Chapter 104: Poisoned Words

Kaelen's POV

My jaw clenched.

Seraphine did integrate fast. Too fast.

"And when she has everything..." Vespera whispered, "when you trust her completely... when you've given her access to everything that matters... what's to stop her from opening the gates for Damien?"

The image flashed through my mind. Vivid. Horrifying.

Shadowmere burning. My pack slaughtered. Because I'd been too fucking blind—

"She could destroy us," Vespera breathed against my ear. "And you'd never see it coming. Because you want to believe she's innocent. Because she's your mate."

Seraphine wouldn't—

But would she?

The mate bond pulled—sharp, painful.

But I shoved it down. Buried it under rage and suspicion and cold, hard logic.

If Seraphine was playing me. If she was Damien's pawn—

Then I'd just made the biggest mistake of my life.

Vespera's lips brushed my jaw. "I'm trying to protect you. Protect us. Because I actually care—not because some bond is forcing me to."

Her body pressed closer. The nightgown sliding further—exposing more pale skin.

"She's using you, Kaelen. And if you don't stop her now..." Her breath hitched. "It'll be too late."

My hands moved without permission. Gripping her waist.

"She's playing you..." Vespera breathed. "Making you think she's the victim when really—she's been his all along..."

The rage hit me then.

At Seraphine.

For possibly lying. For making me feel things I didn't want to feel. For refusing to complete the bond while hiding secrets.

My grip on Vespera tightened. Rough. Demanding.

She gasped—breathy, knowing. "Yes..."

But then—

Wait.

A memory slammed into me. Sharp. Vivid.

Seraphine kneeling before me in the room. Baring her neck. "Mark me again."

She'd offered herself. Completely. No hesitation.

If she was Damien's lover, why would she do that?

Why risk the mark connecting us? Making it easier for me to sense lies through the bond?

It didn't make sense.

Unless—

Unless she was telling the truth.

But Vespera's words echoed. "She lived in Ravencrest for months... groomed to be Damien's formal mate..."

As Alpha, I can't afford to be wrong.

Not about this. Not when it could cost me everything.

My pack's safety. My territory. My people's lives.

One wrong decision and Shadowmere burns.

My eyes flashed gold. Bright. Burning.

My hand shot out. Grabbed Vespera's throat. Slammed her back against the desk.

Papers flew everywhere. Crash. Scatter.

"Is this true?" The words came out as a snarl. "Everything you just said—is it fucking true?"

Vespera's eyes went wide. Her hands flew to my wrist.

But she didn't struggle.

"Yes." Her voice was choked but steady. "Yes—I swear—"

My grip tightened. Not enough to hurt. But enough to threaten.

"You know what happens to wolves who lie to their Alpha?" My voice dropped to something deadly. "What happens when you deceive your pack leader?"

Her pulse hammered beneath my palm. Fast. Frantic.

"I know." Her breath came in short gasps. "Death. Or exile. Or worse."

"Then I'll ask again." Gold blazed brighter. "Is. This. True?"

"Yes!" The word came out desperate. "Kaelen, please—I wouldn't lie to you. Not about this."

Tears welled in her eyes. Real tears.

"I've been with you for eight years," she choked out. "Eight years of loyalty. Of standing by your side. Of putting Shadowmere first."

Her hands tightened on my wrist. Not fighting. Clinging.

"She's been here two months." Vespera's voice broke. "Two months and she has you twisted up. Ready to throw everything away."

"I love you." The words were raw. "And I'm trying to protect you from making the biggest mistake of your life."

Something in her voice rang true.

Or maybe I just wanted it to.

My hand loosened slightly.

"If you're lying—" I started.

"I'm not." She cut me off. Fierce. "I swear on my life. On my loyalty to this pack."

The gold in my eyes flickered.

Eight years. Eight fucking years she's been here.

Seraphine? Two months. Already demanding I choose.

I released her throat. Stepped back.

She gasped. Coughed. Red marks forming on her neck.

"I'm sorry," I said roughly. "I had to know."

"I understand." She straightened slowly. "You're Alpha. You should question everything."

She moved closer. Cautious.

"But now you know." Her hand touched my chest. "Now you know I'm telling the truth."

My jaw clenched. The rage was still there. Building.

At Seraphine for possibly lying. For that fucking ultimatum.

At Damien for sending her.

At myself for being stupid enough to fall for it.

"Kaelen..." Vespera's voice was soft. Soothing. "Let me help you forget. Just for tonight."

Her hands slid up my chest.

"Let me remind you what loyalty looks like."

And the rage needed somewhere to go.

Seraphine had shoved me away. Refused the bond.

Well, fuck her demands.

My hands gripped Vespera's waist. Hard. Bruising.

I spun her around. Slammed her against the desk. Papers scattered.

"Tell me again," I growled. "Tell me everything."

This wasn't about love.

This was about control. Power. Releasing all the rage Seraphine had left me with.

"Mmm..." Vespera's voice went breathless. "The trader said she lived in Ravencrest for months..."

My hands were rough. Demanding.

Her nightgown tore—rip.

"She was being groomed to be Damien's formal mate..." Vespera gasped.

The desk creaked beneath us.

Every touch was violent. Aggressive. Channeling frustration into her willing body.

"Yes... oh... Kaelen..." She moaned. "She betrayed him... ran with all his secrets..."

My teeth grazed her shoulder. Hard enough to mark.

"Yes—yes—just like that—" Vespera's gasps filled the air.

Beneath the pleasure, I heard her triumph.

She thinks she's won.

The lamplight flickered. Shadows dancing.

And somewhere deep in my chest, the mate bond pulled tight. Aching. Screaming.

Stop. This is wrong.

But I didn't listen.

Not when rage was burning through me. Not when Seraphine's voice echoed. "I can't guarantee I won't fall in love with another man—"

Fuck that. Fuck her ultimatum.

My hands gripped tighter. Moved rougher.

Vespera cried out.

And I took it all out on her. Every bit of frustration. Every ounce of rage.

The desk groaned. Wood creaking. Papers falling.

"Kaelen—oh god—" Vespera's voice was breathless. Broken.

But satisfied.

So fucking satisfied.

Eight years versus two months.

The thought circled through my rage-fogged mind.

Loyalty versus lies.

But even as I moved against Vespera—

Doubt crept in.

Cold. Insidious.

What if Seraphine was telling the truth?

The mark. She let you mark her. Why would a spy do that?

Her fear when Damien's name came up. That was real. You felt it through the bond.

Her refusal to complete the bond. If she was a spy, wouldn't she want it completed?

Fuck.

My movements slowed. The rage draining as realization crashed over me.

I need to know for sure.

Not from Vespera. Not from gossip.

From Seraphine herself.

I needed to look her in the eyes. Feel the bond. Know if she was lying.

Because if she wasn't...

If she'd been telling the truth...

Then I'd just destroyed everything.