Chapter Eight : The Eyes That Followed Her
1242 Words
Seraphina walked downstairs beside her mother, still feeling strangely nervous.
She had changed into a simple pale-blue dress, leaving her hair loose over her shoulders.
The moment she entered the dining room, she stopped.
Her entire family was already there.
Her father sat at the head of the table, speaking quietly with her grandfather. Kael and Dorian were arguing over something that
seemed completely unimportant. Lyra was reading something on her tablet, while Rowan was already reaching for the bread before
anyone had officially started breakfast.
For a moment, everything felt normal.
Familiar.
Safe.
Then Seraphina noticed the three empty chairs on the opposite side of the table.
Her stomach fluttered.
They weren't empty for long.
Azael, Kaelen, and Rhydian entered the dining room.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Not dramatically.
No one said anything.
But the room suddenly felt smaller.
Seraphina could feel it.
Her family could feel it.
And, judging by the way the three men glanced around the table, they felt it too.
Rhydian scratched the back of his neck.
"Good morning."
"Morning," Rowan replied.
Dorian didn't say anything.
Kael simply watched him.
Seraphina quietly took her seat.
She suddenly wished she could disappear beneath the table.
Elara noticed.
She gave her daughter a small, reassuring smile.
Cassian cleared his throat.
"Before breakfast gets any more uncomfortable..."
Dorian muttered, "It can get more uncomfortable?"
Lyra kicked him under the table.
"Ouch."
Cassian ignored them.
"I think it's time we properly introduce everyone."
Azael stood first.
He gave a respectful nod.
"Azael Vael."
His voice was calm and deep.
"Thirty-two. Eldest of the Vael triplets."
Kaelen followed.
"Kaelen Vael. Thirty. Second brother."
Then Rhydian.
"Rhydian Vael. Twenty-eight. Youngest."
He smiled.
"Apparently the troublesome one."
"Apparently?" Kael muttered.
Rhydian glanced at him.
"I was being polite."
A few people chuckled.
Even Seraphina couldn't stop the tiny smile that touched her lips.
Rhydian noticed.
His eyes immediately found hers.
For one brief second, they simply looked at each other.
Seraphina quickly lowered her gaze.
Her cheeks warmed.
Cassian continued with the introductions.
"My father, Alaric Ravencroft. My mother, Evelina."
The grandparents nodded.
"My wife, Elara."
"Seraphina already knows her mother," Rowan whispered.
Dorian snorted.
Seraphina hid another smile.
Cassian continued.
"Kael, Dorian, Lyra, and Rowan."
One by one, her family acknowledged the three men.
It was formal.
Polite.
Almost painfully so.
Yet beneath every word was the knowledge that these weren't ordinary guests.
They were Seraphina's mates.
Three men who had entered their lives overnight.
When the introductions finally ended, everyone sat down.
Breakfast began.
Seraphina concentrated very hard on her plate.
She picked up a piece of fruit.
A few seconds later, she realized someone was watching.
She didn't look up.
She took a sip of juice.
Another gaze.
She adjusted her fork.
Another.
Her heart started beating faster.
Three pairs of eyes.
She could feel them.
Every movement.
Every little thing.
When she reached for the bread, she felt one of them watching.
When she tucked her hair behind her ear, another gaze lingered.
When she finally dared to glance upward—
Azael was looking at her.
So was Kaelen.
And Rhydian.
Seraphina immediately looked down again.
Luneth's voice floated through her mind.
They're watching us.
"I know," Seraphina silently replied.
They like watching us.
"Please stop."
I wasn't the one staring.
Seraphina nearly choked on her juice.
Elara immediately looked at her.
"Are you all right?"
"Yes."
Her answer came far too quickly.
Rhydian's lips twitched.
Seraphina noticed.
She wanted to kick him.
Instead, she continued eating.
Across the table, Kaelen quietly observed her.
Azael's attention remained almost unnervingly steady.
And Rhydian...
