Chapter 24: Fury

KADE

I watched Thorne's retreating figure disappear into the forest. Even from this distance, I could see the change in him.

Just talking to Sera had done that, given him hope.

My wolf snarled at the thought.

"He looks better than when he came," Sera observed beside me, her voice neutral.

I grunted, she was right. The broken, desperate Alpha who'd arrived was gone. In his place was someone who believed he still had a chance.

"He's going to come back," I said flatly.

"I know."

Thorne turned back one last time, his voice echoed across the distance.

"I'm not giving up, Sera! I'll prove I've changed, I'll prove I'm worthy of you!"

Then he was gone.

Silence fell between us. My hands clenched into fists, my wolf still prowling beneath my skin, agitated by another Alpha's presence on my territory.

But she'd sent him away.

“I like where I am”, she'd said.

The memory eased some of the tension in my chest.

"He really thinks he can fix this," Sera said quietly, staring at the spot where Thorne had vanished.

"Desperation makes people believe things."

She looked at me then, something unreadable in her expression. "Is it impossible? Can't a rejected mate bond be repaired?"

The question hit harder than it should have. "I don't know, maybe. Does it matter?"

"No," she said after a moment. "I was just curious."

We stood there, I should say something, I should tell her..

A commotion at the gate stopped my thoughts. Shouting, the sound of a horse.

Sera and I exchanged glances and headed toward the noise.

Marcus met us halfway, his expression dark, "We have a situation."

"What kind?"

"Vivian Clearwater just arrived at the gate alone, demanding to see Sera."

My blood went cold. "Clearwater's daughter? Here?"

"She's making a scene," Marcus said. "Should I send her away?"

Before I could answer, a woman's voice sounded across the compound, shrill and furious.

"I know you're in there! Come out and face me, you pathetic Omega!"

Sera's expression went hard. "That's Vivian."

We reached the gates to find them still closed, with several guards watching a woman on horseback just outside. She was beautiful in a cold sharp way, blonde hair perfectly styled, expensive clothes, the bearing of someone used to getting what she wanted.

Right now, what she wanted was clearly violence.

"Open the gates," Vivian demanded. "I have business with the whore who's trying to steal my mate."

Several guards looked uncomfortable, no one moved.

"Let her through," Sera said quietly.

"Sera.." I started.

"I'm not hiding from her." She looked at Marcus, "Open the gates."

Marcus hesitated, then nodded. The gates swung open.

Vivian rode through immediately, her eyes scanning the crowd until they landed on Sera. Her expression twisted with rage.

"You," she hissed, dismounting. "You're the Omega, the rejected mate."

"I have a name," Sera said calmly. "It's Sera."

"I don't care what your name is." Vivian walked closer, and I moved to intercept, but Sera's hand on my arm stopped me. "You're trying to steal Thorne, using your magic, your Silver Blood tricks to seduce him."

"I haven't done anything to Thorne."

"Liar!" Vivian's voice rose. "He came here to see you. He barely looks at me anymore, but he rides for hours to beg some worthless Omega to take him back. What did you do to him?"

"I rejected him," Sera said simply. "Just like he rejected me."

The words hit Vivian like a slap. "You..what?"

"He came here begging, whatever's between you two, it has nothing to do with me."

"Everything has to do with you!" Vivian was shaking now, her composure wavering. "Before you, he was mine, he chose me, we were going to rule Silvermoon together. Then your Silver Blood power appeared and suddenly I'm not good enough anymore!"

"That's not my problem," Sera said, her voice still calm.

I could see her control, the way she was refusing to be baited but Vivian was unraveling fast.

"You took everything from me," Vivian continued, her voice breaking. "My future, my mate, my position, all because you're some special Silver Blood. Well, you know what? My father is going to kill you and I'm going to watch."

The threat hung in the air.

"Is that why you're here?" I asked coldly. "To threaten her?"

Vivian's eyes went to me for the first time. "You must be the Rogue King, Kade the exile," She smiled nastily. "My father talks about you, says you're a traitor who murdered his own father."

"Your father lies."

"Does he?" Vivian turned back to Sera. "Did this one tell you what he really is? A killer, a criminal and you're hiding here with him like some pet."

"Enough," I said, my voice dropping to a growl. "You've delivered your threats, now leave."

"I'm not finished." Vivian's hand moved to her belt, and I saw the flash of silver, a knife.

She moved fast, lunging at Sera with the blade aimed at her throat.

I moved forward, but I didn't need to.

Sera's power broke out.

Silver light blazed from her body like a wave. Vivian was thrown backward, the knife flying from her hand, she hit the ground hard, gasping.

"Stay down," Sera said, her voice layered with power.

Vivian tried to stand but couldn't. Her body was locked, forced into submission by Sera's command.

"I said stay down."

Slowly, against her will, Vivian's knees bent, her head bowed. She was kneeling in the dirt, trembling with the effort of trying to resist.

Every wolf watching had gone silent.

Sera walked closer to Vivian, silver light still popping around her fingers. "You came here to threaten me, to kill me but you're not strong enough, you'll never be strong enough."

"My father.." Vivian gasped.

"Your father is planning," Sera said. "I know, everyone knows. Let him come, let the whole Council come, I'm not afraid anymore."

"You should be." Vivian's voice was strained, fighting the compulsion to kneel. "He's going to burn this compound to the ground and kill everyone in it just to get to you."

"When?" I demanded.

Vivian laughed bitterly, "Soon, very soon. He's been planning it for weeks, ever since he found out you were here." She looked at Sera with pure hatred, "You're his granddaughter, did you know that? His blood and he hates you more than anything in this world because you remind him of your filthy grandmother."

"I know who he is," Sera said quietly.

"Then you know he won't stop until you're dead." Vivian's smile was vicious despite her forced position, "I volunteered to help. Told him I'd find you, learn your weaknesses, report back but you know what? I don't think I need to, you're already weak. Hiding behind the Rogue King, playing at being powerful. When my father comes, you'll die screaming."

"Get out," I said, my voice deadly.

Sera released her hold, and Vivian gasped, collapsing. She climbed to her feet slowly, her expensive clothes dirty, her perfect hair disheveled.

"This isn't over," Vivian said, backing toward her horse. "You humiliated me, made me kneel, I'll remember that."

"Good," Sera said. "Remember it, remember that I could have killed you but chose mercy. Next time, I might not be so kind."

Vivian mounted her horse with shaking hands. "Thorne will never choose you, even if I have to kill you myself, he'll be mine."

She rode out, and Marcus closed the gates behind her.

Silence fell over the compound.

Then, slowly, the rogues began to murmur. I heard respect in their voices, awe, some even smiled.

Sera had made a Council Elder's daughter kneel in the dirt. Word of this would spread.

"Are you okay?" I asked quietly.

Sera looked at her hands, the silver light fading. "She tried to kill me."

"I know."

"And I stopped her without thinking, without losing control." She met my eyes, and I saw wonder mixed with fear. "I'm getting stronger."

"Yes."

She nodded, but I saw the weight settling on her shoulders. The knowledge that problem was coming, and it was all because of her.

"Sera," I said, moving closer. "Look at me."

She did.

"You're not alone in this. Whatever comes, we face it together. Understood?"

Something shifted in her expression. Hope, maybe.

I wanted to pull her close, to promise I'd keep her safe.

"Kade!" Marcus called. "We need to discuss defense plans, If Clearwater's attack is approaching…"

"Coming," I said.

The moment broke, Sera stepped back, the distance returning but something had changed.

Vivian had come here to threaten and intimidate, Instead, she'd shown everyone exactly how powerful Sera had become.