Chapter Twelve
Rowan’s POV
The air in my study was thick with tension as I paced the length of the room. The crumpled note from the scout sat on my desk, mocking me. Seraphine was with Kael. That traitorous bastard had taken what was mine. The thought was like fire in my veins, each step fueling the rage simmering just beneath the surface.
“She chose him,” I muttered, my voice a low snarl. “After everything…”
My wolf clawed at the edges of my control, demanding release. The bond with Seraphine hadn’t faded–it burned like an open wound. Every moment she stayed with Kael was another dagger to my pride, my claim, my heart.”
A sharp knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. “Enter,” I growled.
Elias, my second–in–command, stepped inside, his expression unreadable. “The trackers are ready, Alpha,” he said. “They’ll move on your command.“}
I nodded, but the words didn’t satisfy the storm inside me. “What else?” I pressed, sensing there was more.“]
Elias hesitated, a rare thing for him. “The scouts reported… interactions between them,” he said carefully.”
“Speak plainly.”
“They’ve grown close,” he admitted. “Kael protects her, and she doesn’t seem to resist his presence.“}
The room fell silent, save for the crackle of the fire. My hands clenched into fists, my claws threatening to break the skin. “He thinks he can take what’s mine?”
her.”
“She’s not just a possession, Rowan,” Elias said cautiously. “Perhaps-“}
“She’s my mate!” I snapped, slamming my fist onto the desk. The wood cracked under the force. “I’ll kill him before I let him keep
Elias said nothing, his gaze steady but wary. He’d been with me long enough to know when my temper boiled over, and now was no exception.D
“Do you doubt me?” I demanded, my voice low but dangerous.
“Never,” he said quickly. “But anger clouds judgment, Alpha. We must act strategically.”
Strategically. The word grated against my instincts. My wolf demanded blood, vengeance, and the return of what was ours. But Elias was right. Kael wasn’t just any rogue Alpha–he was skilled, and he’d clearly won Seraphine’s trust.
I stalked to the window, the cool night air doing little to calm me. The moon hung high, a silent witness to my torment. “She’s with him because I failed her,” I admitted, the confession bitter on my tongue. “But that ends now.”
Elias shifted uncomfortably behind me. “Rowan… there’s something else.”>
I turned sharply, my eyes narrowing. “What is it?“)
“There’s a rumor,” he began, his voice low. “About your… supposed lover.”
My chest tightened. The lie that had cost me everything.
“I never touched her,” I said coldly. “You know that.”
“I do, but Seraphine doesn’t,” Elias reminded me. “And as long as she believes you betrayed her, she won’t come back willingly.”
My claws dug into the windowsill, splintering the wood. “Then I’ll make her see the truth,” I growled.
Elias looked hesitant but didn’t argue. “What’s the plan, Alpha?“}
I turned back to him, my silver eyes glowing with resolve. “We set a trap,” I said. “If Kael wants to protect her so badly, we’ll give him something he can’t ignore.”
Elias nodded slowly. “And Seraphine?”
“She’ll have no choice but to face me,” I said, the words dripping with finality. “I’ll make her remember who she belongs to.” Seraphine’s POV
The forest was quiet as Kael and I moved through the underbrush. Staying at that Den no longer looked safe. The earlier attack had left me shaken, but Kael’s presence was steady, grounding me.”
“Are you sure we’re safe here?” I asked, glancing around nervously.
“For now,” he said, his voice calm. “But Rowan won’t stop. He’s too stubborn to let you go.”
I bit my lip, the bond tugging at me like an invisible thread. Rowan’s anger, his pain–it was always there, just beneath the surface. But Kael… he was different. Gentle in ways Rowan never was.
“We should keep moving,” Kael said, breaking through my thoughts. “The rogues might have been scouts.”
I nodded, falling into step behind him. The tension in the air was palpable, a storm brewing just beyond the horizon.
Rowan’s POV
Hours later, I stood in the clearing where the trap was set. The scent of fresh blood lingered, a grim warning for anyone who stumbled upon it.
“They’ll come,” I said, my voice steady. “Kael won’t be able to resist the bait.“@
Elias gave a curt nod. “And when they do?”
A slow smile spread across my lips, my wolf surging forward with anticipation. “We end this.”
9:51 AM
Rowan crouched low in the shadows, his silver eyes locked on the path ahead. The faint rustle of leaves signaled their approach. The hunger for vengeance burned brighter than ever.
“Let’s see how far your loyalty goes, Kael,” he murmured, the trap set and waiting.
