Seraphina POV
Two weeks of hiding in my room, and my father finally lost his patience.
"Seraphina Crane, you will open this door RIGHT NOW or I will break it down!" His Alpha command rattled the windows.
I stared at the ceiling from my bed, not moving. I'd been doing a lot of ceiling-staring lately. It was easier than facing the pack's whispers, Ember's smug looks, or Thorne's pathetic attempts to apologize.
The door exploded inward.
My father stood in the doorway, his face purple with rage. "What is WRONG with you? You've been locked in here for two weeks! The pack thinks you've lost your mind!"
"Maybe I have," I said flatly.
He stormed in, grabbed my arm, and hauled me to my feet. "Enough. I've let you sulk long enough. The Thorne situation was embarrassing, but you're making it worse by acting like a child."
Something sharp twisted in my chest. "A child? Dad, I caught my mate in bed with my best friend the night before our ceremony. The entire pack witnessed my humiliation. And you're mad that I'm embarrassed?"
"I'm mad that you're wasting your potential!" He released me, pacing like the caged wolf he was. "Yes, Thorne betrayed you. Yes, it was public and humiliating. But you're the Beta's daughter. You don't get to fall apart. You have a duty to this pack."
"A duty." I laughed bitterly. "Like the duty to mate Thorne even though I didn't love him? That worked out great."
My father's expression softened slightly. "I know you're hurting. But I need you to be strong right now. Something important has happened."
I crossed my arms. "What?"
"Shadowfang Pack has requested peace negotiations."
My heart stopped. Shadowfang. Corvus.
I'd spent two weeks trying not to think about him—the mysterious Alpha who'd held me like I was precious, who'd lied to protect me, who'd looked at me with those golden eyes that haunted my dreams.
My mate. The bond hummed constantly in my chest, a connection I couldn't break even though we were miles apart. Sometimes I felt his emotions bleeding through—frustration, longing, anger. I wondered if he felt mine too.
"Why would Shadowfang want peace?" I asked carefully. "We've been enemies for generations."
"Because we're bleeding each other dry," my father said bluntly. "Border skirmishes, lost warriors, wasted resources. Both packs are weaker for it. Their Alpha Corvus proposed a treaty. Neutral territory meetings, trade agreements, shared resources."
Corvus. Just hearing his name made the bond pulse stronger.
"What does this have to do with me?"
My father's eyes locked on mine. "You're leading the negotiations."
"WHAT?" I stepped back. "Dad, I can't—"
"You can and you will. You're the smartest wolf in this pack, Seraphina. You speak four languages, you've studied pack law since you were ten, and you're a natural diplomat." He paused. "And frankly, you need to redeem yourself after the Thorne disaster. The pack needs to see you're still valuable."
The words stung, but he wasn't wrong. I'd become the pack embarrassment—the girl who got cheated on, who ran away, who'd been hiding like a coward.
"Where are the negotiations?" I asked quietly.
"Shadowfang territory. You'll stay there for one month while you work out the treaty terms. Rowan and three warriors will escort you."
One month. In Shadowfang territory. With Corvus.
My wolf perked up for the first time in weeks, excited and terrified.
"When do I leave?"
"Tomorrow morning."
So soon. My hands trembled. I shoved them in my pockets. "Fine. I'll do it."
My father looked relieved. "Good. Make me proud, Seraphina. Show them that Silvercrest wolves are strong, smart, and not to be underestimated." He headed for the door, then paused. "And stay away from their Alpha. Corvus Nightshade is dangerous. Ruthless. Don't trust him for a second."
Too late for that.
After he left, I collapsed on my bed, my mind racing. One month with Corvus. One month pretending we were strangers while the mate bond burned between us. One month of lying to both our packs.
This was going to be torture.
That night, I couldn't sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Corvus—the way he'd looked at me in the cabin, the gentleness in his touch, the pain in his eyes when my father took me away.
Do you feel this? I sent through our mind-link, not sure if he'd answer. We'd barely used the connection, both too scared of what it meant.
Silence for a long moment. Then: Every second. It's driving my wolf insane.
Mine too. I curled up, hugging my pillow. My father is sending me to negotiate the treaty. I'll be in your territory tomorrow.
I know. He told me. A pause. This is a bad idea, Seraphina.
I didn't have a choice.
You always have a choice. His mental voice was rough with emotion. You could refuse. Tell him you're sick. Send someone else.