Rhydian couldn't seem to stop smiling.
The tension wasn't unpleasant.
It was simply unfamiliar.
Everyone was trying to figure out how to behave around each other.
Especially Seraphina.
After breakfast, Cassian stood.
"I have some territorial reports to review."
Kaelen immediately rose.
"We can help."
Azael nodded.
Rhydian followed.
Seraphina watched them leave with her father.
Only when the door closed did she finally release the breath she had been holding.
Lyra looked at her.
"You were holding your breath."
"I was not."
"You absolutely were."
Seraphina frowned.
"I was eating."
"Very nervously."
Seraphina groaned.
"Please don't."
Lyra smiled.
"I'm just saying."
Seraphina pushed her chair back.
"I'm going to the garden."
"Good idea," Elara said.
"Fresh air."
Seraphina nodded gratefully.
She needed it.
The garden behind the Ravencroft residence was peaceful.
Seraphina walked along the stone path, letting the morning breeze brush against her face.
She stopped beside a flowering tree and closed her eyes.
For the first time since waking, she felt alone.
Not lonely.
Just alone.
She touched one of the flowers gently.
"Luneth?"
Yes?
"Do you really think this is going to work?"
Her wolf was quiet for a moment.
Then—
I think they already care about us.
Seraphina looked down.
"I barely know them."
But your heart recognizes them.
She didn't answer.
Because that was the problem.
Some part of her already missed them when they weren't nearby.
She sighed.
"This is going to be complicated."
Definitely.
A small smile appeared on her face.
Inside the study, the meeting continued.
Cassian spread several territorial maps across the table.
"The northern border needs reinforcement."
Kaelen leaned over the map.
"We noticed the same thing last night."
Azael studied the markings.
"There are signs of movement beyond the eastern ridge."
Cassian frowned.
"From another pack?"
"Possibly."
Rhydian listened for several minutes.
Then his attention drifted toward the window.
Something inside him pulled.
He straightened.
"I'll check the eastern perimeter."
Kaelen looked at him.
"You just came back from there."
"I forgot something."
Azael raised an eyebrow.
"You forgot what?"
Rhydian paused.
"...Something important."
Kaelen stared at him.
Cassian looked suspicious.
Rhydian gave an innocent smile.
"I'll be back."
He left before anyone could stop him.
The moment he stepped outside, his wolf surged forward.
Find her.
"I know."
He followed the faint scent carried by the wind.
It led him around the house.
Toward the garden.
And then he saw her.
Seraphina stood beneath the flowering tree.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves and settled softly over her hair.
She was holding one flower between her fingers, completely unaware that anyone was watching.
Rhydian stopped.
For once, he had nothing clever to say.
She looked peaceful.
Beautiful.
Real.
Not the frightened woman from the forest.
Not the mysterious Luna from the ceremony.
Just Seraphina.
His mate.
His wolf stirred warmly inside him.
Ours.
Rhydian smiled faintly.
"I know."
He took one step forward.
The leaves shifted beneath his foot.
Seraphina's head lifted.
She turned.
Their eyes met.
Rhydian froze.
So did she.
For several heartbeats, neither moved.
Seraphina's fingers tightened around the flower.
"Rhydian?"
His smile slowly returned.
"Hi."
She blinked.
"Why are you here?"
He glanced around the garden.
"I could ask you the same thing."
"I live here."
He laughed softly.
"Fair point."
Seraphina looked away, suddenly shy again.
Rhydian watched her for another moment.
Then he walked closer—but stopped several feet away.
Not too close.
Not enough to frighten her.
Just close enough to feel the strange pull between them.
"I wanted to see you."
Seraphina's eyes lifted.
The honesty in his voice caught her completely off guard.
"Oh."
Rhydian smiled.
"Yeah."
Her heart began beating faster.
And somewhere inside her, Luneth whispered happily—
Mate.
Seraphina couldn't help smiling.
For the first time that morning, she didn't look away.
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