Chapter 5

SERIS’S POV

I stepped into the room Kaelan had assigned me, and my breath caught in my throat. The mansion was enormous and stunning, nothing like the rundown house I shared with my father back in Silvermare territory. This suite was bigger than our entire living space.

With polished marble floors reflected the soft lighting, and floor-to-ceiling windows showing a breathtaking view of the forests surrounding Moonsfang Pack territory.

I glanced at the massive bed in the center of the room. It looked impossibly luxurious with its cloud-like white linens and piles of plush pillows. After the nightmare of the night. With Cassian’s brutal rejection, the public humiliation in front of the entire pack, crashing into Kaelan, and being claimed so suddenly, I couldn’t resist it. I kicked off my shoes and jumped onto it, landing with a soft bounce. A small, surprised laugh escaped me as I sank into the mattress. For one brief moment, I felt like a normal girl who had stumbled into a fairy tale instead of a broken, wolfless reject.

But reality crept back in fast. The bond. That electrifying jolt I felt when I collided with Kaelan. The warmth that eased my tears and made my skin tingle,  was it really the fated mate bond he mentioned? I lay back against the pillows, staring up at the ceiling. I could still sense faint echoes of him through it.

Was this the Moon Goddess’s cruel joke? Pairing me with the most powerful and ruthless Alpha in Furcity right after Cassian discarded me like I was nothing? Part of me wanted to embrace it. The safety, the power, the way Kaelan had looked at me like I mattered. The guarded, intelligent side of me warned caution. He was dangerous. And that elegant red-haired woman, Lira, had clearly been more than just a friend. I had seen the jealousy flash in her eyes. I was clearly a threat to her.

I curled up on the bed, still wearing the clothes from yesterday, my long  hair spilling across the pillow. Exhaustion finally won. The bond hummed softly in my chest, a confusing mix of warmth, lust, and something else. The thoughts of Cassian’s disgusted blue eyes and Willow’s fake sympathy faded as sleep pulled me under, deep and dreamless in the unfamiliar luxury.

The next morning, a soft knock pulled me from sleep. I sat up, blinking against the bright sunlight streaming through the windows. A young maid in a crisp uniform stood at the doorway, offering a polite smile.

“Good morning, Miss Seris. Alpha Kaelan requests your presence for breakfast in his private study. He asked me to assist you if needed.”

My stomach fluttered with nerves. Breakfast with Kaelan. The bond tugged at the mention of his name, sending a small, warm spark through me. “Thank you. I can manage on my own.”

She laid out several beautiful outfits from the wardrobe. They were clearly prepared overnight. I chose a simple yet elegant deep blue dress that hugged my curvy figure modestly. It reminded me of the one I had worn during the rejection, but this one felt different somehow. I brushed my long auburn hair until it shone, washed my face, and touched the small mole behind my ear, remembering how Kaelan’s thumb had brushed it so gently.

My heart raced as I followed the maid through the mansion’s grand halls. In daylight, the place was even more impressive. There were modern art on the walls, soaring ceilings, and the faint scent of pine from the surrounding forests. This was real power. Moonsfang territory was a world away from the poor, restricted human districts or the smaller Silvermare lands. But it also felt overwhelming. I was the outsider here. The weak, human girl who had been publicly rejected.

The maid stopped in front of a heavy wooden door at the end of a quiet corridor. “The Alpha’s private study. He’s expecting you.” She bowed slightly and left me there.

I hesitated for only a second, then opened the door without knocking, excitement and nerves pushing me forward. The sight inside knocked the air out of my lungs.

Kaelan sat behind a large oak desk, his tall athletic build commanding the room. His dark hair was slightly tousled, and eyes intense. But he wasn’t alone. Lira was there with him. She was perched on the edge of his desk, leaning in far too close. Her red hair cascaded down her back as she laughed softly, one hand resting possessively on his chest. Her slender, curvy body was pressed against him, her lips inches from his as if they had just pulled apart from a kiss. The air in the study was thick with tension and intimacy.

Something flared violently in my chest, sending a sharp stab of shared pain and unwanted lust straight through me. It mixed with the fresh wound from Cassian’s betrayal, making my vision blur with hot jealousy and humiliation.

Before I could stop myself, I let out a shocked gasp.

Kaelan’s head snapped up instantly, his eyes widening with surprise. Lira turned slowly, a smug, satisfied smile curling her lips as she kept her hand possessively on his chest.

“Well,” she purred, not moving away. “Looks like the little stray found us. Jealous already, darling?”

My vision blurred with tears and rage as I turned and fled the study.

“Seris, wait! It’s not what you think it is!” I heard Kaelan call out behind me, his deep voice laced with urgency.

I didn’t stop. I saw a door a little further down the hallway and ran inside, slamming it shut behind me. I pressed my forehead against the cool wood, breathing hard, my chest heaving as hot tears spilled down my cheeks. The chest throbbed painfully. How could I be so stupid? First Cassian with my best friend, now this? I don't even know why I'm this angry? I only met him just yeste—

“Are you lost, little bird?” A low, smooth voice suddenly echoed in the room behind me.