Chapter 109 Seraphina's Move
Jolie POV
I need coffee before facing the pack meeting. My head's spinning with wedding plans and trap theories, and I haven't slept properly in days.
The kitchen is empty when I walk in, which is unusual for mid-morning. Usually Phoenix is making breakfast or Luna's grabbing her third cup of caffeine.
I'm reaching for a mug when I hear voices from the hallway. Low, intimate, too quiet for normal conversation.
Something makes me pause. Some instinct I've learned to trust since becoming Luna.
I move toward the sound, my steps silent on the tile floor.
Ryder's office door is partially open. Through the gap, I can see two figures standing close together. Too close.
Ryder and Seraphina.
Her hand rests on his arm, her body angled toward his in a way that speaks of intimacy,
My stomach clenches, but I don't move. Don't announce my presence.
"You can't keep protecting her from reality." Seraphina's voice is soft, concerned. "She's burning herself out trying to be everything to everyone."
"That's not your concern." Ryder's voice is tight. "Jolie's handling things fine."
"Is she?" Seraphina's hand slides up his arm slightly. "Ryder, I've been watching her these past few weeks. She's exhausted. Stressed. Walking into obvious political traps because she can't say no to anyone who needs her."
"She's stronger than you think." But there's doubt in his voice.
"I know she is." Seraphina steps closer, and my breath catches. "But strength doesn't mean invincible. And you're so busy managing pack business that you're not seeing how close to breaking she is."
"I see her every day." Ryder sounds defensive now. "I know my mate."
"Do you?" Seraphina's voice drops lower. "Because the Ryder I knew would never let someone he loved walk into danger alone. The Ryder I knew protected what was his, no matter the cost. But this Ryder—you're letting her make decisions that could get her killed because you're too afraid of being called controlling."
The words hit me. Because there's truth in them, twisted as it might be.
"What are you suggesting?" Ryder asks.
"I'm suggesting you remember who you are." Seraphina's hand is now on his chest, right over his heart. "The alpha who built this pack from nothing. The wolf who never backed down from a fight. Don't let politics and diplomacy turn you into something you're not."
"And what am I?" His voice is dangerous now.
"A protector." Seraphina looks up at him through her lashes. "A warrior. Someone who takes what he wants and destroys anything that threatens it. That's the Ryder I fell for, that’s the alpha your pack needs."
They're too close. Her hand on his chest, his body angled toward hers, the space between them crackling with history and familiarity and something that looks too much like intimacy.
I should announce myself. Should walk in and interrupt whatever this is.
But I'm frozen, watching through the gap in the door, unable to move or speak or breathe.
"Things are different now." Ryder finally says. "I'm different."
"Because of her." Seraphina's voice holds understanding, sympathy, and underneath it all, something calculating. "I get it. The mate bond changes things. But Ryder, you can't let it make you weak. You can't let her needs override your instincts."
"Jolie doesn't make me weak." But he doesn't pull away from Seraphina's touch.
"Doesn't she?" Seraphina tilts her head. "You're second-guessing every decision. Letting her walk into dangerous situations because she asks you to. That's not the behavior of a strong alpha, Ryder. That's the behavior of someone who's lost themselves in a bond."
"I haven't lost myself." Ryder's voice is firm. "I've found something worth being better for."
"Or something worth dying for." Seraphina's hand slides up to his shoulder. "Because that's where this is headed. She's going to that wedding, walking into an obvious trap, and you're going to let her because she's convinced you it's the right political move."
"We discussed it." He sounds defensive. "She's not going alone."
"But she is going." Seraphina emphasizes. "Into hostile territory, surrounded by wolves who hate her, facing a threat we don't fully understand. And you're allowing it because she asked nicely."
"That's not" Ryder starts to argue, but Seraphina cuts him off.
"It is." Her voice is gentle but firm. "Ryder, I care about you. I always have, even after everything that happened between us. And I'm watching you make the same mistake I made with my mate."
"What mistake?" He finally sounds interested rather than defensive.
"Putting their needs before your instincts." Seraphina's expression is sad. "I let my mate convince me that his political ambitions were more important than our safety. That supporting his choices, even the dangerous ones, was what a good partner does. You know how that ended."
I can see Ryder's jaw clench from here. "I'm sorry about your mate."
"I'm not telling you this for sympathy." Seraphina steps even closer, her body almost pressed against his now. "I'm telling you because I see you making the same mistakes. Letting love override survival instincts. And I don't want to watch you lose her the way I lost him."
The light around me flares so bright that both of them flinch and turn toward the door.
They pull apart quickly. Seraphina's hand drops from Ryder's shoulder. Ryder takes a step back, putting distance between them that wasn't there a second ago.
But I saw. I saw the intimacy, the familiarity, the way they stood together like it was natural and easy and right.
"Jolie." Ryder's voice is rough. "How long have you been standing there?"
I can't speak.
