Seraphine's POV
The massive gates of the Mistwood Pack loomed ahead like the entrance to another world.
My hands trembled in my lap as the car rolled through wrought iron barriers taller than any building I'd ever seen. Stone wolves flanked the entrance, their carved eyes seeming to track our movement with predatory interest.
Everything here screamed power. Wealth. Danger.
Alpha Theodore hadn't spoken a single word during the entire journey. He sat rigid in the seat across from me, his dark eyes fixed on something beyond the window. The silence stretched between us like a living thing, thick with tension I didn't understand.
I pressed myself deeper into the corner of the leather seat, trying to make myself invisible. The car felt impossibly small with him in it. His presence filled every inch of space, making the air heavy and hard to breathe.
The main house appeared through the trees, and my breath caught in my throat.
It wasn't just a house. It was a mansion. Maybe even a castle. Multiple stories of gleaming stone and glass rose from manicured grounds that seemed to stretch forever. Flowering gardens lined curved driveways. Fountains sparkled in the afternoon light.
I'd never seen anything so beautiful. Or so intimidating.
The car stopped at the front entrance, where carved stone steps led to massive wooden doors. Everything about this place spoke of generations of power and tradition.
I was definitely going to break something before long.
"We've arrived, Alpha," the driver said quietly.
Theodore's jaw tightened. "Wait here."
He stepped out of the car with fluid grace, his long coat billowing behind him. Even his movements screamed authority. Like the very air bent to his will.
I remained frozen in my seat until he yanked open my door.
"Get out."
The command was sharp. Final. I scrambled from the car, nearly tripping over my own feet in my haste to obey.
The scent of pine and earth filled my lungs. Somewhere in the distance, I could hear the sound of running water. It should have been peaceful. Instead, my heart hammered against my ribs like a caged bird.
Kayne appeared at Theodore's side as if summoned by silent command. The Beta's expression was professionally neutral, but I caught the way his eyes flicked between his Alpha and me.
"Shall I show Miss Ida to her quarters?" Kayne asked.
"No." Theodore's voice was ice. "I'll handle this personally."
Something passed between the two men. A look I couldn't interpret. Kayne's mouth tightened almost imperceptibly.
"Of course, Alpha."
Theodore turned his attention to me, and I immediately dropped my gaze to the ground. Looking directly at him felt like staring into the sun. Dangerous. Likely to leave permanent damage.
"Inside. Now."
I followed him up the stone steps on unsteady legs. The massive doors opened to reveal an entrance hall that belonged in a museum. Marble floors stretched beneath a chandelier that probably cost more than most people made in a lifetime. Oil paintings of stern-faced ancestors lined the walls.
All of them seemed to be watching me with disapproval.
My footsteps echoed embarrassingly loud in the vast space. Everything about this place made me feel smaller. More insignificant. Like I was tracking mud through a cathedral.
Theodore led me through a maze of corridors lined with more portraits and priceless artifacts. Servants bowed as we passed, their movements precise and practiced. None of them met my eyes.
We finally stopped in what appeared to be a sitting room. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked gardens that seemed to stretch to the horizon. Bookshelves lined the walls, filled with leather-bound volumes that probably contained generations of pack history.
Theodore closed the door behind us with a soft click that sounded final as a tomb sealing.
"Kayne," he said without turning around. "Leave us."
I hadn't even noticed the Beta had followed us. He bowed once and disappeared, closing the door behind him.
Now we were alone.
The silence stretched between us like a chasm. Theodore moved to stand behind a massive desk, putting the furniture between us like a barrier. His dark eyes studied me with the intensity of a predator evaluating prey.
"Sit," he commanded, gesturing to a chair across from the desk.
I perched on the edge of the seat, my back straight as a board. My hands folded in my lap to hide their shaking.
Theodore remained standing, using his height to intimidate. It was working.
"Let me make something very clear," he began, his voice cutting through the room like a blade. "This arrangement between us is purely business. Nothing more."
I nodded quickly, afraid to speak.
"You are here for one purpose only. To provide me with an heir." The words were clinical. Cold. Like he was discussing breeding livestock. "Once that purpose is fulfilled, your obligations will be complete."
My stomach twisted, but I kept my expression neutral. This wasn't unexpected. Nash had made my role abundantly clear.
"You will have quarters in a separate wing," Theodore continued. "You are not to enter my private chambers under any circumstances. You will not interfere in pack business or politics. You will not attempt to insert yourself into pack activities or gatherings."
Each rule felt like another chain wrapping around my chest. I nodded to show I understood.
"Most importantly," he said, leaning forward slightly, "you will stay completely out of my way. We will interact only when necessary for the fulfillment of your duties. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Alpha," I whispered.
Something flickered across his face. Surprise, maybe. Like he'd expected me to argue or protest.
I wouldn't dream of it. These rules were harsh, but they were rules. Structure. After an extended period of never knowing what might set off Nash's temper, having clear boundaries felt almost like a gift.
"You agree to these terms?" he pressed.
"Yes," I said again. "They seem... fair."
His eyebrows drew together in a frown. "Fair?"
Heat flooded my cheeks. Had I said something wrong already?
"I mean..." I fumbled for the right words. "You're being very clear about expectations. I appreciate that."
The frown deepened. He studied me like I was a puzzle he couldn't solve.
"You have questions," he said. It wasn't really a question.
I hesitated, then decided honesty was probably safest. "Just one, if that's permitted."
"Speak."
"When am I allowed to eat?"
The question seemed to catch him off guard. His mouth opened slightly, then closed. For a moment, he looked almost... confused.
"What?"
"Meals," I clarified, hoping I wasn't overstepping. "I wasn't sure if there were specific times or places I should—"
"You're asking about food?" His voice held a note of disbelief.
"I don't want to accidentally break any rules," I explained quickly. "If there are certain areas of the house I'm not supposed to enter, or specific times when—"
"Christ." He ran a hand through his dark hair, looking exasperated. "You can eat whenever you want. The kitchen staff will provide whatever you need."
"Thank you," I said, relief flooding through me. "That's very generous."
He stared at me for another long moment, something unreadable flickering in his dark eyes. The silence stretched until I felt compelled to fill it.
"You're very intimidating," I said without thinking. "Like a thundercloud right before a storm."
The words tumbled out before I could stop them. I immediately wanted to crawl under the desk and hide.
His expression went completely blank. Then something dangerous flashed in his eyes.
"A thundercloud," he repeated slowly.
"I'm sorry," I said quickly. "I didn't mean to—I shouldn't have—"
"You compare an Alpha to weather phenomena?"
My face burned with embarrassment. "It wasn't an insult. Thunderclouds are powerful. Magnificent, even. They're—"
"Enough." The word cracked like a whip.
He pushed back from the desk abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor. His movements were sharp, angry.
"Kayne will show you to your quarters," he said coldly. "You will be called when dinner is served. Don't be late."
He strode toward the door, then paused with his hand on the handle.
"And Miss Ida?"
"Yes?"
"In the future, keep your observations about my resemblance to meteorological events to yourself."
The door slammed behind him with enough force to rattle the windows.
I sat in the empty room, my heart still racing from the encounter. Despite his anger, despite the harsh rules and cold demeanor, I found myself thinking the strangest thing.
This was still better than what I'd left behind.
Here, the rules were clear. The expectations defined. No one had hit me or called me worthless. I had my own quarters and permission to eat whenever I wanted.
It was more than I'd dared to hope for.
My stomach chose that moment to growl loudly in the silence, reminding me just how long it had been since my last meal.