CHAPTER 5-Hidden Fires

The golden light fading from Seraphina's arm left the remaining rogue wolves whimpering in pure terror. Realizing they were facing a force they could not understand, the beasts turned and scattered into the dark forest, retreating as fast as they could.

The danger was gone, but the sudden rush of magic completely drained Seraphina's strength. Her vision blurred, her knees buckled, and she fell weakly onto the cold cobblestones, darkness swallowing her whole.

When Seraphina opened her eyes, she was lying on her massive bed. The room was quiet except for the crackling fireplace. She groaned softly, turning her head, and instantly froze.

Kael was sitting right beside her on the mattress. His large frame towered over her, his golden eyes burning with an intense, unreadable emotion.

For a second, she thought he might thank her for scaring the rogues away. Instead, his jaw tightened.

"You are reckless," Kael growled, his deep voice rough and angry. "You could have died out there. You fell down like a fragile doll the moment the fight ended. This just proves what I said in the throne room, Seraphina. You are weak."

The insult stung worse than the rogue’s claws. A hot wave of anger rushed through her veins. "Get out!" she snapped, sitting up quickly and trying to swing her legs off the bed. "I saved myself, and I don't need your pity!"

"You're not going anywhere," Kael barked.

Before she could move, Kael leaned over her, his massive hands pinning her wrists firmly against the soft mattress. The sudden proximity made her breath catch. He was heavy, warm, and smelled intensely of rain and pine trees.

"Let me go, Kael!" she breathed, her heart hammering against her ribs.

"Shut up," he whispered fiercely.

Kael slammed his lips against hers in a brutal, passionate kiss. Seraphina gasped in shock, which only allowed him to deepen the kiss, his tongue claiming her mouth with an undeniable, dominant hunger. She wanted to fight him, she wanted to push him away, but her traitorous body melted under his touch. An involuntary, soft moan escaped her throat, sending a shiver through the room.

Hearing her moan, Kael’s control completely snapped. He released her wrists, his large hands sliding down her body with burning heat. He slipped his hands beneath her black top, deftly unhooking her bra with practiced ease and pushing her flat against the bed, his breathing ragged against her neck.

*Knock! Knock!*

The sharp sound of a fist against the wooden door shattered the heavy silence.

"Miss Seraphina?" the maid’s voice called out from the hallway. "Should I bring in the healing herbs for your arm?"

Kael froze instantly. The spell was broken. His golden eyes cleared, and a look of sudden regret and shock crossed his handsome face. He stood up immediately, stepping away from the bed and straightening his clothes, refusing to look at her.

Seraphina swallowed the thick lump in her throat, her face burning with immense embarrassment. She quickly adjusted her top.

"N-no, thank you," Seraphina called out to the door, her voice trembling slightly. "I am fine. You can leave them outside."

"Yes, milady," the maid replied, her footsteps fading down the hallway.

Without saying another word to Kael, Seraphina couldn't bear the suffocating awkwardness inside the room. Her emotions were a chaotic mess of anger and raw confusion. She scrambled out of bed, pushed past Kael's massive frame, and ran out into the cool night air, desperate to clear her head.

The castle hallways were empty, and she hurried toward the quiet security of the main garden. The cool wind bit into her skin, helping to wash away the embarrassing heat of Kael's touch. How could he reject her so brutally in front of everyone, only to touch her like that in private?

As she stepped onto the stone pathway of the dark garden, a sharp, dripping-wet voice shattered the quiet night.

"Shameless whore!!!"

Seraphina stopped dead in her tracks. She spun around, her eyes widening.

Standing under the moonlight was Aurora.

Aurora was the daughter of one of King Draven's oldest and most powerful allies. She was a beautiful, high-ranking werewolf with sleek blonde hair, but her face was currently twisted into an ugly mask of pure rage. Aurora had been obsessed with Kael for years, and everyone in the pack assumed they would marry to unite their families' fortunes.

"Excuse me?" Seraphina said, her voice instantly turning cold.

"You heard me, you pathetic human orphan!" Aurora snarled, marching right up to Seraphina, her long fingernails digging into her palms. "I saw Kael walking out of your wing just now. I know what you're doing. You are a disgusting, husband-snatching leech!"

Seraphina felt a bitter pang in her chest, remembering Kael's harsh rejection in the throne room. She looked at Aurora with tired eyes. "I didn't snatch anyone, Aurora. Kael doesn't want me. He made that perfectly clear to the whole world today."

"Then stay away from him!" Aurora screamed, her voice rising in pitch. Her eyes suddenly flashed a vicious, predatory silver, signaling that her inner wolf was taking over. "He belongs to me! He is going to be the King, and I am going to be his Queen! If you think I'm going to let a weak, packless human ruin my future, you are dead wrong."

Before Seraphina could draw her daggers, Aurora let out a feral growl. In the blink of an eye, Aurora’s body shifted violently, bones cracking and fur bursting from her skin. Within seconds, a massive, snarling grey werewolf stood where the girl had been, its long fangs dripping with saliva.

The giant grey wolf lunged forward, aiming its deadly jaws straight for Seraphina's throat.