Alpha of her Heart

CHAPTER 16

ONE MORNING, as Seris entered the dining table, she was greeted by the pack members with a polite smile and nod. She smiled at Cassian, who was sitting at the head of the table, before sitting at her own seat to the right of Cassian.

“What is this?” Seris asked as she looked at the foods in front of her—golden roasted meat, vegetables, soft bread rolls still warm, sandwiches, and a bowl of fresh fruit. Then Isla put a glass of milk beside her plate.

Cassian leaned forward slightly. “Foods,” he answered simply, but his tone carried a certain warmth. “You don’t like it? You’ve been eating soft food and soup these past few days to nourish your health. It’s time to feel your appetite, little one.”

Seris tilted her head, curiosity shown in her eyes. “What’s the taste?” she asked.

Cassian stiffened as his hand tightened slightly on his fork. Not only him, but also the people at the dining table. The clink of silverware stopped. Conversations between the pack members died instantly.

Everyone looked at Seris.

“Taste?” he asked in a gentle voice.

Seris smiled, but with the innocence of someone who truly didn’t understand what she had just said. “I have never seen anything like this.”

Cassian felt like someone had just gripped his head.

He took a deep breath. “What have you eaten before?” he asked again. This time, he was able to control his emotions. He doesn’t want to scare his mate. But his wolf was growling beneath the surface.

Seris scratched the back of her, smiling innocently, and her gaze drifted to the side as if searching for her memory. “I don’t know. Nyxaria didn’t give me food like this. Oh, she did give me bread sometimes—hard bread, dry.” She shrugged. There were days she wouldn’t eat because she made a mistake that made Nyxaria unhappy.

And there were times, Nyxaria would let her eat spoiled food. She will just endure the stinking smell and eat it because she is hungry.

Looking at the food in front of her felt like a dream.

Cassian's jaw tightened, but he forced himself to exhale slowly. Then he reached across the table, brushing a strand of hair from Seris’s face before leaning down and kissing Seris’s forehead.

Seris felt like the gesture from Cassian was tender, even though they were not yet close. “From now on,” he said softly, “you can eat anything you like. Don’t hesitate. In this mansion, you are the queen. No one will dare to stop you from eating anything you like.”

Seris stared at Cassian for a moment. This was the first time someone had said those words to her. Then she said, “Thank you, Cassian.” Seris beamed before starting to eat.

At first, Seris took tiny bites as if to see if she would be deprived of food. Her eyes brightened when she tried a piece of meat. She hummed in agreement after tasting the fluffy bread. She was captivated by the fruits, picked one up, and ate it.

Cassian didn’t touch his plate for a long time. He just watched his mate, the joy in her face stabbing at something deep in his heart. Every bite she took was a reminder of what had been denied to her.

He made a silent vow that no one would ever starve her again.

“Won’t you eat?” Seris asked when she noticed Cassian’s plate. It was still full.

Cassian came back to his senses and cleared his throat. “I’m eating.”

Some of the pack members chuckled when they saw their Alpha’s ear, red.

Seris nodded, tasting the strawberry in her mouth. Then, without noticing, she picked one and leaned it into Cassian’s mouth.

Cassian stopped and stared at his mate, and didn’t expect that she would feed him.

Actually, everyone stopped and looked at their Alpha and Luna as if they were watching a live romantic movie.

Cassian slowly opened his mouth, as if testing if Seris would actually feed him, and she did, making him smile.

Noah tilted his head. “Finally, someone can make our Alpha smile in the morning.”

Cassian gave Noah a warning look and looked at his mate again. “Enjoy your breakfast.”

Seris nodded and continued eating.

Later, Seris finished her first proper meal in years.

Cassian leaned back in his chair. His eyes didn’t leave Seris as she took a sip of water. She appeared brighter than the day before, yet she retained vulnerability as if she were a wild creature wondering whether the open door was a trap or a safe haven.

For others, it might be frustrating and annoying, but not for Cassian, because his mate suffered.

And as a mate, he should be patient with Seris until she trusts him.

“Come. Let’s take a walk outside.”

Seris blinked at Cassian, almost wary. “Outside?” she asked. Since she came here, she has never been outside the mansion.

