The wife he gave away

Untitled EpisodeChapter16

A Seed Of Poison

All through the entire drive back from the packhouse, I couldn't stop thinking about the Alpha's words.

"Send for your wife."

The sentence repeated itself over and over inside my head, refusing to leave no matter how many times I tried to focus on something else. At first, I told myself I was overthinking it. Alaric was the Alpha. He could speak to anyone he wanted. He didn't need permission, explanations, or excuses. If he wanted to see Seraphina, then perhaps he genuinely had a reason. Perhaps it was related to the academy. Perhaps it had something to do with Elias. Perhaps the gift was exactly what he said it was—a gift— and nothing more.

The problem was that the explanation didn't satisfy me.

Something about the conversation felt strange.

The Alpha had spent far too much time asking questions about my wife. Not general questions. Specific ones. Questions about her personality. Questions about her habits. Questions about our marriage. At the time, I had answered because refusing wasn't an option.

Now, sitting alone with my thoughts, I found myself replaying every word.

And the more I replayed them, the less comfortable I became.

By the time I arrived at the training grounds, irritation had already replaced confusion. Warriors sparred in the distance while younger recruits practiced drills under the supervision of senior fighters. Normally, the familiar sight would've calmed me.

It didn't.

Instead, my attention landed on the one person I knew would always have an opinion.

Mark.

If suspicion were a profession, Mark would've been a master. The man distrusted almost everyone… leaders, warriors, merchants… even neighbors.

If someone smiled at him for no reason, he immediately started looking for hidden motives. It was an exhausting way to live, but occasionally it made him surprisingly insightful.

Mark spotted me approaching and immediately lowered the wooden training sword he had been holding.

His eyes narrowed.

That alone told me he already knew something was bothering me.

"You look miserable," he remarked dryly while wiping sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand.

I exhaled heavily. "Thanks."

Mark shrugged. “Just telling the truth. Don't take it personal, beta."

For a moment, I considered keeping the conversation to myself. Then again, the thoughts had been circling my head for hours already. Maybe saying them out loud would make them sound less ridiculous.

"Alpha called me into his office today."

Mark's eyebrows rose immediately. "That sounds serious."

"It wasn't."

His expression immediately became skeptical.

"If it wasn't serious, you wouldn't be standing here looking like someone just informed you that winter had been cancelled."

Despite myself, I almost laughed. Almost. Instead, I folded my arms and explained everything. I made sure I didn't leave out anything.

Mark listened without interrupting, which was unusual… very unusual.

The longer I spoke, the more thoughtful he became. And that should have warned me, because thoughtful Mark was infinitely more dangerous than talkative Mark.

When I finally finished, silence settled between us.

Then Mark nodded slowly. "Oh."

I frowned. "Oh?"

"That's easy."

Something about the confidence in his voice immediately annoyed me.

"What is?"

Mark looked at me as though the answer should have been obvious. "Alpha Alaric likes your wife."

For several seconds, I simply stared at him. Then I laughed. I actually laughed.

The idea sounded so absurd that I couldn't help myself.

"You're insane."

Mark didn't laugh. That should have concerned me. Instead, his expression remained completely serious.

"I'm not."

"You are."

"I'm really not."

I shook my head. "No."

The answer came immediately. Firmly. Confidently… because the suggestion was ridiculous, completely ridiculous.

Alpha Alaric could have almost any unmated woman in the territory if he wanted one. Why would he be interested in Seraphina?

The thought didn't even make sense, but Mark clearly disagreed.

"You just told me he spent half the conversation asking about her."

"He was making conversation."

"Alaric?"

Mark actually snorted. The sound carried enough disbelief to irritate me.

"Since when does that man make conversation?"

I opened my mouth, then closed it again.

Unfortunately, he had a point. The Alpha wasn't exactly famous for friendly discussions.

The moment Mark noticed my hesitation, his expression became smug.

"I thought so."

I rolled my eyes. "Even if he was curious, that doesn't mean anything."

Mark crossed his arms. "No?"

"No."

He tilted his head. "Then why ask about her?"

I immediately answered. "Because she's good with children."

Mark looked unimpressed. "And?"

"And the alpha's son likes her."

Mark continued staring and waiting. The silence stretched long enough to make me uncomfortable.

Eventually, I sighed.

"What?"

The question came out sharper than intended.

Mark shook his head slowly.

Then he spoke in a tone usually reserved for explaining obvious things to stubborn people.

"You really don't see it."

My irritation immediately increased. "See what?"

"The fact that your wife is attractive."

