SERAPHINA

    What did she just say? My eyes snapped wide. “Love quarrel?”

    Did she find out I was a woman? Or worse, was it Ronan’s love interest that had me caught?

    “Don’t think I didn’t notice,” she smirked.

    My stomach dropped. Even Phina froze inside me, realizing Grace might have caught on. If that was the case, I was in serious trouble because she wasn’t just anyone. She was Alpha Gideon’s daughter and the soulmate of Alpha Jude. Two Alpha instructors who could expel me faster than I could blink.

    “Your face tells me that I’m right,” she said, her smirk turning downright wicked. My pulse thundered in my ears, my legs threatening to give out. She leaned in, her voice silky. “Don’t worry. Nowadays, it’s normal.”

    Normal?

    Every worst–case scenario shing through my head came to a screeching halt. “Normal?” I echoed.

    A she–wolf sneaking into an all–boys Alpha academy in disguise was normal?

    “Since when?” I blurted.

    She gave me a baffled look. “What century are you living in? Of course it’s normal. I idon’t /ijudge you. If you’re too scared to admit it, I’ll keep your secret.”

    Now I was just confused. The more she spoke, the less sense it made.

    “What secret are you talking about?” I asked carefully.

    She rolled her eyes, then leaned close enough for her breath to tickle my ear. “That you’re gay and in love with Alpha Ronan.“.

    My brain short–circuited.

    Gay? In love with Ronan?

    “Y–you misunderstand!” I stammered.

    A strange wave of relief washed over me, thank the Moon Goddess she hadn’t guessed I was a woman, but the misunderstanding she hadnded on wasn’t much better.

    She chuckled. “Don’t pretend.”

    “I’m not!” I hissed, leaning closer so no one else could overhear. “I’m not gay, and neither is Ronan!”

    I’d heard whispers circting about me because of my looks and I could live with them, but if rumors about Ronan started spreading, that could cause him serious problems.

    She arched a brow. “Not gay? Then what do you call it when two men are in love? I see the way you look at

    each other.”

    I blinked. I look at him like that?

    “Especially Ronan,” she went on, “Even right now.”

    Against my better judgment, I nced at him only to find his gaze locked on me. My stupid heart gave a jolt, and I quickly looked away.

    “See?” Grace’s smirk widened, “And now you’ve had a love quarrel, which is why you’re denying it. It’s written all over your face.”

    “It’s not like that-“I began, but she had already turned, her smile switching to sweet charm.

    “Alpha Finn,” she greeted warmly as Finn approached.

    He returned the smile, clearly ready to join in whatever game she was ying.

    Grace stood in the middle of the hall and pped her hands sharply, drawing every Alpha’s attention.

    “Everyone, today I’m here for a purpose,” she announced, her voice carrying a practiced charm.

    The crowd turned toward her, curiosity flickering in their eyes. Grace smiled sweetly. “I know I left the Academy without a word. I never got to thank all of you, so here I am. Not just for farewells, but to host a small thank–you party this evening before I leave!”

    Excited murmurs filled the hall, followed by loud cheers from the Alphas.

    “And it doesn’t end there,” she added with a mischievous glint. From behind her back, she produced a rolled- up parchment. “We’ll have onest game. The winner gets this scroll, just as I promised.”

    The energy in the hall doubled. My own eyes widened in recognition. That scroll…signed by Alpha Gideon.

    I hadpletely forgotten about it.

    Grace scanned the crowd before her gazended on me. Her smile deepened. “I’ll be cooking for everyone tonight. I hope to have a few helping hands.”

    I blinked at her, unsure if she meant me. Until I found myself half an hourter in the jungle clearing behind the Academy.

    A massive barbecue was underway. Alphas bustled about, carrying firewood, hauling hunted deer, skinning and cleaning game, pitchingrge tents, and lighting bonfires. The air was thick with the scent of raw meat and burning wood.

    And me?

    I stood there, arge knife in hand beside Ronan, who was holding an evenrger b of meat.

    “What exactly is ithe /imeaning of this?” I asked Grace, forcing a polite smile.

    She feigned innocence. “I need someone to cut the meat into smaller pieces. Everyone else is busy. You two were free.”

    My lips twitched. Did she think I couldn’t see right through her?

    “I’m not good with knives,” I said quickly, already setting it down. Before I could step away, Ronan’s hand closed around mine, stopping me.

    “I’ll handle the knife. You wash the meat,” he said simply, taking it from me without another word.

    ! stared at him, caught off guard. Why was he-

    “I’m waiting for you,” he added before walking over to the wooden table stacked with meat. He sat, focused, and began chopping.

    I tore my gaze away.

    “Hey,” Grace said suddenly, arms crossed and eyes narrowed on me. “Why are you giving that poor Alpha

    such a hard time?”

    I almostughed. “Poor? Him?” I cast Ronan a slow, sideways nce, the memory of that night flickering at the edges of my mind. “He’s just an egoistic, judgmental man.”

    Grace’s expression shifted as she nced between us. “Did you two quarrel over something serious?”

    I stayed silent. I couldn’t tell her what had actually happened, it would expose everything

    “It’s just…” I exhaled sharply, my irritation resurfacing. “He acted like a madman over something small. Over- possessive. Obsessive. We’ve been at this Academy for over two months, yet he still doubts my capability and…” My hands tightened around the damp cloth I was holding. “He thinks I’m weak.”

    Grace frowned. “Did he actually say that?”

    “No,” I admitted bitterly, “But his silence told me everything.”

    She drew in a slow, deliberate breath, her gaze flickering with some unspoken thought. After a moment, a faint smile touched her lips.

    “Sometimes silence doesn’t mean what we think it does,” her voice softened,ced with emotion. “Honestly, I’m not in a position to give you advice when I don’t know exactly what happened between you two…and I was in your ce for over ten years.”

    Her fingers brushed the mark on her neck, her eyes dimming with memory. “All those years, I thought Alpha Jude didn’t love me. I mistook his silence for rejection. When in reality, he was suffering more than I ever realized. He was torn between his loyalty to my father and the pull of our mate bond. He knew how much I loved my father. So he chose to bear the pain himself by acting cold, distant, even cruel, just so I’d never have to face the agony of having to choose between them. Every cold word, every calcted silence… was for me.”

    She paused, turning her gaze back to me. “Sometimes, we can’t see the reasons behind the way someone acts. I know it hurts, but ask yourself, Seth Darven…” She held my gaze with quiet seriousness. “… Did he truly overreact over something small or was it because you were in real danger that he became so possessive?”

    My chest tightened. My wolf stirred, reying that night. Ronan’s possessiveness hadn’t just been over pride. It was over Ryker’s rut, something dangerous enough to destroy me, no matter my skill. A male wolf’s rut was beyond control…I could have been hurt, even beyond repair.

    Grace stepped closer, lowering her voice. “As for you being weak…” Her eyes locked on mine as a knowing smile curved her lips. “An Alpha like Ronan doesn’t chase after a man if he thinks is weak, Seth Darven. He chased you to NightShade Alley not because he thought you were helpless, but because…”

    She gently turned me so I was facing Ronan. He sat there, chopping meat with steady, practiced movements, his profile lit by the fire, every line of him strong, devastatingly handsome. Then he smiled, setting aside a fine cut of meat just for me.

    “…because you are the only one he’s ever chosen to kneel for,” Grace finished softly. “And an Alpha like Ronan only kneels to a love he sees as equal to himself.”

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