“Yes,” Cassian answered with a small smile. “The gardens are beautiful this time of morning. The sunlight and air will do you good.”

Seris looked at Isla, who had been quietly clearing plates. Isla glanced at Seris and nodded encouragingly. "You’ll like it, Luna. The roses are in bloom.”

Seris hesitated, but she nodded.

Cassain stood, extending his hand to Seris. She looked at it for a moment, then placed her own in his. Her hand was small, cool, but she didn’t pull away.

They stepped out through the side doors, and the scent of pine and flowers lingered in the breeze. The mansion’s huge garden unfolded before them, with perfect hedges, twisting stones walked and clumps of wildflowers that the gardener had allowed to grow wild. Birds chirped in the woods, and the sound of running water from the small stream could be heard in the distance.

She had been seeing the garden from the library every time she sat on the window seat, but this time was different. She was outside and seeing the blooming flowers up close.

Seris tilted her face to the sun, closing her eyes as the warmth touched her skin.

Cassian watched his mate silently, committing that moment to memory. Seeing Seris being illuminated by the sunlight, he wanted to hug her from behind, but he restrained himself.

“It’s beautiful here,” Seris murmured, as if she were speaking to herself.

“It’s yours,” Cassian said. “Every part of this land. No one can hurt you here.”

Seris opened her eyes and looked at Cassian. And there it was again—she could feel the thing that was pulling her towards Cassian, but she ignored it.

She crouched near a cluster of white roses, touching one of the petals like she wasn’t sure it was real.

Cassian crouched beside Seris. “Do you like flowers?”

Seris tilted her head. “I don’t know. I have never seen anything like this before. All I saw at the Black Tower was herbs.”

Cassian felt a pang in his chest. “Then maybe now is the time to start finding out.”

Seris smiled and stood, but she accidentally slipped.

Cassian caught his mate before she fell to the ground, but he outbalanced himself. Now they were in an intimate position. He was underneath Seris, and their lips touched.

They were frozen and stayed in that position for a moment. But their hearts were beating so fast.

Until Cassian remembered that he shouldn’t scare Seris. He slowly pushed Seris to get up.

“Sorry,” Seris muttered as she moved to Cassian’s side.

Cassian let out a breath of relief before getting up and standing, then helped Seris to stand.

They stayed in the garden while talking about some random things. As they spent time with each other, Cassian was careful not to mention anything about the Black Tower.

And speaking of the Black Tower, the Poison Witch disappeared, and until now, there has been no news.

Cassian just hopes that when the Poison Witch returns, Seris will be able to protect herself.

FROM THE BALCONY above the courtyard, Noah was watching from afar while leaning on the railing, his arms crossed as he watched the Alpha and Luna walking side by side along the stone path. He could hear how gentle Alpha Cassian was while talking to the Luna.

Elena walked up beside Noah, carrying a basket of herbs. She was in the mansion to deliver something for the Alpha and some herbs that would be good for the Luna’s health. She followed the Beta’s gaze, then raised a brow.

“You’re staring. That’s bad,” she said.

Noah smirked without looking away. “Just making sure I’m not hallucinating.”

Elena tilted her head. “About what?”

Noah nodded toward the Alpha and Luna. Alpha Cassian was pointing at the garden bed, saying something that made Seris smile—her smile was small, hesitant, but you could see it was real.

“That’s the Alpha,” Noah said. “The same Alpha who once ordered me to clear the whole garden because the roses were distracting. Now, he’s showing them to her like they’re treasure,” he added, shaking his head.

Elena chuckled softly. “He’s changing.”

“No,” Noah answered, “the Luna was changing him.”

Elena smiled knowingly. “Alpha needs it. Luna needs it too.”

Noah’s usual teasing smirk returned. “Well, it looks like we’ll be seeing more flowers around here.”

Elena’s voice dropped to a whisper. “Flowers…” she muttered under her breath. “And maybe a lot of smiles from our Alpha.”

Cassian, who heard Noah and Elena’s conversation, shook his head and smiled when Seris looked at him.

Maybe Elena was right. He will smile a lot from now on.