Chapter 4: The Enemy's Promise

I didn't sleep after Draven left.

His words echoed in my mind, tormenting me.

*"You are my mate. The one I've been searching for my entire life."*

I hated how my heart fluttered when I thought about his steel-gray eyes, his rough voice, his desperate confession.

*No. I will not fall for him. He is my enemy. He killed my pack. He captured my brother.*

I repeated the words like a mantra until dawn broke.

---

Morning came too quickly.

I dressed in the clothes left for me—another elegant gown, this time deep green. I hated how soft the fabric felt against my skin. I hated how comfortable I was becoming.

A knock at my door made me freeze.

"Enter," I called.

The nervous servant girl crept inside. "The Alpha requests your presence. He said to tell you he has news about your brother."

My heart leaped. "Orion? Is he okay?"

"I don't know," she whispered. "He said to come quickly."

I didn't hesitate. I followed her through the winding corridors, my pulse racing. Please let Orion be alive. Please let him be safe.

The servant led me to the main hall, where Draven stood waiting. His expression was unreadable.

"Where is he?" I demanded. "Where is my brother?"

Draven gestured to a door on the far side of the hall. "He's in the infirmary. My healers have been tending to him."

I rushed toward the door, but Draven caught my arm.

"Wait," he said. "He's still weak. Don't overwhelm him."

I jerked my arm away. "He's my brother. I'll do what I want."

I pushed open the door and stepped inside.

Orion lay on a narrow bed, his face pale, bandages wrapped around his chest and head. His eyes were closed, but his chest rose and fell with shallow breaths.

"Orion," I whispered, rushing to his side. "Orion, wake up."

His eyelids fluttered. "Sera...?"

"I'm here," I said, gripping his hand. "I'm here, brother."

He tried to smile, but it came out as a grimace. "You're alive. Thank the Goddess."

"Barely," I said. "But I'm alive."

Orion's eyes flicked to something behind me. I turned to see Draven standing in the doorway, his expression guarded.

"Get him out," Orion growled weakly. "Get him away from me."

"He's not going to hurt you," I said. "He's... he's been protecting me."

"Protecting you?" Orion's eyes widened with disbelief. "He captured you! He killed our pack!"

"I know," I said quietly. "It's complicated."

Orion struggled to sit up, his face contorting with pain. "How can you say that? He's the enemy! He—"

"Orion, please," I said, gripping his hand. "Just rest. We'll figure this out later."

Orion's gaze shifted to Draven, burning with hatred. "I don't know what game you're playing, Alpha. But if you hurt her—"

"I won't hurt her," Draven said flatly. "I would never hurt her."

"Liar," Orion spat.

Draven said nothing. He simply turned and walked out, closing the door behind him.

I stayed with Orion until he fell asleep, his breathing steady but shallow. When I finally left the infirmary, Draven was waiting for me in the corridor.

"He'll recover," he said. "But it will take time."

I nodded, not meeting his eyes. "Thank you."

"You don't have to thank me. I did it for you."

"I know." I looked up at him. "Why? Why do you care so much?"

Draven stepped closer, his steel-gray eyes burning into mine. "Because you're my mate. And I would burn the world to keep you safe."

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding. "I don't know what to say."

"Say you'll give me a chance," he said softly. "Say you'll stop fighting me. Even just a little."

I opened my mouth to respond, but a sharp voice cut through the air.

"Draven!"

Ravenna stormed down the corridor, her ruby eyes blazing with fury. "I need to speak with you. Now."

Draven's expression hardened. "Can it wait? I'm busy."

"It can't wait," she snapped. "It's about the Silvermoon Pack. They're planning an attack."

My blood ran cold. "What?"

Ravenna's gaze shifted to me, her lips curling into a cruel smirk. "Your precious Alpha Aldric is gathering his warriors. He's coming to rescue you. And he's bringing an army."

Draven's jaw tightened. "How do you know this?"

"I have spies in their territory," Ravenna said. "They're marching as we speak. They'll be here in three days."

Three days. Three days until my pack attacked. Three days until I had to choose between them and the man who claimed to love me.

Draven turned to me, his eyes unreadable. "Stay in your room. I'll handle this."

"No," I said, stepping forward. "If my pack is coming, I want to know what happens. I want to—"

"You want to warn them," Draven cut me off. "You want to help them destroy us."

I met his gaze. "They're my pack. They're my family."

