The wheels of the carriage groaned over the uneven dirt path, carrying Seraphina farther from the Vale estate with every turn. The last glimpse of her childhood home vanished behind the rolling fog, leaving only the ache of loss in her chest. She sat rigidly on the cushioned seat, her hands folded tightly in her lap, fighting the trembling that threatened to betray her fear.
Across from her, Alpha Kael Thorne lounged in the shadows of the carriage's interior as if the world itself bent to his comfort. He wore dark clothing that clung to his broad frame, every inch of him exuding command. His sharp features were carved in unreadable stillness, but his piercing gray eyes never left her. It felt less like a gaze and more like a tether, pulling at the very breath inside her lungs.
"You look pale," Kael observed, his voice deep and steady. "Are you afraid?"
Seraphina's jaw tightened. "Wouldn't anyone be, in my position?"
A smirk ghosted across his lips. "Perhaps. But fear can be tamed. You'll learn."
She shifted her gaze to the window, the dense woods blurring past. The trees grew taller, their shadows deeper, as if they were crossing into another realm. She'd heard stories of Thorne territory—vast, untamed, and dangerous to outsiders. Wolves roamed the forests, loyal to their Alpha. It was not a place for someone like her, yet it was now her home.
"Your pack," she said quietly, almost to herself. "They won't welcome me."
"They will," Kael replied, his tone brooking no argument. "Because they will have no choice."
She swallowed hard. His words carried weight, a promise and a threat all at once. She wanted to challenge him, to demand why her life had to be bargained away, but her courage faltered under the weight of his presence.
The carriage slowed as they reached the first of the boundary markers—tall stone pillars etched with runes that glowed faintly in the dim light. Seraphina leaned closer to the window, her pulse quickening.
"Wards," Kael explained, following her gaze. "They keep rivals out and protect what is mine." His eyes flicked back to her. "And now, that includes you."
Her breath caught, unease rippling through her.
As the carriage passed beyond the markers, Seraphina felt it—a subtle shift in the air, as though the world itself had changed. The woods grew thicker, the silence heavier, and even the wind seemed to whisper of unseen eyes. She shivered, clutching her cloak tighter around her shoulders.
Soon, the landscape opened into rolling hills dotted with homes and watchtowers. Wolves in human form patrolled the paths, their sharp eyes turning to the carriage as it approached. Seraphina caught the glint of suspicion, curiosity, even hostility in their stares. She lowered her gaze, heat rising in her cheeks.
"They don't like me," she murmured.
"They don't know you," Kael corrected calmly. "And some won't want to. But they will learn your place soon enough."
"Which is?" she asked bitterly.
His lips curved into something that wasn't quite a smile. "By my side."
Her heart stuttered at the bluntness of the claim, but she refused to look at him, keeping her gaze fixed on the trees that lined the path.
The carriage finally rolled to a stop before a towering stone mansion nestled in the heart of the territory. Its spires reached toward the sky, the walls dark and imposing, guarded by wrought-iron gates. It was nothing like the warmth of her family's home; this place radiated power, dominance, and a chilling kind of beauty.
Kael stepped out first, his tall frame commanding immediate attention from the guards stationed nearby. When he extended his hand toward her, Seraphina hesitated. Her pride screamed to refuse, but with every pair of eyes fixed on her, she forced herself to take it. His grip was firm, his touch sparking something strange beneath her skin.
The gates creaked open, and together they walked into the courtyard. Wolves in human form lined the path, their gazes sharp and unyielding. Seraphina kept her head high, refusing to show fear, though her insides twisted. She could feel their judgment pressing down on her, whispering that she didn't belong.
At the foot of the mansion steps, a young woman with auburn hair stepped forward. Her eyes flicked over Seraphina with open disdain before shifting to Kael.
"Alpha," she said with a graceful bow of her head. "Welcome home."
"Selene," Kael acknowledged. His tone was neutral, but Seraphina caught the faintest softening in it.
The woman's gaze returned to Seraphina, her lips curling into the faintest sneer. "So this is the contract bride," she said, her voice laced with mockery.
Seraphina stiffened, her cheeks flushing, but before she could speak, Kael's voice cut through the air like steel.
"She is mine," he said coldly. "And she will be treated as such."
The crowd shifted, whispers running like wildfire through the onlookers. Selene's smile faded, replaced by a simmering glare.
Kael turned to Seraphina, his hand pressing against the small of her back, guiding her up the steps. "Welcome to your new home," he murmured.
The heavy doors opened, revealing the grand hall inside. Chandeliers glimmered above, casting light across marble floors and carved pillars. The air smelled of pinewood fires and something wilder—something distinctly wolf.
Seraphina's chest tightened as she stepped across the threshold, realizing with crushing clarity that her old life was gone. Whatever awaited her here, she could no longer turn back.
Behind her, the doors slammed shut with a finality that echoed through her bones.
And when she looked up at Kael, his gray eyes locked on hers with a promise that made her shiver.
"You belong to me now, Seraphina Vale," he said softly, almost intimately. "And soon, everyone here will know it."