"We were just discussing security arrangements." Seraphina's voice is smooth, practiced. "For the Nightshade wedding. Ryder is understandably concerned about your safety."
The lie is so polished, so believable, that for a moment I almost accept it.
But I heard what they were really talking about. About me being weak. About Ryder losing himself in our bond, about his instincts being overridden by my needs.
"Jolie, baby." Ryder moves toward me. "Let me explain."
I take a step back. The movement is instinctive, protective, and the hurt that flashes across his face makes something crack inside my chest.
"There's nothing to explain." My voice sounds distant even to my own ears. "You were talking and I interrupted. I'll let you finish."
I turn and walk away before either of them can respond.
Behind me, I hear Ryder call my name. Hear his footsteps starting to follow.
But I'm already moving, too fast for him to catch me without making a scene. Too hurt to face him right now.
I make it to our bedroom and lock the door. My hands are shaking, my breath coming in short gasps.
They weren't doing anything wrong. Just talking, just standing close. So why does it feel like betrayal?
Because of how they pulled apart when they saw me. Because of the guilt on both their faces. Because Seraphina's hand was on his chest, in the exact spot where I rest my hand when I need comfort.
Because he didn't push her away.
I sink onto the bed, light still blazing from my skin. Ash whines inside me, confused and hurt and wanting to shift.
A knock on the door. "Jolie, please." Ryder's voice is strained. "Let me in."
"I need space." The words come out steadier than I feel. "Just give me space right now."
"We weren't doing anything." He sounds desperate. "Baby, I swear. We were just talking about the wedding, about security. That's all."
"I know." And I do know. Rationally, logically, I know nothing happened. "I just need time to process."
"Process what?" His voice rises. "There's nothing to process. Nothing happened."
"Then why did you both look so guilty when I walked in?" The question slips out before I can stop it. "Why did she pull away so fast? Why did you step back like I caught you doing something wrong?"
Silence from the other side of the door.
"Because we knew how it would look." Ryder finally says. "We knew you'd misunderstand."
"So you were doing something you knew I'd misunderstand." The logic stings. "Something you knew would hurt me to see, but you did it anyway."
"No." His hand slaps the door. "That's not what I meant. Jolie, please. Don't twist this into something it's not."
But maybe I'm not twisting anything. Maybe I'm finally seeing clearly.
Seraphina's been here for weeks, slowly working her way into our lives. Finding cracks in our foundation and widening them. Offering concern and advice and intimate conversations that chip away at my confidence.
And I've been too exhausted, too distracted, too focused on external threats to see the danger right in front of me.
"I'll come out soon." I tell Ryder. "I just need time."
"How much time?" He sounds lost.
"I don't know." I close my eyes. "But Ryder? When I do come out, I need you to be honest with me. Completely honest. No protecting my feelings, no filtering the truth. I need to know exactly what your relationship with Seraphina is."
"There is no relationship." His voice is firm. "Not anymore. What we had ended years ago."
"Then why does she still touch you like she has the right?" The question tears out of me. "Why does she stand so close? Why does she talk about knowing the real you, like I don't?"
"Because she's manipulating you." Ryder's voice turns hard. "That's what she does, Jolie. She finds insecurities and exploits them. Don't let her win."
"I'm not letting her do anything." I stand up, walking to the door but not opening it. "But I can't ignore what I saw. And I can't pretend it doesn't hurt."
"I know it hurts." His voice softens. "And I'm sorry, I should have maintained better boundaries. Should have shut down those conversations before they got inappropriate."
"Were they inappropriate?" I need to know. "What you were discussing when I walked in?"
Ryder hesitates and that hesitation tells me everything.
"She was saying I'm too soft now." He finally admits. "That the mate bond is making me weak. That I'm letting you walk into danger because I'm afraid of being controlling."
The honesty is like a knife. Because those are my fears too. My constant worry that I'm too weak, too damaged, too much work for him.
"And what did you say?" My voice is barely a whisper.
"I told her she was wrong." Ryder's hand is flat against the door, like he's trying to reach through it to me. "I told her you make me better, not weaker. That being your mate is the strongest thing I've ever done."
I want to believe him. Want to open the door and fall into his arms and pretend none of this happened.
But Seraphina's face keeps flashing in my mind. The way she smiled. The triumph in her eyes when she saw me standing in the doorway.
She wanted me to see them together. Wanted to plant doubt and jealousy and fear.
And despite everything I know about manipulation, despite all my divine power and empathy gifts, it worked.
"I believe you." I tell Ryder. "But I need time before I can see you right now. Please respect that."
The silence stretches so long I think he's left. Then I hear his footsteps walking away, heavy and defeated.
I slide down the door, wrapping my arms around my knees as exhaustion crashes over me.
Seraphina was right about one thing. I am burning out. Trying to be everything to everyone while ignoring the damage it's doing to myself and my relationships.
But recognizing the problem doesn't mean I know how to fix it.
And with the wedding few days away and professional manipulators closing in from all sides, I'm running out of time to figure it out.