Chapter 116: Old Friends

Seraphine's POV

Jason and Derek.

Standing in my doorway like a pair of guilty dogs.

Jason held a wicker basket. Derek had his hands shoved in his pockets. Both of them wore the same awkward expression—like they'd rather be anywhere else.

Of course. Of fucking course Kaelen sent them.

I leaned against the doorframe. Crossed my arms. Let them squirm under my stare for a few seconds before I spoke.

"Well, well." I kept my voice light. Almost friendly. "Long time no see, my old friends."

Jason's face went red. Derek suddenly found the floor fascinating.

They deserved this. Every second of discomfort. These were the same two who'd followed me around for weeks. Reported my every move back to Kaelen like I was some kind of prisoner.

"Se—" Jason started. Caught himself. His eyes flickered with uncertainty. "Lu... Luna. This is breakfast. Alpha prepared it for you."

Luna.

Not Seraphine anymore. Luna.

The title felt wrong in his mouth. Forced. Like Kaelen had drilled it into them before sending them here.

I didn't reach for the basket. Just stared at it. Then at them.

"Let me guess." I tilted my head. "He's got you two back on babysitting duty? Here to watch my every move again? Make sure I don't do anything suspicious?"

"No!" Derek blurted out. Too quick. Too desperate. "No, that's not—we're not here to—"

"We're just here to help." Jason cut in smoother. But his smile looked pained. "With whatever you need. Alpha said... he said we should do whatever you ask. No questions."

I raised an eyebrow. "Whatever I ask?"

"Yes, Luna." They both nodded. Eager. Pathetic.

Oh, this was too good.

An idea sparked. Wicked and petty and exactly what I needed after five days of isolation and guilt trips.

"Okay." I straightened up. Let my voice go cold. "Then leave. Both of you. Don't follow me. Don't report back to Kaelen. Just go."

Their faces fell. Jason opened his mouth. Closed it. Looked at Derek.

Derek shifted his weight. "Luna, we... Alpha told us to stay close. In case you needed—"

"In case I needed surveillance?" I let real fear creep into my expression. Made my eyes go wide. My voice shook just slightly. "You two were at the spring mating celebration last week, right? The one where Kaelen nearly beat a man to death for dancing with me?"

Dead silence.

Jason's face went pale. Derek swallowed hard.

"That guy just wanted a dance." I kept my voice trembling. Scared. "And Kaelen lost it completely. What do you think he'll do if he knows you're here? Alone with me?"

"We're not alone—we're in the hallway—the door is open—" Jason stammered.

"You think that matters to him?" I stepped closer. Dropped my voice to a whisper. "Remember what I told you? About your Alpha gouging out your eyes if you saw me undress?"

Jason went rigid. His face drained of all color.

"Luna, I swear I didn't see anything that night!" The words tumbled out in a panic. "I had my eyes covered the whole time! I didn't look—not once—I would never—"

"I know." Derek jumped in quickly. "We both know better than to—Luna, please, we would never disrespect you like that."

I held the fear for another second. Let them marinate in their panic.

Then I shrugged one shoulder. Let the strap of my dress slip down just slightly. Exposed bare skin.

"Maybe I should just—"

"Don't!" Derek spun around so fast he nearly crashed into the wall. His hands flew up to cover his eyes.

Jason turned just as quickly. Nearly dropped the basket in his haste. "Luna, please! Don't—we're just trying to help—"

The laugh burst out before I could stop it.

Real. Loud. The kind that made my stomach hurt.

Gods, their faces. The absolute terror. Like I'd actually threatened to strip naked in the middle of the hallway.

I clutched my side. Kept laughing. All that darkness from the past five days—the anger, the hurt, the exhaustion—it just dissolved. Washed away by pure, stupid amusement.

"Your faces," I gasped between laughs. "You should see—"

"Luna." Derek's voice came out strangled. His back still turned. "Please tell me you're decent."

"We're begging you." Jason sounded close to tears. "Don't make this harder than it already is."

I took a breath. Straightened my dress. Wiped my eyes.

"Okay, okay." I managed to get myself under control. "You can turn around. I'm fully clothed."

They turned. Slowly. Cautiously. Like I might be lying.

When they saw I was fine, relief flooded their faces. But also something else. Resignation. Like they knew they'd just been played.

"You're cruel, Luna." Jason set the basket down carefully. "Absolutely cruel."

"You two deserve it." But I was still smiling. "After all those weeks of following me around like shadows."

Derek rubbed the back of his neck. "We were just following orders."

"I know." My smile faded slightly. "So where is he anyway? Kaelen. Why send you instead of showing up himself?"

"He went to town." Jason straightened up. Back to business. "Said he needed to pick up something for you. A gift."

"A gift." I let the words hang flat. "He should be giving gifts to Vespera. Not me."

"Vespera?" Derek's face twisted. Confusion mixed with something darker. "Why would he—Luna, Alpha hasn't spoken to Vespera in days."

"Not by choice, I'm guessing."

"By his choice." Jason's voice went firm. "She tried to visit three days ago. Showed up at Alpha's house. Demanded to see him."

Interest flickered despite myself. "And?"

"He met her at the gates." Derek jumped in. Eager to share now. "Told her she wasn't welcome. That she should never set foot on his property again."

"He actually yelled." Jason shook his head. "I've never heard Alpha lose his temper like that. Not at anyone except—" He stopped. Caught himself.

"Except me?" I finished for him.

"That's different." Derek said quickly. "With you, it's... intense. Passionate. With Vespera, it was just cold fury. Like she disgusted him."

Something warm bloomed in my chest. Satisfaction. Pure and simple.

Vespera had been banished. Thrown out. Her lies had finally caught up with her.

Good.

But I kept my face neutral. "Kaelen's never acted like this before? Never got this worked up over someone?"

"Never." Jason said it firmly. "I've served under Alpha Kaelen for five years. He's always been controlled. Measured. He had... encounters with women. But never anything serious. Never anyone he actually cared about."

"Until you." Derek added. "Everything changed when you arrived. The way he watches you. The way he reacts when you're near. I've never seen anything like it."

"Not even with Isolde?" The question slipped out before I could stop it.

Both of them went quiet. Exchanged a look.

"We weren't around then." Jason admitted. "But from what the older pack members say... yes. Even with her. He was different. But this feels... stronger somehow. More desperate."

More desperate.

Because Isolde had loved him back. Because their bond had been simple. Pure.

Not like ours. Tangled up in lies and accusations and dead women.

"Right." I pushed away from the doorframe. "Well, thanks for the information. And the breakfast."

I turned to go back inside. They could leave the basket. I'd deal with it later.

"Luna, wait."

I paused. Looked back at Jason.

"There's one more thing." His expression shifted. Serious now. "Alpha also went to check the border this morning. Before he left for town. We had reports of movement. Wolves that don't belong to our pack. That's why he sent us here."