The dining hall suddenly became silent.
The knight remained kneeling, his expression tense.
"The Supreme Alpha has returned."
Those words echoed inside Seraphina's mind.
Kael Draven Lycanis...
The man she had yet to meet. The man whose memories alone were enough to make her wary.
The original Seraphina had loved him obsessively. Or perhaps obsession wasn't the right word, possession. She had wanted to possess him. His power, title, wealth, and influence. Unfortunately for her, Kael never returned those feelings.
Their marriage had been political from the beginning. An arrangement orchestrated by noble families seeking greater influence within the empire.
According to the memories, Kael spent most of his time leading military campaigns across distant star systems. Whenever he returned home, he rarely acknowledged his wife.
The original Seraphina hated him for that. In turn, Kael despised her treatment of Aiden. The result was a cold marriage that existed only on paper. And now, the terrifying husband had returned.
Seraphina released a slow breath.
"Where is he?"
"The Supreme Alpha is currently entering the estate." The knight hesitated before continuing. "He requested that all household members gather in the Grand Hall."
Of course he would.
The ruler of half the galaxy had arrived.
Naturally everyone would be expected to welcome him.
The knight lowered his head.
"Lady Seraphina, shall I prepare your escort?"
She nodded. "Yes."
The knight immediately departed. The moment he disappeared, Seraphina rubbed her temples. She needed information.
What kind of person was Kael beyond the fragmented memories?
A military genius. A powerful Alpha. A feared commander. A devoted father.
Those descriptions repeated themselves throughout her inherited memories. Yet none of them explained his personality. The uncertainty bothered her.
Assassins survived through preparation. They gathered information before making a move. But this time, she was walking into a meeting blind, a dangerous situation.
The sound of footsteps interrupted her thoughts.
The butler approached.
"Lady Seraphina, your attire has been prepared."
A group of maids followed behind him. Several carried luxurious dresses. Others carried jewelry boxes.
The sight nearly made Seraphina groan. She hated complicated clothing. Back on Earth, practicality always came first. A dress with enough fabric to cover a small house wasn't exactly practical. Unfortunately, refusing would raise suspicions.
An hour later, she stood before a mirror. Silver embroidery decorated a dark blue gown. Diamond-like crystals sparkled across the sleeves. The original owner certainly had expensive tastes.
One of the maids stared in admiration.
"Lady Seraphina is beautiful."
Another nodded.
"The Supreme Alpha will surely be pleased."
Seraphina highly doubted that. From what she remembered, Kael wasn't the type to care about appearances. Still, she remained silent.
Soon, the butler returned.
"The Grand Hall is ready."
"Then let's get this over with."
The servants exchanged shocked glances. Apparently the original Seraphina would've never used such casual wording.
I misspoke...
Seraphina followed the butler through the estate. The atmosphere had completely changed. Knights stood guard throughout the hallways. Servants hurried between rooms. Even the air felt tense.
The ruler had returned. Everyone knew it. By the time they reached the Grand Hall, dozens of people had already gathered. Nobles, household staff, military officers, and personal attendants.
The enormous chamber buzzed with anticipation.
At the front stood Aiden. The boy wore a formal black uniform embroidered with silver threads. He looked nervous. Yet his eyes occasionally drifted toward the entrance, waiting and hoping.
The sight made Seraphina pause. Then she understood. The child missed his father.
Of course he would, Kael spent months away at war, and sometimes longer.
For an eight-year-old boy, those absences must have felt endless.
Suddenly, the massive doors opened. Every conversation died instantly. Heavy footsteps echoed through the hall. The crowd parted automatically.
A group of armored warriors entered first. Each radiated an intimidating presence. Elite soldiers and veterans of countless battlefields. Yet none of them drew attention for long.
Because the man walking behind them was impossible to ignore. He was tall, broad-shouldered, black hair, and magnetic golden eyes.
A black military coat draped across his powerful frame. Countless medals decorated his chest. A scar ran across his jawline, adding to the cold authority surrounding him.
So he is... Kael Draven Lycanis.
For a moment, Seraphina understood why he was considered legendary. The man didn't need to speak. His presence alone dominated the room.
Everyone lowered their heads. Even seasoned officers seemed cautious around him. The atmosphere became suffocating.
Kael's gaze swept across the hall. It was sharp, calm, and highly bservant. Like a predator assessing its surroundings. Then his eyes landed on Aiden, and the coldness vanished. Only slightly, but enough to radiate warmth.
The little boy immediately brightened.
"Father." The word escaped him before he could stop it.
Kael stepped forward, without hesitation, he placed a hand atop Aiden's head. The gesture was simple. Yet the joy on the child's face was unmistakable.
Seraphina found herself smiling. The future emperor suddenly looked like an ordinary child again. A child happy to see his father.
Kael studied his son carefully. "Have you been behaving?"
Aiden nodded. "Yes, Father."
"Good."
A faint smile appeared on Kael's face. The surrounding officers nearly looked frightened. Apparently, seeing their commander smile was a rare event.
Then Kael's gaze shifted, straight toward Seraphina, and the warmth vanished instantly. His golden eyes became unreadable.
The entire hall seemed to freeze. Nobody moved or spoke. The tension was obvious. Everyone knew the relationship between husband and wife was poor.
Seraphina met his gaze. The memories had prepared her for an intimidating man. Reality was somehow worse. She felt as though she were standing before a massive beast disguised as a human. Someone dangerous, powerful, and unpredictable.
The silence stretched.
Then Kael finally spoke.
"Lady Seraphina." His voice was deep and calm.
Yet it carried immense pressure.
"Supreme Alpha." She inclined her head.
Several nobles looked shocked.
The original owner usually greeted him with complaints, not respect.
Kael noticed the difference as well, she could tell.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
That single expression seemed to say... very interesting.
Neither spoke further.
Fortunately, another voice interrupted.
"Your Excellency." An officer stepped forward. "The campaign reports have been prepared."
Kael nodded.
"We'll discuss them later." His attention returned to Aiden. "Walk with me."
The boy's eyes lit up. "Yes, Father."
The pair began leaving the hall.
Just before reaching the doors, Kael stopped.
Without turning around, he spoke. "Lady Seraphina."
She stiffened, and every eye in the room turned toward her.
"Join us for dinner tonight."
Silence followed, and even the servants appeared stunned. Because everyone knew one thing. Kael never invited her anywhere. Yet today, he had.
Seraphina stared at his retreating figure.
The doors closed behind him.
The hall erupted into whispers.
"What just happened?"
"Did the Supreme Alpha actually invite her?"
"Impossible."
"No, I heard it too."
Seraphina ignored them. Her instincts were screaming that something wasn't right. Kael had noticed the changes in her. Maybe not all of them, but enough to tell she was unusual.
A military commander capable of conquering worlds wouldn't overlook unusual behavior. Especially from someone living under his roof.
The realization made her sigh. She had survived one breakfast. Now she needed to survive dinner with the most dangerous werewolf in the galaxy. Somehow, that sounded far more difficult.
Far above the estate, hidden among the clouds, countless warships drifted through the sky. And deep within the flagship orbiting overhead, a sealed report rested on Kael's desk.
A report detailing every unusual action Lady Seraphina had taken since waking up that morning. Including one particular detail. For the first time since her marriage, she had shown kindness to Aiden. And Kael intended to discover why.