SERAPHINA

    Chapter 130 Messed Up

    “Who were you with?”

    The growl in Ronan’s voice wasn’t just a question. It was a warning. A low, feral demand that made the air thicken.

    I froze, my breath caught so tightly in my chest that it hurt. I hadpletely forgotten about Ronam. He looked absolutely pissed, clearly picking up Ryker’s scent on me. His always gentle grip tight around me so possessive as if I might fly and his wolf’s continuous growling while stubbornly staying in his eyes.

    My heartbeat intensified with so many emotions rising within me. I never felt obligated to answer to anyone but this time I did not know why the madness in his eyes gave me a hint of the storm that my silence and ignorance might bring.

    “I was with Ryker. He was in rut and I was helping him to his room…”

    “HE WAS IN RUT AND YOU WERE HELPING HIM?!” Ronan growled, looking like a devil that just stepped out of hell. “Why the fuck you would help that motherfucker when he was in rut?!”

    I blinked at him, surprised. “It’s not a big deal. He helped me and I helped him in return. It’s simple.”

    His eyes darkened, “Simple?! Is it that simple, Seraphina?!” he pulled me even more closer and red angrily, “Don’t you know a male wolf in rut is like a predator! He could harm you in the worst way you can imagine!”

    I was at a loss for words, “I just…”

    He cut me off, “Why the hell did you go near that motherfucker in the first ce at this time of night?! Why didn’t you walk away when you smelled rut on him?”

    My own temper ignited. “Are you seriously using me of going to Ryker on purpose?” I snapped. I didn’t choose to end up in the rut wing, Ronan! A wolf tried to attack me! Ryker helped me and I helped him back to his room. That’s all it was.”

    My chest heaved with frustration. “You’re acting like I offered myself to him!”

    i wriggled out of his grasp, eyes zing. “And just so you know, I’ve trained my whole damn life among male wolves. I’ve seen them go into rut, screw she–wolves like bunnies, and still hold my own. I didn’t need Ryker. I could’ve handled that wolf myself if he hadn’t shown up. I only stayed with him because I didn’t want to owe him a debt. That’s it!” My voice trembled with fury. “So why the hell are you acting like Imitted some kind of betrayal?!”

    His expression faltered the moment I began speaking. By the time I finished, it was like I’d knocked the breath right out of himi. /i

    “I–I was just-”

    I coldly cut him off, stepping in and jabbing my finger into his chest. “You what?” My voice was low but sharp. “Why do I even need to exin myself to you, Alpha Ronan? Am I your pet? A soldier under yourmand? Or do you just think that now that you know I’m a woman, I’ve suddenly be too fragile to think for myself?”

    RONAN

    Fuck I messed it all up.

    I let my possessiveness take over before even hearing her out. No, if I’m being honest, I was jealous. Jealous of Ryker i’d known from the start that he had his eye on her and the thought of them alone together, especially when he was in rut, burned through every rational part of me.

    My wolf went wild with rage and I lost control I didn’t just act out, I said the exact opposite of what I truly felt

    for her.

    Chapter 130 Messed Up

    “I didn’t mean it like that,” I said, trying to steady my voice.

    “Then tell me what you did mean,” she snapped, arms crossed over her chest, eyes zing like wildfire.

    I opened my mouth…but no words came out. How could I admit it? That I was jealous? That the thought of her with another male drove me fucking insane? I hesitated too long.

    Her re deepened. “Your silence says enough,” she muttered coldly, spinning around.

    “No, wait. Seraphina-” I reached for her.

    She turned, furious. “Don’t call me that. Call me Seth Darven, like before.”

    She climbed into her bed, yanked the nket over herself, and turned her back to me without another word.

    My jaw clenched as I stared at her curled figure. Rage simmered just beneath my skin, my control slipping with every breath. I was seconds away from ripping that nket off, pinning her down, and fucking her until she forgot Ryker’s name. Until her cries were filled with nothing but me. Until my scent drowned out his and she became mine in every way that mattered.

    But I didn’t move.

    Instead, I forced my gaze away. Only tond on the untouched food I’d brought back for the both of us, now sitting forgotten on the table.

    She hadn’t even noticed it. She’d been too distracted, too angry…over Ryker.

    The thought festered.

    I dropped onto my bed, my eyes still locked on hers. My wolf paced inside me, restless and crazed. Her skin ireeked /iof Ryker’s rut, and it drove me insane. Every part of me screamed to im her, mark her, make her forget he ever touched her.

    There was no way I could sleep tonight.

    My fists curled, the veins on my arms bulging.

    Why hadn’t I gone into rut too?

    Would she run to me if I let myself fall apart?

    Would she care…if it were me instead?

    Would she kiss me if I look pitiful?

    Wait! I Have Something to Say!