache in her muscles slowly began to fade.

She frowned. ‘Why would he remove the silver?’

If Darius truly believed she was a dangerous assassin, keeping the silver on her would have been the wiser choice. Unless, he had another reason. The elderly woman who had greeted Darius earlier stepped into the room carrying a wooden tray.

Stream rose from a bowl of soup, accompanied by fresh bread, roasted meat, and a cup of herbal tea. She placed everything on the table before offering Serafina a gentle smile.

“My name is Martha.” Serafina didn’t respond. “I take care of the Alpha House.”

Still nothing. Martha didn’t seem offended. “You should eat.”

Serafina glanced at the food before looking away. “I’m not hungry.”

Martha sighed softly. “I’ve heard that answer too many times.”

Serafina’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”

“When warriors return from battle after losing someone they love...” She folded her hands neatly in front of her. “They usually say the same thing.”

“I’m not one of your warriors.”

“No.” Martha smiled kindly. “But you’re wounded.”

The words caught Serafina off guard. Not because of what Martha had said, but because of how she said it. There was no disgust and no fear, only concern. And it felt so wrong. People weren’t supposed to look at her like that.

“I’m fine.”

“No.” Martha looked directly into her eyes.

“You’ve simply convinced yourself that you’re supposed to be.”

Serafina’s throat tightened. She quickly looked away. “You don’t know anything about me.”

“Perhaps not.” Martha nodded. “But I know pain when I seet it.”

Silence settled between them. After a long moment, Martha quietly left the room. The tray remained untouched. An hour later, a knock echoed against the door. Without waiting for permission, the door opened.

Darius stepped inside. He had changed out of his battle clothes and now wore a simple black shirt with dark trousers. Ever dressed casually, he still carried the overwhelming presence of an Alpha. His crimson eyes immediately drifted toward the untouched meal.

“You haven’t eaten.”

“It could be poisoned.”

Darius walked to the table. Without saying a word, he picked up the bowl. He took several spoonfuls. Then tore off a piece of bread. Only after swallowing everything did he place the tray back down.

“There. No poison at all.”

Serafina folded her arms. “Maybe you’re immune.”

A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Creative.”

“I’m serious.”

“So am I.”

He sat across from her. Neither spoke for several seconds. Until Darius broke the silence first.

“Why did Shadow Fang choose you to kill me?”

Serafina’s expression hardened. “I don’t answer questions.”

“You’ve killed before. You’ve infiltrated heavily guarded territories. You don’t even hesitate.” Serafina’s remained silence.

“But when you attacked me...” His crimson eyes locked onto hers. “You hesitated.”

Her heartbeat skipped. And he noticed. She hadn’t even realized it herself until now. It had lasted less than a second. A tiny pause before driving the blade forward. Enough time for Darius to stop her.

“You imagined it.”

“I don’t think I did.”

“I said you imagined it.” She clenched her fists.

“And I said...” He leaned forward slightly. “I don’t think I did.”

The room grew unbearably quiet. Serafina forced herself to remain calm.

‘Don’t react. Don’t give him anything.’

That was what she had been taught for yeras. Interrogation wasn’t always about questions. Sometimes, silence revealed more than words. Darius slowly stood.

“You’ve been trained well.” She didn’t answer. “But not well enough.”

Her gaze snapped toward him. “What does that mean?”

“If you’d truly been nothing more than a weapon, you wouldn’t hesitate.”

He stopped beside the window. His words lingered long after he fell silent. Serafina hated that he was right. Because she remembered the moment she had stood behind him her dagger raised.

She had seen children laughing in the courtyard below. Warriors joking with one another. A peaceful pack. Nothing like the monsters Shadow Fang had descrived. And she’s hesitated. Just once. And it had cost her everything.

“Tell me something.” Darius spoke again without turning around.

“About what?”

“When was the last time you shifted?”

Serafina frowned. “Shifted?”

He slowly faced her. “Shifted into your wolf.”

“I...” The answer caught in her throat.

She didn’t have one. She had never shifted. Not once. She had always assumed, that she simply wasn’t strong enough. Every other werewolf around her had shifted years ago. Whenever she asked why she couldn’t, she was punished for questioning her superiors.

She looked away. “I don’t remember.”

Darius studied her carefully. “You don’t remember or you’ve never shifted?”

The room fell silent. Serafina’s breathing became uneve. How could he possibly know? Before she could answer, a sharp pain exploded inside her chest. She gasped. Her knees hit the floor. The room spun violently. Fragments of unfamiliar memories flashed through her mind.

A crimson oom. A woman wearing a silver crown. Warm hands cradling a baby. A lullaby she had never heard before. Yet somehow knew by heart. Then darkness. The visions vanished. Her breathing came in ragged gasps. Darius was beside her almost instantly.

“What happened?”

Serafina pushed him away. “Don’t touch me.”

He ignored the warning. His hand reached for her wrist to check her pulse. The moment their skin touched, a strange warmth spread between them. Enough for Darius to feel something impossible. A powerful pulse. Gone as quickly as it came.

His eyes narrowed immediately. He had felt it. He was certain this time. There was something sleeping inside this woman. Something that should not exist. Serafina yanked her hand free of him.

“I said don’t touch me!”

Darius slowly rose to his feet. For the first time since claiming her, he wasn’t looking at an assassin. He was looking at a mystery. One that grew more dangerous with every answer she couldn’t give. As he reached the door, he spoke without looking back.

“Eat.”

Serafina frowned. “W-what?”

“Whatever is happening to you, you’re going to need your strength.” His voice remained calm.

The door closed behind him. Serafina sat alone on the cold floor, her hand pressed against her racing heart. She didn’t understand the visions. She didn’t understand the strange warmth that lingered where Darius had touched her. Most of all, she didn’t understand why. But the name of Serafina suddenly felt as though it belonged to someone else.