Chapter 8
The Devil's Bargain
Elias's POV
"Elias," she purred, her voice smooth as silk and twice as dangerous as she approached me. "Always so loyal. So predictable."
I crossed my arms, my face inches away from hers. "What do you want, Seraphina?" She stepped closer, her boots silent on the floor.
"Straight to the point. I admire that about you."
Answer the question," I growled. She let out a bitter laugh, shifting her head like I was amusing her. "I want to help you." My brows furrowed. "Help me? Since when do you want to help me?"
"Since I realized what a waste it is," she hissed. "Your strength, your mind—buried under Caden's shadow." Her voice lowered, sweet and poisonous. "You've always been the better leader. Smarter. Stronger."
"But you're just too blind to see it." I stiffened, my wolf growling beneath my skin. "Caden is my Alpha."
"For now," she whispered. "But what if he wasn't anymore?" I narrowed my eyes, heat rising in my chest. "You're wasting your time, Seraphina."
She leaned closer, her fingers trailing along my arm as she passed. I tended, resisting the urge to shake her off. "Imagine this… "
"Alpha Elias."
"Your pack. Your rules. No more following a man weighed down by guilt and secrets."
"What secrets?" I asked, the words leaving my mouth before I could stop myself. She smiled, sharp and knowing. "I know every secret Caden is hiding," she whispered, stepping in front of me.
Something that could destroy him if it ever came to light. Secrets that could make the pack question his worth…. question his leadership." My stomach twisted, but I kept my face cold.
"Lies."
She laughed, low and bitter. "You think you know him. But Caden is not who he pretends to be. Under that Alpha facade, he's just a fearful boy, running from his past."
Her words curled around me like smoke, tempting, choking. But no matter how much truth it carried, I wasn't going to sell my soul for power.
"I know what you're trying to do. But I won't betray Caden or Ava."I shook my head, my voice low but certain. Her smile disappeared… just for a heartbeat.
I saw the crack in her perfect facade. But it vanished as quickly as it appeared, replaced by something far more dangerous. She stepped closer, her body brushing against mine, close enough that I could feel the heat of her skin through my shirt.
Her scent curled around me, intoxicating and wrong. "You're just too good, Elias," she whispered, voice soft as silk, fingers trailing up my arm.
"But being good will always get you used. Haven't you grown tired of being only his beta?" Her hands slid to my chest, resting above my heart. I caught her wrist, but she didn't shake.
Instead, she smiled…slow and wicked.. as it dared me to push her away. "Don't you ever wonder what it would feel like….to take what you want for once?" She hissed, her lips dangerously close to mine.
To finally let yourself give in to your desires…..sexual desires?" I tried to hold my breath, but it came ragged.
"You're playing a dangerous game, Seraphina." She moved her head, letting her hair fall over her shoulder, exposing the curve of her neck. Maybe you like danger." she hissed, her hand sliding around my neck, fingers threading into my hair, pulling me just a little closer.
"I could give you anything you want. Power….position…" she whispered against my lips, her words like honey. "You can have me if you want."
The temptation in her words hung between us, thick and suffocating. But under all this, I saw it…the hunger in her eyes. Not passion. Not affection.
It was Control. She didn't want me. She wanted to own me. I pushed her hand away, harder than I meant to. She staggered back, surprise flashing across her face before it melted into rage.
"You're not going to use me," I said, my voice firm, my heart pounding against my ribs. "And I'm not weak enough to fall for your seduction." For a moment, everything held its breath.
Then her smile returned—slow, sharp, and venomous. "What a shame," she purred, straightening her posture like nothing had happened. "You could have had me tonight."
She turned to walk away, but paused, looking back at me with a wicked glint in her eyes. "Maybe I thought wrong. You're not driven by power…." Her smile deepened. "You're driven by her."
I didn't want to answer her. I didn't have to. But her smoke turned even more cruel. "You think Ava is innocent in all this? She's not. She's just trying to use you to get over Caden."
But I can give you what she hides. Power that could rival the ancients themselves. Power from the river stone." Her voice dropped, sweet and cold all at once.
"Did Ava ever tell you about the river stone?" The blood drained from my face at the mention of what she said. She kept walking, slow and deliberate, her voice fading toward me like smoke.
I froze, my heart pounding in my chest. She shouldn't have known that. She couldn't have known that. No one except me….and Ava.
And Ava found it after Seraphina died. I took a slow step back, "How do you know about the river stone?" Her smile faded. Something flickered behind her eyes. Something is wrong.
"Oh, come now, Elias," she said, her voice sweet but strained. "Ava told me herself when we were little." No, it couldn't be. Seraphina was long dead before Ava had found that stone.
"You weren't Alive when Ava found it." I shot back at her, silence stretching between us like a blade. For the first time, her mask slipped. Her smile twisted, sharp and unnatural, like it didn't quite fit her face anymore.
And in that moment, every instinct screamed at me—
This wasn't Seraphina.
I stepped back again, my pulse racing. "What the hell are you?" I whispered. Her laughter echoed as she left.
"Soon enough, Elias. You'll find out soon enough."