Agora’s POV

Blood… and mate.

The one I shed without hesitation and the one I couldn’t shed even when it’s a curse.

I did change history and drain the blood out of her, but still, it didn’t bring any sense of satisfaction.

Done with my morning ritual, Marek, my right-hand man, walked in, his head bowed so low it could be mistaken for a plea to be beheaded.

“It’s another morning, Agora,” he said, voice low. It was his perfect way to say good morning, too used to wisdom and the way he laced it into his words.

“Lady Veyra Corwin arrives from the East Pack before dusk.”

So that’s what drags him here before the sun’s fully awake.

Veyra.

I’d thought it would be something more interesting, or bad news, as usual. The days never left me without one.

Veyra Corwin. The last time I’d seen her was at the Union Packs’ meeting. Her father, Alpha Corwin, a high-ranked elder of the Moonlight Pack, had been eager to have his daughter tied to me for power. I wasn’t sure of his reasons, but I knew there was nothing the enemy wouldn’t do to get their claws into me.

As for Veyra, I could sense she didn’t draw close because of her father or what he possessed. Even if I wasn’t sure of that, I knew her intentions for me weren’t pure.

I gave her the affection I could, until I grew fed up with using her. Her little schemes were too obvious, and her father’s presence began to disgust me.

I couldn’t screw things up because I needed her father closer than most, especially to fight against Alpha Kael.

So much for the memories that ganged up in my head. I turned around, glancing at the full Bloodfang Pack estate.

The smell of the woods was peaceful.

This pack was left to me by my ancestors, and I’ve led it well to this stage, with one rule: shed the blood of traitors.

Back to Marek, he seemed to hate sleep for him to wake up this early for a message like this.

“And I’m supposed to care because…?”

He hesitated. Mistake number one.

“She said she carries word from the council. Possibly tied to the war ....”

“Possibly,” I repeated, cutting him off. “So not confirmed.”

I glanced back at him and noticed his shaky hands. Since when had Marek begun to shiver at my voice? That only happened with servants and maidens. His trust in me was beginning to waver.

I picked up an apple from the fruit basket and turned toward him.

He looked away. Smart. Eye contact at that moment might’ve cost him one.

“Continue,” I said, flipping the apple up and down.

“The war council meets at noon. The generals await your decision on the southern borders.”

Placing the apple on his head, he didn’t move. He didn’t ask why. Just his obedience, as always.

“The southern border…”

I pulled my sword, throwing it straight at head level, watching it hit the apple dead center. It fell, and through it all, Marek didn’t flinch.

“Good,” I said, taking a deep breath. “Let her arrive after the blood’s spilled. I’d hate for her to confuse war with welcome.”

He nodded, bowed, and left like nothing happened. His level of trust was still at its peak.

And I was used to playing with people’s lives.

His life wasn't an exemption.

•~~•

The corridor reeked of soap and the pleasant scent of daisies.

Someone had been cleaning.

The moment I entered my chamber, my chest suddenly tightened. My pulse opened, and my wolf stood alert.

That curse… that bond. She was here, Seraphine. My omega mate.

I would definitely change history, She couldn’t be my mate.

I watch her bent over my bed, wiping the last trace of crimson from the sheets.

The blood must have splashed in.

She straightened the moment she sensed me. The air shifted again, thick and tense.

“Still alive?” I said with a smirk, my eyes tracing her petite frame down her neck, then to her chest.

“Impressive. Most who clean my rooms don’t make it to the next sunrise.”

She lowered her gaze, but my eyes didn’t fail to notice the way she clenched her fingers in nervousness, as she should.

“I finished, Alpha,” she said, voice almost confident.

No excuses. No trembling voice. Just obedience dipped in quiet fire.

I almost smiled. Almost.

“Then feed me,” I said.

She nodded, hurrying toward the table, arranging dishes with careful steps, the kind that comes from knowing one wrong move could mean a blade to the throat.

I watched her work, careful, silent, and beautiful.

And inconvenient.

In a moment, the food was laid out before me, arranged in a precise pattern of diet.

The moment I turned to her, a splash of cold water landed down her dress, spilling onto the food.

“You tremble,” I said, my voice sharp as the knife I was about to pull. “Like I asked you to dance with death, did I?” I snapped, glaring sharply at her.

Her answer came soft. “I… I’m sorry, Alpha Agora.” Her head lowered, trembling.

For a heartbeat, the room froze.

Then I looked away, cutting the air instead of her throat.

The weak were supposed to crawl, not speak.

But this one… this one didn’t seem to know the rules.

I stood up. There was no need to waste more time. I had meetings at noon and needed to be ready, and noon wasn’t far.

I watched as Seraphine took off my coat the moment I spread my arms. She was lucky, she knew what I did.

Sparing her life this time was only for the sake of her nervousness, only because I noticed it.

The moment she took my coat off, she suddenly gasped.

“What is it?” I asked coldly.

“Your… your wounds alpha.” She paused and I could hear breathing loud ... .or maybe too loud “ they are fresh.”

“Alpha agora, lady Corwin has arrived.”