Chapter 3

Seraphina’s Pov

Alex's grip loosened.

I looked up at him, and for the briefest moment, guilt flickered across his face. He released my arm as though he had only just realized how tightly he had been holding it.

"Seraphina... I didn't mean—"

His apology never came.

A weak whimper echoed from the dining hall.

"Father..." little Elias called anxiously. "Mother doesn't look well."

The change in Alex was immediate.

He forgot I existed.

Crossing the room in long strides, he reached Cassey in an instant, gathering her gently into his arms as though she were something precious. He brushed the hair from her face, his voice soft enough that I had never once heard him use that tone with me.

"What is it? Tell me."

Cassey leaned weakly against his chest.

"I... I think the smell of the vomit made me ill," she whispered. "I feel so faint, Alex. I don't think I can even eat."

His expression darkened.

He turned to me with cold, hard eyes.

"Clean this mess."

The order cracked through the hall like a whip before he carried Cassey away, Elias hurrying after them with tiny, worried steps.

My mother-in-law lingered only long enough to shoot me a look of disgust before following behind them.

Silence settled over the manor.

With a weary sigh, I knelt on the cold stone floor and cleaned away the vomit along with the spilled bowl of shellfish that had scattered when Alex forced me down.

When everything was spotless once more, I climbed the stairs to the chambers I had shared with Alex for the past two years.

Only now did I realize I had spent every one of those nights beside a stranger.

No...

Not a stranger.

A monster.

I first met Alex Valcrest on the night his fated mate abandoned their claiming ceremony beneath the full moon.

He had wandered alone to Moonstone Cliff, broken beyond reason, ready to throw himself into the darkness below.

I was the one who stopped him.

One moment we were strangers, and the next, grief and loneliness had drawn us into one another's arms. Before dawn broke, we had become mates in every way except before the pack.

At the time, Alex had been the Alpha I served.

For two years, I had worked within the Alpha Manor, quietly admiring the strong yet gentle man everyone respected. When my parents died during a rogue attack, he had been the one who arranged their funeral rites and stood beside me while I mourned.

I mistook kindness for love.

The following morning, guilt consumed him. He believed he had dishonored me and insisted on taking responsibility. Before the Moon Goddess and the pack elders, we completed a private mating ceremony, known only to a handful of trusted wolves.

To the rest of the pack, I remained nothing more than the Alpha's attendant.

His mother had opposed our union from the beginning.

An orphan had no bloodline worthy of standing beside an Alpha.

I never learned when Cassey returned.

I never noticed when Alex's heart drifted back to her.

But now I knew the truth.

She had reclaimed the place that had never truly been mine.

And Alex had become a wolf willing to sacrifice anything—including his own pup—to keep her smiling.

I opened the cedar chest beside the bed and withdrew a folded parchment I had prepared weeks earlier, before my time to give birth.

It was my letter of resignation from my duties within the Alpha Manor.

I had planned to devote myself entirely to raising our pup.

Now all that remained was obtaining Alex's seal upon it...

...along with the dissolution papers Elder Rowan would soon prepare.

I tucked the parchment away before beginning another task.

One by one, I removed every painting and keepsake that celebrated our mating.

Each memory found its way into a wooden chest.

The moonstone necklace he had gifted me after our first winter together.

The silver bracelets.

The ceremonial cloak embroidered with the Valcrest crest.

Every gift he had once claimed was proof of his love.

I packed them all away.

A gentle knock sounded before the chamber door opened.

Alex stepped inside.

His gaze swept across the room before settling on the half-filled chest.

His brows drew together.

"Why have you taken everything down?" he asked. "And why are you packing away the gifts I gave you?"

I continued folding another cloak.

"I no longer want them."

His frown deepened.

"Are you still upset because I raised my voice?" he asked quietly. "I'm sorry for that. I'll have the craftsmen make you new jewelry... anything you like."

Then he sighed.

"But you have to try getting along with Cassey. She's my brother's mate."

A humorless laugh escaped me.

"You've never once mentioned having a brother."

Alex hesitated.

Only for a heartbeat.

"He was... the disgrace of our bloodline," he replied before forcing an awkward smile. "He's gone now, so it's my duty as Alpha to care for his mate and pups."

He stepped closer.

"Cassey means nothing to me anymore, Seraphina. You're my mate."

For one painful moment...

...I wished I still believed him.

Instead, I merely nodded.

"Very well."

Then I met his eyes.

"But I don't want her living here."

"I'm afraid that's impossible."

His answer came without hesitation.

"She has nowhere else to go. Give it time. Once you and Cassey speak properly, I'm sure the two of you will understand each other."

He smiled and leaned down to kiss me.

I turned my face away.

His lips brushed only my cheek.

He either failed to notice... or pretended not to.

Moments later, he left the room.

Not long after, the door opened once again.

Cassey walked inside without waiting for permission.

Her eyes slowly wandered around the nearly empty chamber before a smug smile spread across her lips.

"Good," she said. "Get rid of all your things. I'll be moving into these chambers soon."

I closed the lid of the chest.

"You can have the entire manor."

She laughed brightly.

"So you've finally discovered your mate has been sharing my bed."

She stepped closer until only a few feet separated us.

"Do you know what Alex told me today?" she asked with cruel delight. "He said your pup didn't die in vain. Elias is already growing stronger. You should be grateful. Your son gave mine a future."

I looked at her quietly.

"If believing that brings you happiness, then enjoy it."

The smile vanished from her face.

Confusion quickly gave way to anger.

"Why aren't you screaming?" she demanded. "Why aren't you crying? Your mate murdered your pup and stole your ability to bear another because I asked him to!"

I simply watched her.

"Congratulations," I said calmly. "You have complete control over him. I hope he brings you all the happiness you deserve."

Her face twisted with fury.

She had expected me to shatter.

Instead, my indifference enraged her.

"You wretched bitch!"

She lunged forward and seized my wrist.

"If you won't entertain me, then I'll make my own fun."

"Release me."

She ignored me, dragging me toward the staircase.

I struggled against her grip until I finally tore my hand free.

At that exact moment, Cassey let out a piercing scream.

"Seraphina! No!"

Before I could even react, she threw herself backward.

Her body tumbled violently down the staircase.

The sound of flesh striking stone echoed through the manor.

Footsteps thundered from below.

Alex and his mother rushed into the entrance hall just as Cassey came to rest at the bottom of the stairs, blood slowly spreading beneath her motionless body.

Alex looked from Cassey...

...to me.

His eyes burned crimson with rage.

"What have you done?" he demanded.