Learn your place, wolf

Chapter 5

Learn your place, Wolf.

SERAPHINA

The silence hit me hard as soon as he left. That was total douchebag behavior, but for all it's worth, I got the room. But Philip was still here with me.

He leaned against the wall, arms crossed, and a wicked smile on his face. “Well, that was fun,” he said, his voice dripping with mockery.

I ignored him and kept my eyes to the floor. There was no need to get into an argument with him after what he did to me.

"Poor little wife.” He clicked his tongue, his voice still filled with mockery. “Don't hope for the king to change and come around.”

“You’ll get used to it,” he added with a laugh. “Or maybe not. It depends on how long you last.”

I'd had enough of his behavior, so I walked past him like he didn't exist. I wouldn't give him what he wanted, which was breaking me, getting under my skin, and making me upset.

He chuckled as I reached the door. “You'll regret agreeing to this soon.” He called after me. 

My shaking hands were hidden in my sleeves as I ignored him. I wasn't going to let him see how much his words get to crawl on my skin.

“Running away, werewolf?” He continued calling after me. “You’ll just end up crawling back, you know.”

And at that moment, I wanted to turn back and bite out words to him, but I thought otherwise. Tears were threatening to fall, and the last thing I wanted was to cry in front of douchebag-two.I took steady feet through the hallway, my steps echoing on the cold floor. The palace felt empty, but it was too big. There were too many rooms, and all of them had the same door and decorations. How do they recognize the room? I had no idea where I was heading, but I kept on walking. All I wanted was to get far away from that room, far from Leone and his troubles, far from the memory of last night—the sound's, the cries of ecstasy, the moans of pleasure, and the intimate way he had touched her. 

A few maids were giggling and gossiping at a corner, but as soon as they saw me, they threw hateful glances and moved out of my way, clearly avoiding me as if I were sick. After wandering, and admiring the paintings lining the walls, I found myself in the west wing. This part of the palace was far. I wanted it that way because I would rather not be near him. I didn’t want to hear his voice. Or the sound of her moans.I found a door; it was plain, but with no golden handles, I'd be passing in other rooms and there were no carvings on the door either.I stared at it. 

This would be my room now, far from him. I thought—maybe if I stayed away long enough, maybe he would forget me. Perhaps he would stop looking at me like I was some toy he had broken. Possibly he would lose interest and leave me alone. But I knew it wasn’t that simple and possible, especially after hearing the conversation between Leone and grandfather Lucien. I shook the thoughts away and tried to focus on the reason I was here in the first place. I needed peace and a place to breathe. 

This room would be my prison, but at least it was mine. My right hands stretched forward as I reached for the door handle—just one step inside and I'd fall apart in peace. I'd scream my head out into the pillow, and no one would hear me. That was all I wanted.

I took a deep breath and tightened my hand on the knob. But just as I was about to open it, a voice stopped me.

“Going somewhere, werewolf?”

LEONE’S POV

As I made a U-turn, I caught sight of something and hurried after it, only to find out it was Seraphina. 

She moved like someone with no direction, slow and unsure, like she didn’t belong. Like what she was doing was a bad decision. I stood at the corner and watched her quietly. Her head was down, her steps too light for someone raised as a wolf. The annoying part of it all was she not feeling my presence. Doesn't she have sense? Or instinct? Is she just empty?

I followed her, but she didn't look back once.

"Pathetic.” I spat out with disgust lining my features.

Her wolf should’ve warned her about a presence behind her. And besides that, any wolf worth their blood would’ve heard me, sensed me, and smelled me. But she just kept walking like a clueless mutt. I could’ve snapped her neck right there, and she wouldn’t know until it was done.I shook my head in disgust. “She would never be up to my standard. Never.”

I stepped forward. “Going somewhere, Seraphina?” I said, voice calm.

She froze.

Slowly, she turned around. Her face was stiff, and her hands were still shaking a little. If she was trying to hide it this time, then it was too late because I'd see through her.

“I was just finding a room,” she answered.

“Hmm,” I stepped closer. “I’m surprised you actually went through with it.”

“You asked me to choose one,” she insisted, looking me in the eye now. “I followed your order. You told me I could have a private room.”

She crossed her arms and gave me a stern look, like that would make her look strong.

I leaned my head back and let out a great belly-jingling laughter. Tears slid down my cheek, and I balled my hands into fists by my side.

“You think my word is law now?” I hissed out. “You think just because I said something, I have to stand by it?”

“You gave your word,” she replied, meeting my gaze, her eyes unyielding.

“I can take it back,” I snapped. “I can do whatever I want. If I decide you don’t deserve a room, no one will stop me.”

She stepped closer. Is she brave? Or stupid?

“You Lycans are all the same,” Seraphina bristled, her eyes narrowing. But she wasn't done. “You don't honor and never appreciate the truth. Worse still, you break your promises like they’re nothing.”

My face twisted in fury, but I just raised a brow in surprise that she would even talk back at me. Who is this werewolf? She's got balls.

“You expect respect from me?” she asked, voice rising. “Why would I respect those who don’t stand by their word?”

A slow, sinister smile spread across my face as I allowed her to keep going. Leone just gave her the opportunity to say what's on her mind.

“In my pack,” she spit out, “promises mean something and words matter. We build our future on what we say and how we say it.”

I watched her, nodding my head and appreciating the sentiment. She wasn’t finished.

“I wonder what your pack is built on,” she added.

I paused in my anger and glared at all, but that wasn't all. It wasn't enough to deter her from doing the next thing I didn't expect. She spit right on the floor between us. It was disgust from her, and she dared to show me that.

My blood boiled at her insult. Who did she think she was? This small, unwanted, useless, girl – this weak, vile and insignificant werewolf—daring to speak to me like I was beneath her? She had the audacity to disrespect a Lycan king? I stepped forward, allowing a maniacal grin to spread across my face as I tried to intimidate her with my aura, but this werewolf just stood unflinched. She stood there like she was something more than the dirt under my feet.

“You want to teach me about honor?” I asked, voice low and dark. “You want to speak of legacies and oaths?”

She said nothing in response to my question. I leaned close.

“Just so you know, werewolf, packs are built on power,” I sneered at her. “Not promises and soft words.”Still, she made no move; she just had her eyes stay on mine. She was defiling me. This was nothing but defiance, and I just know the right way to punish people who defy me.

I smiled then, a slow, twisted smile.

“If you love promises so much,” I said softly, “and you're bent on teaching me one, why don’t you go ahead and open the door to your precious little room?”

She narrowed her eyes at me whilst stepping back, making space for her. She turned and glared at me before gripping the knob. The door creaked loud. The air inside hit us both—dust, rot, age. The room smelled like forgotten things. Like dead time. Clearly, it looks as if it hadn't been inhabited in years.

She glances back at me, but I just smirk challengingly, like I expected it.

I leaned in and whispered, “What? Not what you hoped for?”

Before she could answer, I shoved her forward, and she stumbled inside. I slammed the door shut as soon as she hit the floor with a thud, and I heard her gasp.

I clicked the lock.

“Have fun cleaning, werewolf,” I said through the door.

And with that, I walked away. Her pain and tears didn’t matter. She would learn her place even if I had to teach her again and again.

And again.