The Truth Unravels
The room was cloaked in the warmth of firelight, its soft glow casting shadows over the bed. Draven’s touch was commanding yet reverent, his movements filled with purpose as he leaned into Seraphine. His lips trailed along her collarbone, the soft gasp she gave only spurring him on. But as the moment deepened, as their bodies moved closer to binding their union, something shifted.
Draven froze.
The air in the room thickened as his movements ceased entirely. His hands gripped her hips, but not with the same tenderness as before. Instead, there was tension—doubt.
Seraphine blinked up at him, her face flushed, her heart racing for entirely different reasons now. “Draven?” she asked, her voice hesitant. “What’s wrong?”
He pulled back slightly, his dark eyes narrowing as he studied her. “You said you were pure,” he murmured, his voice low but laced with an edge that sent a chill through her.
“What?” Seraphine stammered, her pulse quickening.
Draven’s face darkened, his features hardening with anger. “Who dared touch my mate?” he growled, his voice rising with every word. The sound of his fury echoed through the chamber, sharp and unrelenting.
Seraphine’s mind raced. She hadn’t anticipated this. Panic bubbled to the surface as she scrambled for an explanation. Her lips parted, but no words came. “I—” she began, her voice faltering.
Draven leaned closer, his eyes blazing. “Answer me!” he barked. “Who was it?”
Tears sprang to Seraphine’s eyes, and she let them fall, hoping they would soften his rage. Her voice broke as she whispered, “I didn’t want to tell you because… because I was afraid you’d outcast me too.”
Draven’s brow furrowed, his anger flickering into something more conflicted. “What are you talking about?”
Seraphine took a shaky breath, her tears falling freely now. “Before you… before all of this, I had a mate,” she said, her voice trembling. “Kael.”
The name hit Draven like a physical blow, and he stepped back slightly, his jaw tightening. “Kael?” he repeated, his voice sharp.
“Yes,” Seraphine said, her voice small. “He was my first. But my sister… she stole him from me. She destroyed everything.” Her voice cracked as she buried her face in her hands.
Draven stared at her, his fury ebbing as pity crept in. He had seen this kind of heartbreak before—the betrayal of a bond. He wanted to push her for more answers, but her sobs made him hesitate.
“Why didn’t you tell me this before?” he asked, his voice softer now, though still edged with tension.
“I was ashamed,” Seraphine whispered. “And I didn’t want you to think I was unworthy.”
Draven exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. His anger was still there, simmering beneath the surface, but her confession had complicated things. “I need time,” he said finally, his voice clipped. “We’ll consummate another day..”
Seraphine nodded quickly, relief washing over her. “Of course. Whenever you like, my Alpha.”
Draven stepped back, his expression unreadable, and left the room without another word. As the door closed behind him, Seraphine sank onto the bed, her hands trembling. She had managed to deflect his suspicion—for now.
