Chapter 49 ckmail?
SERAPHINA
“<b>What </b>the hell is going on here?” I <b>slowly </b>asked. It did not feel right on so many levels <b>that </b>all of them were here.
Finn was the first <b>to </b>speak, his voice quiet but certain. “We were summoned by the Alpha instructor. Just like <b>you</b>.”
I blinked, surprised. “Why? Shouldn’t you all be participating in the trial?”
Ronan said nothing. Dante’s gaze didn’t waver. But Asher finally nced my way, his expression taut
“You really want to know?” he asked with a clipped <b>smile</b>. “Everyone involved in the in–fighting scandal was punished. None of us were allowed to join thest two trials. Even me, despite the fact I barely had a role in it.”
I blinked rapidly, <b>the </b>implications sinking in. That punishment would’ve impacted his rank too. No wonder he looked so pissed<b>. </b>
I pressed <b>my </b><b>lips </b>together, unsure how to respond. I snuck a nce <b>toward </b><b>Dante </b>and Ronan, but both were still staring- Dante with that cold detachment, Ronan with his usual unreadable expression.
I deliberately ignored them, especially Ronan. I refused to meet his gaze.
Crossing my legs, I sat up straighter, scanning the gathered Alphas. Why had we all been called here? Was <b>another </b>punishmenting? If so, it would be a disaster for my <b>standing</b>.
“Are you not going to apologize?” Asher’s voice cut into my thoughts.
“Apologize?” I arched a brow. “To <b>whom</b>? For what?”
He crossed his arms coolly, lips tightening. “Thanks to you, we were all dragged down. Some of us were stripped of rank. Others lost the chance to climb further. And you- his eyes narrowed.“–you sit here lookingpletely unaffected.”
Augh escaped me, dry and humorless. “Ever heard the <b>saying</b>: don’t poke your nose into other people’s business?”
1 looked at each of them in turn. “None of you had any right to get involved. Finn wasn’t supposed to go in my ce. You–1 looked pointedly at <b>Asher</b>, had no reason to follow me into that building.
Then I turned to Dante, my tone sharpening. “Someone was never supposed to mess with me.”
Finally, my eyesnded on Ronan. “<b>And </b>someone was never supposed to treat me like I was his sole source of entertainment.“
A heavy silence followed, thick with tension. Then Finn’s voice came, quiet and guilty. “I’m sorry, Seth. I acted on my own and only <b>made </b>things worse for you.”
I softened. “It’s <b>alright</b>. I know you were worried. But please <b>don’t </b>put yourself in danger like that <b>again</b>. I’d feel terrible if something happened to <b>you</b>.”
<b>“</b><b>Okay</b>,” he murmured, lowering his eyes. He looked so pitiful, <b>like </b>a guilty puppy. It <b>was </b>actually kind of adorable.
Then Asher’s cold voice came from my right. “You understand him so <b>easily </b>His tone <b>was </b><b>almost </b>using. “I followed you because I knew something bad might happen. I even helped you get Finn out <b>of </b><b>there</b>!”
I couldn’t help but smile <b>at </b><b>how </b>he was clearly <b>fishing </b>for appreciation. “Thank <b>you</b>. Alpha Asher. If it weren’t for you, Finn <b>might </b>not <b>have </b>made it to thebat trial. You turned out to be <b>an </b><b>unexpected </b>ally.”
His ears flushed red, <b>and </b>he quickly looked away. “<b>Yeah </b>whatever.”
1 blinked. Was he actually shy? <b>Again </b>Gods, he really was cute <b>when </b>flustered.
Before I could dwell on it, a drej,zy voice rolled in like thunde
There’s a thin line between messing up and getting yourself exterminated.”
Dante’s <b>gaze </b>met mine, slow and steady. “Don’t get confused. One wrong step, and it might cost <b>you </b>more <b>than </b><b>you </b>can afford”
11:50 AM Pp.
Chapter 49 ckmail?
For a moment<b>, </b>I froze.
That <b>voice</b>. <b>That </b>look. It held something dark. Something lurking just beneath his skin.
A threat?
Was I imagining it? Was <b>this </b>just because of Lily’s <b>warning</b>? No… maybe I was <b>overthinking </b>things.
+8 Pearls
I pasted a smile on <b>my </b>face–cold, tight. “Alpha Dante seems overly concerned for me. But do me a favor. Keep your precious attention to yourself. I might <b>just </b>return it–and when I do, people tend to lose <b>what </b>they never had to begin with.”
His expression <b>darkened</b>. A <b>sh </b>of something primal crossed his face, like his wolf was wing just <b>beneath </b>the <b>surface</b>.
