Chapter 4: The Shadow Of Jealousy

Seraphina awoke to the sharp sting of her shoulder wound, the metallic scent of blood heavy in the air. Blinking against the harsh light, she tried to sit up, but her body protested every movement. A low groan escaped her lips.

“You’re awake.”

Kael’s voice was low, flat, and far from comforting. He stood by the window of what appeared to be a small, dimly lit cabin. The stormy gray of his eyes didn’t soften as he turned to face her.

“What… where am I?” Seraphina rasped, her throat dry.

Kael crossed the room in two swift strides, towering over her as he scrutinized her condition. “You passed out after your brilliant idea to take on a rogue with no plan. I had to carry you back to the outpost.”

“Carry me? You mean you carried me in here? Why? How?” she repeated, her voice laced with disbelief and embarrassment.

“Just thank me and stop questioning me, you fainted in the middle of everything, you are too weak” he said sarcastically, crossing his arms.

She pushed herself up on the cot, her head spinning. “What happened to Maya?”

Kael’s jaw tightened. “Relax, She’s alive. Barely. She’s being treated by our medics.”

Relief flooded Seraphina’s chest, but it was short-lived.

“You’re weak, Seraphina,” Kael continued, his tone cold and cutting. “You can’t even protect yourself, let alone anyone else. And now, you’re a liability, just stay in here and get better.”

Anger flared in her chest, but she bit it back, knowing he wasn’t entirely wrong. Still, his words stung. “I didn’t ask for your help,” she snapped.

Kael leaned in closer, his presence suffocating. “And yet here you are, alive because of it. Next time, maybe I won’t bother.”

Before she could respond, the cabin door swung open with a loud creak.

A woman stepped inside, her presence commanding and effortless. She was tall, with fiery red hair that fell in waves down her back and emerald eyes that seemed to pierce right through Seraphina. Her leather combat gear was spotless, and every inch of her radiated power and confidence.

“Kael,” the woman said, her voice smooth and authoritative. “I heard about the attack.”

Kael’s entire demeanor shifted. His posture straightened, and a flicker of warmth softened his features. “Rhea.”

Seraphina’s stomach churned at the sight. Whoever this woman was, she clearly had a history with Kael.

Rhea’s gaze flickered to Seraphina, her lips curving into a faint smirk. “This is her?”

Kael nodded. “Seraphina Gray.”

Rhea stepped closer, her eyes narrowing as she studied Seraphina like she was an insect under a microscope. “The rejected Luna. The one causing all this trouble.”

Seraphina bristled, her fists clenching. “Who are you?”

“I’m Rhea Ashford,” the woman replied, her tone dripping with condescension. “Kael’s second-in-command—and his chosen Beta.” She paused, her smirk widening. “And, some would say, his destined mate.”

Seraphina’s breath hitched, her chest tightening as Rhea’s words hung in the air. His destined mate?

Kael didn’t deny it.

Rhea turned back to Kael, dismissing Seraphina entirely. “You should’ve let her handle the rogues on her own. If she’s too weak to survive, it’s not your problem.”

“She’s part of this now,” Kael said, his voice lacking the venom he’d used with Seraphina.

Rhea arched an elegant brow. “That doesn’t mean you have to babysit her. You have more important things to focus on.”

Seraphina’s chest burned with a mix of humiliation and fury. She pushed herself to her feet, swaying slightly as pain shot through her shoulder. “I’m right here, you know,” she said through gritted teeth.

Rhea’s gaze flicked to her, amusement dancing in her emerald eyes. “I noticed. Barely.”

Kael stepped between them, his tone sharp. “That’s enough, Rhea.”

But Rhea wasn’t finished. She stepped closer to Seraphina, her voice dropping to a whisper only they could hear. “You don’t belong here, little girl. Stay out of my way, or you’ll regret it.”

Seraphina met her gaze, refusing to back down despite the fear twisting in her gut. “We’ll see who regrets it.”

Rhea’s laugh was low and mocking. “Adorable.”

Kael’s patience seemed to snap. “Rhea, go check on the perimeter. Now.”

Rhea hesitated, clearly displeased with the order, but she eventually turned and left, her smirk still firmly in place.

The cabin was silent for a moment before Seraphina spoke, her voice shaking with anger. “Who is she to you?”

Kael ran a hand through his hair, his frustration evident. “She’s my Beta. That’s all.”

“She said she’s your destined mate,” Seraphina pressed, her heart pounding.

“She’s not,” Kael said firmly, though his tone lacked conviction.

Seraphina swallowed the lump in her throat, unwilling to let him see how deeply the exchange had affected her. “I don’t care who she is,” she said, her voice steely. “But don’t think for a second that I’m going to sit here and let people like her treat me like dirt.”

Kael smirked, though there was no humor in it. “Good luck with that. Rhea doesn’t back down easily.”

“Neither do I,” Seraphina shot back.

---

Later that night, Seraphina sat by the small window, staring out at the moonlit forest. Her shoulder throbbed, a constant reminder of her earlier failure. But her thoughts were elsewhere, tangled in the events of the day—Kael’s rejection, the rogue attack, Rhea’s arrival.

A soft knock at the door broke her reverie.

Maya stepped inside, her face pale but determined. “Hey.”

“Maya,” Seraphina said, relief flooding her chest. “Are you okay?”

“I should be asking you that,” Maya said, sitting beside her. “You’ve had a rough couple of days.”

Seraphina managed a weak smile. “That’s an understatement.”

Maya hesitated, her expression serious. “Sera, there’s something you need to know.”

“What is it?”

Maya glanced toward the door, lowering her voice. “The rogues—they weren’t just random attackers. They were targeting you.”

Seraphina’s blood ran cold. “What? Why?”

“I don’t know,” Maya admitted. “But Kael’s been asking questions, and Rhea—well, let’s just say she’s not happy you’re still alive.”

“Great,” Seraphina muttered, her frustration mounting. “As if I didn’t have enough to deal with.”

Maya placed a reassuring hand on her arm. “Whatever’s going on, we’ll figure it out. You’re not alone, Sera.”

Seraphina nodded, grateful for her friend’s support. But deep down, she couldn’t shake the feeling that things were only going to get worse.

---

Hours later, Seraphina found herself unable to sleep. The cabin was silent, save for the occasional rustle of leaves outside.

She decided to step outside, the cool night air helping to clear her mind. The forest seemed almost peaceful under the moonlight, a stark contrast to the chaos that had unfolded earlier.

But her solitude didn’t last long.

A low growl echoed from the shadows, and Seraphina froze. Her wolf stirred uneasily, warning her of danger.

From the darkness emerged a massive rogue wolf, its eyes glowing with malice.

Seraphina’s heart raced as she backed away, her body trembling. “Not again,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

The rogue lunged, and she braced herself for the impact—

Only for the wolf to be slammed to the ground by a flash of red.

Rhea stood over the rogue, her eyes blazing as she tore into it with terrifying precision. Within moments, the rogue was dead, its lifeless body slumping to the ground.

Rhea turned to Seraphina, her expression unreadable. “You’re welcome.”

Before Seraphina could respond, Rhea stepped closer, her voice low and dangerous. “Stay out of the woods, little Luna. Next time, I might not be around to save you.”

And with that, Rhea disappeared into the shadows, leaving Seraphina alone with the dead rogue and the weight of her own inadequacy.