Claimed by My Beastly Husband

Chapter 3 – Eyes of the Beast

The great iron gates groaned as they swung open, revealing the sprawling Arden estate. Shadows swallowed the carriage as it rolled up the cobblestone path, the lanterns barely illuminating the towering mansion that loomed ahead. It was no mere home—it was a fortress. Cold stone walls, sharp turrets, and windows that glimmered like watchful eyes under the pale moonlight.

Seraphina pressed herself against the seat, her hands clenched in her lap. She had imagined many things when she thought of her future: a cozy cottage filled with laughter, perhaps, or a modest townhome where love was nurtured. Never this. Never the Beast’s lair.

The carriage jolted to a stop. For a heartbeat, no one moved. Then Kael’s voice, deep and measured, cut through the stillness.

“We’ve arrived.”

Seraphina’s gaze flicked to him—her husband. Even seated, he commanded the space, his presence larger than life. She swallowed hard, the weight of the vows they had spoken earlier pressing down on her chest like a shackle.

When the door opened, Kael stepped out first. The night air wrapped around him like a cloak, and for a fleeting second, he looked more shadow than man. Then his hand appeared in the doorway, palm up, waiting for hers.

Seraphina hesitated. Every instinct screamed at her to stay inside, to cling to what little remained of her old life. But pride stiffened her spine. She would not let him think she was afraid. Slowly, she placed her hand in his.

His fingers closed around hers—firm, unyielding, warm.

She nearly pulled away at the intensity of his grip, but his hold was not cruel. It was steady. Possessive. As if he had no intention of ever letting her slip free.

The moment her slippers touched the stone steps, she was swallowed by silence. The estate loomed around her, oppressive and watchful. Even the servants waiting at the entrance seemed to shrink in Kael’s presence, bowing quickly before disappearing into the shadows.

“This is your home now,” Kael said simply.

Home. The word tasted bitter.

He guided her through the great double doors, and Seraphina’s breath caught. The interior was grand but cold—vaulted ceilings painted in somber hues, chandeliers that spilled light like captured stars, and walls lined with portraits of stern-faced Ardens who seemed to glare down at her in disapproval.

Her footsteps echoed on the marble floor. Every sound reminded her of how alone she was in this world, bound to a man she barely knew and desperately feared.

At last, Kael stopped before the sweeping staircase. He turned to her, his eyes finding hers with sharp precision.

And in that moment, she truly saw him.

The rumors hadn’t lied—Kael Arden was a man who inspired awe and terror in equal measure. His face was all hard lines and shadows, his jaw strong, his cheekbones sharp. But it was his eyes that captured her, held her, pinned her in place.

Storm-gray, cold and unreadable, yet burning with something fierce beneath the surface. They were not the eyes of a man easily swayed by tenderness. They were the eyes of a predator who knew his strength, who knew the world bent—or broke—under his will.

Seraphina’s breath hitched. She wanted to look away, but his gaze demanded her attention, leaving her exposed, vulnerable.

“Why are you staring at me like that?” she whispered, her voice betraying the smallest tremor.

Kael’s lips curved, faint and humorless. “Because you’re mine now.”

Her chest tightened. The audacity of his certainty, the claim woven so effortlessly into his tone—it both enraged and unsettled her.

“I am not a possession,” she snapped, the words spilling out before she could stop them.

For a heartbeat, silence stretched between them. Then Kael stepped closer, the distance vanishing, his presence overwhelming. His hand lifted—not to touch her, but to hover, mere inches from her cheek.

“No,” he said softly, though his voice carried the weight of steel. “You are not a possession. But you are my wife. And that means you belong here. With me.”

Seraphina’s pulse raced. She hated the way his words tangled inside her, sparking anger and something else she could not name.

Summoning what remained of her resolve, she lifted her chin. “I didn’t choose this.”

Kael’s gaze flickered, a shadow of something unreadable passing through his eyes. Then it was gone, replaced by cold certainty. “Choice is a luxury few can afford. You’ll learn that here.”

Her heart sank. Was this to be her life? A gilded cage where her voice meant nothing, where her future was no longer her own?

“Enough for tonight,” Kael said abruptly. He gestured toward the staircase. “I’ll have your room prepared.”

Her room. Not our room. Relief flickered through her, quickly followed by confusion.

“You won’t…” She hesitated, heat flooding her cheeks.

Kael’s brow arched, amused at her stumbling. “I won’t claim what isn’t ready to be given.”

The words stunned her. She had braced for force, for cruelty, for the monstrous appetite the rumors had painted him with. Instead, he spoke with restraint—though the promise in his tone was unmistakable.

Kael leaned closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “But make no mistake, Seraphina. I will have all of you. In time.”

Her breath caught. The certainty in his eyes was terrifying, magnetic.

Before she could form a response, he turned and began to ascend the stairs, his presence like a shadow trailing behind him. Seraphina stood frozen in the grand hall, her heart pounding against her ribs.

The Beast was not loud, nor brash, nor cruel in his demeanor. He didn’t need to be. His quiet authority, his unwavering gaze, his unshakable certainty—that was far more dangerous.

And as she watched him vanish into the upper halls of his vast estate, Seraphina realized the truth she had tried to deny.

The vows had shackled her to a man she didn’t understand. But the eyes of the Beast promised one thing above all:

He would not let her go.