Chapter 2 Sweet Girlfriend

Seraphina’s POV

Seraphina watched them.

Selene kept giggling, whispering something into Kaelion’s ear, her fingers brushing against his arm in a way that made Seraphina sick. It was all so fake, so staged—just like before.

But this time, she wasn’t the naive fool blindly in love. This time, she saw through their every move. This time she was going to win. The only goal she had in her mind was Revenge.

Kaelion finally noticed her.

His silver eyes darkened with something unreadable before he turned on his usual charm, his signature smirk slipping into place as he walked toward her with his lazy, confident strides.

She braced herself.

As soon as he was close enough, he pulled her up from the chair and into his arms, burying his face into her neck and inhaling deeply.

That familiar husky voice rumbled against her skin.

“Oh, Sera baby, why are you sitting all alone?” His tone dripped with honey, smooth and practiced. “Why didn’t you come greet me first? I missed you, baby.”

All fake mate shit, Seraphina thought, forcing herself to melt into his embrace like she would have before.

If this were the old Seraphina, she would have swooned at his words, her heart racing just from the closeness of his body.

But she wasn’t the same girl anymore.

All in good time.

She let out a small, dramatic sigh, tilting her head up to look at him with big, pleading eyes.

“Oh, I’m sorry, Kael,” she pouted. “I was just tired. Can you take me home, please? I’ve missed you so much. Where were you this morning? I hated waking up alone without your warm embrace.”

She added a small sniffle at the end, playing the role of the spoiled, needy girlfriend.

Kaelion’s body tensed.

A flicker of confusion flashed across his face before he quickly masked it. He hadn’t expected this. She knew he hadn’t. She had always been the quiet, patient girlfriend—the one who never demanded anything, the one who never clung to him.

But now?

Now, she was going to play with him. Toy him.

To her satisfaction, Kaelion’s expression softened almost instantly. He swallowed hard, his hands gripping her waist a little tighter, as if reassuring himself of her presence.

“No, baby, of course not,” he murmured. “Come, let’s go home.”

Seraphina bit the inside of her cheek to suppress a smirk.

Gotcha.

She leaned into him, letting herself appear small and delicate in his arms before whispering, “Kael… can you carry me, please? I’m so tired.”

His body stiffened again, but before he could even think of refusing, she fluttered her lashes and brushed her fingers against his jaw.

That was all it took.

Without a word, Kaelion scooped her up into his arms, holding her as if she weighed nothing.

She could feel the jealous daggers Selene was throwing at her back.

But Seraphina wasn’t done yet.

They hadn’t taken more than two steps when she suddenly gasped. “Oops! My bags!”

Kaelion barely stopped walking when Seraphina turned her head dramatically, peeking over his shoulder to meet Selene’s gaze.

She pretended as if she had only just noticed her stepsister. Then, with an innocent smile, she gasped again.

“Oh! Sister!” Her voice was sweet—too sweet. “Would you be a dear and carry my bags to the car? Kael’s Beta can take them later.”

Silence.

Selene’s face twitched.

Seraphina had to bite the inside of her cheek again to keep from laughing.

The way Selene’s lips tightened, the way her nostrils flared—oh, this was delicious.

But, as expected, Selene quickly schooled her expression, forcing a smile onto her lips.

“Of course, Ina,” she said, her voice just a little too tight. “Why wouldn’t I?”

Kaelion didn’t even seem to notice the storm brewing behind Selene’s eyes. He simply adjusted his hold on Seraphina and carried her out of the store as if she were some precious treasure.

Seraphina rested her head against his chest, inhaling the familiar scent of pine and musk.

If she didn’t know better, she would have thought this moment was romantic.

But she did know better.

This was nothing but an illusion.

And she was about to shatter it.

The ride back to Kaelion’s estate was smooth, the expensive black SUV moving through the roads with effortless ease.

Seraphina leaned against Kaelion, keeping up her act, occasionally sighing as if she were completely content in his arms.

Kaelion, on the other hand, was still confused. She understood him too well. Of course she had loved him once. But now all she had for him was hatred.

She could feel it in the way his grip on her thigh would tighten, in the way he kept glancing down at her as if trying to figure out what had changed.

“Baby,” he finally said, his voice low, “are you okay? You’re acting… different.”

Seraphina blinked up at him innocently. “What do you mean, Kael? I just missed you so much.”

She traced a delicate finger down his arm, watching as his muscles flexed at her touch.

Kaelion’s jaw clenched.

Before he could respond, Selene—who had finally managed to get into the car—interrupted with a laugh. “Oh, Kael, isn’t it cute? Ina’s being extra clingy today.”

Seraphina turned toward her stepsister, feigning a pout.

“Am I not allowed to want my mate’s attention, Sel?” she murmured. “You wouldn’t understand since you don’t have one yet…”

Selene’s face froze.

For a second—just a second—her perfect mask slipped, revealing the simmering frustration beneath.

Seraphina smirked internally.

One point for me.

Kaelion, oblivious as ever, chuckled and pulled Seraphina closer. “She’s right, Sel. You wouldn’t understand what it’s like.”

Selene gripped her phone tightly, her nails digging into her palm.

Seraphina turned back to Kaelion, resting her head against his shoulder as the car continued to move.

She wasn’t just going to let Selene win this time.

No.

This time, she was going to make her suffer.

And Kaelion?

He would be none the wiser.