The dawn broke in soft hues of amber and violet across the Silverfang stronghold, painting the chambers with a warmth that stood at odds with the storm lingering between them. Seraphina stirred first, her dark hair tangled across the silk pillows, her body still flushed from the night before. The air reeked faintly of wolf and saltwater, as though even the walls had absorbed the mating bond's desperate pull.
Dominic lay beside her, bare-chested, his muscled frame tense even in sleep. His arm was thrown over her waist, possessive, as if his body refused to release what his mind still resisted. Seraphina shifted, her thighs still tender from their passion, her heart a wild flutter in her chest. She had given herself to him fully — against her better judgment, against pride — and though every kiss had set her blood on fire, she knew what it meant.
She belonged to her enemy.
"Awake so soon?" Dominic's voice came low, husky from sleep. His fingers traced her hip before he caught himself and pulled away, sitting up as though the closeness had burned him.
Seraphina bit back the sting of rejection. "The council meets this morning."
He swung his legs over the side of the bed, every muscle flexing, and for a fleeting moment she saw not the Alpha but a man caught between duty and desire. "You think they'll welcome you?" His tone sharpened. "Half of them want you drowned, little siren."
Her lips parted, but she kept her chin high. "And the other half? They'll learn I'm not so easily broken."
Dominic turned then, his wolfish eyes raking over her bare skin. The sheets had slipped to her waist, exposing the swell of her breasts, marked with his bite. His breath caught, barely perceptible, before he dragged his gaze away.
"You tempt fate," he muttered.
"Or perhaps fate tempts you," she whispered, defiance and desire tangled in her voice.
In one swift movement, he pinned her to the mattress, his mouth devouring hers. The kiss was brutal, hungry, as though he hated her for making him want her. Seraphina arched into him, her nails clawing down his back. The bond pulsed like fire through their veins, drawing them closer, until their bodies tangled once more in desperate rhythm.
The world narrowed to heat, to moans muffled by the taste of each other, to his growl when she whispered his name against his lips. He thrust into her with punishing need, yet every movement betrayed his surrender — not to her, but to the bond that neither could escape.
When release shattered them, Dominic collapsed against her, his breath harsh against her throat. For a long moment, they lay entwined in silence, their sweat-slicked skin binding them tighter than chains.
Then, as always, the wall returned. He pushed himself away, dressing quickly, leaving her cold on the bed.
"Do not mistake this for love," he said flatly, fastening his belt. "It's the bond. Nothing more."
Seraphina's chest ached, but she forced her voice steady. "Say it enough, Dominic, and maybe one day you'll believe it."
---
The council chamber was a cavern of stone and fire, lined with banners bearing the Silverfang crest. Wolves filled the long table — elders, generals, nobles with eyes sharp as daggers. At the head sat Dominic, every inch the Alpha, his presence commanding silence.
Beside him, Seraphina walked with her chin high, though whispers hissed from every corner.
"Sea witch."
"Enemy's daughter."
"She'll curse us all."
Lyanna sat further down the table, draped in crimson silk, her beauty sharpened into cruelty. Her smile was honeyed, but her eyes burned holes through Seraphina.
"My lord Alpha," Lyanna purred, rising gracefully, "the council cannot ignore the… threat that sleeps in your bed. She is not wolf. She is not of us. Can we truly entrust our future to a creature born of the sea, blood of your enemy?"
Murmurs rippled. Several elders nodded grimly.
Dominic's jaw tightened, but before he could speak, Seraphina stepped forward. "My blood may be of the sea, but it carries no less strength than yours. If you fear me, then perhaps it is not I who is weak."
Gasps circled the table. Lyanna's smile thinned.
"You hear her?" Lyanna said sweetly. "Defiance, arrogance. She will bring ruin." She reached for a goblet on the table, filled with dark wine. "Perhaps we toast, then — to prove her loyalty. Let her drink, as we do, in the name of Silverfang."
All eyes turned.
Dominic's wolf stirred uneasily. Something in Lyanna's tone, too smooth, too eager, set his instincts howling. His hand shot out, snatching the goblet from her grasp.
"I'll drink first," he growled.
Lyanna's smile faltered.
"Dominic—" Seraphina started, but it was too late. He raised the goblet and drank deeply.
For a heartbeat, silence reigned. Then Dominic staggered. His hands slammed against the table, goblet clattering to the floor. His eyes glowed wild, veins blackening across his skin.
"Poison," Seraphina gasped, rushing to his side.
Chaos erupted. Some wolves leapt to their feet, shouting accusations. Others growled, claws unsheathing, ready to tear Seraphina apart.
"He's bewitched!"
"It's her doing!"
"Seize the mermaid!"
Lyanna's voice cut through the din. "See? She's killing him even now!"
Dominic roared, his wolf surging to the surface, but the poison dragged him into convulsions. His body writhed, strength failing.
Seraphina's heart pounded. She could not lose him — not now, not like this. Without thought, she pressed her hands to his chest, summoning the forbidden song buried deep in her blood.
The chamber stilled as her voice rose, haunting, alien. Water shimmered into existence, curling around her palms, seeping into Dominic's veins. The poison hissed, fighting her magic, but she poured her soul into the song, ignoring the gasps and snarls of the council.
"Witchcraft!" an elder cried.
"She betrays us!"
But Seraphina sang louder, the melody twisting with desperation, tears streaming down her cheeks. Dominic's breathing steadied, the blackness receding from his veins. His eyes, wolf-gold, locked on hers.
When the last note faded, the water dissipated, leaving only silence.
Dominic sat upright, alive, his chest heaving. Every wolf stared — some in awe, others in horror.
Lyanna's face was a mask of fury. "You see? She reveals her true nature. She has bewitched our Alpha, enslaved him with her cursed song!"
The council erupted into shouts, the chamber teetering on the brink of violence.
Dominic rose to his full height, his voice a thunderous growl. "Enough!" His gaze cut through them, then fixed on Seraphina. She trembled, awaiting his judgment.
But instead, his hand closed over hers, firm, possessive. "She saved my life. Without her, your Alpha would be dead at your feet. Question her again, and you question me."
The chamber fell silent.
For the first time, Seraphina saw not the reluctant husband or the cold Alpha — but the mate who chose her, even before the world.
Lyanna's nails dug into her palms until blood welled. She forced a brittle smile, but her eyes gleamed with murder. "So be it. But mark my words, Alpha — no bond lasts forever."
The council dispersed in uneasy silence, the balance of power shaken.
When they were alone, Seraphina swayed on her feet. The magic had drained her, her limbs weak. Dominic caught her, pulling her into his arms.
"You risked everything," he murmured, voice hoarse.
"You're my mate," she whispered, her forehead pressing to his. "Even if you never call me your wife."
Dominic's throat worked, words unspoken. His wolf howled within him, demanding he claim her, protect her, love her. For once, he didn't silence it.
He kissed her — not with anger, not with denial, but with a desperate reverence that promised the war between them was far from over.
And in the shadows beyond the chamber, Lyanna watched, her rage sharpening into a deadly vow.