320- The Wolves at the Gate
POV Seraphine Valerian:
While the older woman prepared lunch, singing a typical Romanian song loudly, Adelina took me to explore the castle. And I realized it would be impossible to escape that fortress of stone and wood.
Guarded towers. Security at the heavy front door.
Tall, serious, his looks sending chills down my spine.
Through the windows, I saw the outside—many trees and a village beyond. Movement. Everything beautiful, grand. Truly another world.
“How did you meet my father, Seraphine?” the girl asked when we returned to the kitchen.
“He… appeared in my village last night. And took me.”
“Just like that?” Her eyes widened. “I thought he had stopped doing that.”
“Kidnapping women?”
“People say he brought some here for a while. And there’s the cemetery to prove it.”
“Cemetery?” I stopped, eyes wide.
“Never mind.”
“Does he kill them and bury them here?”
“As far as I know, he didn’t kill them on purpose. You know how it is—you’re weaker. Not all of you can handle it.”
I lost my breath, my mind racing. Viktor taking me by force as he turned into a beast and tore me open. I felt dizzy and steadied myself.
“Hey, calm down! You’ve got it wrong. My father isn’t like that. He only killed one on purpose—his wife. The others… well, let’s just say things happened. Different natures. Come on, don’t be like that.”
I followed her, terrified.
(...)
POV Viktor Averwyn:
“Don’t worry, we’re alert.”
Cezar told me as we walked near the wall, all the way to the closed entrance gates. As head of the guard, he had been informed of a possible attack. That was, if Konrad was less of a coward than I imagined.
“I’ll have lunch at home. Let me know if anything happens.”
“Rest easy. Viktor…” The large alpha, with the sides of his head shaved and a braid down the middle, couldn’t hold back his curiosity. “Is the rumor true? That there’s a human in the castle?”
“It is.”
“Do you think this time it’s her? Your destined one?”
I looked at him, irritated. He was my closest friend, my most trusted man. But he stuck his nose where he shouldn’t.
“Do you think I believe that bullshit?”
“That’s what everyone thought when you brought the humans. You told me yourself, centuries ago, that there was that possibility. Something about a dream or a premonition, something like that.”
I must have been full of ţuică to have confessed that.
Fuck!
“I hope everyone around here is working, minding their own business. And not gossiping.”
“Yes, sir.”
I went back home. On the way, I noticed curious looks, quickly disguised with nods and smiles. Even the children must have already known about Seraphine.
I ignored the disturbance. When the guard opened the castle door, I went straight in.
“Any problems here?”
“No. All is peaceful, Alpha Viktor.” I nodded and headed toward the kitchen.
I saw the redhead as soon as I walked in. Standing by the barred window, looking out at the forest beyond. A sad and worried air that turned into fear when she saw me. She almost merged with the stone wall, frozen.
Her scent hit me hard, pure—those mixed lilies, the spicy note striking some driving force deep within me. Shaking my insides. It calmed a bit of the anger and suspicion that there was nothing left of Konrad in her.
I stopped near the table, keeping her in focus. Concentrated. Energy crackled between us, snapping in the air.
“The food is ready, Viktor. You arrived at the right time,” Daciana said, placing a platter on the table.
“Dad, I didn’t even go to school today. I didn’t know if I could take Seraphine with me. Are you going to tell us what’s going on?”
I walked to the corner and poured myself some ţuică. The three of them fell silent.
I came back, taking a gulp of the harsh drink, looking at her again. The light from outside created an orange halo around her long, full hair. She was even more beautiful now, without blood, freshly bathed.
The urge was to get close, to smell every inch of her. And corner her somewhere until all my doubts were undone.
Fuck, Jasmina’s tainted blood ran in those veins! I wouldn’t be fooled again. Things were too poorly explained.
“Let’s have lunch.” That was all I said, somewhat pissed. Mostly because of the intense attraction since I first saw her, clouding my judgment. I ordered her: “Sit.”
She visibly trembled at my tone. Lowered her eyes, breathing unevenly as she slowly approached the table, keeping her distance from me.
I took the head of the table, Daciana to my right, Adelina to my left.
Seraphine beside her.
“We just need to understand how things work,” my daughter insisted.
“I’ve already explained. She can go out, as long as she’s with one of you. Alone, she stays in the room.”
“In yours?” the older woman asked.
“In mine.”
Seraphine didn’t lift her eyes. Adelina and Daciana finally fell silent. Perhaps realizing what the human’s role there would be: to warm my bed.
Fuck! Just thinking about it made my blood run hot and furious through my veins. An erection demanded space, while I grew irritated, controlling the treacherous body.
She bit her lip, hands trembling on the table. Then hid them in her lap. What was she thinking? That I was some horny wolf, so desperate that I’d force a weakling like her to spread her legs for me?
As fragile as she was, she wouldn’t last a week. I wouldn’t touch her that way. The lie I told myself was contradicted by the disturbance her scent and her presence caused in me.
It was still hard to believe how quickly everything had happened, that girl under my control. And Konrad wanting her, making threats.
“Eat, dear. You need to replace the blood you lost.” Daciana couldn’t help herself, serving her a full plate. Careful, as if she were a pup.
“Thank you,” she said softly.
Adelina then said she would teach in the afternoon and show part of the village to Seraphine. She told her a bit about how good life was there, the mines on the cliffs and the mountain behind, the prosperity of the people. Seraphine listened and ate slowly, not looking at me even once. Tense like a coiled spring.
The entire territory was an armed fortress. She had nowhere to run. If she caused any trouble, she would lose her freedom. She was under my watch and scrutiny.
We were almost done when we heard footsteps, and I became alert, rising. Cezar looked at me grimly, and I saw the weight in his expression.
“Viktor, mother, Adelina…” he greeted us and nodded toward the redhead, barely hiding his curiosity. Then he looked at me again. “Can I speak with you?”