Rolf froze mid-step. His shoulders went rigid, and he turned slowly back toward her, eyes narrowing into thin slits. For a moment, silence stretched, heavy and sharp.
"What did you just call me?" His voice was low, dangerous, thrumming with restrained violence.
Rhea tilted her head, her expression flat. "I said what I said. Or do you really have trouble hearing?"
The two girls gasped in unison, their identical smirks slipping into open-mouthed shock. The woman's lips parted, eyes widening for the briefest moment. Seriously, what's wrong with her? Has she finally gone mad?
Rolf's jaw flexed, the muscles twitching as fury carved across his face. He took one deliberate step toward her, each movement coiled and heavy, his fists curling into hard knots at his sides.
"You worthless little..."
"Careful," Rhea cut in, her tone silk over steel, smooth and mocking. Her eyes glinted as she leaned forward slightly. "You already slapped me once today. You really want to find out what happens if you try it again?"
Color flushed across Rolf's face. His nostrils flared. "Oh, you're so dead," he hissed, lifting his hand high, palm wide and ready to strike.
"Enough."
The woman's voice cracked through the air like a whip, freezing him mid-swing.
Rolf's chest heaved as his raised hand trembled in the air, the veins in his arm taut with fury. His jaw worked, grinding against the rage boiling inside him. Slowly, reluctantly, he lowered his hand, fingers twitching like they still itched to leave a mark.
His eyes cut toward the woman, sharp with frustration. "Why do you keep stopping me, Lady Seraphine?" he demanded, his voice raw with barely restrained anger. "I just want to teach her a lesson."
You can't expect me to just let her go like that," Rolf growled, his voice still thick with fury. "Not after the way she keeps running her mouth. She needs to be put back in her place."
The two girls nodded in unison, eyes bright with anticipation. "I think he's right, Mother," one said eagerly. Their smirks sharpened, hungry for a show, basically ready to watch Rolf beat the filth bloody.
Seraphine stepped forward, sliding herself between Rolf and Rhea. Her tone was cold, deliberate. "It's Lady Nikki's order. Do you want to go against her?"
Rolf's nostrils flared, his voice spitting disbelief. "Wasn't it Lady Nikki herself who ordered the whole pack to put this bitch in her place whenever she messed up?"
"I'm just following orders," Seraphine replied evenly, her eyes glinting. "She will handle her… herself."
Rolf's glare lingered on Rhea. His jaw worked furiously, fists clenching and unclenching at his sides. Finally, with a low growl, he turned to go.
"You're really lucky, Roff." Rhea chuckled dryly, her tone needling at his pride.
Rolf stiffened, his entire body bristling. His wolf surged close to the surface, itching for release. But with visible effort, he swallowed it down, containing his anger. Without another word, he stormed off, his footsteps heavy and furious as he stalked down the passageway.
Seraphine turned back to Rhea. Her lips curved into a smile that didn't reach her eyes, her tone laced with amusement as if she were watching an entertaining play. "Let's see how long that mouth of yours lasts. Follow me."
"To where?" Rhea asked flatly.
"You follow my mother wherever, whenever, no questions asked. Even if it's to the slaughterhouse," one of the girls snapped, her voice sharp.
"Yeah, right," Rhea muttered, rolling her eyes. "I'm not going anywhere until you tell me where you're taking me."
The other girl stepped forward, her eyes gleaming with cruel delight. "I say we drag her behind the sheds, give her a few reminders about her place."
Her sister's lips curved into a slow, eager smile at the suggestion.
Rhea's fingers itched. Oh, I'd love to see you try, she thought, her lips twitching, fighting the pull of a smile.
Seraphine's gaze slid toward her daughters. "Leave her to Nikki," she said smoothly, her tone rich with promise, like she was dangling entertainment in front of them if only they waited. "Patience, Lena. Patience, Lyra."
"But Mom, we can't just let her be like that," Lyra argued, her voice sharp with indignation.
"Yes," Lena chimed in with a nod. "Just a bit of correction. We won't leave marks."
Rhea watched them all in open amusement, as if they were players on a stage and she was the only one aware of the performance. They spoke about her as though she wasn't even there, like she was invisible furniture in the hall.
"Patience, girls," Seraphine repeated, though her own voice carried strain. She too wanted to tear into the lowlife in front of her, but she knew Nikki well enough not to toy with her orders.
"Follow me," Seraphine said again, this time harder, her voice cutting.
"Nope," Rhea replied simply, her tone flat, almost bored.
Seraphine's lips thinned. "I see what's happening here. Just because the Alpha gave you a bit of attention, ordered the healers to patch you up, you think you can do whatever you want?"
Rhea blinked at her, face blank. "What are you on about?"
"Follow me. This. Instant," Seraphine hissed through clenched teeth.
"To where?" Rhea asked, her voice deliberately light, obviously messing with her, enjoying every twitch of irritation she caused.
"Let's just bind her and... " Lyra began.
"To Nikki's room, you stupid brat!" Seraphine snapped, her voice slicing through her daughter's words like a whip.
Rhea's brows arched. "You should've said so from the start," she said, stepping forward with a careless shrug. "Lead the way."
Seraphine's eyes narrowed, her stare scorching as if she could burn a hole straight through Rhea. Without another word, she turned sharply, storming off down the passageway. Lena and Lyra followed, scoffing under their breath, their footsteps harsh against the floor.
Rhea trailed behind them at a reluctant pace, muttering just loud enough for herself. "Pain-in-the-ass circus clowns."