I barked out another laugh. This one harsher than the first.

"Seraphina?"

Mark looked genuinely confused.

"I didn't know you had someone else."

I shook my head again, harder.

"No."

The word escaped before I could stop it.

Mark frowned. "What do you mean no?"

I shrugged dismissively. "There's nothing special about her."

The statement felt natural. Comfortable. True. At least, it had always felt true before.

Mark, however, looked increasingly annoyed. "Nothing special?"

"No."

I spread my hands. “She's ordinary. She's a beta's mate and nothing more."

The words came easier now. More confidently.

"She's always at home. Always cooking. Always cleaning. Always worrying about Kael. She doesn't do anything interesting."

The moment I finished speaking, Mark's expression changed. It was obvious he did not agree with me.

For a brief moment, neither of us spoke. Then Mark shook his head slowly… almost sadly.

"You're an idiot."

My eyes narrowed immediately. “What?"

"I said you're an idiot."

The repetition somehow sounded worse.

Mark pointed directly at me.

"Your wife spends her entire life taking care of your family and somehow you've convinced yourself that makes her ordinary."

Anger flared instantly. It was not because he was right. It was because I didn't want to hear it.

"Stay out of it," I warned.

Mark laughed. It was short and humorless.

"Fine."

Then he shrugged.

"But don't act surprised if somebody else notices what you've spent years ignoring."

The statement lingered between us, ugly and uncomfortable. I turned away before he could say anything else. The conversation had already irritated me more than enough.

By the time I reached home, Mark's words had settled into my thoughts like poison.

I hated that.

Because no matter how many times I told myself he was wrong, the questions remained.

Why had the Alpha asked about Seraphina? Why had he wanted details? Why the gift? Why now?

The front door opened and I stepped inside. Immediately, I found Seraphina in the kitchen preparing dinner. The sight should have been familiar. Comforting. Instead, irritation surged through me all over again.

She looked up when she heard me enter. For a moment, her expression softened. The moi she noticed mine, the warmth disappeared instantly.

"What happened, Dominic?"

Her voice was cautious and careful.

I hated that too.

Without answering immediately, I removed my jacket and tossed it onto a nearby chair.

Then I turned toward her. "The Alpha wants to see you."

The knife in her hand froze. "What?"

I watched her carefully, far more carefully than usual.

"The Alpha wants to see you."

Confusion, real confusion, flashed across her face.

At least it looked real.

"Why?"

I shrugged. "Maybe you can tell me."

The words came out colder than intended.

Seraphina's eyebrows pulled together. "I don't understand."

Something about her expression irritated me further. Maybe because she genuinely looked confused.

Maybe because Mark's voice still echoed inside my head.

Either way, the next words escaped before I could stop them.

"You've been trying awfully hard to get attention lately."

The accusation hung in the air, heavy and sharp.

Seraphina stared at me. Then slowly lowered the knife. “What are you talking about?"

Her voice sounded stunned… actually stunned.

I ignored it.

"The academy."

I took a step forward.

"The pack events."

Another step.

"The Alpha's son."

Her eyes widened… realization, hurt, disbelief… all at once.

"You think—"

"Maybe I do."

The interruption came immediately… harshly. Because I suddenly didn't want to hear her explanation. Didn't want to hear her denial. Didn't want to hear anything.

Seraphina looked at me as though she couldn't quite believe the conversation was happening.

"I've never done anything inappropriate."

The statement came quietly. Firmly. Every word carefully controlled.

I laughed briefly, but it was bitter enough to hurt.

"Really?," I asked, not convinced.

"Yes, Dominic."

The answer came instantly. Without hesitation. Without uncertainty.

For some reason, that only annoyed me more.

"You expect me to believe that the Alpha suddenly wants to see my wife for no reason?"

The question came out louder than intended.

Seraphina flinched. The reaction lasted less than a second. But I saw it.

Unfortunately, I kept going.

"Do you enjoy the attention?"

Her face went pale. "No."

The answer sounded wounded and genuine. I ignored that too.

"Then explain it."

"I can't explain something I don't understand."

Her voice shook slightly now. Not from guilt. From hurt.

Still, I refused to listen… because listening would've required questioning my own assumptions.

And at that moment, assumptions felt easier. Safer. More convenient.

"I never wanted his attention."

The statement escaped her in a whisper.

I looked away, angry, frustrated, and confused… all at once.

Then I said the cruelest thing yet.

"Maybe you're cheaper than I thought."

The silence that followed felt enormous.

And somehow, much louder than any argument.