Alpha of her Heart

CHAPTER 10

SERIS’s eyes darted into the door when it opened again. But this time, it was not Cassian but a young woman with soft eyes and light brown curls tied into a neat braid. She wore simple clothes and moved with the grace of someone raised among wolves.

The woman gave her a gentle nod as if she were careful not to make sudden movements.

“Hi. I’m Isla,” the young woman introduced herself. “I’m here to help you get ready.”

Seris stood by the bed, still barefoot and still guarded. She didn’t speak, but she didn’t resist either.

Isla walked to a nearby armoire closet and opened it—Seris saw the dresses inside.

Then Isla pulled out a soft dress in muted gray-blue.

For Seris, the dress was comfortable, flowing, and not meant to constrict.

“Alpha Cassian thought you might be hungry,” Isla added as she laid the dress gently on the bed. “He asked me to take you to the dining hall.”

“Is he always giving orders?” Seris asked in a low voice.

Isla smiled softly. “Only when he means well.”

Silence fell over them. Then, later, Seris finally moved toward the bed, and her fingers brushed the fabric of the dress.

—DINING HALL—

The scent of roasted meat, vegetables, warm bread, and herbal tea hung in the air as the dining hall buzzed with muted conversations and the clinking of silverware. But at the head of the long table, Alpha Cassian sat still, barely touching his food.

Beside him, on the left, sat Noah, enjoying his food.

Cassian leaned in slightly. His voice was low but firm. “Make sure the guards are alert.”

Noah straightened. “Is there a threat, Alpha?”

“No,” Cassian answered as his eyes fixed on the far door of the dining hall. “Not to us.”

“Then what are we watching for, Alpha?” Noah asked.

Cassian exhaled slowly. His fingers were tapping once against the table. “My mate may try to escape any time she wants.”

Noad nodded. “I understand, Alpha. I know what to do.” But then his brow furrowed. “Why would she run from you?”

“Because she doesn’t know,” Cassian answered in a low voice.

“Know what, Alpha?”

“That I’m hers.” Cassian looked away as a shadow passed behind his eyes. “She hasn’t felt the bond yet.”

“Her wolf—?”

“Sleeping. Healing,” Cassian said, sighing. “And without her wolf, she looks at me like I’m just another wolf. Or maybe another threat.”

Noah was silent for a long moment, then he said, “You think she’s bolt, Alpha?”

“She’s been caged her whole life,” Cassian murmured. “Even kindness will feel like a trap to her. And if she runs, I don’t even know if I will chase after her and take her back.”

Noah was about to speak, but the sound of approaching footsteps reached their ears.

Cassian straightened in his chair. His expression shifted to one of calm and controlled calm. But his fingers curled lightly on the table’s edge.

“She’s here,” he said softly.

As the door opened, Series stepped inside, but her eyes held caution as she simply wandered her gaze inside the dining hall. She stiffened instinctively, eyes scanning for exits. Isla stayed close by, offering a calm presence at her side.

Cassian stood, and everyone else followed his lead.

“Welcome,” Cassian said simply.

Seris blinked, uncertain, as Isla pulled out a chair near the head of the table. She stood stiffly near the chair, her eyes locked on the steaming bowl of soup, neatly arranged food in front of her like it was a trap.

She didn’t sit or speak.

Cassian noticed, and he gestured to his pack members to sit. Then he leaned forward slightly, his voice calm but firm. He was gentle in the way only someone trying very hard not to scare a wild animal could be. “Come on. Sit and eat. You just woke up. You need something soft. Soup first. It’ll be easier on your stomach.”

The people in the dining hall exchanged looks, surprised, because this was the first time they had heard Alpha Cassian, the Rogue Alpha, speak with such gentleness.

Seris slowly lowered into the seat, but her eyes never left the plate. Her fingers hovered over the spoon, but she didn’t move to eat. Instead, she examined the food as it might burn through her skin. She was scanning for glimmers of potion, venom, or something that didn’t belong.

Cassian sighed quietly. Without a word, he reached across the table, took a spoon, and scooped it from her plate, while Seris was watching him. And then he ate it. He met her gaze as he chewed and swallowed with no hesitation.

“See?” he said softly. He doesn’t care now what his pack members would think of him, as long as he can make Seris eat. “It’s safe.”

For a moment, nothing happened. Then, finally, Seris picked up her spoon. Her hand trembled just slightly as she brought the first bit of broth to her lips. It was warm, real, and not laced with numbing powder or memory poison.

Cassian watched Seris. Only when she took a second bite did he let out a quiet breath of relief.

Once a few minutes had passed and the table had relaxed into murmured conversation again, Cassian spoke up.

“Seris,” he said.

Seris looked up and looked at Cassian. “How did you know my name?” she asked as she gripped the spoon tightly.

There was a sudden tension between Cassian and Seris.

“Calm down, Seris,” Cassian said softly. “I learned your name from your necklace.”

Seris’s hand hovered over her necklace.

“You dropped near the lake, and I picked it up when I followed your trail. We went to catch the Poison Witch, but she was already gone when we arrived,” Cassian explained and sighed when she saw the doubtful expression in Seris’ eyes.

“Who are you exactly?” Seris asked.

“I’m the Alpha of a Rogue Pack. We don’t follow certain rules and are not bound by the rules of the werewolf council. And we moved independently. Though the pack had only a few members, they were more skillful than those wolves who belonged to a pack.”

Seris frowned. She couldn’t understand anything that Cassian had said.

“These are a few of my pack members—our inner circle.” Then Cassian gestured to the man sitting on his left side. “This is Noah, my Beta and also Isla’s older brother.”

Seris glanced up, and her gaze landed on Noah’s scarred face, deep claw marks raking across one side of his cheek, but Seris noticed that the scar was done in silver.

Noah bowed his head respectfully but didn’t smile.

Seris simply nodded once.

Cassian continued, “And that’s Finnley. The pack's Gamma and the Scout Leader. He can run across the ridge faster than any wolf I’ve met.”

Finnley gave a crooked grin, mouth full of bread. “Only because you got old, Alpha.”

Cassian raised a brow. “Says the pup who cried over a dislocated ankle when he was twelve.”

A few chuckles echoed around the table. Everyone in the pack knew that only Finnley could joke with Alpha Cassian.

Seris blinked as she saw that the people around her weren’t stiff or cruel. They were wolves, real wolves who were alive, breathing, and laughing. So different from the sterile and cruel world she had escaped.

She shuddered, remembering the Black Tower and the cold-sweet smile of the Poison Witch.

But still, Seris said nothing. She focused on the soup because she didn’t know if she was safe, but she was fed.

And for the first time in years, she felt she was not alone.