The next morning, Seraphina woke up in a haze of unease. The unfamiliar softness of the mattress beneath her felt more like a trap than comfort, and the golden rays of dawn that filtered through the tall glass windows did little to ease the tight knot in her stomach. The events of the last few days replayed in her head—her father's trembling face when he agreed to the contract, the ink sealing her future in Kael Thorne's hands, and the suffocating silence that had followed her arrival in the mansion.
Here, nothing was hers. Not her time, not her choices, not even her freedom.
A sharp knock at the door pulled her out of her thoughts. Before she could answer, the door swung open, and two women entered, their posture stiff, their expressions neutral. They were dressed in plain uniforms, likely servants of the mansion.
"The Alpha has summoned you," one of them said curtly, not meeting her eyes.
Seraphina swallowed, her pulse quickening. She had been waiting for this moment—the moment Kael would lay down his terms. The contract had been signed, but Seraphina knew Alphas never left anything unspoken.
She dressed quickly in the simple gown they had left for her the night before. It was elegant but modest, meant to highlight neither beauty nor wealth—just obedience. As the servants led her through the long, echoing halls of the mansion, Seraphina's gaze darted around. The mansion was grand, every detail dripping with wealth and power: walls lined with ancestral portraits, high ceilings with carved beams, and chandeliers that glittered like captured stars. But beneath the luxury, she sensed something darker—like the walls themselves were witnesses to unspoken secrets.
Finally, they reached the main hall.
Kael Thorne was waiting for her.
He sat at the head of a long oak table, sunlight catching in his dark hair and throwing sharp shadows across the hard planes of his face. His presence filled the space, commanding and unyielding. Even seated, he radiated authority. A few pack members lingered around the edges of the room, their eyes sharp, as if they too were here to ensure she understood her place.
Seraphina's heart pounded as she walked toward him, each step echoing on the marble floor.
"Sit," Kael said, his voice deep, edged with command.
She obeyed, lowering herself into the chair opposite him. Her palms pressed against the table to hide the tremor in her hands.
Kael studied her in silence for a long moment, his gaze unwavering. It felt as though he was peeling back her defenses layer by layer, searching for weakness.
"You are now bound to this pack," he said at last, his tone clipped. "And to me. That contract makes it so. But words on parchment are nothing if not enforced. From today onward, you will follow my rules. Break them, and there will be consequences."
Seraphina's throat tightened. She wanted to argue, to remind him she had signed under duress, but she knew it would be pointless. Instead, she held his gaze, refusing to let him see fear.
"What rules?" she asked, her voice steadier than she felt.
Kael leaned back in his chair, the faintest flicker of amusement ghosting across his face at her defiance. Then his expression hardened, and he began.
"Rule One," he said, his voice echoing in the vast hall. "You do not leave this mansion without my permission. The pack is not yet ready to accept you, and beyond these walls, danger is constant. If you step outside without me or an escort I approve, you will answer to me directly."
The weight of his words settled heavy on her chest. A gilded cage, no matter how lavish, was still a cage.
"Rule Two. You will not question my decisions in public." His eyes narrowed, sharp as a blade. "Whether at a gathering, a meeting, or in front of the pack, my word is law. You may think whatever you wish in private, but if you embarrass me before my wolves, you will regret it."
Seraphina clenched her jaw. His rules were less about protection and more about control, but she bit her tongue.
"Rule Three," Kael continued, his voice low and dangerous. "You are to maintain appearances. Whatever this contract is to you, to them, you are the Alpha's chosen mate. You will carry yourself with dignity, strength, and loyalty. If you falter, the pack will see weakness—and weakness is blood in the water."
Seraphina felt her stomach twist. He was asking her to play the role of his Luna, even when the bond between them was nothing more than a contract forged in desperation.
She wanted to laugh bitterly at the irony—forced into this position, yet now expected to act as though it was her destiny.
Kael leaned forward, his eyes locking onto hers with a predatory intensity. "And finally, Rule Four. You will never betray me. In thought, in action, in loyalty—you belong to me as long as this contract binds you. Do not test the limits of that rule, Seraphina. The consequences would be… severe."
The silence that followed was suffocating. Seraphina's pulse thundered in her ears, but she didn't look away. She refused to let him see her crumble.
"I understand," she said finally, her voice cold.
Kael studied her, his expression unreadable. Then, with a slight nod, he dismissed the others from the hall. One by one, the pack members slipped away, leaving the two of them alone.
The silence stretched between them like a taut wire.
"Why me?" Seraphina asked suddenly, the words slipping out before she could stop herself. "You could have chosen anyone. Why force me into this?"
Kael's jaw tightened, and for the briefest moment, she saw something flicker in his eyes—pain, maybe, or rage. But just as quickly, it was gone, buried beneath his cold exterior.
"That," he said quietly, "is not a question you're ready to hear the answer to."
Seraphina's heart skipped. His voice carried a weight that made her wonder what secrets he was keeping locked away.
Before she could press further, he stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the marble. His presence towered over her, his shadow stretching long across the floor.
"Remember the rules," Kael said, his tone final. "And remember this—I do not repeat myself."
With that, he turned and strode from the hall, leaving her alone in the echoing silence.
Seraphina sat frozen, her fists clenched in her lap. Every instinct in her screamed to fight, to resist, to prove she wasn't some pawn in his game. But she also knew she had to be smart. Recklessness would only play into his hands.
If she wanted freedom—if she wanted answers—she would have to play his game, at least for now.
Still, as the heavy doors shut behind him, Seraphina whispered under her breath, her resolve hardening.
"You may think you own me, Kael Thorne. But I will not break."