Chapter 35: Captive

Seraphine's POV

The slap echoed through the trees.

My palm stung. His cheek was bright red.

For a moment, we just stared at each other.

Both breathing hard. Both frozen.

Then I watched it happen.

The gold in his eyes—that wild, desperate gold—blinked out.

Like someone flipped a switch.

His pupils contracted. The black iris returned. Sharp. Focused.

Aware.

Oh shit.

"What did you just say?" His voice was quiet.

Too quiet.

The kind of quiet that comes before something breaks.

I took a step back. My bare feet sinking into snow.

"I said—"

He rose slowly. Deliberately.

Every movement controlled now. Predatory.

The wolf is gone. This is all Alpha.

"You think I was using you?"

I lifted my chin. Refused to back down even though every instinct was screaming at me to run.

"Weren't you? You were all over her this morning—"

"I was talking to her."

"You were touching her."

"She was touching me." His jaw ticked. "There's a difference."

"Really? Because from where I was standing—"

"You were jealous."

He said it like an accusation. Like I'd committed some crime.

My face flushed. "I was not—"

"You were." He took a step closer. "That's what this is about. Not Vespera. Not me. You."

"Fuck you."

"You felt it through the bond. That connection. That heat." Another step. "And it terrified you."

He's not wrong. God damn it, he's not wrong.

"So you brought up Vespera," he continued. Voice getting colder. "To push me away. To make yourself the victim again."

"I am a victim—"

"Of your own fear."

He was right in front of me now. Looming.

"Not of me. Not of this bond. Of yourself."

I wanted to hit him again. Wanted to scream.

But my throat was tight. Eyes burning.

"You don't know anything about me," I whispered.

"I know you're a coward."

The word hit like a physical blow.

"I know you'd rather run away than face what you're feeling. That you'd rather be alone and miserable than let someone help you."

His hand shot out. Grabbed my chin.

Forced me to look at him.

"And I know," he said slowly, deliberately, "that you just made the biggest mistake of your life."

Ice flooded my veins.

"What—"

"You hit me." His grip tightened. Not painful. But unyielding. "An Alpha. Your mate. In front of the entire forest."

Oh God. Oh fuck.

"You think I can let that slide?" His face was inches from mine. "You think the pack won't hear about this? Won't question my authority?"

"I didn't—"

"You did." His eyes were black now. Flat. Empty. "And now I have to make a choice."

My heart was hammering. "What choice?"

"Whether to punish you. Or look weak."

The words hung between us like a blade.

"Listen to me very carefully, Seraphine." His voice dropped. Deadly quiet. "This is the last time you run. The last time you defy me. The last time you question my control over you."

"You don't control—"

"I do." He leaned in. "That mark on your neck? That bond you hate so much? It makes you mine. My responsibility. My property."

"I'm not anyone's property—"

"You are." His thumb pressed against the mark.

I gasped. The electricity shooting through me.

"You became mine the moment I marked you. And running from that—running from me—is betrayal."

"I wasn't betraying—"

"You were." His eyes flashed. "And I don't tolerate betrayal."

Before I could respond, he moved.

Grabbed my arm. Started dragging me.

"Let go!" I dug my heels in. "You can't just—"

He spun me around. Threw me over his shoulder in one smooth motion.

My stomach hit his shoulder. Hard. Knocking the air from my lungs.

"Put me down!" I gasped. "You fucking—"

His arm locked across the back of my thighs. Holding me in place.

He started walking. Long, purposeful strides.

Each step jarring. Making my ribs ache where they pressed against his shoulder.

"I said put me down!" I beat my fists against his back.

Might as well have been hitting concrete.

"Kaelen! You bastard—"

I kicked. Hard. Aiming for his stomach. His ribs. Anywhere I could reach.

He didn't even flinch.

Fuck. This isn't working—

I twisted. Writhing like a trapped animal. Trying to slip out of his grip.

His arm tightened. Bruising.

"Stop struggling," he said. Voice cold. Detached.

"Fuck you!"

I slammed my fists down on his back. Over and over.

Grabbed fistfuls of his shirt. Tried pulling myself up. Finding leverage.

No use. He was too strong. Too immovable.

Let me go. Let me GO—

My feet kicked wildly. Connecting with nothing but air.

I scratched at his back. His sides. Anywhere I could reach.

He just kept walking. Like I was nothing. Like my fighting meant nothing.

This bastard. This fucking—

Then he stopped.

Without warning, he yanked me off his shoulder.

Spun me around before I could get my bearings.

His arm locked across my chest. Pinning my arms to my sides.

His other hand tangled in my hair. Yanked my head to the side.

Exposing my left shoulder.

"What are you—"

His teeth sank in.

Deep. Brutal.

I screamed.

The pain was blinding. White-hot. All-consuming.

Not like the mark. No bond magic softening the blow. No pleasure mixed in.

Just pure, searing agony.

His canines—longer than human, sharper—tore through skin. Through muscle.

Deeper. Deeper.

Like he was trying to reach bone.

"Stop! Please— Kaelen—"

Blood ran hot down my chest. Soaking into my skin.

My vision went white. Then dark. Then white again.

I couldn't move. Couldn't fight anymore.

Just hung there in his grip. A puppet with cut strings.

Whimpering. Shaking.

Make it stop. Please make it stop—

The pain was everywhere. Radiating from my shoulder. Down my arm. Up my neck.

I'm going to pass out. I'm going to—

Finally—finally—he released.

Pulled back. Let me collapse.

I dropped to my knees in the snow.

My good hand flew to my shoulder. Trying to stop the bleeding.

Blood seeping between my fingers. Hot. Sticky. So much blood.

My whole body was shaking. From pain. From shock. From terror.

What the fuck. What the FUCK—

Then it clicked.

Through the haze of pain, my brain made the connection.

The left shoulder.

Same spot I'd bitten him.

Oh, you petty motherfucker.

"That," Kaelen said quietly, "is what you get for biting me."

I looked up at him through tears. Vision blurry.

He was watching me. Calm. Completely in control.

Blood on his lips. My blood.

This asshole. This fucking asshole held a grudge.

He's been waiting. Planning this. Keeping score.

"Try it again," he said. Voice flat. Empty. "And I'll take the whole shoulder off."

This petty bastard remembered. Waited for the perfect moment.

Kaelen crouched down. Eye level with me.

"Do you understand now?" He tilted his head. "What happens when you defy me?"

I couldn't answer. Throat too tight. Vision swimming.

He reached out. Touched the wound.

I flinched. Fresh pain shooting through me like lightning.

A sob escaped my lips.

"This is mercy," he said softly. "Remember that."

Then he stood. Grabbed my good arm.

Hauled me to my feet.

My legs barely held me. I stumbled.

Would have fallen if he hadn't caught me.

"Now we go back."

He wrapped an arm around my waist. Half-supporting, half-dragging me.

Each step sent fresh waves of pain radiating through my shoulder.

Blood still seeping. Warm. Sticky. Running down my chest.

I can't. Can't walk. Can't—

But he didn't care. Just kept pulling me forward.

Through the snow. Back toward his house.

Back to my cage.