"And I'm your mate."

"Being my mate doesn't change anything."

Draven's jaw tightened. "I'm not going to fight you about this. You're staying in your room. That's final."

He turned and strode away, Ravenna following close behind.

I watched him go, my heart aching with confusion and pain.

---

Hours passed. I paced my room, restless and anxious.

Three days. I had three days to figure out what to do.

*If my pack attacks, they'll be slaughtered. Draven's warriors outnumber them ten to one. They'll die. Orion will die. Everyone I love will die.*

*But if I warn them, I'll betray Draven. I'll betray the man who has shown me nothing but kindness. The man who is my mate.*

I didn't know what to do.

A knock at my door interrupted my thoughts. I opened it to find Ravenna standing in the hallway, her ruby eyes glittering with malice.

"May I come in?" she asked, her voice dripping with false sweetness.

I crossed my arms. "Why would I let you in?"

"Because I have information you need," she said. "Information about Draven."

I hesitated, then stepped aside. "Fine. Say what you came to say."

Ravenna swept into the room, her crimson gown trailing behind her. She sat on the edge of my bed, examining her nails.

"You're still here," she observed. "I thought you would have escaped by now."

"I'm working on it."

"Are you?" She smiled. "Or are you falling for him?"

"I'm not falling for anyone," I said flatly.

"Liar." She stood, stepping closer. "I've seen the way you look at him. You want him. Just like everyone else."

"I don't want him."

"Then prove it." Ravenna's eyes burned with challenge. "Help me destroy him."

I stared at her. "What?"

"You heard me. Help me destroy Draven. Help me take everything from him. And I'll let you go free."

I shook my head. "You're insane."

"Am I?" She laughed. "He stole everything from you—your pack, your brother, your freedom. Don't you want revenge?"

I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came.

*Revenge. Yes, I wanted revenge. I wanted to make Draven pay for everything he had done.*

But I also remembered the way he had looked at me. The way he had protected me. The way he had promised to never let me go.

"I can't," I said quietly. "I can't do that."

"Then you're a fool," Ravenna spat. "You're just like all the others. You'll fall for him, and he'll use you, and when he's done, he'll throw you away."

"He's not like that."

"He's exactly like that." Ravenna's voice was cold. "I've known him for years. He uses people. He destroys them. And he won't stop until he's taken everything from you."

She turned and walked toward the door.

"Think about my offer," she said over her shoulder. "Three days. That's all you have."

The door slammed behind her.

I stood in the middle of my room, trembling.

*What do I do?*

---

That night, I couldn't sleep. I paced my room, my mind racing.

Ravenna's words echoed in my skull. *"Help me destroy Draven. Help me take everything from him."*

But I couldn't do it. No matter how much I hated him, I couldn't betray him.

I was falling for him. I hated it. I hated myself for it.

A soft knock at my door made me freeze.

"Sera?"

Draven's voice, low and careful.

I opened the door.

He stood in the hallway, his expression tired and worn. His dark hair was disheveled, his eyes red-rimmed.

"Can we talk?" he asked.

I nodded, stepping aside.

He walked into my room, his hands shoved into his pockets. He looked nervous, uncertain.

"About earlier," he said. "The way I spoke to you... I shouldn't have ordered you to stay in your room. You're not a prisoner. You're my mate. And I should have treated you with more respect."

I blinked. "You came here to apologize?"

"Yes."

"Because you're afraid I'll help my pack attack you?"

"No." He shook his head. "Because I realized I was being a jerk. You're scared. You're confused. And instead of helping you, I pushed you away."

He stepped closer, his eyes searching mine.

"I don't want to be your enemy, Sera. I want to be your partner. Your protector. Your mate."

I swallowed hard. "I don't know if I can trust you."

"I know." His voice was soft. "But I'm willing to wait. I'm willing to prove myself. Whatever it takes."

"Why?" I asked. "Why do you care so much?"

He reached out, gently cupping my face. I didn't flinch away this time.

"Because you're my everything," he whispered. "Because I've been alone my entire life, and the moment I met you, I finally felt whole."

Tears burned in my eyes. "Draven..."

"I know you hate me," he said. "I know you'll never love me. But I'll keep fighting for you anyway. Until my last breath."

I didn't know what to say. I didn't know what to feel.

So I did the only thing that made sense.

I kissed him.

---

**End of Chapter 4**