Chapter 5

Seraphina's POV

When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in my own familiar bed.

My whole body felt cold. My head was splitting.

I turned my head and saw Alexander sitting on the couch by the bed, eyes closed. A bowl of steaming cream of mushroom soup sat next to him.

He sensed me moving and turned. A familiar tenderness softened his eyes. "You're awake. Hungry? I had the kitchen make your favorite soup."

His tone was casual, intimate—like we hadn't fallen out at all just days ago. Like I hadn't almost broken down in public.

I turned my head away, not wanting to look at him. But my chest ached.

Every time we fought, the next day he'd act exactly like this—warm and easy, like nothing had happened.

"Why are you here?"

My voice was hoarse. "Didn't you say I wasn't allowed back here?"

His face stiffened. His tone turned colder. "Are you really still trying to fight me about that? You knew that was just me being angry."

"If someone hadn't called me, I never would have known you'd gone outside alone, that you'd been treated like a thief and bullied!"

"Seraphina, if something had happened to you, how could I face Mom and Dad?"

At the mention of my parents, my eyes welled up again. "Dying would have been better. At least I could be with them. Then I wouldn't be a burden anymore. Without me dragging you down, you can finally have the strong Alpha life you've always wanted."

I'd torn open my deepest, ugliest thought, and his face went iron-gray.

"Seraphina! What did you say? After ten years, that's how you see me?" he growled.

I trembled, but threw it back at him. "How else am I supposed to see you? You brought in Chloe to torment me, didn't you? Just to get rid of me?"

He shot up and started pacing the room, agitated. "Seraphina, I really have spoiled you these past few years. I should have cured you sooner. Otherwise, how could your thinking get so dark and twisted?"

The air in the room froze.

Alexander rarely talked to me like this.

But ever since Chloe showed up, his exceptions had become the rule.

Just then, the door opened.

Chloe walked in with a tray, her voice gentle and pleading. "Seraphina, you really have Alexander all wrong. He cares about you with his whole heart. He literally dreams about you overcoming your barriers, about you being a normal werewolf again. Saying things like this hurts him so deeply."Alexander looked at her, his eyes softening, and shot her a grateful glance.

Their eyes met in the air, sharing some kind of intimate understanding that left no room for outsiders.

Watching them, my heart felt like it was being pricked by needles.

I let out a cold laugh. "Who do you think you are? This is my home. Since when do you get a say?"

The smile froze on Chloe's lips. Her face went pale in an instant, like she'd been wronged in the worst possible way.

Alexander immediately stepped forward, putting her behind him, glaring at me. "Seraphina! When did you become so cruel and unreasonable? Chloe poured her heart into making this plan for you, and this is how you treat her? Looks like Chloe was right—you don't know how to be grateful!"

"Treatment needs to speed up. Starting today, Chloe will move into the estate until you're fully recovered!"

With that, ignoring my shock and protests, he grabbed Chloe's hand and led her out.

Just as the door was about to close, Chloe turned her head.

Those eyes, hidden from Alexander, held no trace of victimhood. They were full of triumph and provocation.

She mouthed the words silently to me: "Seraphina, I won't 'disappoint' you."