Chapter 6: The Alpha’s Test

Chapter 6: The Alpha’s Test

Seraphine’s POV

Rhydian’s eyes stayed locked on my face, and I saw his chest beating faster than normal. 

He took a step closer, and the pack went more silent. 

“Stand up,” he said, in a rough voice.

I pushed myself to my feet slowly, my legs shaking a little from the cold and the pain in my ribs. 

“Who are you?” he asked again, quieter this time, but with an edge that made my stomach tighten.

“Elowen Solenne,” I said, keeping my voice soft and even. Inside, my thoughts raced. 

He knows something’s off. He has to feel it. 

Why else would he look at me like that?

Rhydian glanced at the crowd, then back at me. 

His jaw tightened, and he raised his voice so everyone could hear. “This witch is now a guest in Shadowfang. Under my protection. Her magic could help the pack.” 

He paused, and his eyes swept over the warriors and villagers. “Anyone who touches her answers to me.”

Gasps rippled through the pack. I heard mutters, some angry, some confused. 

A few wolves shifted uncomfortably, their eyes flickered between me and Rhydian. 

One older woman in the back crossed her arms, her face twisted in disapproval. But no one spoke out. 

They wouldn’t, not against their Alpha.

My heart pounded. 

Guest? Protection? What game is he playing? 

I expected chains, or at least questions in a dark room. Not this. 

I glanced up at him, trying to read his face, but it was stone cold, and gave nothing away.

Lysandra stepped forward from the steps, her white fur cloak swirled around her. 

Her face was pale, but her eyes burned with rage. 

She clenched her fists and her nails dug into her palms. “Rhydian,” she said, her voice sweet but sharp underneath. “A witch? In our home? After everything?”

He didn’t even look at her. “My decision,” he growled. “End of it.”

She flinched and her cheeks turned red. 

I could see the hate in her eyes when she glanced at me, like she wanted to rip my throat out right there. 

Good, let her burn. 

She took everything from me. 

Now she gets to watch me stand here, alive in a way she can’t understand.

Rhydian turned to Toren. “Take her inside and give her a room near mine.” His voice was flat, but I caught the way his hand twitched.

Toren nodded and grabbed my arm again, gentler this time. 

As he led me up the steps, I felt Rhydian’s eyes on my back. 

The mark on my ribs warmed, not burning now, but almost soothing. 

I noticed being near him calmed the storm inside me. 

No. Don’t trust it, remember he killed you. Remember that.

Inside the pack house, Toren guided me down a long hall, past doors I knew too well. 

This was my home once. I walked these floors with Rhydian’s hand in mine. 

Now I was a stranger.

He pushed open a door to a small room with a bed, a table, and a window looking out on the forest. “Stay here,” he said. “Alpha will come for you.”

I nodded obediently. As soon as the door closed, I sank onto the bed, my hands shook. 

Why protect me? What does he want? 

My mind spun with questions. 

The pull to my wolf grew stronger here. I pressed my hand to my chest, and felt the emptiness where she should be. 

Hold on, girl. I’m here.

Hours passed, and I paced the room, my boots left wet tracks on the floor. 

The door opened without a knock. 

Rhydian stepped in, alone. He closed it behind him, and the room felt smaller. 

His presence filled it, making my skin tingle. 

He leaned against the wall, arms crossed, staring at me.

“Why are you here?” he asked.

I stood straight, forcing myself to be calm. “I heard the pack needed help. Magic help.”

He pushed off the wall and stepped closer. “Liar.”

My breath caught. 

Does he know? No, he can’t. 

I shook my head. “I’m not.”

He reached out suddenly, and grabbed my wrist. 

The touch sent a shock through me, pain and shivers shot through me. 

I gasped, and his eyes widened. 

He dropped my hand and stepped back. 

“What are you?” he whispered.

I didn’t answer. Inside, my thoughts screamed. 

He feels it. The bond… my wolf. She’s making him crazy.

He turned away and ran a hand through his hair. “Stay close,” he said. “Don’t leave this hall without me.”

Then he was gone, and slammed the door hard behind him.

I collapsed onto the bed, and my heart raced. 

Being near him hurts, but it feels right too. 

It feels like coming home. 

Stop it, Seraphine. He betrayed you.

The next day blurred into meetings and stares. Rhydian kept me by his side during pack talks, saying my magic could sense threats. 

I noticed how he relaxed when I was near. 

His shoulders loosened, and his eyes lost some of their wild edge. 

His wolf quieted, I could feel it through the bond. 

Mine stirred less frantic, like my presence soothed her too.

Lysandra watched us from across rooms, her smiles fake, her eyes daggers. 

Once, she cornered me in a hall. “You think you can take what’s mine?” she hissed, her face inches from mine.

I met her stare. “I’m just a guest.”

She laughed, cold and sharp. “He’ll tire of you. Then you’re gone.”

Anger boiled in me. 

I couldn’t believe my sister had me killed for a man. 

I wanted to blast her with magic, and watch her burn. But I smiled instead. “We’ll see.”

She stormed off.

That night, I couldn’t sleep. The mark burned slowly. 

The next morning, Eldric, the Beta, knocked on my door. 

He was tall, stern, with sharp eyes that missed nothing. “Alpha wants you,” he said.

I followed him to a small room off the main hall. Rhydian wasn’t there. 

Eldric closed the door and turned to me, holding a small vial. “Give me your hand.”

“What?” I stepped back.

He grabbed my wrist, quickly and firm. 

Before I could pull away, he pricked my finger with a needle. 

Blood welled up, and he collected it in the vial. Pain shot through me, but I bit my lip.

“Why?” I asked as my voice shook.

“Alpha’s orders.” He capped the vial and left without another word.

My mind raced. 

Blood test? For what? Does he suspect? 

Fear twisted in my gut. 

If they find out, what then? 

I paced my room all day, the mark pulsed uneasily.

Later, I overheard voices through the wall. Eldric and Rhydian, arguing in low tones.

“It’s impossible,” Eldric said. “Her blood matches Seraphine’s. The lunar resonance, the bond pulse. Exactly the same.”

Then Rhydian’s voice, sharp. “You’re wrong.”

“I’m not. Look at the results.” Papers rustled.

A crash then something broke. “No!” Rhydian roared. “She’s dead. I killed her. My mate is gone.”

Eldric’s voice stayed calm. “Then explain this. Is she… back? In that body?”

Another crash. “Get out!”

The door slammed. I backed away from the wall, my heart pounded so loud. 

What if he confronts me? What if he kills me again?

That night, I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. 

The house was quiet, but I felt Rhydian’s unrest through the bond. 

My wolf whimpered, torn between us.

I must have dozed off, because suddenly, screams woke me. 

From his room. I slipped out, pressing my ear to his door.

“Seraphine!” he yelled, voice broken.

I pushed the door open. He thrashed in bed, sheets tangled, sweat pouring. “No… forgive me…”

I crossed to him, shaking his shoulder. “Wake up.”

His eyes snapped open, wild. He grabbed my wrists, pulling me down. “You…”

Then he froze, sniffing the air. His hands on my skin, my scent filling the room.

He released me, sitting up. His chest heaved, eyes confused. “Her scent… on my hands.”

I backed away. “It was a dream.”

He stared at his palms, rubbing them together. “But why…”

Rhydian whispered, “If this is a lie… then why does my wolf know you?”