26 The Visitor
Sera
Mina didn’t wait for an answer. She moved toward the door, her small frame blocking the entrance like she actually thought she could stop Taya from coming in.
“I told you once already,” Mina snapped, her voice sharp enough to cut wood. “Get out. You have no business being here”.
Taya didn’t even look at her. She walked past Mina like the girl was made of glass, strolling into the room with a slow, arrogant stride. She looked at the heavy timber furniture, the roaring fire, and then finally at me, bundled under the layers of dark furs.
“Look at this,” Taya said, her voice dripping with mock sweetness. “How comfortable. The drowning princess is being tucked in like a child”.
I didn’t say anything. I just watched her. I was exhausted, my lungs still feeling heavy from the water I’d swallowed at the spring. I wanted her gone so I could close my eyes and forget this day ever happened.
Taya didn’t stop. She walked closer to the bed, her eyes scanning the room with obvious contempt. “You don’t belong here, Sera. Today proved that. You couldn’t even get into a pool without nearly killing yourself. How are you supposed to survive a winter here? How are you supposed to stand beside a man like Fenris?”.
The jealousy hit me instantly, a sharp, physical sting that made the scar on my collarbone burn. The bond reacted to the way she said his name –the way she acted like she knew him better than I did. I kept my face blank, refusing to give her the satisfaction of seeing me flinch.
Mina stepped up behind her, her jaw set. “You’re pathetic, Taya. You’ve been throwing yourself at my brother for years and you’ve gotten nowhere”.
Taya’s smile didn’t falter.
“He tolerates you because your father is politically useful,” Mina continued, her voice gaining volume. “That’s it. You’re convenient. You aren’t wanted.”
Taya turned on Mina then. The fake sweetness disappeared, replaced by something vicious. “Stop trying to make him notice her, Mina. It’s not going to work. He doesn’t care about a Southern princess. He never will.”
She looked back at me, her eyes cold. “You’re a signature on a piece of paper, Sera. A duty he fulfilled because his brother died. Nothing more”.
Mina didn’t back down. “And you think he cares about you? You can keep throwing yourself at him. You can keep trying. You can spread your legs for him whenever he wants-”
My chest tightened. The image of Taya underneath Fenris flashed in my head, making me feel sick. I hated how much it bothered me. I hated that I was even thinking about him that way.
“It won’t matter,” Mina finished, her voice flat. “An Alpha always chooses his mate over anyone else.”
Taya went completely still.
The room went silent, the only sound the crackle of the logs in the hearth. Taya looked at me, really looked at me this time, before turning back to Mina. “What did you just say?”
Mina smiled. It was a cold, satisfied expression. “Sera is his mate, Taya. Not just a contract bride. His actual fated mate.”.
Taya’s confidence cracked. I saw the real shock underneath her mask. She hadn’t known.
“You look shocked,” I said, unable to stop the small smile from touching my lips.
Taya’s jaw tightened. I watched the anger build behind her eyes, and it made me feel a dark sense of happiness. Whatever she thought she had with Fenris-whatever history they shared-it was nothing compared to the bond I felt humming in my
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marrow.
Mina laughed, pressing the advantage. “You’re the one with no place here. You’ve been trying for years and getting nowhere. You can cuddle up to him all you want. You can give yourself to him. You can fuck him whenever he wants-”
My heart lurches at the words again. The idea of Taya bending over for him made me want to scream.
“But at the end of the day,” Mina said, “an Alpha chooses his mate. Every single time.”
Taya looked like she was seething, her face turning a deep, angry red. Then, she smiled. It was abrupt and felt entirely wrong. She let out a soft, dry chuckle that made the hair on my arms stand up.
“We’ll see how that goes,” Taya said. She looked at Mina, her expression turning sharp. “If you’re trying so hard to make Fenris dote on your little princess, you should remember something. Fenris isn’t Dimitri”.
Mina went completely still, and Taya smiled.
“Nobody is going to love you, Mina,” Taya continued, her voice low and cruel. “The last person who could love someone like you is dead. Dimitri is gone. Maybe you should find another hobby instead of playing matchmaker for strays”.
I watched Mina’s face. The confidence vanished, replaced by a raw, visible hurt. Taya had landed a blow that hit something deep and real. I started to speak-to defend her, to tell Taya to shut her mouth-but Mina cut me off.
She recovered, or at least she pretended to. She let out a harsh, brittle laugh. “I saw your face when he pulled her from the water, Taya.”
Mina walked toward her until they were only inches apart. She looked up at Taya and said quietly, “You’re losing. You’re fucking losing.”
Taya stared down at her, her eyes dangerous and silent. Then that smile came back.
“I’m not losing to a broodmare,” Taya said.
The word hit me. Broodmare. I was livestock traded by my father to breed an heir for a Northern pack.
Taya looked at me, her smile widening as she waited for my reaction. For a moment, I just stared back at her.
Then I moved.
I was off the bed before I even realized I’d made the decision. My fist connected with Taya’s nose with a sickening thud. I felt the bone and cartilage give way under my knuckles, the impact jolting all the way up my arm.
Taya staggered backward, her hand flying to her face. Blood immediately began streaming through her fingers, splashing onto the stone floor.
Everyone in the room froze.
Taya looked down at her hand, seeing the bright red blood. Her face twisted into something monstrous.
“You fucking bitch!” she snarled, her voice rising to a scream. “I’ll kill you!”
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