13

Serafina's POV

I stopped, my stomach twisting. Slowly, I turned to see my brother, Eli. It seemed like he had followed me out of the hall.

Eli strode toward me, his face set in a sneer. His eyes flickered briefly to Madam Rachel, but then he focused entirely on me.

"I need a moment with my sister," he said.

I understood the threat beneath his words, and immediately, I glanced at Madam Rachel and gave her a small nod. "It’s alright. I will speak with him."

She hesitated, her gaze shifting between us. "I will give you a moment then," she said to me before finally walking ahead.

The moment she turned the corner, Eli grabbed me. His fingers wrapped around my throat, and he shoved me against the cold stone wall.

I gasped in pain as my hands instinctively rose to pry his fingers away, but I didn’t struggle. Not yet.

My cloud veil shifted slightly but didn’t fall.

Eli’s breath was hot against my cheek. "You good-for-nothing bitch!"

I froze, my nails digging into his wrist. I wondered what I had done to anger him today.

"You think you’re safe here?" His grip tightened slightly. "I saw how those mutts treated you tonight. Even the servants don’t respect you. You don’t have any dignity, Serafina."

I clenched my teeth.

Then, his voice dropped lower.

"Bear a son for Alpha King Daxton and send the good news home soon. Otherwise, " His fingers squeezed harder. "I will make your life a living hell."

"Are you two playing some kind of game over there?"

Eli and I both whipped our heads toward the voice.

Daxton.

He stood at the end of the hall, his hands clasped behind his back, his golden eyes locked on us.

I stiffened. I thought he had left.

Eli quickly released me, stepping back before offering Daxton a polite nod.

"Alpha King Daxton," he greeted smoothly. "I was simply teaching my sister some manners."

Daxton’s lips curled slightly.

Then, he started walking towards us at a steady pace.

"You have no right to teach anyone manners in my territory. Especially not my wife."

I frowned.

He had called me his wife twice now.

Once to the servant and now in front of Eli.

But this time, there was something different in the way he said it. Something sharp. Something final. As if daring anyone to question it.

Daxton stopped right in front of us. His voice dropped, deadly and cold.

"The next time you lay a hand on my wife, " His golden eyes darkened. "I will cut it off and keep it as a keepsake. Is that clear?"

Daxton's POV

Silence settled between us, heavy and charged.

Eli was stiff for a moment before forcing a tight smile.

"Crystal clear, Alpha King," he said smoothly. But his gaze flickered to Serafina one last time, cold and unreadable, before he turned on his heel and walked away.

My fingers twitched with the urge to break something. But I let him walk away.

The doors shut behind him, sealing him back in the noise and drunken revelry of the banquet.

Then I turned my gaze to Serafina. She had turned fully to face me now. The fear in her eyes was completely gone.

Interesting.

"You seem to fear your family more than you fear me," I mused. "Why is that?"

Serafina didn’t answer.

I tilted my head slightly, considering her silence.

"I would think I’m far more terrifying than your entire family combined. And yet, you don’t seem to perceive me as dangerous."

Her lips parted slightly before she closed them again. Then, after a pause, she finally spoke.

"There is nothing to fear about you."

I let out a chuckle, the sound low and edged with amusement.

Nothing to fear?

Leaning toward her, I let my height tower over her, watching as her scowl deepened.

"Little wolf," I murmured, my voice smooth as silk. "In time, you will see."

Her jaw tightened.

I pulled back, and my amusement faded just as quickly as it had come. My expression hardened, turning sharp and unreadable.

"What was that back there?" I asked, voice flat. "At the banquet table. What were you doing?"

Serafina frowned, feigning confusion. "I don’t know what you’re talking about."

I scoffed lightly. "Of course you don’t."

She really thought I was a fool.

"That strange grip you had on the table," I continued. "You were about to flip it, weren’t you?"

Serafina didn’t flinch. "I wasn’t."

I studied her for a long moment. "It’s good to be angry when you’re mistreated," I said finally, "but anger alone isn’t enough to change anything."

Her brows pulled together slightly. "What part of me was angry?"

I smirked.

"Denial is amusing, little wolf. But next time, if you want to flip a table, get a wolf first." I leaned in just slightly, my voice dropping to a lower register. "Especially in a room full of Elders and pack leaders."

Her reaction was immediate.

Her chest rose and fell sharply, anger flashing across her face.

Before she could spit out whatever sharp retort was on the tip of her tongue, I stepped aside, giving her a clear path.

Serafina hesitated for a fraction of a second, then lifted her chin and walked past me, her steps stiff with frustration.

As she disappeared down the hall, I exhaled through my nose, watching her retreating form.

Let’s see how and where you channel all that anger.

But one thing was clear: if Serafina ever gained a stronger wolf, she wouldn’t be a delicate little thing anymore.

She would be unpredictable.

Uncontrollable.

Dangerous.

And that? That could be a problem.

Just then, the banquet hall doors creaked open again.

"Daxton."

I didn’t need to look to know who it was.

Wanda’s voice was smooth, carrying a note of familiarity as she walked toward me.

I turned slightly, catching the way her gaze flickered past my shoulder, following the direction Serafina had gone.

But she quickly schooled her expression, releasing a small sigh as she reached my side.

"You really made a mistake marrying her," she said, her voice almost pitiful.

I kept my expression unreadable. "How so?"

Wanda turned fully toward me, her emerald eyes narrowing slightly. "You saw what happened tonight, didn’t you? She humiliated you, Daxton.

“She embarrassed you in front of the entire council. Even the servants don’t respect her."

I glanced down at her. "I can deal with that much."

She inhaled through her nose, disappointment flashing in her expression.

"According to my father, there’s already been talk since the night you claimed her," she continued, folding her arms. "You knew this would happen, didn’t you?"

"There are always talks, Wanda," I said simply. "I was prepared for them."

She held my gaze for a long moment. Then, something unreadable crossed her face.

"Daxton," she said carefully, "do you actually plan to make Serafina your wife?"

Something in her tone shifted.

I frowned subtly. "She is already my wife."

Wanda’s lips parted slightly. I could see the words forming in her mind, but in the end, she hesitated.

And then, she dropped it.

"Forget it," she murmured, shaking her head.

But I knew exactly what she had meant.

She wasn't asking whether I acknowledged Serafina as my wife.

She was asking if I planned to let Serafina bear my children.

The answer was none of her business. But for the sake of drawing the line, I let the silence stretch between us.

A heartbeat later, Wanda changed the topic.

"I heard there’s been another killing," she said, folding her arms. "And we are returning the day after tomorrow."

I nodded. "Yes."

Wanda tilted her head. "Who do you think is behind it?" she asked. "Rogues? Or some sort of raid?"

I exhaled slowly. "We will find out once the investigation yields results."

Wanda studied me for a moment, then nodded.

I had no patience for further conversation.

"I’ve had a long day," I said, cutting the discussion short. "I need to rest."

She hesitated, lips parting slightly like she wanted to say more.

But then she simply exhaled and forced a small smile.

"Good night, Daxton. Rest well."

I didn’t buy it.

Wanda never dropped things so easily.

Whatever was brewing in her head, it wasn’t over.

And I had a feeling I’d find out soon enough.