Seraphine’s Gamble
The weight of the night pressed heavily on Seraphine’s shoulders as she sat by the fire, the ceremonial dagger resting on the table before her. Its polished blade reflected the flickering flames, sharp and gleaming, a stark reminder of the tenuous grip she held on her position. She had avoided Susan’s probing questions earlier, but the woman’s suspicious gaze lingered in her mind, fueling her frustration.
Seraphine clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. Every carefully laid plan was unraveling. Draven’s doubt, Susan’s scrutiny, and the looming threat of Isla’s return—it was all spiraling out of control.
A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts, sharp and insistent. She stiffened, her heart racing. It couldn’t be Susan again—could it? Forcing her composure, she rose and smoothed her gown, her mind racing as she moved to open the door.
Instead of Susan, Jamie stood in the hallway, his expression grim. His dark eyes flicked over her, lingering for a moment too long. “The Alpha has summoned me,” he said, his tone clipped. “But I thought you should know—there are whispers among the pack.”
Seraphine’s pulse quickened, but she maintained her calm facade. “Whispers?” she asked, tilting her head in feigned curiosity.
Jamie stepped closer, lowering his voice. “About you. About… the Luna.”
Her breath caught, but she quickly masked her reaction with a soft laugh. “The pack loves their gossip,” she said lightly. “What nonsense are they spinning now?”
Jamie’s expression didn’t waver. “They say you’ve changed. That you’re not who you were before the ceremony.”
Seraphine’s heart pounded in her chest. “And do you believe them, Jamie?” she asked, her voice cool but edged with steel.
He hesitated, his gaze locking onto hers. “I don’t know what to believe,” he admitted. “But I know the Alpha is suspicious. And if he finds proof of anything…”
He didn’t finish the sentence, but the implication hung heavy in the air.
Seraphine stepped aside, gesturing for him to enter. “Come in,” she said smoothly, closing the door behind him. As he moved into the room, she approached the table, her fingers brushing the hilt of the dagger. “Do you trust me, Jamie?” she asked, her voice soft but purposeful.
Jamie’s brows furrowed, his expression wary. “Trust is earned, Luna. And right now, trust is in short supply.”
Seraphine turned to face him fully, her gaze steady. “I understand your doubt,” she said. “But you’ve known me for months. You’ve seen what I’ve endured, how hard I’ve worked to stand where I am today.”
He crossed his arms, his posture tense. “That’s true,” he said. “But the pack doesn’t see that anymore. They see something else.”
“And what do you see?” she asked, stepping closer, her tone sharpening. “A Luna fighting to protect her pack? Or a woman you’re ready to throw to the wolves because of baseless rumors?”
Jamie’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t respond immediately. The silence stretched, the tension between them crackling like a live wire.
“I see someone with secrets,” he said finally, his voice low. “And secrets have a way of tearing packs apart.”
Seraphine’s grip on the dagger tightened, her pulse thundering in her ears. “Then maybe you’re looking too hard,” she said, her voice icy. “And maybe it’s time you remembered where your loyalty lies.”
Jamie’s eyes flicked to the dagger in her hand, and for the first time, a flicker of unease crossed his face. “Is that a threat, Luna?”
She smiled, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “A reminder,” she said smoothly. “I am your Luna. And I will do whatever it takes to protect this pack.”
The room fell into a tense silence, the unspoken challenge hanging heavy between them. Finally, Jamie nodded stiffly. “I’ll deliver the Alpha’s message,” he said, his tone colder now. “But you’d do well to remember that loyalty works both ways.”
As he turned to leave, Seraphine watched him go, her grip on the dagger loosening only once the door closed behind him. Her chest heaved as she exhaled shakily, her composure slipping for the briefest moment.
She had won this round, but the battle was far from over. Draven was closing in, and the pack’s loyalty was wavering. If she didn’t solidify her position soon, everything she had fought for would crumble.
Her gaze drifted back to the dagger, its blade gleaming in the firelight. She picked it up, turning it over in her hands. If deception wasn’t enough to secure her place as Luna, perhaps it was time to consider a more permanent solution.
