Sera's POV
Marcus grabbed my arm before I could knock on Lennox's office door.
"The Alpha's in a mood today," he said with that snake-like smile. "Better not upset him."
I yanked my arm free, glaring at him. "Don't touch me."
His eyes widened in surprise. Good. In my first life, I'd been too polite, too weak. Not anymore.
"Someone's feisty this morning," Marcus muttered, but he stepped back.
I didn't wait for permission. I pushed open the door and walked straight into Lennox's office.
The moment I stepped inside, it hit me like a truck.
The mate bond.
It slammed into my chest so hard I stumbled. Every nerve in my body lit up like fire. My wolf howled with joy, recognizing her mate. The pull toward him was so strong it hurt.
No, no, no. I wasn't ready for this.
Alpha Lennox stood by the window with his back to me. Tall and powerful, with dark hair that curled slightly at his neck. Even without seeing his face, I knew every detail. Those ice-blue eyes. That strong jaw. The small scar above his left eyebrow from a childhood fight.
I'd loved this man with everything I had.
And he'd watched me die.
"Sera," he said without turning around. His voice was deeper than I remembered. Rougher. "Come in. Close the door."
I obeyed, but kept my distance. My heart pounded so loud I was sure he could hear it.
Then he turned around, and our eyes met.
The world stopped.
His eyes went wide, his whole body going rigid. I watched the exact moment the mate bond hit him too—his pupils dilated, his breathing changed, and his hand gripped the window frame so hard the wood cracked.
"Mate," his wolf growled through him, the word rumbling like thunder.
Every instinct screamed at me to run to him. To throw myself into his arms. To complete the bond right here and now.
But I remembered his cold eyes at my trial. His words: *"You are nothing to me now."*
I forced myself to stay still, my face blank.
"You called for me, Alpha?" My voice came out flat. Emotionless.
Lennox blinked, confusion crossing his face. He took a step toward me, then stopped. "You... you feel it, don't you? The bond?"
"I feel it."
"Then why—" He moved closer, and I stepped back. He froze. "Why are you pulling away from me?"
Because you broke my heart. Because you believed lies over me. Because you let me die.
But I couldn't say any of that. Not yet.
"I barely know you, Alpha Lennox," I said carefully. "We've met a few times at pack gatherings, but that's all. A mate bond doesn't mean I have to throw myself at you."
His jaw dropped. "What?"
This was different. So different from my first life. Back then, when the bond appeared, I'd been so happy. So eager to be with him. I'd practically melted into his arms.
That Sera was naive and stupid.
This Sera knew better.
"Was there something important you needed to discuss?" I asked. "I have things to do before the pack meeting."
Lennox stared at me like I'd grown a second head. His wolf was probably going crazy inside him, demanding he claim his mate. But I wouldn't make this easy.
Not this time.
"I..." He ran a hand through his hair, looking lost. "I wanted to meet you properly. I've been watching you at gatherings. You're intelligent, kind, strong. When I realized you might be my mate, I thought—"
"You thought I'd be grateful?" I interrupted. "You thought I'd accept the bond immediately because you're an Alpha?"
His face hardened. "That's not what I meant."
"Then what did you mean?"
We stared at each other, the mate bond pulling tight between us like a rope. It hurt to resist. Everything in me wanted to go to him. But I'd rather suffer now than die later.
"I wanted to know you," Lennox said quietly. "Not as an Alpha and pack member. As equals. As mates."
Something in his voice made my chest ache. He sounded sincere. Genuine.
But he'd sounded genuine when he sentenced me to death too.
"Maybe later," I said, heading for the door. "Right now, I need to prepare for the meeting."
"Sera, wait—"
The door burst open and Vivienne rushed in, breathless and panicked.
"Alpha Lennox! I'm so sorry to interrupt, but—" She stopped when she saw me, her eyes going wide. "Oh! Sera! I didn't know you were here."
Liar. She knew exactly where I was. She probably listened at the door.
"What is it, Vivienne?" Lennox asked, irritation clear in his voice.
Vivienne's eyes darted between us, and I saw her calculating. Figuring out what happened. Then she smiled sweetly. "I just wanted to make sure Sera was okay. She seemed upset this morning."
"I'm fine," I said coldly.
Vivienne flinched like I'd slapped her. "Sera? Why are you being so mean? I'm your best friend."
Not anymore, you snake.
"Things change," I said simply.
Her mask slipped for just a second. I saw anger flash in her green eyes before she hid it behind fake tears. "I don't understand. Did I do something wrong?"
"This isn't the time for this discussion," Lennox said firmly. He looked at Vivienne. "Please wait outside. I need to finish speaking with Sera."
Vivienne's jaw clenched, but she nodded and left, throwing me one last poisonous look before closing the door.
The moment she was gone, Lennox turned to me. "What was that about? I thought Vivienne was your closest friend."
"People aren't always what they seem," I said quietly.
"What do you mean?"
I couldn't tell him. Not without proof. Not without him thinking I was crazy.
"Nothing. Just... be careful who you trust, Alpha."
Before he could respond, my head exploded with pain again. Another vision slammed into me—Vivienne standing over a body, blood on her hands, laughing. But the body wasn't mine. It was someone else. Someone I didn't recognize.
When had this happened? It wasn't from my first life. Was it... the future? A different future?
"Sera!" Lennox caught me as my legs gave out. His arms wrapped around me, and the mate bond surged with warmth. It felt so good. So right.
I shoved him away, stumbling backward. "Don't touch me!"
He looked hurt, but I didn't care. I couldn't let the bond cloud my judgment.
"Something's wrong with you," Lennox said, stepping forward again. "Let me help."
"I don't need your help."
"Yes, you do. You're my mate, Sera. Whether you want to accept it or not, I can feel your pain through the bond. Something's hurting you."
My wolf whimpered, wanting to trust him. But I couldn't. Not yet.
"The only thing hurting me is this conversation," I lied. "May I go now?"
Before Lennox could answer, Marcus's voice echoed through the hallway. "Alpha! Emergency! There's been an attack at the north border!"
We both froze.
An attack? This didn't happen last time. The meeting was supposed to be about possible rogue sightings, not an actual attack.
What changed? Why was everything different?
Lennox's entire demeanor shifted. The confused mate became the Alpha warrior in seconds. "Stay here," he ordered me. "Don't leave this office until I come back."
Then he was gone, running toward the danger.
I stood alone in his office, my mind racing. This wasn't right. None of this happened before.
My hands started shaking as a terrible thought hit me:
What if saving myself meant someone else got hurt instead?