The deep worry etched across Voren’s face made Seraphine’s chest squeeze tight with emotion. She absolutely hated seeing him like this, so vulnerable and on edge.
This was the same powerful Alpha who faced down enemies without flinching and carried the crushing weight of an entire pack on his shoulders every single day, yet right here and now, all she could see was a man terrified of losing the person he loved more than anything.
A soft, reassuring smile curved her lips as she looked at him. "Nothing’s wrong," she told him gently, her fingers brushing along the strong line of his jaw while she took in every handsome detail of his face.
"But V, when I chose to walk this path with you, I never thought it was going to be smooth sailing. I knew deep down there would be tough challenges, people who wouldn’t approve, and real sacrifices we’d both have to make."
She leaned forward a little closer, her voice staying calm and steady through the swirl of feelings inside her. "With your parents especially, trust me, I get exactly where they’re coming from."
Voren’s brows drew together, but Seraphine kept going before he could jump in. "They saw a side of you I never got to witness. They had to watch you suffer and fall apart while I was out there living my life completely unaware because of that spell. The sadness of it all flickered across her features.
"They carried that pain for so long, feeling helpless while I couldn’t even remember what we had."
Her thumb stroked his cheek tenderly. "So no, we’re not running off and leaving everything behind. We’re staying right here."
The quiet certainty in her voice made something soften in his eyes, easing a bit of the storm inside him. "They love you, V," she added warmly, her smile growing. "They might not be senseless about me right now, but that’s totally different. Your parents just don’t want to see you get hurt again. That’s what this whole thing is really about. They’ll come around eventually. I really believe that."
The confidence ringing in her tone caught even Voren by surprise. He let out a long, heavy breath, some of the tension draining from his shoulders.
"I already told my father that if they refuse to come to the wedding, they’ll never see me again."
Seraphine blinked in surprise, then tilted her head back and stared up at the ceiling for several long seconds while she processed his words.
It sounded exactly like something Voren would do, stubborn as hell, fiercely protective, and completely unreasonable the moment his emotions took over. Her hands stayed on his face as she turned the situation over in her mind.
Then she felt him adjust himself slightly beneath her, and a rush of heat flooded her cheeks. Before she could even react, his hand moved toward her waist. The discomfort she’d been trying hard to push aside came rushing back full force, and she winced sharply.
Voren’s attention snapped right back to her, his expression darkening with fresh concern. Seraphine quickly caught his wrist to stop him. "V, I need to shower first," she said.
But instead of relaxing, his frown only deepened. "You’re hurting," he stated, his eyes narrowing with that intense protectiveness she knew so well. "And don’t even try to hide it from me."
His gaze moved carefully over her face, searching for the truth. A moment later, realization hit him hard. "Wait." His whole body stiffened. "Why hasn’t your wolf healed you yet?"
Seraphine looked away, the guilty expression on her face saying everything. A faint blush spread across her cheeks. "She’s being silly about it."
Voren folded his arms, his voice low. "Silly?"
"She told me I should just endure it for now."

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