Alpha of her Heart

CHAPTER 12

FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS, Seris didn’t come out. Her meals were left outside her door, always warm, untouched, and quietly taken back. When hunger gnawed at her, she ignored it. When sleep came, it was haunted and brief.

Sometimes she would wake with tears on her cheeks.

The door remained shut.

The curtains are drawn.

The sunlight that managed to sneak through painted faint stripes across the floor, but she barely noticed.

Outside, she could sometimes hear the others—the pack members, also, Cassian’s quiet footsteps pacing, the occasional knock. But Cassian never forced her to come out or enter her room. He never knocked more than once at the door.

Seris could feel his presence, but she never answered. Never moved. But she could feel he simply sat outside her room some nights, silent as shadows, letting her know she was not alone even if she wanted to be.

Inside the room, Seris stayed curled on the edge of the bed, staring at the wall as if it might open a path back to a time before the witches, before her blood had been tested— a time which she doesn’t remember but hopes to happen, looking forward to seeing it. Maybe she was happy by that time.

She still smelled the potion even if there was no potion in her room.

She could still hear the scrape of metal against the stone, the chain that dug into her skin. And still feeling the pain every time, she closed her eyes.

The word ‘witch’ was enough to send her spiraling.

Nyxaria had told her that she had two bloodlines in her veins—werewolf and witch. That’s why she became the Poison Witch’s pet. At first, she ignored it, but every time Nyxaria tested her blood, she kept telling her about her witch blood.

Seris didn’t remember anything about her childhood, her origin, or her parents, so she doesn’t know if the Poison Witch was just making a story.

“But why do I feel like I feel peace inside?” Seris asked and cupped her chest.

She gets up and looks around the room. Though the windows weren’t barred, the doors weren’t locked, she felt like she didn’t feel free and couldn’t leave. Her body flinched when she heard calm footsteps, and her wolf… still hadn’t stirred since their last talk.

She took a deep breath.

As for Cassian, she could feel the surrounding comfort—not fully comfortable, but enough to make her feel something… something she couldn’t understand.

And every time she saw Cassian, she felt something pulling her towards him.

“If Ember were awake, she could answer me,” Seris said, hoping, but she didn’t know if her wolf could really answer her.

Seris wanted to leave—escape through the window of her room, but she didn’t know, her body wanted to stay.

Meanwhile, inside Alpha Cassian’s study room…

Cassian leaned against his swivel chair, with his arms crossed, and the tension in his shoulders was unmistakable.

The scent of old books and woods filled Cassian’s study.

Elena stood in front of the Alpha’s desk. She didn’t dare to sit, not when guilt clung to her like smoke.

“Forgive me, Alpha,” Elena began. “I scared the Luna.”

Cassiah exhaled. “Don’t be sorry, Elena,” he said. “I should have warned you,” he added, sighing.

“She smelled the potion,” Elena said, her brows furrowed. “And the herbs. I forget how sharply her kind senses danger.”

Cassian caught Elena’s eyes. His gaze was not angry, but burdened. “Seris suffered from Nyxaria. And I think she was in that Black Tower for years. Or maybe since she was a kid.”

Cassian could feel the fear of his mate. She might have suffered more than I know.

Elena’s jaw tightened. Even witches had legends about Nyxaria. She was a cruel sorcerer because of her methods of torture.

Seris was strong enough that she didn’t go insane when Nyxaria experimented on her.

“You’re a witch too,” Cassian continued softly. “That scent on you, the aura, must have triggered something in Seris. I ask only for your understanding. For time.”

Elena lowered her gaze, guilt slicing deeper.

“Of course, Alpha. I’ll stay away from the mansion for now. If she needs anything, just send a word.”

Cassian nodded. “Thank you.”

Elena stilled and looked at Alpha Cassian in disbelief. “Alpha… did you just say ‘thank you’?” she asked.

Cassian quickly looked away and cleared his throat.

Elena smiled. “Alpha, it’s only two weeks since the Luna arrived, you’ve changed.”

Cassian just quickly gestured his hand to dismiss Elena.

Elena was smiling and shaking her head as she left the Alpha’s office.

Cassian leaned back in his chair and sighed. There were no other people in this mansion, other than him, who could talk to his mate. Even if his mate couldn’t sense the bond yet and didn’t know what a mate was, he would try to encourage Seris and gain her trust.

That’s the best choice he has.

He stood in his chair and went to Seris’s room.

Cassian knocked softly on her door, but there was no answer. He was worried because Seris hadn’t eaten for days. If this continues, he will forcefully open the door.

“Elena had left,” he said, as if he were speaking to himself. “She lives in a small cabin, far from here. Surrounded by her herbs.”

Cassian pressed his forehead against the door. “I know that you suffered, and you don’t trust anyone. You thought this mansion was another prison, but here… I promised that you would never suffer. This will never be a prison, but it will be your home.”

Inside, Seris looked at the door. When she heard the word ‘home’, something inside her stirred.

A hope.

But there was a doubt.

“Home…” she muttered under her breath.

“Seris, I don’t ask you to trust me, but I can only ask you to try to trust me… us. We’re not going to hurt you—I’m not going to hurt you, I promise.”

Seris didn’t notice that she’d already been walking towards the door. Her hand paused on the doorknob, and she gripped it.

“Will he ever hurt me again? Just like the Poison Witch?” Seris asked in a low voice, as if she were asking herself.

Cassian smiled, sat on the floor, and leaned against the door. “No one will hurt you here. You will be pampered like a princess, and everyone will respect you.”

Seris, too, sat on the floor and leaned against the door. She didn’t speak, but stayed there in silence.

Meanwhile… Cassian suddenly cupped his chest. His silver poison was acting up again. He quickly stood and ran to his room, locking it behind him. He was afraid that he might go mad and hurt someone because of his poison.

Seris gathered her courage to stand and opened her door, hoping to see Cassian, but she saw an empty hall.

She sadly smiled and closed the door. “Forget it.”