And do what? Hide in my room forever? I pushed frustration through the bond. I'm tired of being weak. Tired of letting Thorne and Ember win. If I have to spend a month negotiating with you, then that's what I'll do.
You don't understand. His emotions flooded through—desire, fear, desperate need. Being near you and not being able to claim you... it's going to destroy me.
Then maybe we figure out a way to make this work, I sent back. There has to be a way.
There isn't. His certainty cut like glass. Our packs will never accept us. We're enemies, Seraphina. That's all we can ever be.
The connection went silent. He'd shut me out.
I spent the rest of the night staring at the ceiling, the bond aching in my chest.
Morning came too fast. Rowan helped me pack, chattering about the trip while I moved like a zombie.
"I can't believe we're actually going into Shadowfang territory," my friend said. "I heard their Alpha is terrifying. Super hot but like, deadly dangerous. They say he killed his own uncle to take control of the pack."
My stomach twisted. I didn't know that story. Didn't know much about Corvus at all, really. Just that he felt like home in a way nothing else ever had.
The journey took four hours. With every mile closer to Shadowfang lands, the bond pulled stronger. By the time we crossed into their territory, I could barely breathe.
The Shadowfang compound was massive—a fortress built into the mountain. Warriors lined the walls, watching us with hostile eyes.
"Stay close," Rowan whispered. "And don't make eye contact. These wolves are dangerous."
We were led to a huge hall. My escort stayed by the door while I walked forward alone.
At the far end of the hall sat a throne carved from black stone.
And on that throne sat Corvus.
He looked different than I remembered—harder, colder, every inch the deadly Alpha. He wore all black, his dark hair pulled back, his golden eyes fixed on me with an intensity that made my knees weak.
Our eyes met. The bond exploded between us, so powerful that I stumbled.
I felt everything—his shock, his desire, his barely controlled need to come to me. His wolf was roaring, demanding he claim his mate in front of everyone.
But he didn't move. Just stared at me like I was a ghost.
"Seraphina Crane," he said, his voice carefully neutral. "Welcome to Shadowfang Pack. I trust your journey was... uneventful."
"Very uneventful, Alpha Corvus." I forced my voice steady. "Thank you for hosting these negotiations."
We were strangers. Enemies. Nothing more.
Except his Beta, Kael, was staring at me with narrowed eyes. Then he looked at Corvus. Then back to me.
And his eyes went wide with recognition.
"Alpha," Kael said slowly. "Can I speak with you? Privately? Right now?"
Corvus's jaw tightened. "We have guests—"
"NOW, Alpha." Kael's voice held an edge I'm sure he rarely used with his leader.
Something was wrong. Very wrong.
Corvus stood, his movements controlled. "Excuse me. Make our guests comfortable. I'll return shortly."
He and Kael left through a side door.
I stood there, my heart pounding. What had Kael noticed? What did he know?
Rowan moved beside me. "That was weird, right? The Beta looked at you like he recognized you."
"I've never met him before," I lied.
"Yeah, but—" Rowan's eyes widened. "Sera, do you smell that?"
"Smell what?"
"The Alpha. He smells like..." Rowan stepped closer, sniffing me. Then her face went pale. "No. No way."
"What?" But I already knew.
"You smell like him. Like their Alpha. Sera, why do you smell like you've been marked by—"
The side door burst open. Corvus stood there, his face a mask of controlled fury.
"Everyone out," he commanded. "NOW. Except Seraphina."
The room emptied in seconds, even Rowan, though my friend shot me a terrified look.
When we were alone, Corvus crossed the distance between us in three strides.
"Kael knows," he said. "He sensed the bond. He's demanding I explain why I'm fated to our enemy's daughter." His hands cupped my face desperately. "Seraphina, our secret is out. And if Kael knows, the rest of my pack will know by nightfall."
My blood turned to ice. "What happens now?"
"Now?" His golden eyes blazed. "Now we face the consequences. My pack will demand I reject you. Your father will demand you come home. And we'll have to choose—"
The door exploded inward.
Kael stood there with five warriors. All of them stared at Corvus's hands on my face with expressions of shock and betrayal.
"It's true," Kael breathed. "Alpha, tell me it's not true. Tell me you're not mated to a Silvercrest wolf."
Corvus's hands tightened on me. I felt his decision through the bond a split second before he spoke.
"She's my fated mate," Corvus said clearly. "And I'm not rejecting her."
The warriors erupted in angry shouts.
And I realized our nightmare had just begun.