Claimed by My Beastly Husband

Chapter 6 – His Rules, Her Defiance

The morning sun streamed through the tall windows of Kael’s estate, glinting off the cold marble floors and gilded edges of tapestries that lined the hallways. Yet the beauty of the mansion offered no comfort to Seraphina. Each shadow seemed to reach for her, each echo of her footsteps a reminder that she was trapped in a world not of her making.

Kael appeared silently, as though conjured from the shadows themselves. His presence was immediate, filling the room with authority. He wore his dark coat over a tailored shirt, sleeves rolled to reveal the muscles in his forearms, and his storm-gray eyes were fixed on her like a predator observing prey.

“Good morning,” he said simply.

Seraphina’s stomach twisted. She forced herself to meet his gaze. “Good morning,” she replied cautiously, each word measured.

Kael’s lips curved slightly, almost imperceptibly, then he walked toward her, boots clicking against the marble. He stopped a mere foot from her, the air between them charged with tension.

“There will be rules,” he said, his voice even but firm. “Rules you will follow without question.”

Seraphina blinked. “Rules?”

“Yes,” he replied, stepping closer. “Dress. Speech. Curfew. Who you may see, who you may avoid. This house has its order, and you will respect it. You are my wife, but not free from discipline. If you break these rules, there will be consequences.”

Her pulse raced, and a surge of indignation flared within her. “Consequences?” Her voice rose, defiant. “Do you think I am some child to be controlled by rules?”

Kael’s eyes darkened, sharp and unwavering. “I am not asking for your opinion. I am stating what is expected. You may resist if you wish—but know that the house will not bend to accommodate defiance. You are mine, and you will learn your place.”

Seraphina’s heart pounded, but her chin lifted. “I do not belong to anyone. Not you, not your house, not these rules. I will not obey them.”

The faintest shadow of a smile touched his lips. “Good. That fire of yours will keep you alive here. But it will not protect you from me.”

She stared at him, breathless with both fear and fury. The audacity of his certainty, the way he commanded every inch of space, every thought of hers—it was infuriating. And yet… there was a strange pull she could not ignore.

Kael turned, gesturing toward the breakfast table. “We will begin with the first lesson in obedience. Breakfast.”

Seraphina followed him, her steps deliberate. She refused to show weakness, refused to submit—not yet. She would play the game on her terms, even if it meant testing the boundaries he set.

At the table, servants moved silently, placing silverware and dishes with precision. Kael took his seat first, his posture rigid, his eyes occasionally sweeping the room like a hawk. Seraphina sat opposite him, crossing her legs with deliberate elegance, determined to maintain some sense of control over her own body.

“The first rule,” Kael began, his gaze locking onto hers, “is your comportment. You will carry yourself as a lady of this house. Speak only when spoken to, except when otherwise instructed. Is that understood?”

Seraphina’s pulse quickened. “Understood,” she said, her voice tight with defiance.

“Good,” he replied, eyes narrowing. “The second rule: you will wear only what I deem appropriate. You may not leave your room without permission, and you will not interact with guests or staff without prior approval.”

She felt the walls of her world close in, but she refused to flinch. “And what if I choose to ignore this rule?”

Kael leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping to a controlled growl. “Then you will learn that consequences are real. I will not hesitate to correct disobedience.”

Seraphina’s lips pressed into a thin line. He thought fear would break her, but he underestimated her resolve. “I will not be broken,” she whispered.

Kael studied her for a long moment, as if weighing her strength against his own. Then he leaned back, a faint smile curling the edges of his lips. “We shall see.”

Breakfast continued in tense silence, each bite of food tasting metallic in Seraphina’s mouth. She could feel Kael’s gaze lingering on her, measuring, calculating. She was aware of every movement, every glance, every breath—and she knew he expected her to falter.

By the time she rose from the table, a plan had formed in her mind. She would follow the rules superficially, but she would test them. She would push back, little by little, to see where his line truly lay. The Beast demanded control—but she would not surrender her spirit.

Later, as she walked through the grand halls, Kael’s voice stopped her.

“You have questions,” he observed.

Seraphina tilted her head, masking the thrill of defiance that ran through her. “Do I?”

Kael’s eyes narrowed. “Do not pretend ignorance. You are learning fast that this house has expectations. Will you obey them… or continue to defy?”

She squared her shoulders. “I will obey when it suits me. I will defy when it does not.”

Kael’s expression was unreadable, but his eyes burned with interest. “Bold. That fire may either save you… or destroy you.”

Seraphina’s pulse quickened. She did not know if she believed him, but she knew one thing: she would not let herself be a prisoner of fear. Not yet.

As the day stretched on, Kael introduced more rules—rules about etiquette, speech, conduct, and boundaries within the estate. Seraphina listened, her mind sharp, committing every detail to memory, all the while plotting the ways she might bend, skirt, or outright challenge them.

Even as she obeyed outwardly, she vowed inwardly: each rule would be tested. Every restriction would meet resistance. She would not allow herself to vanish beneath his control, no matter how magnetic, how commanding, how impossible to ignore he seemed.

By evening, Kael’s study became the final arena of the day’s lessons. Maps, ledgers, and letters cluttered the desk as he moved with precision, reviewing the operations of his vast estate. Seraphina watched him, noting every mannerism, every sharp glance, every small gesture that betrayed the depth of his control.

He paused, looking at her with those storm-gray eyes, piercing through the dim light. “You are clever, Seraphina. You think you can bend these rules without consequence. But cleverness will only take you so far in my world.”

She met his gaze steadily. “Then I will test the limits. I will see what can be bent… and what will break.”

A long silence stretched between them. Then, with deliberate slowness, Kael inclined his head. “So be it. We will learn from each other, you and I. But know this: I am not a man to underestimate—or to be underestimated.”

Seraphina’s pulse thundered in her ears. His words were a warning, but also… a challenge. And she accepted it silently, a spark of defiance igniting within her.

In that moment, in the cold, imposing halls of his estate, Seraphina understood the truth: she was married to a man who demanded obedience, who commanded authority, and who expected submission. Yet she was not a woman to be subdued.

Kael’s rules were strict. His gaze was unwavering. His dominance, absolute.

But Seraphina’s defiance had only just begun.

And she would see how far it could go before the Beast himself demanded surrender.