But I didn’t flinch. Didn’t look away.
He started this <b>fire</b><b>. </b>Let him burn in <b>it</b><b>. </b>
And then-
A soft, dangerously amused chuckle slid into the air.
My heart stilled.
I turned.
Ronan.
His lips curved at <b>the </b>edges, and he leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees truly entertaining.”
My heart began to thrum.
“What’s so entertaining?” Asher asked, frowning.
Ronan didn’t even <b>nce </b>at <b>him</b>. His violet eyes were locked on mine.
“<b>You </b><b>are</b>,” he said quietly.
Then<b>–</b><b>his </b><b>gaze </b>trailed downward<b>, </b>unhurried, <b>from </b>my face. to my chest.
My breath caught.
“You’re <b>breathing </b>just fine, right?” he asked.
My face went <b>cold</b>.
“What?” <b>Finn </b><b>asked</b>, <b>brows </b><b>furrowing</b>. “Why <b>wouldn’t </b>Seth be able to breathe?”
My stomach twisted <b>violently</b>.
Oh no. No. <b>No. </b>
“So entertaining, he murmured. “Really….
<b>Ronan’s </b>lips curled, eyes <b>gleaming</b>. “<b>You’re </b><b>not </b>suffocating under <b>all </b>that, are you?”
ry single day.
He was talking about the bindings. The ones wrapped tightly around my chest every
He Loew
He wasn’t guessing.
He <b>wasn’t </b>specting
He knew I <b>was </b>a woman
11:50 AM PP –
Chapter 49 ckmail?
<b>Ronan</b>. Knew. Everything.
1 couldn’t breathe. Panic rose like a <b>wave </b>crashing in my chest. If the others caught on… if Dante-
Ronan looked at me like a predator toying with its prey. “You should loosen up a bit, you know. Even men have…”
His gaze flicked down again, and my skin burned.
“Alpha Ronan!” 1 shot forward, grabbing his wrist before he could speak another word.
Everyone stared at us, startled. Ronan’s brows lifted slightly in surprise, our eyes meeting.
“Let’s talk,” I said, my voice low and tight.
+8 Pearls
Everything fell silent, none of us moved as the momentter a <b>small </b>smile tugged in the corner of his <b>lips</b>, “Should we?”
Next, I held his hand tighter and dragged him out of there. Everyone’s eyes followed us while Dante had a different look in his eyes that was quite unsettling. Leaving the academy training grounds, we entered the academy’s empty hall and to my surprise Ronan did not speak a word or try to get out of my hold until we were in our room.
As the door <b>was </b>closed, I let go of his hand and red at him, “What the hell were you saying in front <b>of </b>them?!” I demanded. furiously.
“What was I saying? Did I somehow offend you?” Ronan slowly tilted his head, “I only said to loosen up a little bit. I wonder if you have arge…” he paused his eyes going to my breasts <b>again</b>, <b>that </b>it had to be tied so tight to prevent showing?” heat rushed to the back <b>of </b>my neck and <b>ears</b><b>. </b>
I clenched my fists. <b>Could </b>I still lie to myself that he did not know my secret or that he was just suspicious? Could I really…
I dug my nails deeper into my palm and met his gaze, “Are you just trying to <b>ckmail </b>me?”
He raised an eyebrow, “ckmail”
“Then you are not doing that?” I growled lowly, “What you were saying <b>in </b>front of them…was not that ckmail<b>?</b>”
He <b>took </b><b>a </b>predatory step toward me, decreasing the distance between us that was not much to begin with, “ckmail is quite disturbing word you know,” he murmured.
“Then are you threatening me?” I asked, my breath bing slightly uneven as his chest slightly brushed against my breasts.
“You think I want to expose <b>you</b><b>?</b>” he <b>whispered</b>, his hand raising but stopping just a inch away from my cheek.
“Don’t <b>you</b>?” I whispered back.
“Sure I <b>want </b>to, he put his finger under my <b>chin </b><b>and </b>titled my face <b>up</b><b>. </b>“But to <b>myself</b>.”
I was taken aback to see the possessiveness in his <b>eyes</b><b>. </b>
“All to myself. Only <b>to </b><b>myself</b>,” he whispered.
My breathing hitched and my heartbeat quickened. “What do you mean?”
“I would strip this disguise off <b>and </b><b>see </b>the <b>real </b>you…” he leaned down towards my <b>face </b>and whispered close to my <b>lips</b><b>. </b>“<b>Seraphina</b>”
My heart skipped a beat.
He knew <b>my </b>name.