KAEL'S POV
Silver light exploded through my penthouse, and my wolf roared in recognition.
MATE!
I fought through the pain in my ribs—three Nightshade wolves had ambushed me the second I left Sera's room—and raced toward her bedroom. Blood poured from claw marks across my chest, but all I could think was: She's in danger.
The gray wolf that had been stalking her flew past me, crashing into the wall with a sickening crack. I skidded into the doorway and froze.
Sera stood in the center of the room, hands glowing with silver light, eyes wide with shock. Two attackers lay unconscious at her feet. And Lyanna—my childhood friend—shifted back to human form, backing toward the window.
"Lyanna?" My voice came out a growl. "What the hell are you doing?"
"Kael!" She held up her hands, playing innocent. "Thank god you're here. These Nightshade wolves broke in and I tried to stop them but—"
"Liar!" Sera's voice rang out, stronger than I'd ever heard it. "She's with them! She said I ruined everything, that you were supposed to choose her!"
Lyanna's face twisted with hatred. "You believe this wolfless nobody over me? I've known you since we were children!"
"And apparently you've been betraying me just as long." I stalked forward, letting Alpha power roll off me in waves. "How much did the Nightshade Pack pay you to help them infiltrate my home?"
"They didn't pay me." Her smile was vicious. "I did it for free. You were mine, Kael. MINE. We were supposed to rule Silvercrest together. But then this defective girl shows up with her pathetic mate bond and ruins everything!"
Shadow snarled, demanding blood. But before I could move, Lyanna dove through the window, glass shattering everywhere. I rushed to look out—she shifted mid-fall, landing on four paws in the street below and disappearing into the night.
"Let her run," Marcus's voice came from behind me. My Beta stood in the doorway, covered in blood. "We've got bigger problems. Five dead Nightshade wolves in your living room. This was a coordinated attack, Kael. They had inside information."
I turned back to Sera. She'd collapsed against the wall, the silver light fading from her hands. She looked terrified and confused and so damn young.
"What was that?" she whispered, staring at her palms. "I don't have a wolf. I can't have power—"
"We'll figure it out later." I moved toward her, then stopped. Blood soaked through my shirt from the wounds. "Are you hurt?"
"No, I—" Her eyes landed on my injuries and went wide. "You're bleeding!"
"It's nothing."
"Nothing?" She pushed off the wall, stumbling toward me. "You need a healer!"
The bond flared between us, her concern flooding through it like sunshine. Shadow practically purred at her worry.
See? She CARES about us. She's perfect. Why are you being so cruel?
Because caring makes you weak. Because my father cared about my mother and it got them killed. Because—
Sera touched my chest and I flinched. Her hands came away red with my blood.
"This isn't nothing," she said softly. "Please. Let me help."
"Why?" The question came out harsher than I intended. "Why do you care? I've given you nothing but coldness."
"Because you're my mate." Her violet eyes met mine, and I saw something break in them. "And even though you don't want me, even though I'm just a contract to you, I can't stop caring. The bond won't let me."
Guilt crashed through me. She'd just been attacked, probably terrified out of her mind, and she was worried about me.
You don't deserve her, Shadow whispered.
I knew.
"Marcus, get the healer," I said, not breaking eye contact with Sera. "And double security. Lyanna knows too much about our defenses."
"Already done." Marcus hesitated. "Kael... Sera just manifested power. Serious power. The kind that shouldn't exist in a wolfless—"
"I said we'll figure it out later." I couldn't deal with this right now. My mate had been attacked in my home, by my childhood friend, while I'd left her vulnerable and bleeding from our wedding night.
Some Alpha I was.
Sera swayed on her feet. I caught her before she collapsed, lifting her easily despite my injuries.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"Taking you to the safe room. The attackers might come back."
"But your wounds—"
"Will heal." I carried her through the destroyed penthouse, past dead wolves and shattered furniture. The room I'd left her in an hour ago was covered in her blood and now scorch marks from her power.
What had I done to her?
Shadow whimpered, ashamed.
I took Sera to the reinforced safe room in the center of the penthouse—steel walls, no windows, stocked with supplies. Set her down carefully on the couch.
"Stay here until I clear the building," I ordered.
"Kael, wait." Her hand caught mine. "Those wolves... they said I was leverage. That they were going to use me to destroy you."
"I won't let that happen."
"Why?" Her voice cracked. "Why protect me? I'm just a contract, remember? Just an arrangement."
The words I'd thrown at her earlier came back to haunt me. I'd been so focused on keeping her at arm's length that I'd made her think she was worthless.
"You're my wife," I said finally. "My responsibility. No one touches what's mine."
It was the wrong thing to say. I knew it the second the words left my mouth. She wanted to hear she was my mate, my other half, something real.
But I couldn't give her that. Couldn't afford to.
Her face shuttered. "Right. Your property."
"Sera—"
"Just go." She pulled her hand back. "Do your Alpha duties. I'll be a good little contract wife and wait here like I'm told."
The door slammed between us, and Shadow howled in anguish.
I pressed my forehead against the steel, feeling the bond twist with her pain. This was necessary. Keeping her at a distance kept her safe.
Except it didn't. She'd nearly been killed tonight because of me.
My phone buzzed. Another text from the unknown number:
Phase one complete. Your mate discovered her power. Did you really think she was wolfless, Alpha? The Blackwood curse doesn't suppress wolves. It CHANGES them. And when Sera's transformation finishes, she'll be more powerful than you. More powerful than anyone. We'll be back to claim her. Sweet dreams.
Ice flooded my veins.
Sera wasn't wolfless.
She was cursed.
And whatever was waking up inside her might be the most dangerous thing in the supernatural world.